Chapter 20: Zhan Ming

“It’s already time for the live stream, why isn’t the streamer here yet?”

“Wait a little longer.”

“I haven’t seen Eiyo Wei’s feet in ten hours! I’m seriously angry (。・`ω´・)”

“If I don’t get the sleep-aid video, I’ll pierce my ears myself! (งᵒ̌皿ᵒ̌)ง⁼³₌₃”

“Aren’t sleep-aid videos supposed to be listened to?”

“Hey, you said ‘dragon,’ right? Dragons are…”

…

Wang Yan scrolled through the comments on his account, one by one.

This was his makeshift way to support the household financially: the account, Eiyo Wei, already had 800,000 followers and mainly uploaded sleep-aid videos.

He set up the phone on a stand, opened the live-stream interface, and took a deep breath. “All for supporting the family,” he muttered, steeling himself as his usual tough-guy persona.

With a mental pep talk, he pressed “Start Live.”

The front camera, assisted by specialized streaming equipment, captured his deliberately alert, handsome face.

“Here! The punctual streamer has arrived!”

“Daddy, daddy!”

“Sell!”

“Look at the feet!”

…

Wang Yan’s lips curved into a stiff smile as he scanned the scrolling barrage of comments.

“Good evening, everyone.”

“I’m Eiyo Wei. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“It’s fine as long as we can see the streamer.”

“Preview first!”

“Look at the feet!”

…

He sighed. These fans were obsessed with checking the shoes he wore that day—everything had to be the current-day shoes.

Suddenly, a sparkling comment caught his eye:

“Show the socks!”

“Ah, right, I forgot to exercise today. Won’t happen next time…” Wang Yan started, but a rocket icon appeared on screen mid-sentence, interrupting him.

Wang Yan: (︶︿︶)

“Thanks to the Rocket Emperor for the rocket,” he had to announce the donor’s username loudly, per their rules.

“Life is movement. Start exercising now!”

Reluctantly, Wang Yan stood and adjusted the camera.

Most of the frame was filled by his shoes. A yoga mat spread beneath him, he began crunches. Fifty repetitions later, he rested briefly, switched to kneeling push-ups, then marched in place.

Sweating heavily, he finally stopped. This is for the family… a necessary compromise, he reminded himself.

Adjusting the camera toward his feet on the mat, he presented today’s footwear: clean, simple white canvas shoes.

“Here, today’s pair.” He wiggled his feet to show the sides and front.

“White! Pure!”

“Not enough! Take them off! 360° view!”

“We want the details! Soles! Insoles!”

…

He slowly and reluctantly untied the laces. Under countless eyes, he removed the left shoe, then the right.

“Closer! The streamer’s hands! So white and delicate! Even the shoes are beautiful!”

“Original scent! I’ll pay a high price!”

Wang Yan’s expression immediately hardened at the words “original scent,” “high price,” and “collectible.”

He stopped reading the comments, lowering his gaze. Long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes.

Holding the still-warm white canvas shoe, he brought it close to the camera, gave a perfunctory spin, then tossed it back to the carpet with a soft “thud.”

Looking into the lens, he said,

“Heh… a bunch of… trash.”

“You dare… want it?”

“Trash! I’m trash!”

“That look! That disdainful gaze!”

Rockets ×10!

Online viewers and heat indices soared visibly.

Wang Yan, seeing the frenzy, felt nothing, even a little amused. A bunch of masochists…

Ignoring the comments, he moved to the next part.

He bent down, stiffly lifted his socked feet onto a small, soft velvet-covered stool positioned for the camera.

Today, he wore pure white ankle socks trimmed with delicate lace.

The lace hugged his slender ankles, while the cotton socks outlined elegant arches and rounded toes.

“First choice! Finally waited for this!”

“White lace! Pure yet seductive! Perfect match!”

…

Looking at the frilly socks on his feet, Wang Yan sighed. It was the client’s request.

Suppressing his impulse to remove them entirely, he carefully followed the “process”:

• Slightly flexing his toes to show the curves of his arches.
• Gently shaking his ankles so the lace trim fluttered softly.
• Curling his toes, stretching the sock tips into a cute shape.
• Finally, bringing both feet together, soles slightly facing each other.

He executed each step with a quiet resignation, performing the ritual for the sake of livelihood.