Chapter 157: Zhiyun’s Visit
Yu Linna continued working in her room, lost in her art, her days a monotonous cycle of drawing, instant noodles, and plain water. To finish the illustrations quickly, she sacrificed sleep, initially six hours, then gradually less, until she was only sleeping three hours a day, all her waking hours dedicated to drawing.
She had never worked so intensely on illustrations before, though she had spent entire days drawing in the past, a hobby abandoned due to the demands of survival. Now, she had been working non-stop for almost a week.
She planned to prepare four or five black and white illustrations for the first volume, a small number for a newcomer, but time was limited. And if these were approved, she would have to create color illustrations, an equally time-consuming task.
Yu Linna took a sip of her coffee and continued working, her life a simple, repetitive cycle.
She had learned to draw from an elderly man in one of her foster families. Seeing her talent, he had taught her the basics for a month. After moving to another family, she continued practicing on her own, borrowing books, honing her skills, later learning from other artists in subsequent foster homes.
Though lacking formal training, her skills were on par with professionals. She could have pursued art school, but she hadn’t.
Her talent, once dormant, now blossomed, her newfound direction allowing her abilities to flourish.
She was no less talented than Nangong Ying, Ye Zhiyun, or Fang Jiangning; her potential had simply been untapped. Now, she was finally able to unleash her full potential.
“Phew…”
Finishing the fourth illustration, Yu Linna felt a wave of exhaustion. She finished her cold coffee, rubbing her neck, and glanced at the clock: 3 AM. She had to sleep. She checked the deadline: one day left. She had to finish at least one more illustration. She lay down, her body heavy with fatigue…
I’ll finish it tomorrow…
The next day, Ye Zhiyun came to visit. Since Yu Linna moved out, she had returned to her solitary life. Having decided to take a break from work, she thought she would check on Yu Linna.
She found her apartment, ringing the doorbell, a gift in hand, a care package of expensive imported snacks sent by her father, something she knew Yu Linna would love.
The door opened, revealing Yu Linna, dressed in thin layers, a jacket draped over her shoulders, her face pale, dark circles prominent under her eyes, her appearance a testament to sleep deprivation.
“Zhiyun? What are you doing here? Come in.”
Seeing Ye Zhiyun, Yu Linna’s eyes lit up, a genuine smile gracing her face. Ye Zhiyun held a special place in her heart, the one who had rescued her from Chenghe, a kindness she would never forget.
“Nana… what happened? You’ve been pulling all-nighters again? Why are you doing this to yourself?”
Ye Zhiyun’s concern was evident, her gaze fixed on Yu Linna’s frail appearance, the telltale signs of exhaustion all too familiar from her own workaholic lifestyle.
“I’m rushing to meet a deadline. It’s a bit hectic, but don’t worry, I’ll take a break after this and focus on studying for the gaokao.”
“You’re lying. Your manuscript is finished, ready for publication. Even if you’re writing a third book, you don’t have to push yourself this hard.”
“…I’m working on the illustrations. The illustrator I was working with… well, I kind of scared him off. I couldn’t find another one, so I decided to do them myself.”
She led Ye Zhiyun to her room, explaining the situation. Ye Zhiyun, after examining the four finished illustrations and the one in progress, looked at Yu Linna with a strange expression.
“Are you a monster?”
“Why would you say that…?”
“Four finished illustrations in less than a week, and you’ve never done this before? And the quality… it’s quite good, commercially viable. Though not as… eye-catching… as those fanservice-laden illustrations, they’re… exquisite.”
Though not without flaws, the illustrations were indeed beautifully detailed, the characters’ faces aesthetically pleasing, complementing the story, appealing to a wider audience, including female readers, not just catering to male fantasies.
The male protagonist, Ye Han, though described in the novel as average-looking, was depicted as a handsome, almost princely figure, his muscular physique clearly designed to appeal to female readers.
“Nana, I dare say no one at Wenqing can replicate your style.”
Her style was unique, a refreshing contrast to the current industry trend of overly sexualized characters designed to appeal to a male audience, emphasizing exaggerated proportions and revealing outfits.
Wenqing had initially been established to differentiate itself from Qidian, offering a unique style, including illustrations, a feature Qidian lacked, their novels typically having only character designs and cover art, with detailed illustrations appearing only in manga adaptations.
And yet, Wenqing, with its focus on both illustrations and story, had been unable to compete with Qidian.
“I’ve been working non-stop. I hope they’re good enough. I want my novel to be published.”
Yu Linna took a sip of her freshly brewed coffee.
“Wait, what are you drinking? Black coffee? And look at all these empty coffee packets in the trash! How much coffee have you been drinking?”
“Not much, just four or five cups a day.”
“You’re insane! That much coffee is bad for your health!”
Ye Zhiyun was genuinely angry. This girl was destroying her health; there would be consequences later. Taking advantage of her youth… it was foolish.
“But I’m sleepy…”
“Then sleep!”
“I don’t have time! I have to finish these illustrations! The deadline is today!”
This girl!
Ye Zhiyun wanted to shake her.
Why was she so reckless with her health? She hadn’t been like this when she lived with her! She regretted letting her become a novelist!
“Draw now. I’ll watch you. Once you’re done, submit your work and go to sleep.”
“But…”
“Hmm?”
Ye Zhiyun glared at her.
“Fine…”
Why was her gaze so intimidating? The pressure was immense!
Yu Linna, unable to defy her, obeyed, not even offering her tea or accepting her gift, immediately picking up her drawing tablet and starting to work.
The line art was done; all that remained was the finishing touches. She would be done soon, able to submit her work today. Ye Zhiyun’s presence, however, added an unexpected layer of pressure.
Ye Zhiyun sat there, watching her draw, not moving, not speaking, her gaze fixed on the golden-haired girl. It was the first time she had watched someone work so intently, she realized.
The girl, lost in her art, was beautiful, a different kind of beauty from when she lived with her, a focused, dedicated artist. Ye Zhiyun, mesmerized, lost track of time.
Around noon, Yu Linna finally finished the last illustration, the climax of the story, the poignant ending, the male protagonist in tears. Satisfied with her work, she saved the file, then compressed all five illustrations into a single folder.
“You’re done?”
“Yes.”
Yu Linna stretched, her body stiff from long hours of work, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. She could finally rest.
“Submit your work now.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
Though she complained, she obediently sent the files to Chen Xi.
“Now, go to sleep!”
“Zhiyun…”
“You can’t keep pushing yourself like this! You’ve been pulling all-nighters for a week! Go to bed!”
“But… shouldn’t we eat first? It’s lunchtime.”
She pointed at the clock: 12:13 PM.
“You haven’t eaten either. Stay for lunch. I have some leftovers in the fridge. It’s been a while since you’ve had my cooking. How about a taste of home?”
“…You’re cooking for me?”
“Of course. Anytime. Now, sit down. I don’t have a TV, so play on your phone while I cook.”
Yu Linna smiled, heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch. She had bought a small refrigerator recently, storing leftovers from a week ago, a wise decision. Though the meat and vegetables weren’t fresh, they were good enough for a simple meal.
Ye Zhiyun, still stunned, wondered if she was dreaming. She would be eating Yu Linna’s cooking again?
She recalled the golden-haired girl who used to live with her, always preparing meals, especially dinner, a warm, comforting welcome after a long day at work. It had felt like a real home.
