Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Leona's move flipped the script on the live-streaming game, sucking up most of the viewers and leaving the other streamers in an awkward spot. It was a high-stakes arena where wealthy streamers threw cash around to keep up, but none could match Leona's financial prowess. Within the first minute of going live, she had already splurged $20,000 in tips. The uncertainty of becoming the platform's featured streamer meant every dollar invested could be money down the drain for those who didn't make the cut. But Leona, with her life of luxury-accessories and designer bags worth tens of thousands-barely blinked at the spending. This strategy was her ticket to the top spot, a sure bet to recoup her investment and then some.

Emma, on the other hand, was staring at a viewer count of zero. She couldn't help but feel deflated, though she kept up a graceful smile, dreading the thought of someone tuning in only to find her looking disheartened. Despite overcoming her initial camera shyness, the long hours in front of the lens were still a challenge.

The coaches at Stellar Stage Entertainment had armed them with all the tricks of the trade. Now, it was showtime, each broadcaster bringing their unique flair to the table.

With her camera-ready posture and the creatively decorated backdrop, Emma had indeed set the stage. But in this digital era, nothing spoke louder than cold, hard cash.

About half an hour later, as the cash splash next door seemed to wind down, a trickle of viewers began finding their way to Emma's stream.

She straightened up and greeted them warmly, "Hey there, I'm Emma, the new face around here. Welcome to my stream!"

But her introduction was quickly marred by a snarky comment on her chat feed.

"What's that trashy decor in the background? Picked up from the curb? How broke can you be to stream with that setup? Go learn from Leona next door."

"Looks like leaves? Did you actually pick those up? Though, not gonna lie, it kinda looks cool."

"Cool? Seriously? Who knows how many have stepped on them or worse, spit on them. Leona's stream is where it's at - sweet talk and all. What's with this girl, as lively as a dead fish?" The user didn't hold back, flinging insults from the get-go.

Emma knew this was the work of a troll, possibly even sent by Leona to undermine her. Despite Leona's soaring popularity, she hadn't forgotten to kick Emma while she was down. Emma chose to ignore the vitriol, instead addressing another viewer's inquiry with a smile.

"This? Oh, it's a little DIY project of mine. The leaves, yes, I picked them myself but made sure they're spotless And the flowers? Those are camellias. They bloom beautifully. If you've got a garden, you should totally plant one they bloom twice a year!"

Gradually, she found common ground with her viewers, though the crowd remained thin, never exceeding fifty.

As midnight approached, a hint of disappointment shadowed Emma's face, her stream's popularity clearly at the bottom rung.

When the clock struck twelve, Stellar Stage Entertainment's backend began nudging them off-air, promising an update on the rankings on their official platform soon.

"If you've enjoyed your time here,

feel free to follow. I'll be signing off now but will be back soon," Emma assured her viewers before turning off the camera, the forced smile finally collapsing into a sigh of exhaustion.

Twenty minutes later, the night's rankings were out.

Leona, unsurprisingly, reigned supreme, her score almost the total of the next twenty streamers combined.

Emma checked her own ranking-last place among thirty streamers.

She rubbed her eyes, took a deep breath, and began reviewing the other streams to understand their content strategies. Leona's winning formula was a mix of lavish tipping and sweet serenades, lacking any real uniqueness.

As Emma sifted through the

streams, she noted that those

thriving were deeply engaged in their

areas of expertise. One streamer, boasting an impressive academic background, had even solved a

college entrance exam live attracting a horde of student viewers. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

This inventive approach had rocketed her into the top three, showcasing that innovation, not just investment, was key to capturing the audience's heart.