Thank you for the Ko-Fi Puffball! 🧡🧡🧡
No matter what, the serialization of the second dungeon world in “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain” continued to rise in popularity amid the wails of countless fans.
The most obvious impact was that many office worker fans had been coming to work with dark circles under their eyes ever since they started following the updates of “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”.
Some were even so sleep-deprived that they seemed dazed, as if the deafening sound of the suona was still ringing in their ears.
That’s right. In order to help readers understand what the suona sounded like, Yu Mian had specially contacted Professor Holse from the Music Academy, asking if it would be possible to record a suona audio clip to include in the updated chapters.
Professor Holse was more than happy to oblige. After all, “Contract Marriage” had propelled the piano to newfound popularity. Now, if “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain” could bring attention to the suona, it would definitely be another wonderful thing.
So, when fans clicked on the music note at the end of the chapters, they were immediately greeted by the deafening suona, its piercing and high-pitched notes banishing all traces of sleep in the middle of the night.
Paired with Yin’s chilling illustration of a ghostly wedding procession, the reading experience was nothing short of perfection.
Last night, when Bai Lande finished his live broadcast and listened to the suona clip, he immediately declared that he would set it as his light brain ringtone. Its penetrating power was simply too strong!
And this morning, when fish fans arrived at work and their light brains rang with that suona sound, it instantly became a fish fan identifier.
“Did you stay up reading last night too?”
“You read the novel too…?!”
It was no different even in Xingqiong Entertainment. A single glance exchanged between colleagues was enough and hidden fans who had remained in the dark for so long suddenly discovered one another in real life.
So, he/she was also following Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ novel!
No wonder they all had dark circles under their eyes.
“But I really can’t keep following updates like this every night. The plot moves too fast, and it’s way too thrilling. It’s just too much for my nerves.”
In the break room, one office worker sighed and immediately received unanimous agreement.
“Yes, yes.”
“I definitely, definitely won’t read tomorrow! If I do, I’m a little puppy!”
“I have to hold out until the book is complete before reading more.”
But, despite making this vow the previous day, when they met in the break room the next morning, they found that not only had their dark circles not faded, but they had deepened.
“Ahem… How should I put it? Last night’s plot was too crucial. Missing it would have been such a waste. Tomorrow, tomorrow for sure…I’ll save it up and read it all at once!”
“Me too, me too…”
The atmosphere was a little subtle amid the awkward coughing.
And by the third day, when they once again met each other at work, they exchanged glances before quickly lowering their heads or looking up at the sky in guilt.
But they couldn’t keep postponing like this forever.
“Damn it! This time, we have to be firm! Whoever gives in and reads the new update tomorrow has to buy everyone lunch!”
“Deal!”
Kane, who had just stepped out of the conference room, noticed the lively commotion there.
“What are they talking about?”
He asked his secretary, who was standing beside him.
“Ahem… It seems they’re discussing literature… Well, actually, they’re all following the updates of Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ new book, “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”! Many people have been staying up late reading it and ended up with dark circles under their eyes.”
The moment the secretary finished speaking, Kane subconsciously touched his own eyes.
Damn it! He had stayed up late reading last night too. He hadn’t gotten enough sleep at all.
“So, you’re following the updates too?”
Kane immediately frowned and questioned the secretary upon noticing her amused smile.
Otherwise, how would she know so much?
“Uh… Yes, I am. I really like the style of Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ new book.”
After a brief pause, the secretary admitted honestly.
“Then why don’t you have dark circles? Weren’t you scared? You could still sleep after reading?”
Kane was suddenly astonished. He couldn’t believe that someone right beside him could follow “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain” and still manage not to lose sleep.
“Boss, have you ever heard of something called concealer?”
The secretary blinked.
Kane immediately paused mid-step. He was already considering whether he should grab some concealer from his sister Audrey’s dressing table.
But that would only be treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Ultimately, he had to save up the chapters and wait until the second world arc was completed before catching up.
No matter how exciting tomorrow’s update might be, he absolutely could not give in again!
And Kane was not the only reader thinking this way. The popularity of the hashtag #SavingUpUpdatesChallenge# under the “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain” discussion topic remained high.
The discussion group constantly had 999+ members online at any given time.
Upon clicking in, it was filled with Traveling Light Brain fans gathering to supervise and encourage each other, and the atmosphere was quite united.
[I’ve successfully held out for a day, but it’s unbearable, absolutely unbearable! I feel itchy all over if I don’t read the latest update every day…what do I do, what do I do, what do I do?!]
[Checking in: Seven days into stock piling here! To the one above, withdrawal symptoms can be managed with proper techniques. First, you must do your best to forget that Teacher Fish Soup Noodles exists. Remember, a temporary separation is for the sake of a long-lasting reunion in the future!]
[Okay, okay, so everyone’s stock piling, huh? Then I’ll stockpile too! Newcomer applying to join…this time, I must succeed!]
The enthusiasm was so contagious that even Kane couldn’t resist and posted his own entry; Day 1 of stockpiling, a hundred days of self-discipline, he had to succeed!
Especially since there were plenty of stock piling strategies shared in the topic thread.
Kane randomly clicked on one and skimmed through it, already considering whether he should temporarily uninstall the Huanyu Reading Platform. That way, the daily [Updated] button wouldn’t be so tempting!
On top of that, he needed to lock away all the blind box figures in his office cabinet to eliminate any visual cues that might remind him to check for updates.
Oh right, he also had to remove that haunted house light brain pendant on his access control panel and stash away all the plush toys in his car’s backseat.
After spending the entire morning diligently following the stock piling strategy guide and meticulously removing all triggers, Kane finally sat down with a sigh of relief, convinced that this time he could truly “quit”.
But just as he settled in, a sudden outburst of shocked voices erupted from outside his office door.
“Teacher Fish Soup Noodles is resuming live broadcasting! Ah, for real?!”
“It’s in the latest author’s note! Go check it out!”
Kane: ???
Kane shot up from his chair and immediately reinstalled the Huanyu app that he had just uninstalled. Within seconds, he logged back into his account, verified his credentials, and rushed into the book column for “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”.
Sure enough, the comment section had already exploded.
[Teacher Fish Soup Noodles! You’re finally! Finally resuming live broadcasting! I’m crying a Starry Sky Lake right now! I’ve replayed those past broadcasts so much they’re practically polished from overuse!]
[What’s the theme of the live broadcast this time? Can we go back to cooking live broadcasts, Teacher Fish Soup Noodles? I really miss the spicy chicken dishes.]
But within just a few seconds, people quickly noticed that this live broadcast was something different.
[Wait a second, everyone calm down…this isn’t a cooking live broadcast! Teacher Fish Soup Noodles wants to live broadcast reading bedtime stories for us!]
[Bedtime… stories? Does that mean there’s a new novel coming?!]
“A new book?”
Kane hesitated for a long while, and after thinking it over, he found the theory in the comments quite plausible.
After all, what else could these bedtime stories be about?
The news spread like wildfire.
“What? Teacher Fish Soup Noodles is starting a new book again? How come I, as the editor, don’t even know about this? Isn’t the new book still in the research phase?”
At the Huanyu Editorial Department, Shaxs was bombarded with shoulder pats and questioning looks from colleagues, leading him to hurriedly log into the Huanyu Reading Platform in shock.
“Didn’t Teacher Fish Soup Noodles tell you?”
The coworkers were beginning to suspect that Shaxs was deliberately keeping it a secret.
However, when Shaxs opened Yu Mian’s messages, his tone suddenly became hesitant.
“Let’s just say… is there a possibility that this bedtime story… is actually just the nightly updates of “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”?”
“…Huh?”
“I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”? Bedtime story?
Was there really a necessary connection between these two?
For a moment, the entire Huanyu Editorial Department was in an uproar.
By noon, Yu Mian had started a trial live broadcast to adjust the equipment. The long-absent live broadcast room had a surge in the number of viewers, with countless barrages and small virtual gifts instantly filling the screen.
Yu Mian didn’t appear on the screen. Instead, the focus was on a plush chibi light brain figure sitting on the desk, while a huge deep blue aquarium in the background stood out prominently.
Wow, what a beautiful study room. Was this an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ writing den?
But before the viewers could take a proper look around in curiosity, Yu Mian’s voice came from off-screen, responding to the questions in the barrage.
“Yes, it’s “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”. When did I ever say I was telling a different story?”
Yu Mian, who was adjusting the small ornaments on the table, sounded slightly puzzled, his voice fluctuating in distance as he moved around.
Hearing this, everyone in the barrage felt an inexplicable itch in their ears and subconsciously wanted to nod along and agree with whatever he said.
Except…
[Wait, so it’s “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”? This live broadcast is to read I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain to us?? QAQ]
[Ah, but… my carefully maintained stock piling streak… I… what do I do now?]
The first batch of rational Traveling Light Brain fans, who had just grasped the reality of the situation through Yu Mian’s words, were shocked.
There was no new book at all…it was still their terrifying, infinite-horror “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain”.
[Meteor Shower reward X1][Feather Monster: But… can “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain” really be considered a bedtime story, Teacher Fish Soup Noodles?! [crying]]
A floating gift message from Noel’s familiar username stood out among the barrage of comments thanks to its special effects. But to be fair, it did voice the collective concern of all viewers at that moment.
How could “I Picked Up A Traveling Light Brain” call itself a bedtime story?
Seeing this slightly accusatory yet aggrieved message, Yu Mian paused for a moment. He appeared to be casually rearranging the items on his desk, but in fact, his fingers had absentmindedly squeezed the poor plush figure several times.
“Ah… well, honestly, I just really wanted to tell a horror story…”
In the end, Yu Mian chose to confess.
But as he spoke, he couldn’t help but lean closer to the camera, glancing into the lens as if trying to make direct eye contact with the viewers.
“Is it really not okay?”
His amber-colored eyes flashed beneath slightly tousled hair, carrying a hint of amusement as he spoke in a tone that was both righteous and vaguely pleading.
The next moment, he straightened back up and disappeared from the frame again.
[…!?]
Everyone in the live broadcast room froze for a moment. They were completely unprepared for the sudden close-up beauty attack in the middle of the day.
