Chapter 192: Late-Night Snack
Around eight in the evening, Yu Linna, having already eaten dinner, was in her room, working on the illustrations for the second volume of Ballad of the Enchantress. Juggling both writing and illustrating was demanding, her work consuming most of her time, her schedule more grueling than most professional authors.
But the two jobs provided her with a substantial income, far exceeding that of a typical newcomer. And with the success of her novels, her net worth had grown to millions, though the initial ten million had already been spent.
Suddenly, a call from Ye Zhiyun interrupted her work.
“What’s up, Zhiyun?”
“Nothing, just wanted to grab a late-night snack.”
“Now?”
“Tonight, at eleven.”
“…”
What is she thinking?
A late-night snack? At this hour?
And why couldn’t they just meet during the day? She wanted to focus on her work, to finish the illustrations, to release her novel as soon as possible, to satisfy her eager readers.
“Zhiyun, I…”
“My treat. Don’t you like barbecue? I know a great place. You don’t want to go?”
“…”
Work or food? A serious dilemma.
Yu Linna sat on the floor, arms crossed, contemplating.
Human desire was a primal sin, difficult to overcome. So why bother? Happiness was more important.
“Fine. See you at eleven.”
She had succumbed to temptation.
And thinking about it, Ye Zhiyun had been so kind to her, even paying off her debt. She should accommodate her requests, a small favor in return for her generosity. And it was just a late-night snack; it wasn’t a big deal. She owed her.
Yes, she was definitely doing this out of gratitude, not because she wanted to eat.
Yu Linna returned to her work, but at 10:40 PM, she opened her wardrobe and began choosing her outfit. As a girl, she had never been particularly fashionable, initially due to poverty, now due to a lack of interest. And for a late-night outing, she didn’t see the need to dress up, simply throwing on a red tracksuit, tying her hair in a ponytail, and slipping on a pair of cheap canvas shoes.
When Ye Zhiyun arrived to pick her up, her initial excitement faded at the sight of Yu Linna’s attire.
“You couldn’t have dressed up a little?”
“What’s the point? It’s not like we’re going on a date.”
“You… you’re not very ladylike.”
Ye Zhiyun sighed.
But Yu Linna’s beauty transcended her frumpy attire; she looked stunning even in her tracksuit.
Ye Zhiyun, true to her word, took her to a delicious barbecue restaurant. Though they often had late-night meals together, this felt different, Ye Zhiyun’s usual composure replaced by a strange sense of… something.
“Zhiyun, why did you ask me out tonight?”
“I just wanted to eat something, so I called you.”
She wouldn’t admit she had seen her with Tang Yulong earlier that day, a pang of jealousy prompting this late-night invitation.
Yu Linna didn’t press the issue, simply following her to the restaurant, the city lights twinkling around them, the bustling streets a vibrant backdrop to their silent walk. Being with Yu Linna, walking this path, it felt… right, as if they could walk forever.
What was their relationship? Were they just friends?
Ye Zhiyun felt their connection was more than just friendship, a feeling she couldn’t quite define, a new experience for her.
Yu Linna had become increasingly important to her, a surprising development considering their initial hostility, a change that had occurred in just a year.
The barbecue restaurant, located in a quiet corner of the city center, wasn’t in a commercial district, but the aroma wafting from it was irresistible, making Yu Linna’s mouth water. She knew, just from the smell, that this place was good.
“Tu Zi, a table for two.”
Ye Zhiyun greeted the young man at the barbecue stand, their familiarity evident.
Tu Zi, in his early twenties, had a plain but friendly face, his muscular arms a testament to his work, his demeanor honest and hardworking, a good person.
“Miss Ye, welcome! It’s been a while! Planning to spend a lot tonight?”
He grinned, rubbing his hands together, his demeanor that of a humble shopkeeper.
“You’re in luck. I’m ordering a lot. Nana, order whatever you want. The owner may be ugly, but his barbecue is good.”
Ye Zhiyun gestured for Yu Linna to sit, handing her a menu. Yu Linna, without hesitation, marked off her desired items, her usual freeloading habits kicking in. She was used to Ye Zhiyun paying; she didn’t have to worry about the cost. Miss Ye was rich, after all.
“Miss Ye, is this your American friend? Does she speak Chinese?”
“Why, Tu Zi? Interested in her?”
“Why are you glaring at me? That’s not what I meant… I just think your friend is… pretty.”
Tu Zi chuckled nervously, quickly explaining himself.
What was wrong with this girl? She had never been so hostile before. He had just glanced at her friend, and her glare was like daggers, making him shiver.
“Hello, do you understand me?”
“I’m Chinese. Don’t speak to me in your broken English. I can barely understand it.”
“Holy shit! She actually speaks Chinese! I thought she was a foreigner!”
Ignoring the stall owner, Ye Zhiyun ordered her own food and handed the menu to Tu Zi.
While waiting for their food, Yu Linna scrolled through her phone, their silence comfortable, a familiar routine.
But Ye Zhiyun wished she would talk more, like when she lived with her, more docile, more obedient, though also more cautious, her demeanor always guarded, as if constantly on edge.
She didn’t like that Yu Linna, the one who always seemed like a guest in her own home.
“Nana, how have you been lately?”
“Nothing special, just working, writing, drawing.”
“Still so busy during the summer break?”
“My exam results aren’t out yet. I want to use this time to catch up on work.”
“With your current status, the entire company treats you like a treasure. Even if you procrastinate, no one would dare say anything.”
It was true. Yu Linna had established herself at Wenqing, her two novels surpassing even established authors in sales, her value comparable to, if not exceeding, Air’s.
Air, after becoming famous, had been a notorious procrastinator, her novel, after a year, only reaching its third volume, her updates glacial.
But no one at Wenqing dared to criticize her. She was their future star, her commercial value immense, her fanbase loyal, her influence undeniable.
Yu Linna could have followed her example; she had the leverage.
But she had no intention of becoming another Zhao Yuyan.
“I… I have stories to tell. I want to write my stories. That’s… my purpose.”
She smiled, but her eyes held a different emotion.
It was true; she had nothing but her novels. After the betrayal, after her encounter with Yu Tianchen, she felt empty, her writing the only thing that gave her a sense of worth.
She worked tirelessly, not just for success, but to prove she wasn’t a nobody, that even without friends, without family, without any other skills, she had her writing, a talent she could call her own.
Her past traumas had left deep scars, a shadow she couldn’t escape.
“You don’t have to do this, you know.”
Ye Zhiyun didn’t understand the depth of her pain, simply wanting her to be happy, to enjoy her newfound success.
Yu Linna had struggled for so long, enduring poverty and hardship. Now, with money and a stable income, she should be enjoying life, not pushing herself so hard.
“With your current success, you could live comfortably without working so hard, couldn’t you?”
“My dream isn’t just about a comfortable life. The world is vast; I’ve only explored a small corner of it. It would be a shame not to see the rest.”
“…”
Indeed, Yu Linna had a dream, a dream Ye Zhiyun lacked: to make her name known to the world, to become a star.
She had once followed others; now, she would forge her own path.
Because she wanted to reach the top, to see the world from a different perspective.
“Barbecue is ready! Enjoy your meal!”
Tu Zi brought their food, interrupting their conversation. Yu Linna stopped talking and started eating, while Ye Zhiyun, her food untouched, sat there, lost in thought.
