Chapter Ch132.1 - Filthy Rich
translator: xiin
editors: apricot & juurensha
The dance floor was suddenly quiet.
The Crosson Show broadcast studio.
The compet.i.tion was in full swing, and the backstage was bustling.
Ying Xiangxiang had just finished giving an introduction for French history at the end of Louis XVI’s life. The camera slowly switched to outside the dance floor where on one corner of the wall was a portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette.
The cold wind blew through the stained gla.s.s windows and caused the painting to sway, but the queen’s beauty could still be seen in the weak light.
“Marie was born to the declining Austrian royal family, and her mother was the Empress of the Holy Roman Empire who’d lost the Seven Years’ War. Austria’s financial deficit was huge, and in order to repay the debt, the Empress was continuously pregnant, marrying off the princesses everywhere in exchange for peace.
“Marie was told from an early age that she would become the Queen of France. Young Marie often followed her mother to help the poor and learned all the etiquette, laws, and politics that a Queen was required to know. She was erudite and caring…”
Backstage, the director quickly made a gesture, “It’s done! Four programmers rushed the work over six hours, and it’s just been tested online!”
The live stream cut to another scene.
At present, the contestants who were currently ranked 41-50 were projected in the center of the screen, displayed in two rows and five columns in the ‘highlights’ of the compet.i.tion. Below that was a line of text that read ‘Popularity Voting Channel’.
“……” Ying Xiangxiang’s and Blood Pigeon’s lips twitched.
The program producer was satisfied, “The plot in the third round isn’t complicated, so it’s enough as long as we use half the frame. Let’s auction off the other half now!”
Ying Xiangxiang: “One support voucher is 0.01 credits… so one support voucher for one frame?”
The program producer spoke in all earnestness, “How could that be! One support voucher per ticket! 1920×1080 pixels have to be collected and placed on the matching player’s support image to support our contestants who are fighting in the compet.i.tion!”
In the middle of the screen, there was a change in the number of votes for one contestant, then the number of votes for 10 people moved at the same time!
The screen cut to ranks 31-40, and Wen Lin was on the list. At this time, the voting contest grew even fiercer than before. It moved to ranks 21-30, 11-20, then up to the top ten––
The screen that was showing real-time data froze slightly, and then the numbers went up like crazy.
The little director was stunned, “Is this alright?!”
The program producer directed, “Live stream voting! We’re allowing the audience to feel involved! The players are competing inside, and we have to mobilize the fans to compete outside, right? This principle is the same as the live broadcast rewards for anchors.”
“This little brother is good at finding clues, buy vouchers as a reward! This little brother’s broadsword skills are good, reward! When the time comes, we’ll split the prize pool 50-50 with the contestant. To be honest, with a whole group of little brothers and sisters who don’t concern themselves about food and clothing using real knives and real guns to fight for your pleasure, I would also be willing to spend that money! Take a look at how many votes there are now.”
At 0.01 credits, the price for these support vouchers was extremely low, and the total number of votes grew exponentially.
Amongst the top ten contestants. Wei Yan, Wu Jin, and the Red and White Roses were amongst the highest in the voting rankings, followed by Zuo Botang, Thin Fire, Zoe, Chu Chu, and Lan in the second tier. The last two positions were constantly being replaced, and it was dizzying to watch.
“Our players are all very even!” The program producer thought about it, “We need to think of a way to encourage compet.i.tion––”
From in front of the program producer, the little editor suddenly opened his mouth wide, “Little-Little Witch––”
The program producer: “What?”
Even the program producer was stunned when he looked back. Wu Jin’s votes were advancing by leaps and bounds, pushing straight ahead by 10,000,00… the dazzling increase in numbers finally simplified itself into ‘40M’, leaving the rest of the contestants far behind.
‘40, million… 400,000 credits?! An increase of 40 million in one second?!”
The little editor hurriedly checked the backend of the platform, “Yes, it was all contributed by one person. It’s a new, small account that registered on our live stream platform, and they threw in 400,000 in one second. Holy s.h.i.t, they’re still going?!”
The program producer’s eyes were glinting with golden light, “Okay, quickly cut the camera to Little Witch. We need to build up a good relationship with this rich lady. They’re throwing in 400,000 to see Little Witch; quickly let Little Witch out to play!”
“It’s not a rich lady, the ident.i.ty information states that they’re male…” The little editor cut the screen to the Palace of Versailles dance floor even as he spoke.
The Palace of Versailles Hall of Mirrors.
Candlesticks and chandeliers were brilliant and resplendent. All eyes were closely locked on one corner.
Wu Jin was dressed in a pure black combat suit, occasionally revealing a well-bandaged bruise. He was only one step away from his dance partner from the last ball.
Wei Shi.
The two sharp auras set off each other under everyone’s gaze.
Wei Shi was cool and strong, his aura cold. Wu Jin wasn’t wearing an ostentatious dress at this time, and carried that sense of vigor and physical fitness of those between their teenage and young adult years. He stood as straight as a cypress tree, the muscles of his shoulders and arms curved in smooth arcs. Wu Jin stood in the best angle for the camera, his presence not losing to Wei Shi’s in the slightest.
The small curls were flying about wildly, and Wu Jin’s eyelids were lifted slightly, casting a light shadow over the pupils. It was like he was showing his hidden claws and teeth, instantly attracting the attention of countless cameras.
Their eyes met, and their brain waves were strangely connected.
Wu Jin: Stay in the camera’s view for another five seconds!! Let me clear away my shameful record!!
Wei Shi: Even if you stand there for another five hours, the program producer still won’t delete the footage of you in womenswear from before.
The strains of music for the first movement of the dance drifted in leisurely.
The crowd resumed its noisy bustle again. Caesar spoke to Little Ran in wonder, “Looking at Little Witch now, I’ve really already forgotten what he looked like in womenswear…”
Thin Fire was a.n.a.lyzing carefully to Ning Fengbei, “The third round should be the Scarf CP linking up the powerful with the powerful again. They’re our greatest enemy for winning the championship, and we need to remove them…”
Ning Fengbei elbowed him, “Nonsense, is your a.n.a.lysis even necessary?!”
Zoe was scowling, “Flirting?! He’s seducing Little Witch in public!” Wen Lin quickly explained that Little Witch was the one who wasn’t looking out for himself and had run over on his own, and that the n.o.ble card was one that Little Witch had obtained for Contestant Wei. Zoe paused for a few seconds and then finally squeezed out three words, “Eating soft rice.”
On the Crosson Show support page. The filthy rich fan who’d tossed out 400,000 credits no longer did anything else.
Wu Jin stood there quietly in front of the camera.
Wu Jin reckoned that by now, almost everyone in the audience had already forgotten about the women’s clothing.
And then, he cheerfully reached out to the big boss––
His palm was turned to the left.
Wei Shi stretched out his arm and was about to take advantage of the situation to bring him into his arms when he ended up in an enthusiastic handshake with Wu Jin. His soft palm rubbed against the rough gun-callused one, and Wu Jin spoke solemnly, “Let’s continue our alliance!”
Then he happily extended his hand to Chu Chu, who was still playing with her dress, and headed cheerfully towards the dance floor.
Wei Shi: “……”
Chu Chu: “……”
Red, who had been waiting to see Brother Wei dance the female steps in the dance, “……”
It wasn’t until a few seconds later that Chu Chu finally came back to her senses. In any case, the two teams were allied, and it was the same if Little Witch invited her and not G.o.d Wei! He was such a smart kid; like this, neither G.o.d Wei or Little Witch would have to dance the female part!
In one corner of the dance floor, Wei Shi’s eyes gradually narrowed, and his outline merged into the dark shadows left by the candle light.
Wu Jin was completely oblivious to it. The youth on the dance floor was elegant and dignified, carefully looking out for Chu Chu’s crooked dance steps like a gentleman.
When the first dance was finished, Ming Yao, as the Prince of Soubise, was second in line. He stepped onto the stage as the exit to the dance hall opened up.
Wu Jin shot Vera one last look of encouragement while Ming Yao headed towards his captain right away––
The door suddenly closed behind them.
Chu Chu skillfully tossed off a few outer layers and then found a cubicle to change back into combat clothing.
When she came out again, she was startled into a shiver by the cold wind.
Wu Jin had opened the window and was looking outside the palace.
Outside the window, snow was falling like goose feathers to cover the entire Palace of Versailles. The autumn sunlight was mostly covered up, and a faint blue sheen reflected off the snow covered terrain.
Chu Chu took in a breath of the cool air.
Wu Jin quickly handed the weapons over to Chu Chu and helped her undo the lace that had been caught on the zipper of her combat suit, “The environment is harsh for this last round.”
In the corridor, the ghosts who’d been floating around during the Louis XV era had disappeared. The entire castle was the same as before, but it was now cold and dilapidated. The portrait of the Sun King was still hanging on the wall, but in the era of Louis XVI, people didn’t seem to mention Louis XV often any more. On the tea table were the French terms of surrender from the war, such as the Paris Peace Treaty and the Treaty of Hubertusburg.