Volume 1, Chapter 19: I'll Take Care of You

"Fine!" Zheng Jiayuan agreed with remarkable readiness.

It was just a single rocket, after all. To her, it was nothing more than pocket change. As long as she could expose this fraud, it would be worth it!

Just as Zheng Jiayuan picked up her phone to swipe, she suddenly looked up and asked, "You won't just run off the moment I send the gift, will you?"

Lin Beibei reached for a makeup removal wipe, setting it aside as she curled her lips into a faint smile. "Don't worry, I'm not as much of a sore loser as you are."

Zheng Jiayuan’s expression turned sour instantly.

Who was a sore loser? She simply disdained playing along with a fake!

Stung by Lin Beibei’s words, a flush crept from Zheng Jiayuan’s neck all the way to the tips of her ears. Under Lin Beibei’s steady gaze, she sent the rocket.

The viewers in Lin Beibei’s live stream panicked and rushed to the opposing room to spam: [No, don't! Don't gift her!]

But it was already too late. Watching the rocket animation bloom on the screen, they felt as if their hearts were being sliced by knives.

Lin Beibei beamed at the camera. "Thank you~"

There, wasn't that enough for today's quota? This girl hadn't come to cause trouble; she had clearly come to deliver money!

It was the same last time, too. If not for this girl, those "fish" who treated her as a stand-in wouldn't have been so anxious to shower her with so many gifts.

"Alright, now start proving that face of yours!" Zheng Jiayuan was eager to see that familiar face crash and burn in real-time.

Upon receiving the rocket, Lin Beibei immediately showed Zheng Jiayuan her settings to confirm that all beauty filters were disabled, then picked up the makeup wipe to remove her cosmetics.

She allowed everyone watching to see clearly that even with a completely bare face, her facial features and contours were on par with—if not better than—Hua Jiu-nong under the influence of beauty filters.

*Enjoying a Wuss Life*: [Who on earth said Beibei would look terrible in natural light? She’s so pretty, how could she possibly look bad?]

*Leader of Sheep Village*: [This girl has guts! I bet even Hua Jiu-nong wouldn't dare do a no-filter, makeup-removal stream.]

Zheng Jiayuan froze instantly!

This wasn't at all what she had imagined. In her mind, the girl on the other side would turn off the filters and remove her makeup, only to look like some kind of hideous monster. But in reality, she looked exactly like Hua Jiu-nong!

If anything... her beauty seemed even more resilient than Hua Jiu-nong’s.

She remembered traveling with a close friend and running into Hua Jiu-nong once; the star had been wearing a thick layer of makeup. When Zheng had asked for a photo, Hua Jiu-nong had coldly refused. Still, Hua Jiu-nong was a top streamer, and it was understandable that she wanted to be a normal person in private. Who could blame her when she was so gentle and pretty?

But... why was the woman on the screen just as beautiful?

Damn it! It was so frustrating for a "face-con" who only wanted to love one person!

*Jiu-Jiu's Number One Fan*: [She actually removed all her makeup, and she still looks so much like her! She’s the real deal!]

*Enjoying a Wuss Life*: [I think I’m starting to fall for her!]

*Chewing on Pig Butt*: [Can you date me? Let me experience what it’s like to date Hua Jiu-nong!]

*GCY*: [Be my stand-in. I’ll sponsor you, name your price.]

*Social Female Bandit*: [Even completely bare-faced, she looks this good! I knew I wasn't wrong about her! Beibei, don't listen to those people above. I think you look way better than that "Hua Jiu-nong" person!]

Lin Beibei: "Thanks, Sister Bandit~"

It took a long time for Zheng Jiayuan to regain her composure. She rubbed her eyes, then rubbed them again... she wasn't seeing things.

Zheng Jiayuan was still indignant: "Just because you look like her doesn't mean anything! Don't you dare dream of taking Hua Jiu-nong’s place in our hearts!"

"I don't want to replace Hua Jiu-nong, and I know I can't," Lin Beibei replied. She didn't want to replace anyone; she was just here to make a little money. She had no intention of living her life as someone else’s stand-in forever.

Zheng Jiayuan snorted, "Good to know! At least you're sensible!"

No sooner had she spoken than a user named 'Rich Flower of the World' appeared in the chat: [Get home right now!]

Zheng Jiayuan’s anger had been subsiding, but seeing that comment, her fury flared up again: "Hey! Who are you? Do you know who you're talking to? How dare you speak to me like that! Do you want your account banned?"

Zheng Jiayuan muttered to herself, "Oh, I get it now. You're a die-hard fan of this fraud, coming here to stand up for her, aren't you?"

She sneered, "Since you’re so protective of her, let’s have another round! I was just careless last time! You fraud! Do you dare to play? If you lose, you quit streaming!"

Lin Beibei raised an eyebrow: "Quitting again? Can you afford the stakes?"

Zheng Jiayuan: "Of course I can. If I lose, I’ll gift you ten rockets and quit streaming!"

Lin Beibei hesitated, wondering if she should take the challenge.

*GCY*: [Take her on.]

*Social Female Bandit*: [Don't worry, I'm here. Go for it, leave it to me!]

*Social Female Bandit*: [I can't stand bullies!]

*Enjoying a Wuss Life*: [Maybe don't do it. 'Alphabet Brother' isn't here. I'm scared.]

*Jia Fugui*: [Yeah, I'm a bit uneasy too. Does anyone have Alphabet Brother's contact info? Can we get him here?]

*Jiu-Jiu's Number One Fan*: [Isn't there a new 'Alphabet Brother' above? I think it should be fine.]

*Stars*: [Can this new guy be trusted?]

*GCY*: [Trust me. Stop wasting time.]

*Jiu-Jiu's Number One Fan*: [Huh? This tone... why does it sound a bit like the last Alphabet Brother?]

Gu Chenyi frowned. How could they tell it was him?

He had specifically used a burner account because he didn't want anyone to know he was the top donor for Hua Jiu-nong. He was afraid that if Jiu-nong found out he was looking for a stand-in, she would be heartbroken.

But Jiu-nong streamed so rarely. She wouldn't go out on dates, wouldn't reply to messages, and even when he sent gifts during her streams, her performances were perfunctory. She was probably just exhausted. He’d heard that many in the streaming industry ended up depressed. He understood her, but he missed her so much that he could only watch this stand-in to soothe his mood.

He would only watch for these last two days. The 15th was coming up; once Jiu-nong held her stream on the 15th, he would never gift this stand-in again, nor would he ever step foot in her live stream!