Chapter 12: Weâre Here to Expose You (Single Female Lead Armor Stacking)
ãOh my god, this is so touching! I actually doubted the streamer was just out to scam money...ã
ãSo inspiring! Iâm such an idiot for doubting him!ã
ãStreamer, stop climbing. Iâm sending you gifts!ã
Chen Huaiâanâs heartfelt words shifted the atmosphere in the livestream chat. Though doubts lingered, some began to believe in him, while others announced their intention to personally verify his claims by coming to Mount Tais.
âTo the friend planning to expose me on Mount Tais, youâre welcome to set out now. Iâll start climbing at exactly noon and wonât be going anywhere else before then.â
This statement provoked another wave of reactions in the chat.
âClimbing Mount Tais with terminal bone cancer? What a joke!â
In front of his computer, a young man, seething from a losing streak in an online game, was livid. âMight as well settle this since Iâm too pissed to sleep tonight!â
âIâm an hourâs drive from Mount Tais. Hang tight, everyoneâIâll go expose this guy!â
Grabbing his keys, he stormed out the door.
The internet was full of scammers, multiplying like cockroaches. Exposing one barely scratched the surface. If he couldnât catch online cheaters in the act, surely he could handle a live-streaming sob story.
Chen Huaiâan had seen these messages and welcomed the challenge. The more people who came, the better. Not only could he prove he truly had cancer, but it would also boost his livestreamâs popularity. If his numbers caught the attention of high-tier accounts, his chances of earning money would skyrocket.
âDonât forget to follow, everyone. I donât have much time left. Right now, Iâm racing against the clock. After this climb, I plan to try more extreme sportsâlike skydiving or bungee jumpingâ¦â
His words once again ignited the chat, drawing both ridicule and encouragement.
By noon, all eyes were on whether Chen Huaiâan truly had cancer and whether he could reach the summit of Mount Tais within five hours. If he didnât, the audience could count on the so-called exposers to deliver the truthâand enjoy the spectacle regardless.
As noon approached, Chen Huaiâan rechecked his gear. To attempt the climb with terminal cancer, he needed to travel light. Initially, he planned to bring two power banks but decided to take only one to reduce weight, slinging it over his shoulder.
His phone battery, already unreliable, had dropped to 27% after just two hours of streaming. With the power bank, he hoped to last until the descent.
âAre you Chen Huaiâan?â
A voice called out behind him. Turning, Chen Huaiâan saw a young man, two middle-aged men, and a punk-style girl.
âAre you from the livestream chat?â
âThatâs right. Weâre here to expose you,â Zhang Rui replied coldly, smirking.
On the way to Mount Tais, Zhang Rui had coordinated with several other chat members intending to confront Chen Huaiâan. To ensure he couldnât flee, they gathered at the entrance before approaching him, effectively blocking any escape route.
âNice to meet you all.â Chen Huaiâan greeted them with a smile. âI thought this would be a solo journey, but itâs even better to have company.â
Zhang Rui ignored the pleasantries, pointing at Chen Huaiâanâs leg. âThat lump on your legâitâs fake, right? Pull up your pants and let us see!â
Unfazed, Chen Huaiâan rolled up his pants.
Zhang Rui and the others shone their flashlights on his leg.
The punk girl reached out and pressed on the lump, only to gasp and cover her mouth. âOh my god, itâs a real subcutaneous tumor... How is he even walking?â ðð¶ÎoÍÐÐð
Was this guy for real?
Zhang Rui felt his confidence waver. Looking away, he muttered, âA tumor doesnât prove itâs bone cancer...â
âThis is osteosarcoma,â Chen Huaiâan said with a calm smile. âYou can look up information online and compare it to mine... Anyway, itâs time for me to start climbing.â
Zhang Rui opened his mouth as if to say something, but Chen Huaiâan had already hoisted his livestream setup and begun the climb.
âYouâre being a bit much!â The punk girl, Su Xiaoqian, shot Zhang Rui a glare. âRegardless of whether itâs osteosarcoma, his leg is clearly in bad shape. Considering all the evidence, the chances heâs lying are slim. Show some compassion!â
âSheâs right, young man,â one of the middle-aged men agreed. âMy father died of cancerâosteosarcoma, in fact. I can tell whether this is real or not. The fact that this kid is climbing Mount Tais instead of lying in a hospital bed speaks volumes.â
âExactly,â the other man added. âBone cancer can cause spontaneous fractures. He shouldnât even be doing high-intensity activities like this. For him to take on such a challenge shows incredible courage and determination.â
Ashamed, Zhang Rui scratched his neck and fell silent.
The group quickly caught up to Chen Huaiâan.
âStreamer, that setup looks heavy. Want me to carry it for you?â Su Xiaoqian offered, feeling guilty.
Chen Huaiâan shook his head. âNo need. Carrying it myself makes it easier to adjust the camera angle, and holding the rig is part of my commitment to my audience.â
âYouâre amazing!â one of the middle-aged men exclaimed, giving him a thumbs-up.
âUnbelievable!â
Encouragement poured in from the group.
Even Zhang Rui chimed in. âHey, man, sorry for earlier. I lost some games and wasnât in the best state of mind. I said some things I shouldnât have.â
âItâs fine. I understand peopleâs concerns. Money doesnât come easy for anyone,â Chen Huaiâan replied without looking back.
âHow about I send you a gift to make it up to you?â Zhang Rui offered.
Chen Huaiâan immediately turned and flashed a friendly smile. âWhat kind of gift?â
âUh... A big rocketâ2000 yuan each.â
âGreat! Thanksâyouâre a good guy.â
Zhang Rui: â...â
It was clear to him nowâthis streamer was genuinely sick, but he was also genuinely out to make money.
Still, Zhang Rui couldnât blame him. If he was battling cancer, it made sense to earn what he could for treatment.
Zhang Ruiâs financial situation wasnât bad, so he decided to send the gift. Opening the livestream, he first followed Chen Huaiâan and then sent ten big rockets.
ãWhoa, what a boss move!ã
ãIsnât this the guy who came to expose him? Looks like heâs convinced now.ã
ãFront-row seats for a real-time investigation!ã
ãPoor streamer. Letâs support him, even if he doesnât make it to the top.ã
The ten rockets sparked a chain reaction of gift-giving, drawing more viewers to the livestream.
âThanks for the ten rockets, boss!â
Chen Huaiâan, thrilled, panned the camera to show Zhang Rui, who blushed and dodged the frame.
After the platformâs cut, those ten rockets would net him 10,000 yuan.
This was his âFortune Carpâ streak paying offâ100 spins in one go. The internet truly was a lucrative space.
As the gift count climbed, so did the pain in Chen Huaiâanâs legs. Each step sent waves of agony through him. Sweat drenched his protective talisman, its faint fragrance growing stronger.
In his mind, the image of Li Qingranâs smiling face surfaced.
What was that girl doing now?