The project’s progress was much faster than expected. Gu Lizhou added, “There’s a chance I can make it back before the New Year.”
“Really ah?” Zhong Weishi couldn’t hide the joy in his voice.
“En, I just have one last storyline to fix,” Gu Lizhou said.
Zhong Weishi quickly replied, “Then go fix it quicky ah! I’ll hang up first!”
“Hey, wait,” Gu Lizhou asked, “Has Old Cao’s girlfriend moved in yet?”
As soon as this topic came up, Zhong Weishi’s voice suddenly turned coy, “Moved ah, why?”
Pretend! Keep pretending!
Gu Lizhou sounded calm, but he was in high spirits. “Oh, that’s nice.”
Zhong Weishi bit his fingernail, hesitating, “So are you planning to stay at my place when you come back? If you’re staying with me, I need to prepare the bed in advance.”
“Is it troublesome…”
“No trouble! No trouble! It’s just a matter of putting on a quilt cover!”
Gu Lizhou swallowed back the second half of his sentence, “If it’s troublesome, I’ll just squeeze in with you,” right at the edge of his throat.
But it didn’t matter. He was going back anyway.
*
All of the game’s storylines were revised before the New Year, and Gu Lizhou returned home to spend the Little New Year with his father.
After Gu Zisheng and Li Yuqin divorced, both remained single. Gu Lizhou’s personality was exactly like his father’s—like squeezing toothpaste, someone else always had to start the conversation.
After Gu Lizhou started earning money from publishing books, he moved out, only coming home during holidays.
The father and son sitting together looked like two stone lions.
“Dad, I’m spending the New Year in Yucheng this year,” Gu Lizhou said.
Gu Zisheng poured him a cup of tea. “Going to accompany your mom ah?”
“Mm…” Gu Lizhou didn’t want to lie. After a pause, he added, “With a friend.”
“You dating someone?” Gu Zisheng asked.
“No,” Gu Lizhou already had someone’s smiling face pop into his mind. He looked down and chuckled, “Not yet, but who knows in the future.”
Gu Zisheng slung an arm around his shoulder and gave him a shake. “That’s good ah! When are you bringing them home for Dad to see?”
“Dad,” Gu Lizhou turned to look at him. “What do you think matters most when choosing a partner? Love or all the practical stuff?”
“You have to weigh both. But truly perfect marriages are rare. The most important thing should be that you really like the person. Only when you genuinely like someone will you want to understand them, accept them, and tolerate them. The practical stuff can be figured out over time. But if you don’t love someone, nothing else will work.”
Gu Lizhou smiled. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
Right before the New Year, Gu Lizhou stayed home and wrote tens of thousands of words. Then he messaged his editor on Q.
His editor’s screen name was “Cat Puff Bell,” and the avatar was a cute cat teacher from a Japanese healing anime. They liked to send silly, cutesy stickers, but when it came to chatting, they talked like a total brute—nine and a half minutes out of any ten-minute chat were filled with dirty jokes.
The two of them had never met offline, and Gu Lizhou never quite figured out if they were male or female. But deep down, he just assumed the editor was a guy.
By his count, it had been over ten years—by now, probably a greasy, bald middle-aged man.
The first thing the editor said after adding Gu Lizhou as a friend back then was: “Kid, you’re gonna blow up! As long as you work with me, I guarantee you’ll blow up! Huge!”
It sounded like someone selling health supplements. But in the end, the guy really did manage to sell Gu Lizhou’s… books for a solid price.
This man poured all his energy into cultivating writers—offering comfort when they were down, and dishing out beatdowns when they succeeded. His favorite saying was: “Everything is fleeting. You need to stay calm. Calm.” He sounded like a monk chanting scriptures at an old temple.
Gu Lizhou’s editor was always the first to read and give feedback on all his works.
Gu Lizhou liked to call him Bo Le1a good judge of talent.–xiong2elder brother, while the editor’s nickname for him had evolved from “Wan Lizhou” to “Xao Zhou Zhou,” and later to “Teacher Wan Li.”
When Gu Lizhou announced he was retiring from writing, his Bo Le also sank into a slump for quite a while and almost quit Xinghe Century. It took Gu Lizhou to talk him out of it.
[Wan Lizhou]: Bo Le-xiong, are you there? I’ve got something good for you to check out.
The greyed-out avatar on the other side lit up.
[Cat Puff Bell]: !!!!!!!!!!!!
A long string of exclamation marks burst out with the joy of reunion after a long absence, practically spilling excitement from the screen.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Oh my god ah!!!! I thought I’d never see you online again!
[Wan Lizhou]: I’m not dead.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Hateful!! You went offline for so long, I missed you so much! Without you around, I couldn’t even get it up anymore. (ノω<。)ノ))☆.。
[Wan Lizhou]: ……
Once he confirmed it really was him, Gu Lizhou sent over the character outline and the sample chapters. The other party downloaded them right away.
Half an hour later.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Good! Great! Really great! But it’s just missing a bit of flavor.
Gu Lizhou frowned: What flavor?
[Cat Puff Bell]: The flavor of romance. The plot is engaging, yeah, but the emotional line with the female lead feels a bit thin.
As someone who had been solo since birth, romance had always been Gu Lizhou’s weak spot. In the past, when writing ensemble fantasy stories, he could use all sorts of entanglements and drama to fill the gaps. But in realistic stories like this one, he struggled with pacing the development of romantic relationships.
Switching genres was a huge challenge for him, but he chose to take the advice.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Whether it’s a male and a female, or a male and male, either way, you gotta add some spice and sweetness. Your male lead’s setup is way too much of a chick magnet. Girls aren’t into that these days.
[Wan Lizhou]: Then what are they into?
[Cat Puff Bell]: They like the male lead and the second male lead falling in love.
[Wan Lizhou]: …
[Cat Puff Bell]: Just kidding hahaha, I’m not telling you to write danmei3BL. But you could emphasize the brotherhood♂ more. As for the romance with the female lead, go heavy or light as you wish. Or turn it into a love triangle, that works too. Hey, have you seen “Xiao Ying”?
[Wan Lizhou]: Read the novel.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Although there is no romance it’s got that strong, socialist brotherhood. The investigation plot was super professional, and the emotional arcs were intense. Audiences love that stuff now. Of course, my advice is just for reference—what matters most is that you write what you want to write.
[Wan Lizhou]: Got it. I’ll tweak the emotional line a bit and send it to you once it’s done.
After fussing over his writing, the bald editor started fussing over his love life. When Gu Lizhou admitted he was still single, the editor completely lost it.
[Cat Puff Bell]: I fvcking. When I was single, you were single. When I started dating, you were still single. I’ve got a kid old enough to buy soy sauce and you’re still single? Gu Lizhou, are you even capable or what ah?
All honorifics vanished the moment they started talking real-life.
[Wan Lizhou]: I’m working on it.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Oh? What stage are you at?
[Wan Lizhou]: Flirting.
[Cat Puff Bell]: How much flirting?
[Wan Lizhou]: Very much flirting.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Who is it? Another writer?
[Wan Lizhou]: Go search Sparrow Channel. On the 5th of last month, around noon, there was a game show called “Brave Rush Rush”. The best-looking guy on that episode.
[Cat Puff Bell]: …You’re full of fart.
Gu Lizhou directly tossed over a video link: The guy in the black hoodie at 32:57.
This show’s online views were relatively high compared to others in its genre. After recommending it, Gu Lizhou clicked in to rewatch it himself.
He wasn’t sure if the uploader had recently hyped the video, but the last time he watched it, there were only around a hundred comments floating on screen. Now there were over 1,600.
The moment the video started, a bright floating comment appeared: “Weibo tourists, skip straight to 32:57. You’re welcome.”
After he skipped to the timestamp precisely, he found that Zhong Weishi was now completely covered by a barrage of colorful bullet comments, making his face practically invisible.
Commenter 1: Hahahahahahahahaha why is he so adorably dumb?
Commenter 2: Why didn’t I discover him sooner? I really want to see him in a stage play!
Commenter 3: That face is insane, he’s ridiculously good-looking. At 03 seconds, I saw his abs!!
Commenter 4: I swear I’ve seen this guy somewhere before. He looks really familiar ah.
Gu Lizhou thought to himself: Maybe what you saw was that palace maid who fed gr4p3s to Emperor Shunzhi.
About five minutes later.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Holy shit! This guy’s cheating, right? Is he mixed? He looks like some fvcking plastic surgery model. You actually know him?
Gu Lizhou replied with the secretly recorded late-night “little hamster” mukbang video from the night before they parted.
This person, who usually posted raw, filter-free selfies like an old man, actually went out of his way to download a beauty cam app just to edit that short clip. He added cutesy cat ears and a soft pink shy face effect, and even slapped on some ridiculously sugary background music that was sweet enough to give someone a sore throat.
This wave of dog food was a bit hard to swallow.
[Cat Puff Bell]: Not bad at all. Wishing you instant success in the new year! If you’ve got any confusion in the love department, come to me for advice—no consulting fee!
—
Gu Lizhou booked a flight for the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve. That day also happened to be Valentine’s Day, which made deciding on a gift a little easier.
[Cat Puff Bell]: fvck, Valentine’s Day ah?! Just book a room already! Why bother with all the extra steps?
[Wan Lizhou]: There has to be a gradual process! Besides, I still can’t be 100% sure he’ll accept me.
[Cat Puff Bell]: In that case ah, try testing the waters a bit.
[Wan Lizhou]: How?
The editor sent over a chart listing more than twenty types of intimate behaviors like “doesn’t shy away from physical touch,” “lets you pinch his ear without dodging,” “willing to eat food you feed him,” and so on.
Gu Lizhou carefully noted them down into his phone’s memo app.
[Cat Puff Bell]: If he checks off more than 10 of those, it’s basically a done deal. Then just set up a romantic atmosphere—wine, champagne, wireless home theater, watch a horror movie, hold hands, cuddle up, and get a little tipsy. That’s how adult relationships usually go.
[Cat Puff Bell]: A romantic atmosphere.
“…………”
[Wan Lizhou]: Alright, I’ll give it a shot.
—
Valentine’s Day.
Zhong Weishi was still snoring in bed, when his phone on the bedside table rang nonstop. He squinted and swiped to answer. “Hello,” he mumbled.
In a hazy daze, he heard a familiar voice.
“I’m flying back to Yucheng today. Do you have time to pick me up at the airport?”
A surprise dropped from the sky.
Zhong Weishi jolted upright like a carp leaping from water, every cell in his body instantly waking up.
“Free, free ,free! I’m getting up right now to wash my face and brush my teeth! Wait for me ah!”
“No rush, I’m just about to take off. I’ll arrive in about three hours. It should be about the same when you get to the airport around ten o’clock. We can have a meal together nearby.”
Zhong Weishi nodded like pounding garlic.
Gu Lizhou was still uneasy and reminded, “Be careful on the way.”
“Mm-hmm! You too!”
After the wave of joy, Zhong Weishi looked in the mirror and instantly started stressing over his appearance.
Lately, he’d been so busy studying and performing that he barely had time to sleep. He hadn’t shaved in days, and it had been three or four months since his last haircut. His bangs covered his eyebrows, and his thick, unkempt hair had fluffed into a bird’s nest. On top of that, he was wearing a pilled sweatshirt and sweatpants, looking like someone out scavenging trash.
He quickly changed into a new outfit. Though it was still just a sweatsuit, at least this one wasn’t pilling. He threw on a down vest before heading out.
Barbershops weren’t open this early, so he had to go through the backdoor to find his bro.
Zhong Weishi picked up two orders of fresh meat dumplings from a breakfast shop and sprinted all the way to Da Fei’s house, offering the breakfast like a tribute.
“Who are you going to see so early in the morning ah?” Da Fei opened the door with a yawn.
Zhong Weishi wanted to say he was picking up Gu Lizhou, but felt a little embarrassed. “To audition for a movie.”
Da Fei let out an “Oh,” and led him into his small bedroom. “What kind of cut do you want?”
“Something clean. A buzz cut is fine too.” Zhong Weishi scratched his head. A buzz cut meant he wouldn’t need another haircut for months.
Da Fei was a man brimming with artistic flair—he wouldn’t even look at something as low-level as a buzz cut. He spent a full hour giving Zhong Weishi the latest trending side-parted Douyin prince charming hairstyle, paired with a black athletic headband with lettering. The look was clean, sharp, and full of youthful energy.
When Zhong Weishi opened his eyes and looked in the mirror, he nearly didn’t recognize the boy staring back at him.
“I’m about to fall in love with myself,” Zhong Weishi turned his head left and right in front of the mirror. “Da Fei, your skill is insane. Is this really me? Hm? Is this me?”
Da Fei was laughing hard. “Your face would still look good even with a shaved head ah.”
Zhong Weishi wanted to grab a broom to sweep up the hair on the floor, but Da Fei quickly pushed him out. “Go on, go to your movie audition! Don’t be late! I’ll clean up here.”
“Da Fei, you’re the greatest hidden gem in Xicheng District!” Zhong Weishi shouted as he ran off.
Da Fei leaned on the doorframe and yelled, “Hey, don’t run so fast ah! Your hair will get messed up!”
“Oh oh oh!” Zhong Weishi immediately hit the brakes and flashed him a dazzling smile. “I’ll treat you to a meal later ah!”
Da Fei waved at him with a grin.
“Song Wenfei! What the hell are you yelling about so early in the morning!” Da Fei’s mother poked her head out from the room. “I told you to stop hanging out with those good-for-nothing street punks, and you never listen. Don’t bring them home all the time. It’s noisy as hell. I worked overtime until midnight, can you just let your mom sleep in peace?”
“How many times do I have to tell you? He’s my friend! He’s not a punk!” Da Fei frowned.
“He doesn’t have a real job. If that’s not a punk, what is?”
“He’s got a proper job now. He’s acting in a drama troupe.”
Da Fei’s mom let out a sarcastic snort. “Who even watches drama these days? How much money can that bring in each month? All he does is dream about being a celebrity. You think anyone can become a big star on TV? If you’re not born with that kind of luck, then face reality and get a proper job. You have to stay grounded, understand?”
They really had nothing to say to each other anymore.
Da Fei slammed the door shut with a loud bang, locking it from the inside.
His mother shouted furiously from behind the door, “You brat!”
Zhong Weishi, terrified of ruining his new hairstyle, even craned his neck while riding the subway, determined not to let a single strand of hair be touched.
A few stops before the airport, seats opened up. He sat with his legs tightly pressed together, back straight, and didn’t dare doze off against the window like he usually would.
His earbuds were in, playing the online English course that Gu Lizhou had signed him up for. He downloaded the whole thing and listened to it during spare moments like it was a comedy podcast. From time to time, he would silently mouth a few of the words.
When Gu Lizhou first signed him up, he said: “A lot of artists these days are going international. What if you get dragged onto a red carpet and a foreign reporter interviews you? What are you gonna say—‘love who who,’ ‘we two who and who,’ or ‘you me you me’? Trying to kill them with laughter?”
Thinking of that, Zhong Weishi lowered his head and let out a quiet snort.
A girl sitting across from him nudged her friend with her elbow. The two exchanged a glance, grinned, and pretended to take a selfie, just to capture that boy’s smiling face.
As he got off the train, Zhong Weishi tilted his head to check his reflection in the glass.
His hair was still perfect and he looked handsome.
Gu Lizhou sent him a WeChat.
– I’ve landed. Are you here yet?
– I’m at the T2 lobby.
– Don’t move around and don’t get lost again. I’m walking over now.4You might be confused with this and the chapter title. Author shortened the title from this sentence.
– OKK!
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