A live stream that dramatically transformed a depressed schoolgirl shocked netizens across the count

The living quarters were dimly lit, and the silence was broken by the sound of the main unit's notification.

[Nighttime surveillance footage summary complete.]

The marked target outside the south gate did not enter the camp.

The target on the rooftop of the guesthouse across the river was evacuated at 3:12 AM; the equipment has been dismantled.

Chen Lang opened his eyes, took the floating screen, and the monitoring screen unfolded frame by frame.

The man in the black hat was leaving along the riverbank, his camera bag pressed tightly against his leg. On the opposite bank, the rooftop of the guesthouse was deserted, with the curtains hanging down.

There were no signs of climbing over the wall around the campsite, and the rear-end sensors did not detect any unusual heat sources.

Titan cut out another set of data.

Seven short-duration encrypted communications occurred between 4:00 AM and 5:30 AM near Hongqiao, Dongzheng Street, and Beimen Wharf.

[Single duration: three to nine seconds.]

[Personnel and equipment could not be identified.]

Shen Qingci sat up, wrapped in the blanket, her long hair sliding down her shoulders.

She picked up the planner from the bedside table, flipped to the page with the route marked up last night, and found that three locations had been crossed out in black pen, with the words "Public is safe, hidden route" written next to them.

She closed the notebook and turned to look at Chen Lang.

"Fixed routes canceled."

Chen Lang opened the map of Phoenix City.

"Agreed, retain the evacuation point and contact information."

"After entering the city, we don't check the order of the attractions, so as not to leave any clues for others to follow," Shen Qingci added.

"And I won't let Titan decide every step for me," Chen Lang added.

"This sentence needs to be written into the contract."

"I've already memorized it."

Chen Lang turned his head to look at her.

Shen Qingci fiddled with the ebony prayer beads on her wrist, the beads tapping softly.

She got up and went to the wardrobe, picking out a beige knit sweater, dark trousers, and a plain baseball cap.

Chen Lang changed into a gray jacket, removed his titanium steel earrings, and put on a pair of ordinary sneakers.

Shen Qingci sized him up.

"One more thing is missing."

"Face mask?"

"Your aura."

"This can't be picked," Chen Lang said, shrugging.

Shen Qingci picked up a dark gray scarf, went behind him, and pressed down the edges of the scarf to cover most of his highly recognizable face.

Chen Lang looked down at his outfit.

"Shen, you've wrapped me up like this, even a dog on the street wouldn't recognize me."

"Then it's a success."

"And you?"

"I'm wearing a hat."

"Even if you only show half your face, people will recognize you."

Shen Qingci pulled the brim of his hat down a little.

"If they recognize it, it means the plan has failed."

"A failed plan doesn't mean a failed trip." Chen Lang stuffed two cell phones, a miniature communication device, and a first-aid kit into his lightweight backpack.

"Let's go see the ancient city, not take the invisibility test."

Shen Qingci didn't refute, put the notebook into her bag, and casually stuck a pen into the outer layer.

The armored doors of the heavy truck opened, and the morning mist spread along the riverbank.

The streetlights outside the camp were on, and the signs of the guesthouses in the distance were only dark outlines. The river was empty, and the water flowed against the stone steps on the bank.

Shi Mancang walked out of the duty room carrying two cups of hot soy milk.

"Up so early?"

"Let's go into town for a walk." Chen Lang took the soy milk.

Shi Mancang looked at the two men's clothes, suppressing a smile.

"Now we look like tourists."

"Whether it looks like the car or not doesn't matter, just make sure no one drives it away."

"Don't worry, my duty room is over there. I'll sound the alarm if anyone gets close to it." Shi Mancang patted his waist.

"Uncle Shi, you worked hard last night." Shen Qingci nodded to him.

"You've entrusted me with the route, so I must keep my promise while guarding the vehicle."

Chen Lang took a sip of soy milk and put the lid back on.

"We went out from the south gate. If anyone asked, we said we were still sleeping."

Shi Mancang raised the walkie-talkie and waved it, "I'm tight-lipped."

The three looked at each other and smiled.

As the two walked out of the camp, a jogger wearing a blue tracksuit and headphones passed by on the riverbank path.

He ran for more than ten meters before his steps came to an abrupt halt.

"The God of Wandering?"

Chen Lang did not stop walking, but Shen Qingci turned her face away.

The jogger took off his headphones, stared at Chen Lang's scarf for a moment, and then his gaze fell on the Buddhist prayer beads on Shen Qingci's wrist.

"Is it really you?"

Shen Qingci lowered the brim of his hat. Chen Lang raised his hand and put his index finger to his lips.

"Good morning, don't shout yet."

The joggers nodded repeatedly and took out their phones, gesturing towards the air.

"Can I just take a picture of your back without getting close?"

"We'll take the photos after we exit the residential area," Chen Lang responded.

"Okay." The man put away his phone and stepped back against the wall, his voice low with barely suppressed excitement, "The God of Waves has arrived in Phoenix!"

The sound of a window opening came from the other side of the riverbank, and the convenience store owner lifted the roller shutter and peeked out.

The group chat on the joggers' phones kept buzzing with messages, and several early-rising tourists peeked out from the door of the guesthouse.

"Who's gone to Fenghuang?"

"The God of Wandering!"

"Is Qingci here too?"

Chen Lang stopped. In just a few dozen meters, more and more people gathered on the road.

People in pajamas and carrying breakfast bags all raised their phones and aimed them at the campsite exit. The camera gradually zoomed in, completely blocking the passage in the middle of the riverbank.

Shen Qingci reached into her backpack, pinched the edge of the notebook, but didn't take it out.

A young live streamer squeezed to the front with a selfie stick.

"Wanderer, look here! Which campsite are you staying at? Are you going to Rainbow Bridge or Dongzheng Street first today?"

Chen Lang raised his hand to block the selfie stick.

Take two steps back.

"We're all fans, just asking for directions."

"Take two steps back," Chen Lang said calmly.

The young livestreamer paused, her grip on the selfie stick tightening. In the shot, only half of Shen Qingci's face was visible.

A rapid ringing of a bicycle bell came from behind, and a tricycle loaded with vegetables stopped at the intersection, water droplets still clinging to the edge of the cargo bed.

The man on the bicycle rang his bell a few times, but the wall of people in front of him didn't budge.

"Excuse me, I need to take the food in."

No one paid any attention. A guesthouse owner carried a cardboard box to the steps, but seeing that the path was blocked, he had no choice but to put the box down.

Shen Qingci looked at the crowded riverbank and the fire safety markings at the camp entrance, her hands gripping the backpack straps tightly, leaving deep marks. She took a step forward.

"Everyone, please make way."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried clearly. Several cell phones immediately turned their cameras to point at her.

"This is a residential passageway; the tricycle needs to pass through. Taking photos is allowed, but please step back against the wall first."

The crowd remained deadlocked. Shen Qingci raised her hand and pointed to the stone wall on the left.

"Stand on the left, leave two meters in the middle."

The morning runners were the first to back away.

"Listen carefully, don't block the road!" He turned and called to the people behind him, "Stand by the wall! Don't block the cars!"

The crowd parted slightly. The tricycle slowly drove by, its wheels splashing mud as it ran over the puddles. The uncle raised his hand to thank him and turned into the alley.

The young anchor frowned.

"We didn't do anything, is it really necessary to make such a fuss about filming a video?"

Shen Qingci's gaze fell on him.

"You're standing in the middle of the passageway, with the camera right in someone's face, asking for directions to accommodation. Each thing might seem insignificant on its own, but when you put them all together, it makes it impossible for people to live normal lives."

The anchor opened his mouth, but was speechless.

Chen Lang took over the conversation at the opportune moment.

"Let's set three rules."

He raised his hand to signal the levitating sphere to take off. Titan did not start a live broadcast, but only recorded the audio from the scene.

"First, do not block residents' access routes."

"Secondly, do not take close-up photos of faces or private screens."

Third, they do not provide real-time accommodation locations.

The young anchor held up his phone and asked a question in return.

"So we can't film anything at all?"

"We can take a group photo." Chen Lang pointed to the open space by the riverbank. "Go back over there, line up and take one. After that, everyone go their own way. Don't follow the car, don't block the entrance, and don't keep asking for directions."

A hushed murmur arose from the crowd.

"Does the God of Waves really want to take a photo with me?"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

The crowd quickly gathered in the open space. Shen Qingci stood by the passageway, continuing to maintain order.

"This area is for residents. Those taking photos, please line up and turn off location services on your phones. If you've already shared your location, please delete it first."

The joggers raised their phones to respond.

"I'm here to remind everyone in the group not to post the campsite name or the exit."

Several local tourists followed suit. A girl pulled up a group chat and pointed at the screen, shouting something.

"Someone just posted photos of the river embankment, and I asked him to take them down."

"Tell him not to include house numbers or parking spaces in the photos," Shen Qingci reminded him.

The girl nodded and quickly typed.

The young anchor didn't join the queue; instead, he stood on the periphery, his camera fixed on Shen Qingci.

"Qingci, are you planning to go to the North Gate Wharf today? There are already people waiting there."

Shen Qingci turned around and looked directly at him.

"I can't answer questions about directions."

"Isn't the point of your live stream to let everyone watch?"

"Making content public does not mean making your entire life public."

The livestreamer was forced to take a half-step back as he was blocked. A tourist nearby put down his phone and chimed in.

That makes sense.

"You have to ask before you can photograph people."

Chen Lang looked at the noisy crowd and raised his hand to signal for quiet.

[The God-level Emotional Domain has been activated.]

[Affected area: 30 meters.]

Current mood fluctuation: Decreasing.

A river breeze swept through the crowd, and the arguing abruptly ceased. Selfie sticks held in mid-air froze, and several tourists trying to push forward stopped abruptly, their toes touching the stone slabs.

Chen Lang's gaze swept over the crowd.

"I'll remember that everyone was willing to give way today."

"After the group photo is taken, whoever wants to go into the city can go on their own and not follow us."

"Wandering God, can we walk together for a while?" someone asked boldly.

"No," Chen Lang replied decisively.

The person who asked the question stood there stunned, and Chen Lang then added a sentence.

"You go your way, we'll go ours. The ancient city is only so big; if we happen to meet, it's fate."

Laughter erupted from the crowd, the tense atmosphere completely dissipated, and the group photo proceeded smoothly.

Chen Lang stood on the outside, with Shen Qingci standing beside him.

With each photo she took, she would gently remind the other person to avoid the exit and the campsite background.

When it was the jogger's turn, he handed his phone to the tourist next to him.

"I only filmed half-body shots, without any location tracking."

"Thank you," Shen Qingci nodded in thanks.

The man took back his phone, but instead of leaving, he stood aside and spoke.

"Qingci, I've been following you for a long time. You used to always hide behind the camera, but now you're able to stand up and speak out, which is great."

Shen Qingci tightened her grip on the backpack strap and paused for two seconds before speaking.

"I'm practicing too."

"What are you practicing?"

"Explain yourself clearly."

The man smiled and gave a thumbs up.

"You've practiced well."

After the group photo session, the tourists gradually dispersed. Water tracks left by the tricycles stretched across the riverbank, the guesthouse owner hurried past carrying cardboard boxes, the alleyway reopened to traffic, and the roller shutters rose one after another.

Shen Qingci loosened the backpack strap, leaving two red marks on his palm.

Chen Lang turned his head to look at her.

"How did it feel to announce the rules in front of a group of people for the first time?"

My throat is dry.

"This is a workplace injury for the spokesperson."

"You just quieted everyone down, is that something I did?"

"Of course, you're in charge of making them listen, and I'll be in charge of making them shut up," Chen Lang chuckled.

Shen Qingci raised her hand and touched his arm.

"Don't take all the credit."

"Received, Manager Shen requests a reassignment."

Titan's voice suddenly cut in from the communication device.

[A phone that wasn't in the group photo was found.]

[Continued filming direction: Camp exit.]

The holder has left the scene and blended into the crowd of tourists on the east side.

Shen Qingci turned her head to look in the direction where the crowd had dispersed.

"Can it be locked?"

[The target has left the monitoring range; its identity has not yet been confirmed.]

Chen Lang put away the communication equipment.

"Don't chase me yet."

Why?

"If the first step into the city today is to chase after someone, then the trip should be renamed 'Catching Thieves'."

Shen Qingci opened her notebook and wrote down three lines: No blocking the road, no sticking faces, no revealing locations.

She paused for a moment, then added at the end: "We'll set the rules together."

Chen Lang's gaze swept over the line of text.

"This one is more important than the previous three."

In the distance, the gates of Fenghuang Ancient City opened, and the river mist dissipated upwards along the green-tiled eaves, while the bluestone road was still marked with the water accumulated last night.

Shen Qingci closed the notebook and strode toward the city gate.

"Chen Lang".

"exist."

"Not canceled today."

Chen Lang followed in her footsteps.

"Why not cancel it?"

"travel."

The two walked side by side across the stone bridge outside the camp and headed deeper into the ancient city.

Not far behind, a cell phone screen lit up, and a new message was sent silently.

"Confirmed, the two have entered the city on foot."