I’ve Gone Viral Because of a Money-Saving Variety Show

Chapter 117: Chapter 112 If you’re going to beg, you’ve got to look the part! Chapter 117: Chapter 112 If you’re going to beg, you’ve got to look the part! Zheng He got the idea to beg online when he was sitting in front of a burger shop and saw someone broadcasting live from the center of the square.
But that person wasn’t begging; they were a legitimate talent streamer who just received gifts from fans, and they excitedly thanked their fans for the gifts.
Zheng He had heard before that such streamers make a lot of money, sometimes earning over a thousand yuan from the gifts they receive.
Then Zheng He thought, if he could get netizens to send him gifts too, wouldn’t it be a breeze to surpass Chen Xixi in wealth?
So, instead of persistently asking Han Qianyi to treat him to a burger or mooching a steak off Chen Xixi, he returned to his spot under the bridge, with the intention to sell a sob story.
To beg, one must look the part of a beggar!
If you’re well-fed and hydrated, how could you call yourself a beggar?
Others may be talent streamers who earn their keep with skills, but he would rely on his pitiful story to beg, aiming to become the internet’s first panhandling streamer!
Zheng He sighed deeply into the live camera, then put on a pitiful expression, his voice tinged with sadness: “You all know, now I’ve only got thirty bucks and fifty cents left in my pocket, definitely can’t afford a place to stay, and I haven’t eaten anything today, just drank the mineral water Han Qianyi bought me at noon. I’m both hungry and tired now, and have nowhere to stay…”
“I’m not saying that everyone must send me gifts, it’s just I really have no other choice… If you have the means to help me out, please do, and I thank you all here!”
As he spoke, Zheng He bowed sincerely towards the camera.
After rising, he continued: “I won’t let you send gifts for nothing, when I become famous and wealthy in the future, I’ll send you all benefits, returning all this money I’ve received!”
Zheng He’s helpless but money-grabbing demeanor, combined with his pitiable and tragic experiences on the show, genuinely garnered sympathy from some netizens.
[Zheng He really is a bit pitiful, at least Chen Xixi and Jin Cheng have something to eat, Zheng He hasn’t eaten anything all day.]
[This poor kid has it tough, always getting scammed and falling into traps in the show, and now he doesn’t even have a decent place to sleep, let’s send him some gifts so he can have a meal and find a place to stay.]
[Are you really sending him gifts?! He’s a guest competing for five million prize money, you’re digging into your own pockets to help him win five million, will he share the prize money with you if he wins?]
[Yes, he will! Didn’t he just say he’ll distribute benefits to us if he gets wealthy! Isn’t this supporting our own team!]
Some overly sympathetic netizens and a small number of Zheng He’s loyal fans did indeed send him gifts.
Zheng He watched as the non-stop stream of gift animations filled the screen, his heart secretly thrilled.
Playing the pity card really worked, if he kept begging like this every day on live streams, overtaking Chen Xixi to become an unrivaled presence among the show’s guests would be a piece of cake!
Zheng He was basking in his joy when suddenly a voice from behind startled him, making his liver tremble.
“No wonder you didn’t follow us to look for Chen Xixi, you were planning to sneakily make money on your own, right?”
Zheng He hurriedly turned around, and upon seeing Wan Chen and Han Qianyi standing behind him, he instantly covered his phone screen with his hand and forced a calm smile: “No, I’m just messing around!”
Based on the gifts he had just received, he believed he must have earned a sizable amount of money, though he wasn’t sure if it was more than Chen Xixi’s.
But how could he share such a lucrative method of making money with his competitors?
Wan Chen and Han Qianyi did not believe the nonsense Zheng He was spouting. Wan Chen scoffed lightly: “Don’t you feel embarrassed begging alone now?”
Zheng He thought, what’s there to fear about begging online, it’s not like you can see the real person on the internet, what’s there to be embarrassed about.
A screen apart, his shamelessness had grown significantly thicker.
“Seriously, I wasn’t begging, just messing around for fun!” Zheng He quickly changed the subject: “Why did you guys come back so soon? Weren’t you going to eat steak with Chen Xixi?”
Wan Chen’s lips curled slightly: “Fast, right? Because we were following you the whole time.”
Zheng He: “…” That’s really not nice of you guys, aaow!
Why can’t he have a little bit of privacy?
Since that’s the case, he has nothing to hide anymore… eh? Wait, why should he feel guilty like a thief!
What are they to him? It’s his own business earning money his own way, it’s normal not to tell them, isn’t it?
Zheng He straightened his back, speaking more assertively than before: “What I do is my business, what does it have to do with you guys!”
Wan Chen raised an eyebrow: “How is it not related? When you took the Gold Coins to enlist our help for protection, you didn’t have this attitude, and you said we were all in the same boat. Now you don’t need us anymore and want to ditch us, is that it?”
Zheng He: “But you guys didn’t protect my Gold Coins well, did you? Besides, when you protected me, wasn’t it also for your own benefit? So don’t make it sound as if I’m ungrateful and treacherous!”
Although he did indeed use their desire to bankrupt Chen Xixi to brainwash and enlist their protection, he was definitely not going to admit it and give them something to hold over him.
Moreover, what’s more important is that he can’t let Wan Chen say anything that would tarnish his reputation right now.
Because the netizens in the live broadcast room are listening. If they think he’s untrustworthy and don’t gift him, then his plan to internet beg his way to becoming the thrifty king would fall through.
Wan Chen didn’t expect Zheng He to admit to anything either, after all this time, he knew exactly what Zheng He was like.
Wan Chen glanced indifferently at Zheng He but didn’t say anything, then he left.
After seeing Wan Chen leave, Zheng He turned his gaze to Han Qianyi.
Han Qianyi looked around and then followed Wan Chen.
In the dead of the night, it’s too unsafe for a girl. She would definitely choose to go with a male Guest, and following Wan Chen, at least, she wouldn’t be conned by him.
But following Zheng He, who had previously failed in his night market begging quest, her doubts about his chances of successfully internet begging this time were also high.
After all, the netizens aren’t fools. Would they just give him gifts for nothing? She didn’t believe it could be that easy to ask for gifts.
If Zheng He couldn’t get any gifts, next he’d turn his attention to the little bit of money she had.
Better she hurriedly keeps her distance.
After they left, the corners of Zheng He’s mouth couldn’t help but lift ever so slightly.
Finally sent them away, it’s really annoying to have them disturb his money-making!
Zheng He lifted the phone screen again, letting his pitiful face reappear on the screen, his eyes downcast, feigning sadness, he spoke:
“Sorry, my family, got held up by some issues just now. Sigh, I guess you probably heard too, it was Wan Chen and Han Qianyi coming to see me. They saw me begging and scolded me for not including them in the money-making.
I didn’t think this was any good deed, so I didn’t involve them, but who knew… sigh… I’m already so pitiful, and they still bullied me… I’m going to be left hungry and homeless on the streets tonight…”
Zheng He’s tale became more and more tragic, and the netizens listening were stunned, and immediately, many kind-hearted netizens started sending him gifts to console him, urging him to find a good place to stay.