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

The curtains hung down, and the heavy cotton and linen fabric completely sealed off the changing cubicles.

Shen Qingci stood in front of a bronze mirror as tall as a person, her palm cupping the hem of her dark blue pleated skirt woven with gold.

With each rise and fall of his chest, the two strings of small silver bells hanging from his shoulders would gently tap together, creating a crisp, lingering sound in the quiet shop.

Clang.

The crisp metallic sound echoed between the wooden beams and pillars.

The sound of fabric rubbing and the dull thud of hard metal buckles clicking came from behind the curtain.

The Miao shopkeeper placed two pairs of openwork silver bracelets into a brown paper bag, zipped it halfway up, lifted his eyelids, and looked over Shen Qingci's shoulder at the swaying curtain.

"Young lady, how long is your companion going to dawdle while changing into a short-sleeved shirt?"

Shen Qingci's throat moved slightly.

The shop owner's hands never stopped moving, his eyes carrying the clear-eyed wisdom unique to the common people.

Shen Qingci lowered her eyes, raised her right hand, and used the back of her hand to hold the tassels of the silver flower crown hanging from her forehead steady.

"He's in charge of covering for you from the sidelines."

With a flick of his wrist, the shopkeeper tied the leather rope into a tight knot between his fingers and palm.

"That's a fresh perspective. One person sets the direction from the front, while the other shelters from the rain from behind. They're much more insightful than those impetuous young people outside."

With a ripping sound.

The thick curtain was pulled to one side in its entirety.

Chen Lang took a step forward.

A jet-black short jacket pressed down on his broad shoulders, with dark blue silk thread forming a lace pattern on the chest and sleeves, undulating in the light and shadow as his arms stretched. A black and red interwoven stiff belt cinched his waist, the hem falling past his hips, completely replacing his usual casual workwear style with a sharp and crisp outfit.

He stopped half a step in front of Shen Qingci, spread his arms out, and turned half a circle in front of the mirror.

"Captain Shen, will this gear be up to standard?"

Shen Qingci's hand, which had been fiddling with the silver ornaments, stopped beside her ear.

My gaze slid from his shoulder armor over the tight straps of his cuffs and down to his black ankle boots.

"It looks better than before."

Chen Lang lowered his eyes and fastened the cufflink on his right wrist.

"That means there's nothing to criticize."

Shen Qingci met those smiling eyes, pursed her lips, and didn't say anything more.

A tall brass mirror reflected two figures standing side by side. The indigo-blue Miao-embroidered short jackets were fitted over jet-black lace short coats, the crimson piping at the hem of the skirts echoing the woven belt at the waist of the men's jackets. The mirror was damp with the river breeze, and the edges of their clothes were so close that even their shadows on the floor overlapped.

Chen Lang turned his head and looked at the overlapping reflection in the mirror.

"The captain is silent; it seems he chose the right gear for this battle."

"You've always been in the habit of giving yourself a perfect score."

"The facts are clear."

The shop owner circled the two of them for half a turn, tapping his finger bones lightly twice on the counter.

"Hanging on the wooden frame, it's an inanimate object, but when it's worn on you, it comes alive. In Miao villages, this set of black and blue is also chosen for big celebrations."

Shen Qingci's fingers, hanging by her side, tightened, and the ebony prayer beads on her wrist sank deeply into her palm.

Chen Lang placed his palm on the wooden counter first.

"Boss lady, can we get a discount or have our order waived for couples?"

"I'll give you a thirty percent discount."

"Let's round it up and send you a freshly developed Instant photo."

Chen Lang turned to the side, his gaze falling to his side.

"Captain, is it time to poke?"

"Only photograph the clothes, not the face."

"Okay, I'll be your personal stand-up peg."

The shop owner picked up his old Polaroid camera, took three steps back, and pressed the shutter button with his fingertip.

click-

With a sizzle, the faded photographic paper slid out from the bottom of the machine. Chen Lang leaned slightly to the left, his strong shoulders blocking the slanting raindrops from outside the door, steadily shielding Shen Qingci in the shadow of the eaves. The developing solution spread, the indigo and jet black in the photograph interlocking tightly. Shen Qingci's jawline tightened, but an uncontrollable warmth rose at the base of her ears.

[System notification: The hovering ball has increased its cruising altitude.]

[System notification: Delayed video processing complete. Three-minute push notification delay enabled.]

The camera pans across the eaves of the stilted house, then sweeps across the rain-soaked bluestone ground outside the threshold.

Shen Qingci stepped over the threshold, her pleated skirt brushing against the edge of the damp stone steps.

Chen Lang put his hands in his pockets and stepped out of the porch half a step behind.

Raindrops fell on the stone surface, breaking into fine white foam. The clear sound of silver bells jingling pierced through the deep, narrow alley, colliding with the distant lapping of the river.

Inside the live stream, the number of viewers jumped past 200,000.

[This all-black Miao costume is incredibly imposing!]

[A young hero from Miao territory paired with a young lady—I could watch this couple for a whole year!]

[Qingci took the initiative to ask to wear the same outfit for the first time!]

[One manages the way out, the other is responsible for the safety net—brilliant!]

Look at Lang Shen's positioning! He completely blocked the wind from entering the area!

The speed at which the bullet comments scrolled filled the gaps in the screen completely.

[System notification: The current live stream's popularity has reached a new high.]

[System notification: Reputation points increased by 20,000.]

[System notification: The counter-surveillance radar is in high alert status.]

Shen Qingci glanced at the barrage of light and shadow that popped up on the edge of her watch, and raised her hand to hook the silver chain that had slipped off her cheek behind her ear.

"The speculation online just won't stop."

The words fell into the rain, but the steps on the ground slowed down quietly, leaving space for the person next to them to walk side by side.

Chen Lang flicked the micro-control ring, and the levitating ball moved two meters away, the camera only capturing the slender backs of the two people reflected in the bluestone slab.

As I walked past the stone arch tea stalls along the street, a very faint electronic voice came through my earpiece.

[Titan's Tip: A telephoto lens reflection was found 35 meters southeast of the second-floor wooden lattice window of the teahouse.]

The target device is refocusing in an attempt to capture the target's facial features.

Chen Lang moved forward steadily with his feet, his breathing rhythm remaining unchanged.

The drizzle washed over the carved window frames of the teahouse, and the water lines hanging from the eaves tiles kept breaking. The coated lenses in the shadows reflected a dark ring of light.

The people lying in wait changed their location.

The informant who had been lurking at the alley entrance was shaken off, and the second-in-command, who remained behind, used his elevated position to try to pinpoint the two men's new clothes and whereabouts through the rain.

Chen Lang glanced sideways and saw that the silver chain at Shen Qingci's temples, ruffled by the wind, was sweeping across his chin.

"Stop right there."

Shen Qingci's footsteps stopped on the bluestone.

Chen Lang raised his right arm, his palm resting half an inch outside the silver chain, and hooked his index finger onto the tangled chain, easily untying it.

His body shifted sideways, his broad and sturdy back seamlessly transforming into a black wall, completely cutting off the prying gazes coming from behind the carved windows on the second floor.

The levitating ball simultaneously sank into the low sky, leaving only two pairs of non-slip ankle boots on the stone steps and the hem of a dark blue pleated skirt billowing in the river breeze in the viewfinder.

The telephoto lens behind the teahouse window twisted the zoom ring twice, but could not capture anything in the viewfinder except the coarse texture of the dark short jacket.

[Lang Shen's positioning move was flawless!]

[They didn't even let the other person take a picture of her collar.]

Qingci stood behind him, her steps as steady as a mountain.