Dazzling golden light, like torrents of substance, instantly engulfed the entire cramped living room!
Ten cards appeared on the screen, each shimmering with brilliant radiance, illuminating Lu Xueyao’s pale face from her late-night session!
“… Ah!”
After a brief moment of shock, Lu Xueyao let out a scream loud enough to flip the roof off the house!
She sprang up from her gaming chair, hands covering her mouth, her tired, dull eyes now wide with indescribable joy!
The next second, she lifted her delicate chin, her pale neck tracing a graceful arc, and all surprise turned into a haughty pride as she aimed at the camera and, voice raised with barely contained glee, said.
“See that? See that? This young lady said I am the luck emperor reborn! Ten-pull ten-gold! Who else can top that?! Anyone in the streaming room, one and all, have you ever seen anything like this? Unprecedented! Unparalleled!”
At that moment, the chat burst into even more heated discussion.
『Screenshot and group photo for posterity!』
『Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Ten-pull ten-gold for real??? I’m freaking out!』
『I could’ve won ten million on the lottery…』
『Little Sheng, brother, you’ve mortgaged the rest of your love life for sister’s pulls, right? She’s bound to be a rich lady within ten years! But no worries, hit me up when you see sense, sister will support you!』
『Don’t spread lies up top, this is clearly Victory God’s self-bestowed luck emperor aura! Xuebao, hold onto your brother’s leg!』
Lu Sheng leaned against the doorframe, watching his sister’s radiant, excitement-flushed face on the screen and the flood of “666” and “Holy shit” in the chat, his lips twitching and a few black lines forming on his forehead.
Although he knew half of his sister’s streaming theatrics were for the show, this ten-pull ten-gold joy was absolutely genuine.
This could definitely be called the game’s first-ever ten-pull ten-gold!
“But sis’s ten-pull really is insanely lucky.”
Lu Sheng thought to himself, “Turning the rewards into ten gold-tier ups at least means there were double-gold drops and several four-star pulls…”
“Pull the signature weapon! Pull the signature weapon! Strike while the iron is hot!”
Lu Xueyao, her mind addled by good fortune, tiny fangs gleaming, without hesitation clicked into the weapon pool and boldly did another ten-pull!
This time the golden light appeared only once but landed precisely on the current up weapon!
“No mispull! Hahaha! I knew it! This young lady is riding on the peak of luck today!”
Lu Xueyao danced with excitement.
“Next is Banban! Get your accounts ready!”
“…”
With Lu Sheng safeguarding her, Lu Xueyao’s streaming room became inconceivably lucky, with ten-pull double-gold, ten-pull triple-gold, and even ten-pull quadruple-gold happening time and again, never a single mispull!
Each drop was accompanied by Lu Xueyao’s screams and the streaming room’s escalating chat and gift storms.
As friends in the streaming room spontaneously shared the stream, the viewer count rocketed from a stable two hundred to over five thousand at its peak! The screen was filled with “Came for good luck,” “Witnessing the birth of the luck emperor,” and “Please, Victory God, bless my hand” scrolling across the chat.
Lu Xueyao watched the non-stop gift effects and rising follower count, her face blossoming with a grin as she deliberately pitched her voice sweetly, “Thanks to ‘little invisible who absorbed good luck’ for the plane ticket! Thanks to ‘Please, Victory God, bless my hand’ for the rocket! Thank you, generous bosses! Wishing you health!”
In just over an hour, the gifts she received equaled what she usually earned from a whole month of grinding power-leveling!
Seeing her sister drowning in joy and wealth, Lu Sheng smiled silently, then quietly left her bedroom.
He walked straight to the kitchen, his eyes sweeping over the spotless stove before settling on the trash bin in the corner, inside which lay an empty instant noodle cup.
Lu Sheng’s brow instantly creased.
He had cleaned the kitchen thoroughly last night, and it remained immaculate.
This meant his sister hadn’t eaten anything today except that bowl of instant noodles! She had thrown all her time and energy into power-leveling and streaming.
From behind the door came his sister’s excited scream, “Wow! Another triple-gold! Aren’t you enjoying this, boss?!”
Lu Sheng shook his head helplessly, his eyes full of pity.
He and Zhang Dapao had eaten after school yesterday, but his sister may have had only that one noodle bowl today.
He quietly opened the fridge and took out vegetables, meat slices, and eggs from the cold shelf.
Knock, knock, knock…
Soon the sound of a knife rhythmically chopping on the cutting board and oil sizzling in the pan filled the kitchen, followed by the delicious aroma of food wafting in waves.
Streaming until 1:30 a.m., Lu Xueyao finally yawned a big yawn, preparing to sign off. Just then, an extremely tempting smell of food wafted into her nose.
She sniffed hard, her eyes lighting up like a treasure-finding cat.
“Wow! It smells so good!”
She whispered in surprise, delight and hunger instantly painting her face, “It’s definitely my brother’s late-night snack! Hehe, family, share the blessing! This streamer’s doing a late-night food broadcast before sign-off!”
She tiptoed with the camera like a thief, “tap, tap, tap,” into the living room.
On the table, three dishes still steaming lightly were neatly arranged.
Bright green vegetables glazed in oyster sauce, spicy stir-fried meat with red peppers, and steamed egg custard dotted with pink shrimp like pudding.
“Oyster sauce greens! Spicy stir-fried meat! Shrimp steamed eggs! All my favorites!”
Lu Xueyao looked at the familiar spread, her eyes almost practically shooting little stars as she quietly cheered, careful not to wake her brother.
From the bathroom came the sound of water, the light off, only warm steam lingering. Obviously Lu Sheng had washed up and gone to bed.
Warmth filled Lu Xueyao’s heart as she made a “shh” gesture to the camera playfully, “Fans eat first!”
She quickly reheated the food, then sat at her small folding table, taking tiny bites with utmost satisfaction, her face radiant with pure happiness.
Half an hour later, full and satisfied, Lu Xueyao wiped her mouth and sat back at the computer, seeing chat still buzzing with “Please proxy pulls,” “Please boost my account” requests, her fatigue temporarily pushed aside by excitement, a determined glint in her eyes.
“Bosses! Looks like good luck’s divine favor is shining on me tonight! Anyone want pulls or rare gear farming? I announce… night-long stream! Scan the code if you want to play! Limited slots!”
Lu Xueyao saw the streaming room flooded with replies fighting to be first, and she gave the camera a brilliant smile.
However, in that moment as she turned her head and her gaze fell on her brother’s closed bedroom door, an inexplicable worry quietly surfaced.
Her brother had awakened an E-rank class…
On the surface he joked and acted normal… but inside he must be hurting, right?
As his sister… I must earn even more money! I’ve got to make sure he has a good life too!
A heavy sense of responsibility pressed on her heart, and the hand gripping her mouse tightened on its own.
…
The next morning at 6:00.
Dawn filtered through thin curtains, casting a warm golden hue over the room.
Lu Sheng woke on time, pushed open the door, and, unsurprisingly moved with heartache, saw sister Lu Xueyao curled in her gaming chair, her little feet on the armrests, rubbing them together from the cold.
The screen glowed as her game character, repeating dungeon runs, mechanically farmed power-leveling points for boss accounts. She hadn’t gone live, just silently grinding.
She wore only a thin nightdress. Lanjiang City lay by the sea, and the morning still carried chill. She had clearly been freezing for a long time, her slender shoulders unconsciously huddled, lips pale, body trembling from cold without noticing, black circles under her eyes like she’d taken two punches.
Lu Sheng hurried over, took a light jacket from the bed, and gently draped it over her shoulders.
“Why are you still grinding?”
Lu Sheng’s voice was low, with an almost imperceptible irritation. He had used his ability last night to help his sister boost her drop rates and every Abyss dungeon drop had been gold, so she should have cleared all the orders by now.
“Hehe~ little Sheng, you’re up~”
Lu Xueyao was startled, lifting her head at the sight of her brother, forcing a smile and showing her trademark tiny fangs as she scratched her already messy hair.
“I got insanely lucky last night! Cleared all the orders! I just wanted to cash in while the iron’s hot… any extra is welcome…” Her voice trembled with nasal exhaustion and fatigue.
“Money-crazed sis! Are you trying to kill yourself?!”
Lu Sheng’s face darkened, his tone leaving no doubt. Without a word, he grabbed the chair’s arms, yanked Lu Xueyao and her chair backward, then bent down, slipped one arm under her legs and the other around her shoulders, and with a little effort lifted her and the chair off the ground!
“Hey?! little Sheng! Put me down! I can still grind… Ugh!” Lu Xueyao kicked in vain.
Lu Sheng ignored her, walked to the bed, wrapped her in the blanket like a dumpling with rough but careful motions, covering her from head to toe until only her tousled head remained visible.
“I’m cutting your internet! No connection for six hours! Now! Immediately! Close your eyes! Sleep!”
Ignoring his sister’s sleepy, disgruntled whines, Lu Sheng pulled over a chair, sat at the bedside, arms crossed, eyes sharp as he stared down at the blanket cocoon.
Time ticked by second after second.
At first, Lu Xueyao tossed restlessly under the blanket, mumbling “orders… boss…”, but gradually, under Lu Sheng’s silent yet oppressive gaze, her faint protests faded. Exhaustion overwhelmed everything, her breathing steadied, and she sank into a deep slumber.
Lu Sheng finally exhaled in relief, his tense shoulders loosening. He reached out, gently brushed aside the strands of hair on his sister’s forehead, his eyes filled with complex emotions… both pity and helplessness.
He knew why his sister was working so hard. The cotton plantation’s losses weighed like a mountain, and as an E-rank class holder, he was viewed with uncertainty.
She just wanted to do her best to build a slightly better future for them both.
“Becoming a class holder… I hope I can make money soon…”
Lu Sheng thought as he looked at his sister’s furrowed brow even in sleep.
He got up, quietly closed her bedroom door, and went to the kitchen to prepare brunch for the siblings.
Once everything was set, Lu Sheng took one last glance at his sister’s closed door and left the house.
The morning breeze carried the sea’s coolness and the suburbs’ greenery scent. Today was the Newcomer Secret Realm Trial, and thinking of the SSS-rank maid He Wanying he had under Contract, Lu Sheng felt a spark of anticipation.
“He Wanying, you are my talent and hard work… don’t disappoint me!”
Lanjiang No. 3 High School, school sports field.
Sparse figures dotted the vast field, leaving it as empty and cold as every previous year.
Principal Chu Jianghe stood on the podium, hands behind his back, his calm eyes sweeping over the scattered students. The morning breeze stirred his graying sideburns, lending him a forlorn air.
Dean of Studies Cao Shufen, holding a roster, adjusted her glasses and reported in a flat tone.
“Principal, there are less than fifteen minutes before departure for the secret realm. Present count… 207. It seems most students, as in past years, have opted out.”
Chu Jianghe nodded silently, unsurprised by the result.
The ratio of combat-to life-class awakenings was nearly 1:9, and most graduates awakened life classes.
This meant that ninety-nine percent of prospective graduates, upon awakening, wouldn’t consider the Newcomer Secret Realm Trial, instead seeking employment suited to their class.
Secret Realm Trial? That was for combat class holders like the Lords. It had nothing to do with life-class holders like them.
This year, Lanjiang No. 3 High School had 1,072 prospective graduates; 763 awakened life classes, 309 awakened combat classes.
Of the 309 combat class awakers, more than half held class grades below C-rank.
Naturally, only the ambitious few with expectations for the future were willing to risk the Newcomer Secret Realm Trial.
“Although the Newcomer Secret Realm Trial is low in difficulty, it’s not a playground and carries real risks. A 10% death rate is enough to deter many, so I understand their decision.”
Chu Jianghe spoke calmly, though his figure stooped a bit.
Every other school sent roughly 50% of their class holders to the municipal new holder contest’s secret realm; only Lanjiang No. 3 High School was under 20%.
The likely reason was the accident thirteen years ago, when in the municipal secret realm contest, 80% of his school’s new holders died there.
Afterward the school’s reputation plummeted, the former principal resigned in shame, and Chu Jianghe took over, working diligently for years to restore enrollment, yet few still wanted to become class holder warriors.
But then, the arrival of a single figure instantly sparked a commotion.