Seeing the live chat devolve into a stream of racy jokes, Lin Xia could only roll his eyes in exasperation.
These viewers nowadays… their language was getting more and more refined by the day. Every sentence oozed sophistication and was incredibly easy to understand. From high-flying globe-trotting rendezvous to ground-level repairs like unclogging drains for 200 a pop—they were experts on everything.
Wasn't this way more fun than scheming and backstabbing in the entertainment industry every day? Even though, technically, he hadn't even managed to step through its front door yet.
But when he spotted the last comment from the gatekeeper uncle, even Lin Xia couldn't hold back a laugh. He teased the chat, "Why has the comment section gone so quiet all of a sudden?"
The viewers: …
Quiet your head!
Playing the innocent one now, are we?
When we talk about 'unclogging drains,' do you really think we mean the ones by the gatekeeper's post?
"Well, looks like today's side hustle isn't off to a great start. Might as well head home and call it a day." Seeing no serious inquiries about lockpicking, Lin Xia sighed helplessly.
Although his shtick was experiencing a new profession each day, sometimes the skill he drew wasn't exactly practical for an immediate side gig.
Like that time he got "Milking Proficiency"…
How was he, a grown man, supposed to find a gig for that? He couldn't just walk up to every mother with a baby and ask, "Excuse me, ma'am, are you in need of milking services?"
He was looking for work, not a one-way ticket to getting charged as a public nuisance and enjoying some 'tea' at the police station.
When the viewers saw Lin Xia preparing to head home, they immediately panicked.
"Hey, are you seriously slacking off, streamer?"
"Everyone, quick! Lock your keys inside, or this dog-streamer will end the broadcast!"
"Who'll spot me 200 bucks? I'll immediately 'forget' my keys as performance art."
"Wait, can you even do lockpicking as a side hustle? I've never heard of the streamer having this skill before."
"Yeah, don't you need to register with the local police for that stuff? Heard it's a hassle."
"…"
Lin Xia didn't bother explaining much to the skeptical comments. He just stated with confidence, "There's a lot I can do that you guys don't know about."
Ignoring the inevitable "Then sing a song! Dance for us!" floating past, he continued, "Last call! Anyone nearby need a lock opened? If not, I'm really going home!"
"In that case, if today's professional experience challenge fails, it's not on me! Blame my sheer invincibility, not my lack of effort!" With a masterful deflection of responsibility, a day of slacking off was about to commence.
While he still had all his previously acquired skills, having gotten used to a new job every day, Lin Xia now disdained repeating past gigs.
Just then, a prominent comment finally scrolled across the stream:
"Streamer, can you open a small Luban lock?"
Lin Xia paused.
A small Luban lock?
Well, I'll be.
Was this viewer here to mess with him?
As everyone knew, the Luban lock was among the most difficult locks in the world to pick. How difficult? Basically, locksmiths and thieves alike would turn tail and run upon seeing one.
While the small Luban lock wasn't as complex as the full version with over 200 mechanisms, it still required navigating over 100 steps to unlock. Normally, few people used such complicated locks.
But with his system-granted Lockpicking Proficiency, Lin Xia actually could open it.
However…
"I'll pay you 500 if you can open it!" Another comment followed immediately.
Lin Xia instantly replied, "Of course! Send your address to my DMs."
Soon enough, Lin Xia received the address via private message. Checking the navigation, it wasn't too far—about a thirty-minute bike ride.
A quick tap on his phone, and a shared bike was ready. "Welcome to Hello Bike. Please observe traffic rules." "Ride recklessly, and your loved ones will shed two streams of tears."
Lin Xia: …
It's just a bike ride. No need for the drama.
…
"The streamer can open a small Luban lock? Is he bluffing?"
"Scripted. This has to be scripted!"
"Come on, guys, we've all seen the streamer's 'acting skills.' If this is scripted, I'll eat my hat."
"I just looked it up. Even dogs turn and walk away from a small Luban lock. Can the streamer really do it?"
"Hey, you there, watch your mouth. Be careful, or I might take a stroll past your place. A thief never leaves empty-handed, you know."
"Well, I never! Officer, arrest this man! There's a thief right here!"
"…"
Ignoring the viewers' doubts, Lin Xia cycled for about half an hour according to the directions and finally arrived at the viewer's residential area.
Finding the correct building and apartment number, Lin Xia finally met the viewer from the stream.
"Holy crap!"
"It's actually a pretty girl!"
"Wow! I'm into her! I could go all night!"
"Hijacking this to place an ad: I'm skilled with all kinds of tools, specializing in unclogging various drains…"
"Where's the Piss Squad? Quick, hose down the guy above me!"
"Nah, let's get that gatekeeper uncle from earlier to handle it."
"Pffft haha! You're the real MVP, bro!"
"…"
Lin Xia was also surprised. The viewer turned out to be a rather pretty girl, around an 80/100—the petite and cute type.
However, unlike his easily impressed audience, Lin Xia got straight to the point. "You're the viewer who contacted me, right?"
The girl nodded, "Yes, yes! Come on in."
The viewers: ???
Just like that? She's letting him inside?
Girl, have you lost your mind?!
You're practically inviting the wolf into your house!!
Anyone else might have seized the chance to chat her up and ask for her contact info.
Lin Xia, however, cut directly to the chase: "So, the lock you need opened is…"
"Oh, right! One sec." The girl dashed into an inner room and soon returned with an old-looking box. It seemed to have some years on it.
She explained, "My grandfather left this to me when he passed away. But I was busy handling family affairs afterward and forgot about it."
"I found it again today while cleaning, but I can't find the key. My grandfather said this small Luban lock is really hard to open, that only the original key can do it. Can you open it?"
Lin Xia took the box, examined it for a moment, and nodded. "I can open it."
Remembering something, the girl added, "Oh, and you can't damage the box…"
Before she could finish her sentence…
Click.
Lin Xia was already holding the opened lock out to her, getting straight to the point: "500 bucks."
The girl: ????
The live stream viewers: ????
An eerie silence fell over the room.
It lasted a good while before the live chat exploded with a tidal wave of comments.
"What? What the hell was that??"
"Holy crap! The streamer just gave a little flick of his wrist, and it was over?!"
"Hey, you there. You better be talking about a real 'little flick of the wrist'."
"Damn! Weren't there over a hundred mechanisms? He opened it in less than a second, right?"
"Badass! The streamer is seriously fast!"
…
…