Chapter 931: Chapter 509: The World is Just That Ridiculous Chapter 931: Chapter 509: The World is Just That Ridiculous Interactive videos weren’t new; plenty of game companies had dabbled in similar stuff.

The interactivity was high; every time you watched, it felt like a series, and well-produced interactive videos gave players a strong sense of immersion.

Moreover, whenever an interactive video ended, various options would pop up, allowing players to decide which one to use by making donations or in other ways, further enhancing that sense of immersion while watching.

Some despicable game companies took this to another level, especially in those interactive videos themed around survival. They would craft a narrative that put characters into peril and then shamelessly urge players to recharge and change their fate or bluntly kill off the character in the next episode.

It was outright cyber-kidnapping.

To keep their favorite characters alive, players had to keep recharging, willingly paying the ransom, until they ran dry.

Underhanded as it was, the tactic was extremely effective.

It wasn’t long before my live broadcast room was flooded with gifts, some of which were from paid posters I’d brought in, but a good thirty percent was genuine cash, and that was more than enough.

Watching as popularity surged in the live room, Miserable World felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

Now, I just wanted to grab a loudspeaker and play “Good Luck” on repeat for twenty-four hours beneath the building of my former company to express my current feeling of small-minded triumph.

Once the donations from my various elderly fans were in place, I’d have my staff bring me the related items, and, with tears in my eyes, I’d say, “Thank you, grandpas and grandmas, for the steamed buns and cotton-padded jackets, thank you!”

“What a good child, so adorable.”

“What else do you want? We’ll recharge and buy it for you. Don’t be shy with us, we still have our pensions.”

As more and more donations came in, the platform noticed the activity and started directing traffic my way.

This traffic was orchestrated by big data, the gaze of capital, now looking at Miserable World as a commodity, calculating the profits she could bring.

Miserable World knew that if she launched a new sponsorship project now, she could make even more money and attract further skewed traffic.

But Qian Xiaohao, Tianhua, and the maid had already discussed this and decided they couldn’t have too many such projects going on.

On the internet, the elderly had always been a vulnerable group with plenty of money, making them an easy target for exploitation.

Previously, scamming these people by playing the sympathy card made Miserable World feel uncomfortable, and now, with the instruction of a new boss, she no longer wanted to continue.

So, she quickly said, “No need for more, grandpas and grandmas. What you’ve given is plenty. I have enough money for school now. I want to go to school, learn to read, to become a better person.”

Looking at the innocent face of Miserable World, many old fans felt a dampness in the corners of their eyes.

Such a good child.

I really want to send her money quickly.

Qian Xiaohao, watching Miserable World’s natural acting with almost no flaws, couldn’t help but say, “Miserable World’s acting skills are too explosive, aren’t they? Tears on command, an innocent smile, truly talented. Not good enough, time for a raise!”

The maid sitting to his right gave Qian Xiaohao a cold look and scoffed, “A raise just after a few days on the job, never seen such a shameless boss.”

“Isn’t it the hallmark of a good boss to give raises to employees?”

“I prefer bosses who only give me a raise.”

“What kind of sick monopoly is that?”

“Quiet!” Cheng Tianhua sternly commanded them to be silent, then pointed at the screen and said, “You’re interrupting my time watching my granddaughter.”

“She’s become a granddaughter so quickly… Miserable World is really impressive.”

But soon, the number of viewers in the live room began to decline, and the number of people commenting decreased.

Worse still, some were even coming over to poach viewers, claiming the broadcaster next door was in an even more pitiable situation and needed their rescue.

Watching audiences slip away, even with a precautionary pep talk, Qian Xiaohao still found it hard to accept.

Noticing his incessant hair scratching, the maid softened for a change, holding Qian Xiaohao’s hand and saying, “Don’t be too nervous, Miserable World has said before, she’ll take care of all this.”

“I’m okay, but I’m just worried about Miserable World.”

“Worried about what?”

“I worry that she’s just joined my company, and if she fails, what if she gets discouraged? Maybe I should have given her some money at the start, but too much seems stressful too.”

Watching Qian Xiaohao’s anguished face, the maid pulled her hand back and sighed.

“If only you were like this with me alone.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry, Miserable World will be fine.”

Miserable World had also heard about the decline in popularity from the staff.

After checking the backend data and various statistics provided by the operation, Miserable World saw that a similar style of broadcaster had emerged, which caused the drop in popularity.

After all, their interactive videos were easy to imitate. Simply repackage the gift names, make the options for gifts more tangible, and you’re set.

The task didn’t require much technical skill; a few coders could handle it in no more than half an hour.