ABT ## Chapter 0097: The Fundraiser Ends

The energetic Pikachu immediately drew everyone's attention. Its chubby body and short limbs seriously performing calisthenics made for a hilarious sight. After completing a set, it even walked up to the crowd with a violin case, arrogantly indicating that they should pay up. This made people feel an irresistible urge to laugh and perhaps smack it a little.

However, Pikachu's antics did alleviate some of the pressure on Zhou Qingyu. Watching Pikachu collect "admission fees" from the crowd before continuing its exaggerated stretches, she felt a mix of amusement and relief.

Pikachu seemed to sense her emotional shift, turning to her with a gesture to hype up the atmosphere. Zhou Qingyu smiled slightly, adjusted herself, and began to play her violin.

The piece she chose was "Cry Me a River," a simple and somewhat plain song she loved. The first time she heard it, she was captivated by its serene melody. Since then, she had added her own small modifications, incorporating two slightly more dynamic sections. In the early autumn evening, with the rustling birch trees, the notes flowing from her fingers created a unique ambiance. Alone, it would have been a scene to captivate any artistic soul. But with Pikachu's interference, it added an odd twist.

That night, a video began circulating on Weibo titled "Gongqing Forest Park, Beautiful Violinist, Birch Grove, and Pikachu."

"Autumn Park: Pikachu and the Violin, a Perfect Match."

The video quickly caught the attention of netizens, especially those from Puhai City. The hottest topics on Weibo often involved celebrities, beauty, or gossip. This video had it all—beauty, talent, and the adorable Pikachu, with an unexpected twist.

The masked violinist's graceful figure added an air of mystery, sparking curiosity.

At the video's end, a curious onlooker asked the girl if she would be back the next day. The girl gave a mysterious smile, nodded, and left with Pikachu.

The video spread rapidly, with the title changing to "Tomorrow, Let's Go See the Goddess and Beat Up Pikachu!"

Sharp-eyed netizens speculated that the violinist might be a celebrity participating in the ongoing charity fundraiser in Puhai City. The entertainment industry thrives on mystery and twists; the more elusive something is, the more it captures the public's attention.

Various speculation and prediction posts about the girl's identity surfaced. By around 9 PM, a Zhou Qingyu fan posted an analysis on Weibo. Using Zhou Qingyu's previous runway photos, they compared her height, measurements, and other physical characteristics with those of the girl in the video. The results showed a 70% match.

The internet exploded.

"OMG! I was there! If I had known it was Qingyu Goddess, I would have asked for a handshake and a photo!"

"Regrets! My one chance to meet the goddess and I missed it!"

"Tomorrow! Let's go to the forest park to see the goddess!"

"You guys, Zhou Qingyu is fundraising for charity. Tomorrow, let's support the cause!"

"The person above, I respect your righteous nonsense. Are you really not going for the goddess?"

"He's right, though. If the goddess is performing for charity, we must support her!"

"Tomorrow, let's take our credit cards to see the goddess."

In summary, the post went viral.

In a suite at the Jiadeli Hotel, Zhou Qingyu had already changed into her pajamas. While drying her hair, she watched the Weibo video featuring the clumsy Pikachu.

She had watched the video many times. Each time she saw that silly yet adorably domineering Pikachu, she couldn't help but smile.

On the other side, Li Fanyu threw the Pikachu costume onto the bed and collapsed. The day's physical activity was overwhelming: driving for over an hour in the morning and then performing calisthenics for over an hour in the afternoon. He was exhausted to the point where he felt like he might wet the bed.

Just as he was about to drift off, his phone buzzed with a message: "You did well today. Tomorrow at 4 PM, continue in front of the birch grove."

Li Fanyu groaned, feeling sore all over. The thought of having to act silly in front of people again the next day made him close his eyes in despair.

Before he could fully wallow in his misery, Maru called: "Kid, you did well helping Qingyu! Tomorrow there's an art exhibition in Huangpu, and my work is in it. Come over and help manage things."

Li Fanyu's phone fell onto his face with a thud. He sighed, feeling that his life was just too much to bear.

For four consecutive days, he felt like he had become a promoter in the entertainment industry. By day, he donned a suit to help Maru sell paintings through somewhat dubious means, and by night, he transformed into Pikachu to help Zhou Qingyu garner donations with his antics.

Things were going smoothly for Zhou Qingyu. She overcame her psychological barrier; while her violin playing was average, both fans and passersby were very supportive. When celebrities cross into different fields, you can't expect perfection. With the involvement of a reality show crew, more people generously donated: fifty or a hundred yuan, even one or two thousand. Supporting the goddess and getting on TV? Why not?

The only slight drawback was the bandit-like Pikachu. Whenever someone donated just five or ten yuan, Pikachu would put its hands on its hips and look disdainful, making people feel embarrassed to donate too little.

The next day, the crew brought a large donation box as the small violin case could no longer hold all the contributions.

By the end of the fundraiser, Zhou Qingyu had raised a total of 760,000 yuan. Compared to other celebrities, this amount was above average. Considering she was a model with a smaller fan base due to her international career, this result was quite impressive.

Maru, however, had a tougher time. He claimed his artwork merged abstract and impressionist styles, showcasing the world's indifference and lack of love. But Li Fanyu, staring at the portrait that resembled Quasimodo, couldn’t see any of that—only a horror movie cover.

Two days later, Maru's "masterpiece" was sold to a rich man for 500,000 yuan. Maru was thrilled, bragging to Li Fanyu about his recognized talent and the buyer's good taste. However, the buyer later approached Maru, saying he had an actress goddaughter and hoped she could get a role in a film. 

Halfway through his boasting, Maru was embarrassed. He promptly took the painting back and refunded the money. Eventually, a friend of Maru's saved the day by purchasing the controversial piece for 200,000 yuan. 

Everyone who visited that friend's home later claimed they never saw the painting. Whether it was stored away or Maru had actually funded the purchase himself, only the involved parties knew the truth.

After the fundraiser, Li Fanyu, Maru, and Zhou Qingyu had a small get-together before heading back to Tiancheng the next day. Old Zhang had called Li Fanyu, hesitantly informing him that there was a problem with the lab’s support funds and that Anning was out of money.


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