Today was her first day of streaming. Lin Yuanyuan had told her that because the Seven Colors Guild had just entered the Star Show category, she didn’t have any good time slot recommendation spots—only three in the afternoon.
So You Yu started streaming early at two o’clock. Lin Yuanyuan had especially instructed her to sing during the recommendation period, and the rest of the time she could do whatever she liked.
Not many people were around at two in the afternoon, and few viewers either—basically all the top Star Show streamers broadcast at night, when everyone was off work and free to watch.
You Yu had originally wanted to drink while waiting for the recommendation time, but Lin Yuanyuan had repeatedly reminded her to sing a lot during the half-hour recommendation slot, so she held back to keep her voice in good condition.
Still, she felt uncomfortable without something in her hands, so she poured herself a glass of plain water to hold.
Then she changed her title to something standard: “New Streamer Reporting In.”
A minute after she started, viewers began coming in. The chat area showed entry notifications, and viewers who stayed would be displayed on the VIP seats.
“Welcome, Xue.”
“Welcome, I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes.”
[I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: Wow, that really startled me. Streamer, you look just like your cover photo!]
You Yu replied with a smile: “The cover is my photo, so of course I look the same.”
[I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: Eight out of ten Maoya streamers use glamour shots as covers to lure people in, and they look nothing like their photos. The other two aren’t as pretty as you either.]
“Thanks for the compliment, but it’s not that exaggerated. Sometimes the camera doesn’t capture you well—actually, a lot of streamers look just as good in real life.”
[I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: Streamer, do you have beauty filters on?]
“Yep, I have two beauty lamps in front of me, plus some filters and stuff set up.”
[I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: Unbelievable. You’re really beautiful.]
Who doesn’t love being complimented? You Yu’s eyes curved into crescents. “Thank you. Would you like to subscribe and get a badge? Just ten glow sticks will get you a fan badge.”
On Maoya, the currency conversion was 1,000 Meow Coins = 1 RMB.
A single glow stick cost only 1,000 Meow Coins.
[Xue gifted Xiaoyu Glow Stick 66×1] (6,600 Meow Coins)
Gifts over 6.6 RMB triggered a little animation in the top-left corner of the public chat screen—two glow sticks waving back and forth.
[I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes gifted Xiaoyu Glow Stick×10] (1,000 Meow Coins)
On Maoya, the gifting display showed the streamer’s fan badge name.
“Thank you… Xue for the 66 glow sticks, and thank you, Tomato, for getting the badge.”
She extended her right hand near her cheek and made a heart gesture.
[Xue: Streamer, can you sing?]
You Yu nodded. “I can. What would you like to hear?”
Even though it wasn’t the recommendation slot yet, performing talents while on the recommendation list was meant to attract viewers, and singing now was to keep them.
[Xue: Grandma’s Bridge.]
“Someone I used to know loved this song too.”
She said this with a smile.
“Give me a moment, let me find the backing track.”
She leaned toward the computer and fiddled with it for a while, then a familiar intro began to play.
You Yu tucked the golden strands of hair by her ear behind her ear, pulled over the movable microphone, and aimed it at her mouth.
Her crisp voice was like spring water trickling from melting glaciers—
“A black-awning boat lights its gauze lantern, green stones on the cliff quietly take on new patterns … Rock and rock, fifteen rocks past the spring equinox brings us to Grandma’s Bridge Hoping and hoping, Grandma, Grandma, calling so sweetly …”
When the song ended, she pushed the microphone back.
【I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: So nice! Your voice is so special [haha]】
“Haha, I don’t really have any singing technique, but a lot of people do say my voice is special.”
【Xue gifted Xiaoyu Magic Book ×10】(990,000 Meow Coins)
A Magic Book slowly unfolded across the Public Chat Screen.
“Thank you, Xue, for the Magic Book…”
Wasn’t that a bit much? A hint of confusion flickered in You Yu’s eyes.
“But did you maybe tap the wrong thing? Before I started streaming, my Operator told me that on Maoya, a song request usually costs one Magic Book. Ten would be enough for ten songs.”
【Xue: No mistake. The extra ones count as me stocking up in advance.】
“Alright then, thank you, Xue, for the ten Magic Books.”
She nodded and made a heart with both hands in front of her chest.
Then, not long after, this Xue disappeared from the VIP Seats, leaving the Live Stream Room.
“Tomato, would you like to hear any song? You don’t need to send gifts—I’ll sing it for you.”
I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes saw the woman on screen curl her lips into a smile and give her a wink.
Playful, with a trace of doting affection.
Holy crap, she was falling for her…
【I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: But wouldn’t that be unfair? That big brother just sent Magic Books to request a song.】
“It’s fine, he’s already gone, and there’s no one else here.”
“I’ll sing secretly, just for you alone.”
Help—who could resist that!
The next few minutes belonged to her alone.
Maoya was a very pragmatic place. If you had money, you were a big brother; if not, you were nothing. Streamers generally wouldn’t welcome a Xiaobai account like hers (one without a Peerage Title). Even the few lower-popularity streamers who would chat with her stopped bothering once they confirmed she had no spending power.
That was normal too. All streamers streamed to make money. Compared to other industries, live streaming truly embodied the saying “whoever feeds you is your mother.”
You Yu was the first streamer to say such things to her, and she was touched.
【I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: Thank you. This is the first time on Maoya that someone has sung a song just for me.】
“You’re welcome. I hope you have fun in my Live Stream Room.”
You Yu picked up her cup and took a sip of warm water, feeling cozy all over.
Streaming was indeed about making money, but for You Yu, it shouldn’t be only about money. Even if it wasn’t much, she hoped someone could feel the warmth of that cup of water, just like she did.
She leaned back in her chair, swaying lazily, chatting idly with Tomato.
Soon it was time for the recommendation slot.
“I’m about to go on the recommendations, so I can’t chat anymore. From now on, it’s nonstop singing.”
You Yu straightened her back, looking ready to work seriously.
【I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: Okay [rose]】
You Yu pulled the microphone down, then carefully checked her appearance against the camera, brushing back a strand of golden hair.
Everything was ready.
She opened her prepared playlist of backing tracks.
Clicked play—
【A new streamer?】
【Since when does Star Show have a female streamer this pretty?】
【With a face like that, she’s destined to be a big brother’s Guardianship target.】
【No need to sing, sis. Just sit there and chat, and within half a month people will be showering you with gifts nonstop.】
Being on the recommendation slot really helped—dozens of people flooded into the live stream room at once, even though most of them weren’t chatting.
Before the intro ended, You Yu picked a few bullet chat messages to reply to.
“I’m a new streamer—today is my first day broadcasting.”
“Thank you all for the compliments. If you like the streamer, tap the subscribe button in the top right corner so you can find me next time.”
After the intro ended, her ethereal, crisp voice came through the microphone and out of the phone with perfect clarity—
【I Don’t Like Eating Tomatoes: [Send Flowers][Send Flowers][Send Flowers]】
【Such a lovely voice, but why are you in the talk show category instead of Beautiful Voices?】
【Nice voice, but the singing is just average】
【True, the voice is really pretty though】
【For singing, you still have to watch Mary】
【Mary’s only weakness is her voice quality】
After You Yu finished the song, she picked some bullet chat messages to interact with, as usual. After all, live streaming isn’t like showing a movie—viewers only find it fun when there’s interaction.
“Thank you, Tomato, for the little flowers.”
“Why the talk show category… The Operator said that category gets more traffic.”
“You can tap the yellow subscribe button in the top right corner. If you like the streamer, you can send ten Glow Sticks to get on the leaderboard.”
【Yibiao Tangtang sent Xiaoyu Glow Stick ×10】(1,000 Meow Coins)
“Thank you, Yibiao Tangtang, for the 10 Glow Sticks.”
On the screen, the woman’s eyes curved into a smile as she held the microphone stand with one hand.