Financial Independence through Cracked Apps-Chapter 128 - 120: Canary

Ritz-Carlton Hotel, master bedroom.

Lin Shen leaned against the headboard, leisurely watching the women on his phone screen, each with their own ulterior motives.

There was Zheng Yanfei, so shocked she covered her mouth with one hand, unable to speak.

Cheng Xiao, her face dark, her eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and hate.

And Tang Tian, who loved watching a good drama and didn’t mind stirring the pot, along with another roommate who was leaning in to watch curiously.

The atmosphere in the women’s dorm, filled with schemes, intrigue, and backstabbing, gave Lin Shen a sense of déjà vu, as if he were watching an imperial harem drama.

This was too much fun!

He hadn’t expected to see such a great show just by sending a few gifts! 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Lin Shen suddenly felt like he’d made a killing, especially since Shuaiyang would reimburse him for the expense.

[Host’s current TikTok spending: 2,508. Total Shuaiyang cash back received: 627 yuan!]

Not only that, but he had also completed Shuaiyang’s follower growth mission—and even exceeded the goal!

While the Heart of the Universe brought a few hundred people to Zheng Yanfei’s stream, it also gained Lin Shen’s alternate account several thousand followers!

Likes and comments on his video were shooting up in the background, and he was even getting a lot of private messages.

Most of it was just spam, though, along with propositions from cam girls.

[Big bro~ Come check out my stream. Just one Heart of the Universe and I’ll come hang out with you offline~]

[Big bro, I’m streaming in a JK uniform. Interested in taking a look?]

"..."

’I’m afraid I’ll catch HIV through the screen.’

Lin Shen curled his lip in disdain and decisively ignored the messages.

Just then, Zheng Yanfei snapped out of it and agreed without hesitation.

"Of course, Jianlu! I’ll contact you after the stream."

"Okay."

Zheng Yanfei was genuinely excited. The corners of her mouth turned up unconsciously, and her expression filled with pride and confidence.

’Who said being an influencer was hard?’

’This is pretty easy!’

’In just half a year, I’ve gained hundreds of thousands of followers and even caught the eye of a big spender!’

Zheng Yanfei was already starting to fantasize about the future, imagining a life of luxury in high society, all thanks to her career as an influencer. ’This is a great opportunity to jump up a social class!’ She wasn’t about to let it go.

Even though most of the viewers drawn in by the Heart of the Universe were just there for the spectacle, some even posting obscene comments.

But Zheng Yanfei kept smiling and chatting with everyone, ignoring the malicious words and even performing the recently popular "Victory Dance."

A gray form-fitting T-shirt, black shorts, and long black stockings.

Although the outfit was simple, it left nothing to the imagination when it came to her excellent figure.

Zheng Yanfei’s sensual hips swayed to the dynamic melody, her limbs coordinated and flexible. It was clear at a glance that she had some dance training.

This led many people to suspect she might be sending gifts to herself to drive traffic.

After all, "Jianlu" only had one post, so it was most likely her alternate account.

As a result, many viewers stopped caring whether Zheng Yanfei was being kept by her top supporter and started enjoying her stream’s content instead.

As a flight attendant student, her youth and beauty were her advantages. And she knew how to use them.

Of course, Zheng Yanfei’s main focus was still the big spender named "Jianlu."

But ever since he’d asked for her contact information, he hadn’t posted another comment in the stream.

Left with no other choice, Zheng Yanfei decided to end her stream early to get closer to the big spender, "Jianlu."

At that moment, however, Cheng Xiao, who was beside her, frowned slightly.

"Feifei, are you really going to add this guy? What about your boyfriend?"

"Adding him doesn’t mean anything’s going to happen."

Zheng Yanfei took her phone off its stand and started cleaning up her desk.

"Besides, he sent me over two thousand yuan worth of gifts. I can’t just go back on my word, can I? How would I keep streaming after that? How would I stay an influencer?"

"But I don’t think what you’re doing is right."

Cheng Xiao said with a stern, holier-than-thou expression.

"Once you have a boyfriend, you shouldn’t get too close to other guys."

"Exchanging contact info is ’getting too close’?"

Zheng Yanfei was speechless. She knew all about Cheng Xiao’s private life.

She had a boyfriend back home and was talking to a Rich Man here in Modu.

’And you have the nerve to lecture me?’

’She’s always coming back and showing off photos from her dinners with that Rich Man, claiming he’s her boyfriend. Does she really think we’re all idiots?!’

Zheng Yanfei couldn’t be bothered to argue with Cheng Xiao, afraid that if they kept talking, she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from starting a fight.

Tang Tian, on the other hand, voiced her worries.

"What if this guy is some greasy middle-aged man? Like our principal. Could you stand it if he’s a bald old geezer?"

"So what?"

Zheng Yanfei didn’t seem to care.

"I’m not planning on doing anything with him. Besides, I’ll probably run into even more guys like this once I start working. I’ll just consider it practice for the future."

"So if he asks you to dinner, will you go?"

"Of course. Why turn down a free meal?"

Zheng Yanfei shot a triumphant glance at Cheng Xiao and said smugly.

"A guy who drops over two thousand yuan at once probably goes to some really high-end restaurants. I’ll take pictures for you guys when I go."

"Well, you’d better be careful."

Cheng Xiao said, her voice dripping with sour grapes.

"Don’t let him take advantage of you."

"Mm."

Seeing Zheng Yanfei’s ecstatic expression, Cheng Xiao felt a profound sense of imbalance and misery.

Your own failure is certainly terrible. But the success of someone close to you is even more gut-wrenching!

*

*

Seeing that Zheng Yanfei had ended her stream, Lin Shen boredly opened Shuaiyang.

As expected, his missions were complete.

[Create a TikTok account and gain 100 followers (Complete)]

[Shuaiyang Lv. 2 → Lv. 3]

[Level Up Mission: Tip a streamer once and gain 1,000 followers (Complete)]

[Shuaiyang Lv. 3 → Lv. 4]

[Reward: Cash back on all TikTok spending increased from 25% → 35%]

[Reward: Random Skill Book x2]

[Level Up Mission: Make one post and gain 10,000 followers]

’I leveled up twice in a row?’

This came as quite a surprise to Lin Shen; nothing like this had ever happened before.

The rewards he received also piqued his curiosity.

’A random Skill Book?’

Lin Shen tapped the screen, and three options suddenly floated up.

They were: Arts, Sciences, and Professional Subjects.

Lin Shen froze for a moment. He felt like he was back in high school choosing his academic track. After thinking it over, he tried tapping "Arts."

[B2 Level English Mastery (Able to communicate fluently, understand complex content in a professional field, write detailed reports or articles, approaching the daily usage level of a native speaker)]

’Huh?’

’English?’

Lin Shen scratched his head. The skill felt a bit useless.

Still, it wasn’t too bad. As a universal basic language, knowing English would be useful for traveling abroad and preparing for a future trip around the world.

Besides, something was better than nothing. Who wouldn’t want a free skill?

Lin Shen used another random Skill Book and chose "Sciences."

[Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics (Standard university graduate-level proficiency)]

’No doubt about it, this one is truly useless!’

Lin Shen couldn’t help but sigh softly, his sense of anticipation deflating.

’English could at least be useful for something, but what’s the point of a specialized math course?’

’Is it trying to turn me into an all-around academic superstar?’

"Who needs to study when you’re already rich!"

Lin Shen grumbled. Just then, a private message from Zheng Yanfei arrived through TikTok’s backend.

[Jianlu, are you there? My WeChat ID is: ... Add me.]

After lights-out in the dorm, Zheng Yanfei lay in bed and began to investigate the big spender named "Jianlu."

First, he only had one post, which was filled with various landscape photos. They were actually quite well-shot.

Especially the one of three generations in the same frame under the sunset—it was good enough to enter into a photography contest!

’Looks like this guy is a cultured person who’s into photography.’

Zheng Yanfei quietly made a mental note of this. Just then, she received a notification on WeChat.

It wasn’t a friend request from a new person, however, but a screenshot from Lin Shen.

[Lin Shen: This is you, right? (haha)]

’Huh?’

Staring at the photo of the private message she had sent to "Jianlu," Zheng Yanfei’s mind went blank, her thoughts thrown into chaos.

’Wait!’

’Let me get this straight...’

’Jianlu is Lin Shen?’

’The tall, rich, and handsome guy I met at the Chanel store?’

’Holy shit!’

Zheng Yanfei shot up in bed, feeling like the vast city of Modu had suddenly become incredibly small.

’How could we run into each other like this?’

[Zheng Yanfei: It was you!!!]

[Zheng Yanfei: surprised_cat.jpg]

[Zheng Yanfei: Why did you send me gifts! It’s not like we don’t know each other!]

[Lin Shen: I saw you were working hard, streaming late at night. I just sent a few small gifts to help you call it a day.]

’Small gifts?’

’Casually tossing out over two thousand yuan is a "small gift"?’

Zheng Yanfei couldn’t quite wrap her head around it. Was the world of the rich really this casual?

But Lin Shen’s words made her feel a secret thrill, and a wave of happiness almost overwhelmed her.

She had been worrying about what she would do if "Jianlu" turned out to be some gross old man.

She liked money, sure, but if the guy was hideous, she didn’t like it *that* much...

But!

Now she didn’t have to worry!

Because Lin Shen was an incredibly handsome super-hottie!

Zheng Yanfei had already confirmed this back when she met him at the Chanel counter.

A refined, handsome face, and a well-proportioned, stylish figure.

’Oh my god!’

’Did I just use up all the luck for the rest of my life?’

’Or is this a romance drama coming to life?’

Zheng Yanfei felt an unreal, dreamlike sensation, but she quickly snapped back to her senses.

’This opportunity to leap up the social ladder has been served to me on a silver platter. I have to grab it and hold on tight!’

[Zheng Yanfei: Lin Shen, thank you so much for the tips! Are you back from your business trip?]

[Lin Shen: Tomorrow]

’Tomorrow?’

Zheng Yanfei felt like she’d scented an opportunity and immediately typed a reply.

[Zheng Yanfei: You must be tired from work~ How about I treat you to dinner?]

[Zheng Yanfei: After all, you helped me out last time, and now you’ve sent me so many gifts. I feel a little bad.]

[Lin Shen: Sure.]

This time, Lin Shen agreed decisively.

Although Zheng Yanfei couldn’t compare to Qin Yuenan or Jiang Wan in any respect, she was definitely top-tier among ordinary people.

Young, beautiful, with a graceful figure and a sweet face, and capable of providing emotional value.

She probably wouldn’t work as a partner, but as a lover? Absolutely perfect!

She was practically born to be a kept woman!

After all, a gold-digging little girl like her could be easily controlled with cash.

The most crucial part was, she had also studied dance.

’A man’s got to experience being with a dancer at least once in his life, right?’

’Otherwise, life would be too boring.’

Lin Shen decided to build a gilded cage and keep this canary named Zheng Yanfei.