Chapter Fifty-Four: Seeds of Freedom

Selina did not take Lin Ke to the office. Instead, she sat down on a sofa in the streamer lounge and handed Lin Ke a slim booklet.

The prestigious private school Inphiston had launched an elite educational travel program. Its theme was “Exploring the Natural Wonders and Humanistic Wisdom of Northern Europe, Inspiring Sustainable Development and Innovative Thinking.” Put simply, it was a fifteen-day round-trip journey through Europe.

The program was open to students in the middle and upper grades throughout the elementary division, and the school expected to organize an elite study tour of sixty students. Teachers would lead the groups at a ratio of one teacher to every four students, providing support throughout the entire trip and communicating exclusively in English.

They would visit the fjords of Norway, hike through the forests of Oslo, tour the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, learn about the history and campus culture of the University of Helsinki, and more.

The entire itinerary would take place in Northern Europe. Its primary purpose was to cultivate the students’ independence while immersing them in history and culture.

Inphiston wanted to raise its profile, so it had approached Cocoon Breakers, hoping to use the second-stage live-streaming segment of the company’s “Butterflies Rising” competition to generate publicity for its study tour.

“Because tonight’s recap livestream for the first stage performed so well, Inphiston finally confirmed the partnership. I came to find you at once.”

Lin Ke picked up the study tour prospectus. It was a slim, hardbound volume with full-color printing on both sides, glossy and richly illustrated like a high-end pictorial. Every attraction on the itinerary was introduced in careful detail, along with its history, culture, customs, and scenic beauty.

It also listed the cultural enrichment the students would gain from visiting each site, as well as the study tour’s related plans.

“This is a very rare opportunity. Inphiston’s sixty students will be divided into five groups, accompanied throughout the trip by fifteen residential teachers and five group leaders.

“The company’s plan is to send five of our streamers along for the entire journey. Whenever the school needs it, they will go live.

“It won’t be limited to livestreaming. The footage will later be edited into short travel vlogs, dynamic video diaries, and even promotional films.

“There’s a very good chance that outdoor brands will be attracted to sponsor advertisements. The eventual revenue could be substantial.”

Cocoon Breakers’ five streamers would not simply be assigned one to each group. Instead, the company would select people with different strengths according to the project’s needs.

“The company has already decided to send K, one of our professional camera operators, and Zero, the head of the content department. For the remaining three positions, the company has chosen you, Sun Yali, and Lu Xiaotong.”

As a martial-arts streamer, Lu Xiaotong was highly skilled, and she was also cheerful and loyal. In an unfamiliar environment like Europe, having Lu Xiaotong accompany the students as a streamer—and as a rare female martial-arts streamer—would give their parents a distinct sense of security and trust.

Sun Yali was a streamer in the traditional heritage category and possessed a gentler, more cultured air. Her features were soft, her manner of speaking sweet and mild, and she found it easier to connect with children. She could also speak a little English and had some understanding of European culture, so she would not appear completely out of her depth.

Lin Ke grew even more nervous.

“But I… my English really isn’t very good.”

When she had been in university, Lin Ke had once considered taking the national English proficiency exams. But the eligibility at her school had been extremely limited: during their first year, only the top ten students in the entire grade were allowed to sit for the exams.

That first year, Lin Ke had not even been qualified to prepare for them. By her second year, the little English she had learned in high school had long since been wiped clean, and passing the exam had become even more impossible.

Selina smiled and reassured her. “It’s all right. You’re not going as a foreign-language teacher. Your main responsibility will still be livestreaming, and someone will arrange the content and schedule in advance.

“All you need to do is interact with the students during the broadcasts. The Cocoon Breakers content department will provide you with support at any time, ensuring that you have enough material for the next stage.

“Don’t worry. As an elite seed contestant, you’ll receive all the support you need in this regard. Opportunities to go abroad are extremely rare. General Manager Wang personally selected your name and has complete confidence in you.”

Lin Ke relaxed slightly.

As long as the content department remained behind her, she could continue playing the role of an actor.

“And what about expenses?” Lin Ke asked tentatively.

“Our company has fixed regulations regarding travel allowances. Since you’ll be visiting European countries, your current rank entitles you to three hundred and fifty yuan per day. The trip will last fifteen days, including the flights, and every day will count.”

Three hundred and fifty yuan?

Lin Ke thought it over. If she traveled around Europe for fifteen days at only three hundred and fifty yuan a day, the total would come to just over five thousand yuan. It seemed reasonably acceptable.

It was Europe, after all—the other side of the world. For someone who had never left the country, it was impossible for Lin Ke not to be tempted.

Still, years of financial hardship had made her extremely cautious. “Does that include food and accommodation?”

Selina did not take offense at Lin Ke’s penny-pinching. “The school will provide both food and lodging. Our people will mainly be there to assist them. So if you have any requests, you can raise them with Inphiston.

“And don’t think it’s too little. You’re still in the early stages of your rise, after all. The company is giving you this livestreaming opportunity so that you can gain experience and develop your abilities.”

Too little?

Lin Ke hesitated. “They’re paying for me to travel, and someone still thinks the payment is too little?”

Selina actually froze for a moment.

“No, that’s not what I meant. The three hundred and fifty yuan a day is a travel allowance from the company. It’s called a per diem. You don’t need to pay anything yourself. Of course, you will need to apply for your own passport.”

“A travel allowance—from the company?”

“That’s right.”

Lin Ke suddenly felt rather foolish.

The company was giving her an opportunity, buying her plane tickets and booking her hotel, feeding her, sending her on a trip to Europe—and then giving her a daily travel allowance as well?

What kind of wonderful arrangement was this?

Selina smiled. “This is still work, after all, and it’s an opportunity the company is giving you. You should understand that General Manager Wang’s expectations of you are different from those he has of everyone else.

“From the very first stage, the company has spared no effort in investing in you. This time, too, we hope you’ll deliver results to match.”

Lin Ke nodded quickly. “Yes, I understand. Thank you, Director. I’ll do my very best.”

With the task settled, Selina finally relaxed. “Good. Go back and pack your things. Inphiston is still accepting registrations, and the company is still working out the details. Once the arrangements are finalized, someone will contact you.”

…

The night was deep and still.

Wang Tianxia looked at the “OK” gesture Selina had sent him on his phone and finally let himself relax.

His circumvention software was still connected. He opened Telegram and sent a message.

“Everything is ready. The candidate is in place.”

A message came back almost immediately.

“Excellent. External exchanges are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the advanced culture of the West. In your Chinese expression, it’s called brainwashing the younger generation.”

Wang Tianxia rejected the description.

“It should be called planting the seeds of true freedom in young children.”

“Haha!”

The other party sent back a laughing emoji.

When doing business with intelligent people, they would always help conceal everything for you.

“The initial payment has already arrived. The amount of the final payment will depend on the scale of your influence.”

Wang Tianxia typed rapidly on the screen.

“Don’t worry. Cocoon Breakers’ videos will eventually be seen by everyone.”