Chapter Two: Likes Become Power

Before sunrise, *Gears of the Fog Capital* reached number one on Starwave. It had 4.7 million views and 930,000 likes. Gu Yan had not slept, yet he felt no drowsiness. InstantFrame had not merely kept him awake; it had taken away his ability to sleep. He could feel exhaustion but could not close his eyes. Resonance did not convert one-for-one. Casual likes were sparks; only genuinely moved viewers contributed full points. His final balance was 117,000. Three upgrade paths appeared: Narrative, Camera, and Creation. Gu Yan spent ten thousand on Camera Interference. Transparent frames instantly filled the boiler room. He dragged one through the air, and an enamel cup three meters away slid into the new composition.