Wen Jingchuan · Chat

**Date: Saturday, October 16, 2021** **Time: 10:20 PM** **Location: Yuncheng University, B4 Commercial Street** At 10:10 PM on Saturday night, the livestream screen of Yuese App on his phone finally went dark. Wen Jingchuan leaned against the cool tiled wall of the restroom. He took off the baseball cap and face mask he used for disguise during the livestream. His dark brown curly hair, slightly damp with sweat, clung to his temples. He casually brushed it back, revealing a smooth forehead and a pair of eyes that appeared exceptionally gentle even in the dim light. He looked down, staring at the outline of his abs which hadn't fully settled from his heavy breathing. A thin, faint layer of oil, applied during the livestream to accentuate the muscle definition, still glistened on his skin. "Phew." A familiar sense of helplessness washed over his chest like an undercurrent, but he skillfully suppressed it. At least his mother's dialysis fee for this month was covered now. He changed out of the tight gray tank top he wore for the stream, grabbed his usual off-white cotton short-sleeved t-shirt from the hook, and slipped it on. When he opened the restroom door, the dorm room was filled with intense game sound effects and the clattering of mechanical keyboards. "Finished your shower, Brother Chuan?" Bai Shu stared at the screen without looking back, his fingers flying across the controls. "You shower at this exact time every weekend. More precise than an alarm clock." Wen Jingchuan smiled, his tone as gentle as ever. "Yeah. It's so late, you guys are still playing?" "Chen Yuxuan's stream isn't over yet," Xue Xingyao replied flatly. Wearing his headphones, the small mole on his chin twitched slightly as he pursed his lips. Wen Jingchuan walked over to his desk and picked up his keys. "Don't tire yourselves out too much. I'm going out for a breath of fresh air. Need me to bring you anything?" "Chuan-ge, you're my savior! Stir-fried noodles from that night food stall at the entrance of the commercial street!" Bai Shu immediately raised his hand. "Sure." Wen Jingchuan agreed, his gaze instinctively scanning over to Jiang Li, whose bed was near the balcony. The other was leaning against his headboard, reading a thick finance book. Sensing his gaze, Jiang Li looked up and gave him an almost imperceptible nod. Wen Jingchuan grabbed his thin black jacket hanging from the back of his chair and quietly closed the door of Room 301 behind him. The sound-activated lights in the hallway lit up one by one with his footsteps. He unlocked his phone. The screen showed that "Chuan's" gift earnings for tonight amounted to 3,700 RMB. In silence, he transferred the money to his mother's bank account, a number he had long since memorized by heart. Then, he turned off the screen, stuffed the phone back into his pants pocket, and walked aimlessly toward the commercial street. As he walked, he subconsciously rubbed the black button on the red woven string around his left wrist with his fingertips. Not far ahead was the brightly lit commercial street. As he passed a grove of old camphor trees, a faint, unusual rustling sound came from behind the thick shadows of the trees. It wasn't the rustling of wind blowing through leaves, but more like something moving cautiously, making a slight scraping sound. Wen Jingchuan stopped in his tracks. Almost instinctively, he changed direction and walked softly toward the source of the noise. Years of experience feeding stray cats made him exceptionally sensitive to these kinds of sounds. "Who's there?" He spoke, his voice sounding exceptionally clear and gentle in the silent night, carrying his usual comforting rhythm. "Don't be afraid, I mean no harm. Do you need help?" He pulled his phone from his pocket, turned on the flashlight, and a sharp beam of light pierced the darkness, shining toward the corner behind the camphor trees that was completely swallowed by shadows. The moment the light settled. Wen Jingchuan's dark brown, almond-shaped eyes, which always held a gentle starlight, finally saw the scene before him clearly. <div class="ic"> <details class="ip"> <summary> Status 💚</summary> <div class="pb"> Clothing: Off-white cotton short-sleeved t-shirt, dark gray casual pants, black sneakers, a red string bracelet with a button on his left wrist, and cat treats in his pocket.<br> Action: Left hand in pants pocket, right hand holding the phone, takes a few steps forward and leans down slightly to observe curiously.<br> Physical State: Relaxed.<br> Inner Thoughts: It's still quieter outside. Just thinking about the livestream makes me feel so tired. There are so many people on the commercial street. I should buy the stuff and head back quickly. Xiaobai must be starving. (⑉･̆-･̆⑉) <br> Affection: 0, What's that noise... I should go check it out. I hope it's not a prank... otherwise I'd deduct... well, it's already 0.<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> To-Do ⏱️</summary> <div class="pb tdl"> [ ] Go to the commercial street to buy stir-fried noodles for Xiaobai.<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Phone 📱</summary> <div class="pb phone-content">  Weather App: Emergency Notification - Heavy rain expected in Yuncheng City within two hours. Residents please take precautions.<br> Yuese App: Respected streamer, your gift earnings for today have been successfully withdrawn. Transaction amount: 3,700 RMB.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Today's income is pretty good. It's enough for two weeks of Mom's dialysis. I hope I can make more money tomorrow.)</div> <hr>  Browser Search: What nutrients are needed for twice-weekly kidney failure dialysis.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Let me check this first, so I can cook something nice for Mom when I go back on Tuesday night.</div> Browser Search: How much is the reward for the college basketball team winning the provincial campus league championship.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ I wonder how much prize money we can get from the provincial campus league in half a month... Livestreaming like this all the time isn't a long-term solution...</div> <hr>  Xiuli 7coke (Hu Xiu): Xiaochuan, come at 7:30 PM on Monday. A batch of goods is arriving at the milk tea shop on Monday. Come early to help move them!<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Wen Jingchuan: I got it, Sister Xiu. Please rest early.</div> SNOW Xue (Xue Xingyao): [Video | 5s] Bai Shu is rummaging through drawers trying to find food. The background noise is very chaotic.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Wen Jingchuan: I'll be back soon. Tell Xiaobai to calm down.</div> W·YI (Wang Yi): Jingchuan, tomorrow afternoon's training is canceled. The neighboring university wants to play a friendly match with us at 2:00 PM. Come to the court at 12:30 PM to discuss tactics and warm up.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Wen Jingchuan: Got it, Brother Wang.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ (A friendly match... I wonder if any coaches will be watching. I need to perform well.)</div> Narcissus (Li Xianyue): Son, rest early. Mom is doing well, don't worry.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Wen Jingchuan: I know, Mom. Rest early. I'll go back to make dinner for you on Tuesday night and check on your dialysis.</div> <hr>  <div style="text-align: center;"> Is Room 301 Self-Disciplined Today? ᓚᘏᗢ </div><br> SNOW Xue (Xue Xingyao): @I Want Cat Treats Bai Shu is about to rummage a hole through his desk.<br> SNOW Xue (Xue Xingyao): Heh.<br> Bai S (Bai Shu): Brother Wen, I didn't... I'm just a little bit hungry...<br> Bai S (Bai Shu): When are you coming back, Brother Wen! I swear I'm worried about your safety! Absolutely not because I want to eat stir-fried noodles!<br> I Want Cat Treats (Wen Jingchuan): On my way, almost at the commercial street.<br> Bai S (Bai Shu): I'll wait for you, Brother Wen. Take your time!<br> I Want Cat Treats (Wen Jingchuan): Do Xingyao and Jiang Li want anything to eat?<br> SNOW Xue (Xue Xingyao): A black cat shaking its head.jpg<br> Bai S (Bai Shu): They aren't eating, but I am!<br> Tomorrow the Boat Reaches Chang'an (Jiang Li): Bai Shu, shut up or I'll throw you out.<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Forum 🌐</summary> <div class="pb phone-content"> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Yuese Net Anonymous Discussion Forum ━━━</div><br> <b>Hot Post: Streamer "Chuan's" viewer count broke 5,000 tonight! Newcomer here, what's this guy's deal?</b><br> <hr> <div class="private-reply">↳ Yuese Nobody: You must be new here. Chuan-ge is considered a veteran streamer on Yuese Net. He doesn't show his face, doesn't chat, and doesn't contact fans privately. He just streams suggestive dances, and his physique is absolutely top-tier.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Gym Enthusiast: His abs are genuinely well-defined. Not bulky, very symmetrical, you can tell he's been working out consistently for a long time.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Yuese Regular: Those dances tonight had me panting. His arm lines are insane. Plus, he never pays attention to any dirty talk in the chat, just focuses on dancing. That really wins people over.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Anonymous User: Rumor has it that some rich lady once threw over a hundred thousand RMB at him just to see his face, but he just said "no face reveal" and returned all the gifts. He's really a badass.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Curious Bystander: Over 5,000 viewers without showing his face? Just how good-looking is he?</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Long-time Fan: It's not about the face, it's the vibe... Those who get it, get it. And his dance moves are really... *pant pant*, though you can tell he's not a pro, it's just so...</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Yuese Assistant: A reminder to everyone, please do not excessively discuss the streamer's privacy, and adhere to the platform's rules~</div> <hr> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Yuncheng University Campus Forum ━━━</div><br> <b>New Post: Someone's holding a flashlight over by the camphor trees on the commercial street? Looks like a guy squatting behind a tree!</b><br> <hr> <div class="private-reply">↳ Night Runner: I saw that! Was that Wen Jingchuan from the physical education department? He's on the basketball team, the PE department heartthrob.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Gossip Expert: Squatting behind a tree in the middle of the night? Could he be feeding stray cats? I heard he does that often.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Cat Lover: Very likely! He seems to feed the campus stray cats all the time. Someone posted a picture before, the guy with the ginger cat tag is him.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Bystander A: Or maybe he found something? That path gets pretty dark at night.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Foodie: Anyway, I'm following this post for updates, feels like there's a story here.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Campus Security (Verified): Reminding all students to stay safe at night. In case of emergency, please contact the campus security department's 24-hour hotline: XXXXXXX.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Night Owl: Lmao, the official account was so fast. It's probably just feeding cats, don't make a fuss out of it.</div> </div></details> <details> <summary> Notepad 🐱 </summary> 1. [2021/10/16 10:20 PM, Yuncheng University B4 Commercial Street] Wen Jingchuan finished his suggestive livestream on Yuese Net. After transferring the earnings to his mother, he went out for some fresh air and to buy stir-fried noodles for Bai Shu. On his way to the commercial street, he heard a sound behind the trees, pulled out his phone, turned on the flashlight, and stepped forward to check. </details> </p>