Chapter 68

I wonder how my stream viewers are doing…

Agh, this is very frustrating.

I learn things very quickly with the fuzzy feeling but feeling like a complete idiot isn't very worth it.

Sigh…

For some reason, the system gives me breaks in between from the idiotifying cloud in my brain.

I just wanna turn it off man. How is it helpful to lose my entire common sense just to have accelerated learning? I already have the system's system of leveling…

An idea passed through my brain.

Would buying that one item I saw before in the shop help? The pendant that helps with getting knowledge?

Ah, I haven't looked at the system tab in so long.

[Title: Trending, Hot Topic!, Streamer

Silver Pearl

Stats:

Luck: * *

Intelligence: 15 (?)

Charm: 12

5,221 → 16,322 achievement points

Well, I finally got the streamer title. No clue what that does though.

I have 16,322 achievement points now. Honestly, I thought I'd have more but that's okay.

[Achievement point gain has increased in difficulty after the initial trial.]

Oh, no wonder.

I thought I'd at least have 40,000 achievement points according to the first week's rate.

Oh well, no problem.

Hey, this means I can finally buy the 7,500 stat point, right?

With that, I'd have 8,822 achievement points. The pendant wasn't too expensive if I remember and I could scroll the shop catalog a little bit.

Where to spend the stat point?

Putting it in Intelligence might help finally understand the meaning of Blake's lesson.

Unlocking a Secret Feature surely must give an excellent reward, right?

The charm stat point will make me a little brighter in the Winter Fashion Show but I don't think having a little more dazzle in the show will help as much as receiving a boon from literally the System.

Well, hello 16 points of Intelligence.

I tapped on the stat button and a windy feeling surged inside my brain. The wind ruffled my brain and began seeping into my brain.

The unfamiliar feeling became familiar once my brain started feeling static discharges and the addicting electricity.

I really can never get enough of this feeling.

It wasn't very long ago that I got used to the brain on steroids feeling of 15 intelligence yet I am going to have to familiarize myself with one more point of intelligence yet again.

With the feeling finally settling in, I sighed.

Okay, let's buy the pendant now.

It's 750 silver points so I'll have to convert the achievement points into silver points.

3,750 achievement points were converted to silver.

5,072 achievement points in total now.

Upon buying the pendant, I felt a cold feeling being wrapped around my neck.

I looked down at the silver pendant and it slowly disappeared into my skin.

[Gear: A Scholar's Pendant.]

[Description: Helps with the gain of knowledge.]

I feel no immediate clarity or effects so we'll see what happens.

The fuzzy feeling inside my brain finally took action and encircled my brain rapidly.

Ah, god damnit.

Wait, why is the fog so thick and dense now? Does it multiply with intelligence?

Shit.

…

"Charlie?"

"...Mimi."

What's… happened?

"What's wrong?"

"I dunno…"

"Charlie? Who's at the door?"

"It's Mimi…"

Is that… his mom?

I get along with friends' parents really well but I feel this strange pressure where if I don't do well with her I'll regret my entire life.

If that happens I'll just resort to kidnapping Charlie and eloping.

Cough.

I heard slippers slap the floor as I saw a stunning woman's head peeking out from the side.

He has an older sister? She's like Charlotte except without the chubby cheeks and has curtain bangs rather than Charlotte's forehead bangs.

I bowed my head.

"Hello, I'm Natsumi. I'm here to help Charlie with his homework. Charlie never told me he had such a pretty older sister."

She laughed and waved her hand.

"Hello Natsumi, I'm Charlie's mother. I love your name, what does it mean?"

I almost coughed. Mother? Are his parents 20 years old?

"It means Summer beauty in Japanese. Nice to meet you."

I almost extended my hand to give her a handshake when I forgot she's supposed to be my friend's mother, not my boss.

She walked over to Charlie.

"So she's the one that's been helping your grades go up lately?"

Haha… I lied, I'm not here to help him with his homework.

Charlie scratched and tilted his head.

"...Mhm."

"I'm sorry if Charlie has caused you trouble. He's very sweet and a smart boy but for a few months, he wasn't feeling very well. Finally, when he was okay again he became like this."

Her eyes softened and almost began tearing up by the end.

"It's okay. He's very smart and always tells me about you and your dad. He loves you two very much."

"Ah, really?"

Her sorrowful eyes immediately changed to stars.

I have no doubt she could be an A-listed actress.

"Yes, yes… He told me you really like to play Tennis."

"Really? He said he loves us? Do you play tennis?"

"Haha yes… I occasionally do play Tennis."

She grabbed my hand and we rushed to a small corner.

And then she led me back.

"I forgot you have to do homework."

Charlie's entire family is so cute.

"Okay, go have fun. I'll bring snacks so please make yourself at home."

I looked back at Charlie and he nodded at me.

"So you'll be getting pretty busy soon?"

"Mhm. Tomorrow."

"Ooh. Okay. Have you done your homework?"

"Yep."

We smiled. Seems we both had the same idea.

…

"Not bad. Remember to vibrate your throat as much as you can right now. We'll be opening your voice a little more."

"Okay."

"Charlie, there are many techniques to be used while singing but your standard chest technique suits the song very well."

I nodded at the voice teacher.

"Remember to keep your back straight and breathe using the diaphragmatic breathing. I notice you're still not very familiar with using your voice as an instrument. The voice is an instrument and as a powerful instrument it sounds the best when strong and resonant."

[Singing has gained 10 points.]

"Mmm… Makes a lot of sense."

"Try again."

…

[Singing has gained 3 points.]

"Now you're focusing too much on the breathing that your voice sounds choppy. A powerful voice is just that, a powerful voice. You want your voice to not only be strong but to be resonant. Beautiful and pleasing to the ear. Diaphragmatic breathing should come naturally. Try again."

[Singing has gained 10 points.]

…

[Singing has gained 7 points.]

"It's decent now, Charlie. You're doing well to adapt. Your voice is starting to sound okay. Keep familiarizing yourself with the instrument that is your voice."

"Thank you."

"Are you familiar with scales? Nevermind, of course you are. You're a pianist."

"Mm."

"Sing a scale for me with utmost clarity and voice stability."

"Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si."

…

"Charlie, next time we see each other will be on a weekend. You'll be getting too busy now."

"Mmm, okay. Thank you."

Blake came in through the door at that moment.

"Blake. On-time, as always."

He smiled and nodded at her.

"Charlie, next up in schedule…"

…

"Psychology and Public Relations is maintained best when you yourself interact and get to know the public. You've applied it yourself. When you read your stream's chat comments and satisfy their wishes you keep them entertained and happy. Successful streamers are successful because they're celebrities that feel like friends. People they could relate to."

I was currently in class, taking notes about Public Relations.

"Do you know what this means for you? The moment you become a singer, an actor, or whatever you want, you'll have people behind you. Building a stream fanbase as a foundation to further shoot your career is something no one has ever done."

I wrote in my notepad.

"Why are you writing?"

"Writing helps to integrate knowledge into the brain."

He nodded.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to learn."

"Why were you born?"

"...My mom and dad loved each other very much…"

"Why did they love each other very much? Why are they married? Why would they name you Charlie? Are they not proud of your Chinese heritage? Are you ashamed of being Chinese?"

"My parents love each other. I am very proud of my Chinese heritage."

"People will ask and ask and ask you questions the whole day. Some of my students were initially unable to handle the constant clumsy questions yet you didn't because of your experience as a streamer."

I nodded.

"People will always ask. At one point in the future, you'll have reporters asking you why you talked to a certain female fan."

He paused to take a breath.

"They'll ask you why you were at this point at a certain time of the day. They'll ask you why you decided to cut your hair or start dieting, or why you made a sad love song."

He emphasized every single word with a convincing voice.

"Your relation with the public is decided on what these reporters manage to make out of your response. A reporter might manage to blow everything out of proportion just to keep their job."

I wrote down some more notes.

"If you have a good relationship with fans, they'll ignore the reporter and instead defend you. What if your relationship with the public is ambiguous? Your fans will doubt you and see it possible. Your die-hard fans will defend you and they'll be seen as crazy. Then you'll be seen as crazy. Your relation with the public determines everything about your career. Especially in the show business."

He took a sip of water while I wrote in my notes.

…

John pat my shoulder,

"You tired?"

I tilted my head.

"No. I feel we can do more."

He nodded,

"It's okay if you're tired."

Hehe, he looks like a fish."

"John, you look like a fish."

"Cough, cough. I do?"

"Hehe."

"You're not at all wishing to take a nap? Not tired?"

"Mm…. Nope?"

"I see…"

…

…

...

"Here, the mistakes you made were slightly minimal and due to inexperience but I'm sure that with more practice we'll get rid of them."

"..."

"It seems streaming really did help your camera presence. Explaining the basics isn't really needed anymore but I'll just list them to strengthen your theory. Remember, when in doubt, just flow according to the situation."

"Un…"

"In the Winter Show, you won't have to be doing too much adjusting. The music, background, and even feel will change according to how the producers want it to go so just move to the flow, and everything will work out."

"Okay…"

Blake smiled and patted my back.

"Let's keep working hard."

That's right… hard work beats talent…

"But for now… let's do the duck dance once again."

…

"Charlie,"

"Mum, Dad."

"How have you been feeling lately?"

"...Okay. I feel a little weird sometimes but it's because I'm learning so much."

"Ohh.. really?"

"Yes, yes. Has Blake shown you some of the practice shots?"

"He did indeed."

"Oh, he did?"

"You don't remember?"

"...You haven't shown me yet…"

Mother's face reddened and took out the phone to show the pictures.

"Look at him. Doesn't Charlie look all innocent and cute in these pictures?"

"Yes, he looks very innocent."

"And cute."

"...yes."

"And cute. Say it."

"Mhm… Charlie, you look very experienced already. You're almost like a star already."

Hehe.

He pat my shoulder.

"Mum, I haven't seen Charlie's pictures yet."

"Look, look."

"Mum, when Charlie gets famous in the future we could sell these practice pictures for a fortune."

"No way I'm ever selling them."

"...Oh. Charlie can you take some more pictures so that I can sell them in the future?"

Why..?

Tired, I laid my head on the couch and everything went black.

…