Yu Mian had no idea that his simple few words had successfully caused Editor Shaxs to suffer from sleepless nights for several days.
Every night, as soon as he wrapped himself in his quilt, he couldn’t help but replay the words that Fish Soup Noodles had said in his mind.
Especially when Shaxs realized that his “deliberate attack” had absolutely no effect on Fish Soup Noodles, and that the latter even seemed to be “protecting” that guy in his words, Shaxs was completely sour.
What did this mean?
It meant that guy was full of tricks and had actually bewitched Fish Soup Noodles’ heart.
Even he, the editor most trusted by Fish Soup Noodles, couldn’t get through to him!
Although Shaxs admitted that he had been deliberately smearing and slandering the other party, suspecting that he was trying to defraud both money and love, Fish Soup Noodles’ response had indirectly hinted…could it be that guy was both rich and handsome?
By the universe above, why was this guy so troublesome?
Fortunately, the updates for “I Picked Up a Traveling Light Brain” had been very stable lately, and even the manuscript for “Rebirth Of The Interstellar Soldier King” was progressing smoothly. Otherwise, Shaxs would have really wanted to grab a big machete and hunt that guy down.
—Are you interfering with our author’s writing!?
Unfortunately, Fish Soup Noodles had sincerely asked for his advice on this matter, so he could only keep it to himself and had no way to vent his frustration. As a result, the entire Huanyu editorial department found it strange to see Editor Shaxs coming to work every day with two massive dark circles under his eyes.
Why did he look so haggard?
Had he been staying up late reading novels, or had “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain” scared him so much that he didn’t dare sleep?
“You guys don’t understand, stop talking, I’m thinking.”
Shaxs could only rest his chin in his hand, full of melancholy.
“This kid might be in love.”
“That makes sense, I think so too. Ah, to be young!”
The editors couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
After all, Shaxs’ age was indeed quite suitable for starting a relationship, but as soon as he joined the company, he encountered Fish Soup Noodles, a storm-bringing rising star.
As a result, his whole heart had been devoted to his author’s career, and it was true that no one had ever really seen Editor Shaxs make friends.
“…Could you guys speak a little louder?”
Shaxs, who was already feeling a heartache, asked in a frustrated tone, but everyone just laughed and scattered like birds and beasts.
In fact, Shaxs’ attempt to “sow discord” not only failed but also made Yu Mian suddenly realize some rather unsettling things.
That conch shell was something his parents had personally given to his grandfather.
In a way, the fact that his aesthetic taste was completely aligned with his parents’ was an eerie yet inexplicably convincing piece of evidence.
[Indeed, back when you were hiding, you already praised how good-looking he was.]
Especially during the first time he helped with guiding his mental sea.
The little system murmured along.
“…Why are you out again?”
Yu Mian refused to admit that he was a fish who was easily swayed by beauty, nor did he want to acknowledge that his parents were also deep in the late stages of being face-cons. Their entire family inexplicably shared the same aesthetic taste.
Resting his hands on the edge of the pool, Yu Mian propped his head on his arms while his fish tail gently swayed in the water, sending ripples across the surface.
The light golden tail, flowing like a skirt in the water, looked ethereal and beautiful, like silk drifting with the currents.
At that very moment, in the car on the way home, Secretary Hals also realized that something was off with his boss lately.
If, back when his boss had taken him to the shopping mall to pick out skincare products, Secretary Hals had been shocked and suspected something was wrong, now he was absolutely certain that something was indeed wrong.
“If there’s anything on your mind, you can always ask for my advice, you know.”
Rarely in a gossiping mood, Secretary Hals muttered in a low voice, eager to play strategist for once.
But the next second, Huo Ting in the rearview mirror gave him a silent, questioning glance and then looked away.
Secretary Hals: ?
Though not a word was spoken, he inexplicably felt as if his professional competence had been doubted.
‘Damn it! Just because I’m single, does that mean I’m not qualified to give advice?’
Closing the documents in his hands, Huo Ting leaned back into his seat and gazed out at the rapidly retreating nightscape outside the window.
By now, today’s update should be finished.
He was probably resting in the water.
Perhaps even Huo Ting himself hadn’t realized how this concern had quietly begun to change his state of mind.
It was as if he was no longer alone in this vast universe.
—
Meanwhile, Yu Mian was indeed swimming in a daze. Ever since that day, he had been pondering intensely, as if he had been assigned homework.
He was even startled to wonder if this was all a part of Huo Ting’s scheme.
It wasn’t until he heard movement that he realized Huo Ting had returned.
But just as he was about to dive back into the water and pretend he hadn’t seen anything, a hand reached out and caught his wrist.
“…!”
Feeling the grip on his wrist, Yu Mian turned around and met Huo Ting’s gaze. In that instant, he felt guilty and exposed, like a fish caught in a net.
“Is considering it just an excuse to keep avoiding me like this?”
Huo Ting’s sudden question caught Yu Mian off guard.
“Emm, of course not. I just… suddenly remembered that I forgot to give back the card you gave me.”
Yu Mian scrambled for an excuse.
Back when he had been hiding in the study, Huo Ting had worried that he wouldn’t have any star coins for online purchases. So, in addition to specially leaving him an account password, he had also left a corresponding physical star card, which had ended up packed away in a drawer.
At the time, Huo Ting had no idea that the guest living in his study had already accumulated quite a hefty sum in royalties.
So, in the end, the account had never been used.
Now that Yu Mian was suddenly bringing it up, Huo Ting was surprised but there was a hint of a smile in his eyes.
“Do you still need to give it back?”
“Why wouldn’t I? That account and password are important! What if I run off with all the money? There are so many news reports about scams like that!”
Yu Mian suddenly realized that Editor Shaxs’ warnings were actually more suitable for Huo Ting.
However, after listening to Yu Mian’s words, Huo Ting fell silent for a moment before looking at him seriously and asking, “Would you lie to me?”
“…?”
Yu Mian was momentarily speechless and suddenly realized something terrifying.
Could it be that Huo Ting actually had a love brain?
“Either way, it’s really dangerous. There’s no reasoning with you.”
Muttering under his breath, Yu Mian sank back into the water. His strategy now was simple; if he couldn’t win the argument, he’d just escape.
“Is your tail doing okay lately?”
Seeing that Yu Mian refused to come out of the water, Huo Ting changed the subject.
After the busy move, Yu Mian took advantage of the chaos to be lazy and neglected his tail care for quite some time, though he had been spending more hours soaking in the water.
“I think it’s fine…?”
Yu Mian subconsciously flicked his tail, a little surprised that Huo Ting still remembered.
But the next second, Huo Ting extended his palm toward him from the edge of the pool.
Yu Mian: ?
Was this guy copying the way he had given him candy before?
O.O
Curious, Yu Mian hesitated for a few seconds, looking at Huo Ting, then at the hand. In the end, he admitted he was a little hooked.
“What’s in your hand?”
As Yu Mian drew closer, a dark blue bracelet was fastened around his wrist, its color contrasting beautifully with the soft, iridescent scales that encircled it.
“I got the idea from the honor medal the Screenwriters’ Association gave you.”
Huo Ting meticulously adjusted the delicate clasp as he spoke.
Back when Yu Mian joined the association, President Fox had gifted him an honorary medal made from a special type of star iron. When placed in a study, it emitted a faint calming effect, helping to improve focus and creativity.
Though expensive, many screenwriters who could afford it would purchase similar objects to subtly enhance their concentration and inspiration.
So, if a mermaid’s tail felt dry when not constantly submerged, could wearing an accessory made from special deep-sea materials help retain moisture?
If he didn’t have to stay in the water to write, that would be even better.
After a long search, he had indeed found a suitable material.
“Do you feel anything?”
Huo Ting lowered his gaze and asked.
“I think… I actually do?”
Yu Mian blinked in surprise. The moment he put on the bracelet, he could feel a gentle, hydrating sensation radiating from his wrist, even carrying a faint salty scent of the sea.
Yu Mian’s wrist was particularly fair, and the deep blue stones contrasted beautifully against his skin.
