Chapter 396: Thoughts
After the new book was a big hit, what followed was an explosion of popularity. This time, the topic of Shion-sensei’s king’s return could be said to be very hot, occupying the top spot of the topic lists on major websites. Everyone’s eyes were on this name, which had once created glory, but had fallen to the bottom, and was now returning.
Yu Linna looked at the excellent trend on Weibo, and then at her own Weibo account. Below were all voices urging for updates. It seemed that the fans’ enthusiasm was higher than she had imagined. And that was not all. The “Send Razor Blades to Urge Updates” group created by the fans was now active again, often with 99+ messages, and the topic heat was high. Speaking of which, it was strange. There was a fan in this group who, because she liked her own idol, had become a qualified manga artist through hard work. This person was Xiao Yanhan. She was also one of the people that many of Shion-sensei’s fans admired the most. How many fans could achieve such a “promotion”?
Yu Linna returned to the dorm with a mask and sunglasses on. In the dorm, there was only Xiao Yanhan alone. The others were not there. Yu Linna was a little surprised. She took off her armor and poured herself a glass of hot water.
“Yanhan, you didn’t go out?”
“Eh… Mmm, no. Because I wanted to draw.”
“I see. Keep it up. I have to work too.”
“…Linna, it might be a little late, but I still have to say it. Congratulations.”
In her memory, this was the first time Yu Linna had said so much to her since she had come back. During this period of time, Xiao Yanhan had always been avoiding her, and every time they spoke, it would not exceed two sentences. Although Xiao Yanhan herself was still extremely admiring of Shion-sensei.
“Thank you. You should also work hard on your manga. I’ve always been reading it.”
“Mmm, I will.”
Xiao Yanhan smiled wryly.
Ah, as expected, it’s still not possible. I always want to forget her, but find it too difficult. If time can really forget everything, I hope time can pass a little longer.
She had liked Yu Linna before.
“So, it’s time to get ready for work. Yanhan, let’s go for dinner tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten with you.”
“Okay, what do you want to eat?”
“Wherever you want to eat is fine~”
Xiao Yanhan actually felt that Yu Linna was quite dazzling now. Such a cheerful smile was rarely seen before. As expected, it’s different after dating, right? So nice. I also want to date Yu Linna.
Xiao Yanhan silently shook her head in her heart. What am I doing, still thinking about such meaningless things?
“You know, is love too complicated for humans?”
On the weekend, Xiao Yanhan went to the studio. While working, she suddenly said such a meaningless sentence to her partner, Zhang Zijin. At this time, Zhang Zijin was working on a draft. Being told this, her train of thought was interrupted, and she was very frustrated.
“What are you doing, Yanhan? Are you in heat?”
“No, it’s just… I was dumped.”
“Huh?”
Zhang Zijin’s pen fell, a look of shock on her face. During the time she had known Xiao Yanhan, it seemed she had never heard her talk about her feelings. The gossip soul in her heart was burning fiercely. She now really wanted to know Xiao Yanhan’s relationship history!
“Yanhan, the one who abandoned you is a scumbag. Forget him! By the way, what does that person who dumped you look like? Is he handsome?”
“What are you thinking? She’s a woman.”
“A woman… what? It’s amazing that you could even do it. And then, who confessed?”
Zhang Zijin’s interest was halved, but she still insisted on continuing the topic. Although she had never seen a romance between a woman and a woman, it wasn’t bad to learn a little about it.
“I was the first, and then I was dumped.”
“Oh ho? You took the initiative? That’s no wonder.”
“What do you mean by that! I also gathered a lot of courage, okay! Although… it was useless. She’s already dating someone else. But I’m always thinking now, if the person she’s dating was me, that would be great. It’s clearly an impossible thing.”
Xiao Yanhan was a typical example of someone who would not turn back. She was still thinking about her, like a fool. But the problem was, she couldn’t let go of the feelings in her heart.
Zhang Zijin was speechless.
She knocked Xiao Yanhan on the head.
“I say you, it’s not good to always be immersed in the past. It’s already become the past, so what are you still thinking about? Xiao Yanhan, to be a person, you have to look forward. If you’re always in the past and refuse to come out, you’ll tire yourself to death sooner or later.”
Really, this stinky girl is dreaming. Does she really think that if she keeps thinking about her, the other party will have a change of heart? How could such a thing be possible?
If humans don’t change, don’t change themselves, one day they will make themselves more and more tired of living. Xiao Yanhan is just like this.
“Yanhan, have you forgotten what you said when you invited me to draw a manga together? You said, the two of us will create a new world together, an era that belongs to the two of us. If we’re always stuck in one place and not moving forward, we’ll never be able to let others see you. Didn’t you say so back then?”
Being told this, Xiao Yanhan’s eyes lit up.
What Zhang Zijin said also had a point. The one who was unwilling to change was she, Xiao Yanhan. She was always afraid, afraid that after she changed, she would forget her past love for Yu Linna. She was just so afraid of changing, so she had been trapped in her feelings. Actually, she didn’t have to be like this at all.
If she didn’t pull herself together soon, she wouldn’t be able to face Yu Linna in the future. Now Yu Linna could face her naturally, talking and laughing freely. Only Xiao Yanhan was immersed in the pain of being dumped. To be unchanging was the most terrifying thing.
“Zijin, although it will take a lot of time, I want to change my mood. Are you willing to accompany me?”
“Now that things have come to this, why are you still saying these things? If you have that time, you might as well draw two more pages. Aren’t you going to participate in the promotion tomorrow?”
“Oh right, our manga is about to be released as a single volume.”
The manga Violent Witch District, which the two of them had collaborated on, was very popular and had always occupied the top of the charts on major websites. Now the single volume was about to be released, so it definitely had to be promoted at a public event. The organizers, seeing the popularity of the two of them, had held a live stream and had invited them to the scene. They would also draw lots to have lucky audience members shake hands with them and get autographs. With the current popularity of Yan Yu-sensei and Baihua-sensei, it was not difficult to get the audience to proactively buy tickets to enter the venue. The organizers also wanted to take this opportunity to make some money.
Originally, with Zhang Zijin’s troublesome personality, she would not have gone. The organizers had specially invited someone to do ideological work on her, and even brainwashed her parents. In the end, Zhang Zijin was also extremely annoyed. The organizers had also promised her that if she participated in the event, she would be given an extra ticket to Queen Zhou Shilan’s concert. Zhang Zijin really liked to watch concerts, but she hadn’t been able to get a ticket to Zhou Shilan’s concert. With the organizers saying so, she couldn’t refuse and had no choice but to accept.
The current Xiao Yanhan had made a name for herself in the manga world under the name Yan Yu-sensei. Her future prospects were very good, and it was hard to say what kind of glory she would have. Anyway, her combination with Zhang Zijin was quite successful. When the fans heard that the two of them would appear together in a program to promote the release of the single volume and would also participate in interactions with the audience, the fans also went crazy, flying to Guangnan from thousands of miles away just to see their idol once. Such a scene made Xiao Yanhan can’t help but think of the time when she had rushed to Shanghai on a high-speed train just to get Shion-sensei’s autograph.
Times have changed. She had also become an idol in people’s hearts. Recalling the past, it felt as if it were still yesterday. In a flash, she had become people’s idol. The change was too great.
“It’s a good thing I got a ticket. You two, hurry up. I’m not waiting for you in a bit.”
“What’s the rush? It’s not like we’re short on that little bit of time.”
At the ticket inspection gate on the day of the event, Fang Jiangning was pulling Lan Ranyan and Yu Linna in to get their tickets checked. They knew that today was Xiao Yanhan’s promotional event, so they definitely had to come and support her. Xiao Yanhan had gotten tickets for the three of them early on. The three of them could sit in the VIP seats, which was a rare experience. Yu Linna looked at the dense crowd, and the crazy lights. Countless people were cheering. It could be seen how high the popularity of Xiao Yanhan and Zhang Zijin was.
As expected of Yan Yu-sensei and Baihua-sensei. Their popularity was already so terrifying now. No one would treat them as newcomers in the manga world.
Yu Linna took off her hat and sunglasses, but did not dare to take off her mask. She sat with her roommates, quietly waiting for the program to begin. There were still quite a lot of people here. In any case, it was better to be careful.
When Xiao Yanhan had just come on stage, she had already noticed Yu Linna and the others in the audience. She showed a faint smile, and then, together with Zhang Zijin, she took the microphone and greeted the audience below.
“Friends at the scene, and all the viewers watching the live stream, welcome to the ‘Baihua Yanyu’ event. I am Yan Yu.”
“I am Baihua Zhengyan.”
“So, our program begins. Host, do I still need to say anything?”
“No need, Yan Yu-sensei. You’ve already said what I wanted to say.”
In the end, with the host’s voice, the audience below burst into laughter. The atmosphere was quite good. The fans were also cheering below, shouting their two names. This duo in the manga world was quite popular with the readers. After all, the looks of these two were not bad, especially Xiao Yanhan, whose appearance was even more powerful. How could the audience not like her?
“We all know that Yan Yu-sensei and Baihua-sensei are a recently rising manga artist duo. Everyone has also seen the manga of these two, so I won’t introduce it much. Next, we will hold an activity. The lucky audience members will have the opportunity to have close contact with their idols. So, Yan Yu-sensei, please say a few words.”
“Alright. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for coming. I am really moved by your support. Violent Witch District is about to have its first volume of the single volume released. On such a day, we will ask a few questions. If you are a veteran fan, you should be able to answer them. If you are lucky, you might be able to come on stage~”
Compared to Zhang Zijin, who didn’t say much on the side, Xiao Yanhan was much more talkative on stage. She also announced the content of the activity in a proper manner and had the host bring up the big screen and start the activity.
Yu Linna looked at the eloquently speaking Xiao Yanhan on stage, who could even joke with the host from time to time. In a daze, Yu Linna seemed to have seen the Xiao Yanhan of the past. The clumsy, incompetent, unable to endure hardship, lost, and painful Xiao Yanhan of the past was completely gone today.
She really looked the part now, not at all stage-frightened, like a real manga artist, leading others to a higher place.
Yu Linna smiled. This person is also growing.
I don’t want to lose either.
