Ch23 Sold out
Huo Yu's hand felt very warm, and his expression was very solemn as he held Xia Wan's hand.
Xia Wan's fingers curled up unconsciously as the ring was placed on his hand. It fit perfectly, as if it was tailor-made, neither too tight nor too loose, just right.
The black gold ring against the snowy-white skin was stunningly beautiful, captivating anyone who looked at it.
"It's too precious," Xia Wan said as he looked up at Huo Yu. "And it's a relic from your mother. I don't think it's right for me to keep it."
Huo Yu lowered his eyes and looked at him silently.
"What was said at the dinner table that day was just a tactic and shouldn't be taken seriously," Xia Wan reassured him. "Your mother's relics should be kept by you personally or given to someone more important to you."
Saying that, Xia Wan attempted to take off the ring, but Huo Yu caught his wrist.
"Wear it," Huo Yu said in a deep voice. "Although it was just a tactic at the time, once the words have been said, even if you're acting, you should commit to it fully."
What he said seemed to make sense.
Xia Wan glanced at the ring in his hand and hesitated briefly before replying, "Alright, then I'll keep it safe for you."
"Thank you," Huo Yu smiled and gave him a gentle push on the head. "Now, it's late. Go to bed."
"You know how to bully me," Xia Wan said with a hint of unhappiness, though unsure of his own feelings. Nonetheless, he obediently bid Huo Yu good night. "Good night, eldest master."
Things in the Huo family were very chaotic. There were even posts online discussing the situation.
The netizens were highly excited and energized by the drama. It was like they were injected with a boost of energy, becoming even more engaged in the situation.
It was evident that the post had just been deleted, only to quickly become popular again. Seeing that the situation had spiraled out of control, Huo Lin was so angry that he threw the tablet in his hand to the ground.
"Why are you so angry in the morning?" Huo Peixue walked downstairs and coincidentally witnessed the scene. Clearly, he hadn't slept well the previous night, his face appearing somewhat weary.
"Is the public relations department incompetent?" Huo Lin was so angry that his forehead throbbed. "They can't even handle such a small thing."
"We use money to exert pressure, while others use money to counterattack," Huo Peixue remarked. "We can't solely blame the PR department for this."
Huo Lin's expression grew even darker. "So, are we just going to ignore it?"
"Those people on the Internet are just spreading rumors. There's no real evidence. In a few days, they'll completely forget about it," Huo Peixue remarked as he sat down. He picked up the coffee and took a sip. "After all, Yan Yu has already been handed over to Huo Yu, and there's nothing outsiders can say about it. Is it possible that Huo Yu, who lacks experience, would just let Yan Yu slip through his fingers and go to waste? That doesn't make sense, does it?"
"I'm just so angry!" Huo Lin said as he sat down next to Huo Peixue, his eyes filled with gloom and his expression full of frustration.
"What's the use of being angry?" Huo Peixue asked, tilting his head to look at him. "I've warned you a long time ago not to underestimate Huo Yu."
"That time," Huo Lin gritted his teeth, "it would have been better if he had died."
"In reality, it's not that serious. Yan Yu has already accumulated a lot of trouble. Such an empty shell can crush Huo Yu to death," Huo Peixue remarked with a laugh. "As long as you do a good job in the project you're handling, the results will be evident to the outside world in the future. They will see who is best."
"Even if he's a prince, he'll still need the right qualities to succeed," Huo Peixue asserted."After all he'll have to step aside if he doesn't have diamonds."
As Huo Lin listened, he began to grasp the situation.
The Huo family had placed the responsibility of restoring Yan Yu in Huo Yu's hands. However, if Huo Yu failed to revitalize Yan Yu, but Huo Lin managed to accomplish something significant, public opinion would naturally shift in their favor. Gradually, the somber expression that had clouded his face since morning began to dissipate.
"You're absolutely correct," Huo Lin sighed, his determination was evident. "No matter what, I'll put my heart into this project and turn it into a timeless masterpiece for the Huo family."
"Enjoy your meal later, and maintain a composed demeanor when you're out. Appear confident," Huo Peixue suggested as he blew on his hot coffee, feeling slightly relieved. "We still need to play out this drama of sibling rivalry. The one who succeeds first will be the victor."
Huo Yu went abroad.
To avoid raising suspicion, Xia Wan has been staying at school these days and hasn't returned to Huo Yu's place even once.
Although he didn't inquire, Xia Wan could speculate that Huo Yu's trip was likely related to the development of Yan Yu. As he received the call, he was sitting attentively at the computer desk.
On the computer screen, Xia Wan was zooming in on a detailed section of a picture. His hands moved carefully as intricate patterns started appearing on a tiny bead.
This was just part of a beautiful Jewelry set.
In reality, the set had four pieces: earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, and a ring.
Right now, Xia Wan was focused on designing the bracelet.
He chose to start with it because the whole collection had a classic beauty that never got old.
This jewelry set from Xia Li was super popular and broke sales records back in the day. It was so in-demand that it became pretty rare to find. Even with new stuff coming out all the time, this set still sold like crazy every year, showing how much people loved it.
Furthermore, this model's design provided a high degree of versatility in sales. Customers could mix and match pieces, buy the entire set, or combine multiple pieces according to their preferences. Xia Wan wished for this product to bring the same success to Huo Yu as it did for Xia Li, serving as a promising beginning for Yan Yu.
Because the dormitory was empty, it was very quiet. He felt surprised when the phone suddenly rang.
Xia Wan held the paintbrush and immediately said, "Hello," into the phone.
"Hi, is this Mr. W?"
Xia Wan uses the username "W. Hungry, eat" on Chibo, and for painting, it's "Little W."
He initially thought the call was from the broad bean manufacturer "Shiyuan," so he meticulously sketched the final stroke on the drawing board and replied, "Hello, speaking."
The food company had previously reached out to him. They shared certificates and product information about their food. Both parties agreed to reconnect within the next two days to discuss further, with plans to promote the product online afterward.
"Hello," the voice on the other end said, "I'm a staff member from Langqiao Gallery. My name is Li Yue."
Xia Wan paused in his activity, his attention fully captured by the mention of Langqiao Gallery. As an artist, he naturally knew about Langqiao and its significance in the art world.
It has grown swiftly in recent years, expanding its business significantly and representing several renowned artists, One of the most prominent is a young, innovative painter named Shi Xinda.
It's been said that Shi Xinda faced numerous challenges and setbacks in his career before partnering with Langqiao Gallery. It was through this collaboration that he finally gained recognition and fame. Today, he has almost become a remarkable success story in the industry.
"Hello, Mr. Li." Xia Wan replied politely.
"Hello," Li Yue said, "We've recently come across your video account and are truly impressed by your painting talent. Have you ever thought about leveraging your talent for commercial endeavors? Showcasing it to the world?"
"Thank you for your kind words," Xia Wan smiled. "Could you please explain more about the business operation you mentioned?"
"Of course," the other party said. "If it's convenient for you, we can meet and discuss it in detail when I return to China."
"Yes," Xia Wan responded, "No problem."
While on the call, Xia Wan managed to maintain a reserved tone, but once he hung up, he couldn't contain his excitement. He read the phone number a few times and then carefully saved it in his address book.
On the other side, just as Li Yue ended the call, he saw Huo Yu and the internationally renowned jewelry master Li Congmeng walking out of the conference room.
Li Congmeng was originally the designer for "Yan Yu." However, after Yan Yu's decline, he pursued opportunities elsewhere. Over the past twenty years, he has traveled extensively and has become a leading figure in the jewelry industry.
When Huo Yu took Yan Yu back, the first person he thought of was reaching out to Li Congmeng.
After Huo Yu sent Li Congmeng away, Li Yue came over.
"Didn't we agree to not meet outside the Langqiao Gallery?" Huo Yu asked, looking a bit unhappy.
Li Yue smiled and said, "Is it really a big deal if we meet while we're in another country?" He had come to this place for an art exhibition, and it was just a coincidence that he bumped into Huo Yu.
"It's still a good idea to be cautious," Huo Yu said casually. He had been meeting with many designers over the past few days, so now that he had a break, he felt a bit tired.
"By the way, Mr. Huo," Li Yue said, "I recently discovered a talented painter. If we can negotiate in the future, I will consider focusing on training him. Would you like to see his works?"
Not many people, like Li Yue, are so effusive with praise, especially when discussing talent.
Just as Huo Yu was about to respond, his phone rang. He checked the message and saw a designer's name whom he had met just two days ago.
"No need," Huo Yu told Li Yue, "I've already given you the authority over these matters a while back. You can handle them as you see fit."
After being abroad for over a week, Huo Yu finally found a bit of free time one afternoon during Xia Wan's live stream. He decided to watch it and opened the livestream from his hotel room.
Before, Xia Wan simply ate during his live streams without feeling much. Now, with people in the live broadcast room becoming his customers, he started feeling pressure.
Luckily, the food source didn't set any specific goals or requirements for him. Xia Wan quietly set a small goal for himself in his heart.
For his first live broadcast, Xia Wan aimed to sell a thousand items, which he considered a successful target. So, he entered the number "1000" as the quantity of the product details. Once the live broadcast started, Xia Wan adjusted the camera to ensure everything looked good.
He coughed seriously before smiling brightly.
Huo Yu reclined against the back of the sofa, casually observing Xia Wan as he was occupied with his tasks. When Xia Wan smiled, Huo Yu's mouth twitched slightly at the corners.
"Hey everyone," Xia Wan said cheerfully. "I've got something special for you today. I've tried it myself and loved it, so I wanted to share it with all of you. And guess what? I've made the price cheaper than usual. If you want one, just click on the little yellow cart icon at the bottom of the screen to buy it." He said while looking down, then picked up the broad beans from the food source. He showed the package to the camera before opening it.
"Of course," Xia Wan said. "If you like it, feel free to buy it. But if you're not a fan, don't feel pressured to spend your money just to support me. Remember, money doesn't grow on trees."
At that moment, the screen was flooded with hundreds of comments and messages.
[It's obvious that this is my brother's first time selling something, and he's a bit nervous and shy. It's so cute to see him like this!]
[Oh my goodness, my brother is as charming as a cat!]
[I hope my brother keeps smiling in the future. His laughter is so beautiful, cute, and soothing.]
[Brother, you're like a magical fairy! Your food heals, and your smile heals too.]
[I've been eagerly waiting for my brother to introduce these products, and now I can finally enjoy the same style as my brother!]
[A thoughtful host indeed! While others can't wait to get us to buy, our host reminds us not to waste our money.]
The comments on the screen are scrolling by so quickly that Xia Wan can barely keep up. He calmly opens the bag of broad beans and starts munching on them just as he always does. Other than the sound of eating, there's complete silence on the microphone.
After a little while, a comment suddenly popped up on the screen:
[Brother, it looks like your product is sold out!]
Xia Wan kept eating with great focus, occasionally glancing at the rapidly scrolling comments. Most of them praised his cuteness, so he gave them a quick, casual glance.
When Xia Wan finally caught a glimpse of the comments, all he could see were "hahahaha" filling the screen and the repeated message that "Sold out."
Occasionally mixed with two sentences:
[Hahaha, everyone else eats to sell things, but my brother just eats to eat.]
[Mama's heart melts, and she wants to buy a thousand servings so that my son can have snacks whenever he wants.]
Xia Wan was a little shocked and couldn't help but open his eyes.
It's only been five or six minutes, how come it's sold out so quickly? he wondered.
He hurriedly clicked on the product link, hesitated for a moment, and adjusted the quantity.
This time, he decided to buy 5,000 servings.
On the other side of the screen, Huo Yu couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Stupid!" he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of fondness that he didn't even realize.
Amidst the barrage of messages of someone asked if they could take him home, reading this his smile slightly faltered.
How can something be so cute? he thought to himself. Although, it can be quite annoying sometimes.
"It would be best if no one wanted him." he muttered to himself, feeling a mix of frustration and annoyance.
As the atmosphere was getting lively, massive fireworks suddenly exploded on the screen.
A user named YZ rewarded ten deepwater torpedoes.
[Wow, it's a big boss.]
[Hugging the big guy's thigh.]
[Ten in one shot, that's seriously Impressive.]
[Don't covet our younger brother, he belongs to everyone.]
Huo Yu frowned, wondering if this YZ was the same guy who had just said he wanted to take Xia Wan home.
He moved his finger and clicked on the screen, and suddenly, fireworks exploded again.
Before Xia Wan could recover from the massive reward just now, he saw a user named HY tipping him 100 deep waters.
[The local tyrant, is that you?]
[Wow, what day is it today? This is so generous.]
[Wait, am I right? If ten is a hundred, then a thousand is a million?]
[The guy upstairs must have been taught math by the gym teacher, right?]
[I'm not rich, but I'll still grab a few more bags of broad beans to support my bro.]
[The streamer looks completely stunned, hahaha! That expression is priceless. I can't stop laughing. I don't know why I find him so cute even though I'm a straight guy.]
Xia Wan was speechless. He had truly hit the jackpot. Since starting the live broadcast, he'd received plenty of rewards, but they were mostly just a few cents or, at most, a mine or a grenade.
Now, it was already a substantial event with no guaranteed outcome.
It was overwhelming, especially with these two big contributors being so generous.
"Thank you to my friends YZ and HY," Xia Wan began to express his gratitude, but before he could finish, fireworks erupted on the screen once more.
YZ once again rewarded 150 deep water.
Immediately afterward, HY rewarded 200 coins.
[Damn it! I just bought a broad bean, why do I have to experience such unfairness in life?]
[Is this common now?]
[For a moment, I was as excited as a fool, as if I was the one receiving the reward.]
[Anchor is shocked again.]
Xia Wan: "..."
On that day, for the first time during a live broadcast, Xia Wan didn't finish the food in his hands. He quickly ended the stream, his large eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and nervousness.
This pure and innocent expression quickly became a top trending topic on Weibo, attracting countless viewers to watch the replay.
This unexpected turn of events gained him a new wave of fans, and many people fell in love with his deer-in-the-headlights expression.
This trend quickly spread across
Weibo and various video platforms. Many bloggers on the same platform as Xia Wan started imitating him, and the comments section was filled with laughter and remarks like, "No one can deliver it as purely and naturally as my brother, PASS."
And the staff of the manufacturer who watched the live broadcast were even more shocked.
Originally, they were just participating in the activity to keep the audience engaged, as they were already facing a shortage of products.
A small-time streamer had caused hundreds of thousands of orders to pour in, and the pressure of fulfilling these additional requests wouldn't be too overwhelming.
As a result, Xia Wan managed to sell 6,000 copies. If he could keep up with his broadcasts, the numbers could potentially rise even higher.
For the manufacturer, it was a mix of joy and uncertainty. However, they knew that broad beans weren't the only product in their factory. It was a good opportunity to plan ahead for the promotion of other products as well.
Huo Yu was even worse. He laughed so hard that he couldn't even hold his phone. YZ quickly surpassed him.
When he tried to catch up, Xia Wan had already ended the live broadcast.
He stared at the now disconnected live room, torn between laughter and a hint of frustration.
Wen Yunzhi also burst into tears from laughter.
It had been many years since Wen Yunzhi smiled like this.
Xue Chong returned her phone to her and ruffled her hair: "You seem quite fond of this little friend?"
Wen Yunzhi smoothed her messy hair behind her ears, paused for a moment, and asked Xue Chong: "Do you think this kid is a bit kind-hearted?"
"Yes, a bit," Xue Chong said, good-looking people tend to have some similarities."
Wen Yunzhi remained silent.
"Yunzhi," Xue Chong gently held Wen Yunzhi's hand, "I understand your feelings, but over the years, we've met many people, and none of them were him."
"It doesn't mean there won't be someone like him in the future," Wen Yunzhi's expression turned cold. "This child came from my own body. You haven't experienced the pain of carrying a baby for ten months, you'll never understand."
Xue Chong fell silent for a moment, choosing not to respond.
As a father, he felt the same sorrow over the loss of their child, but he was concerned about Wen Yunzhi's well-being. He didn't want her to be overwhelmed by the tragedy and let it consume her life. Years of suffering had left her somewhat fragile, and he wanted to protect her from further pain.
"Isn't Tangtang in the same dormitory as him?" Xue Chong spoke gently. "Take some time to think about it. Maybe even invite him over?"