Chapter 21 - Story 63-66

【63.]

After updating this chapter, Xu Chi got up and went out of his room. Due to writing for too long, his neck and shoulders felt frozen. Turning on the light in the kitchen, he poured himself a glass of hot water. Suddenly, there was only the sound of pouring water in the empty apartment. Xu Chi moved his neck and then went back to his room in his flip-flops.

He saw the travelling photos posted by his parents on WeChat and gave a like to this post. Then he entered the chatting group for pushing him to update.

At 22:11:00.

Tingting: Oh My God! Shortie has updated the stories for the whole week! My dear writer is so cool! I’ll go read it first!

At 22:32:12.

Tingting: I’m dead.

Tangtang: When you open the window, do you see the cold raindrops? They are all my tears.

Tingting: @ Tangtang Dear friend, are you there?

Tangtang: Yes.

Tingting: Do you have one more second-hand coffin? Sell me one at a best price, please. I’d like to lie in it for a while and calm myself down.

Tangtang: Nope. I also need it.

Tingting: The new update is so heartbreaking.

Tangtang: But I really enjoy it hahaha.

Tingting: To be honest, we used to hope Shen Xing could be the top. But now, when Shen Xing finally decided to leave Zhou Jin, I began to sympathize with Zhou Jin.

Tangtang: So do I.

Tingting: Do you think whether we’re being bitchy?

Tangtang: I have no idea if you are. But I know I am not.

Tingting: Have you ever given up someone you’ve loved for a long time?

Tangtang: No.

Tingting: Isn’t love like this?

Tingting: What can I blame him for?

Tingting: The loved one doesn’t have to apologize.

Tangtang: But I can’t! I can’t do it! Okay?

Tingting: Can’t you learn how to do it?

Tangtang: How about you? Can you learn it?

Tingting: I can’t, either.

Tangtang: Now that you can’t do it, how come you ask me to do that? Tingting: What Shortie wrote is really good… The last conversation between Shen Xing and Zhou Jin made me weep… My heart ached for them… Crying…

Tangtang: It’s impossible for Shortie to be unpopular.

Tingting: It’s impossible for Shortie to be unpopular.

Tingting: Even if I’m blind, I could recognize that this story is written by Shortie!

Tangtang: Yep! I am Shortie’s die-hard fan!

Tingting: Come on! Shortie!

Xu Chi: Can you speak in a normal way?

Tingting: My dear writer, here you come! I need to be comforted. Crying.

Tangtang: My dear writer, here you come! I need to be comforted. Crying.

Xu Chi: [My condolence.jpg]

Tingting: My dear writer, did you see that a lot of readers are praising your writing? And your stories have been increasingly subscribed by readers. My dear Shortie is finally gonna make it big!

Xu Chi: I saw it. Why are you happier than me?

Tingting: I’m more than happy!! I even have the urge to force everyone to read your stories and then write an 800-word comment on it!!! By the way, all the comment should be good ones!

Xu Chi: …

Tingting: Before, Shortie has no interest on anything except writing stories. So I respect his choice. But now, since Shortie has already applied for ranking on the home page, of course I should help him to be popular as soon as possible. @ Tangtang Come on, do you have any ideas?

Tangtang: Well, I do have an idea. Give me ten yuan first. Then I will go pay for the advertisement fee.

Tingting: ?

Tingting: I can’t believe that you actually know an influencer on Weibo who would make an advertisement at such a low price.

Tangtang: I know Guinea Pig. I can tell him to give Shortie’s stories a plug.

Tingting: ?

Xu Chi: ?

Xu Chi: Actually… I also know Guinea Pig.

Tingting: ?

Tingting: Shortie, how do you know Guinea Pig? And Tangtang, how about you?

Xu Chi: Uh… I met him at the Anime Expo last time. Tangtang: Uh… I met him at the Anime Expo last time. Tingting: And then?

Xu Chi: Then I know him.

Tangtang: Then I know him.

Tingting: ?

Tingting: So do you mean that meeting Guinea Pig is equal to knowing him? If so, I also know Guinea Pig.

Xu Chi: No… I am serious!!! I do know him.

Tangtang: No… I am serious!!! I do know him.

Tingting: Shortie, I just looked through your profile on Weibo. I found you followed Guinea Pig, but he didn’t follow you.

Xu Chi: Listen!!!! We are friends in real life!!!

Tangtang: Listen!!!! We are friends in real life!!!

Tingting: Shortie, I know you really want to be popular. But what you said is unrealistic.

Xu Chi: …

Tangtang: …

Xu Chi: I don’t know how to explain to you.

Tangtang: I don’t know how to explain to you.

Tingting: @ Tangtang What are you doing?!

Tangtang: I am a repeater now!!!

Tingting: I didn’t expect that you want to get ten yuan from me, by hook or by crook!!! You liar! You make me sick!

Tangtang: Listen to me, please. I really know him!

Xu Chi: Listen to me, please. I really know him!

Tingting: Alright. Shortie said he and Guinea Pig were friends in real life. What about you?

Tangtang: I’m Guinea Pig.

Tingting: I doubt it.

Xu Chi: …

Xu Chi: I doubt it.

【64.]

Guinea Pig: Recently, there is a matter bothering me. I really want to recommend my idol to you. But I am afraid that he would be trolled once he became popular, which will make me distressed… Can you understand?

No.1 Fan: ?

No.2 Fan: Why do you think he would be popular as long as you recommend him to us?

Guinea Pig replied to No.2 Fan: I have confidence in my idol.

No.2 Fan replied to Guinea Pig: Alright. Anything you say.

No.3 Fan: I’m sorry, Piggy. I can’t get it.

No.4 Fan: Piggy, have you finished your 1-million-word side story of Pillow Talk?

No.5 Fan: Piggy, what about your story with bad ending?

No.6 Fan: No.5 Fan, why are you so cruel to Piggy?

No.5 Fan replied to No.6 Fan: I’m not being cruel… I’ve been waiting for this bad-ending story for so long. Recently, I am in a bad mood. I need it to vent out my sorrow.

No.6 Fan replied to No.5 Fan: [bye.jpg]

【65.]

Xu Chi: Who is your idol that mentioned on Weibo?

Tang Yanzhi: You.

Xu Chi: …

Xu Chi: But how come you recommend my story to your fans before you read it? What if it tarnishes your reputation?

Tang Yanzhi: Hahahha. What sort of reputation it is anyway? You are more important than these things.

Xu Chi: ?

Tang: Since you’re afraid I’ll be aggrieved, then tell me your pen name.

Xu Chi: What makes you think I’m afraid you’ll be aggrieved?

Tang Yanzhi: [I know it. jpg]

Xu Chi: …

Xu Chi: Short-Tailed Cat.

Tang Yanzhi: OK. I’m gonna leave.

Xu Chi: Where are you going?

Tang Yanzhi: To read your story.

Xu Chi: …

【66.]

At 03:46.

Tang Yanzhi: I need to be comforted.

Xu Chi: ?

Tang Yanzhi: Why are you still up? Are you still writing?

Xu Chi: Yep… I prefer writing at night… Because I have more inspiration…

Xu Chi: What about you?

Tang Yanzhi: I am still reading “Missing You”. [smile.jpg]

In fact, Tang Yanzhi really read “Missing You” again from the beginning. At the same time, he also found some problems.

Xu Chi: It’s time for bed.

Tang Yanzhi: How about you? Is it no loss or a great deal today?

Xu Chi: Uh… I guess there are more good comments than negative ones today.

Tang Yanzhi: Your writing is really great. And the plot and characterization are also well-written. But, as for the words, maybe you could try to write it simply. Just give me a minute. Let me think how to explain this to you exactly.

Xu Chi: Thanks.

Xu Chi: I know what you mean.

Tang Yanzhi: Some of the scenes are written very well, such as the psychological description of Shen Xing. But as for others, such as the daily life between Shen Xing and Zhou Jin, you have used a lot of flowery sentences. I know you want to create a warm atmosphere, but as a result, the complicated words make your readers confused.

Xu Chi: What you said is really a problem… In fact, I’ve been trying to correct it. This problem had arisen since I began to write. At that time, I always thought flowery sentences would make a good writing.

Tang Yanzhi: Now that you know it, it’s fine. Correct it step by step. Or you could revise your writing after finishing it.

Tang Yanzhi: Will you feel offended by my words? In fact, I have a lot of shortcomings in my writing. But now I am teaching a fish how to swim.

Xu Chi: No. The communication between two writers is as important as that between the writer and the reader.

Xu Chi: I’m so lucky to meet and know you.

Xu Chi: I’m really happy.

Tang Yanzhi: [kiss you.jpg]

Xu Chi: Then go to sleep. I’ll sleep too after finishing this paragraph. Tang Yanzhi: But there’s an important thing to do before I go to bed.

Xu Chi: What?

Tang Yanzhi: I need to be comforted. Crying.

Tang Yanzhi: [My heart hurts so much. jpg]

Xu Chi: All right. I hope I can help you feel better.

Xu Chi: [hug.jpg]

Xu Chi: So, would you go to bed now?

Tang Yanzhi: Yeah!

Tang Yanzhi: Good night.

Xu Chi: Good night.

Tang Yanzhi put down the phone. There was a small sound coming from the bed, and then it was dark in the room.

You know how much I like you.

You don’t know how much I like you.

Please grow up quickly and become outstanding and strong. So that I won’t be afraid that you would be affected by the negative voice from the outside world. By then I can tell my fans confidently that you are the writer who I have been fond of for a long time.