Chapter 63: The Newcomers of Today

While the real world remained calm and undisturbed, ripples were spreading across the virtual network due to certain events. In the Stardust Platform’s streaming room, the host, Huang Ying, was providing live commentary on a game.

On his computer screen, the game’s protagonist was dispatching formidable enemies with swift, decisive movements, drawing a barrage of comments in the scrolling chat below the screen. Yet, as the one controlling the game, Huang Ying showed no signs of excitement. Not only was he accustomed to such scenes, but the number of viewers also fell short of his expectations.

Five point seven million viewers online!

Any other streamer would have worked themselves into a frenzy, striving to please this massive audience. Unfortunately, Huang Ying was not like the others.

His target was seven million. Falling short of this mark left him dissatisfied.

His irritation soon became apparent in his gameplay, with several unnecessary mistakes prompting the audience to frown and the comment section to fill with notes of discontent rather than adoration.

“Mistakes like that? Looks like Shadow’s skills are slipping.”

“Honestly, the streams have been getting dull lately. Two years ago, Shadow would crack jokes and play cute.”

“Yeah, it’s been ages since Shadow swore on stream.”

“Well, Huang Ying’s a legend now, the pillar of Stardust Platform!”

“Shut up, haters above! Stop smearing our Shadow!”

“Exactly, exactly...”

...

Seeing some of the malicious comments, Huang Ying frowned but said nothing; his fans had already drowned out those voices with their own rebukes.

How to attract fans, how to boost his popularity—did Huang Ying, now with seven million followers, not know these things? He simply no longer wished to exhaust himself.

Huang Ying was no longer the Shadow who lowered himself for fans, joking and cursing for their amusement. He no longer needed to curry favor with viewers or the Stardust Platform, nor did he have to degrade himself to win over fans.

Huang Ying knew his own worth very well: he was a superstar in the streaming world, the pillar of the Stardust Platform, and at his peak, he had nearly ten million followers. Among the hundreds of millions who watched the platform, how many didn’t know his name? Perhaps only a handful.

With fame and fortune in hand, Huang Ying had no reason to diminish his image for the sake of popularity. As for those fans who abandoned him because of this, Huang Ying didn’t care. To be a celebrity, one needed a certain air of aloofness—otherwise, how could he attract those female fans?

Casting aside these trivialities, Huang Ying composed himself and resumed the game. Years of practice had honed his skills; not a single mistake marred the remainder of the stream. Passionate fans once again filled the chat with declarations of love, and the reticent, moody Huang Ying was hailed as cool and mysterious. One had to admit, fans could be remarkably tolerant.

When the stream ended, Huang Ying was about to close the broadcast, but he paused upon glimpsing the final conversations in the chat.

“Shadow’s streams are great, but only once a week—too slow.”

“That’s right! I come to Stardust Platform just for Shadow’s streams.”

“Actually, some other streamers are good, too. Demon King isn’t bad.”

“You mean Little Angel! But it’s been ages since Little Angel posted anything—so frustrating.”

As for the rising star Pure-Hearted Little Angel, Huang Ying was, of course, aware—more than that, he took note.

Her very first video reached fifteen million views, something Huang Ying himself had never achieved. While clickbait videos often inflated numbers, he had to admit that when he was starting out, he didn’t have such power.

Huang Ying knew that because of his own capricious behavior in recent years, Stardust Platform had begun cultivating a new pillar. Judging by Pure-Hearted Little Angel’s recent popularity, she might very well replace him.

It was a dangerous sign. The last time he felt this threatened was when Qiushui Han began to rise, but fortunately, that young girl had no interest in streaming; otherwise, suppressing her would not have looked good for an industry veteran like him.

In a way, that foolishness saved Qiushui Han.

“Little Angel is fine, but the music legend Luoshui Tianyi has only ever posted one video.”

“Yeah, not nearly enough to listen to.”

“It’s original work, after all. Takes time. Covers would be nice too.”

“I’d be happy with a cover—I just want to hear her voice.”

“But have you noticed? Neither Little Angel nor Luoshen has signed a contract yet.”

“Right, at least offer them a formal contract! What is Stardust Platform thinking?”

...

“It’s not that Stardust Platform hasn’t offered, but these newcomers must be unhappy with the terms.” Seeing the heated discussion, Huang Ying spoke up, well-acquainted with such matters; had he not used this tactic himself?

He had forced Stardust Platform to upgrade his official contract to a platinum one after they recognized his potential, making him the fastest-rising streamer in the platform’s history.

“Even a formal contract should be a given, right? Is the platform really that blind?”

“With Little Angel’s potential, wouldn’t they offer her a formal contract? Maybe she’s aiming directly for platinum.”

“No way! Even our Shadow didn’t get platinum right away. Little Angel can keep dreaming.”

“Little Angel already has nearly four million fans; a platinum contract wouldn’t be out of line.”

...

“Platinum is absolutely out of the question. These new streamers are just too impatient and overambitious. Little Angel might manage it in a few years, so her eagerness is understandable. But Luoshui Tianyi? Does she think one video makes her a legend?”

Huang Ying sneered. Platinum contracts weren’t handed out so easily; only those who proved they could sustain popularity and meet Stardust Platform’s standards during live streams had a chance.

And how many platinum legends were there? Perhaps only a little over twenty across the entire platform.

These newcomers were truly delusional. Did they all think Stardust Platform was run by saints? In reality, the management were nothing but bloodsucking demons.

Huang Ying chuckled disdainfully. Newcomers should just obediently sign their rookie contracts.

Thanks to reader Single Aristocrat Husky for the reward of 500 Qidian coins, and to Fate & Destiny for the reward of 100 Qidian coins. Flowers all around.