0112: The Number Eight Happy Meal

"Oh, Director Sun mentioned this to me the day before yesterday. I didn't expect it to air today."

Hearing Xu Lin call out, Chu Qingchan finally realized he was talking about that public service short film.

"You should have told me earlier! I could have leaked it to my classmates. Now I'm going to be famous."

"Isn't being famous a good thing?"

"I think it's better to stay behind the scenes."

"Then you should study music properly with Teacher Guan! If you become a musician, you can act all cool behind the scenes."

"What do you mean 'act cool'? Honestly, I just simply want to make money."

Although the protagonists of stories always love to act cool, Xu Lin was essentially a salted fish at heart. He was only diligent because there were twelve baits dangling in front of him; otherwise, he would still be that same lazy fish. To put it bluntly, the system had forcibly dragged him up from his plans to simply earn a little pocket money and retire early.

"By the way, how is the book you're writing?"

"What? Oh, damn!"

Xu Lin was suddenly startled. He slapped his forehead, grabbed his laptop, and quickly opened WPS and the website backend.

"Chu Qingchan, what's your Wi-Fi password?"

"..." At Xu Lin's question, Chu Qingchan's face turned bright red.

Ji Yun chuckled and was about to say it, but Chu Qingchan immediately pounced on her and pinned her to the sofa. "Don't you dare say it!"

"I have urgent business, don't mess around for a second."

"Pinyin... Xu Lin... loves you... 2013." Chu Qingchan stammered for a long time before getting it all out. Xu Lin couldn't help but laugh.

"Star Chu, you really shouldn't use a password like that. Every time someone comes over, you have to recite that—how embarrassing!"

"No way, I have to unplug my internet cable and reset the router."

"Don't, don't!"

Xu Lin connected to the internet and hurriedly uploaded his few remaining draft chapters. "It's the launch day for my book today. I almost forgot to publish the new chapters. My performance determines whether I have the funds to invest in a spicy hot pot shop."

"What spicy hot pot shop?"

"I forgot to tell you guys. I'm planning to open a spicy hot pot shop for Senior Sister Bai."

"Oh... for Senior Sister Bai, I see."

"Chu Qingchan, if you keep being sarcastic, I'm staying over here tonight!" Xu Lin looked at her, pretending to be a lecher as he gulped.

"Ji Yun is sleeping with me tonight. Maybe next time."

"Actually, I could join in..."

Before he could finish, he felt Chu Qingchan's murderous gaze and quickly lowered his head. He was actually quite happy to see the two girls teaming up against him, but he had been a bit too cocky; he needed to play it safe.

With that, Xu Lin entered his work mode, while Ji Yun stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

"Are you cooking?"

"Yes, I specifically asked him what he liked last time. I bought some jumbo shrimp and lamb chops, although I'm not sure if I can make them as well as his aunt."

Ji Yun smiled, picked up the ingredients, and walked into the kitchen. Chu Qingchan watched her busy back and sighed. She had been pampered since she was a child; at most, she had learned to make instant food, like adding an egg to instant noodles or chili sauce to frozen dumplings.

But little sister Ji Yun could already manage both the parlor and the kitchen. Should she learn to cook a little, too? So she could cook for Xu Lin in the future? Besides, Chu Fengyi definitely wouldn't know how, so wouldn't that give her another edge over her?

Wait, if I don't know how, Ji Yun does... No! I almost got brainwashed by Xu Lin's logic! I'm being led astray! If we get married, there can only be one woman—how could there be a little sister Ji Yun... No! This thought is dangerous!

And the interrogation from earlier isn't over yet. Tonight, when you're done with your work, I'll teach you a real lesson!

Xu Lin worked from five o'clock until past eight. Because he had classes tomorrow, he had less time, so he had to write as much as he could today. In over two hours, he only managed a little over one chapter. He wasn't one of those super-fast writers; he could only grind away bit by bit.

After posting five chapters, he checked his initial subscriptions. They were decent—reaching a thousand in two hours, which basically hit the "High Quality" threshold. But beyond that, he felt a certain pressure. In his college days before his rebirth, he had written many stories, but they all ended up abandoned. This time, he couldn't let down those who supported him!

Of course, there was also a sense of relief—he had finally earned the startup capital for the spicy hot pot shop on his own. His first investment could finally begin! He still had a bit of money left; there were 20,000 left on the bank card his old man had given him, and he planned to return it all at once when he had saved enough.

"Dinner's ready!" Ji Yun called out.

"I'll finish this second chapter in a minute. You two go ahead."

"We'll wait for you."

Chu Qingchan said, and the two beauties—one big, one small—sat nearby. They turned on the TV, chatting while watching a variety show. Xu Lin glanced at them, his heart softening. If he weren't so greedy, having these two would already be a blessing; having just one would probably make most men jealous enough to kill him!

They watched the variety show for a moment, then switched to CCTV-8, just in time for the commercial break. Accompanied by a top-down camera angle, young boys and girls in school uniforms ran past, and a long-legged beauty walked along the road in the distance.

"Sister Chu, I feel like you don't look as good on TV as you do in real life."

"Hmm, I think so too."

*You couldn't even be polite for once,* Xu Lin thought, complaining in his heart as he put down his hands and looked at the TV.

To be honest, this was his first time seeing the finished piece. If his classmates and relatives hadn't asked him, he wouldn't even have known he was on television. Although they had filmed a lot of footage, the final edited version was only three and a half minutes long—not short for a commercial. It could have held six or seven regular commercial advertisements; only CCTV would sacrifice such a lucrative opportunity to give over three minutes to a public service short film.

Although it had only been a week from filming to broadcast, the post-production was excellent, and the pacing was handled very comfortably. Seeing the final scene where everyone looked into the distance, both sisters burst into tears instantly.

Xu Lin took out some tissues, handed them to Chu Qingchan, and then gently wiped the tears from the corner of Ji Yun's eyes. Then, Chu Qingchan gave a soft cough, and Xu Lin pulled out another tissue to wipe her tears as well.

Although Chu Qingchan was likely the oldest among those around him, she was actually the most girlish. It was just that her figure and stern demeanor made it hard for people to see that side of her—the little temper, the little bit of cuteness. But he loved this Chu Qingchan, cold on the outside but warm on the inside! Her tenderness was reserved only for him, though recently Ji Yun had stolen some of it—but that didn't matter among family.

The short film ended, and both girls took a deep breath.

"Sister Chu, you acted so well. I've seen your previous work, and you've improved so much. Xu Lin was great too. If only this were a full-length movie."

"Let's not, I don't have the time."

"You forgot you promised the 'Black Screenwriter'," Chu Qingchan reminded him.

Xu Lin sighed; he had forgotten about that. But he would deal with it when the time came.

After thinking this through, he intended to keep writing, but then he glanced at the clock and closed his laptop. "Not writing anymore, let's eat!"

"You can keep writing, we're not that hungry."

"No, I can't let my women go hungry!" Xu Lin waved his hand and headed toward the bathroom.

"Heh! What are you acting cool for! That's the bathroom, not the dining room!"

"Hahaha!" Ji Yun laughed along!

"..."

*So that's how it is, huh? Chu Qingchan, just wait until you fall into my hands! I won't even let you rest for a minute! Do you think my 'Riding the Waves' technique is just for show?!*