The Livestream Lie That Sold My Future

Guys, to help my daughter get into a top medical school, I only eat half a dinner roll every day...

In front of the camera, my mom sobbed like her heart was breaking while holding up a hard, dried-out roll.

Viewers sent tips one after another, praising this great single mother.

But they did not know that she had just picked that roll out of the trash, and that two days ago she had spent the tip money on a thirty-eight-thousand-dollar Thermage treatment.

Now, to sign an outrageously expensive influencer performance contract, she had secretly hidden my admission letter, forcing me to give up my combined undergraduate, masters, and doctoral medical program and stay behind as a prop for her livestream sales.

I looked at her stiff face and silently pressed the record button.

One

Guys, to send my daughter to medical school, Ive worn this pair of shoes for three years, until the soles are worn through, and I cant even bear to buy myself a new pair of socks...

Under the harsh ring light, Diane Carter sobbed at her phone camera like her heart was breaking. She held up a pair of filthy canvas shoes with holes in them, while that face, freshly pumped with hyaluronic acid and not fully de-swollen yet, forced out a few tears.

On the screen, comments like great mother, Im crying, and This poor lady has had it so hard flew by rapidly, and the special effects for sports cars and yachts sent as tips connected into one glowing stream, nearly lagging the video until it dropped frames.

I had just pushed open the front door when Diane Carter lunged at me like a shark smelling blood. She clamped down on my arm, her nails digging into my flesh, and dragged me in front of the camera.

Jane! Kneel down! Bow to everyone watching! she raised her voice, a disgusting fanaticism in it, If they hadnt sent tips, how could you have what you have today? Hurry up and show everyone how grateful you are!

Doug Carter, my uncle, sprawled across the couch cracking sunflower seeds. Seeing that I did not move, he spat the shells onto the floor and shouted in his rough, hoarse voice, Jane Miller! What are you staring for? Your mom picks through trash every day for you, so whats wrong with asking you to bow? You really are an ungrateful brat!

The tone in the livestream instantly shifted.

Why does this daughter look so cold?

Shes way too ungrateful. What a waste of her moms good intentions.

Do college students these days learn nothing at all?

Diane Carters hand pressed down on my shoulder like an iron clamp, shoving with all her strength, trying to force me to the floor. As she pushed me down, she cried to the camera, Guys, dont blame her. The child is just shy. Deep down, shes actually very thoughtful...

I stared at her expressionlessly. Yesterday, she had just swiped thirty-eight thousand dollars at a downtown beauty clinic for Thermage, and today she was here holding up a pair of torn shoes she had picked from the trash, crying about being poor. I could even smell the expensive perfume on her, mixed with the sour stink coming from those old shoes, and it made me nauseous.

I did not say a word.

With a sudden jerk, I shook off her hand, strode to the corner, and yanked the routers power cord out.

Snap.

The ring light went out. The phone screen instantly went black, showing a disconnected network alert.

The room fell deathly silent. Even the sound of Doug Carter spitting sunflower seed shells stopped midair.

You little bitch! What are you doing! Diane Carter froze for two seconds, then the mask of the loving mother shattered on her face, and she screamed. She grabbed the heavy glass ashtray from the table and hurled it at me.

I dodged sideways. The ashtray smashed against the wall, scattering broken glass all over the floor.

Are you crazy? How dare you cut off my money! Diane Carter flew into a rage and raised her hand to slap me.

I caught her wrist and stared at her coldly. Wheres my admission letter?

Diane Carter yanked herself free, rubbed her wrist, and sneered, her mean and vicious face completely exposed.

Admission letter? What admission letter? I havent seen it.

The delivery confirmation text was sent to my phone, and the signer was you. I gritted my teeth and said each word slowly, Give it to me. That is my admission letter to a top medical schools combined undergrad, masters, and PhD program.

Combined program? Like hell! Doug Carter jumped up from the couch and pointed at my nose as he cursed, By the time you graduate, youll be thirty! Itll be way too late! Did your mom raise you this big just so you could go off to another city and live the good life? Hurry up and stay local, get some community college diploma, and shoot more videos while youre young to help your mom make money!

Diane Carter snorted coldly, walked to the TV cabinet, pulled open a drawer, took out a thick stack of documents, and slapped it onto the coffee table.

You want the admission letter, right? Fine. Diane Carter pointed at the documents, lifting her chin high, Sign this first.

I lowered my head and glanced over it.

Starlight MCN Agency Influencer Incubation and Exclusive Management Contract.

This company sees the potential in our account. The boss said that as long as you sign, stay local, and cooperate with building your medical girl persona, youll sell products in the livestream every day, and youll be guaranteed to make millions a year! Diane Carters eyes glittered with greed, as if she could already see mountains of gold and silver, Ive already agreed for you. At tomorrows graduation party, youll sign in front of the whole internet!

I got into a top medical school. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms, Im not becoming an influencer. Give me the admission letter.

Top school, my ass! Can you eat it? Diane Carter slammed the table, spit flying, Let me tell you, Jane Miller, Ive already put my fingerprint on this contract, and the advance payment has already come through! If you dont sign, Ill burn that admission letter like trash! You can forget about walking out of this house for the rest of your life!

Doug Carter chimed in from the side in a sarcastic tone, Jane, a person should know how to be grateful. Your mom has paved a path of stardom for you, something countless people beg for and never get, so dont be stupid. If you really piss your mom off, you wont even get to attend community college.

I looked at the two hateful people in front of me, then glanced at the contract on the table that looked just like a deed selling me off.

If I tried to snatch it by force now, I had no idea where the admission letter was hidden. Diane Carter was meticulous, and there was no way she would leave something this important out in the open.

There were still exactly seven days before the medical school registration deadline.

I took a deep breath and slowly loosened my clenched fists. Fighting them head-on was a dead end, so I had to change my approach and take back the life that belonged to me.

Two

There were still seven days before the medical school registration deadline.

Diane Carter completely dropped the act. She cut up my meal card, forcibly took away my new phone, and double-locked the security door from the outside. I was shut tight inside a bedroom of less than ten square meters, becoming a product waiting to be sold for the highest price.

At eight in the morning, Doug Carter arrived right on time for work.

He dragged a chair over to block the bedroom door, held a cheap cigarette between his lips, and slammed a stack of printed A4 papers into my face. The sharp edges of the paper scraped across my cheek, leaving a red mark.

Memorize it! If you cant recite it today, dont even think about getting a sip of water!

The papers scattered all over the floor. They were all tragic scripts written by the MCN agency.

The lines were disgusting to the extreme: To save up my tuition, my mom picked up one hundred thousand plastic bottles under the blazing sun until blood blisters covered both her hands... I dont deserve to study in a big city. I want to stay and repay my mom. Everyone, please place more orders to support my mom...

I stared coldly at Doug Carter. These are all made up. Arent you afraid karma will come for you?

Karma, my ass! This is what viewers love to watch! Doug Carter took a hard drag from his cigarette and blew a thick cloud of smoke straight into my face, choking me until I coughed, Stop acting so noble. Was it easy for your mom to raise you? Now its time for you to repay her! Memorize it properly, and dont make me use force. If you mess up tomorrows signing ceremony, Ill break your legs!

Looking at his face as he abused borrowed power, I forced down the fire in my chest.

The admission letter was still in their hands. If I fought them head-on, I could not even get through this door.

I had to change tactics.

I took a deep breath and pulled in all my thorns. I crouched down, picked up the scripts from the floor one by one, lowered my eyes, and softened my voice. Ill memorize it.

That afternoon, Diane Carter came home.

Her face, which had just received Thermage, was still not fully de-swollen and had a stiff, plastic quality, but it could not hide the smugness at the corners of her eyes. As soon as she entered, she skillfully set up the ring light and phone stand.

Have you memorized it? She glanced at me sideways, her gaze like she was looking at an item about to be converted into cash.

I nodded and put on a wronged, obedient expression. I memorized it. Mom, as long as you give me the admission letter, Ill do whatever you say. I dont want to make you angry anymore.

Diane Carter snorted and reached out to jab my forehead. At least you know whats good for you. If youd done this earlier, wouldnt everything have been fine? You just had to ask for a beating.

The livestream started.

Diane Carter changed faces in one second. One moment she was mean and sharp, and the next her eyes were red, tears coming on command, her acting worthy of an Oscar winner.

Guys, my daughter has finally grown up. She feels sorry for me and says she wants to stay local to keep me company, because she cant bear to let me suffer alone... As she wiped her tears, she pinched my arm hard and dragged me into the shot.

I lowered my head and followed the scripts requirements, forcing out two tears, my voice choked.

Thank you, Mom. Im not going to Boston anymore. I want to stay by Moms side and take good care of you. Everyone, please support my moms livestream.

The comments exploded instantly, the screen full of praise.

This is so touching! Mother and daughter are connected by heart!

This is what a good daughter looks like. Family comes first!

Support single mothers! Everyone, hurry and order that laundry detergent!

Diane Carter stared fixedly at the sales numbers in the backend as they soared, the corners of her mouth twitching wildly, so close to losing even her fake crying act.

As soon as the livestream ended, Diane Carter immediately tossed the phone aside, sprawled out on the couch, and let out a long breath.

Doug, see that? This damn girl just needed to be taught a lesson. Diane Carter crossed her legs smugly, picked up her teacup, and took a huge sip, Once we sign that ten-million-dollar performance contract with the agency tomorrow, well completely turn our lives around!

Doug Carter hurried over to light her cigarette and pour water, grinning so hard his face wrinkled. Diane, by then youll be a huge influencer. Will you need bodyguards when you go out? Once that advance payment comes in, can we move into a bigger house?

Of course! Diane Carter laughed until the flesh on her face trembled, Once the money hits the account, Im going to buy a Porsche first, then get myself a heavy gold bracelet. As for that girl, well just find some community college and put her name down. In this life, she belongs to me alive, and shell be my money tree when shes dead!

Wild laughter burst out in the living room.

They had no idea that when I had lowered my head to pick up the script earlier, I had already slipped an old phone out from the gap in the mattress.

It was a broken old phone with a cracked screen, one Diane Carter had thrown away long ago. It had no SIM card, but the recording function still worked perfectly.

At that moment, it was lying quietly in the pocket of my loose pajamas.

The screen glowed faintly, and the red dot on the recording button was blinking at a steady rhythm.

I lowered my head, listened to them shamelessly carve up my life in the living room, and the corner of my mouth curved into a faint, cold smile.

Go ahead and act.

The higher you climb, the harder you shatter when you fall.

Three

At noon, the asphalt was hot enough to fry an egg. Heat waves warped the air, and even the cicadas in the trees sounded weak.

Bend down! Why are you dragging your feet picking up trash? Havent you eaten? Diane Carter shoved the phone in my face and cursed through gritted teeth in a low voice, Look more miserable! Where are your tears? Squeeze them out! Do you want your admission letter or not?

I wore an old, faded school uniform, carried a dirty woven sack, and walked along the scorching road.

Doug Carter stood nearby holding a reflector, wiping sweat nonstop, his shirt soaked through. Hurry up! We still need to post the teaser after filming, and tonight we have to livestream sales. This sun is going to dry people out.

I bent down to pick up an empty water bottle from the ground. The moment I straightened, I smoothly closed my eyes, let my legs go weak, and fell stiffly onto the burning road. My elbow scraped open, the pain burning hot, but I forced myself not to move.

Oh, damn! Doug Carter was so startled that he almost threw the reflector away and took a step back.

Diane Carter walked over and kicked me in the calf without the slightest mercy. What are you playing dead for? Get up! We have to finish filming this today! The viewers are waiting to watch you suffer!

I lay with my eyes closed, completely still, my breathing faint.

Diane, she looks like she really fainted. The sun is brutal. Dont let anyone die. She still has to sign tomorrow, and if her face gets scraped up, well be in trouble. Doug Carter sounded a little nervous.

What rotten luck! Diane Carter cursed as she put away her phone, This damn girl is just delicate. Drag her under the shade. Dont delay me from making money.

Doug Carter dragged me like a dead dog to the shade by the roadside.

Through half-closed eyes, I saw Diane Carter impatiently open the livestream backend.

Doug, look. Yesterdays tips plus sales brought in over eighty thousand! Diane Carters voice was shaking, her eyes glued to the numbers on the screen.

Doug Carter immediately leaned in, rubbing his hands with an extremely fawning smile. Diane, about the split we agreed on... You get the meat, but your little brother should at least get some soup, right?

You wont be shorted. Ill transfer you twenty thousand. Go spend it. I have to save the rest to buy a heavy gold bracelet to keep up appearances. Im about to be a big influencer, so I cant not have a decent piece of jewelry.

Thanks, Diane! With you, theres always meat to eat!

Just as the two of them were enthusiastically dividing the spoils, a cool female voice suddenly cut in.

Well, Diane, Doug. The sun is this harsh, and youre out here counting money?

My heart stirred. It was Aunt Rose. She was the only clear-headed person in the family. She had started her own business years ago and had long since seen through Diane Carters vain and greedy nature, so she rarely interacted with them.

Diane Carter jumped in fright, hurriedly shut off the screen, and forced a dry laugh. Rose, why are you back? I just brought Jane out to film some material. The child is in poor health and fainted from heatstroke.

Is that so? Rose Carter walked over in high heels and looked down at me from above.

I opened my eyes slightly and met her sharp gaze. She gave me a nearly imperceptible wink.

Her face is so pale that shes almost dehydrated. Diane, making money cant be so urgent that it has to be right this second, can it? Rose Carter took a bottle of Evian mineral water from her limited-edition bag and crouched down, Jane, let me help you drink some water.

She twisted open the cap and brought it to my lips. Using her body as cover, she quickly slipped a stiff card into my palm.

I understood at once, tightened my fingers around it, and smoothly hid it in my sleeve.

Rose Carter lowered her voice, speaking so quickly that only the two of us could hear. Downtown, Ethereal Time Medical Spa. She got a hundred-thousand-dollar membership there two days ago and did a thirty-eight-thousand-dollar Thermage treatment. Go check.

I swallowed the water, coughed weakly twice, and took the chance to grab her wrist. Thank you, Aunt Rose.

Rose Carter stood, patted her hands, and said mockingly, Diane, shes already like this, so what are you still filming? Hurry and take her home to rest. Dont actually let something happen and delay your pitiful livestream tonight.

Diane Carter rolled her eyes and impatiently came over to shove me. Enough playing dead. Get up!

I supported myself against the tree trunk and stood, pretending to be dizzy and unsteady. Mom, Im fine. Its just these clothes... theyre not quite right.

Whats not right? Diane Carter glared.

Theyre too clean. I looked at her, my tone so sincere that no one could find a flaw, Viewers are clever now. This school uniform is old, yes, but it has no patches and isnt tattered enough. If you want a good effect, we should go to a workwear market and buy two pieces of truly ragged clothing, preferably with oil stains. The livestream sales tonight will be more convincing, and theyll believe you really have nowhere left to turn.

Diane Carter froze, then her eyes lit up. Thats right! Why didnt I think of that? The more ragged the clothes, the more tips!

She slapped her thigh. Your brain still works fast. Go. Go buy them right now!

Doug Carter cut in, Diane, should I go with her?

Why would you go? You still have to help me set up the livestream room. Those shabby props havent been arranged yet. Diane Carter took a hundred dollars from her bag and tossed it at me, Take it! Buy the most broken, filthiest ones! If you dont do it right, you get no dinner tonight!

Got it, Mom. I picked up the money from the ground, answered with lowered brows and obedient eyes, then turned and walked toward the bus stop.

The instant I turned the corner, I straightened my spine, and the fear on my face vanished completely.

I opened my palm, and the business card was slightly damp with sweat.

Ethereal Time Medical Spa.

I gave a cold laugh and directly raised my hand to hail a taxi.

Sir, downtown, please.

The blade for my counterattack was already in my hand.

Four

Welcome to Ethereal Time.

Inside the most high-end beauty clinic downtown, the air conditioning was turned so cold it felt like an ice cellar, and the air was filled with the fragrance of expensive essential oils. Wearing an old, washed-out T-shirt, I walked in, completely out of place beside the glittering crystal chandeliers and leather sofas in the lobby.

The receptionist wore delicate makeup, looked me up and down, and the professional fake smile at the corners of her mouth instantly collapsed. Little girl, were not hiring summer workers here. Theres a fast-food place to the left outside.

Maam, Im here to pick something up for my mom. I immediately put on a timid expression, nervously pinching the corner of my shirt, my shoulders shrinking slightly, My moms name is Diane Carter. She had a treatment done here two days ago and said she left something behind.

Diane Carter? The receptionist looked at me suspiciously, then turned to type on the keyboard, What are the last four digits of her phone number?

8868, and her birthday is... I recited the numbers smoothly, even controlling my speaking pace just right.

The receptionist stared at the screen for a while, and her attitude instantly made a one-eighty-degree turn, her smile blooming like a flower. Oh, so youre Ms. Carters daughter! Ms. Carter is our black-gold VIP. She just recharged a hundred thousand with us. Wait a moment, and Ill go check the locker in the VIP room for you.

Thank you.

Watching the receptionist click away down the hallway in her high heels, I immediately dropped that timid expression.

I had to move fast.

I leaned into the front desk. The computer screen was not locked.

I took out my phone, aimed it at the screen, and snapped three photos in a row.

A hundred-thousand-dollar recharge record. A thirty-eight-thousand-dollar Thermage charge detail. Time, name, amount, all perfectly clear.

My gaze swept quickly across the bottom right corner of the screen. This beauty clinic and the mall used an integrated VIP system. Among Diane Carters linked spending records lay an electronic invoice copy from yesterday afternoon.

First-floor Chow Sang Sang jewelry store. Purchase of forty-two thousand dollars. Heavy traditional-style gold bracelet.

I tugged the corner of my mouth, only feeling that it was absurd to the extreme.

In the livestream, she held up half a moldy roll and cried about being poor, asking viewers who saved every penny to send her tips, then turned around and transformed their hard-earned money into hyaluronic acid in her face and a gold bracelet on her wrist.

Click.

The invoice copy also went into my photo album.

The clicking of high heels sounded from the hallway. I immediately pulled back, tucked my phone into my pocket, and stood obediently in place.

I didnt find anything. Did Ms. Carter remember the wrong place? The receptionist came out empty-handed, looking apologetic.

Maybe. Ill go back and ask her. Thank you. I bowed and left quickly.

Half an hour later, at the Southside workwear wholesale market.

I spent twenty dollars buying two old work shirts stained with oil. I thought they were not tattered enough, so I stomped on them hard in a mud puddle by the road and even used a rock to grind the cuffs open.

The dirtier and more pitiful they were, the more Diane Carter would like them.

When I got back to the door of our apartment, I had just taken out my key when my hand stopped.

The security door was slightly ajar, not fully closed. Through the crack came Doug Carters deliberately lowered voice.

Diane, Mr. Walsh from the MCN agency said that tomorrows graduation party is also the signing ceremony, so there has to be a shocking highlight. Did you prepare those eye drops?

I took back the key, smoothly pulled out the old phone, pressed the record button, and placed the microphone close to the crack in the door.

Do I need you to teach me? I prepared them ages ago. Diane Carters voice carried undisguised smugness and greed, Tomorrow Ill wear those ragged clothes onstage. As soon as that damn girl signs, the ten-million-level performance contract takes effect. By then, the advance payment will be enough for us to buy a big luxury apartment downtown. Who would still live in this crappy complex?

That sounds great! Doug Carter rubbed his hands, his tone greedy, But Diane, tomorrow Ill personally watch the livestream moderators, and Ive already contacted the paid commenters, so the atmosphere will absolutely be pushed to the peak. Its just that the hush money and hard-work fee...

Are you trying to kill me with all your demands? Did I owe you in a past life?

PayPal received, twenty thousand dollars. The mechanical phone alert rang clearly inside the apartment.

Diane Carter snorted coldly. Take this twenty thousand for now. Keep your mouth shut and dont run your mouth outside. Especially not in front of that damn girl. If she knows I used her admission letter to make a deal with the agency, shell definitely raise hell.

Thanks, Diane! With you, theres always meat to eat! Doug Carter laughed in an extremely fawning way, Dont worry. As long as the money is in place, Im mute. Tomorrow, Ill definitely take the lead in the livestream and scold that little bitch for being ungrateful, forcing her with all the public pressure to sign that contract that sells her life away! Shell sign whether she wants to or not!

She dares not sign? The admission letter is in my hands, and she has no say in it! Diane Carter said viciously.

I stood outside the door, listening coldly as the two of them shamelessly carved up my life.

The recording time jumped to three minutes and twenty seconds.

I pressed stop, renamed the audio file, encrypted it, and saved it.

High-spending bills. The gold bracelet invoice. The recording of profit sharing.

The chain of evidence for my counterattack was fully formed.

I took a deep breath, rubbed my face, and once again put on that meek, submissive expression.

I pushed open the door.

Mom, Doug, Im back with the clothes. I lifted the stinking, filthy work shirts in my hand and stood in the entryway with my head lowered.

Diane Carter covered her nose in disgust and waved repeatedly, like she was chasing flies away. Take them away, hurry! Throw them on the balcony! Tomorrow at the graduation party, youll wear this onstage. Act properly for me, got it? If you dare mess up, Ill kill you!

I got it, Mom. I answered obediently.

Under my lowered eyes, there was nothing but ice.