Chapter 158: Keep Your Readers In Check!
“This child might be able to drive web novels overseas.”
Seeing so many foreigners interested in Yu Wei’s novels, Qi Luo An couldn’t help but be greatly surprised. It seemed these people wanted to devour a pound…
Of course, they were just interested in Yu Wei the person. As for the novels, they were merely a way to understand him.
To understand Yu Wei, reading his novels was indeed the best method. The protagonist’s persona in web novels is a certain mapping of the author’s personality.
They can’t be completely equated, but their worldviews basically align. Take the “Star Rating” he wrote, for example.
A system that nitpicks everything, obviously meant to bombard domestic entertainment, yet he managed to turn it into a lively story.
This shows that Yu Wei isn’t very aggressive. What drives him isn’t competitiveness, but pure fun—try it if it’s interesting, forget it if not.
Although Qi Luo An’s protagonist uses Yu Wei’s template, sometimes she still advances the plot according to her own thought processes, rebellious as ever…
Seeing the author through the novel is absolutely feasible, but it’s unknown if these foreigners can understand it. This has nothing to do with translation, but cultural difference.
They might still check out cultivation, qi training, or otherworld stuff, but entertainment topics basically can’t go overseas because the content is too locally self-indulgent.
Foreigners haven’t even heard the songs, let alone any immersion or thrill. Even if they search and listen, they’re unlikely to like Chinese songs.
Do they really think the whole universe speaks Chinese? Without understanding the lyrics, just the melody—Chinese songs have few advantages.
“It depends on you!”
Qi Luo An solemnly patted Yu Wei’s shoulder. “Only your entertainment stories might make it out of the country, because everyone doesn’t care about the plot.”
Yu Wei wasn’t happy hearing this. Just say his novels have no appeal, done. And not caring about the plot? Who doesn’t care if the plot is good?
Sometimes, things everyone knows deep down don’t need to be euphemized…
After the film festival ended, they should logically have a celebration banquet, but the return plane tickets were already arranged, so they decided to celebrate back home.
Early the next morning, Yu Wei got up on time. This was the short film team’s last morning in Leuven.
Just as he was about to leave hurriedly without taking a single cloud, the neatly dressed Qi Luo An knocked on his door.
“Last morning, not going out for a stroll?” Qi Luo An seemed afraid he wouldn’t agree and persuaded gently: “A place like Belgium might not have another chance. Leave a memento.”
Since they arrived, they seemed busy every day and hadn’t properly strolled the streets. She just wanted to leave memories unique to them before leaving.
Half an hour is enough, won’t take much kung fu.
“Sounds pretty good.”
If they just left like this, it really felt like a wasted trip. Coming all this way just to carry a trophy back looked like a business trip no matter how you saw it.
After a quick pack-up, the two aimlessly went out.
Before leaving, Qi Luo An finally switched back to her rebellious outfit: a loose milky white knit sweater paired with light black high-waisted trousers, looking like piano keys.
Yu Wei even suspected she wore it on purpose… Wanting to be played, huh.
The two walked along the cobblestone path in the morning light toward the market square. Passing St. Peter’s Church, Qi Luo An stopped, looked up, and snapped the Gothic spire’s silhouette in the dawn.
Last time Yu Wei came, he was only thinking about the priest boy and didn’t think to take a photo for memory—typical otaku thinking.
“Come over to the camera shot.”
The church’s stained glass windows shimmered with vibrant colors in the rising sun. Qi Luo An pulled him to stand where light and shadow intersected, using her mobile phone to take their first photo together.
She smiled and tilted her head to lean on his shoulder; he was slightly stiff but with an upturned mouth.
The two photographed well. Qi Luo An held her mobile phone, looking again and again, momentarily reluctant to put it down.
“You have a dream of being a photographer too?”
“No, just like this one… So why did you say ‘too’?”
Yu Wei smiled without speaking. Isn’t it normal for a young lady to want to be a photographer?
After passing through the arched alleys of the old town, they settled breakfast at a small shop in a corner wafting baking aromas.
Qi Luo An ordered waffles drizzled with chocolate sauce. Yu Wei didn’t like the stuff and chose a croissant and coffee.
“No taste, not eating Belgium’s signboard dessert.”
“Ate it the first day, not as good as pancakes rolled with scallions.”
He saw chocolate sauce on Qi Luo An’s mouth when she bit down, then subconsciously grabbed a tissue to wipe it off for her, but hesitated and put it down.
It wasn’t that Yu Wei was reserved; mainly, she had a bit of a perverted streak, and he was afraid she’d lick his hand…
Passing a bookstore window, Qi Luo An pointed at the cartoon cow on the Dutch picture book cover and laughed; passing Leuven University Library, she raised her camera to capture the vines on the brick walls and the slanted shadows from sculptures.
In front of a flower-draped residential window, she had Yu Wei squat to tie his shoelaces, then quietly snapped him framed with the blooming hydrangeas behind.
The two walked and stopped, unknowingly circling back to the hotel. The sunlight grew intense; they should pack and head home.
“Thanks for taking me out, had a lot of fun.”
Actually, otakus want to go out too, mainly can’t find company. Qi Luo An’s initiative matched his idea perfectly.
Probably only she could be this tacit with him…
“Just thanks? No token of appreciation?”
Qi Luo An said it casually, but unexpectedly Yu Wei actually pulled out a stack of postcards from his bag and started flipping through.
He had bought them on impulse earlier passing the bookstore, saying to bring them back as mementos.
“Giving it to you.”
Qi Luo An helplessly took the little card he handed over. She had watched him buy it, less than ten bucks converted.
Fine to give, but just one?
She didn’t know what to say for a moment. Whatever, better than nothing—this was Yu Wei’s first proper gift to her.
The card’s front was a relief of Leuven’s town hall, the back elegant French art script, quite exquisite—nice for collection.
The two returned to their rooms to pack luggage. Qi Luo An stuffed her items into the suitcase one by one, but a strange feeling gradually rose in her heart.
If it was just a perfunctory postcard, why did Yu Wei pick…
She seemed to have found the highlight.
Qi Luo An picked up the postcard and examined it closely. The front landscape was nothing special; she flipped to the back and used photo translation to recognize the art script.
The translation popping up on the screen made her hold her breath.
“Before the bells ring, you’ve taken my morning.”
……
Brussels airport’s morning light filtered through the glass dome, spilling on the smooth floor.
Yu Wei’s team arrival caused a slight stir. A few European-faced passengers whispered, mobile phone cameras quietly turning toward them.
More precisely, mainly filming Yu Wei. Last night’s local entertainment headlines carried the latest news; “Castle in the Sky” became a work known to all locals.
Yu Wei had made a name in Europe’s art circle. Who says the East has no pianists? This piece is the best proof.
“That postcard of yours…”
Qi Luo An hesitated the whole way but finally decided to ask, it was making her heart surge holding it in.
“Did you lose it?”
“No, no.” She instinctively leaned closer to Yu Wei and said softly: “Do you know what that French line means?”
He picked through them forever to choose this one; it had to be based on that copywriting. After all, Yu Wei did know some French.
Qi Luo An just wanted to hear it from his own mouth.
“Don’t know.”
Yu Wei knew right away she’d checked it and what she wanted now. They both knew, but precisely because of that, he couldn’t indulge her.
Want to hear it? Won’t say.
Qi Luo An seemed to guess he’d answer this. Fine if he won’t say; knowing what he thinks is enough.
If Yu Wei insists he doesn’t know, she really has no way. Who knows if he truly does—full-spectrum, no-dead-angle, three-dimensional protection maxed out.
After boarding, in economy class, the team occupied the middle two rows. The trophy case was securely placed under the seatbelt of the empty seat next to Yu Wei.
Then came the delightful writing session. After playing piano, Yu Wei’s hands were still a bit sore; probably couldn’t write as much as last time.
“Top Streamer” prelims were temporarily on hold; he was writing the release plot for “A Lone Martial World.”
The film’s box office was mediocre, but it unexpectedly went viral on streaming, mainly because Feng Yuxiu’s role persona was too good.
He was writing vigorously when Qi Luo An asked flatly beside him: “So, have you thought about the second book of my novel?”
Last time she asked was eight or nine days ago. Recently Yu Wei was busy preparing the performance, so she didn’t want to disturb; now she could finally ask.
Plagiarist novel—one work at over forty chapters, without any spoilers, too torturous…
Qi Luo An didn’t know how she’d written these days—going in circles, making even readers who skip plot for discussion tired.
Everyone thought she was Yu Wei, so the comment section was full of demands to stop updating, go prepare the farewell performance. She wasn’t playing piano—what update to stop?
“Manage your readers, melancholy Big Spray Mushroom!”
Yu Wei nearly burst out laughing hearing this. He knew it too well but didn’t dare say it casually.
“Keep writing suspense.”
After thinking, he decided to have Qi Luo An continue this track. Just copied one suspense novel; switching too soon. Write a few more for readers to adapt.
Once everyone’s used to it, new topics later.
“Sounds good.”
Qi Luo An thought the same. Though unclear what Yu Wei wanted to write, from reader acceptance, continuing suspense was best.
Her “Failure Data” was mainly suspense in the early stage too; switching styles abruptly would feel awkward.
“Last time two authors, what this time?”
“Story of two high-IQ academic prodigies.”
Yu Wei decided to keep milking Keigo Higashino. Compared to “Malice,” “The Devotion of Suspect X” was proper suspense, with even more complex tricks.
“You understand academic prodigies?”
Yu Wei had art talent that Qi Luo An believed in, but studies talent… she wasn’t sure.
Worth mentioning: before boarding this morning, the film association messaged that there’d be media and fans for airport pickup.
One hour before landing, the team was inevitably nervous.
They could be said to have returned honorably loaded with success this time, but a big airport pickup scene? No one had seen it, let alone participated.
Yu Wei opened the trophy case early to wipe it. With this in hand, what was there to fear from media pickup.
Showing you a big treasure.
