Final Chapter
"Give it back to me."
Her face darkened and she gave orders again.
Zhuang Yu'an's lips moved, his face full of confusion, but he finally succumbed to her power, silently raised his body, and stuffed the notebook back into his hand.
Zuo Xiao glared at him and was about to open the notebook when suddenly a hand reached out and held her hand down.
"I'm someone who's used to researching and planning." He looked her straight in the eye and spoke without finishing. "I collect information, analyze it, and then develop strategies and action plans based on it. This is how I do things."
Zuo Xiao was confused and frowned, "Then what?"
Zhuang Yu'an's Adam's apple rolled, and he continued, "Ever since I realized I was falling in love with you, I've been constantly studying you. The novels you write, the way you treat people, the things you like and dislike, your reactions to me... I will record the information I gather in this notebook, and gain insight into the patterns and opportunities within it."
Zuo Xiao was stunned, his brain struggling to work. After a while, he said, "You would rather confess yourself than let me see the specific contents."
"Yes." Zhuang Yu'an said in a deep voice, "If you insist on watching it, I won't stop you. But I hope you don't watch it, because..."
His eyes revealed genuine worry: "Being overly understood and overly needed by someone can be a heavy burden, and I don't want to bring this burden to you. I hope your life will be bright and light, like a bird, owning both the sky and the earth."
Zuo Xiao studied him intently and said, "But you have a strong desire for control. You'll build me a cage. Even if it's big enough, it's still a cage. How can I own the sky?"
Zhuang Yu'an shook his head and said sincerely, "No one truly likes the boundless. Even a bird that yearns for freedom still needs a branch to cling to. I believe that during this period of time, while you feel the ties and constraints I bring, you can also feel my love. Please believe that I will grasp the right balance. My love will not be a cage or a rope, but a branch you can always rest on. I never want to be the bird's master. I just want to be the little bear who will always protect the bird, because I love you."
At this moment, Zuo Xiao looked into his bottomless eyes, and suddenly felt as if she was in a gentle warm sea. She felt warm and light both physically and mentally. It was a kind of security that came from being cared for and firmly supported.
She smiled and handed the notebook back to its owner.
"What's so good about it?" She snorted. "Your character has already collapsed into a pile of ashes, so it doesn't matter whether you watch it or not."
Zhuang Yu'an was stunned for a moment, then a bewildered look appeared in his eyes: "My personality collapsed? Is it... seriously collapsed?"
Zuo Xiao laughed out loud: "I won't tell you! Haha, if you insist on knowing, I won't stop you, go ask your sister! But I hope you don't know, because..."
She stood up and patted his shoulder: "It really affects a man's self-confidence."
That night, while working, Zhuang Yu'an pestered her about his broken character, worried that he might not be as attractive as before in her eyes. Zuo Xiao was determined not to give him an answer, as revenge for not letting him see the little notebook. He then worked even harder, proving with his own actions that his charm remained undiminished.
At one in the morning, he finally gave up, and lying on the bed pretending to be relaxed, he said: "Even if his image collapses, he is still your husband." After saying that, he sucked loudly at the corner of her mouth, as if declaring his sovereignty.
"When a man gives up self-discipline, his charm begins to decline," Zuo Xiao sneered. "I advise you to have a basic sense of crisis. Everything else is fine, but your chest and abdominal muscles are the ultimate bottom line. If even these collapse, you'll be completely soulless, understand?"
Zhuang Yu'an's expression froze. He quickly sat up, grabbed her hand, and placed it on his belly. "I've been exercising regularly lately. Whenever I miss you too much, I lift weights for at least an hour every day! Haven't you noticed? My abdominal muscles are stronger than before."
Zuo Xiao finally couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed so hard that he fell forward and backward.
When she was so sleepy that she yawned, the long night was not over yet.
"Jinghao's birthday is in two days." Zhuang Yu'an sat up and said, "I prepared a birthday present for her, but I need your cooperation to deliver it."
"Ah?" Zuo Xiao suddenly became excited and stood up and asked, "What gift requires me to share it with you?"
Her face suddenly flushed and her eyes widened: "Could it be... to give her a real-life movie to help her learn her bed skills?!"
Zhuang Yu'an was stunned on the spot, silently covering his face with his hands. After a while, he said, "Wife, I find that I still don't know you well enough..."
"I'm kidding!" Zuo Xiao said with a wry smile. "With so many resources online, why would we need a live performance?"
Zhuang Yu'an cleared his throat and said seriously, "Jinghao has always had an unfulfilled wish. Do you still remember?"
Zuo Xiao frowned and thought for a while, then shook his head: "I don't remember. Don't keep me in suspense, just tell me."
Zhuang Yu'an looked at her with a smile and said, "She wants to finish the discontinued novel."
"Ah!" Zuo Xiao's expression suddenly changed. "Are you talking about 'Jasmine Garden'?"
Zhuang Yu'an nodded, then got up from the bed and returned a short while later with a laptop in his hand.
"Oh my god!" Zuo Xiao's face turned pale. "You're not going to ask me to stay up all night writing for your sister, are you? Isn't this a bit too perverted?"
"Haha!" Zhuang Yu'an laughed and returned to bed, turning on his computer while saying, "Don't worry, I'm not that cruel."
A hint of embarrassment crossed his face. He looked at her cautiously and said, "I know your mind is no longer on writing, so I continued to write the ending of the novel. If you think it's okay, could you upload it and finish this novel?"
Zuo Xiao was stunned.
The plot's trajectory completely defied her expectations. She couldn't fathom what had gotten into Zhuang Yu'an to write a sequel, and she couldn't believe he'd actually written one... Come on, this was an online romance novel! The cultural dregs and spiritual pollution he'd once so harshly criticized!
Maybe she should take him to a psychiatrist...
Before she knew it, Zhuang Yu'an had already stuffed the laptop into her arms and said, "It's about 25,000 words in total. Take a look at it over the next two days and feel free to offer any revisions. Of course, you can also completely overturn it. After all, you're the first author and the decision is yours."
Zuo Xiao's dull gaze gradually focused and fell dully on the computer screen.
"Take a moment and look, there's no water in the kettle. I'll go pour some." Zhuang Yu'an said as he got out of bed.
Zuo Xiao read her husband's masterpiece word by word, and the more she read, the more she felt that he was a genius!
He completely mimicked her writing style, even the wording perfectly matching her habits. If she hadn't told him otherwise, no one would have been able to tell it was someone else's work. Could this guy be a genius online writer who'd been delayed by starting a business? With his learning ability, he could easily emulate the ideas and writing styles of a master writer, perhaps even becoming a star from heaven!
However, although his imitation was very lifelike, the ending he gave did not satisfy her.
"What's wrong with this ending?" she demanded, cup in hand. "Two men, one an old love and one a new love, and Jasmine chose neither, and in the end chose her own guard? I don't mean to look down on the guard, but isn't this a bit abrupt?"
Zhuang Yu'an took the cup from her hand and placed it steadily on the bedside table. He then explained seriously, "That groom is despicable, cowardly, and full of lies. Although he keeps saying that he loves Jasmine and is willing to die for her, his actions are not love at all. He has been hurting her all the time and does not deserve her love."
"But he really needs Jasmine and loves her," Zuo Xiao said. "Although I don't agree with his character and don't approve of Jasmine choosing him, objectively speaking, there is a possibility that Jasmine would choose him. Jasmine enjoys being needed by him and misses the time they had together. That was her first love, and it was the opportunity for her to leave the castle and embark on an adventure."
Zhuang Yu'an thought for a moment and said, "What you said makes sense, but I think Jasmine has grown up. She won't dwell on the past and choose someone who is not worthy of love at all."
"Okay, you've convinced me." Zuo Xiao curled his lips and said, "What about the king? She won't choose such a perfect man?"
"The king only looks perfect and seems to love Jasmine, but in fact he lacks sincerity." Zhuang Yu'an said.
"Ah?" Zuo Xiao retorted, "He went to great lengths to save Jasmine and rebelled against a powerful nation. He even promised her to become queen and rule the country with him. He even promised her she could leave anytime she wanted in the future. Isn't that insincere?"
Zhuang Yu'an shook his head. "He clearly knew that Jasmine's ambition was to travel the world and establish an ideal kingdom after truly understanding the world and herself. Yet, he selfishly set up a luxurious cage for Jasmine. If he truly loved her enough and was sincere enough, he should have followed Jasmine on her journey and become her right-hand man, helping her realize her dreams, instead of forcing her to conform to him and be confined to his kingdom."
"Uh..." Zuo Xiao had to admit that Zhuang Yu'an's standards for love were much higher than hers...
"So you chose a guard for her?" she asked. "The guard who was ordinary but always followed her?"
"He's no ordinary person," Zhuang Yu'an said. "He possesses the strongest will and the most unshakable determination. He's the one who loves Jasmine the most and is the one most qualified to stand by her side. Furthermore, he's courageous and resourceful, a partner worthy of trust. He will always accompany Jasmine to explore the world and realize her dreams."
"Besides that," he said, a hint of smile in his eyes, "his figure should be the best among the three men."
"Ah? You know all this?" Zuo Xiao, the original author, couldn't help but look surprised.
Zhuang Yu'an smiled and said, "He was already an excellent mercenary before he met Jasmine. He must have excellent physical fitness, strong chest and abdominal muscles. And the book mentioned that he was very tall, like a mountain, so his appearance must be tall and burly, full of masculinity."
"You really have a keen eye for talent..." Zuo Xiao said sarcastically, "The amount of time I've devoted to him in my novel probably isn't even two thousand words. How on earth did you know he was so talented..."
"Although you didn't write much about him directly, I can deduce it from the side." Zhuang Yu'an said seriously.
"The author had no such intention. It's all up to the readers to imagine, right..." Zuo Xiao said helplessly.
"The question you just raised really reminded me." Zhuang Yu'an ignored her sarcasm and immersed himself in his art. "I should have explained and elaborated more about why Jasmine chose the guard, including the charm of this character, otherwise readers will find it unbelievable. Not all readers are like me, able to deduce the full picture from limited information."
Well, he installed it again... Zuo Xiao put down the computer, leaned back on the bed, and said with empty eyes, "Whatever you want." After thinking for a moment, he said, "When the time comes, I must indicate in the preface that the last few chapters are yours. You can come up with a pen name."
"No need," Zhuang Yu'an said. "If readers knew the writer for the last few chapters was changed, the reading experience would definitely be affected."
"You're quite considerate..." Zuo Xiao said, "But I can't do anything like appropriating the fruits of other people's labor."
Zhuang Yu'an thought for a moment and said, "Then you can write: Thank you Little Bear for supporting my creation. How about that?"
"Haha, alright." Zuo Xiao rolled over and put his arm around his waist. "Thank you, our great writer, for your support! On behalf of the 154 readers who saved this article, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you!"
For the next two days, Zhuang Yu'an spent time with his family and locked himself in his study, writing. Finally, on the night before his sister's birthday, he placed the laptop back in front of his wife.
"It's finished," he reported conscientiously. "Over 7,000 new words have been added, bringing the total to 32,000."
Zuo Xiao was writing lyrics for a new song. Without even looking up, he said, "Then let's release it."
The next morning, Zhuang Yu'an was making breakfast in the kitchen when he suddenly heard a howl.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”
His sister came rushing downstairs and stopped at the kitchen door. He turned and saw her breathing rapidly, her eyes gleaming, her tousled red hair flaring up like someone had set her head on fire.
"elder brother……"
Her voice trembled with excitement:
"The novel I've been following...is finally finished!"
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