Chapter Sixteen: The Demonic Storm

Late at night, Zhang Junlin returned home, his face weary, and sank into the small chair with a deep sigh. Lately, there had been far too many things to handle. As a student, class committee member, and heartthrob, he was always busy, never able to stop—after all, wherever he went, he was dazzling.

He rose to pour himself a cup of coffee, then nervously turned on the computer and logged into his Stardust streaming platform account.

Title: I Have Special Weird Skills
Author: Junlin
Clicks: 386
Comments: 17
Favorites
Tips
Current viewers

“Sigh, just as expected.”
This was already the third time Zhang Junlin had uploaded a weird video, but it had flopped yet again. Though he had prepared himself for disappointment, in the end he still couldn’t help but feel let down. Was it true that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment? Newcomers really had it tough.

After sorting out his feelings, Zhang Junlin helplessly closed his personal page and wandered through the weird video section. Watching the masters’ videos could both ease his mood and inspire him—why not do it?

He glanced at the leaderboard; the names were all familiar, the same renowned masters as always.
“Hmm? Wait, what’s this?” Zhang Junlin suddenly noticed that the tenth spot on the trending list belonged to someone he’d never seen before.

Title: Newcomers Are Monsters! How Soul RP Makes Kids Love Studying
Author: Pure-hearted Little Angel

Was it some washed-up master making a comeback? Newcomers are monsters—what nonsense.

At least he wasn’t one.

Curious, Zhang Junlin clicked on the unique video, only to discover that the creator was indeed as new as could be.

Author: Pure-hearted Little Angel
Submissions: 1

“One submission—really is a newcomer!”
Zhang Junlin quickly checked the video details, and was stunned.

Title: How to Make Kids Love Studying?
Clicks: 8.73 million
Favorites: 2.45 million
Comments: 8,960
Tips: 375
Current viewers: 1,072

“Ah, ah, this isn’t scientific!” The numbers hit Zhang Junlin hard. Comparing them to his own 386 clicks and 17 comments—it was the difference between heaven and earth.

“Impossible, this must be fake, just a dream!”

It wasn’t that Zhang Junlin begrudged others’ success, but the way the Stardust streaming platform operated, it was simply impossible for a newcomer’s work to reach such heights in a few days.

The trending list was always fiercely contested by famous creators—how could a pure newcomer make it? Was this person truly a monster?

With complicated feelings, Zhang Junlin opened this extraordinarily special newcomer’s video. Whether true or not, facts would decide.

As the video unfolded, Zhang Junlin adjusted his mood, took his coffee, and had a sip, enjoying it.

“Hello everyone, I am—I am African, selling discount sisters.”

“Pfft!” The video’s opening caught Zhang Junlin off guard; he hadn’t even swallowed his coffee before it sprayed onto his laptop.

“Isn’t this Professor Yuan Ning? How dare they joke about her?”

Zhang Junlin vaguely recalled that Professor Yuan Ning had given a lecture at the South Campus a few days ago, a grand event—even Zhang Junlin’s mother had been persuaded to attend.

Now, someone was mocking her? And the video was about to go viral?

How delightful! He’d long found her irritating—well done, beautifully done!

Just yesterday, he’d heard rumors that Professor Yuan Ning had gotten involved with a female student. Serves her right!

Just for this, after watching he’d be sure to favorite, comment, and tip.

Zhang Junlin brewed another cup of coffee, sank back into his chair, and prepared to thoroughly review this unusual newcomer’s work.

“I say—read less, read less, read fewer useless books.
Parents ask me why,
I pat my chest and say,
Actually, having kids get together solves everything.”

“Hahaha boom boom!” Within seconds, Zhang Junlin was completely immersed in laughter, his right hand pounding the desk, nearly laughing himself breathless.

“Boom boom bang!”
Caught up in excitement, Zhang Junlin knocked over his coffee cup, watching in despair as it spilled over his barely-used laptop.

“Zzzzt crack.”

“Ah! My brand new laptop!”

Meanwhile, in the business tower, lights still blazed. A dozen Stardust platform employees were working overtime.

“How late is it already? Are we ever going home?” complained one employee, unable to bear the boredom.

“Enough—didn’t a streamer broadcast some wild stuff late at night a few days ago? We’ve got to stay alert. Just hang on, this’ll pass soon,” replied a nearby administrator, speaking from experience.

“Han, come here, a newcomer has climbed the trending list!”
After a long silence, an administrator suddenly noticed something and called out to his supervisor.

“What? On the trending list?”
“Impossible!”
“This must be fake!”
“Really?”

The words sparked chaos in the previously silent floor; many sleepy employees woke up at once.

“Zhong, what’s going on? Is the data correct?” Chief Editor Han Yinglan strode over, pushing aside the curious crowd to ask.

“Han, I can’t be sure—take a look at the data yourself,” said Admin Li Zhong, shrugging helplessly.

Title: How to Make Kids Love Studying?
Clicks: 910,000
Favorites: 260,000
Comments: 9,200
Tips: 397

“This work achieved this in just two days?” Han Yinglan frowned.

“Seems that Master Autumn Waters recommended it in the personal center.”

“Autumn Waters?” Han Yinglan’s brows relaxed a little and she spoke to Li Zhong, “Play it for everyone.”

“Sure, Han, please have a seat.” Li Zhong ignored the crowd gathering to watch and started the video in front of everyone.

“Hello everyone, I am—I am African, selling discount sisters.
This class, I’ll—I’ll talk about making connections, uh, that.
I’ll talk about learning.”

Before long, Han Yinglan’s puzzled expression vanished, replaced by a faint smile. Several employees couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing; the fatigue and weariness seemed to evaporate.

After two minutes and thirty seconds, the administrators no longer showed any doubt. One, with a low tolerance for humor, nearly collapsed from laughter.

“In my opinion, the results are perfectly valid. All right, everyone back to your posts!” Han Yinglan gently wiped the smile from her lips and addressed the lingering employees.

“Han, I think this author has great potential—don’t you want to reach out?” Li Zhong asked after closing the video.

“No rush. Let’s watch and see what his next work will be.”