Chapter One: Seven Viewers at Midnight

Zhou Lan’s face tightened. “Hongli Equipment. Their contract says tomorrow morning.” “They picked the stream on purpose.” The shutter rose half a meter. Five men crawled under it. Their bald leader slapped an IOU toward the lens. “Look closely, folks. He won’t pay his debts, but he still plays the inspirational hero online.” Seven viewers became forty-three. Someone had shared the link to a local group. “I acknowledge the debt,” Lin Ran said. “You still can’t touch the equipment tonight.” “You’ll stop me?” The bald man shoved him. Blue light burst across Lin Ran’s vision. [Host detected at simultaneous business and physical limit.] [LIMIT-BREAKER TRAINING SYSTEM ACTIVATED.]