Chapter 574 - 593: Michelle Speaks Up for Justice

Jiang Qiuqiu smiled and said nothing.

’He’s actually very cute under that stern exterior.’

’The ridiculously cute kind.’

The conversation had been revolving around Mo Si, so Jiang Qiuqiu would chime in every now and then. After about twenty or thirty minutes, someone in the gossiping circle suddenly shifted the topic to her.

The news that she was a famous Federation streamer with a billion-plus fanbase had already spread widely throughout the Mecha Department.

That was when everyone finally connected her with the "New Year’s Eve Dinner" streamer who had exploded in popularity over the past year.

"Qiuqiu, is it okay if I call you that?"

"Of course."

"Um... why did you suddenly decide to attend Federation University?" she asked, then quickly added, "I don’t mean anything by it, I’m just curious."

"You already have such a successful career. Why suddenly decide to go to school?"

"And you chose the Mecha Single Soldier System, of all things... Everyone knows how demanding it is. Training takes up time, learning to pilot a mecha takes up time—everything takes up time."

By choosing this department, Jiang Qiuqiu was bound to have a hard time balancing her career and her studies.

To give up a huge, established career just to go to school...

"There’s not much of a reason," Jiang Qiuqiu said casually. "I just wanted to go to school, so here I am."

’There wasn’t any other special reason. I just wanted to go to school.’

"I wanted to experience a different kind of life."

Hearing the word "livestreaming," Michelle, who had been lying in a corner of the room, instantly perked up her ears.

’Livestreaming, livestreaming, livestreaming.’

She hoped Jiang Qiuqiu would say more about livestreaming, but before the girls could exchange more than a couple of pleasantries, another female voice cut in. "Why are you all so weird, asking so many questions?"

"What’s there to even ask? What does a streamer do anyway? Sell this, sell that, make some money... It’s the service industry. Who’d want to do that forever?"

"Of course she’d come to school if she could. She’s got money now, and she even got into Federation University. How great is that? Besides, if she hadn’t gotten in here, what chance would she have of seeing Admiral Mo? She’d have to spend her whole life just watching him on a big screen."

"And ’it’s okay to look’? That the ’Admiral would understand’? Do you even know what respect is?"

Her tone was filled with undisguised contempt.

A streamer.

A good-looking streamer with a mostly male fanbase.

Rong Yanyan didn’t believe the hype from professional circles that painted her as some kind of peerless genius. ’How old is she, anyway? A little of this, a little of that, and suddenly she’s unrivaled in her field?’

’It’s all just marketing for that pretty face.’

This was the first time in all their days here that such a sharp-toned conversation had erupted in the dorm.

’Well now, someone’s looking for a fight.’ Jiang Qiuqiu’s smile vanished. "I’m surprised you have the nerve to lecture anyone about the word ’respect’ without a hint of shame."

"How brave of you to so loudly demand something from others that you don’t possess yourself."

Rong Yanyan hadn’t expected Jiang Qiuqiu to fire back. "I don’t show you respect because you don’t deserve it."

Before Jiang Qiuqiu could respond, another female voice from the side swiftly joined the fray.

"Why doesn’t she deserve your respect?"

"Is it because she could finish training on her feet, while you could only lie there like a corpse?"

That was a vicious blow. The girl’s face instantly flushed red. "What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with you!"

"It has everything to do with me." Michelle sat up, throwing back her covers. The light cast her face in sharp relief, half-lit and half-shadowed. "And from your tone, it’s clear you look down on livestreaming. What’s wrong with it? Earning your own money that way is something to be respected."

Jiang Qiuqiu was surprised. She hadn’t expected Michelle to be the one to jump to her defense, even more eager to speak up than she was.

Perhaps not expecting such a sharp retort, Rong Yanyan saw everyone staring at her. She immediately shrank back under her covers, pulled them over her head, and fell silent.

After a moment, the sounds of laughter and chatter returned to the dorm room.

Jiang Qiuqiu glanced at Michelle, but she had already turned away.

She looked a little embarrassed.