C1 Ten Seconds Challenge
At the end of the artfully designed blue and white tiled floor, old stone steps gracefully led to a gathering under the Immortality Peach Tree, where nearly a hundred people sat on benches, listless amidst the bustling mall crowd.
Evergreen Business Square was in the midst of its anniversary celebration. A month of hype and substantial discounts had attracted a customer turnout three times that of a holiday peak period.
The most renowned restaurant in the mall, "The Alley," had a waitlist long enough to serve several rounds of patrons.
"Chen's cellar wafts fragrance for miles, The Alley greets guests with a toast~"
Amidst the clamor, a woman's voice, clear and melodious as a songbird, captured the attention of the crowd, soothing their irritability. Heads lifted from phones, drawn by the sound.
Beneath The Alley's sign stood a girl with twin ponytails, dressed in a panda T-shirt. Her short skirt revealed a pair of slender, shapely legs in white stockings, captivating to certain mature men.
Clutching a selfie stick, her slightly chubby cheeks and playful fangs emerged as she smiled, the epitome of cuteness.
On her phone, the live broadcast displayed rapid-fire comments scrolling across the screen.
"Hui Mengmeng is so cute and talented, Mommy, I'm in love again!!!"
"Shocking! A well-known broadcaster on Fish-Time TV scandalously titillates viewers live!"
"With such a long line, it'll be at least a three to five-hour wait to dine!"
The girl nodded, a flicker of concern in her eyes.
She was Gray Rabbit, an internet personality with a following of thirty to fifty thousand fans. As a notable small streamer, she was currently running a series titled "Counterfeit Internet Fame Shop," providing comprehensive reviews of well-known restaurants to guard against deceptive promotions. Her approval ratings were impressively high.
Her current target was The Alley, which had skyrocketed to fame two months prior, ranking second on the food and music charts. Unfortunately, due to a logistical oversight, she hadn't secured a spot in advance.
Live streaming thrived on engaging content, and new viewers weren't inclined to wait for hours. Without something to captivate them, her stream's popularity was at risk of plummeting...
"Hey there, gorgeous! Why not join our challenge over there? Win or lose, you'll snag a discount!"
The server, noticing the live broadcast, made a point to guide Gray Rabbit to the action.
Gray Rabbit glanced over and spotted a towering two-meter-tall machine nearby, topped with a display screen. In the center was an oversized red button, flanked by the posted challenge rules.
"The Ten-Second Challenge: Press the red button to start the timer, press it again to stop. Hit exactly ten seconds, and you've nailed the challenge."
You get three shots at it. Even if you miss the mark, there's a prize. An error within one second scores you a 10% discount, and within 0.1 second, a hefty 20% off...
The closer you are, the bigger the discount. And if you're spot-on at ten seconds, you'll be today's lucky star, with priority seating and a meal on the house!
Now that's entertainment!
Gray Rabbit clenched her fists, her tiny fangs peeking out in fierce determination. The chat was flooded with messages: "Clumsy Paws Rabbit has logged on, brace for low-skill gameplay!"
Gray Rabbit's gaming prowess was, to put it mildly, less than stellar. Her occasional game streams were filled with botched moves and misfired skills, earning her the nickname Clumsy Paws Rabbit. Her comical defeats were compiled by her water friends into highlight reels, racking up a fair share of views on Bilibili.
"Guys, it's time to show off some real skills!"
Three minutes later, Gray Rabbit wrapped up her challenge, unfazed by the barrage of mocking comments on her feed, her expression one of unshaken candor.
"Getting a meal comped is a pipe dream; a discount is the only way to get by. See that queue? If it were that easy, why would anyone bother waiting?"
After three attempts, her best was 9.1 seconds, with the rest over two seconds off the mark. Gray Rabbit walked away with just a consolation prize.
"This Ten-Second Challenge might seem like a test of dexterity and reflexes, but really, it's all down to luck. See those six digits after the decimal? I doubt the machine itself can be that precise!"
On the surface, the store set up a game challenge, but in reality, it was a disguised discount allowing most people to snag a 10% off deal. However, I'm willing to bet my integrity—absolutely no one will win the grand prize. This touches on a theory from a Spanish economist named Xabi...
Gray Rabbit was about to launch into a lively monologue when suddenly, the chat was flooded with messages.
"Host, you dropped your chastity!"
Realizing something, she spun around to see a man in a gray short-sleeved shirt standing by the machine, with a bright red score glaring from the display.
10.000000!
Was the challenge actually a success?
Just a moment ago, she was confidently claiming it was impossible for anyone to complete the challenge, and the next, she was metaphorically slapped in the face by reality. The world's twists and turns were truly unpredictable!
Gray Rabbit took a moment to assess the man.
He appeared to be in his late twenties, dressed simply, with short hair and a somewhat square face. He wasn't particularly handsome, but there was a harmonious charm about him that was quite pleasing. Standing there alone, he wore a mild smile that made him look a bit simple...
Out of nowhere, a term popped into Gray Rabbit's mind.
Nice guy.
She couldn't sense any of the edginess typically found in young people about him. His demeanor and appearance fit the bill for a nice guy to a tee!
His aura wasn't striking, but it was undeniably comforting.
She snapped back to the present, her eyes darting to the chat's rhythm, seemingly forgetting all about the earlier talk of chastity.
"See, I was right. This challenge is all about luck. Clearly, today's Lady Luck is standing with that gentleman over there."
"Ding—Challenge successful!"
No sooner had she spoken than the machine signaled another victory. It seemed the man, perhaps out of boredom, had decided to take on the challenge once more.
She found herself at a loss for words, the chat fluttering like snowflakes, and she had no desire to respond.
Once could be luck, but what about twice?
Or even three times?
As if he hadn't made a big enough impression, the man hit the ten-second mark yet again. At that moment, not just Gray Rabbit, but everyone in the store and the tens of thousands watching the live stream were dumbfounded.
Three attempts, ten seconds each time—was this guy using some sort of trick?
To achieve this feat, one would need more than just quick reflexes; precise timing, spatial awareness, and flawless control over one's body were all essential!
Through the live stream, tens of thousands of viewers witnessed the unfolding scene, and the tide of comments swiftly turned.
"A true man emerges in ten seconds. Chengzhou's Zhang Dezhi is here to shout out to you!"
"Let's forget about exposing fake internet-famous eateries today. How about we switch to putting the female live streamer in her place?"
The live broadcast's viewership surged to 70,000 in a flash. Someone sent a rocket emoji and commented.
"Big thanks to Mr. Ten Seconds for the chastity perks!"
"What are you waiting for? Go after him!"
The man had already been led into the restaurant by the staff. In her earpiece, Gray Rabbit heard her agent's urgent call and immediately grasped the situation.
It seemed the man was dining solo, and in the secluded alley, each table seated at least two. If she could share a table with him, she could seamlessly complete her restaurant review. Plus, with the audience's growing curiosity about Mr. Ten Seconds, the live broadcast was set to be a sensation...
In essence, this man was a surefire hit for ratings!
