Volume One, Chapter 10: Climbing the Rankings
“Revenge, top 10 on the leaderboard. Breaking it down, I’m second. No objections to this round, right?” Kedi twirled her wig with a sly smile.
Lin Hang exploded in anger. “Targeting? Sui Sui is a newcomer, and you want her to compete on the leaderboard?”
“This is how battles work. If you don’t compete on the leaderboard, what kind of PK is that?”
“Show some decency, Kedi.”
“It’s fine for the three of us to fight on the leaderboard, but yeah, this does feel like targeting Sui Sui,” said Charming Lady.
“Don’t accept defeat? Then just quit.”
“Fine, let’s do it. I’m ready.” Evening Breeze explained the leaderboard mechanics in the comments, a challenge that tests fan engagement and requires a substantial fan base.
Having active fans alone isn’t enough; they need to be financially supportive fans. She’d only been streaming for two days and simply hadn’t built up that kind of fanbase yet, so she might not even be able to fill the leaderboard.
But she couldn’t back out—if she did, Lin Hang would be in an awkward spot and it’d be hard for her to stay active in the streamer community since she had been brought in by him.
“Okay, mute your mics for a minute to discuss.”
“Sorry, Sui Sui.” Lin Hang was deeply apologetic.
“It’s alright, no worries. I’ll mute now.”
After muting, each started rallying votes to claim leaderboard spots.
[Admin Evening Breeze: I have three accounts, so I can claim three spots. If it’s not enough, I’ll top up.]
[Admin King: Count me in.]
[Xiang Yunduan: I’ll claim one from Lin Hang’s side, then come over to help you take a spot on the cruise.]
“Thanks, Brother Yunduan, Brother Breeze, and Brother King.”
[Admin Sangyou: I’ll take one sports car spot; that’s my limit.]
[Admin Many Fish: I’ll take another sports car.]
[Admin Evening Breeze: Not enough, four more needed.]
[Admin Evening Breeze: Top 10 leaderboard, hot air balloon (520), cat (288) — four spots left.] (Pinned comment)
[I Have Athlete’s Foot: I’ll take a hot air balloon for my wife.]
[Cat Biscuit: I’ll take a cat.]
[Hate Cockroaches: Me too, I have a cat.]
[Admin Evening Breeze: One spot left. DM me if you want to help on the leaderboard. I’ll send a red envelope; whatever gift you send, I’ll double the cashback.]
Brother Breeze was working so hard to help her on the leaderboard while she was thinking of giving up—how shameful.
“Passing brothers and sisters, could you please help Sui Sui claim a leaderboard spot? Just one more to go, please!”
Before Yu Yansui could finish, Kedi declared time was up and immediately started the 10-minute top 10 leaderboard PK.
Within five minutes, Kedi had claimed all her spots. Then Charming Lady followed, Lin Hang, and finally Yu Yansui’s team, who managed to fill theirs with Evening Breeze’s financial backing—but their score was the lowest, earning them the dreaded last-place penalty. At the very last second, Kedi was overtaken by Charming Lady, who snatched second place.
“I’m first, so I get to decide Sui Sui’s penalty, right? Lin Hang, it’s your call,” Charming Lady announced rather than asked, following the streaming rules that in multi-person PKs, the winner’s word is final.
“Sui Sui, show us your talent?”
It was a penalty meant to boost viewers.
“Okay!” Yu Yansui nodded.
She stood and disappeared from the stream briefly, then returned holding a violin. “I’ll perform ‘Pear Blossom Snow’ for everyone.”
“Still fond of the words ‘pillow’ and ‘startled swan’ in dreams.”
“The candlelight is drowsy, yet we can chat through the night.”
“Early spring, late spring, wine warms the deep blossoms.”
The pure violin notes accompanied Yu Yansui’s sweet voice like a gentle breeze, touching every viewer’s heart in the live room, like a heavenly melody.
[Jiuli gifted the streamer Music Hall*10] (7,888)
[Emperor Li!]
[Jiuli: Beautiful and sweet-voiced]
[Can’t see the screen, who understands?]
[Chosen streamer with a sacred body? Singing to attract wealthy patrons?]
[Qinqin: It really sounds so good, the violin playing is amazing]
[Qinqin: Wow, that violin costs 3 million]
[In RMB?]
[Qinqin: USD]
[Admin Sangyou: The princess is playing a 3-million violin for us]
[Mom, I just saw a walking 3-million!]
[This is a real princess]
[Admin King: A talented young lady]
[King gifted the streamer Sunrise Companion*10] (7,266)
[Admin Evening Breeze: Baby, be good]
[Evening Breeze gifted Marry You Home*10] (2,757)
Yu Yansui held the violin, lifted her dress slightly, and performed a proper princess bow.
“Thank you Brother Jiuli, Brother King, Brother Breeze for your gifts, and thanks to all the brothers and sisters for your support.”
Once all had finished their penalties, they began the third round of PK.
[Jiuli followed the streamer]
[Jiuli gifted the streamer Fan Light*1]
“Can I request a song?”
“Sure, Brother Jiuli, what would you like to hear?”
“Can you play ‘Dawn’?”
“Yes, but only after the PK ends.”
[Jiuli: Then I’ll wait a bit longer.]
This round was the final PK. The loser set the rules, so Yu Yansui got to decide the format.
To be honest, she didn’t really understand PK formats and wasn’t sure what to choose.
[Admin Evening Breeze: The number of Carnival gifts, no upper limit.]
“Brother Breeze says the number of Carnival gifts with no cap.”
“That big?” Lin Hang couldn’t believe it.
“Wait, it’s the number of Carnival gifts, not the number of supporters?”
Charming Lady was also skeptical—Carnival gifts usually come out once a year; this was going all out.
Kedi seemed to find this hilarious and laughed. “Are you okay? Your big brother must have spoiled you.”
She sneered. “Sister, let me tell you. Carnival gifts? Wanna see what’s hanging in my avatar?”
Yu Yansui clicked on Kedi’s profile, which boldly displayed “Top Ten Annual Carnival Gifts.”
Indeed impressive, but since Brother Breeze was confident, she chose to trust him.
“Yes, just the number of Carnival gifts, no cap.”
Charming Lady said, “We need to disconnect for a minute and have a meeting. Is that okay, Sui Sui?”
Yu Yansui nodded. “Okay.”
Charming Lady’s stream:
“Sisters, Carnival gifts—who’s been here a while and think I’m doing well enough to give me some support?”
“We can’t rely only on Xuan Xuan. If he leaves, what do we do? For anyone willing to send Carnival gifts, press one.”
[Admin Ling Xuan: I can do it alone.]
Lin Hang’s stream:
“Brothers, Carnival gifts only. Those who can help, please do. This round is just for face points.”
[Admin Wo Ni Die: Face points? We’re just going after Kedi this round.]
[Admin Reckless: Just recharged.]
[Admin Xiang Yunduan: I can do five max.]
Yu Yansui’s stream:
[Admin Evening Breeze: Baby, don’t be afraid. This kind of round is easy.]
[Admin King: Won’t let you lose.]
[Jiuli: I want to request a song. Consider it an advance on the song fee.]
[A newcomer’s stream with three big spenders?]
[Why even fight? It’s a sure win.]
[Di Di’s Keke: Our Di Di’s triple emperor is back; who wins or loses is up in the air.]
[Di Di’s Fat Tiger: Wait for the penalty.]
“You guys really have no manners. You’re not welcome in my stream. Kicked.”
Yu Yansui said firmly and immediately removed the troublemakers.
[Admin King: Good, that’s the counterattack.]
[Admin Evening Breeze: Not easy at all.]
“It’s always been the brothers and sisters standing up for me. I can’t have you guys always getting scolded,” Yu Yansui said awkwardly.
Voting ended, and the four streams reconnected.
“Don’t skip voting now, okay? Don’t run away if you can’t win later.”
“And if you bet this big, the penalty won’t be a simple slap on the wrist,” Kedi said confidently, hinting at something.
Battling with Carnival gifts was the biggest PK format on Qimao. The big spenders put out serious money; the more spent, the harsher the penalty had to be, or it wouldn’t make sense.
Evening Breeze and King had made that very clear. Yu Yansui didn’t want to say more.
Even a fool could see Kedi’s targeting was blatant—she must have offended her somehow, given the constant hostility from the start.
Yu Yansui was patient but not a pushover. She believed in “if you don’t offend me, I don’t offend you; but if you offend me, I’ll return tenfold.” Kedi’s actions truly angered her.
The PK was set as a pure money battle counting only Carnival gift scores, with no multipliers and no use of any PK treasure chest cards—an all-cash showdown.
Most of Yu Yansui’s fans were college girls who couldn’t afford Carnival gifts but promised to help by moderating comments and sharing the stream to boost viewer numbers.