GEGBWFS 18

“Sales, huh?”

The host was worried Zhong Lu might use the opportunity to plug a product and quickly took over the conversation. “Looks like no matter their profession, the partners are all very supportive of our streamers.”

Meanwhile, on the invisible barrage of comments, things were blowing up.

【Why is Lulu so honest? Couldn’t even try to dress it up.】

【He did dress it up—’jointly developed by China and the U.S.’ Sounds fancy enough.】

【He could’ve just said he was ‘in the medical field.’ LOL my Lulu’s got the skills and just loves telling the truth.】

【Lulu, dump that MLM guy, I’ll take care of you!】

【Wtf, when did Lulu get a rich fan? They just shot him to the top of the leaderboard in minutes!】

President Huo, who had just returned from a month-long business trip in North America signing major joint research deals, had to admit—however reluctantly—that yes, a subsidiary of a subsidiary under the Huo Group umbrella did dabble in health supplements.

With the Huo Group’s brand backing them, unless you were at headquarters tackling medical breakthroughs, it was hard for the smaller companies not to make a buck off kidney tonics and calcium pills.

So technically, it wasn’t wrong, but it still didn’t sit right with him. Apparently, it didn’t leave much of an impression on Zhong Lu either, who didn’t even bother to mention his month abroad.

Huo Zhehan paused mid-click while trying to send another aircraft carrier gift.

One more wrong answer, one less aircraft carrier.

The host moved on to more questions.

“Is streaming your main job or a side gig?”

“Side gig.”

Huo Zhehan: One aircraft carrier deducted.

“Any streamers you would like to collaborate with?”

“No.”

Huo Zhehan: Two aircraft carriers gone.

The host got word from backstage that a big spender had entered the chat. Whenever Zhong Lu answered a question, this person would send an aircraft carrier.

Since hosts got a cut of gift revenue, the interviewer couldn’t help but direct a few extra questions his way.

Zhong Lu kept answering with curt, two-word replies—zero effort.

Then came a fluff question. “Let’s just imagine—just imagine—there’s no unboxing segment today. However, once you hit a million followers, Duoyou Live will organize a fan meet-up. What kind of gifts do you think fans might bring?”

“My fans might bring handwritten letters. I enjoy reading them.”

“I don’t accept gifts. Just tuning into my stream is enough.”

“If we’re meeting offline, don’t bring gifts—just a plastic bucket. I’ll take you clam digging!”

“…”

Everyone was being very polite. They knew better than to use this as an excuse to fish for gifts—either saying they don’t accept them or giving modest answers.

Huo Zhehan was curious what Zhong Lu might say. The guy had never asked him for anything.

“If there’s no question, don’t ask.”

Host: ?

Damn, did he just call me out for stalling with filler content? But your sugar daddy’s still throwing money like crazy!

Zhong Lu didn’t even need to think to know the chat was probably full of crossdressing.

He glanced up, gave the screen a cold stare, and said, “There’s no meet-up. I’m not doing one.”

Finally, the last segment began. The host picked up a phone and scrolled down the gift leaderboard. “Today’s top fan gets to ask one question to the streamer.”

The mic was passed to each streamer’s top fan.

Zhong Lu tensed, frowning. It was fine when people stirred up drama in his own stream, but if someone brought up crossdressing in front of everyone, he would shut down his whole channel the moment he got home.

He was already embarrassed before it even got to him.

The fans of the other streamers asked their questions, and finally, it was Zhong Lu’s turn. That’s when he noticed the top fan was a new face, someone he didn’t recognize. The ID was extremely dramatic: “Yong Bu Fang Qi” (Never Give Up).

“Yong Bu Fang Qi” declined to join the voice call.

Huo Zhehan hadn’t known about this segment. That top-fan spot? It’s worthless to him. He didn’t need to ask anything. If he said the word, Zhong Lu would come pick him up from work.

What was the point of being anonymous?

“Yong Bu Fang Qi” started typing.

Zhong Lu stared at the chat box. A moment later, a line popped up.

【Answer your husband’s profession again.】

Zhong Lu pressed his lips together. “Like I said… he sells health supplements.”

Even if you asked a hundred times, he was never going to out Huo Zhehan’s job. That would be the same as exposing his own identity.

Huo Zhehan’s last shred of pride? Shattered.

【Whoa, Lulu really does have a husband!】

【Lulu, what are you doing? Yong Bu Fang Qi paid for a second chance—at least say he’s a health expert!】

【Yong Bu Fang Qi is a true fan.】

【Notice how all his other answers are cold two-word replies, but when it comes to his husband, he suddenly gets all shy.】

【Even his tone changes—sweet and clingy. I’m jealous.】

After the interview, Zhong Lu checked the backend stats. Even after the platform took its cut, he had pocketed over a hundred thousand yuan tonight.

Wasn’t that more generous than Huo Zhehan?

No wonder some rich wives cheat—fancy life on the outside, but their husbands won’t give them spending money.

Zhong Lu had rich fans in his previous life too. No matter how much they tipped, he never messaged them privately and he wasn’t going to start now.

The money wouldn’t be available until next month after taxes. Zhong Lu took a look, then closed the dashboard and switched to watching game replays from the past year.

His phone buzzed. It was messages from the butler.

【Huo Group unveils new project: a breakthrough for gastric illness sufferers.】

【A look at future medical innovation through Huo Medical’s U.S. collaboration.】

【How powerful is the Huo Group? Watch this video and find out.】

【Twenty new medical patents secured—foreign firms can’t keep up!】

…

All forwarded public articles.

[Zhong Lu: ?]

[He Mian: You might be accompanying Mr. Huo to events soon. It would be helpful if you had a basic understanding of the company for small talk.]

[Zhong Lu: OK]

LOL. It’s not like he’s sitting around having afternoon tea with the rich wives’ club. Why does he need to know all that? Might as well use the time to watch a couple more games.

Even the butler didn’t quite understand why Mr. Huo suddenly wanted him to brief Zhong Lu on company affairs.

Huo Zhehan exited the livestream, clicked on Zhong Lu’s avatar to go to his profile, and called Huo Yu.

“Let me use your Duoyou account. Don’t log into it anymore.”

He had found out about Zhong Lu’s side hustle, but Huo Zhehan didn’t plan to confront him yet. He had a feeling Zhong Lu was hiding something. Maybe he would find clues through the account.

Huo Yu didn’t know what was going on. He was enjoying the good food and drink at Grandma’s house and couldn’t be bothered to think. “Okay.”

“Go to bed early.”

Thunk!

“What happened, Dad?”

Huo Zhehan replied calmly, “Just bumped a water cup. It’s nothing.”

【One loss and I’ll wear a dress on stream.】

Huo Zhehan stared at that title three times, his brows furrowing like he was about to kill someone.

That extreme?

How many times has he lost?

For some reason, Huo Zhehan felt like something important was being targeted. His face turned ice-cold as he clicked into the latest replay. From the flood of comments, he realized Zhong Lu hadn’t lost a single match.

Not only had he not lost, he was full of swagger and even declaring he would never lose. The fans were so provoked they started camping his stream just to catch him slip up. His fan engagement was off the charts.

On stream, Zhong Lu always looked cold and prickly, like a little hedgehog who had no choice but to venture into a crowd to gather fallen fruit—baring his spikes as he fiercely snatched up the apples under the tree.

Was this a different side of Zhong Lu? No, it was a side he had already shown while living at the Huo house, it’s just fully exposed on the internet now.

Kind of cute, actually. Who wouldn’t want to send him a truckload of apples?

Huo Zhehan didn’t know much about the game itself, only that Zhong Lu played way better than Huo Yu. He tried analyzing the comment section to gauge his skill.

【Keep smurfing. You’ll cry once you run into real pros.】

【This guy’s luck is ridiculous, but luck runs out eventually. Hang in there, we got this!】

【Why hasn’t WN come to shut him down yet?】

The comments were full of cope and salty fan chatter. Huo Zhehan, not knowing the nuances, assumed Zhong Lu was still below pro level and just hadn’t run into serious opponents yet.

His temples throbbed.

What if Zhong Lu really did lose?

He didn’t even worry this much when Huo Yu’s total score across seven final exams didn’t even reach 250.

He wanted to keep watching—but only by himself.

That night, Huo Zhehan slept poorly.

His body clock woke him at 6:30 as usual. He walked to the master bedroom door, stood silently for a moment, then went downstairs for a run.

With nothing urgent at the company and Huo Yu away, it was a rare moment of peace for the two of them.

7:15 AM, Huo Zhehan finished his run and read in the dining room. The educator was still sleeping.

8:15 AM, he watered the garden. Mist from the hose formed a rainbow. The educator was still sleeping.

8:45 AM, more reading.

9:45 AM, he vacuumed the cobweb-covered living room.

10:30 AM, he threw out expired groceries and ordered lunch.

The educator was still sleeping.

Catching a glimpse of him in the morning? Impossible.

At 11:00, Huo Zhehan returned to his study and drafted a daily schedule.

Had Zhong Lu stayed up gaming until 3 a.m. again after the stream? Clearly, one night of supervision hadn’t made any difference.

Huo Zhehan opened the bedroom door and saw Zhong Lu sleeping soundly. He stood at the doorway for five full minutes, then hardened his heart and woke him up.

Zhong Lu had been dreaming about a high-stakes match. He couldn’t lose because losing meant crossdressing. He was totally focused, nerves taut, when suddenly President Huo burst through the door, ripped out the Ethernet cable like wielding a sword, and said coldly, “You lost.”

His in-game character froze in place, mowed down in the open.

Lulu… had lost.

Abandon jolted awake, drenched in sweat.

He opened his eyes to see Huo Zhehan looming like the Black Reaper beside the bed. Rage surged to his forehead, and he swung a punch at Huo Zhehan’s waist.

Huo Zhehan reacted instantly, catching his fist in a strong palm, then smoothly locking down his elbow. In one move, he pulled Zhong Lu into his arms.

Back when Zhong Lu was fighting in the streets, Huo Zhehan was still in high school. Who had more experience was obvious. Without hesitation, Zhong Lu slammed into him again. His fingers gripped the fabric of Huo Zhehan’s shirt, and his legs pushed off, trying to pin Huo Zhehan against the wardrobe.

Huo Zhehan staggered back a step but caught him to stop him from falling off the bed.

“What are you freaking out about?”

Zhong Lu was soaked with sweat. That one line snapped him awake.

It’s just a dream. He hadn’t lost.

He glanced down at Huo Zhehan’s wrinkled shirt—one button had popped off, and his fingers were under the fabric, gripping bare skin.

He wiped his face and noticed a few red skin flakes under his nails.

Did he actually scratch him?

“Are you okay? Why did you suddenly barge into my room?”

Huo Zhehan had a few fresh scratches like a hedgehog had swiped at him, but he couldn’t complain. He pulled out the schedule.

“Take a look.”

Zhong Lu snatched the paper. One glance and his clear eyes darkened.

Seriously? Who the hell has a daily schedule chart at 24? He wasn’t in high school!

Up at 8 a.m., in bed before midnight, no more than two hours of gaming per day, with slight increases on weekends.

Two hours?! That’s not even enough for streaming! And didn’t he say three hours yesterday?

One hour less a day—at this rate, in three days he would be banned from playing altogether!

Zhong Lu narrowed his eyes. “No.”

“It’s for your health.”

With his sleep cycle flipped and meals all over the place, didn’t Zhong Lu realize he had already lost weight this past month?

Tutors usually helped with Huo Yu’s homework in the mornings. If he kept sleeping in, when would they even see each other? He was already being generous by leaving two hours open for Zhong Lu’s side gig.

Zhong Lu remembered how he had died in his last life. He understood the concern but he still resisted. “Why are you stricter with me than Huo Yu? I’m not your son.”

Huo Zhehan was briefly at a loss. It’s true, he didn’t even push Huo Yu to wake up at a set time—he just left it to the stepmother.

However… could he treat Zhong Lu like Huo Yu?

Then Huo Zhehan betrayed his son without hesitation. “You can manage Huo Yu however you like.”

That was the household hierarchy. As the one funding it all, President Huo had the right to set Zhong Lu’s schedule and in return, gave Zhong Lu the power to keep Huo Yu in check.

Zhong Lu lowered his eyes. His lashes cast a shadow across his face. Instinctively, he wanted to pretend to obey like yesterday.

How could a CEO with a thousand things to do keep track of how many hours a day a small-time streamer gamed?

He muttered, “Fine, whatever.”

Worst case, he would wake up at 8 to clock in, eat some breakfast, and go back to sleep. At least he wouldn’t be hungry.

Huo Zhehan grabbed his chin and made him look up, matching him move for move. “Huo Yu isn’t home. You’re coming to the office with me this afternoon.”

Zhong Lu’s eyes went wide. Was he trying to squeeze every last drop out of him?

“We’ll go after lunch.”

Zhong Lu’s head nearly caught fire. 

Huo Zhehan then dropped a bomb. “Don’t make me move into the master bedroom to supervise you.”

He was driving him to the edge.

“…Okay.”

Huo Zhehan finally vented a bit of his frustration after waiting on Zhong Lu all morning. After cleaning the house and working up a sweat, he went upstairs to shower.

As soon as he disappeared from sight, Zhong Lu jumped up and dashed to the garage, pulling out the little electric scooter.

Screw this rich-wife act.

He had a key to Ye Xianyun’s place. Ye Xianyun was at work, so Zhong Lu called to give him a heads-up and went over to crash.

It was way too hot outside—he just needed somewhere quiet.

He lay on Ye Xianyun’s wooden bench, staring at the mottled ceiling in a daze.

Seriously… he had just decided to take advantage of this rich-wife identity.