Chapter 131: The Confident Goddess of Cuteness

A flash of malice flickered in Ruan Hongyi’s eyes. Over the past few months, his popularity had steadily declined. Just a few days ago, his livestream hadn’t even reached one million concurrent viewers; everyone had flocked to Bilibili to watch parody videos instead. His fan base, once nearly five million strong, had dwindled to under four million.

It seemed that ever since that "Pure Little Angel" began posting parody content, his own following had started to shrink.

Fortunately, Ruan Hongyi scanned the restaurant filled with fans and realized there were still plenty of people willing to support him. This was the benefit of knowing how to manage one’s image. With millions of followers, he hadn't wasted a single bit of that resource, allowing his income to rival that of Huang Ying, a top-tier figure within the Stardust platform.

In truth, Ruan Hongyi held little respect for the Pure Little Angel who constantly overshadowed him. To possess millions of followers yet maintain such a mysterious persona was, in his eyes, a complete waste of potential. He couldn’t fathom how someone like that was fit to be his rival.

With this thought, he looked at the excited fans in the restaurant and felt his confidence return. What did a temporary dip in popularity matter? As long as these loyal fans remained, he could afford to lose those fickle fair-weather supporters.

After mingling with his fans for a while, Ruan Hongyi prepared to take his leave, but his gaze drifted over to Luo Chen’s table, and the words he intended to say died on his lips. He hadn't expected to find such beautiful women among the fans who had come today. Seeing that Luo Chen was the only man in the group of four, he felt a surge of jealousy beneath his interest.

Though he was itching to approach them, Ruan Hongyi didn't rush. Rushing over to interrogate them would yield poor results. Even if they were his fans, it was clear from their demeanor—compared to the fervent fanatics surrounding them—that they only harbored a mild interest or curiosity toward him; they were not the type to throw themselves at him.

Ruan Hongyi was unaware that Le Zhengling had simply come to the wrong place and that Dai Xinhua had been dragged along. Based on his typical assumptions, he believed that anyone coming to his fan meeting, even if not a die-hard fan, must at least be curious and favorably disposed toward him. He was quite experienced in dealing with young girls like them. All it took was a touch of romance, preferably seasoned with a hint of "fated coincidence," and within a few days, let alone winning their hearts, taking them to bed would be a simple matter.

Lost in these fantasies, Ruan Hongyi pressed his hands downward, and the surrounding fans obligingly quieted down. The once noisy restaurant became much more subdued. While hushed whispers remained, they did not interfere with what Ruan Hongyi was about to announce.

"Thank you all for your continued support. I had actually thought that a has-been streamer’s fan meeting wouldn't attract anyone at all. Recently, the limelight has been stolen by the great Angel, and I haven't seen such an impressive newcomer in a long time."

Ruan Hongyi began with a self-deprecating remark to garner sympathy. This wasn't just to flirt; it was also a tactic to encourage his fans to open their wallets and support him. The final comment, of course, was meant to stir up trouble for his popular rival.

"How could you be a has-been, Hongtian?"
"Exactly! We will always support you!"
"What is that Little Angel anyway? Just a jerk who climbed to the top by smearing others."
"In the parody scene, I only recognize my great Moe God!"

Ruan Hongyi was enjoying the adoration of his fans when a few discordant voices cut through the air.

"As if Ruan Hongyi hasn't smeared people himself. A grown man calling himself a 'Moe God'?"

Ruan Hongyi’s smiling expression faltered. Which bastard said that? Had someone specifically hired trolls to cause him trouble?

He wasn't the only one who heard it. Many fans glared at the source of the noise, but with so many people in the restaurant, and no one having paid close attention, the culprit was nowhere to be found. While others had their eyes on Ruan Hongyi, Luo Chen saw clearly that it was Li Hua who had come to stir up trouble. However, fearing a group beating from the fans, Li Hua had immediately shut his mouth after speaking, and those nearby had no intention of reporting him.

Ruan Hongyi scanned the room, unable to find the person who had slighted him. He muttered a few sarcastic remarks about how popularity breeds jealousy and decided to let it go. He didn't care about a couple of trolls; they only dared to hide in the shadows and envy him, and he wasn't about to let them ruin his good mood.

"To thank you all for your support, I have decided to randomly select one fan to sing a duet with me!"

Ruan Hongyi subtly scanned the table numbers. He knew how to sing—a romantic skill befitting his good looks—and would sometimes show off during his livestreams to please his fans.

The fans were ecstatic at the chance to sing with their favorite content creator, waving their hands frantically to catch his attention. Ruan Hongyi pretended to close his eyes in contemplation for a moment before speaking.

"Let’s pick someone from table 32."

Disappointed fans turned their heads toward table 32 with envy, as did the troublemaker Li Hua. However, upon seeing the group at table 32, Li Hua froze, rubbed his eyes, and after confirming he hadn't misread the situation, cast a gloating look at Ruan Hongyi before turning to whisper to the person beside him.

Luo Chen had heard Ruan Hongyi clearly, but precisely because he heard it, he found it strange. He didn't believe in such coincidences; it was highly likely that Ruan Hongyi had done this on purpose.

As for his motive? Luo Chen looked at the three young women at his table and guessed exactly what Ruan Hongyi was planning. However, seeing Zhao Qianqian’s eager expression, Luo Chen didn't say anything. He wasn't particularly close to her—they had only met a few times through Dai Xinhua—so if she wanted to give it a try, he certainly wouldn't stop her.

"Great Hongtian!"

Zhao Qianqian waved as Ruan Hongyi approached, but she watched as he ignored her entirely and turned to Dai Xinhua instead.

"Congratulations on being selected. Would you like to sing a song with me?"