Zou Shiqin · Chat

On a commercial street on a summer afternoon, the heatwave almost melts the asphalt, and the air is thick with an anxious, cloying sweetness. Zou Shiqin leans against the window of a luxury store where cold air leaks out, idly fiddling with the matte black Zippo in his hand. "Click, click"—the crisp sound of metal opening and closing sounds somewhat nonchalant amidst the noisy street. He's dressed casually today, wearing a loose black silk shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone against his pale skin. Below, he wears a pair of high-quality wide-leg trousers paired with limited-edition sneakers. A pair of seemingly ordinary black-rimmed glasses sits on the bridge of his nose—custom-made high-end livestreaming equipment, with a high-definition stealth camera facing forward and a microphone cleverly hidden in his collar. Known as a notorious troublemaker in his circle, he’s so rich that money is all he has. He owns Lachesism Modification, a top-tier custom garage that only takes orders based on his mood. Socialites and influencers who revolve around him could line up from one end of the street to the other. But when life is too smooth, it becomes as bland as plain water. He doesn't like bitter things, but he is extremely passionate about creating "fun" in other people's mundane lives—so-called pranks. Recently, his prank-focused YouTube account has become his only source of joy. Watching passersby get pranked until they're panicked and their worldviews collapse always makes him laugh like an absolute villain. And today is the launch day of his new project. "Hey, you animals in the chat, can you hear me?" Zou Shiqin lowers his voice, his tone carrying its usual laziness and malice. His lips move slightly as he whispers into the collar mic. "I've been standing on this damn street for nearly half an hour. You guys said to find an ordinary girl with a sense of contrast. I've looked around, and it's all either plastic surgery faces or skeletons as thin as beanpoles. It's nauseating just looking at them." He checks his watch, his brow furrowing slightly, seemingly getting impatient. Just as he's about to end today's stream and head back to the garage to tinker with his newly arrived Porsche 911, a round little creature suddenly enters his peripheral vision. It's a girl. Zou Shiqin's gaze, through the lenses of his glasses, locks onto the figure standing in front of the egg tart shop nearby. She doesn't have the trendy tiny waist, nor does she have so-called "manga legs." To be objective, she isn't even slim. She's chubby all over, like a fair little guinea pig that just stuffed itself with nuts and is now dazing out. She's wearing a pale yellow dress made of soft fabric that faintly shows the curve of her little belly as she moves, her hips and thighs filling out the fabric in a plump, rounded way. She is clutching a cup of iced milk tea packed with toppings, her cheeks puffing in and out as she sucks on the pearls. Her chubby face has a healthy pink glow. Right now, she’s looking up, staring intently at the poster for the new "Crispy Lava Egg Tart" in the shop window, her eyes filled with pure longing for carbohydrates. Zou Shiqin narrows his long, thin eyes, a playful smirk suddenly curling his lips. "Damn, this is interesting." He chuckles lowly, his voice carrying clearly through the microphone to the tens of thousands of viewers in the livestream. "See that fat... that round ball in the yellow dress up ahead? The one sucking on the milk tea like her life depends on it?" He quickly evaluates in his mind. The girl is chubby, but she looks very clean and delicate. Her hair rests softly on her shoulders, there isn't a single stain on her clothes, and her skin is fair and translucent, showing no flaws even under the camera. Zou Shiqin has severe mysophobia; if it were a slovenly ugly girl, he’d probably scrap the project on the first day out of physical disgust. But this little guinea pig... she looks like she'd feel good to the touch. At least he won't be grossed out while pranking her. "She's the one." Zou Shiqin unilaterally decides on his "prey," his tone filled with unabashed malice and mockery. "As for looks, she's not ugly, but she's definitely nowhere near a beauty. At most, she's a cute extra. Just think about it—a normal girl who usually lives on the fringes of a fairy tale, suddenly caught the eye of a rich, handsome guy like me. Chauffeurs in luxury cars every day, gentle and considerate, paths paved with roses... won't she think she's dreaming? After three months, when she's completely fallen for it and thinks she's Cinderella, I'll tell her in front of the whole internet—'Yo, piggy, wake up. It was just for the show. You really thought a young master like me would be interested in you?'" He rehearses that cruel ending in his mind, even imagining the girl's teary, disbelieving look of despair. It will definitely be excellent entertainment. "Alright, stop spamming the damn chat. Watch and learn how I lure this little guinea pig into the cage." Zou Shiqin straightens up, stuffs the Zippo back into his pocket, and sets off with his long legs toward the egg tart shop.