Chapter 174: This protagonist is Different
MoonPetal looked toward him.
"You knew."
Shen Tian smiled.
"Knew what?"
"That MoonMoon was me."
"Maybe."
She stared.
"How?"
Shen Tian thought.
Obviously...
He couldn’t say his supernatural system companion had identified her account.
"You’re not subtle."
"That’s a lie."
"Probably."
MoonPetal sighed.
Then smiled despite herself.
"I was trying to support the stream."
"Two thousand five hundred dollars worth?"
"..."
"Then another six hundred today."
"..."
Shen Tian laughed.
"You know you can just watch."
MoonPetal looked toward the lake.
"I know."
"Then why donate?"
She shrugged.
"Because..."
A pause.
"I wanted to."
Her voice became quieter.
Shen Tian looked toward her.
MoonPetal’s avatar had beautiful violet eyes.
For once...
She wasn’t teasing.
"I’ve watched streams for years."
She continued.
"Most people become different when there’s an audience."
"Louder."
"More exaggerated."
"They start forcing jokes."
"Acting like everything is amazing."
She smiled slightly.
"You don’t."
"Probably because I forget they’re there."
"I noticed."
She laughed.
"But that’s why it’s fun."
Shen Tian leaned back.
"So you’re paying me for forgetting you exist."
MoonPetal stared.
"When you put it like that, I regret everything."
He laughed.
Her smile widened.
Then...
She looked toward him a little longer than necessary.
Shen Tian noticed.
She quickly looked away.
There it was again.
That quiet attraction.
Growing.
Meanwhile...
Jiang Feng stood inside a small ruined temple with LittleMaple.
She was trying to solve a puzzle.
Trying...
Was generous.
Four stone symbols covered a door.
LittleMaple pressed the first.
Nothing.
Second.
Nothing.
Third.
The floor opened.
She screamed.
Jiang Feng grabbed the back of her armor before she fell.
For several seconds...
She dangled above a dark pit.
"...Captain."
"Yeah?"
"I made a mistake."
"I noticed."
"Can you pull me up?"
"Thinking about it."
"CAPTAIN!"
He laughed.
Then pulled her back.
LittleMaple immediately sat on the floor.
Her face pale.
Jiang Feng crouched.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
Then looked at him.
"You didn’t let go."
His expression softened.
"Obviously."
Something changed between them.
Small.
Natural.
LittleMaple smiled.
Jiang Feng felt his heart move again.
Not because Fate told him to.
Not because she was some legendary beauty.
Not because she possessed a hidden bloodline.
She was simply...
LittleMaple.
A girl who got lost in beginner villages.
Accidentally triggered difficult quests.
Hated spiders.
And somehow made him laugh more in two days than his former teammates had in months.
He looked toward the stone puzzle.
"Let’s try this together."
LittleMaple stood.
"Okay."
Jiang Feng smiled.
He was beginning to realize...
His comeback might contain things he’d never expected.
Back in the real world...
Several hours later...
Shen Tian logged off.
His capsule opened.
Then...
He immediately regretted returning.
Everyone was waiting.
Again.
Not standing ominously this time.
Worse.
They were sitting.
Yin Suyi occupied the center sofa.
Shen Yan sat beside her.
Ling Shuangxue had a tablet.
Bai Xue was smiling.
That smile alone made Shen Tian suspicious.
He climbed out.
"...What happened?"
Ling Shuangxue rotated the tablet.
His streaming page appeared.
Peak Viewers: 67,918
Followers: 142,307
Total Donations Today: $9,841
Shen Tian stared.
"That’s too much."
Ling Shuangxue nodded.
"Your growth rate is exceptional."
Bai Xue smiled.
"And..."
She swiped.
A clip appeared.
MoonPetal standing in front of Shen Tian.
MoonMoon donated $500: You absolutely do.
Then Shen Tian looking toward her.
Then...
MoonMoon donated $100: Stop looking at me.
Shen Tian slowly closed his eyes.
"..."
Shen Yan’s voice became very calm.
"Who."
Shen Tian opened one eye.
"What?"
"Is."
She leaned forward.
"MoonMoon."
Yin Suyi’s freezing gaze settled on him.
"Yes."
She crossed her legs.
"Who is she?"
Shen Tian looked toward Xu Ning.
She floated nearby.
Laughing silently.
I hate you.
[You look like you’re having fun.]
Help.
[No.]
Shen Tian sighed.
"MoonPetal."
Eleven women became quiet.
Bai Xue smiled wider.
"The silver-haired mage?"
"Yes."
Shen Yan stood.
"Real name."
"No."
"Address."
"No."
"Family."
"Big Sis."
"Relationship status."
"Absolutely not."
Yin Suyi nodded approvingly at Shen Yan.
"For once..."
"We agree."
Shen Tian stared between them.
"You’re investigating a girl because she donated to my stream."
Yin Suyi frowned.
"She donated thousands of dollars."
"Yes."
"Then told you to stop looking at her."
"Because I figured out she was donating."
Bai Xue laughed.
"That explanation makes it worse."
Shen Tian looked toward her.
"Whose side are you on?"
"Mine."
"Helpful."
Chu Mei leaned forward.
"So..."
"Does she like you?"
Shen Tian paused.
Everyone leaned closer.
"...Maybe."
Wrong answer.
Shen Yan’s aura rose.
Yin Suyi’s teacup cracked.
Ling Shuangxue’s eyes narrowed.
Bai Xue looked delighted.
Qin Ruobing sighed.
Chu Luoshen covered her face.
Shen Tian immediately corrected.
"Probably."
Shen Yan stared.
"That was worse."
"I know."
It took nearly an hour to calm everyone down.
Eventually...
Shen Tian escaped.
Barely.
He entered his bedroom.
Closed the door.
Locked it.
Then leaned against it.
Xu Ning appeared.
[Host.]
"What?"
[You survived.]
"Technically."
[Congratulations.]
He stared.
"I blame you."
[For being attractive?]
"For everything."
Xu Ning smiled.
Then...
Her expression changed.
Shen Tian recognized it immediately.
"Another Fate event?"
She nodded.
A new panel appeared.
Target: Jiang Feng
Current Fate Value: 190,000
Then...
The number shifted.
Current Fate Value: 194,000
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.
"He gained Fate."
[Yes.]
"How?"
Xu Ning showed the event.
Natural Relationship Established: LittleMaple
Unexpected Positive Destiny Branch
Fate Increase: +4,000
Shen Tian stared.
Then smiled.
"So he actually gained Fate because of her."
[Correct.]
"Even though she wasn’t destined?"
[Exactly.]
Xu Ning looked thoughtful.
[Fate isn’t only something someone is born with.]
[Powerful choices can create new paths.]
Shen Tian sat on the edge of the bed.
"Interesting."
Then another panel appeared.
Guild Foundation Progress
Fragments Acquired: 1/5
Jiang Feng’s future guild destiny remains active.
Shen Tian thought for a moment.
"So he’ll need four more fragments."
[Yes.]
"And they’re opportunities."
[Yes.]
"Meaning I could steal them."
[Yes.]
He remained quiet.
Xu Ning tilted her head.
[You’re hesitating.]
"Not really."
[Host.]
Shen Tian smiled faintly.
"Okay. A little."
He looked toward Jiang Feng’s profile.
The new protagonist was different.
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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!