Chapter 85 Strange

Please take a look at the composition carefully.

eerie

Ye Fenglin met my gaze quietly, but his eyes were full of provocation and arrogance, rather than the undisguised possessiveness in the eyes of other men.

My anxiety was briefly relieved. "You can call me whatever you want, I don't care what others call me."

"That's good." Ye Fenglin withdrew his hand and said to me, "Brother Yong and I are good brothers. We grew up together and have never been apart. It's only natural for me to call you sister-in-law. Since Lu Qixi is your friend, I will also help her."

He was very approachable, and his smile naturally won me over.

I couldn't help but smile faintly. "Thank you... Qixi is very capable. She is ranked first in the overall ranking of the law school. She has always hoped that she can stay in the Empire State and work as a lawyer."

Ye Fenglin glanced at me. "And what about you? Don't you want to stay?"

In my opinion, he's easier to approach than those men who were fighting tooth and nail last night.

So I told him the truth, “I don’t really want to stay here. If possible, I’d like to go to California after graduation. It’s sunny and doesn’t snow. I don’t like the gloomy weather.”

“That’s true,” Ye Fenglin suddenly said thoughtfully, “After all, bad things always happen on snowy days, like robbery, murder… But California isn’t good either, because people always like to commit suicide there.”

The room suddenly fell silent. I sensed a hidden meaning in Ye Fenglin's words; perhaps he had experienced something unpleasant.

Outside the window, the thick clouds, with their unique gray-black hue, weighed down the entire city, making it feel as if it couldn't lift its head.

"Let's stop talking about these heavy topics. Let's look at something fun." Ye Fenglin suddenly smiled, a dazzling and captivating smile. From the few words he had spoken, I could tell that his family background was equally privileged, but unlike those old-fashioned and pretentious rich kids, he was full of vitality.

Ye Fenglin turned on the wall-mounted TV in the ward, which was playing the morning news.

Aside from the common blizzard weather continuing until mid-January, there's nothing particularly noteworthy: tax rates have increased, many financial industry professionals are facing career disruptions, and the Jiang family's AI launch event was suddenly postponed... until today's mayoral election livestream.

I took a look too.

On the television screen, the members of the mayoral campaign team were all sitting on the side. At the head of the team was the dignified and handsome Councilor Xie. Behind him, the most eye-catching people, besides his campaign team members, were the elegant and beautiful Mrs. Xie and Xie Yong, who was wearing a long black trench coat and a formal suit.

Representative Xie has a high approval rating, and this election is basically just a warm-up before taking office.

The citizens were in high spirits, full of confidence in the man about to become mayor. Several of his proposed measures were well-received, and this winter he addressed the issue of homelessness on the streets, limited layoffs in the financial industry, and even had his entire family shovel snow, encouraging citizens to join him…

Although these were all political tactics, they were still very effective for the citizens.

What's more, he has a wife who advocates against workplace discrimination against women and vigorously promotes the women's rights movement, and a perfect son who has never had any history of drug use or traffic offenses.

The family's humble and low-key attitude won them even more favor.

"Haha, so my dad went today too." Ye Fenglin smiled. The men behind those in power were mostly dressed in suits and ties, exuding an air of elite upper-class society, which made it easier for the public to feel confident.

I stared at the screen, still somewhat dazed.

Xie Yong... are you really not playing a trick on me?

Perhaps the TV interviewers also had a soft spot for him, as the live broadcast camera frequently focused on Xie Yong's perfect and noble face.

He was already tall and slender, dressed in a neat black suit.

Although proud, he is not ostentatious; he is confident, composed, calm, and generous, without any sense of impatience or restlessness—a born prodigy.

It is clear to the naked eye that his future will only be smoother than his father's.

Born into a long-established political family, a graduate of a prestigious university, and able to move freely among those in power without ever showing any fear.

No man like that could possibly willingly become another woman's clandestine mistress, right?

"You know what?" Ye Fenglin seemed to have read my thoughts. He crossed his right leg over his left and said to me casually, "Yong Ge and Zhi En were the most popular king and queen in high school. They've been together since they were little."

"..." I didn't say much.

“He’s not someone you can mess with. Besides, Yong’s background means he’s destined for an arranged marriage. If you don’t believe me, you’ll see when he graduates.” Ye Fenglin said, but when I looked at him, his gaze drifted away to another direction.

you're right. "

Anyway, I've never saved him in my contacts. I took out my phone, thought for a moment, and sent Xie Yong a message.

"You and I are from different worlds. Let's never see each other again. Our relationship ends here."

Then, they completely blacklisted his number.

Ye Fenglin looked at me, and for some reason, he smiled faintly and breathed a silent sigh of relief.

I wanted to watch the news for a while longer, but he raised an eyebrow and then suggested, "Ji-eun is rehearsing today, how about I take you to see her?"

I nodded.

At the far end of the ward was a semi-open changing room, where some clothes that Jiang Zhao had arranged to buy were kept. I took off my loose hospital gown. My arms were a little sore and swollen from the IV drips I had been receiving for the past few days, so I had to reach behind me with one hand to fasten the back clasp of my bra.

I dawdled for ages.

"Jiang Fu, are you taking so long to change your clothes?" Ye Fenglin's impatient voice rang out.

"I..." I picked up the black off-the-shoulder cardigan, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered for help, "Can you do me a favor?"

"Hmm?" Ye Fenglin's voice drew closer; he was right at the door.

"My hand is a little numb and I can't lift it. Could you please close your eyes and help me..." My voice trailed off, and I whispered, "Help me tap it."

The man's hand suddenly pressed down on my shoulder.

Immediately afterwards, a loose men's jacket fell onto my shoulders.

My eyes were filled with shock as I looked in the mirror and watched Ye Fenglin lower his head slightly. His slender fingertips avoided the high breasts that I was tightly holding and instead went straight back to fasten the back clasp.

"Alright," Ye Fenglin said, behaving like a gentleman.

“I told you to close your eyes…” I pulled the cardigan tighter.

Upon hearing this, Ye Fenglin's lips curled slightly, his tone languid: "I know, but how can I see it with my eyes closed?"

Ye Fenglin spoke these words lightly and casually. I could even smell a faint scent of morning perfume on his coat, which matched his unrestrained personality perfectly.

Seeing that he remained calm and composed, and acted as if he was just helping out, he turned around and left.

Before leaving, Ye Fenglin suddenly turned his head and said, "You know, you look good in pink, but you'd be even prettier if you straightened your hair."

Upon hearing the sound, I blinked lightly, a strange feeling rising in my heart, and slowly raised my eyes.

He has already gone out.

I changed my clothes and followed Ye Fenglin out of the ward. As I expected, the nurses arranged by Jiang Zhao did not obviously stop me, but gently reminded me, "Ms. Jiang, your body has not fully recovered yet, so it is best not to stay out for too long."

“I feel about right,” I said politely. “I’ll go and complete the discharge procedures in a little while.”

“But, Miss Jiang, your boyfriend…” The nurse noticed my expression and changed her address, “Mr. Jiang is still in the ward. Young Master Jiang said that as his girlfriend, you should at least stay here to take care of him.”

"Couldn't she come tomorrow?"

Ye Fenglin, who had been silent all along, spoke up, getting straight to the point. His brows furrowed slightly. Not long ago, he had been all smiles and relaxed, but now his face suddenly turned cold, giving off an unpredictable and moody vibe.

The nurse was clever; she immediately caught Ye Fenglin's displeasure, smiled, and said nothing more.

I glanced at Ye Fenglin hesitantly; he quickly regained his composure.

"Come on, sister-in-law, I'll take you to find Zhi'en. She stayed with you for most of the night yesterday. You should go and thank her, no matter what."

In the underground parking lot, Ye Fenglin's Lamborghini was quite conspicuous, somewhat similar to his personality. I got into the car and unconsciously tightened my grip on my bag. Ye Fenglin drove away from the hospital with practiced ease, a clear smile on his lips, and asked me, "Are you interested in ballet?"

"It's alright." I don't have many opportunities to come into contact with this kind of art, so I could only nod in vain.

"Brother Yong really likes Zhi En's ballet dancing. Every time she performs, Brother Yong sends her flowers." Ye Fenglin mentioned Xie Yong again.

I looked down at my phone.

Although I blacklisted Xie Yong's number, I've been receiving calls from other unfamiliar numbers lately. I either ignore them or hang up, making it clear that I don't want to continue contacting Xie Yong.

Ye Fenglin's reminder may simply be a warning.

After all, he was friends with Xie Yong and Lin Zhi'en, who were from the same social class. Xie Yong and Lin Zhi'en seemed to be a better match. His father was even a member of Xie's campaign team. The relationships between the group were hard to distinguish.

Xie Yong's interest in me was clearly beyond his expectations. He needed to maintain his class status and couldn't let Xie Yong be controlled by me. What if I threatened Xie Yong in the future?

Ye Fenglin glanced at me again.

The sports car drove up to the vicinity of the Imperial Theatre. I was somewhat familiar with this area because it was almost entirely filled with theaters and art exhibitions, with a predominantly classical architectural style. Small groups of well-dressed people passed by, and the lawns were beautifully manicured.

Ye Fenglin led me straight to the backstage area of ​​the theater.

The entire theater was decorated in red, black, and gold tones, exuding elegance and grandeur. The backstage area was just as I had imagined—intricate and complex—yet the people coming and going were orderly and efficient.

The long corridor has a small hall in the middle, which is used by the actors to receive fans or conduct interviews after the show.

Next was the enormous dressing room used to house the ballet performance.

Turning into the innermost part of the corridor, you'll find the actors' dressing room, with props placed to the side, covered by a burgundy curtain.

I could clearly sense that many people knew Ye Fenglin. Whether it was the staff or the performers in the entire troupe, they all respected him. When they saw me behind him, they gave me polite and courteous smiles, simply because the person who brought me in was Ye Fenglin.

“I am grateful.” Ye Fenglin knocked on the door of one of the lounges.

The girl opened the door quickly. She was wearing a thin, gray top that revealed her beautiful shoulders and neck. When she saw me, she smiled. "Xiao Fu?"

After a while, her gaze slowly shifted to Ye Fenglin's face, "Ye Zi."

Lim Ji-eun is the female lead in this play. Her dressing room is also the largest, creamy white, and very dreamy. The room is filled with the dresses she wore as the female lead on stage, and her dressing table is covered with expensive and beautiful jewelry and luxury goods.

On the opposite wall hangs a poster of Lin Zhi'en as the Swan Princess. She wears a strapless ballet dress adorned with fine rhinestones and a delicate white feather headdress, exuding elegance, lightness, and nobility.

"Why did you come to see me?" Lin Zhi'en's voice was extremely gentle.

My gaze moved from the poster to Lin Zhi'en's face; she looked even more elegant and noble in person.

“I…I heard from Young Master Ye that you stayed with me all night, so I wanted to come and thank you.”

"Young Master Ye?" Lin Zhi'en chuckled, glancing at Ye Fenglin with a probing look. "You mean him, Ye Zi?"

I nodded to her, and Lin Zhi'en smiled. She then turned to Ye Fenglin and said, "Did you bring Xiao Fu here and tell Brother Xie Yong?"

“Even if I don’t say it, he probably already knows.” Ye Fenglin looked at Lin Zhi’en with a meaningful gaze.

Their eyes met briefly in mid-air, and Lin Zhi'en suddenly exclaimed, "Ye Zi, so you also..."

What? Before I could think any further, Lin Zhi'en smiled faintly, "After rehearsal, I'll treat you to dinner."

Ye Fenglin and I returned to the audience seats.

On stage, Lin Zhi'en, who plays the female lead, dances lightly. She is a carefree farm girl who falls in love with a noble young man disguised as a farmer. Lin Zhi'en's posture perfectly portrays the cautious and pure girl.

The poor girl was unaware that the young man had a fiancée, and her heart was broken. Soon after, she passed away and became a ghost.

The young man paid his respects at her grave, while the other ghosts swarmed around him, wanting to punish the man who had betrayed their love. But the girl couldn't bear to do it; she fought for her lover and finally disappeared at dawn.

The ballet becomes heavy and oppressive from the moment the girl dies in the second act. Lin Zhi'en's face shows pain and unbearable pain. Just through her performance on stage, I can feel the regretful love. The other actors are also immersed in the performance, especially the ghosts dancing together in white dresses, which is both shocking and beautiful.

My tears even fell, silently sliding down my cheeks.

Beside me, Ye Fenglin handed me a tissue. Seeing that I was still staring at the stage without saying a word, Ye Fenglin simply reached out, lifted my face, and wiped away the tears on it. Perhaps he was also immersed in this tragedy. I could clearly see the heartache and reluctance on his face.

As the performance ended, I couldn't help but applaud, and Lin Zhi'en on stage gave me a gentle smile.

She pulled me into the dressing room, pressed me into her chair, and held up all the beautiful flower decorations, jewelry, and diamonds on my head, asking me with great interest, "Xiao Fu, have you ever danced ballet before?"

“No,” I replied more intimately to Lin Zhi’en than to Ye Fenglin’s concise answer to the same question. “Actually, my memories before this year are all blurry and I can’t remember them at all. I was abandoned by my mother when I was very young, and I worked to earn my tuition fees until I went to university. I’ve never had any contact with the outside world.”

Lin Zhien was putting the diamond crown on my head. She fiddled with my curly hair and looked in the mirror. "But I feel that Xiao Fu is not like an ordinary girl at all. Do you remember how you and your mother separated?"

I was stunned. All I remembered was that my mother had abandoned me, married another man, and had a child with him.

But the specific details, which I thought I knew very well, are now a bit confusing. It seems like there were only a few sentences: the Jiang family, being kicked out, selling me to Jiang Zhao... I feel like I've forgotten some things.

I was so focused on anxiously searching for the missing parts of my memory that I didn't notice Lin Zhi'en's eyes in the mirror. Those eyes, which were always fixed on me, had darkened slightly.

The unknown terrifies me.

Despite my desperate attempts to find those discordant elements, I discovered that I couldn't.

Which high school did I attend before going to university? When did my mother decide to abandon me? Is the Jiang family she mentioned Jiang Mingzhuo?

I couldn't piece it together at all. My brain was throbbing so badly it felt like it was going to split open, and my body was involuntarily curling up. It wasn't until the shiny, beautiful crown on my head fell to the ground that I felt a little bit of unspeakable shame.

"I'm sorry..." I apologized to Lin Zhi'en, my voice sounding weak.

Lin Zhi'en suddenly hugged me tightly. She stroked my back, her slender and gentle fingers moving upwards, feeling the beads of sweat there. Lin Zhi'en gently wiped them away for me. "Don't be afraid. One day you will remember. Maybe forgetting is a good thing, right?"

I was slightly out of breath and gave a pale smile.

Lin Zhi'en only put on a jacket before leading me to the restaurant.

Throughout the journey, a smile remained on her lips. She was always so understanding, gentle, and generous, responding to everyone with a polite smile.

The restaurant is located near Central Park and is a well-known French restaurant. From the murals to the lilies that can be seen everywhere, the French-style decoration design gives people a feeling of being in a foreign country, but it inexplicably feels familiar to me.

Ye Fenglin was already waiting in the seat near the floor-to-ceiling window.

The back is a huge floor-to-ceiling window with a beautiful view, there is a crystal chandelier overhead, and behind it are antiques from the Louis XVI era. All of this made me feel vaguely familiar.

The waiter pulled out a seat, and Lin Zhi'en sat next to Ye Fenglin. I was opposite Lin Zhi'en, and I saw four sets of cutlery on the table, which made my heart skip a beat.

"Ye Zi, have you ordered?" Lin Zhi'en asked.

“Of course, exactly the same as last time.” Ye Fenglin stared at Lin Zhi’en, a slight smile playing on his lips. He even naturally stretched his hand to the right, palm up, so the waiter could hand him a hot towel.

Ye Fenglin slowly wiped his hands and looked up at Lin Zhi'en again.

“I also called Yong-ge and Zhi-en.”

"Oh...is that so?" Lin Zhi'en looked thoughtful.

I think I understand Ye Fenglin's intention.

He wanted to use this dinner as an opportunity to make me completely give up on Xie Yong, and also to make me realize how far removed their social class was from mine.

A short while later, Xie Yong appeared at the restaurant entrance.

He glanced at it casually, then refused the waiter and walked over on his own.

Xie Yong hadn't changed out of his formal black suit; he simply handed his coat to the waiter. His handsome face was expressionless, clearly showing a hint of arrogance. Seeing us sitting there, Xie Yong calmly sat down next to me.

I immediately lowered my head, avoiding Xie Yong's gaze.

Fortunately, Xie Yong didn't ask me why I blocked him in front of Lin Zhi'en and Ye Fenglin. He remained calm and only casually asked what I had ordered.

Ye Fenglin read them out to him one by one. Xie Yong still seemed unmoved.

"Brother Xie Yong, the atmosphere of today's indoor election was great. Congratulations in advance to Uncle Xie on becoming the new mayor of the Empire State." Lin Zhi'en raised her wine glass, which was filled with low-alcohol champagne. She smiled and said, "As expected of Uncle Xie, my dad sent me a message saying that we should get together sometime."

Xie Yong hummed in agreement.

The waiter was right next to him, and Xie Yong turned to the side. "Is smoking prohibited?"

The other person shook his head, or perhaps recognizing his identity, and became even more respectful. "We have a private smoking room, Mr. Xie."

Xie Yong took out a lighter and a cigarette case, lit one of the thin black cigarettes, and held it between his fingers.

He smiled calmly and said, "You guys talk first." Then he got up and left, seemingly ignoring me. I breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps his father's successful mayoral election today had finally made him realize his identity and that he could no longer do whatever he wanted.

The dishes served by the waiter were all very delicious. During our three years of university, Lu Qixi and I could count on one hand the number of times we had been to such a top-notch restaurant. At most, we would help customers buy limited-edition bags, and the restaurant would give us some discount coupons, but the price was still very high, so we could only look on with envy.

I was eating intently, but Lin Zhi'en and Ye Fenglin's expressions were rather strange.

“Brother Yong, he might be different from us…” Ye Fenglin said.

Lin Zhi'en smiled and slowly savored the champagne, not jumping to conclusions.

Xie Yong returned more than ten minutes later. He didn't smell strongly of cigarettes, nor was it pungent, but I just really dislike men who smoke, and I can't even explain why myself.

He sat back down and, seeing my slight frown, Xie Yong explained, "If you mind, I'll try to control myself next time. I'm not a heavy smoker."

That's how they said it—so businesslike, so overly polite and official, as if they didn't even know me.

I recalled his confused and infatuated state at his home, and I felt even more strongly that Ye Fenglin was right: Xie Yong was an extremely selfish man, refined, selfish, and arrogant.

Until I felt a slight rubbing and touching on my knee. My eyes widened instantly, and I instinctively wanted to back away, but the man beside me remained calm, his fingers moving with practiced ease, like a lover's.

Xie Yong lifted the veil and touched the lace-covered adorable piece with his fingertips, a smile curving his lips.

My hands were unusually stiff. I could only reach under the table discreetly without Ye Fenglin and Lin Zhi'en noticing, trying to stop the man's next move.

But Xie Yong reached out and grabbed my wrist, like handcuffs, and I turned my head away in fright.

"What's wrong?" He spoke with such nonchalance, as if he weren't the one recklessly starting the fire. I truly couldn't believe this man was actually a freak...

He smiled when he saw that I was completely unable to speak.

Under the table, hidden by a long tablecloth, Xie Yong "kindly" spread out his palm so I could write in it.

"Let me go."

"Okay, but you have to add me back." Xie Yongming was still chatting with Lin Zhi'en and Ye Fenglin on the surface, but his hands were not behaving properly at all. He skillfully held the lace, his fingers were particularly flirtatious. I was so scared that I quickly grabbed his hand and agreed.

"good."

"Don't be afraid, I won't do anything to you now."

I felt incredibly uncomfortable, and I didn't even dare to look up at the expressions of the two people opposite me. My hands trembled the moment Xie Yong's fingers touched me, and in the end, I could only pinch him hard, leaving my furious finger marks on his wrist. Xie Yong suddenly let out a low laugh from his throat.

"Brother Yong, what are you laughing at?" Ye Fenglin raised an eyebrow.

"It's nothing, I just found it very interesting." Xie Yong smiled, and I unconsciously tightened my grip on my knife and fork.

Fortunately, Xie Yong really stopped moving.

Ye Fenglin raised an eyebrow.

His gaze returned to the food in front of him, but he seemed uninterested.

I couldn't really join their conversation, especially since it involved the election, the recent financial report, and things happening in the capital, which I had no interest in hearing about. I was just particularly grateful to the two people who were keeping Xie Yong company, at least temporarily diverting his attention from my physical state.

"bump."

Inadvertently, Ye Fenglin knocked the dinner knife to the ground. The waiter was about to bend down when Ye Fenglin kindly said, "I'll take it."

He bent down and picked up the knife with lightning speed.

The waiter replaced the tableware with a brand new one for him. Under the light, the pale silver cutlery reflected Ye Fenglin's face, making him look terrifyingly cold.

I was startled when I remembered him bending over earlier.

Did Ye Fenglin see it? Impossible... so quickly.

Feeling uneasy, Xie Yong kept his hand there, in a very ambiguous way.

I unconsciously swallowed. Xie Yong turned his head and said, "You're craving it? You're right, the food at this restaurant is pretty good."

His question was flippant, but it was much better than Lin Jindong's blatant vulgarity and lewdness. Apart from me, probably no one else could understand it.

"Okay," I quickly ate the cake. "Jie-eun, Ye-ye, I have to go home. If I don't leave soon, the subway will stop running."

“I’ll have the driver take you home,” Lin Zhi’en replied with a gentle smile. “It’s so late, it’s not safe for you to take the subway.”

"No need, it's not far from my home." I refused her again.

Lin Zhi'en seemed to notice the strange expression on my face. She smiled and said, "Xiao Fu, why is your face so red? Are you alright?"

"I'm really fine, I'll go now." I picked up my bag and turned around.

"Wait a minute, I'll take you home."

"Jiang Fu, wait for me."

I had only taken one step when the two men behind me spoke in unison. I turned around awkwardly and forced a smile, "Really, it's not necessary."

I fled the restaurant as if escaping, took the last subway back to my apartment, but contrary to my expectations of going home and sleeping, I saw the black G-Class parked quietly downstairs. I was a little nervous and tried to ignore it, but the man who got out of the driver's seat pulled me back.

Our lips were pressed tightly together. The smoke tasted bitter and astringent, and I even felt a little suffocated. I coughed a few times and pushed him away forcefully.

"Are you angry with me?" Xie Yong asked me.

I saw immediately that the car was locked, so I gave up struggling. "I just don't want to continue this relationship anymore."

"What relationship?" His tone wasn't aggressive, but his attitude was surprisingly arrogant.

“You and I come from completely different backgrounds. Do you think your parents would accept you being with a girl like me?” I pursed my lips. “I just don’t want to hold you back.”

Although I had tried my best to come up with a respectable excuse, Xie Yong was clearly not satisfied.

"Do you not want to hold me back, or have you found someone else to play this game of being a mistress with you?" Xie Yong asked calmly. "Who is it?"

"No." I looked away.

Xie Yong chuckled softly. In the darkness, I seemed to hear the familiar sound of plastic wrap being torn off. My heart skipped a beat. I looked at him and said, "You... are you going to force yourself on me? You said that I would be the one to end our relationship."

"Yes, as I've said before, I don't really want to resort to force unless absolutely necessary." Xie Yong's tone was excessively calm. "The premise is that you have to tell the truth. You shouldn't doubt me, nor should you give up on me so easily. Jiang Mingzhuo is no longer the man who's hindering our relationship, so why are you still unwilling to be with me?"

I choked back a sob, my fingers groping lightly. Taking advantage of Xie Yong's inattention, I pressed the door control button, got out of the car, and ran back to my apartment in a flash.

Leaning against the door, I realized my heart was pounding wildly. The door was tightly shut, but I could still hear Xie Yong's footsteps going upstairs.

My body trembled slightly as I felt anxious; Xie Yong's cold gaze had frightened me.

He knocked on the door, unlike Jiang Zhao who violently and cruelly kicked it open.

"Xiao Fu, open the door."

The man's tone was calm and confident, so much so that I was certain I would agree to his request.

Seeing that I didn't move, Xie Yong coaxed me, "Xiao Fu, didn't you want to know what happened in the dream? As long as you open the door, I'll tell you everything."

"No, let's end this. I initially approached you simply because you appeared in my dreams frequently, and I was genuinely curious. Now, I no longer want to understand why we had such a strange relationship in my dreams; I just want to stay away from you all..." I whispered to Xie Yong, suppressing my fear.

"Open the door. You know, even if you refuse to open it, I have a way to open it, Xiao Fu."

[Author's Note]

Xie Yong is also a Celestial Dragon, don't forget that, especially at the end of the first playthrough.

Some parts of the plot are better suited to be divided into segments, so I'll leave them for tomorrow. I've missed 2000 words today, so tomorrow I'll still update 1000 words first, then another 6000-7000 words (depending on my writing style and the situation). Consider this an apology for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Let me clarify something first.

Jinjiang Literature City experienced a complete system crash on the 14th and 15th. From the afternoon of the 14th, it was completely inaccessible. On the 15th, the website frequently crashed and the writing assistant app was also lagging. It wasn't until around 11:30 PM last night that it was finally fixed (I was already asleep).

To be honest, I originally planned to work hard for three days during the Mid-Autumn Festival to catch up on my progress, but Jinjiang (a Chinese online literature platform) experienced some issues, which left me feeling speechless, helpless, and desperate. I even considered giving up for a moment because I knew a lot of people would criticize me for breaking my promise. However, I really didn't have that much free time to spend an entire day struggling with updating a website, especially with the frequent 404 errors, which were incredibly annoying.

I really wanted to give up completely, but considering that this book isn't finished yet, I decided to finish writing it before considering what to do next.

Then there's this book. If you have higher expectations for Japanese literature, I strongly and sincerely suggest you finish it before reading. I'm genuinely very busy, and I'm not lying. I don't have any backlog of chapters, nor do I have any habit of doing so. As for writing on the subway or squeezing in time during breaks, that's completely impossible for me. I can only write when I get home at night. As for whether I'll start my next book after backlogging chapters, or write a chapter with passion before starting, I don't know. The current review issues, lag, and bugs on Jinjiang Literature City are really frustrating and annoying me. I need some time to consider what to do with this book.

And then, a belated Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! As always, I'll be sending out red envelopes as compensation for everyone for three consecutive chapters, from the previous one to the next.

I'll update 1000 words for this chapter first, and you only need to pay 4 coins. After I finish writing today's chapter, I'll replace it with the full 10,000 words (around 6-9 pm, depending on my typing speed). Also, some plot points will need to be adjusted.

It's equivalent to 4 coins to access content worth 30 coins, since that seems to be the minimum charge. Also, I can't put the full text in the author's notes, so please bear with me. I did indeed write something the day before yesterday and yesterday; I'm not lying about that.