“Has the bank come looking for me? I see. It was only a matter of time, though I didn’t expect it to happen so soon… Yeah, I’ll be right back.” After hanging up the phone, Yu Ningmeng sighed.
“Regarding online payments?” Xia Yu picked up his teacup and took a sip.
This was the tea that An Siyao and Zhu Mei liked. He couldn’t tell what was so special about it, but he had silently continued drinking it all this time to maintain his dignity.
He had successfully deceived An Siyao and the others. Gradually, the amount of cola and Sprite at home decreased, and daily drinks had been replaced by tea.
Now he could only go to Xu Youxiang’s place to drink beverages.
Returning to the pavilion, Yu Ningmeng took a sip of tea: “Yes, I have to go now.”
She looked at Xia Yu with reluctance.
“There’ll be plenty of time in the future,” Xia Yu replied.
Yu Ningmeng’s expression first softened, then turned shy, as she gave Xia Yu a reproachful glance.
I meant it literally!
Xia Yu’s thoughts suddenly veered off. He rubbed his waist, thinking that once Yu Ningmeng left, he would feel much more relaxed.
His level 3 endurance was no longer sufficient. He needed to find a body with relevant skills and level up a bit.
“I’m leaving now.” Yu Ningmeng stood up after placing her teacup down.
“Shall I see you off?” Xia Yu also stood up.
“No, my assistant is coming with me.” Yu Ningmeng turned her head toward the nearby Wen Ziying.
Wen Ziying quietly sipped her tea, watching the flowers as if Yu Ningmeng and Xia Yu weren’t even there.
She had come with Yu Ningmeng, serving as an interpreter.
“Will you go back with me?” Yu Ningmeng asked her.
“The scenery here is quite nice. I’ll stay for a few more days to enjoy it,” Wen Ziying replied.
“Alright, contact me if anything happens.” Yu Ningmeng turned around, blocking Xia Yu’s view with her back, and gave Wen Ziying a gesture of encouragement.
Wen Ziying didn’t respond. She didn’t know how to react.
Together with Xia Yu, she accompanied Yu Ningmeng to the door before returning.
The two sat in the pavilion, suddenly feeling rather awkward.
Although Wen Ziying had often come with Yu Ningmeng over the years, she had never been alone with Xia Yu.
And during these years, Xia Yu had never entered Wen Ziying’s body.
The pavilion was silent, creating an awkward atmosphere.
Trying to break the ice, Xia Yu attempted to start a conversation.
So, what kind of topic would be appropriate?
The wind is particularly noisy today?
The weather is really nice today?
Discarding those two options, Xia Yu settled on a fairly common question: “Where are you planning to travel?”
“I’m not planning to go anywhere,” Wen Ziying said.
“Then what will you do?” Xia Yu asked curiously.
“Write a novel.” Wen Ziying spoke slowly, almost deliberately so.
“Didn’t you retire from writing?” Xia Yu asked instinctively, then immediately realized this was an inappropriate question—it felt like asking, “Aren’t you on a diet?”
He quickly changed the subject: “What’s it about?”
“A story about a young man who gains superpowers.” Wen Ziying played with the delicate teacup.
“And then?” Xia Yu pressed on. He greatly admired Wen Ziying’s storytelling ability and was eager to hear an intriguing plot.
“His power is puppet manipulation.” Wen Ziying finished examining the patterns on the cup and started stroking it.
Puppet manipulation? Wielding several puppets into battle?
Xia Yu couldn’t help but think of an outdated video game character.
“Superpower battle?” Xia Yu asked curiously about the novel’s theme.
“No.” Wen Ziying lifted her head and stared at Xia Yu. “After discovering his ability, he becomes obsessed with controlling women’s bodies to do inappropriate things.”
Xia Yu instinctively averted his gaze.
Wait, I haven’t done anything inappropriate. This isn’t about me.
Regaining his composure, Xia Yu continued listening.
“Like going to the bathroom, taking showers, and such.” Wen Ziying cast sidelong glances at Xia Yu.
Xia Yu felt uneasy. He had indeed done those things, but he had no choice. He couldn’t possibly hold it for eight hours without going to the bathroom during gameplay.
As for taking showers, if he could go to the bathroom, why not shower? Besides, what Wen Ziyu did had nothing to do with Xia Yu.
“Then, he fully reveals his evil side.” Wen Ziying’s voice dropped lower.
Xia Yu’s heart sank.
What evil things have I done? Nothing, really.
Maybe he just forgot, after all these years.
He anxiously awaited Wen Ziying’s explanation, but she picked up her tea and sipped slowly, leaving Xia Yu impatient.
Half a minute later, Wen Ziying finally put down her teacup.
“After he gets bored with all that, he cruelly abandons the woman, completely ignoring the psychological burden she must bear after her innocence has been destroyed.”
“???”
“You think that man didn’t ruin that woman’s innocence?” Wen Ziying stared at Xia Yu, pressing further.
“This… maybe?” Xia Yu couldn’t refute her.
“So, do you think that man should take responsibility?” Wen Ziying asked again.
Xia Yu clenched his fists, unsure of Wen Ziying’s intentions.
Over the years, he had met Wen Ziying even less frequently than Yu Ningmeng, and they had barely exchanged a few words each time.
He cautiously ventured: “This is a novel, right? If he takes responsibility, won’t there be nothing left to write about?”
“If he does take responsibility, this novel would become a sweet romantic story.” Wen Ziying smiled.
“And if he doesn’t?” Xia Yu asked curiously.
Wen Ziying’s smile didn’t fade but instead became even brighter: “If he doesn’t, the woman will awaken the ability to inflict eighteen kinds of torture.”
“What kind of ability is that?” Xia Yu asked.
“It forces the person involved to be dragged to a torture chamber and experience eighteen different tortures.” Wen Ziying answered.
“That’s so unfair!” Xia Yu exclaimed in astonishment.
Wen Ziying continued: “Actually, I haven’t decided on the eighteen tortures yet. What do you think would be good? Maybe something like being torn apart by six horses would be enough.”
Isn’t it usually five horses?
Xia Yu thought carefully and analyzed thoroughly before reaching a conclusion.
Wow, that’s brutal!
Is this a threat? How should I respond to this topic?
As Xia Yu struggled, Wen Ziying suddenly changed the subject:
“Of course, reality isn’t like that. Awakening abilities is just a woman’s dream. She doesn’t have any powers, and the man never reappears. She can only spend her entire life alone. When she dies, no one is by her side. Her body rots for half a month before being discovered by a thief.”
Suddenly shifting from blood and gore to a deeply depressing tone.
Compared to the abrupt change in tone, the ending of dying alone was even more shocking to Xia Yu.
After a moment of silence, Xia Yu asked: “Then how should the responsible storyline develop?”
“Hmm—how about writing that the man approaches the woman in person, slowly building up affection like a normal romance, then confesses his feelings and proposes?” Wen Ziying pinched her fingers, looking somewhat uneasy.
Xia Yu calmed down completely. He looked at Wen Ziying: “How should he approach her?”
Wen Ziying lowered her head: “Maybe like a chance encounter in a garden?”
“How about we go check out the backyard garden?” Xia Yu extended his hand.
Wen Ziying grabbed Xia Yu’s hand.
…
Half an hour later.
“Ugh, I clearly said I wanted to take things slowly like a normal romance!”
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