The livestream chat lit up again, and many people even started sharing the stream.
In just one minute, another wave of people flooded the stream. Between Tangtang's mother's existing traffic and Su Nian's fans, the number of viewers was now approaching two thousand.
"Open the third drawer of the TV stand."
Su Nian had already begun to direct Li Guizhi.
'The third drawer of the TV stand?'
'There's nothing special in there, is there?'
Tangtang's mother was a bit confused, but her confidence returned. 'Looks like this idiot is probably only good at reading faces.'
She was a clever one. First, she demanded that Su Nian turn around, then she said,
"My camera hasn't moved, and you all can see that. I'm pointing it at the drawer now. Little White Lotus, tell us, what is it inside the drawer that you want me to find?"
[Little White Lotus, hahahaha...]
[I'm dying laughing!]
[By the way, why would the host pick a name like that?]
With her back to the camera, Su Nian couldn't see the chat. She tapped her toe lightly on the ground, but her voice was filled with confidence.
"There's a white phone inside. The passcode is 3141. It's a bit old and runs slow, so be patient with it."
Tangtang's mother frowned. 'How could she possibly know about that phone? And she even knows the color and the passcode... This is unbelievable.'
But with the camera still on her, she confidently pulled out the phone.
"It's just an old phone. Doesn't everyone have one? What's so strange about it that you'd make a bet on me finding it?"
Su Nian was unbothered and continued, "It's fine. Put the phone on the coffee table. Let's find the next item."
[I really don't get the point of finding these things.]
[Probably just for attention, to get more viewers.]
[It's pretty interesting, but I still don't see what it all means.]
[Yeah, it's so weird. I thought Tangtang's mother might be a shill, but after what the host just said, it doesn't feel like it.]
[This is kinda boring. I'm out, y'all.]
Su Nian said, "The second item is on your sofa."
Tangtang's mother asked uncertainly, "On the sofa?"
She didn't want to look anymore. 'This woman knows everything. If I really find another item, doesn't that mean I'll lose?'
[Hey, don't hesitate! Keep looking!]
[Yeah! I want to know the secret behind these items.]
[Yeah, don't just stand there.]
As if she'd anticipated the reaction from the other side of the screen, Su Nian smiled, then proceeded to threaten Tangtang's mother.
Su Nian sent Tangtang's mother a private message.
"Do you really think I'm helpless if you refuse to cooperate? Don't want to look anymore?"
"The truth is, many years ago, someone saw the moment you pushed your sister down a well. That person's surname is Chen."
Tangtang's mother's pupils widened. In an instant, she seemed to remember something.
But Su Nian continued in a low voice, "He can't speak, but I can cure him. Believe it or not."
Now Tangtang's mother was truly terrified. She wanted to just throw the items away and beg Su Nian for mercy.
But with so many people watching in the livestream, and after earning so much money, she was now paralyzed, terrified Su Nian would expose something even more explosive.
"I'm not being uncooperative. Just continue."
Su Nian instructed, "Pull the cover off your sofa's armrest."
'What could possibly be on this sofa?' Tangtang's mother thought, trying to calm her racing heart.
She even ran her hand over it, making sure there was nothing hidden under the cover before she finally pulled it away.
But when she saw the armrest, she didn't notice anything unusual.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "See? What could possibly be here! You're wrong this time. There's nothing under the cover."
But Su Nian spoke up, "The second item we're looking for is that red stain on the sofa."
[I have to say, this host is the real deal. Her back is turned, but she seems to know everything.]
[That's insane.]
[But what's the point? I don't get it.]
[I don't get it either. It seems impressive, but I have no idea what's happening.]
[I'm lost. It's just a red paint stain. What's so special about it?]
[That doesn't look like paint.]
Tangtang's mother was about to go insane. She didn't understand the point of Su Nian making her find these things.
This slow-burn torture from Su Nian was making her incredibly uneasy. But if Su Nian really found three items, would she actually have to turn herself in?
And then there was that person Su Nian knew about. What if she actually managed to find him?
Su Nian continued, "The third item is in your daughter's room. On the railing of your balcony, to be exact."
Tangtang's mother refused to look. She wasn't cooperating this time, flaring up in anger. "Can't you just tell me what to look for all at once?!"
[True, I have no idea what the host is trying to do.]
[If I were Tangtang's mother, I'd be mad too.]
[What on earth is this host trying to do?]
[I really don't get it. This is so boring. Can't we get something explosive?]
Su Nian laughed out loud. "Scared to go?"
Something about Su Nian's laugh spurred her on. Tangtang's mother, who had just decided not to cooperate, felt provoked. Besides, she thought finding these items was pointless anyway.
'So what if I find them? And judging by the viewers' attitude, they probably won't say anything even if I don't turn myself in.'
Shuffling her slippers impatiently, Tangtang's mother didn't go to the bedroom.
Instead, she went out onto the balcony.
The balcony was filled with all sorts of flowers and plants, which were well-tended and bursting with life.
But in one corner of the balcony, there were some less savory items. Several pieces of cardboard were laid out, covered by a tattered quilt. On top of the quilt sat a filthy cloth rabbit.
Surrounding it were other shabby, filthy toys that looked as if they'd been pulled from a trash can.
Drawings, which looked like they were made by a child with a black gel pen, were scattered on the floor.
If not for the tattered bedding, it would be impossible to tell this was a place where a person slept.
The chat fell silent in an instant, as if no one knew what to say.
Su Nian didn't bother saying what to look for. Instead, she turned around directly.
"This is your daughter's room?"
Tangtang's mother looked confused and nodded subconsciously. "Huh? Right... she sleeps here."
[Holy crap, she has the nerve to admit it!]
[Hasn't she always been saying how wonderful she is to her daughter?]
[I can't take it anymore. To think this is Tangtang's room!]
[What kind of person is she! What a monster!]
['My dear Tangtang'! I feel sick hearing her say that. What kind of 'dear' child sleeps on cardboard?]
[To think I actually cried listening to her stories before. I'm speechless!]
[Didn't she claim on her stream that she holds her daughter while she sleeps every night?]
[Sleep here? Oh, but how could a place like this be worthy of her own precious self!]
The viewers couldn't hold back any longer. Forgetting all about the first two items, they began furiously typing on their keyboards.
Seeing the chat explode, Tangtang's mother snapped back to her senses. She still had to make a living online! "You misheard! I misspoke just now! That's not it, it's not like that!"
Su Nian watched her scramble to explain, a gentle smile on her face, and posed a new question.
"There's nothing wrong with everyone's hearing. By the way, care to take a guess what the significance is of the three items I had you find?"