[Too high, Mimi, don't look down, this angle is a bit scary!]
[The wind is so strong, it's all white, and it feels like the wind is already hitting my face!]
[The feeling of overlooking the city is really great, but it's a bit cold.]
You Zhenzhen: "…The VR equipment actually doesn't provide temperature perception functionality."
Without a VR experience pod, the fans somehow started making up their own scenarios: imagining that they, along with You Zhenzhen, were also helping with testing, but relying on Chu Tingwu's first-person perspective videos and a bit of creative storytelling.
After being called out by You Zhenzhen, the fans were furious:
[Then hurry up and put it on sale! How do you know I can't afford it if you don't put it up for sale?]
This was actually the thought of most fans. They realized that the equipment Chu Tingwu wore had to be used in conjunction with the VR experience pod to achieve the full effect—if it wasn't to convey this kind of realistic and free VR experience to the audience, she wouldn't need to wear such complex equipment and would be more comfortable instead.
Although there were only two people in the "internal testing" phase now, it would eventually be popularized, right?
…Right?
What if there's a lack of funding? Could they open pre-orders to find investors? They could even directly donate in the live stream! As long as they could get a front-row ranking during the internal testing phase!
The fans were worried and started giving Chu Tingwu random advice, such as company financing, going public with shares, and how with this patent, she could definitely attract a lot of money, so mass production was a must… and the price should be lowered too.
Chu Tingwu: "=="
Did no one think she might be a scammer? Was this just a New Year's joke?
Even those who doubted her were eventually swayed by the end of their long rants: "Unless you send it over for me to experience it."
Chu Tingwu: Nice try, but no.
She did want to share the world she saw with her fans—if she didn't have a bit of a sharing spirit, why would she have signed up for live streaming?—but clearly, this equipment couldn't be mass-produced yet.
Chu Tingwu didn't make any promises to her fans and, after saying goodbye, closed the live stream.
She had the system send a few sets of VR equipment to the guesthouse in Chewan, so she could try out the perspective that You Zhenzhen had seen.
However, while the equipment was still on the plane, the news had already hit the front page.
This time, the public's attitude wasn't entirely one of anticipation; many were pessimistic, and the popularity was higher than any previous trending topic related to Chu Tingwu—
Because a live streamer, some cats, some competitions, and promotions were all far from the lives of most people.
But a "fully immersive VR live stream" had the potential to change the entire live streaming industry, and even the main form of entertainment for society.
The biggest point of controversy in the discussion was that Chu Tingwu's two-hour live stream had only allowed two people to experience the VR effect, and both were "insiders," with no real bystanders coming forward to comment. So, this was either a joke or the effect wasn't as she described.
The fans were confused:
Did Chu Tingwu say anything? She didn't seem to mention mass production, technological innovation, or even a partnership with Fenghua Network, did she?
The rumor spread wider and wider, becoming more and more absurd, even turning into: "Chu Tingwu is actually the granddaughter of the chairman of Fenghua Network, and the VR live streaming equipment is Fenghua Network's big move. This was just the young lady accidentally leaking the news, and everything depends on the official announcement."
Fenghua Network's official response: Thank you, but they didn't know anything either.
This naturally alarmed the higher-ups at Fenghua Network. After watching Chu Tingwu's live stream video, they urgently contacted her to ask for details and then cautiously issued a clarification announcement, but the tone was very polite.
Chu Tingwu handed over the communication work to the system and told You Zhenzhen not to rush to prove anything, because she also needed to personally experience the "VR live stream" effect before making her own judgment.
So…
Aunt Mei: "Should I do it?"
There were four people, two cats, one crow, and one seagull machine in the house, and there were no live streaming devices developed for animals yet, so it was decided by a game of rock-paper-scissors among the humans.
Aunt Mei had originally planned to let Zhou Qiang go, but Zhou Qiang didn't think there would be anything "interesting" about going out, so it was better to just be an audience.
Chu Tingwu had always been the protagonist of the videos, but this was the first time she was seriously trying to be an audience—to let the child fully experience the "perspective" of an audience, Aunt Mei even registered a new account on Fenghua Network, with the ID being her own full name: Mei Songyan.
This zero-follower, zero-following account quietly went live.
Whether it was the general public following the "VR live stream" technology or the Chu Tingwu fans eagerly waiting, no one realized that there was actually a live stream they were looking forward to, just with rather ordinary content.
In the live stream room with only a few familiar faces, only a small account accidentally wandered in.
[What's this? Driving?]
The small account's view was indeed "driving," and it was first-person perspective.
This time, unlike Chu Tingwu's live stream, there was no aerial view provided by the system.
Aunt Mei stepped on the gas and said first: "The bullet comments are pretty clear… I'm going to drive to the factory to buy some fireworks, and then I'll buy some snacks for you all. What do you want to eat?"
Most first-person perspective live streams weren't very stable, as people naturally couldn't stay still for long, but the camera was very stable and clear, giving the feeling that "this isn't a live stream, is it?"
Could it be that someone had a camera growing out of their head?
The small account realized this might be a friend live streaming for friends, and since they were an accidental visitor, they could just leave.
But a bullet screen flashed on the screen, and the small account paused their exit.
[This new effect looks familiar… Why haven't I found it on the website? Do I need to pay for it?]
This barrage with a golden border and pinned effect… it seemed to only appear in the videos of that cat-raising sports creator? And it just happened to be the video on the homepage of the website now; it would be strange if you hadn't seen it.
Even though only half a day had passed, the "VR mystery" had already become a hot topic for many people, even overshadowing the news of a certain top celebrity couple getting married.
Only fans care about whether you're getting married; more people just care about whether they can play with VR live streaming.
No matter what others said, the small account hoped it was real.
With a mysterious feeling, the user didn't leave the live stream.
Not only did they not leave, but they also shared the link with their roommates, saying: "Take a look, is this outside Chewan City?"
Although the license plates were blurred, the shop names weren't, and the voices of people talking and calling out couldn't be blurred either… wait, this really seems to be Chewan! You can search for the shop names and find them!
-
The system had asked Chu Tingwu if she wanted to lock the room to prevent unfamiliar viewers from finding it, but Chu Tingwu refused.
At first, she just wanted to "share," but clearly, a brand-new live streaming method would bring many new issues, which was the real part that needed "testing." So, after discussing with Aunt Mei, everyone decided not to block it; if a passerby came in, they came in, and if not, it didn't matter.
Teacher Zhang tried the VR experience pod and found that she still couldn't see, but she could still feel the touch and hearing. After leaving the pod, she wondered: "Aunt Mei, why are you walking so fast?"
It was very uncomfortable.
Aunt Mei: Of course, because I don't have to follow you around.
Aunt Mei was actually a very straightforward person, but Teacher Zhang's eyesight wasn't good, so whenever she was with Teacher Zhang, she had to match her pace.
Aunt Mei: "Should I slow down a bit?"
Teacher Zhang clicked her tongue: "What's the point of using VR then?"
She didn't quite get used to it, but she rather enjoyed it—even without seeing, just listening and feeling allowed her to experience things she hadn't felt in years.
However, after leaving the experience pod, she still had to walk slowly.
This kind of wonderful feeling Zhou Qiang also experienced. The first thing she realized was: Wait, can I drive now?
She couldn't, even if theoretically she could, being underage meant she had never sat in the driver's seat before.
Besides driving, there was shopping, haggling, chatting, and making small talk, even petting the shopkeeper's cat before getting into the car. On the way back, as the car started, Zhou Qiang noticed Aunt Mei brushing the snow outside the window, looking at the traffic not far away, and then this little car joined the flow.
Zhou Qiang: "There's a dog sitting in the passenger seat of the car next to us?"
Yes, the dog's head was pressed against the window, curiously looking at the people on the opposite side.
Besides the dog, she also noticed many details she usually wouldn't pay attention to, like the snow piled up in front of the shop shaped like a duck, and the decorative lanterns in the flower bed, some red and some pink—
Strictly speaking, these weren't things she noticed herself, but Aunt Mei noticed them first, shifting her gaze: the camera could convey certain things. Even if Aunt Mei didn't speak or chat, anyone following her perspective could understand what the UP wanted to express.
Chu Tingwu pondered: "The immersion of VR is really strong... But, can the UP influence the audience, and can the audience also influence the UP?"
Some UPs don't watch the live chat or can't see it in time, but many like to interact with the chat and will occasionally fulfill requests from big fans. Given the current cost of VR experience pods, those who can afford them probably aren't short of money. If a big fan makes a large donation and then asks the UP to do something a bit excessive... how should that be handled?
Chu Tingwu told Aunt Mei, deciding to simulate this situation first:
She donated five yuan and then said: "Please buy me a vanilla ice cream on the way back."
Aunt Mei: "You've already eaten today, be careful of a stomachache."
Chu Tingwu: "I've eaten, but the cat hasn't. It's for the cat, not for me."
Zhou Qiang, who was listening in: "?"
Zhou Qiang: "Hmm, I'm the cat."
Aunt Mei: Don't randomly go along with such things!
She firmly refused: "Five yuan? Are you trying to send me away with peanuts?"
Chu Tingwu: "The platform takes too much commission from new streamers."
And they were just simulating, simulating! Pretend she gave fifty thousand yuan or whatever.
Chu Tingwu and the others enthusiastically simulated and bickered in the chat, while the system helped adjust the data, like changing the display effect of donation rules on the VR screen, canceling the notification sound, etc.—This wasn't very friendly for UPs who needed to thank donors, but the system said:
"Isn't this all made for you?"
If Chu Tingwu wasn't satisfied, it wouldn't exist, so there was no need to change her needs for others! Just do whatever makes you happy!
Chu Tingwu: "… Makes sense."
They weren't too cautious in their discussions and negotiations, and the number of viewers in the live stream increased from the original two to over seventy, but none of these seventy-plus viewers posted a chat message, as if there was some unspoken agreement.
Later, when the live stream ended, the viewers dispersed, and Aunt Mei casually logged out of her account.
The live stream recording disappeared with the account logout, but some people still kept parts of the recording... including the user who had accidentally joined at the beginning.
They formed a small group, suspicious yet unwilling to believe: It was almost certain that the speaker was "Ah Chu," and there was no need to put on such a full act... Could it be that the era of VR live streaming was really about to arrive?
Was it too late to start saving money now?
In the group chat, medical students paused their review, liberal arts students stopped memorizing, IT professionals didn't catch bugs, and even those considering suicide felt life had hope again—
"If the higher-ups announce that full-scale holographic devices are under development and expected to enter the market within twenty years, then I think living is still quite hopeful."
Good things will happen in life, right?
-
The person who brought "hope" shook the quilt, smoothly got into bed, closed her eyes, and then tapped the system with her consciousness.
System: "Okay."
It "wove" a snow-white dream for the young one, then pulled Zhang Youyi into the dream as well.
Teacher Zhang opened her eyes in the "dream classroom," reached out, and could touch familiar machines and the same scent she had smelled that afternoon.
It seemed like she was dreaming about the VR experience pod?
She wasn't surprised, feeling a mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity, hearing the sound of heavy snow beating against the windows, and realizing she was dreaming. So she wasn't in a hurry, sat into the machine, and put on the corresponding equipment.
Then, Zhang Youyi raised her eyelids, suddenly paused:
It was different from the afternoon.
She saw.
She saw a pair of hands and could feel "herself" raising her hand, but those clearly weren't her own hands. She saw more, more scenery, and then realized she was at the peak of Kasha Snow Mountain, surrounded by endless snow, the mountain and sky meeting in silence, with no one else around!
The person on the snowboard bounced a little playfully on the spot, then began "playing" alpine skiing.
Zhang Youyi's heart also leapt with joy.
She almost greedily experienced this "dream," not even wanting to take off the equipment to see if she was still blind—If VR upgraded in a dream, and a blind person could see, what was so strange about that? It was just a dream.
The skier didn't say anything, as if just doing regular practice, except with an extra audience member.
After a few practices, "she" returned to the peak and whispered:
"This time, it will definitely work."
Zhang Youyi's heart stirred, and she sent a "Hmm" in the chat.
This "Hmm" hung there, and she thought, Tingwu in her dream would surely complete it perfectly.
Zhang Youyi anticipated the result... Then, when skiing down to an altitude of over a thousand meters, the "skier" probably relaxed by accident, misaligned the posture in mid-air, and plunged headfirst into the snow, ending in a fish-flopping position with legs up.
Zhang Youyi felt like a flopping fish herself.
When Tingwu floundered out of the snow, she—
"Go buy some vanilla ice cream."
It must be because she thought about it during the day that she dreamed about it at night.
Chu Tingwu: "=="
Thanks.
Tomorrow she'd ask Aunt Mei for reimbursement.
