Chapter 141: Dream Inducing Talisman

 

Jiang Xiaobai’s parents quarreled intensely over her insistence on entering the entertainment industry. To pressure her, her father cut off her allowance.

 

They knew their daughter had grown accustomed to a comfortable life, so without money, coupled with the pressure of wanting to become a star but facing obstacles, she was likely to back down.

 

But who would have thought that her determination would only grow stronger? Now, their cold observation seemed pointless.

 

Although they had stopped giving her money, they constantly worried about her not eating well or dressing appropriately; in the end, it was they who suffered!

 

Sigh, being a parent is truly hard.

 

After hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai’s father furrowed his brows and remained silent for a long time.

 

Jiang Xiaobai returned to her room, lying on her bed with her eyes closed, listening to music to calm her emotions.

 

Was it really so difficult to persuade her parents?

 

This was an obsession of the original protagonist; she wanted to be a big star but couldn’t let go of her loving parents and brother. The conflict left her feeling torn, so she decided to cast her family aside, focusing solely on work, thinking that this would bring her a moment of peace.

 

Yet deep down, she still longed for her parents’ approval.

 

Thinking about the original protagonist, Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t help but ponder whether if she had really pass away.

 

To others, “Jiang Xiaobai” was alive, but in reality, she was no longer there; the essence of her body had been replaced by someone else.

 

But what if she only seemed gone and had actually gained new opportunities?

 

With this thought, Jiang Xiaobai suddenly sat up.

 

“What if she is still alive…” she murmured, her eyes lost in thought. Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly rushed to her desk.

 

Opening the drawer, she found a pen and paper. Taking a deep breath to calm her heart, she began to draw a special talisman—

 

Dream Inducing Talisman!

 

The Dream-Inducing Talisman allowed one to see the person they wished to meet through dreams, enabling glimpses into their recent experiences.

 

To create this talisman, one must meet a condition: the creator must harbor no ill intentions toward the person they wished to see; otherwise, the talisman would fail.

 

Additionally, to use it, a “token” is required—something belonging to that person to guide the way, allowing her “soul” to enter the dream smoothly.

 

Jiang Xiaobai had no ill intentions toward the original protagonist; instead, she felt a mix of gratitude and regret. Although making this talisman was exhausting and troublesome, she completed it.

 

After checking the time, Jiang Xiaobai planned to use it just before falling asleep.

 

She went to the study to find a book and sat at the desk flipping through it, preparing to wash up and sleep by ten o’clock.

 

Unexpectedly, her phone rang at that moment.

 

The number was unfamiliar; Jiang Xiaobai initially thought it was a sales call. However, after hesitating, she answered.

 

“Hello?”

 

“…Jiang Xiaobai, I envy you so much; even though you’re silly, he likes you so much… hic…”

 

A clearly drunken female voice came through, tinged with a hint of tears.

 

Silly?

 

Jiang Xiaobai was taken aback, pondering for a long time but still unable to identify the caller.

 

The voice on the phone was already distorted, and now that the person was drunk, it was even harder to distinguish.

 

“May I ask who you are?”

 

“You two have broken off the engagement, yet he can’t forget you. What does he like about you? Can you share that with me? I have money; I can buy it…”

 

The girl was drunk, or perhaps she just didn’t want to listen to Jiang Xiaobai. Her words went unanswered.

 

Yet Jiang Xiaobai guessed the caller’s identity—

 

It was Li Wei, the wealthy girl who had approached her crew because of her ex-fiancé, Wei Shaoyue.

 

“Li Wei, is that you? Where are you? Are you with someone?”

 

Jiang Xiaobai heard noisy sounds on the other end, with voices and upbeat music, and she began to suspect.

 

A bar… that kind of place was chaotic, and if Li Wei, with her beauty, was alone, it would be a disaster.

 

However, after asking several times without receiving a response, all she could hear was Li Wei’s fragmented mumbling. Just when Jiang Xiaobai started to feel worried, a young man answered the phone—

 

“Hello, are you this lady’s friend? She is drunk and alone; could you come to the bar and take her home?”

 

This should be a bartender.

 

“Doesn’t she have any friends with her?”

 

“She did have some, but she chased them all away.”

 

“Please give me the address of the bar.”

 

As Jiang Xiaobai spoke, she stood up.

 

Li Wei was also in S City, but due to work, she often traveled. Jiang Xiaobai wasn’t sure if she was still here.

 

Fortunately, the bartender provided the location, which was in the famous bar district of S City.

 

“I’ll be there soon; please take care of her for a while to avoid any danger. Also, stop serving her more alcohol; don’t let her drink anymore. Thank you.”

 

Jiang Xiaobai quickly changed her clothes and hurried out the door.

 

Her parents had already returned to their room; even if they weren’t asleep, they were close to it, so Jiang Xiaobai decided not to disturb them.

 

As she opened the door, she saw the driver, Uncle Li, smoking outside. He quickly extinguished his cigarette upon seeing her.

 

“Miss?”

 

“Uncle Li, please take me to the bar district; I need to pick up a friend who’s drunk.”

 

“Sure.”

 

At this hour, the roads were not congested, and they arrived at the bar smoothly. As soon as they stepped inside, a mix of alcohol and perfume assaulted Jiang Xiaobai’s senses, causing her to frown.

 

Uncle Li, worried about her going in alone, stayed by her side.

 

“Li Wei? Wake up.”

 

When she found Li Wei, she was lying there alone, her hair disheveled, yet her exquisite outfit and graceful figure still made her stand out. Many men’s gazes were fixed on her.

 

The table was clean, likely cleared away.

 

“Who… Jiang Xiaobai?”

 

Li Wei opened her bleary eyes, still dazed upon seeing Jiang Xiaobai.

 

Tears stained her face, and the strong smell of alcohol indicated she had been drinking heavily.

 

“Where do you live? I’ll take you home.”

 

Uncle Li didn’t dare approach; Jiang Xiaobai helped Li Wei up herself.

 

Li Wei leaned heavily against Jiang Xiaobai, her hands wandering inappropriately. “You’re just in time… what does he like about you? Give it to me…”

 

“Li Wei!”

 

Jiang Xiaobai felt ticklish and instinctively dodged, unable to help but laugh, but her tone remained stern, “Behave yourself, or I’ll leave you here!”

 

“Behave… oh.”

 

Upon hearing this, she immediately quieted down, obediently leaning against Jiang Xiaobai, her eyes half-closed as if about to fall asleep.

 

“Where do you live? I’ll drive you home.”

 

“I have a car too; it’s outside… let’s drive back.”

 

Li Wei struggled to sit up and rummaged through her small bag, finally finding her car keys.

 

 

Chapter 142: The Car Broke Down

Jiang Xiaobai handed the car keys to Li Wei, who then provided the address of her residential community.

“Miss, why don’t you drive her car and take her home? I’ll head over first and wait for you at the community entrance,” Uncle Li suggested.

Jiang Xiaobai thought for a moment and agreed, “Alright, you go ahead.”

Although Jiang Xiaobai had never driven a car herself, the original owner of her body had. From the memories, she knew that driving wasn’t too difficult, especially since it wasn’t rush hour. It shouldn’t be a problem.

However, once she got behind the wheel, she realized it wasn’t as easy as she thought!

It took her immense effort just to get the car out of the parking spot. The car wobbled so much that the parking lot security guard was alarmed and urgently directed her—

“Turn left and go straight, ease on the accelerator, don’t turn the steering wheel too much… too much, back up! Go straight, you’re not even going straight…”

The security guard seriously doubted whether Jiang Xiaobai even knew how to drive or if she even had a driver’s license.

But he was overthinking it. Jiang Xiaobai’s driver’s license was always in her bag, just in case she needed it.

Jiang Xiaobai was also a bit nervous, but she thought it was just because she was new to driving and would get used to it eventually. So, she calmed herself down.

No worries, she had a protective charm with her. Nothing bad would happen!

And indeed, nothing bad happened, because Jiang Xiaobai’s driving speed…

“Why isn’t the car moving? Did it break down? This old car really needs to be replaced…” Li Wei mumbled from the back seat, then turned over.

Jiang Xiaobai: “…”

Li Wei probably wasn’t fully asleep, as she occasionally muttered something incomprehensible, but whether it was pain or love, it was all about that person.

Jiang Xiaobai hesitated for a moment, then pulled the car over to the side of the road and spoke to her—

“Li Wei, when I told you to take the initiative last time, I was just joking.”

“…Huh?” Li Wei was confused.

“That kind of thing should happen naturally when two people are in love. If it starts off wrong, the outcome might not be ideal either.” Jiang Xiaobai spoke slowly so Li Wei could understand better. “He’s a responsible person, but I hope you can cherish yourself and find someone who truly makes you happy, not…”

Not someone who makes you drink and cry.

Li Wei didn’t respond. She remained silent and motionless, unusually quiet.

Jiang Xiaobai didn’t say anything more. She was genuinely afraid that Li Wei might take her earlier advice seriously and act on it, so she felt the need to warn her.

She didn’t want her casual joke to harm her.

After that, she continued driving.

By the time Jiang Xiaobai reached the community entrance, Uncle Li was already on the verge of losing his patience.

He had started to wonder if he had come to the wrong place, as it had taken so long for them to arrive. He considered calling to check but was afraid that his call might distract Jiang Xiaobai and cause an accident, so he held back. But now, he was at his limit.

Seeing Jiang Xiaobai finally arrive, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Xiaobai drove into the community and saw that the lights in the house were still on, indicating that Li Wei’s family was still awake.

As soon as she parked the car, someone came out of the house. Upon seeing Li Wei’s car, they exclaimed—

“Li Wei, you’re finally back! Why did it take so… oh!”

The beautiful woman was startled when she saw Jiang Xiaobai helping Li Wei out of the car and quickly walked over.

“Auntie, don’t worry. Li Wei is just drunk.”

Jiang Xiaobai and the woman helped Li Wei into the house, and then Jiang Xiaobai prepared to leave. However, Li Wei’s mother stopped her, “Thank you so much today. Are you also a friend of Li Wei’s? I don’t think I’ve seen you before. By the way, how did Li Wei end up drinking so much? She usually hates alcohol. Did something happen?”

Her face was full of concern.

“I’m not entirely sure either. Maybe you can ask her when she wakes up.”

Jiang Xiaobai knew it had something to do with Wei Shaoye but didn’t mention it. After saying that, she politely excused herself.

After she left, Li Wei’s mother brewed a cup of hangover tea and brought it over to Li Wei, who was lying on the sofa.

She then took a towel soaked in warm water and gently wiped Li Wei’s face.

Li Wei’s eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. When she saw her mother, she burst into tears—

“Mom… I feel so terrible…”

“Is it because of him?” Li Wei’s mother patted her back and asked softly.

“Yes… I went to the bar today and had his friend call him over. We played Truth or Dare…” Li Wei didn’t hold back and tearfully recounted what had happened.

Wei Shaoye chose Truth, and when asked if he had someone he loved, he hesitated for a moment before answering:

“Yes, I’ve always kept her in my heart.”

This sentence shattered Li Wei. She immediately kicked everyone out and started drinking alone until she got drunk and couldn’t help but call Jiang Xiaobai.

After hearing this, Li Wei’s mother fell silent for a moment. She gently stroked Li Wei’s hair, looking at her fragile and heartbroken daughter with eyes full of love.

“Li Wei, it’s not wrong for a girl to pursue love. But if you can’t win his heart, it means you’re chasing the wrong person. If you met his standards and preferences, he wouldn’t leave you without any hope. His words were also meant for you to hear.”

Li Wei bit her lip, her eyes reddening again.

“You’re a good girl. You’re brave and smart, and he’s also a good person. He didn’t play with your feelings and didn’t want to lead you on. Both of you are good people, but if you can’t be together, it’s better to let go gracefully and leave each other with a smile. That way, he’ll respect you for your sincerity.”

“But Mom… I can’t let go… The thought of him living his life without me makes me feel so empty.”

“You feel empty, so you want to cling to him? In the end, your feelings have nothing to do with him. Why should he tolerate your constant pursuit? Could it be a burden for him?”

Li Wei’s mother’s words seemed harsh, but her eyes were filled with tenderness, and her hand gently stroked her daughter’s hair. “Being with the wrong person will only make you doubt and negate yourself, but good relationships bring joy and happiness. Li Wei, I just want you to be happy.”

“Mom, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated myself like this…”

Li Wei buried herself in her mother’s arms, holding on tightly, her body trembling slightly.

“But I just can’t understand. What’s so great about Jiang Xiaobai? Why can’t he see how good I am? Mom, you saw Jiang Xiaobai just now. Is she prettier than me?” Li Wei cried for a while, then looked up at her mother with tearful eyes.

“So that’s Jiang Xiaobai…” Li Wei’s mother was a bit surprised but then asked a question in return, “Objectively speaking, do you think Feng Han is worse than Wei Shaoye?”

Li Wei was stunned, opening her mouth but unable to say anything.

 

 

Chapter 143: The Other Jiang Xiaobai

“Feng Han’s family background is even stronger than ours. He’s handsome, polite, and has two master’s degrees. He’s completely devoted to you, rejecting all other women, even the Shen family’s daughter. What’s wrong with him? Can’t think of anything, can you? In fact, if I hadn’t brought him up, you might have completely forgotten about him. What does that tell you?”

Li Wei’s mother glanced at her daughter and said calmly, “It tells you that what you think is deep affection means nothing to others.”

Li Wei felt as if an arrow had pierced her heart. She slumped down and continued to whimper, “Mom, you’re so cruel. Don’t you love me anymore…”

“That’s a separate matter. I just don’t want you to sink deeper into this,” Li Wei’s mother continued. “Also, you like Wei Shaoye—that’s your business. He likes Jiang Xiaobai, not you—that’s his business. So, this has nothing to do with Jiang Xiaobai. Don’t take your frustration out on her, understand?”

“I’m not taking it out on her. I haven’t caused her any trouble. I’m just upset that I’ve been overshadowed by a silly woman.”

Li Wei quickly explained.

Her drunkenness had already worn off. In truth, it wasn’t the alcohol that had intoxicated her but her emotions. After drinking the hangover tea and having this heart-to-heart with her mother, she felt much better.

“Silly?” Li Wei’s mother was puzzled.

Li Wei shrugged. “Jiang Xiaobai comes from a good family, and I heard her parents actually wanted her to take over the company, but she refused, insisting on pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Isn’t that silly?”

Li Wei’s mother gave her a reproachful look. “You don’t know everything about her. How can you make such a one-sided judgment based on a few words? You think she’s silly, but what do you think others would say about you chasing after Wei Shaoye so desperately? Wouldn’t they think you’re silly too?”

Li Wei: “…”

That made some sense.

Jiang Xiaobai was driven home by Uncle Li. On the way back, she kept thinking about Li Wei’s comment.

Silly? How am I silly?

She pondered but couldn’t come up with an answer, so she decided to put the thought aside. After returning home and freshening up, she took out the dream inducing talisman to examine it.

Jiang Xiaobai was also a bit nervous. She didn’t know if the original owner of her body was still alive. If her soul had already departed, the dream inducing talisman would be ineffective.

Let’s give it a try, just to settle this matter once and for all.

Jiang Xiaobai opened a locked drawer and rummaged through it before pulling out a small stuffed bear.

This drawer contained her most cherished possessions from childhood, and this bear was her favorite. Though it was old, the memories it held were still vivid.

Jiang Xiaobai returned to her bed, placed the bear next to her pillow, and with a flick of her wrist, activated the dream inducing talisman above the bear.

The talisman’s spiritual energy transformed into invisible light particles, all of which seeped into the bear.

Jiang Xiaobai lay down, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

Thanks to the protective spiritual energy, Jiang Xiaobai’s body was healthy and free of any ailments. Insomnia was never an issue for her, and within five minutes, she felt her consciousness growing heavy.

During this process, she could clearly sense the changes around her. Everything turned pitch black, but a hazy light appeared in the distance, growing closer and larger.

Suddenly, the light trembled and unfolded before her eyes like a scroll!

At this moment, Jiang Xiaobai was so moved that she almost cried—

The dream inducing talisman had worked. She was still alive!

This was simply incredible!

Then, Jiang Xiaobai watched as if she were viewing a silent film. Images slowly appeared before her, telling the story of “her” life.

The first scene was an explosion, with dust and smoke rising everywhere. A figure lay motionless under the rubble, a rope visible around their neck, but it was empty.

The next scene showed her sitting up in a room, looking utterly confused, especially when she saw the room filled with talisman books and manuals. Her eyes were filled with uncertainty.

Then, her master, the Sect Leader of the Talisman Sect, came to visit her, offering gentle comfort and precious pills to ease her discomfort. She took the pills in silence, unsure of what to say.

After that, she stared at herself in the mirror, lost in thought, as if slowly coming to terms with the sudden turn of events.

Gradually, “she” began to change, transitioning from confusion to determination.

She declined the concern and care of others, locking herself in her room to study the talisman books diligently. She worked hard to memorize the symbols and even tried drawing them, though she failed repeatedly at first. After all, creating talismans required talent and wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

But her resilient nature shone through. She tried again and again, starting with the most basic talismans and gradually increasing the difficulty. Though the failure rate remained high, she began to see some success.

Two scenes, in particular, deeply moved Jiang Xiaobai.

One was when she picked up a brush to draw a talisman but ended up sketching the outline of a stuffed bear. She stared at the bear, tears streaming down her face.

The other was when she took out all the precious talismans and materials from her storage ring and laid them out on the table. Her eyes scanned each item, and after a moment of silence, she performed a deep bow.

After bowing, she straightened up and gazed into the void, her eyes filled with gratitude and guilt.

As these scenes played out, Jiang Xiaobai clenched her fists in her sleep, biting her lower lip.

When the final scene faded, the light dissipated, and everything returned to calm.

Jiang Xiaobai slowly opened her eyes.

She sat up in the dark, hugging her knees, tears welling up in her eyes, but her lips curved into a wide smile.

It’s wonderful, truly wonderful. Not only is she alive, but she’s also adapting to her new identity as a talisman master. It’s clear that she genuinely loves this unfamiliar yet familiar profession.

Jiang Xiaobai finally pieced together what had happened before her death.

The heavenly punishment had indeed caused an explosion, destroying the laboratory. She should have been blown to pieces, but the top-tier protective talisman around her neck had preserved her body.

Her body was unharmed, but her soul was rejected by the world of Yaoyue Continent and was somehow swapped with Jiang Xiaobai from another world.

 

 

Chapter 144: A Place to Belong

Perhaps the “deaths” of the two occurred simultaneously, or perhaps there was some unknown connection between them. In any case, their lives were destined to undergo earth-shattering changes.

Two people who should have died were now living on, albeit with different identities and appearances. Though their surroundings had changed, both of them, being strong-willed, were not defeated. Instead, they picked themselves up and started anew.

From the scenes she had witnessed, Jiang Xiaobai could tell that the original owner’s reaction upon waking up was the same as hers. She had also accepted her new identity and profession, perhaps even with the intention of living well in Jiang Xiaobai’s stead.

Both of them were filled with gratitude and guilt for the extra lifespan and the new life they had been given.

The storage ring in the final scene was no ordinary item. It had been personally requested by Jiang Xiaobai’s master from the Sect Leader of the Artifact Sect and crafted by one of their elders. Her master had gifted it to her as a token of her apprenticeship.

The items inside were anything but ordinary. Jiang Xiaobai herself was a top-tier talisman master in the sect, and her master was a renowned elder. Their wealth and status ensured that the contents of the ring were of immense value.

Inside were all the precious talismans Jiang Xiaobai had crafted over the years, as well as rare talisman plates, pre-mixed talisman fluids, and other materials. As for money, there was no need to even mention it.

To put it bluntly, even if the original owner had no talent for creating talismans and ended up as an ordinary person, any single talisman from the ring could be sold for enough money to ensure a lifetime of luxury.

Moreover, things wouldn’t turn out that badly.

Jiang Xiaobai had access to the original owner’s memories, and conversely, the original owner should have access to Jiang Xiaobai’s memories. So even if she knew nothing about talismans, she could quickly learn with the guidance of Jiang Xiaobai’s memories. Even if she wasn’t as skilled as Jiang Xiaobai, she would still far surpass an average talisman master.

Not to mention, she was a highly motivated individual.

So, for her, rising to prominence was only a matter of time.

“Xiaobai, I wish you peace and prosperity. May you find your place in that world.”

Jiang Xiaobai spoke softly, offering her heartfelt blessing.

At that moment, far away, the person in the dream seemed to sense something. She suddenly opened her eyes, filled with astonishment, joy, and emotion.

In the next instant, she jumped out of bed and rushed barefoot to the bookshelf, frantically searching for something. Finally, she found a talisman book.

She opened the table of contents, her fingers sliding down the lines until they stopped at three words—

Dream Inducing Talisman!

The next morning, Jiang Xiaobai went for a jog. Knowing that the original owner was alive had lifted a weight off her mind, and her good mood made her appear even more radiant and full of energy.

“This child has changed some of her bad habits after two years of work. It seems that letting her live independently wasn’t entirely without benefits.”

Jiang Xiaobai’s mother remarked to her father with a smile, clearly pleased.

Her father thought for a moment and nodded reluctantly.

Their daughter had many talents, but when it came to physical activity, she was extremely lazy. Forget jogging; even getting her to wake up early was a struggle.

But now, she was voluntarily waking up early and even jogging to stay fit! This was truly remarkable.

Jiang Xiaobai had been carefully observing her parents’ reactions during their interactions. Noticing that they were pleased rather than suspicious about her changes, she gradually felt more at ease.

After all, she and the original owner were two different people with different experiences, preferences, temperaments, and habits. No matter how well she pretended, over time, someone would surely notice the differences. This had been a concern for her.

But after some consideration, Jiang Xiaobai realized this wasn’t a problem.

This was a world of atheism. If someone’s personality changed, people would naturally attribute it to their experiences.

If the change was for the better, it was seen as growing up and maturing. If it was for the worse, it was assumed to be the result of some trauma.

In short, no one would think, “Has her core been replaced?” or “Has she swapped bodies with someone else?”

Moreover, Jiang Xiaobai had the original owner’s residual memories, so there would be no major inconsistencies or red flags. Under normal circumstances, she shouldn’t arouse suspicion.

The same applied to the original owner. Even though people in that world possessed abilities like talisman crafting and alchemy, the concept of soul swapping had never occurred. Therefore, no one would think in that direction.

Even if her behavior changed or her talisman skills declined, with the experience of “nearly being blown up while crafting a talisman,” people would simply assume her abilities had regressed due to physical trauma, rather than suspecting anything else.

Jiang Xiaobai was well aware that since she had taken over the original owner’s body, she would also take on her responsibilities, such as caring for her family. She had already been secretly using talismans to improve their health and would do her utmost to ensure their safety.

She believed the original owner would do the same, treating her master and family with kindness.

With that, she could rest easy.

Over the past two days, Jiang Xiaobai’s Weibo had exploded due to the giveaway she had announced. The number of reposts, comments, and likes had skyrocketed, and her follower count had also increased significantly.

Today was the day the winners would be announced. The official draw took place, and the usernames of the two winners were revealed.

Zhu Zhu had been keeping an eye on Weibo and immediately contacted the winners to request their photos.

One winner provided a photo of themselves, while the other sent a picture of their pet.

Since Jiang Xiaobai’s drawing process would be recorded and posted online, providing a personal photo meant exposing it to the scrutiny of countless netizens.

Following Dong Ran’s instructions, Zhu Zhu had already confirmed with the winner who provided a personal photo that they were okay with it being made public.

Zhu Zhu took screenshots of their conversation as evidence to avoid any disputes later, though the likelihood was slim. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry.

Jiang Xiaobai received the two photos in the early afternoon. After some thought, she decided to start working on them since she had nothing else to do.

Her home was equipped with filming equipment. While Jiang Xiaobai wasn’t familiar with handling such devices, Uncle Li’s son, Da Yong, was an amateur photography enthusiast with considerable skill.

So, Uncle Li called his son over to record Jiang Xiaobai’s drawing process.

Drawing was a simple task for Jiang Xiaobai, and she completed it quickly. After filming, Da Yong immediately began editing the video on the computer at her home.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 145: Sister is Dancing

This was post-production work. Jiang Xiaobai had originally planned to send the video to Sister Ran and have her find someone to handle it. Tangming had plenty of skilled people, so finding someone wasn’t a problem.

But Da Yong was very interested and insisted on doing it himself, so Jiang Xiaobai agreed.

An hour later, she received the edited video. After sending it to Sister Ran for a preliminary review, Jiang Xiaobai gave Da Yong a red envelope containing 2,000 yuan as a token of appreciation.

After watching the video, Sister Ran was very satisfied and immediately logged into Jiang Xiaobai’s account to upload it.

In the video, Jiang Xiaobai was sitting in a spacious room. The walls behind her were adorned with several paintings, and in the distance, there was a piano. In the corner stood a vase filled with fresh and vibrant multi-headed roses, adding a touch of charm.

Jiang Xiaobai sat by the window, a canvas in front of her. Her phone was propped up beside the easel, displaying a cute photo of a kitten.

She was sketching the kitten, her hand moving gracefully. With a few soft strokes, the outline of the kitten began to take shape on the paper.

Background music was added to the video—a serene and leisurely instrumental piece. Listening to the soothing melody while watching Jiang Xiaobai meticulously bring the lifelike drawing to life created a sense of tranquility and timelessness for the viewers.

Jiang Xiaobai was wearing a casual cotton dress, loose and comfortable. As she raised her arm to draw, the loose sleeves fluttered gently in the breeze, swaying like leaves.

Her hair was tied up casually with a hairband, loosely resting on her back.

Everything about the scene was relaxed and comfortable, like lounging in a hammock on a sunny afternoon, with a cup of rich coffee on the table and a cat curled up at your feet.

The viewers were immersed in the video’s soothing atmosphere, feeling an unparalleled sense of comfort and ease.

The two completed drawings had already been sent to the winners by Jiang Xiaobai’s maid.

Jiang Xiaobai logged into Weibo, clicked on the video to review it, and found no issues. She casually glanced at the comments, which were mostly praises and likes. For now, there were no signs of haters.

With nothing else to do, she started scrolling through Weibo.

The trending topics were mostly current news or gossip about popular celebrities. Jiang Xiaobai browsed through them, scrolling down until she suddenly paused at one particular post.

“EG Wins Domestic Championship Again! Congratulations!”

EG?

Wasn’t that the team her brother Jiang Zhiyi used to be part of?

Jiang Xiaobai instinctively clicked on the post and, upon closer inspection, found herself deep in thought.

The competition had taken place last week, divided into several rounds. The final result was EG winning the domestic championship, and the team would be participating in the year-end global competition.

The final match had taken place yesterday, and this news was also published yesterday.

Winning the championship wasn’t surprising. The team was indeed strong, and even if they had made mistakes, they would still have ranked within the top three domestically. So, their victory wasn’t unexpected.

What surprised Jiang Xiaobai was—

Last week, EG was competing, and her brother Jiang Zhiyi had coincidentally disappeared for a few days to attend a “wedding” out of town…

What a coincidence!

With this in mind, Jiang Xiaobai clicked on her brother’s Weibo account.

Jiang Zhiyi actually had two Weibo accounts. One was his official verified account as an EG player, named “Ni Liu,” and the other was his personal account.

Jiang Xiaobai now entered the “Ni Liu” account and found the latest post, published last night at 11 PM—

“Congratulations to my brothers on the championship! I’m so happy for you! Tomorrow at 7 PM, I’ll be duo-streaming with Ruo Ye on Paopao Yu. Remember to tune in!”

Below the text was a photo of Jiang Zhiyi standing shoulder-to-shoulder with five boys in EG uniforms, all smiling brightly as they held the golden trophy.

Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t help but chuckle.

What a unique wedding! Five boys—who’s marrying whom?

But he’s streaming tonight?

Jiang Xiaobai checked the time. It was now 6:10 PM, and his stream would start in fifty minutes.

After some thought, she went to the computer and turned it on.

This was the study’s computer, originally belonging to the previous owner. Naturally, it didn’t have the game “League of Glory” installed, so Jiang Xiaobai downloaded it.

While the download was in progress, she opened the Paopao Yu live-streaming platform’s web version and started browsing aimlessly.

The platform’s content was diverse, broadly divided into gaming and talent/entertainment sections.

Jiang Xiaobai had only watched one live stream before—Li Biying’s—which fell under the talent/entertainment category. She wasn’t very familiar with the gaming section.

She clicked around briefly. The talent/entertainment section was divided into “Star Talent” and “Food & Outdoors.”

The “Food & Outdoors” section wasn’t particularly interesting, mostly consisting of eating shows. Jiang Xiaobai glanced at it and closed the page.

She opened the “Star Talent” section.

The page was filled with small windows, almost all featuring young, pretty girls. Jiang Xiaobai clicked on one randomly and was immediately startled, nearly dropping her mouse.

It was a girl performing a hot dance.

She was dressed very revealingly—a crop top, spaghetti straps, showing off her midriff, and wearing tight shorts so short she couldn’t even squat. Her long legs were fully exposed, and she was wearing high heels.

Her dyed wine-red hair was loose, and she was gyrating wildly to the beat of the music, swaying her hips and sending seductive glances at the camera, occasionally licking her lips.

Her movements were full of suggestive undertones.

The comments were filled with “666” and “Report this lewd streamer.”

This… is live streaming?

Talent streaming?

At this moment, Jiang Xiaobai questioned her life, wondering if she had accidentally stumbled onto some adult website.

But upon checking, it was indeed Paopao Yu.

The title of this stream was “Sister is Dancing~.”

The streamer was still dancing energetically, but Jiang Xiaobai, who had formally studied dance, could tell that this was just “club-style” dancing with no real technique.

The girl looked to be in her early twenties, but it was hard to say if she was actually pretty.

The software’s beauty filter was too strong, almost flattening her facial features and making her skin as white as the wall behind her.

In such a state, her appearance was distorted, making it impossible to judge whether she was attractive or not.

Even as a girl, Jiang Xiaobai felt her face flush and quickly closed the page.

 

Chapter 146: Deep Sea Bomb

After that, Jiang Xiaobai didn’t dare to click around randomly anymore. She casually browsed the news until 7 PM, when she entered Jiang Zhiyi’s live stream.

By then, he was already set up, sitting next to Ruo Ye.

Jiang Zhiyi was showing his face during the stream, but it was more for show. The main screen displayed the game interface, while his video feed was in the bottom left corner, about the size of a passport photo, making it hard to see his features clearly.

This was intentional. Since he had already retired from the gaming scene and started working in the family business, Jiang Zhiyi didn’t want to be too visible online.

Jiang Zhiyi wasn’t much of a talker. He greeted the camera briefly, then teamed up with Ruo Ye for a duo match.

Ruo Ye was a jungler, while Jiang Zhiyi had played as a mid-lane mage during his competitive days. Together, their skills were formidable.

Jiang Xiaobai silently watched the stream, feeling a pang of emotion.

She didn’t understand the finer details of the game, but even she could see how skilled her brother was. His focus and confidence while playing were rare sights, and it was clear how much he loved this profession. Unfortunately, he had been forced to retire due to family pressure.

Jiang Zhiyi and Ruo Ye dominated the match, ending it in under 20 minutes with a landslide victory.

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai clicked her mouse on a spot at the bottom of the screen, and instantly, a banner appeared at the top of the video—

“Whitey Whitey has sent a Deep Sea Bomb in Ni Liu’s live stream! Come and grab the gifts!”

This banner acted as a portal. Clicking on it would take viewers directly to Ni Liu’s stream.

The Deep Sea Bomb was the most expensive gift on the Paopao Yu live-streaming platform, costing 6,666,000 Paopao coins, equivalent to 6,666 yuan.

Sending this gift triggered special effects. Not only did it bring viewers to the stream via the link, but it also dropped a treasure chest shortly after, allowing viewers to collect gifts and Paopao coins. Lucky viewers could even make a small fortune.

After the Deep Sea Bomb was sent, the number of viewers skyrocketed, increasing by hundreds of thousands in an instant.

Jiang Zhiyi was momentarily stunned.

During the game, he had seen many gift notifications, ranging from a few yuan to hundreds, and even some over a thousand. But he hadn’t paid much attention, as the platform took a cut, leaving only a small amount for him. He didn’t care about such small sums.

However, the Deep Sea Bomb was different. While the money wasn’t significant, the boost in viewership was real. This didn’t matter much to him, but it was a great opportunity to increase Ruo Ye and EG’s visibility.

So, he broke his usual silence and said, “Thank you for the gift. It’s very generous.”

Compared to other streamers, his reaction was quite subdued.

But soon, he couldn’t stay calm anymore.

Because the notifications for Deep Sea Bombs kept coming, one after another. He counted—there were six in total!

That was nearly 40,000 yuan!

He was stunned, and so were the viewers in the stream.

The impact of one banner versus six consecutive banners was completely different. In no time, Jiang Zhiyi’s stream was flooded with viewers, and the numbers kept climbing.

Some people had come specifically because they heard he was streaming, but many others were drawn in by the gifts, either to collect rewards or just to watch the spectacle.

“666, we’ve got a big spender here!”

“Rich person, please adopt me! I’m great at eating!”

“Six bombs? Wow, there are so many wealthy people.”

The comments in the chat were flying by so fast they were almost unreadable.

Although Jiang Zhiyi wasn’t short on money, he had never spent 40,000 yuan on a streamer before. The sudden influx of gifts left him at a loss for words.

But it didn’t stop there. After the six bombs, there was a brief pause, but soon, four more were sent.

Ten bombs in total—66,660 yuan.

“Uh, thank you for your support, but please don’t send any more. This is too much, and I’m starting to feel embarrassed,” Jiang Zhiyi quickly said after regaining his composure. “Are you an EG fan? If so, the two of us can play a game with you as a thank-you.”

“Ahhh, the pros are carrying someone! I’m so jealous!”

“And it’s both of them! I’m envious.”

“Who’s jealous? You can get carried too if you spend 60,000!”

“I’m a lemon right now.”

“Big spender, go for it! I want to see how a rich person plays!”

The comments continued to flood the chat.

Jiang Xiaobai thought for a moment, then typed and sent a message—

“Big Brother, you’re amazing. I’ll always be your fan.”

Jiang Zhiyi struggled to find Jiang Xiaobai’s comment among the thousands of messages. When he saw it, he couldn’t help but smile, his posture straightening.

His grin stretched from ear to ear.

This was what you called charisma! Even after retiring, he still had fans supporting him like this. And listen to how she addressed him—this was definitely a girl!

Only girls called him “Big Brother,” as male fans usually called him “Brother Liu.”

“Thank you for your support, miss. Would you like to play a game with us?” he asked, clearly excited.

He was going to carry a girl! He was going to carry a girl!

Jiang Xiaobai: “…”

Didn’t she just call him “Big Brother”? Why didn’t he recognize her?

She didn’t realize how common the term “Big Brother” was. Jiang Zhiyi hadn’t even considered that it might be her!

“Let’s not play today. Maybe another time,” she typed.

This stream was meant to promote EG, and it had a limited runtime. She didn’t want to interfere.

“Alright, my assistant will send you a private message with my email. You can contact me anytime you want to play,” Jiang Zhiyi nodded, not pushing further.

Jiang Xiaobai didn’t say anything more. Jiang Zhiyi streamed for two hours, and she stayed until the end before closing the stream.

As soon as she turned off the computer, her phone rang.

Looking at the number, it seemed familiar. After a moment, she realized it was the same number Li Wei had called from yesterday.

“Li Wei?”

“Jiang Xiaobai, I need to talk to you. Can you come over?”

Li Wei’s tone was direct.

She had something to discuss?

Jiang Xiaobai was puzzled but agreed.

“Sure, send me the address.”

After hanging up, Jiang Xiaobai changed her clothes and headed out.

She had considered driving herself but then remembered her driving skills…

Never mind. Better to trouble Uncle Li.

Meanwhile, at a private restaurant.

“I’ve caused you some trouble these past few days. I’m sorry. I know what to do now.”

Li Wei stood up, picked up her glass, and smiled at the person across from her, her demeanor calm and composed, though a hint of something deeper lingered in her eyes.

 

Chapter 147: The Moon is Beautiful

Wei Shaoye stood up across from her, gently clinking his glass with hers. “Weiwei, I’m also sorry… We can still be friends in the future.”

He looked apologetic, finishing his drink and then stopping Li Wei from pouring more. “Girls shouldn’t drink too much. It’s bad for your health. It’s getting late, let me take you home.”

His demeanor was gentle, his tone calm, and his presence was striking. When he looked at someone, his gaze was focused, warm, and deep. In every way, he was exactly the kind of person she liked.

But… she had no choice but to carve him out of her heart.

Li Wei forced a smile, averting her eyes to avoid meeting his gaze. “No need to take me home. I just called someone to meet me. She’ll be here soon.”

She had made the call to Jiang Xiaobai outside the private room, so Wei Shaoye hadn’t heard.

Wei Shaoye nodded, and the two of them walked out together.

The private restaurant was like a small park, with a beautiful environment. The courtyard was filled with flowers, plants, and trees, and the lights had a rustic charm, creating a serene atmosphere.

Li Wei walked slowly, with Wei Shaoye by her side, maintaining a respectful distance.

“Shaoye, don’t you think the moon is especially beautiful tonight?” she suddenly said, looking up at the sky with excitement.

Wei Shaoye paused for a moment, then looked up at the night sky.

It was a rare clear night. The moon was round and bright, hanging in the sky with a few small stars scattered around it. It was indeed beautiful.

Wei Shaoye glanced at it briefly before looking away. “It’s nice, but today is the 15th of the lunar month. A full moon is just part of the cycle.”

Li Wei’s expression faltered, and she lowered her head, walking silently beside him.

Li Wei hadn’t driven here herself. Wei Shaoye had picked her up from her home. Since he had anticipated drinking, he had arranged for his family’s driver to bring the car, which was parked not far ahead.

When Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the private restaurant, she saw Wei Shaoye and Li Wei standing at the entrance, talking.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to approach, but Li Wei spotted her immediately.

“Jiang Xiaobai!”

Li Wei quickly walked over and whispered something in her ear.

Jiang Xiaobai looked at her in confusion but nodded in agreement.

Wei Shaoye followed a few steps behind.

“Xiaobai, you’re back?” His eyes lit up, and his tone was gentle.

“Yes, I’ve been taking a rare break to spend some time with my parents,” Jiang Xiaobai replied with a smile.

“You work so hard. You should rest well when you’re back. If there’s anything you want to eat or do, just let me know. I’ll take you.”

Wei Shaoye glanced at Li Wei, his expression slightly puzzled.

Why had she called Jiang Xiaobai here?

But since it didn’t seem like trouble, he felt somewhat relieved.

“Thank you,” Jiang Xiaobai responded politely.

At this point, she noticed Li Wei giving her a meaningful look.

Jiang Xiaobai paused for a moment, then looked up at the sky and said with a sigh, “The moon is so beautiful tonight.”

Li Wei’s hand clenched unconsciously as she looked at Wei Shaoye.

“Yes, it really is beautiful.”

Wei Shaoye also looked up at the moon, his gaze deep and contemplative. Then he turned to Jiang Xiaobai and said, “And you’re especially beautiful tonight.”

Jiang Xiaobai pursed her lips, not responding, and glanced at Li Wei.

She didn’t understand why Li Wei had asked her to say that, but she could sense that the atmosphere had shifted.

Li Wei’s face had turned pale, and her eyes seemed distant. She stared at Wei Shaoye, and finally, something in her eyes shattered.

Suddenly, she smiled brightly, her expression radiant under the moonlight.

“Jiang Xiaobai, let’s go! I’ll treat you to some late-night snacks!”

She grabbed Jiang Xiaobai’s arm and pulled her toward the car, waving back at Wei Shaoye. “I’m leaving now. Bye!”

Jiang Xiaobai also waved at Wei Shaoye before getting into the car with Li Wei. As soon as they were inside, Li Wei said, “Please drive away from here. Quickly.”

Jiang Xiaobai had already noticed that Li Wei’s expression was off—stiff, and her hand was trembling.

“Uncle Li, let’s go to Fuhua Lane,” Jiang Xiaobai instructed.

“Got it.”

Uncle Li started the car, and they soon left the private restaurant behind.

At this point, Li Wei finally broke down and started crying.

See, it was such a simple sentence, but the two of them had received completely different responses.

She should have given up long ago. Witnessing this scene today had shattered her last bit of hope. She finally understood how right her mother’s words had been—

“Your so-called deep feelings mean nothing to others.”

If they meant nothing, then she didn’t need to give her heart away anymore.

Jiang Xiaobai didn’t say a word, letting her cry while quietly handing her tissues.

Li Wei had dressed up specially today. Her air bangs were natural, her hair ends curled, and her perfume was sweet but not overpowering. Her outfit was sexy but not provocative, and her makeup was flawless.

But now, she was crying messily, her makeup smudged in no time.

“I’m not going to eat. I look too ugly. I want to go home.”

She sniffled, her words barely coherent.

Her makeup was ruined, and for her, this was both embarrassing and unbearable.

“It’s fine. The late-night spot we’re going to is very private. You won’t run into anyone,” Jiang Xiaobai reassured her.

Li Wei paused, then asked, “Is the food good?”

Jiang Xiaobai, “…Didn’t you just eat?”

“I was too busy maintaining my manners. I didn’t actually eat much…” Li Wei said pitifully.

When they arrived at Fuhua Lane, Li Wei channeled her heartbreak into her appetite. After wiping off her lipstick, she started eating voraciously.

“That’s enough. If you eat any more, you’ll be too full to sleep,” Jiang Xiaobai said, slapping her hand away as she reached for a dessert.

Li Wei quickly pulled her hand back, glaring at her. “If you don’t want me to eat, just say so. No need to be so harsh.”

Jiang Xiaobai poured her a cup of hot tea but didn’t respond.

“I called you here to thank you, but I didn’t expect you to help me confirm something,” Li Wei said, holding the tea but not drinking it. She seemed to be warming her hands—or perhaps her cold heart.

“No need to thank me.”

“It’s so strange. We’ve met three times, and twice you’ve seen me cry. Even my closest friends from childhood haven’t seen me cry this much,” Li Wei said, her emotions stabilizing. She was starting to feel a bit embarrassed.

“If you think of me as a friend, you won’t feel so awkward.”

“Actually, I used to see you as a rival…” Li Wei sighed, then laughed at herself.

A rival? In reality, she wasn’t even qualified to be one.

In Wei Shaoye’s heart, no one could compare to Jiang Xiaobai.