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

Chen Lang snapped his fingers.

The silver sphere suspended in mid-air received the command, shifted its position, and used a wide-angle lens to sweep across the entire street.

The snow line of Cangshan Mountain stretches across the rooftops of the ancient city, while the clear blue sky presses down on the gray-white tiled roofs.

An old woman selling tie-dyed fabric on the street shuffled along in her cloth shoes, leaned a bamboo chair against the door frame, placed a palm-leaf fan on her lap, and dozed off.

The Bai ethnic grandmother in the shop next door was squatting on the steps picking pea shoots. Behind her, the black lacquered wooden door was half-closed, and the Bai ethnic tunes from the radio could be heard through the crack in the door.

The live stream chat paused for two seconds, then filled the screen with a dense barrage of comments.

[It's over, nothing is owed.]

[Boss, I'm taking three years off. Reason: My soul has wandered off to Dali.]

This old man slept more soundly than my year-end bonus.

I was eating a steamed bun at my workstation when tears dripped into my soy milk.

Stop filming, bro. If you keep filming, I'll quit my job and become a security guard at Cangshan Mountain.

Chen Lang glanced at the screen and gave a slight smirk.

Save your breath.

"Even the security guards on Cangshan Mountain have to get up early to patrol the mountain. People like you who have to ring your alarm eight times a day will fail the first round of the interview."

The comments section was filled with angry remarks.

Shen Qingci walked to his right, her steps treading on the bluestone slabs. The farce at the morning market was over, and her tense shoulders relaxed.

As the two passed the street corner, a sugar painting stall was set up under an old locust tree.

A copper pot sits on a small charcoal stove, the syrup is cooked until it turns a bright, golden brown. The vendor flips his wrist, and bamboo skewers move across the iron plate, the sugar threads stretching out the outline of half a tiger.

Shen Qingci stopped in her tracks and stood still.

She stared at the half-drawn sugar tiger on the stall, unable to take another step.

Chen Lang withdrew his leg, turned around, leaned against the blue brick wall beside him, put his hands in his pockets, and didn't urge him on.

"When I was little, there was a sugar painting vendor near the school gate," Shen Qingci said, her voice dry.

"There were sugar painting vendors outside the school gate that day after school."

"Many people in the class buy them; they cost five yuan each."

"I stood there and watched for a long time."

As the syrup dripped down, the vendor used a bamboo skewer to break off the end.

Shen Qingci stared at the amber-colored caramel color.

"The driver urged me to get in the car, saying that if I got home ten minutes late, my piano lesson would be squeezed into the time allotted for the physics test."

"My mother checks my schedule at night. If I miss a test paper, she makes me copy the wrong questions ten times."

The wind blew in from the street corner, lifting the hem of her windbreaker over her shoulders.

"I get home at 6:10, change clothes at 6:15, eat dinner at 6:20, and start playing the piano at 6:35."

"Math at 7:20, English at 8:20, Physics at 9:20, wash up at 10:30, turn off the lights at 10:40."

"Every second counts, and we remain steadfast."

She looked up at the finished sugar tiger on the stall.

"I've thought about a lot of things."

"I want to chop the vegetables and cook a meal myself."

"I want to draw the curtains and play games all day long."

"I want to watch some cheesy TV show while holding a bucket of potato chips."

"I want to turn off the alarm and sleep until I naturally wake up."

She paused for a moment, her lips pressed into a straight line.

"These things are considered a waste of life in my family."

The screen was filled with scrolling comments.

Stop talking, I can't take it anymore.

She talks about the kind of fun found in nonsensical literature, but she doesn't even deserve to have nonsensical content.

Chopping vegetables, playing games, eating potato chips, watching bad TV shows... I used to think these things were meaningless.

This is called breaking a person down into parts.

Chen Lang leaned against the blue bricks, his hands in his pockets as he watched her.

A few patches of sunlight filtered through the locust tree leaves, dappling her slender shoulders.

Her gaze was fixed on the cloth, her speech was steady, and even her pauses were perfectly timed.

The system panel lights up in front of the retina.

[The patient has been detected to be in a state of trauma regression.]

The sentiment curve continues to decline.

[Recommendation: Immediately interrupt the backtracking process to prevent objects from being ruminated twice.]

[God-level Emotional Domain - Activated.]

A healing aura spread out, enveloping the two people within a three-meter radius.

The furrows between Shen Qingci's brows smoothed out, and her rapid breathing evened out.

Chen Lang glanced at the panel but didn't reply.

He raised his right hand, his index finger hooking his thumb, his knuckles tense.

With a crisp "smack," it struck Shen Qingci squarely on the forehead, the force quite strong, and a small red mark immediately appeared on her fair forehead.

Shen Qingci covered her forehead, her eyes wide open, stunned on the spot.

Chen Lang put his hands back in his pockets, raised his chin, and curled his lips into a crooked smile.

"Want me to cook?"

Shen Qingci opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"Are you good at bargaining?"

Shen Qingci was speechless, her hand covering her forehead frozen in mid-air.

"You said you wouldn't hide from people today."

"Talking without doing is called writing an essay, Shen."

The comments paused for two seconds, and the screen was filled with exclamation marks covering the view.

Holy crap! That was amazing!!!

[The best psychological counseling on the internet—the ultimate weapon: a flick to the forehead!]

[The school beauty recounted a long, heavy story from her past, and Lang Ge flicked her forehead in response.]

[What a true master! If I were standing next to him, I would have already gone to give him a hug, but Brother Lang shattered that heavy shell!]

Shen Qingci covered her forehead, and her previously tense shoulders and back suddenly relaxed.

She glared at Chen Lang, her lips curving upwards slightly.

Before she could retort, Chen Lang reached down and slid his dry palm down her wrist, squeezing her entire hand into his.

The force wasn't strong, but it left no room for escape.

Chen Lang turned and led her deeper into the alley.

"Walk."

"Where to?"

"North Gate Vegetable Market"

Chen Lang didn't even turn his head, his tone lazy, as if he were taking her downstairs for a stroll.

"Your task for today is to buy groceries."

Shen Qingci stumbled half a step as he pulled her along, but after catching up with his rhythm, she looked down at their clasped hands.

His palms were dry, his knuckles digging into the back of her hand, as he led her toward the alley entrance.

The street was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, and the noise was kept at bay just three steps away.

Shen Qingci pursed her lips, raised her free hand, and tentatively tried to pry open his fingers with her fingertips.

Her fingertips barely touched the rough lines of his thumb before she immediately curled them into her palm. She lowered her eyelashes, her nails digging into the edge of his windbreaker.

"I didn't haggle."

"Nonsense, you probably don't even know what all the green onions look like."

"I recognize him."

"Okay, just don't embarrass yourself later."

The North Gate Market is not far from the main street of the ancient city.

Before I even entered the door, the hawking of vendors assaulted my senses.

"Pea shoots! Freshly picked this morning!"

"Strawberries are 25 yuan a basket, and they're very sweet!"

"Freshly killed crucian carp! Would you like me to clean it for you?"

The red light bulb on the pork stall swayed back and forth, and the cleaver chopped against the thick, round wooden chopping board, sending wood chips and meat scraps flying everywhere.

In the dried goods shop, the aroma of star anise and cinnamon wafted straight into my nose.

The ground was covered with a non-slip mat, and water stains mixed with rotten vegetable leaves were stuck to the corners.

Rows of plastic baskets were stacked, filled with green vegetables, tomatoes, mushrooms, and peppers, taking up the entire stall.

Shen Qingci stepped onto the non-slip mat and shrank her shoulders inward.

The place was bustling with noise and the aroma of fresh food mingled together.

Chen Lang released his grip and stepped back to her left rear, completely blocking the collision path of the cart and pedestrians in the aisle.

Chen Lang raised his chin.

"The auntie selling scallions is over there."

Shen Qingci followed his gaze.

A middle-aged woman wearing an apron sat on a small stool with a few bunches of scallions at her feet, the roots still covered in mud.

"Go, buy one."

Shen Qingci turned to look at him.

"I won't."

"If they can talk, I'll buy."

"What about the price?"

"Whatever she says, you get two cents less."

Shen Qingci frowned.

"Only two cents short?"

Chen Lang laughed, a casual laugh.

"Don't challenge the world boss right away if it's your first time venturing out to farm.

"Let's kill a small monster first."

The comments section was filled with laughter.

[Little Onion: What have I done to deserve being the monster in the newbie village?]

[A prospective Tsinghua/Peking University graduate challenges a market vendor; chances of winning are unknown.]

[A battle wagered on the school beauty's dignity for two cents.]

Shen Qingci stood still, her gaze falling on the scallions covered in dirt.

She can complete three sets of science exam papers in a row and bandage a seriously injured person without batting an eye.

But when asked to go to the aunt selling scallions and get two cents off, her feet were rooted to the non-slip mat, unable to move an inch.

Chen Lang lowered his head, his warm breath close to her ear.

"I wouldn't dare."

The three words fell down, carrying a hint of mockery.

Shen Qingci turned to look at him.

Chen Lang smirked, put his hands back in his pockets, and gestured with his chin toward the stall.

"Two yuan's worth of scallions, is it really necessary for Teacher Shen to be so cowardly?"

Shen Qingci pursed her lips, staring at his expression that was so certain she wouldn't dare, but the indomitable spirit in her bones forcefully broke free from the restraint.

She turned around, gripped the hem of her sleeve tightly, and walked straight to the stall.

The stall owner looked up.

"Little girl, buying scallions?"

Shen Qingci nodded.

"Um."

"This one costs two and a half yuan."

Shen Qingci's knuckles turned white from gripping the weight so tightly.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the live stream held their breath.

She spoke up.

"Can you give me a discount of two cents?"

The stall owner was stunned.

An old man buying groceries next to her also turned to look at her.

Shen Qingci's ears were bloodshot, and his eyes were fixed on the stall owner.

The stall owner auntie laughed and patted her thigh.

"Oh my, what a pretty young lady, she's so serious about buying a bunch of scallions."

Chen Lang coughed from behind.

"Auntie, don't praise her too much, or she'll easily raise the price."

The stall owner was all smiles.

"Okay, okay, here's yours for two dollars and thirty cents."

"Is this your first time buying groceries?"

Shen Qingci opened the payment code on her phone and carefully scanned it.

"Um."

"Come again often, and Auntie will pick out the tenderest ones for you."

The payment notification sounded.

"Two dollars and three cents have arrived."

Shen Qingci took the bunch of scallions.

The scallion leaves were wet, and the mud from the roots smeared onto the transparent bag.

She gripped the edge of the plastic bag with both hands, tightly shielding the muddy scallions from her chest.

The comments section completely broke down.

I cried; I bought back my eighteenth year for just two cents.

Her comment about a two-cent discount made me more nervous than when I was discussing my annual salary.

This scallion dish is legendary.

[Xiao Qingci finally took that step! Just two cents! It feels like the whole world has come alive again.]

"Not bad, beginner's mission complete." Chen Lang said casually, one hand in his pocket, chin slightly raised.

A faint blush rose to the tips of Shen Qingci's ears, and she subconsciously pulled Xiao Cong closer to her chest, the plastic bag making a soft rustling sound.

She raised her clear, cool eyes, looked at the bustling world before her, and said softly, "I can buy something else."

"Addicted?" Chen Lang raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Surrounded by the clamor of vendors hawking their wares and the din of haggling, Shen Qingci stood rooted to the spot, showing no intention of backing down.

"No." She said, emphasizing each word. "I want to know what a normal person's life is like."

Chen Lang laughed out loud, his chest trembling slightly.

He didn't leave in a hurry, but instead leaned against the pillar of the dry goods shop next door, his slender fingers pointing lightly in the air.

"Then let me ask you."

"What was Auntie's reaction when you cut those two cents?"

Shen Qingci recalled for a moment: "She smiled."

"Yes. She smiled, and then directly gave it to Sanmao." Chen Lang rubbed his nose with his thumb. "Do you know why?"

Shen Qingci frowned slightly but remained silent.

Chen Lang raised his hand and tapped his temple with his fingertips.

"Because before you even spoke, she saw a pretty young girl who was visiting the market for the first time. The novelty and the positive impression were natural advantages. But you only used one trick—direct bargaining."

He paused, a crooked smile playing on his lips.

"It works, but it's rough."

Chen Lang tilted his chin toward the tomato stall in front of him, a mischievous smile on his face.

"Want to learn something more advanced—how to get your boss to lower the price and even give you extra freebies?"