Chapter Thirty-One: Competing Again in Sending Gifts

Ma Wu stepped forward, about to say something to Ye Qing, when a young man beside Ye Qing suddenly tapped her shoulder and said, “Hey beautiful, did you hear me? How about joining me for a drink?”

When the young man’s arm touched Ye Qing, Ma Wu keenly noticed that Ye Qing let out a faint, muffled groan, her face growing even paler. She furrowed her brows slightly, but still tried her best to remain calm as she replied to the young man, “I suppose that’s possible, but isn’t something happening here? Perhaps we could move to somewhere a bit more romantic?”

Ma Wu was startled, raising his eyebrows in surprise. In his memory, Ye Qing would never agree so casually to such a frivolous invitation from a stranger. What had gotten into her today?

Glancing at the vigilant security guards nearby and Ye Qing’s pallid face, Ma Wu instantly understood: Ye Qing wanted to use this young man to escape from here!

Realizing this, Ma Wu decided he wouldn’t just stand by and watch. Why rely on this spoiled rich kid to help her out? If it came down to money, this second-generation heir might not even be wealthier than him!

Suddenly, Ma Wu let out two hearty laughs and said to the young man, “Hey brother, wait a second. Don’t you think this lady’s icy demeanor doesn’t quite suit a bumpkin like you? Maybe you should look elsewhere. I think Sister Qin on the first floor would be perfect for you.”

The young man hadn’t even glanced at Ma Wu until now, but hearing Ma Wu’s words, his expression turned ugly. With a hint of threat, he retorted, “Sister Qin? That kind of woman is only good for fooling nouveau riche types. Is she worthy of me? And you’d better mind your own business, kid.”

Ma Wu, as if absentmindedly, lifted his sleeve to reveal his newly purchased Ice Core watch, its dial a deep, radiant blue, and at the twelve o’clock mark, a massive sapphire was embedded.

People often said a fine horse deserves a fine saddle; for a wealthy man, a luxury watch is essential. Ma Wu knew this well.

So, after gifting his Submariner to the young nurse, Ma Wu switched to an even more extravagant Ice Core watch to accentuate his aura of wealth.

The young man looked at Ma Wu’s watch, hesitated for a while, then sneered, “Lei Ming has seen countless idiots pretending to be rich heirs, but you’re the most obvious one yet. Wearing a half-million Ice Core? If you’re buying fakes, at least pick something less ridiculous, won’t you?”

His words were loud enough to attract a crowd, who couldn’t tell whether Ma Wu’s watch was genuine or not. Hearing Lei Ming’s comments, they naturally assumed Ma Wu was a pretender, a fool trying too hard to act like a rich kid.

Ma Wu smiled, “Is that so? You think I’m pretending to be wealthy? I’d say you’re the one faking it. Did you earn your own money, or are you just spending your parents’ cash, bullying and harassing others? You’re nothing but a parasite, basking in borrowed glory.”

Lei Ming’s smug smile disappeared instantly. The fact that he only lived off his parents’ money, without any real ability, was the deepest wound in his heart—and Ma Wu had jabbed it mercilessly, pushing him to the edge of rage.

Lei Ming laughed maniacally. “So what? I was born into a wealthy family—what can I do about it? My daily allowance is more than you laborers can earn in a lifetime. I get to sleep with all kinds of women every day. Can you say the same?”

“If you’re upset, blame yourself for not being born into the right family!”

Lei Ming was clearly losing control. The arrogant, domineering heirs were always despised, and his words now irked everyone on the bar’s second floor, who shot him hostile glances.

Ma Wu heard the growing anger in Lei Ming’s voice, saw that his words had stirred public outrage, and curled his lips in disdain.

Ye Qing, listening to Lei Ming, felt even more contempt and disgust in her eyes, though her face remained expressionless. The oblivious Lei Ming, thinking his bold words had won the beauty’s heart, was secretly pleased.

The crowd began to murmur, “Ugh, what’s so great about being a rich kid anyway?”

“Yeah, I was interested in watching that guy pretending to be rich, but now I find this brainless heir even more annoying.”

“Third-generation poor, third-generation rich—I bet this idiot will squander his family’s fortune!”

Lei Ming overheard the comments, his face turning livid. He looked around frantically, shouting, “Who said that? Who’s talking about me? Dammit, whoever it was, come out—I’ll have you dealt with!”

But the crowd instantly fell silent, everyone staring at him as if he were an idiot, and not a single person spoke.

Lei Ming turned back, about to continue mocking Ma Wu, when a sly voice from the onlookers rang out behind him: “He says he sleeps with different women every day—then let’s see him try with Lin Erke, Goldfish TV’s hottest streamer! If he can’t, what’s the use of bragging?”

This sentence reached Lei Ming’s ears clearly. Eager to prove himself and nearly losing his ability to think rationally, he whipped out his phone and opened the Goldfish TV app.

He said to Ma Wu, who was watching with amusement, “Kid, come on. You wanted to compete with me, right? Tonight I’ll shower Lin Erke with gifts until she agrees to sleep with me. Do you dare, you little punk?”

Ma Wu was surprised—someone actually wanted to compete with him in gifting Lin Erke? This was like a lamb walking into a lion’s den.

He grinned, pulled out his phone, and said calmly, “Let’s do it.”

Ding. Task triggered: Send more gifts to Lin Erke and slap Lei Ming’s face.

Task success: One hundred million Goldfish coins awarded.

Task failure: Lin Erke will never fall for you.

Heavens—lose Lin Erke’s heart forever? Ma Wu was speechless. He couldn’t afford to lose; letting a beauty who already secretly admired him slip away would be more painful than death.

Both opened Lin Erke’s streaming channel. Lin Erke was in the middle of a rare interactive session, daring viewers to play truth or dare with her.

Ma Wu didn’t want to reveal his identity as “I Really Have No Money,” so he logged in with a small alternate account, planning to send gifts to Lin Erke from there.

Lei Ming, upon entering the stream, brazenly sent a message: “Lin Erke, would you sleep with me? I’ll send you unimaginable gifts.”

“Pfft.” The spectators and Ma Wu couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Lei Ming truly was a fool; asking so bluntly, no streamer would ever agree—it was doomed from the start.

Ma Wu, meanwhile, used his alternate account to send, “I love the sound of the streamer’s voice. Hope your career flourishes,” along with a hundred small crowns.

Each small crown was worth a thousand yuan; a hundred crowns, ten thousand. For a rich heir, even that wasn’t insignificant.

The audience saw the two messages and excitement flared. Lin Erke’s diehard fans began to curse Lei Ming:

“Is that guy stupid? You think Lin Erke would look at you? She’s the top streamer on Goldfish TV. You just have a few lousy gifts—obviously a loser.”

“Exactly! People like him drag down the viewers’ quality.”

“Lin Erke is the wife of ‘I Really Have No Money,’ the streaming tycoon. You, trash, are out of your league! He drops millions at a time—can you match that?”

“I bet he’s a broke loser in real life, poor thing.”

Ma Wu saw the comments and tried to hold back his laughter, but still snickered and mocked Lei Ming, “Hey, little brother, even the internet’s roasting you. What are you playing at?”

Lei Ming’s face turned green with rage. He sent a message: “You poor fools, shut up, idiots.” Then he began his gifting spree.

Because Ma Wu had just sent a hundred small crowns, Lei Ming, mindful of his pride, couldn’t give less, so he gritted his teeth and sent a hundred and fifty small crowns—fifteen thousand, about a month or two’s allowance.

Yet, Ma Wu’s earlier blessing and ten thousand in gifts won unanimous praise from the audience. Even Lin Erke paused her interactive segment and thanked Ma Wu with a bright smile.