Chapter 23: Disrupted train of thought

Gu Yebai quite liked Saturdays.

Without classes, he had plenty of time to deduce the development of his plot and vent those unspoken emotions within the sanctuary of his mental world.

After eating a few bites of breakfast, washing the dishes, and lighting one stick of incense before his parents’ memorial photos, Gu Yebai finally picked up his phone to begin the day’s writing.

Sometimes he thought that if his royalties became a bit more substantial, he should truly consider buying a computer.

Writing a novel on a phone was simply too inefficient.

‘Let’s make some money,’ Gu Yebai whispered to himself.

Just then, he noticed an unread message on his QQ—it had arrived while he was asleep.

He clicked it open to see it was from Yi.

She had arrived in Linchuan early that morning with her family, supposedly to welcome a new family member.

Based on the time, they should have reached the county seat by now.

Gu Yebai knew what kind of place Linchuan was better than Yi did.

It was gray, cold, and old.

The air was perpetually thick with the scent of coal cinders.

However, to maintain his mysterious online persona, he had to act as if he were unfamiliar with his hometown.

White Night Walker: What kind of place is Linchuan?

Yi: Uncle Bai, you’re just replying now? Did you just wake up?

White Night Walker: Have some sympathy for a corporate slave.

Weekends are the only time I get the chance to sleep until I wake up naturally.

White Night Walker: Not adjusting well to Linchuan?

Yi: It’s my first time in such a poor, decaying place.

Yi: But I can’t say I’m not adjusting.

Yi: I used to always visit the most developed cities in the world to see the most breathtaking landscapes.

Over time, those places everyone longs for failed to stir any emotion in me.

Yi: Linchuan is different. It’s an eye-opener.

Yi: Besides, I’m also curious about what kind of person he is, living here.

White Night Walker: Haven’t met him yet?

Yi: Not yet.

Yi: I’m a little nervous.

Yi: Uncle Bai, if you get the chance, you should come to Linchuan for research.

Yi: Sometimes, you don’t necessarily have to go to places like Tokyo, Seoul, London, or Paris for material.

Yi: Going to a small place with an unfamiliar name to see how the locals survive, how they love, and how they die—it’s actually a pretty good subject.

Yi: Haha, that was a bit self-important of me.

Yi: But Uncle Bai, it’s just a small suggestion of mine.

White Night Walker: Thanks for the suggestion.

I’ll keep it in mind.

At this moment, Yi was in the same county as him, facing a vital choice in her life.

She was clearly just an online friend, yet Gu Yebai’s heart remained strangely restless for a long time.

He took several large gulps of cold water, trying to drag his consciousness back into the familiar, illusory world of his novel.

Just as he was about to type the long-deliberated opening into the document that had been blank for far too long, the phone vibrated again.

Yukino: Are you there, Little Bai?

Yukino: I want to hear you bark like a dog.

White Night Walker: I’m not here.

Yukino was a student studying in Tokyo.

His family seemed quite wealthy, and he was allegedly a handsome guy.

On the grand stage of Tokyo, he supposedly had Japanese girls falling head over heels for him.

In his own words, he was “bringing glory to his country.”

The key issue was that this rich, handsome jerk actually used a beautiful picture of Yukinoshita Yukino as his profile icon.

A normie pretending to be a shut-in otaku was a double sin.

‘So what if you’re a normie?!’

Yukino: If you’re not here, then forget it.

I’ll give this month’s monthly vote rewards to an author who’s willing to bark like a dog.

A person should have backbone.

If Gu Yebai had 1,000,000 yuan in his pocket, he absolutely would not bark.

It was an insult to his character.

The problem was that he didn’t have 1,000,000 yuan.

White Night Walker: Woof, woof, woof.

Yukino: Send a voice message.

White Night Walker: [Voice Message]

Yukino: My girlfriend is dying of laughter from your barking.

In the picture was the same black-haired Japanese girl from last time, carrying a slight “stoic” aura.

She possessed a classical beauty, with the tips of her hair resting against her fair neck like ink drops on white paper.

She was laughing heartily, yet she maintained the elegance of a well-bred young lady, a hint of mischief visible in her eyes.

Gu Yebai stared at the screen and had to admit—Yukino’s girlfriend was truly pleasing to the eye.

If he could have a girl like that as his girlfriend, he would willingly grind his own bones to make soup for her.

White Night Walker: You’re treating me as part of your foreplay, aren’t you?

Yukino: Hehe, as long as you know.

Yukino: My girlfriend is also reading your novel.

Although her Chinese isn’t great, I can translate it for her.

Yukino: When will you have time, Little Bai?

Yukino: Come play in Tokyo.

White Night Walker: No time.

White Night Walker: Why would I go stand between you and your girlfriend like a bright lightbulb to light the path ahead of you?

Yukino: Don’t say that.

It would be better than anything if the three of us lived a good life together.

White Night Walker: If I go to Tokyo, aren’t you afraid I’ll steal her away?

I’ll make her fall for Lord Bai’s charms.

Yukino: Hahaha, not afraid at all.

Yukino: Try it if you can, you silly Little Bai.

Yukino: But I’m being serious.

Yukino: If you get the chance, you must come to Tokyo.

I’ve always wanted to meet you.

Yukino: If you’re short on cash, I’ll pay for the ticket.

White Night Walker: You’ll pay for the ticket?

Should I nod, then shake my head and blink at my phone?

Yukino: Of course not.

Yukino: I’m trying to trick you into coming to Tokyo to study abroad.

White Night Walker: No money.

White Night Walker: Besides, I’m already an old man.

I’m 24 years old.

Yukino: Little Bai isn’t an uncle.

Yukino: 24 is considered young in the study abroad circle.

Yukino: There are plenty of people in their 30s or 40s still in language school.

Yukino: I always feel like Little Bai’s real age is questionable.

Yukino: You’re actually younger than you say.

Yukino: You should only be 16.

Gu Yebai’s heart jolted.

His real age… was indeed 16.

White Night Walker: Why do you guess I’m 16?

Yukino: Because my girlfriend is also 16.

Yukino: Sometimes you’re even more childish than her, so that’s my guess.

Yukino: Right, right.

Yukino: My girlfriend’s name is Himuro Mio.

Pretty, isn’t it?

White Night Walker: It’s a great name.

Yukino: She says thank you for the compliment.

White Night Walker: You’re actually your girlfriend, aren’t you?

White Night Walker: You aren’t a student in Tokyo at all.

White Night Walker: You’re just a genuine Japanese girl pretending to be a handsome guy to mess with people!

Yukino: You little virgin, what a wild imagination.

Yukino: Forget it, I’m done chatting.

Yukino: I’m going on a date with my girlfriend.

Yukino: Good luck with the novel.

Yukino: You must come to Tokyo if you get the chance.

Yukino: I’ll take you to eat good food, play fun games, and then make you decide to stay in Tokyo.

White Night Walker: Yeah, I’ll consider it.

If he truly had money in the future… he did want to meet Yukino.

Even though the guy constantly teased him maliciously.

The phone vibrated again.

Good grief.

As expected of Yukino.

He had tipped another 1,000 yuan.

He truly accomplished things others found difficult with such ease.

To repay this kindness, he absolutely could not slack off today.

Loyalty!

Just then, the phone suddenly rang with a video call notification.

The caller was Yi.

Should he answer, or not?

The train of thought he had finally managed to settle was completely derailed once again.