Live Stream: Overly Pampered Education Creates Three Superstars in One Family

Chen Chu's riddle-solving remarks did indeed cause quite a stir online, with various bloggers jumping in to analyze and interpret them, trying to dig out some deeper meaning from his statement, "Those who know, know; those who don't, you won't understand even if I explain."

But popularity comes and goes quickly.

After all, no matter how you analyze something, you can't figure it out if the person is unwilling to explain themselves clearly.

In less than three days, the matter was overshadowed by a new trending topic.

During this period, Xu Ziang became a different person.

I get up at 6:30 in the morning to memorize English words and review the knowledge points from the previous day.

I leave home for school at 7:40 a.m., and during breaks I no longer daydream or secretly watch game videos on my phone.

After school, he no longer went to internet cafes, but instead took the bus directly to the hospital.

Upon arriving at the ward, I put down my schoolbag, went to the bathroom to fetch a basin of hot water, brought it to the bedside, bent down to help my father wipe his face and hands, and then sat on the chair by the bed to do my homework.

Xu Danian would cough occasionally, and he would immediately put down his pen and ask if he wanted some water.

Around 8 p.m., when the cafeteria delivers dinner, he will first open his father's lunchbox, set out the chopsticks, and wait for his father to finish eating before he eats.

The nurses at the nurses' station were gossiping behind his back: "Old Xu's child is like a completely different person. He used to be so stubborn, but now he's so sensible and filial."

Xu Danian would still scold him occasionally.

Sometimes it's because I'm doing my homework too slowly, sometimes it's because the water temperature isn't right, and sometimes there's no reason at all; it's just a habit of speaking in that tone.

In the past, Xu Ziang would talk back, slam doors, and run out with red eyes.

But he won't do that now.

He simply lowered his head and listened quietly to the insults, then went about his business.

His face showed no resentment, no anger, not even a hint of restraint; only a calm, almost numb acceptance remained.

But this is not true peace.

Only when the night is deep and quiet will he wake up, lie on the cot staring at the ceiling, a single thought swirling in his mind.

It turns out that the stories about fatherly and motherly love written in books, told by teachers, and broadcast on TV are not complete.

They only said that parents' love is selfless, great, and will never change.

No one told him that love is conditional and requires exchange.

He still believed that his father loved him, but it was a different kind of love than he had imagined.

It's not free.

It requires him to exchange obedience, to exchange good grades, and to exchange his future.

He gradually accepted it, but in the process of accepting it, something inside him slowly shattered.

Xu Danian leaned against the hospital bed, watching his son sitting quietly doing his homework. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. This child was indeed becoming more and more obedient.

It's much better than before.

He was thinking to himself that now that the relationship between father and son had improved and the show had achieved its intended effect, he might as well take the opportunity to participate in a few more episodes, show his face more, and gain more popularity.

So he asked the nurse to help him dial the director's number.

When the call was connected, his tone conveyed an air of "I'm ready."

"Director, our family's situation has stabilized now, and Zi'ang is more sensible. I would like to apply to continue participating in filming."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then the director's voice sounded politely embarrassed.

"Old Xu, about this matter... our production team has discussed it and feels that your family's situation is already quite good, and there's no need for further intervention through the program. Going forward, we'd like to focus more on other families in need."

Xu Danian's face darkened: "Is it because of Chen Chu?"

The director paused for a moment, then asked, "Huh? Why do you think that?"

Xu Danian's tone carried an air of self-assurance, as if he had seen through everything: "If it weren't for him interfering, why wouldn't you let me continue filming? I know, he's afraid that if my popularity rises, I'll steal his thunder, right? His live stream's traffic has dropped sharply recently, he must be worried."

The director coughed awkwardly on the other end of the phone: "That's not true, Lao Xu, you've misunderstood..."

But Xu Danian wouldn't listen anymore and hung up the phone.

He leaned against the headboard, his face somber for a long time.

When his sister-in-law came to visit him in the hospital, he quietly told her about it.

The sister-in-law thought for a moment, then slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Brother-in-law, this isn't a bad thing! If we don't want to participate in the show, we don't have to. We can start our own live-streaming sales! You're super popular right now, the whole internet knows about your family, so many people are watching. Let's take advantage of this popularity to monetize it, save some money, and have some for our retirement, wouldn't that be great?"

Xu Danian thought about it for a moment and realized that what he said made sense.

When Xu Ziang came to the hospital after school that evening, Xu Danian told him about it.

"Starting tomorrow, you can come home after school and don't need to go to the cafeteria for meals anymore. I've set up a live streaming studio at home, and you can come back and help me with live streaming and selling products."

Xu Ziang paused for a moment, then said, "Dad... I still have homework to do."

"When can't I do my homework?"

Xu Danian's tone left no room for negotiation, "Isn't this all for your own good? Make as much money as you can while things are hot right now, so you won't have to pay for college? Won't you have to pay for your wedding?"

"I also need to save some money for retirement."

"I'm too old, I'm not capable enough, I can't help much in the future..."

Xu Ziang stood there in silence for a long time before finally whispering, "Okay."

……

At the same time, a scream that could have blown the ceiling off rang out in Chen Chu's living room.

"Oh my, son!"

Chen Chu held up his phone, his eyes wide with amazement. "601 points! What kind of magical feed did you eat? How did you improve so much?!"

Chen Ziran was a little embarrassed by his shout and sat on the sofa, scratching the back of his head.

"Dad, keep your voice down... 601 points isn't very high, it's just a normal performance."

"Playing to your usual standard?"

Chen Chu shoved the phone screen in his face. "Look at your score last time, only a little over 500! You jumped several tens of points in one go, and you call that a normal performance? Don't keep taking tests like this. What if you actually get into Tsinghua or Peking University? They're a million miles away from here. Your sister and I would have to fly to see you!"

Chen Ziran blushed from the flattery, but maintained a restrained humility.

"Dad, my grades are still far from enough for Tsinghua or Peking University..."

"It's not far!"

Chen Chu waved his hand dismissively, "You're only a hundred points or so short! Your progress is frightening. Forget Tsinghua and Peking University, even A University or B University, your old man believes you can definitely get in!"

Chen Ziran couldn't hold back any longer and quickly changed the subject.

"Dad, I think I'd better go study. Let's not play games tonight..."

Chen Chu glanced at Chen Ziran's relaxation value in the system, which was 78.

We're still a little short of the safety line.

This kid says he doesn't want to play games, but he's actually still on edge after finishing his exams.

They say no, but their actions tell a different story.

Chen Chu reached out and squeezed Chen Ziran's shoulder, his tone carrying an irresistible enthusiasm.

"Son, today Dad's going to play an FPS game with you. That 'Contract' thing is really popular lately, isn't it? A lot of people in your class are probably playing it too, right? I don't want my kid to fall behind. Log in, Dad'll teach you how to shoot."

Chen Ziran's face was full of refusal: "No, Dad, I don't want to play games at all..."

No, you want to.

Chen Chu had already turned on his computer, his tone as confident as if he were stating a physical law.

Soon, the living room was filled with the clatter of keyboards and Chen Ziran's wails.

"Dad, don't rush so fast..."

"I'll go in and draw the gun line."

There are three people on the other side...

"One against three in a teaching session."

"I am dead."

"It's alright, your old man will avenge you."

"You're dead too."

"Father and son in the same frame."

Chen Xiayu was drawing on the small table, muttering without looking up, "Brother, you're so good at this."

Chen Chu glared at Chen Ziran with displeasure. "Hey kid, I went in to provide cover fire, how come you couldn't finish off the enemy?"

"Yeah, if you keep going like this, how are you going to find topics to talk about with your classmates?"

"Playing this badly, when will there be any hope for Chinese FPS games?"

"Yes, answer me!"