After going through all sorts of trials and tribulations, from the stream rapidly hitting the site’s trending topics only to be taken down within minutes, the livestream being banned by the Association for emergency rectification, Bai Qiu getting a phone call from the president for a lecture, and Wuyuzi posting an apology only for it to be deleted for suspected inflammatory remarks against the “Magic Association,” finally at 9:00 PM, the “New Book Press Conference” began.
Don’t ask how all those trials and tribulations came about; the point is, it was all sorts of trials and tribulations.
On screen was a place that really looked like a press conference venue.
Bai Qiu, dressed in an evening gown, sat with elegant and dignified posture, holding a microphone and a teleprompter, as if she really were the host of a press conference.
Sitting across from her, Wuyuzi had also changed from mage attire into the same evening gown, wearing an equally amiable smile.
“Dear audience friends, no matter when you’re watching this, in any case, good morning, good afternoon, and good evening to you.”
“Today is the launch event for my new book: . For more content about the new book, please look forward to the press conference that follows.”
The two wore elegant and courteous smiles as they played off each other.
[Who’s on stage right now?]
[They turned two demon pills into spirit pearls.]
[They brought out both their good personalities. The Association is just too authoritative.]
[The demon pills are gone? What are we supposed to watch?]
“Teacher Wuyuzi, I’ve already read through your new book roughly. I have some questions I’d like to ask you,” Bai Qiu said.
Wuyuzi adjusted her clothes and sitting posture, facing Bai Qiu squarely, and raised her microphone with a smile: “Alright, go ahead.”
“This novel is already refreshing just from its synopsis. May I ask why you thought of writing such an imaginative subject matter?”
“I’d like to say it’s adapted from my real experiences, but I don’t think you’d believe me.” Wuyuzi smiled, “This is a creation based on a story I’ve read as a prototype, and inevitably I’ve added some of my own understanding and my own personal touches.”
“That’s understandable. After all, works are created by people. It’d be strange if there were no personal ideas in it.”
Bai Qiu glanced at the teleprompter, “Then the second question: why did you design the protagonist’s character setting the way you did?”
“That’s a good question.”
Wuyuzi nodded, as if acknowledging Bai Qiu’s question, “This question inevitably involves spoilers. Here, I will tell you in the most straightforward, most concise, least roundabout, simplest and easiest to understand, most piercing, least hidden, most frank, most direct, least dragging, most solid, least long-winded, and least wordy way possible.”
Wuyuzi raised her head and said with full confidence: “Because the protagonist’s prototype is me.”
[That’s alkyl-eight-nitrogen-ed up.]
[Now I have no choice but to buy it and taste the flavor.]
[Every single one of them is a little greedy cat.]
“What about the other characters? Do they also have character prototypes, and who are those prototypes?”
“The other characters also have prototypes. I didn’t make many modifications to their original personalities and settings. Of course, their prototypes are also my precious friends.”
“Alright.” Bai Qiu nodded, “I think some audience friends will be very curious about how this novel differs from your previous ones. Could you introduce it to everyone without spoiling anything?”
All the lights immediately converged on Wuyuzi.
“Of course, no problem. I’d be happy to.” Wuyuzi stood up, and a book materialized in her hand, “The biggest difference between this work and my previous works is———unlike before, where the perspective was always locked onto the protagonist, this is an ensemble drama that often unfolds stories from different characters’ perspectives.”
Wuyuzi opened the book, “For example, this chapter. The perspective of this chapter isn’t Monogatari Yagiri, but Shirakami Tsurukyo. I personally like to call her Little Mirror.”
“After reading this work, I noticed that the yuri content is perhaps too high? You previously wrote male protagonist stories. Why did you want to write something with such high yuri content this time?”
Wuyuzi shook her head, “It’s not too high. To me, it’s just right. Because the relationships between the characters also largely restore the relationships between my friends.”
Wuyuzi casually tossed the book, and it disappeared.
“My idea is to write a world that readers will feel truly exists, to immerse readers in enjoying the story and the connections and entanglements between characters, rather than just writing grand but empty themes. In my view, yuri and romance are precisely the best elements for carrying such a delicate theme.”
“What a bold and beautiful idea.” Bai Qiu clapped, “I’m delighted by your boldness, my friend.”
“I like your delight.” Wuyuzi sat back down.
“I have no more questions. Is there anything else Teacher Wuyuzi would like to say?”
“Yes. The current isn’t the complete version yet, but there are some things I can’t wait to share with everyone.” Wuyuzi pointed forward, “Please look at the big screen.”
Bai Qiu and Wuyuzi both looked forward.
In front of the two appeared illustrations from the book, arranged one by one before them.
Not just the cover and color inserts, but also the black-and-white illustrations inside the book, and even character design art for each major character.
Not counting the character design art, there were 30 illustrations in total. There were illustrations of characters plus scenery in an oil painting style; character side portraits like sketches; aesthetic and ethereal imagery with impressionist lighting and color; fantastical perspectives paired with grand stage scenes, and so on—breathtaking illustrations.
The quality was so high that one couldn’t help but ask: is this really the illustrations for a light novel?
“Truly exquisite illustrations.” Bai Qiu clapped in admiration, “I wonder who this ‘Liuyu’ is—which illustrator? He draws so well, yet I’ve never heard of him.”
Bai Qiu considered her love for two-dimensional culture second to none, yet she had completely never heard of an illustrator this good who wasn’t famous.
Logically, an illustrator with such a distinct and unique style—she would definitely remember at a glance. Was it a big shot’s alternate account? But his style didn’t match any illustrator she remembered.
“He’s my friend, and also the person who drew the character design for my virtual avatar. He’s my exclusive illustrator. This time, I chose to entrust the illustrations for this novel—which has extraordinary significance to me—to him.”
Wuyuzi’s answer wasn’t surprising. After all, she was the enigmatic Wuyuzi; it wasn’t strange that she could find such an unknown big shot.
“To have your trust like this, he must be a brilliant artist.”
“That’s right. Apart from his terrible personality, he really is an impeccable painter.”
The two exchanged a glance and covered their mouths with soft giggles like proper ladies.
[You two, please don’t act so normal…]
[I’m seeing the dragon fruit effect…]
[Two saucy furries came to my bedside, and when I turned my head I saw two black-and-white Jiahaos.]
[I’m begging you… change back… I’ll never black you again…]
The audience was about to be driven into an uncanny valley by these two. They looked about the same as usual, yet they gave off an indescribably unsettling feeling.
Bai Qiu and Wuyuzi stood up together.
“This work will go on sale in the summer. Purchases will come with randomly distributed exquisite merchandise including acrylic standees of the main characters, character transparent cards, character bookmarks, and more. The more you buy, the more you get.”
“That’s all we can reveal about the novel’s content. If you’d like to know what happens next, please purchase the official book to find out.”
The two bowed together.
A red curtain like a theater screen covered the display from both sides.
[That’s it?]
[For some reason, I feel like I’ve been scammed… can I report this?]
Just when the audience thought it was over, the curtain opened again. The two, now back in their original outfits, stood on screen in bizarre poses, the weirdness comparable to the Three Beneath the Moon.
“Bai Qiu, old buddy, don’t you think the ‘Magic Association’ has way too many rules? And the pay isn’t great either.” Wuyuzi said this as she walked toward Bai Qiu.
“That can’t be helped, Wuyuzi, old pal.” Bai Qiu also shrugged and walked toward Wuyuzi, “When you live under someone’s roof, you have to bow your head. Besides, this is a stable government job with benefits.”
“I say, why don’t we just establish a new association ourselves, so we don’t have to put up with this crap.” Wuyuzi extended her hand to her.
“That’s a very tempting proposal. Even I have to admit I’m a bit moved.” Bai Qiu sat down, one leg drawn up, one hand resting on it, looking at Wuyuzi sideways.
[666, attacking the Heavenly Court without inviting me.]
[Red SC coming to support.]
[This still isn’t banned? The Association is too merciful.]
[What am I even watching…]
[Am I shipping them? I didn’t even eat mushrooms.]
“But I refuse!”
“Wha—what!? You actually…!”
“The thing I hate most in my life is people who don’t know how to repay kindness! The Association has taken such good care of me—how could I betray it? If I can’t repay the Association with this life of mine, then what meaning is there in living!”
[I bet one membership that Bai Qiu doesn’t mean a word of this.]
[Raising the stakes.]
[+1 White Snow membership.]
[Adding one Prismatic Meteor Shower.]
“Ow ow ow ow.” Bullet comments rained down one after another, hitting Bai Qiu so hard she clutched her head.
“Take my advice, Bai Qiu.” Wuyuzi unfurled a magic circle, drew out an ornate magic staff, and pointed it at her, “Will you rebel against the Association with me, or will you be finished off by me right here.”
“I will absolutely never betray it!”
“Then there’s nothing more to say.”
“Nothing more to say.” Bai Qiu opened her eyes, revealing a resolute gaze.
[Why are they fighting?]
[………What am I even watching?]
[No one in the next five hundred years will understand this episode.]
[Don’t pressure future generations.]
Wuyuzi swung her magic staff and struck at Bai Qiu.
Bai Qiu dodged sideways, then immediately sent Wuyuzi flying with a palm strike.
“Uwaaah~~~”
Wuyuzi crashed heavily onto a large bed that suddenly appeared. The magic staff flew from her hand, and even her clothes were knocked loose, leaving only a thin nightgown on her body.
“As I thought, no one will ever understand me…” She curled up into a ball on the bed, “Just like no one understands my novels, no one will ever animate my novels.”
“I understand you!” Bai Qiu came to Wuyuzi’s side.
“Don’t worry.” She patted Wuyuzi’s shoulder and gave a thumbs up, “Since no one else is willing to animate it, then I’ll just establish an animation company and animate it myself, right?”
Wuyuzi sat up. For a moment she seemed unable to understand Bai Qiu’s meaning, and tilted her head.
“I mean, I’ll invest and establish an animation company to animate all your novels!”
“R-really?” Wuyuzi’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth, her face full of astonishment.
“Of course. When I, Bai Qiu, give my word, it’s a team of four horses that can’t catch up to it!” Bai Qiu patted her completely flat chest.
“Ahhhhh!!! Bai Qiu!!!”
“Wuyuzi!!!!”
Having shouted with all their strength, just as Bai Qiu was about to collapse, Wuyuzi caught her.
Bai Qiu wore a look of confusion and surprise.
Wuyuzi hesitated to speak, but finally broke into a smile: “Thank you️…”
The two embraced passionately.
“Bro…!”
“Good bro!”
Even without seeing Wuyuzi’s face, one could feel that behind the screen she must have been teary-eyed.
[Why aren’t they fighting anymore?]
[Why are they calling each other bro?]
[Doesn’t anyone think this scene is really creepy?]
“Let’s go, let’s drink!”
Wuyuzi pulled Bai Qiu along and disappeared from the screen. A large END appeared on the black backdrop, and the livestream ended there.
[Wasn’t this press conference way too short!]
[I waited so long and this is all the content there is!]
[I must have reached the end of my life.]
[After watching today’s livestream, all my debts for the next life have been cleared.]
[I really should go to sleep…]
……………
“Oh my god…”
Bai Qiumu, who had watched the entire livestream in her own room, had a darkened face. She pressed hard on her throbbing temple, struggling to restrain herself so she wouldn’t immediately charge into her brother’s room, drag her out, and give her a proper disciplining.
She felt she really needed to take her brother to see a doctor, to get her to change this personality of pretending to be rich when she’s not, suffering for the sake of saving face in the end, and going through with things to the bitter end even if she has to borrow money—otherwise the family would sooner or later be cleaned out by her.
These days, even doing civil engineering had more prospects than running an animation company.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.