Xiaoguizi's Livestream
"Outside the window, the night is dazzling with colors~"
Guinaifen hummed the tune occasionally.
Clearly, she had already been brainwashed by Sleepless Night!
While singing, she opened a music app, intending to add the song to her playlist.
But as soon as she opened it— The song was already being promoted on the homepage!
Guinaifen clicked on it and froze.
"Huh?"
"Did Yu Ling really register as a singer?!"
She checked the major music charts across the galaxy.
Despite being released just a few hours ago, Sleepless Night had already topped every single one!
"I knew this song would be popular, but I didn't expect it to explode like this!"
"Yu Ling, are you seriously this talented?!"
"A true all-rounder?!"
She opened the comments section for Sleepless Night:
[May this journey lead us to the stars!]
[First listen: Meh. Nth listen: …My brain is about to explode, it's too good!]
[Can't stop listening!]
[Honkai Star Rail Season 2 is coming soon!]
[Open the door, we've arrived in Penacony!]
[We Star Rail players are eating way too well!]
[You got infected by Sleepless Night? Do you know what happens to those who do? They become handsomer and their gacha luck skyrockets!]
The comments left Guinaifen slightly breathless.
"How is everyone so good with words?!"
"I can't even keep up with liking them all!"
...
The livestream chat exploded:
"Holy crap! The internet's intensity today is off the charts!"
"This morning, I heard the Duke Inferno died. In the afternoon, Yu Ling dropped Sleepless Night. By evening, it topped all the galaxy's music charts?"
"This is too dramatic! Even Aha would get smacked in the head!"
"Who even remembers the Duke of Inferno's death?"
"No one mourned the Duke's passing. What's coming next—Sleepless Night!"
"Duke Inferno: 6"
"The Duke be like: 'You really had to wait for me to die before celebrating, huh?'"
Guinaifen then logged onto a forum.
Sure enough, players were discussing Sleepless Night everywhere.
As she scrolled, she noticed some concerning posts:
[Penacony has completely banned Honkai: Star Rail? What the hell are these people hiding?!]
[Stop pretending the Family's Harmony is so perfect! The actual rulers won't even allow Star Rail to exist.]
[Who in their right mind would still vacation in Penacony now?]
[Currently at the Reverie Hotel, demanding a refund from the Family!]
[If they've pissed off the entire universe's players, this Harmony Festival is doomed.]
"Wait, Penacony actually banned Star Rail content? I thought it was just a rumor!"
Guinaifen looked puzzled.
"Does the Family really have something shady going on?"
"Well, I'm definitely siding with Yu Ling!"
"Any viewers in Penacony right now? What's the situation over there?"
A few viewers replied:
"Hahaha, it's absolute chaos here!"
"Earlier, Black Swan showed up in the hotel lobby and set up a divination booth!"
"No way! Is it too late for me to head to Penacony now?"
"She disappeared after Yu Ling revealed Aeons but the hotel cameras caught it all!"
"Psst—Topaz and Aventurine are in the next room negotiating with the Family."
"Go eavesdrop! Leaks forum, let's go!"
"Tried that. Got kicked out by IPC security."
"I'm in the lobby. The Family's management is crumbling! Tourists are demanding refunds if they can't play Star Rail in the Dreamscape."
Guinaifen was stunned.
"Huh?!"
"It's really that wild over there?"
"I kinda wanna see it for myself now!"
"Let me book a ticket to Penacony!"
She immediately opened an app to reserve a trip.
"Xiaoguizi's coming too?"
"Finally meeting the streamer in person?"
"Welcome!!"
"If you make it here…"
Suddenly—The Penacony viewers in chat all went silent at once.
Guinaifen waited half a minute, but no one responded.
"What the…? You guys okay?"
Another half-minute later, one finally replied: "DOCTOR RATIO IS HERE!!"
The chat erupted:
"WHAT?!"
"NO WAY!!!"
"PAPA RATIO?!"
"I'm heading to Penacony RIGHT NOW!"
"Get me an autograph, please!"
"Sneak a pic of Professor Ratio!!"
But after that, the Penacony viewers went silent again.
For several minutes, no one responded.
Everyone in the livestream, including Guinaifen, was burning with curiosity—
What the hell is happening at the Reverie Hotel right now?!
They wished they could teleport through the internet to witness it firsthand.
---
Reverie Hotel, Lobby
IPC security held back the excited players, escorting Dr. Ratio to the private room where Aventurine and Topaz were meeting with Family representatives.
The reception room was luxurious and spacious.
Aside from the IPC's Aventurine and Topaz, several Family members were present—though they looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.
Clearly, the negotiations had already been tense.
And Dr. Ratio's arrival was the spark that ignited the powder keg.
Without even sitting down, Ratio glanced at the Family members and said:
"Let me be blunt—the Family's ban on Honkai: Star Rail is nothing short of idiocy."
"I expected Sunday, the Oak Family's head, to at least show up and explain. Instead, they sent you lot as sacrificial pawns."
The Family members' expressions darkened.
Just like in the game, Dr. Ratio's words were brutally direct!
"We're still high-ranking members of other Families! Show some respect!" one of them retorted.
Ratio raised a hand to cut them off.
"There's no point talking to you. Either bring Sunday here, or we'll go find him ourselves."
Aventurine smirked, giving Ratio an approving look.
Ratio ignored him.
Meanwhile, Topaz looked just as confident.
The IPC's goal was to find a pretext to reclaim Penacony—and the Family had handed them the perfect excuse on a silver platter.
The Family members, on the other hand, were sweating bullets.
Finally, one cracked.
"...Fine. I'll contact Mr. Sunday."
---
Penacony, Golden Hour
The Dreamscape was nearly empty.
This was supposed to be the busiest time—the Harmony Festival's preparation period.
But after the Family banned Star Rail, tourists either retreated to their rooms or joined the protests in the lobby.
The Family's reputation was in freefall.
Meanwhile, at the Oti Mall—A group of Dreamweavers, despite working for the Family, were also Star Rail players.
Furious at the ban, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
"Even if we lose our jobs, Star Rail will appear in the Golden Hour!"
"Brothers, after this, post the pics on the forums!"
"Players of the world, unite!"
"Fight the Family's injustice!"
With sheer determination, they bypassed part of the Family's information blockade.
Then, they projected Sleepless Night onto every screen in Oti Mall.
For a moment, all ads and broadcasts froze. Then—a familiar whistle echoed through the Golden Hour.
Every tourist stopped in their tracks.
"What was that?!"
"HOLY SHIT, IT'S SLEEPLESS NIGHT!"
"Didn't the Family ban Star Rail?!"
"Am I hallucinating?!"
"No, it's real! Every screen in Oti Mall is playing it!"
"The Dreamweaver players did it?!"
"HELL YEAH! You guys are legends!"
"You, my friends, are the real heroes!"
"Family leaders, care to comment?!"
"Oti Mall has been liberated by the players!"
"This is a victory for Star Rail gamers!"
"Now THIS is a real Sleepless Night!"
To be continued…