After dropping off her sister, Yao Xin returned home in a daze, feeling a mix of excitement, anticipation, and anxiety. She was told that in a couple of days, professionals would come to examine her body, which involved full nudity and various data measurements, unlike a regular health check-up.
"Big Sister, you're back!"
Yao Le'er had gone to school, Yao Nan to work, and Shen Ruyu to play mahjong. Strangely, Xu Bin was alone with Yao Xin at home. Knowing what was going on, he decided to play dumb.
He cooked a pork rib and seafood congee with some pickled vegetables, then casually said, "Let's eat together. The crabs today are excellent."
"Sure, it smells delicious!"
Yao Xin, not suspecting anything, sat down and started eating, complimenting the congee. "I misjudged you. This congee is much better than Mom's."
After some small talk, Xu Bin casually asked, "By the way, what were you doing at the office building next to Ocean World the other day?"
"Oh, um, just visiting a friend," Yao Xin stammered, her first instinct being to hide the truth. She planned to reveal her new career as a successful influencer later.
"That's good, as long as it wasn't at Golden Hua Media!"
Xu Bin continued eating, acting relieved.
But Yao Xin's heart raced, and she nervously asked, "What's wrong with Golden Hua Media?"
"Nothing for you to worry about," Xu Bin replied calmly.
Yao Xin bit her lip and asked, "I have a friend who works there. What's so bad about it?"
Xu Bin frowned, "Does your friend work there as an employee or a streamer?"
Yao Xin hesitated, "Employee, she's in charge of lighting."
"That's good then. If she were a streamer, I'd pity her," Xu Bin said, still eating.
He finished his meal, wiped his mouth, and went to smoke a cigarette. Yao Xin, worried, followed him.
"What's so bad about being a streamer? I heard they make a lot of money," she asked.
"It's complicated," Xu Bin said with a cold smile. "Your friend is safe as an employee with a normal labor contract. But being a streamer there... let's just say it's a tough life."
Yao Xin's friend as a streamer... I pity her, he thought.
Yao Xin's mind raced, remembering the contract she signed without reading it properly.
"Small companies are worse than big ones," Xu Bin explained, showing her articles on his iPad. "They lure young, naive girls with upfront payments of thousands or even tens of thousands to sign contracts to become influencers. That's their bait."
Yao Xin's scalp tingled as she remembered the 8,000 yuan she received, which she used to pay off her credit card debt.
"The contracts are detailed and one-sided," Xu Bin continued. "They set unrealistic goals, like reaching millions of followers, which is impossible for newbies in our small city. Without a professional management team, they can't achieve that."
"So, what happens if they can't meet the goals?" Yao Xin asked, her voice shaking.
"Simple," Xu Bin said, smiling. "If they succeed, they get exploited more. If they fail, they're screwed. If their families can afford it, they might sue and make them pay twenty thousand or so. For those with good looks, they might end up selling their bodies to pay off debts."
He leaned in, his voice low and serious. "And before they start selling, they have to 'practice' with the boss and high-ranking managers for free. Golden Hua Media introduces these girls to wealthy men, and most of them end up here, ruined."
Yao Xin felt dizzy, her vision blurring as she realized the depth of the rabbit hole she had fallen into.