Chapter 105: Darkness

"Hello there."

She extended her hand straight out, greeting the seemingly endless black tide before her with practiced ease.

As if addressing a long-known friend.

But the pitch-black void paid her no heed, merely dragging her still-clear consciousness steadily downward toward an endless abyss.

She sighed, spreading her limbs, letting the numbness envelop her entire body as she sank slowly deeper.

"If only I had a cigarette…" She scratched at her floating hair and gently closed her eyes.

She still remembered the emotions she felt the first time her consciousness entered this silent abyss—fear, unease, even a touch of curiosity.

Now, after countless such journeys, she was thoroughly familiar with this brief passage through darkness.

It was hard to feel anything new.

Boredom was the only constant.

Her thoughts wandered wildly, yet the clearest image that finally surfaced in her mind was the face of the person she loved most.

"The Crystal Yuan has started up…"

She rubbed her itchy occiput and muttered to herself.

Her consciousness gradually blurred; the face dissolved into formless mist, buried deep within her heart.

Finally, her entire body curled into a silent, empty void.

◎

"Hello hello! Good afternoon, everyone! I'm your super cute (Streaming-chan) Streaming Girl! As always, bringing you 24/7 live streams of life and adventure!"

The girl with sun-kissed skin adjusted the cameras on her head and backpack, finding the right angle as she greeted her viewers.

"Main package, main package—why did today's opening line add an extra 'super'? Suspected you've got a sugar daddy outside… " Streaming Girl read the rapidly scrolling comments on her phone screen, a smile curving her lips, "Hmph! You guys are ridiculous—I speak with perfect diction, don't steal other streamers' lines! It's 'Stream Girl,' not 'Main Package'!"

"And… the premium users in my stream are my favorite sugar daddies—my whole life depends on you! Now's a perfect time for a commercial break! …"

"Bathing and private videos are available only to premium users… just 99.99 euros per month! Become a premium user now!"

As usual, Streaming Girl recited her script with practiced ease.

The number in the top-left corner of her phone screen rose rapidly.

"What are we doing this afternoon? You all fell asleep during my morning and noon streams— if this keeps up, I'm going to find another woman… No! Mr. 'Can't Read My Mind,' don't leave, please? This afternoon, Streaming Girl is taking you somewhere thrilling—anyone guess where?"

Streaming Girl pointed the camera on her backpack at herself.

Unlike her morning outfit, she'd taken her viewers' advice and changed into a tight leather suit with a warm, stylish white fur shawl.

"Ta-da!" She hummed a popular tune, swaying her body vigorously to the beat, "Anyone guess? Oh! Thank you, Mr. 'Can't Read My Mind,' for renewing your premium membership for a year! That's right—it's *Oui Club! And… one of the most famous clubs in Night City—Cloudtop!"

Streaming Girl wiped sweat from her forehead, brought the tiny mic clipped to her collar close to her lips, breathing slightly heavily.

"Why would Streaming Girl work at Cloudtop? I'd definitely sponsor you for a year… Thank you, Mr. 'Night City's Flower Hunter,' for renewing your premium membership for a year… Huh? If Streaming Girl worked there, would Flower Hunter only sponsor me for a year? And you wouldn't mind if someone else took me away?"

"Don't mind… just a little Streaming Girl… a year's enough… ugh…" She pouted, feeling a dull ache in her chest, "That's so unfair! Streaming Girl isn't a toy!"

A flood of "I love you, Streaming Girl!" instantly washed away her earlier outburst.

"Hmph! Thank you all for your love (°з°)-! Become a premium user now to watch my bathing and private videos! Just 99.99 euros per month!"

She tweaked her slightly disheveled hair ends, triple-checked her gear, then gripped her phone tightly, lifted her chin, and walked out the door.

"Streamers, don't reveal your address—or tonight you might become Cloudtop staff… Thank you, Mr. 'Doll Hunter,' for your comment… Thanks for the warning, but Cloudtop isn't that easy to enter—someone like me? I'd only make it to a low- or mid-tier club…"

"Streaming Girl is the best! I love you 【36】 ((c)!"

((c)!"

"Go, Streaming Girl! (_) You're the best!"

As expected, her phone screen filled again with comforting messages.

Streaming Girl smiled, pulled her coat collar tighter, and carefully dodged the biting cold winds as they brushed past.

◎

The Crystal Yuan slowly ceased operation.

Before the annoying alarm could ring, she leapt from bed on instinct, nearly slamming her head into the wall.

She quickly checked her body—and unsurprisingly, found many fresh wounds.

"Automatic_Love, Evelyn Parker, a popular streamer will interview you this afternoon. Clean yourself up. Don't embarrass Cloudtop."

A mechanical male voice echoed in her ear.

Evelyn murmured a reply, picked up her clothes from the floor, and limped toward the Bathroom.

Steam blurred her vision and moistened her eyes.

With difficulty, she opened her aching legs, washed carefully, and tilted her head upward, silently watching the water spray above drip drop by drop, finally crumbling into forgotten debris that flowed through the drain beneath her feet into a bottomless, stinking abyss.

She was allowed only a few minutes to wash—no time for sentimentality.

She turned off the shower, stepped out, and gently pressed her chest wound against the Bathroom's large mirror.

Fortunately, today's outfit included a high-collared sweater—enough to preserve her last shred of ridiculous dignity on camera.

Evelyn forced a grim smile, lifting the corners of her mouth toward her reflection—the flawless smile looked sadder than tears.

"Ding ding ding!" The alarm was already urging her.

She grabbed her dirty clothes, rushed out of her work room, and darted into the small rest room, frantically changing clothes beside her precious wardrobe.

Red-heeled stilettos, a high-collared blue sweater wrapped around her torso, black jeans, and a red leather jacket.

Not trendy, but not embarrassing to Cloudtop.

Evelyn nodded slightly at the small mirror in the room.

The only thing she now had confidence in was this hollow shell.

Following orders, Evelyn hurried toward the appointed location.

May everything go smoothly, she whispered to herself.