Tap~ After typing the final character, Chu Lian had spent almost the entire morning sitting at her desk rushing to finish her manuscript, paying no attention whatsoever to anything else.
Fortunately, this Saturday had only been arranged so the students could return to school and deal with certain matters. Classes were not compulsory, and no one was forcing them to stay or leave.
Thus, no one disturbed Chu Lian while she worked. Despite being a painfully slow typist who could only manage three thousand words an hour, she still wrote nearly fifteen thousand words that morning. Added to the six thousand or so she had already completed, it was just enough for one issue of the magazine.
However, with more than forty thousand words still remaining, she no longer felt like continuing. Perhaps she had been typing for too long and grown tired, leaving her mentally sick of it.
She was clearly capable of continuing, but doing such quiet work alone somehow felt rather strange.
"Big Sis, are you finished?" Chu Chu had been watching Chu Lian the whole time. The moment she saw her stop, she immediately hurried over and asked solicitously.
"Not exactly. I've only finished the manuscript for one issue. There are still two more. But I don't have much motivation left right now. Although people who enjoy writing can become immersed in it, it really is a tedious task. Without tremendous perseverance, you can't keep going."
Hearing Chu Chu's question, Chu Lian saved the document, closed her laptop, stretched, and spoke softly.
"Well, I don't really want to write novels anyway. Drawing suits me better. I'll just draw manga. All I need is for Big Sis to help me come up with a story." Chu Chu handed Chu Lian a bottle of water, then sat on her desk and swung her legs as she spoke.
"Drawing manga is actually no different from writing novels. Before you begin earning any income, both require perseverance to keep going. People like us who can get published have it easier. But for those who can't, or those who write web novels, hardly anyone can endure the early stages when no one reads their work, votes for it, or sends rewards."
"But every creator goes through that. Once you overcome that hurdle within yourself, there really won't be any problem. So..." Chu Lian had not said all this merely to fill the silence. She wanted to remind Chu Chu of something. "If you truly intend to draw manga, you can't keep losing interest after a few minutes. You must devote your passion and energy to it. Otherwise, you would be better off not drawing at all."
"Big Sis, I know. Honestly, why can you turn even a conversation like this into a lecture?" Chu Chu felt somewhat embarrassed. She knew her own personality and naturally understood why Chu Lian was saying this, but it still felt a little humiliating.
"I'm telling you now because it'll be too late once you start drawing. Readers don't fear the occasional hiatus because genuine readers will understand the creator. What readers fear most is that all their effort and patience won't be rewarded with a complete story."
Chu Lian was not speaking from personal experience. In her previous life, several of her friends had been creators, either drawing manga or writing web novels. They had all gone through such experiences and spoken to her about them. She had remembered their words and now passed them on to Chu Chu as advice.
"I know. You have to finish it, right? And by finishing, you don't mean the creator simply declaring it over. The story has to reach a reasonable conclusion at a certain stage, right?" Chu Chu pouted. Although Big Sis was absolutely right, she still did not want to be lectured like a child.
"As long as you understand." Hearing that, Chu Lian did not continue. Although this girl was unreliable in many respects, once she fully understood how difficult something would be and still chose to do it, that meant she was truly prepared and genuinely wanted to see it through.
"By the way, Big Sis, you mentioned web novels just now... Aren't those things only meant for passing the time? Although they've developed somewhat now, the quality varies wildly, and authors constantly stop updating for no reason. It's hard to know what to say about them."
Although web novels existed in this world as well, their development had been hindered by the prosperity of traditional literature and the Huaxian people's stubborn preference for printed books.
Chu Lian had previously assumed they did not exist at all. Only recently had she accidentally discovered that they did. However, web novels were still in their infancy on most websites.
Although paid VIP reading systems were already quite well developed, there were few readers, and the quality of the works was worrying. It made people wonder whether the industry had any future at all.
"There's no helping it. It's only just begun developing, so you can't expect too much." Chu Lian did not want to discuss the issue in depth. That was not something she needed to concern herself with right now. She should focus instead on how to deal with the President's visit on Monday.
The girl clasped both hands behind her head and stared at the ceiling before suddenly asking, "Chu Chu, what do you think the President is trying to do? Our school may be famous worldwide, but it's also notoriously exclusionary. The requirements for foreigners who want to study here are incredibly strict."
"No, Big Sis. Haven't you noticed that it isn't only the President who's acting strangely? The school is too," Chu Chu replied, pointing out something Chu Lian had overlooked.
"I know. The school's decision to expand enrollment globally completely overturns the image it has always presented. How should I put it? It's as though they're preparing some major reform." It was not that Chu Lian had failed to notice. She had also been wondering why, so she had unconsciously pushed the matter aside and neglected to ask about it.
"I think the school has sensed the strange changes taking place around the world and intends to use this opportunity to spread its network across the globe." The three girls who had stepped outside earlier returned at that moment. After overhearing Chu Lian and Chu Chu's conversation, Liu Yanran bit lightly on her right index finger and gave her answer.
"Whatever the reason, change is always a good thing. There will also be more outstanding students. That'll be a challenge for us too, won't it?" Cai Ya welcomed the idea. She had been thinking that no one could make her life more interesting.
"I think the school is sending a signal to the outside world that we don't know about, telling everyone watching that we're about to change." Li Xiu'er's reasoning was somewhat unusual, but after hearing it, Chu Lian felt that it might truly be the case.
"Forget it, forget it, forget it. It has nothing to do with us, so why worry so much? Are we going home this afternoon or staying at school?" Chu Lian scratched her hair and immediately tossed the entire matter aside. She even abandoned her attempt to understand the President's purpose in visiting and changed the subject.
"Hehehe~" Apart from Cai Ya, who rolled her eyes at Chu Lian, the other girls all laughed. When Chu Lian shamelessly acted unreasonable, there was truly nothing anyone could do. It seemed willful, yet unexpectedly adorable.
"Let's stay at school. We could go home, but doing this sort of thing at school gives it a much better atmosphere." Seeing everyone else laughing, Cai Ya had no choice but to answer.
Who could have expected Chu Lian to suddenly lean closer after hearing that? She gently blew into Cai Ya's ear and whispered, "What sort of thing do you mean? Could it be H? Ya, you're such a lustful girl..."
Chu Lian performed the entire sequence with practiced ease, flirting, teasing, and molesting her all at once. While Cai Ya flushed with embarrassment and panic, a strange feeling suddenly arose within her, and she blurted out, "Why are you so experienced at this?"
"Pfft~" Chu Lian knew Cai Ya was referring to the way she had teased her. Yet when the flustered girl asked that question, she could not help recalling the White Album craze that had once flourished in her previous world. The image of Kazusa Touma overlapped with Cai Ya, and they were unexpectedly similar.
"What happened between you two?" The other girls had been laughing among themselves and had not noticed Chu Lian, giving her the opportunity to tease Cai Ya. Now that they heard Cai Ya's question, they immediately became curious about what had just happened.
"Nothing. You're imagining things." How could Chu Lian possibly tell them? As long as she remained silent, the proud Cai Ya would never say anything either, and no one would know what had just occurred.
"Interesting. How interesting..." Not far away, Qu Ningmeng, who had been pretending to sleep, quietly opened one eye and witnessed the entire process of Chu Lian teasing Cai Ya. Hearing Chu Lian shamelessly deny it afterward, she found the whole thing rather amusing.
"We know something definitely happened between you two, but we won't pursue it." Unable to get anything out of her, the girls could only roll their eyes at Chu Lian to express their thoughts.
"Let's go to the guzheng room this afternoon and discuss how to handle the President's visit. Since we've already accepted the responsibility, we must do our best. No matter how talented the students from the other classes or older grades may be, we have to believe we're the best. Only then can we truly succeed."
Her expression turning serious, Chu Lian instantly shifted from playful teasing back into a proper discussion, and her tone grew earnest.
The girls had long since grown accustomed to such sudden changes in her demeanor. Thus, after hearing her words, they stopped fooling around and nodded seriously.
"They really are a lively group. But they still don't suit me, at least not yet~" Seeing Chu Lian and the others begin discussing serious matters, the little girl closed her eyes in boredom. Chu Lian's group had not yet reached the perfect state she envisioned. For now, all she needed to do was watch.
"Chu Lian, phew... Are you all right?" Ruriko Nana and Lux Lyle, who had vanished somewhere for the entire morning, approached one after the other. They looked as though they had just finished some intense exercise. Both girls' faces were flushed, and a peculiar fragrance emanated from their bodies, making those who smelled it instinctively feel captivated.
When Nana returned and saw that Chu Lian was no longer busy, she walked over and asked her.
"I'm fine, although there have indeed been quite a lot of things happening lately." The scent lingering beneath her nose was extremely familiar. It contained not only the girls' pure natural fragrance, but also a faintly seductive aroma identical to the scent Xiu'er and Chu Chu emitted when they reached their climax.
Although she noticed this, her expression did not change. She felt deeply envious of the two girls' lifestyle, but now was not the time to mention it.
After all, bringing it up would not only embarrass the two girls to death, but also implicate Chu Lian herself. Why was she so familiar with that scent?
"When there are too many things to handle, don't rush to resolve them all. You still have plenty of time. There's no need to push yourself so hard." Lux Lyle understood this feeling rather well because she had once been exactly that kind of person.
But now that she had met Chu Lian and the others, as well as the person who would remain by her side, everything was different.
She did not want Chu Lian to become like that too. It was a frightening existence. When matters piled up around you every day, you eventually lost all sense of direction.
"I know. That's why I've been relaxing lately. Had the President not suddenly decided to come here for no reason, I wouldn't be dealing with all this trouble. But once this matter is resolved, I'll have at least a month to rest. Then I'll be able to go out and have fun with everyone."
Chu Lian waved her hand. She had brought this on herself, so there was no avoiding it. However, she had already decided to give herself a month-long vacation after this matter ended and spend those leisurely days resting properly.
She had no desire to devote herself to endless affairs day and night. Rather than waste time on that, she might as well search for a way to make her breasts grow.
Their tiny size left her deeply disappointed. She also missed the body of her fox-spirit form, with its development that towered over everyone her age. It had truly been wonderful.
"That's good. There's nothing wrong with resolving our matter after you're finished with everything else." Hearing her words, Lux Lyle understood Chu Lian's underlying meaning and smiled faintly.
"By the way, Nana, would you two like to come play at my house? Yanran and the others have been visiting often these past few days, but I haven't seen either of you there. Besides, if everyone gathers together, we'll be able to exchange ideas about the game too."
When Chu Lian reached the final part, she lowered her voice, clearly not wanting anyone else to hear.
"Sure. As long as we won't be disturbing you." Nana was also curious about what Chu Lian's home was like. Hearing the invitation, she readily agreed.
"Mm. There are also a few things we should discuss, such as what we're having for lunch today."
As the bell rang to signal the end of class, the girls left one after another, their cheerful conversation never stopping.
Youth was all about being this experienced...