Chapter 18 All of Me
1336 Words
With Aaron’s generous offering of sixty-seven gift bags, the numbers on the PK bar shifted dramatically to “6600 VS 6700.”
Alexis had seized the lead!
A radiant smile lit up her face as she witnessed the turn of events.
“Thank you so much, Aaron,” she said gratefully, her voice brimming with emotion. Is there a song you’d like to hear? I’d be delighted to sing it for you.”
Though Aaron’s gifts were merely free tokens rather than paid presents, those sixty-seven bags had salvaged Alexis’s pride.
After all, who would ever choose to lose, even in a seemingly trivial PK match?
“Sing John Legend’s All of Me,” Aaron typed back.
“All right, this song goes out to you, Aaron,” she replied, beaming as she queued up for the backing track. As the delicate melody filled the room, she began to hum softly.
[Verse 1]
What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you're kicking me out
Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What’s going on in that beautiful mind?
I’m on your magical mystery ride.
And I’m so dizzy. I don’t know what hit me, but I’ll be alright.
[Pre-Chorus]
My head’s underwater
But I’m breathing fine.
You’re crazy, and I’m out of my mind.
[Chorus]
’Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you.
You’re my end and my beginning.
Even when I lose, I win.
[Verse 2]
How many times do I have to tell you?
Even when you’re crying, you’re beautiful too.
The world is beating you down. I’m around in every mood.
You’re my downfall, you’re my muse.
My worst distraction: my rhythm and blues
I can’t stop singing, it’s ringing in my head for you.
[Bridge]
Cards on the table, we’re both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it’s hard
[Chorus]
’Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you.
You’re my end and my beginning.
Even when I lose, I win.
[Outro]
’Cause all of me
Loves all of you
And you give me all of you, oh
…
This song was Aaron’s absolute favorite. Though originally sung by a man, Alexis’s voice suited it beautifully.
What made it truly special was the depth of feeling she poured into every note, as if she were confessing something tender to Aaron himself.
When the final chord faded, Aaron fell silent for a moment before typing, “That was truly wonderful. For a performance like that, I ought to have sent you a Treasure Map.”
On the Tik’Y’Tok platform, the Treasure Map was the most lavish gift—each one worth a staggering five thousand dollars!
Alexis’s heart leaped in alarm, fearing he might actually send one; she couldn’t bear the thought. Who knew if Aaron’s monthly salary could even cover such extravagance? She could never allow him to squander so much on her.
“No, please! "Don’t do anything impulsive, Aaron,” she pleaded anxiously. We agreed—if you consider me a friend, promise you won’t send any paid gifts. "A daily gift to level up your badge is more than enough.”
“I’d love to, but my wallet has other ideas,” Aaron joked.
Perhaps it was the magic of her heartfelt singing, or maybe the timing simply coincided with an influx of viewers—but before long, a steady stream of visitors began trickling into her living room.
“Hey, is this a new streamer? "Haven’t seen you before,” one typed. This user had a Knight badge—a paid rank!
Though the Knight was the lowest tier of the nobility, costing just fifty dollars, it still marked them as a paying supporter rather than a freeloading viewer.
“Yes, I just started streaming. "I’m a singing host—if you like music, please hit the subscribe button and come back often!” Alexis replied eagerly.
“Do you do S-squats? "One big potion for each S-squat?” the knight continued.
S-squats?
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
Alexis blinked, utterly bewildered.
Sensing her confusion, Anna—her PK opponent—chuckled and kindly explained, “S-squats are a popular move on streaming platforms. Just like singing, it’s something streamers do to encourage viewers to send gifts. Here, watch me do it, and you’ll get the idea.”
Anna’s generosity was unexpected; even in competition, she was willing to teach Alexis.
She pulled back her chair, stood up in an open space, and began to sway seductively before lowering herself slowly into a squat.
“Oh… so that’s what it is!” Alexis stared, dumbfounded.
The knighter typed again: “Yes, just like the other host did. "One big potion, one S-squat—deal?”
Aaron observed everything quietly. His heart twisted; he hated the thought of Alexis debasing herself for gifts. But what right did he have to intervene? They were practically strangers.
Alexis hesitated, bit her lip, then shook her head resolutely. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m only here to sing.” I won’t do that.”
“Hmph! "Suit yourself—no wonder you’re a failure,” the Knight scoffed before leaving the room.
Immediately, the chat erupted with jeers.
“If you’re going to be a streamer, forget about dignity—otherwise you’ll starve!”
“Exactly! Quit acting so purely—this isn’t a royal concert hall, you know!”
“New streamers always start like this. Give it some time; soon she’ll do anything for a gift, even calling someone daddy.”
The scornful comments made Alexis’s face pale, yet she stood her ground. “I’m just a singer. I only wish to earn your respect through my music.”
“I support you, Alexis. Stay true to yourself. "Don’t feel you have to stoop like others,” Aaron typed, his heart swelling with quiet joy—he hadn’t misjudged her.
Had Alexis been like countless other hosts who would debase themselves for a few gifts, he would’ve been bitterly disappointed.
But he also realized he had to act soon; watching her struggle to earn even a few dollars a day was too painful.
…
The PK match with Anna finally ended after twenty minutes. The final score froze at “8600 VS 6700”—Anna in the lead.
In those twenty minutes, both women sang a song and spent the rest hustling for gifts.
The result? One earned $8.60 in gifts, the other $6.70.
Worse still, almost all the gifts were free ones that brought the streamers no actual income.
This was the stark reality for small-time hosts.
Those tales of streamers raking in thousands a day or millions a month? They weren’t impossible—but among the millions of struggling broadcasters, only a tiny handful ever reached those heights. Most were nameless figures swallowed by the industry.
They entered with dreams and ambition, only to leave quietly when reality crushed them.
Take Alexis’s own guild: it had over a thousand registered hosts, but barely fifty still streamed regularly. That alone said it all.
“Being a streamer is so hard,” Alexis sighed softly.
Across the screen, Anna sighed as well, consoling her. “You’ll get used to it, Alexis. It helps if you let go of your pride a little. Let’s be blunt: we’re online performers—or even, you could say, virtual beggars. Pride is worthless here. Without letting go, it’s hard to survive.”
Alexis glanced at the PK bar, speechless. Anna’s words were harsh, but undeniably true.
Even a beggar on the street might earn more in twenty minutes than she had tonight.
And worse still—she hadn’t earned a cent, since all the gifts were free…
- Writer
