Chapter 196: The Struggling Students
Though Yu Linna had agreed to go to Hong Kong with Huo Ningning, she had no intention of getting closer to her, simply fulfilling a sense of obligation for the Huo family’s past kindness. But Huo Ningning, undeterred, persisted.
The gaokao had ended, but for most students, the summer break hadn’t yet begun, their minds still consumed by the looming final exams.
Zhao Yuyan, the queen of procrastination, having finally finished two-thirds of The Rich Man’s Game manuscript, had to return to school for her own final exams. Though a notorious slacker, frequently skipping classes, she still had to pass her exams to avoid retakes.
Her roommates, seeing her return, were shocked, her presence a rare sight.
“Yuyan, you’re finally back! We were planning to go for skewers this weekend. We were just about to call you!” one of her roommates, a cheerful, outspoken girl, exclaimed, patting her on the shoulder.
“Haha… good timing.”
“Yuyan, you’ve been gone for so long! Don’t you think you should… treat us?”
“Sure, my treat, my treat.”
“Now you’re talking like a real author.”
Another roommate, a petite girl with short hair, nodded in approval.
Zhao Yuyan, a sophomore at Guangnan University, though often slacking off, was quite popular, her status as a professional novelist and her stunning beauty making her a campus celebrity, a “Goddess of Otaku,” a title she disliked but couldn’t deny, her popularity among male readers undeniable.
Her roommates often capitalized on her fame, selling her candid photos to other students, a source of constant annoyance for Zhao Yuyan, though they were mostly harmless pictures of her in class or at the cafeteria.
“Big author, the final exams are coming up. Have you prepared for your impending doom?”
“Sisters, I beg you! Please help me!”
“You always do this, procrastinating until the last minute. But it’s not the first time. Come on, we’ll help you cram everything in this week. Whether you pass or not… it’s up to you.”
“Thank you, Masters!”
Guangnan University, on a sunny afternoon, was abuzz with students preparing for their final exams. With the gaokao over, the university was also preparing for the next academic year’s admissions, the topic a frequent discussion on the school forums.
“I hope we get more cute junior girls this year.”
“You guys are so unambitious! I hope we can recruit Shion-sensei!”
“Whoa, that would be amazing!”
“I agree!”
“Wow, imagine! If Shion-sensei becomes a freshman, we’ll have two professional authors at our school! The Goddess of Otaku and the new rising star! So exciting!”
“Shion-sensei could also be a girl.”
“Don’t get your hopes up! Someone who writes such depressing stories… has to be a ruthless man!”
The forum was filled with talent, their insightful deductions surprisingly accurate. If Yu Linna saw these comments, she would probably withdraw her application immediately.
The “Demand Updates or Send Razor Blades” QQ group was also buzzing with activity, the fans, still unable to find Shion’s contact information, their desire to connect with their idol a source of constant frustration. Other authors pandered to their fans, yet Shion remained mysterious, no group chat, no social media updates, no interaction whatsoever. Such a reclusive author… how could they possibly survive?!
The fans loved and hated her, their frustration palpable.
◆ Misty Rain: Hello everyone! I’m back! Just finished my exams, went on a trip with my parents, and signed up for driving lessons! I haven’t been online in a while!
◆ Chu Hang: Misty Rain! You’re finally back! Did you hear? Ballad of the Enchantress, Volume Two, is coming out next month!
◆ Misty Rain: Yes, I know! I’m planning to camp out at the bookstore! Ahhh, I wish it were July 1st already!
◆ Kaka Camel: Hmph, I would never read such a terrible novel… more than ten times.
◆ Tu Zi: Sigh, if only Shion-sensei would join our group.
◆ Misty Rain: I wish! But I can’t find her contact information anywhere! She’s so mysterious! Damn it! I curse her to be locked in her dorm room, writing non-stop, after she gets into university!
◆ Battle Mage Bone Dragon: Speaking of which, Shion-sensei has finished the gaokao, but she hasn’t posted anything on Weibo about her results.
◆ Misty Rain: I finished too! I hope Shion-sensei and I get into the same university!
◆ Supreme Treasure: That’s impossible, Misty Rain. Don’t get your hopes up.
After chatting with her friends for a while, the girl put down her phone, stretching. With her delicate features, her elegant appearance, her airy bangs, and her oval face, her over-the-knee socks a source of endless fascination for otaku, her charming smile… she was truly captivating.
Misty Rain, aka Xiao Yanhan, a recent high school graduate, was the only female admin of the “Demand Updates or Send Razor Blades” QQ group, Shion’s number one female fan. She loved Ballad of the Enchantress, and to support Shion, she had camped out at the bookstore at 5 AM to buy Zixuan and the Paper Airplane, crying her eyes out after reading it, becoming a die-hard fan.
Her biggest dream was to meet Shion in person.
But Shion remained elusive, no photos, her gender unknown, her Weibo account only updated for promotional purposes, no personal information whatsoever, a source of constant disappointment for her fans. With two successful novels, Shion had achieved a level of fame comparable to Air, even surpassing Qidian’s newcomer in a head-to-head battle, a victory for Wenqing.
Her novels, unconventional, exploring themes of love, family, and warmth, with a touch of angst, had found a dedicated audience, her success based on the quality of her writing, not just fanservice.
“Xiaoyan, didn’t you say you were going to sign up for driving lessons? Aren’t you going?”
“I’m going, I’m going! Why are you in such a hurry? I’ll definitely get my license before school starts! You’ll see me driving you around soon!”
Xiao Yanhan put away her phone, grabbed a box of Pocky, and left.
This summer would be a meaningful one. She had already decided on a university; all she had to do was wait for her results, then submit her application, and then… get her driver’s license.
Meanwhile, Yu Linna, having agreed to go on a trip with Huo Ningning, was packing her bags, including her laptop, planning to write in the evenings. She had already finished a third of Zixuan and the Paper Airplane, Volume Two, hoping to publish it in August, a steady stream of releases crucial for maintaining her popularity.
Wenqing usually published novels every two or three months, with monthly releases reserved for short stories, a different model from Qidian, which had transitioned from online novels to physical publications. But Yu Linna didn’t care about the usual conventions; she just wanted to write, to share her stories.
Before leaving, she received a call from Fang Jiangning.
“So, you’re going on a trip with Ningning? That’s great! I wanted to go with you.”
“When did you find out about me and Huo Ningning?”
“Ningning asked me a while ago to help you two… reconnect. Though I didn’t really do much.”
Huo Ningning had indeed been persistent, her constant attempts to get closer to Yu Linna almost… desperate. Was this what they called a simp?
No, wait, she wasn’t a simp, not a golden-haired loser! She wasn’t a dog!
But… wasn’t Huo Ningning the one doing the simping?
“Sigh…”
Yu Linna felt a headache coming on. Why was Huo Ningning so… persistent?
“Linna, I think… you two were so close as kids. And you were so young. Why can’t you just forgive her?”
“When did I say I wouldn’t forgive her?”
“Then why are you so cold to her?”
“…”
“Is it because of… Nangong Ying?”
“…”
The mention of her name always made Yu Linna fall silent.
After so long, her anger and pain towards Nangong Ying had faded, replaced by a quiet indifference. She no longer had any expectations, no longer harbored any resentment, but… there was still a sense of… something.
After all, she had been her friend. To have no feelings at all… it was impossible.
“Jiangning,” she said. “This is my personal business.”
She didn’t want anyone else involved.
“Fine, I won’t say anything else. By the way, is Zhiyun free this summer? You, me, and Wenqian… let’s go to the summer anime convention!”
“Sure, no problem. I still owe her a cosplay.”
“Great! I’ll livestream it! You don’t mind, do you?”
“…Fine, no problem.”
Yu Linna agreed, then packed her bags and headed to the bus station, her trip to Hong Kong finally beginning. Though not far, it was still a new experience, a chance to visit the “Pearl of the Orient,” a place she had never been.
Huo Ningning was waiting for her at home, her worried expression instantly replaced by a smile upon seeing Yu Linna.
This girl… still the same, an introverted girl with a hidden fire. Yu Linna looked at her, a hint of disdain in her eyes.
Their trip began.
