Rebirth at the Start: This Fate is Too Explosive!

Chapter 458 Making Money on Douyu, Spending Money on Douyu, 1. Separately Want to Bring the Zhang Fa

She took a deep breath, deciding to no longer hide the helplessness of the industry, and explained with a self-deprecating and weary tone: "Actually, a large part of the income we receive has to be reinvested."

Her gaze swept over the exquisite tableware, as if calculating every penny: "Every time there's a big event like the platform's annual gala or fan festival, if you want to improve your ranking and get exposure, you have to spend real money to buy traffic and send gifts! Guilds? They'd love for you to spend more money; they're not going to genuinely help you pay for it."

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, revealing genuine anxiety and helplessness in her expression.

"Moreover, it's a vicious cycle. If you don't boost your live stream's popularity and rank it, the platform won't give you good recommendation slots. Without exposure, where will you get new fans? Without new fans, old fans may also leave... In our circle, we jokingly say, 'Make money on Douyu, spend it on Douyu, don't even think about taking a penny home.' It sounds like a joke, but it's actually the bloody reality."

Mentioning the hardships of work, Han Yiying became even more depressed:

"Live streaming seems easy, just chatting and singing in front of the camera? Actually, every time I go offline, I feel completely drained. Maintaining a high-intensity state for hours or even longer, with my mind constantly on edge, and having to deal with all sorts of unexpected situations... Forget about going out to relax often, even having a proper meal or going shopping is a luxury."

"Yingying is absolutely right!" Feng Timo, who had been listening quietly all along, couldn't help but nod vigorously, as if she had finally found an outlet for her feelings.

When they talked about their shared predicament, her initial restraint in front of Ye Fan was temporarily overshadowed by a strong sense of empathy and grievance.

Her small face showed signs of exhaustion, and her voice became excited: "Live streaming really drains you! Talking to yourself in front of a cold, impersonal screen for hours on end, and after the stream, you don't even want to move, let alone go out!"

She touched her face: "And... I have to spend one or two hours carefully applying makeup before going live, and then spend time removing it afterward. I often don't get to eat my so-called 'dinner' until late at night... The days just keep repeating like this, and sometimes I can't even leave the neighborhood for half a month! I'm afraid that if this continues, I'll really go crazy!"

Ye Fan remained calm as he slowly and methodically used his silver chopsticks to pick up a slice of sashimi as thin as a cicada's wing and put it into his mouth, while quietly listening to the two popular female anchors pour out their grievances.

His deep eyes remained largely unmoved, as if he were listening to a story that had nothing to do with him.

After the two paused briefly, he put down his chopsticks, elegantly dabbed his lips with a napkin, and calmly posed the question: "Since you know it's a young person's game and that the turnover rate is fast, haven't you thought about exploring other avenues? You have to leave yourself some options for the future."

Han Yiying gave a bitter smile, her eyes revealing a sense of confusion and helplessness about the future: "Mr. Ye, how could we not have thought about this? Everyone knows that you can't make a living from live streaming forever. But..."

She shrugged helplessly: "Wanting to transform our business and expand our operations? It's easier said than done. Our popularity and value are still firmly tied to the livestreaming platform. Like today, the reason I got this business opportunity at the auto show is because I'm a streamer with a decent following. Once I leave that role, once I'm out of the spotlight of the livestream, the audience will disperse, and these opportunities will..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the unspoken meaning was all too clear—the person had left, and the tea had grown cold.

After listening, Ye Fan's face once again showed that meaningful smile, but he did not continue the topic.

He simply picked up his chopsticks again and turned his gaze to the delicious food on the table, as if the conversation about the predicament of survival had just been a trivial interlude.

Seeing this, Han Yiying and Feng Timo wisely kept quiet.

The only sound in the private room was the soft clinking of cutlery.

The two silently picked up their chopsticks and began to eat the exquisite food in front of them in small bites.

As soon as her tense nerves relaxed, the energy that had been depleted from a busy day of high-intensity live streaming and chasing Ye Fan turned into a strong protest from her rumbling, hungry stomach.

With delicious food in front of them, worries about the future of the industry seem to be temporarily suppressed by the feeling of hunger.

They needed this meal, not only for social interaction, but also for the energy their bodies desperately needed.

......

The dinner, with its subtle atmosphere and intermittent conversation, lasted for nearly an hour.

Ye Fan raised his hand to signal, and the service manager who had been waiting at the door of the private room immediately bowed and entered.

He didn't even glance at the bill, simply handing over a bank card. The manager took it with both hands and swiftly completed the card swipe; the whole process was quiet and efficient.

Upon seeing this, Han Yiying and Feng Timo both showed a mixture of urgency and embarrassment on their faces.

Han Yiying spoke first, her voice filled with apology and insistence: "Mr. Ye! This...this won't do! We agreed to treat you to dinner to express our gratitude, how can we let you spend money!"

Feng Timo quickly nodded in agreement, "Yes, Mr. Ye, this is so embarrassing..."

Ye Fan accepted the card respectfully handed back by the manager, casually put it in his pocket, picked up a warm, damp towel, and slowly wiped the corner of his mouth, his tone carrying an unquestionable calmness: "It's alright."

His gaze swept over the two of them: "Just enjoy your meal, don't worry about these little details."

Feng Timo wanted to try again, but Ye Fan had already stood up, and his undeniable authority made her swallow the rest of her words.

Han Yiying reacted quickly, gently tugging at Feng Timo's arm to signal her to follow.

The two quickly got up and followed Ye Fan out of the private room.

Han Yiying quickly walked to Ye Fan's side, her face displaying a perfectly balanced expression of gratitude and unease: "Mr. Ye, I'm so sorry, you still had to spend money in the end..."

Ye Fan didn't stop walking; he simply waved his hand casually, as if shooing away an insignificant flying insect.

Stepping out of the restaurant, a cool night breeze caressed my face.

He stopped, turned his head, and calmly looked at the two beautiful women beside him. His voice was particularly clear in the night: "The top floor of the Hilton is quite nice, with a great view. How about we go up, have a drink, and clear our heads?"

His invitation, though seemingly casual, carried an invisible, condescending sense of choice.

The implication was crystal clear: if you're willing, follow along; if not, you can turn around and leave now. There was no coercion, but the choice and pressure were completely placed on the other person.

Feng Timo panicked for a moment: she subconsciously looked at Han Yiying, her eyes filled with dependence and inquiry.

Han Yiying's heart tightened, but after only a moment's hesitation, her face blossomed with her signature sweet smile, and her voice was soft yet carried a hint of unwavering determination: "We will follow Mr. Ye's arrangements."