Tianfu City, 2:00 AM.
Zhou Xiaochong hid under her covers, holding her phone in both hands and giggling foolishly.
Maybe it was because of the gathering tomorrow, but she didn’t feel sleepy at all right now.
On the contrary, she was more energetic than ever.
But the biggest reason had to be someone’s stubbornness.
“What the heck, you stingy jerk, I’ve begged for an hour and you still won’t send it.”
Zhou Xiaochong pouted, a bit annoyed.
From just past midnight until two o’clock, it had been over an hour already.
How could it be so hard to get a photo?
Hmph, whatever.
If you won’t give it, then you won’t.
We’re meeting tomorrow anyway, I’ll just take them myself then.
I’ll take hundreds or even thousands of photos to get back at you for tonight.
Chongchong: Chen, you stingy jerk, I’m going to sleep now, goodbye!
Chen Xiaoyan: Heaven has eyes—you’ve finally realized you’re sleepy?
Chongchong: It’s not because I’m tired, it’s because this great one has decided to spare you.
Chen Xiaoyan: Yes, yes, great one, you’re awesome, thanks for not killing me.
Chongchong: As long as you know.
After exiting the chat, Chongchong suddenly felt a bit lost.
Tomorrow would be considered their first meeting in real life.
Although they were meeting under the pretense of a gathering, how could you show up to a first meeting without a gift?
“What kind of gift should I prepare?”
Zhou Xiaochong bit her thumb’s nail, lost in thought.
Send a Red Envelope?
No, no, no, just giving money is too tacky, better pick something else.
What could resonate between the two of us?
She ran through all sorts of memories from the past month with Chen Xiaoyan in her mind.
Aside from dungeons, it was all leveling up—dull and boring.
Nothing particularly memorable, except for that time on the back mountain.
How about buying some Peach Blossom flowers online and weaving a flower crown?
She shook her head again at the thought.
It was already too late to buy Peach Blossom flowers now.
She needed to be in Zhongzhou by ten tomorrow, and had to get up at seven to wash up and dress.
There simply wasn’t enough time.
“Aiya~”
Zhou Xiaochong kicked at her blanket in frustration, anxious and at a loss.
This won’t do, that won’t do—what in the world should I do?
Sister Xiaoyan, that money-grubber, sending a Red Envelope is actually the most fitting.
Zhou Xiaochong recalled the scene when they first met in the game, her eyes lighting up at the mention of money.
It was obvious—she liked money.
Besides, who doesn’t love money?
Back then, during holidays, people gave all sorts of gifts.
Now it’s just one thing.
Money.
Yes, just give money.
I don’t believe there’s anyone nowadays who doesn’t like money.
So, Zhou Xiaochong picked up her phone, opened Penguin, entered the transfer amount, and was just about to hit send when she hesitated again.
Thinking it over, isn’t it a bit abrupt to just send money like that?
What reason should I use for sending it?
Can’t exactly say, “First time meeting, here’s a big Red Envelope for you,” can I?
Emmm
On the surface it seemed fine, but Zhou Xiaochong felt it was abrupt, a bit tacky.
Is there anything more special?
“Special, special…”
She repeated the word, recalling the past.
“Got it!”
Zhou Xiaochong exclaimed, immediately sitting up and making a call.
She remembered that a friend of her bestie was in the jewelry business.
It couldn’t hurt to ask her.
Only problem was, it was so late—would she be asleep?
“Doo…”
No answer on the first try.
Zhou Xiaochong didn’t get discouraged, and dialed again.
The second time.
Finally, on the third try, someone picked up.
“Who is it?”
The voice on the other end didn’t sound friendly.
Zhou Xiaochong didn’t mind—anyone would be cranky getting called in the middle of the night.
“Xin Jie, it’s me, Zhou Xiaochong, remember me?”
“Zhou Xiaochong? Hmm, rings a bell. What’s up, calling this late?”
“Can I custom order a necklace now? It’s super urgent, I’m begging you.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Xiaochong, you’re really making things hard for me.”
“I know it’s a bit abrupt, but I really don’t have any time, please!”
“Well, since a big star is asking me personally, it’d be rude not to help. But the price will be a bit higher.”
“No problem.”
“When do you need it?”
“Tomorrow morning, around eight or nine.”
Silence from the other end.
“Xin Jie, what’s wrong?”
“Only five or six hours, and taking out the prep time, just three or four hours. I might as well use magic and conjure it out of thin air.”
“So what should I do?”
“Sigh, custom order is impossible. Just buy a finished piece.”
“Really can’t do custom?”
“No, there’s just not enough time.”
“All right, Xin Jie, is there anything among the finished pieces with Peach Blossom? Send me some pictures to take a look.”
“Ok, contact me on Penguin, I’m hanging up now.”
After hanging up, Zhou Xiaochong felt a little disappointed.
No custom order meant the gift wouldn’t be perfect.
But with so little time, there was nothing she could do.
A dozen minutes later.
A message came in from Penguin.
Those beautiful necklaces—she almost couldn’t decide.
Some necklaces had Amber inlaid in them, and inside the Amber were Peach Blossom petals.
Some necklaces had chains shaped like Peach Blossom.
Some had gemstones in the shape of Peach Blossom.
There were all sorts—dozens of them.
Looking through them all, Zhou Xiaochong specially picked a pink gemstone in the shape of Peach Blossom.
Peach Blossom, pink—both fit perfectly with Tianxiang’s theme.
Xinran’s Home: Decided?
Chongchong: This one.
Xinran’s Home: This one’s over a million, Xiaochong, sure you don’t want to reconsider?
Chongchong: No, just this one.
Xinran’s Home: All right, since we know each other, cash on delivery. Send me your address.
Chongchong: Thank you, Xin Jie, but please keep the address private.
Xinran’s Home: Don’t worry, a businesswoman would never ruin her own reputation. But I am a bit curious—which lucky person made our Tianfu’s Moe Goddess rush to buy a gift in the middle of the night?
Chongchong: Who says? It’s for myself.
Xinran’s Home: Oh right, right, for yourself, for yourself (this humble monk has long since seen through worldly affairs).
Over a million…
Zhou Xiaochong opened the Online Bank app to check her balance.
Luckily, a steady eight digits.
These years, with Moe Goddess Pet’s exploding popularity, she’d made quite a lot.
But.
Eight digits wasn’t as much as it seemed.
If Tianfu’s side had fined her for stopping her streams for a few months, she’d probably have trouble even eating now.
Same goes for the Streaming Platform—don’t think they’re good people.
It’s just that she’s still useful to them, so they haven’t torn up the contract.
As the saying goes, the internet never remembers.
A few months of no streams—for other hosts, their popularity and fans would have plummeted.
But for her—
Only the old scandal affected her a bit, most fans were still there.
If she came out to clarify things now, returning to her peak would only be a matter of time.
After all, Tianfu’s Moe Goddess Pet was one of a kind.
That natural cuteness, coupled with a perfect loli appearance—who else could compare?
With the gift ready, Zhou Xiaochong felt one thing settled, and now she was really looking forward to seeing Chen Xiaoyan tomorrow.
Hehe, should I still habitually hug Sister Xiaoyan’s left arm when we meet?
Take it one step at a time.
The game is the game, real life is real life—this much Zhou Xiaochong understood.
She’d try first, and if Sister Xiaoyan didn’t like it, she’d stop for now, and save it for later when they got closer.
Yes, that’s the plan.
Having thought everything through, Zhou Xiaochong happily closed her eyes.
***
Far away in Qingzhou.
Chen Xiaoyan was chatting with Liu Yue, and by the way, telling her the time and place for tomorrow’s gathering.
She’d added Liu Yue a few days ago, but they hadn’t really chatted in real life.
If things kept going this way, let alone getting closer, there might not even be a chance for feelings to develop.
Liu Yue: Xiaoyan, I probably can’t make it tomorrow.