While the people on Garbage Star were being overwhelmed by the rich, refreshing, and uplifting chicken soup of “Rebirth of the Interstellar Soldier King”, news confirming that a copy of the first volume had been lost during a field mission had indeed been reported up to the central star.
So, when Yu Mian arrived at work that day, he saw Huo Ting, Secretary Hals, and Cook walking toward the meeting room with a rather serious atmosphere.
“Ah, you’re here, just in time.”
When Secretary Hals saw the young writer Yu Mian, his eyes lit up.
Cook glanced at Secretary Hals with some hesitation, and Secretary Hals explained with a smile:
“This person is also a writer, and he knows the author “Fish Soup Noodles”. Maybe he could offer some useful feedback.”
“?”
Thus, Yu Mian was called into the meeting with a confused expression, but he soon learned that a handwritten copy of the manuscript he had sent to the military was missing.
However, after confirming that it had been lost during a field mission, and even in a distant star system rather than the main star system where his readers were mostly concentrated, Yu Mian breathed a sigh of relief.
“Actually, it’s not that bad. After all, the manuscript fee has already been fully paid. It’s as if it went straight to physical publishing. Why not print it out instead of letting everyone work so hard to hand-copy it?”
After all, the word count for the first volume of “Rebirth of the Interstellar Soldier King” was not even enough to reach the required word count for V level if it were published on the star network.
On the other hand, because it took the route of physical publication, it had directly earned a hefty manuscript fee from the wealthy Federal authorities.
For some reason, Yu Mian felt like a famous writer whose new book had just been published and the copyright had already been sold at a high price, with the payment even received in one lump sum. How satisfying!
“In fact, the reason we haven’t done a large-scale print run is partly because the author, “Fish Soup Noodles”, has expressed that they don’t want it publicly released in the Central Star System for now. Another reason is that we’ve been studying the specific causes and effects of the soothing properties in the work.”
Facing Yu Mian’s doubts, Cook began to explain, which piqued Yu Mian’s curiosity.
After all, even he himself was quite interested in how the rewards from the system worked.
“In fact, our recent research has further confirmed that it is the emotional excitement and psychological comfort generated during the reading process that allows readers’ restless mental power to be fully released and relieved.”
“Although this soothing effect is currently only at a level of 0.01%, it is already a miracle.”
“The most amazing thing is that this novel can make the reader so engrossed that they forget to sleep or eat, even wishing they could constantly hold it and repeatedly read the exciting parts. After being satisfied, even some of the destructive behaviors caused by mental agitation are reduced…”
After hearing Cook’s research findings, Yu Mian, while nodding seriously along with the others in the room, suddenly had an insight into the underlying principle.
Because, in a way, this wasn’t that surprising!
After all, in his past life, there was a case where a foreign guy, after getting addicted to domestic fantasy novels, successfully quit drugs.
In order to follow updates, the man found numerous translation websites and followed several fantasy novels at once, reading them to the point of neglecting sleep and food.
The novels made him so mentally satisfied that there was no need to talk about mental agitation or depression anymore! Crime rates might even go down, ahem.
Especially those fantasy upgrade novels that have thousands of chapters, full of treasure hunts, adventures, vitality, and challenges beyond one’s level. The frequent thrill points could definitely make first-time readers hooked.
And once one map reached its peak, a new map could immediately be introduced to continue the upgrades—endless cycles.
Many authors, as long as their subscription count didn’t drop, could write one novel for several years without finishing it.
“Do you have any thoughts on this?”
Noticing the peculiar expression on Yu Mian’s face, Cook subconsciously asked.
“Uh, actually, I just have this guess.”
Suddenly being called upon, Yu Mian casually repeated his thoughts using language that the interstellar people could understand.
“And in some ways, this can completely be considered ‘cultural export’. Fish Soup Noodles’s new book… ahem, I just flipped through it, and the direction is very positive.”
“It not only portrays becoming a glorious Federal soldier as the life goal that the protagonist Lin Mu has always desired, but it also encourages people not to succumb to fate even in adversity. Such a work, even if picked up by readers from other star systems, might make them develop a longing for Federal culture after reading it, right?”
Just like those fantasy novels, or those in the xianxia genre, once translated into foreign languages, they become a way to let the world understand Eastern culture.
It’s just hard to say whether readers from other star systems would be able to understand ancient sayings like “Heaven’s movement is vigorous, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement.”
However, when Yu Mian finished explaining his understanding of the mental power effects, he suddenly realized that the entire meeting room had gone quiet, and many people were looking at him with strange expressions.
Yu Mian:?
“Cultural export… cultural export? How strange, this term is really ingenious, why didn’t I think of it earlier?”
Cook was fully engaged and immediately started taking notes while glancing at Yu Mian with bright eyes.
“It seems you really are an amazing writer. The way you phrase things is so refreshing.”
What a perfect example…”cultural export”!
“Uh? It’s nothing, I just read it in a book. You know, I spend a lot of time in the library reading…”
Yu Mian suddenly realized that, as an outsider from the 21st century, many concepts and understandings were things that the interstellar people had never heard of.
Occasionally, when he inadvertently said a certain word or phrase, it left a deep impression.
“I can testify to that. He is indeed often in the library. Not many people these days are willing to spend time there.”
Secretary Hals, proud of Yu Mian for getting everyone’s thinking on track, couldn’t help but confirm with a smile.
When Yu Mian looked up, he even met Huo Ting’s gaze.
He then realized that Huo Ting was looking at him with great seriousness, as if deep in thought.
This made Yu Mian even more uneasy. He really felt like shaking Huo Ting and telling him not to overthink things!
“So, actually, I just wanted to say that there’s no need to worry so much. I believe “Fish Soup Noodles” probably won’t mind. If you don’t believe me, you can just ask them. There’s no need to be so serious about it.”
Gradually feeling social anxiety creeping up, Yu Mian could only make a summary suggestion, trying to shift the attention of the room.
‘Please, don’t dwell on the “cultural export” thing…’
Despite this, when the meeting ended, Cook, who had been inspired by Yu Mian’s words, followed him all the way out, even pulling him aside to make sure they exchanged contact information so they could meet more often and strengthen their communication.
“As the saying goes, The movement of heaven is vigorous, and a @gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement.’ Although mental power research is still facing many challenges, I believe that as long as we continue to have brilliant new forces like you joining us, the day we crack this mystery will surely come closer!”
In the end, Cook even tried to hold Yu Mian’s hand, expressing the overwhelming emotions he felt after his new inspiration, but awkwardly gave up under the gaze of Huo Ting beside him.
However, Cook’s use of a line from “Rebirth of the Interstellar Soldier King” really made Yu Mian amused.
“Dr. Cook, let me also offer you a saying: ‘Those whose aspirations align will not consider the vastness of the “star” sea as a barrier. As long as we share the same interests, even without exchanging contact details, I believe we will meet again.'”
After all, Yu Mian didn’t want to add too many people to his Fish Soup Noodles account.
Especially someone like Cook, who had a direct connection with Fish Soup Noodles.
Therefore, after Yu Mian subtly rejected Cook with a modified ancient saying, Cook stood there in a daze, watching Yu Mian leave with Huo Ting.
‘Those whose aspirations align…will not consider the vastness of the “star” sea as a barrier?’
‘As long as we share the same interests, even without exchanging contact details, I believe we will meet again?’
This sentence felt so intriguing. He couldn’t help but feel it was thought-provoking.
“Did that scare you? You know, these researchers get so passionate once they get an idea, don’t take it too seriously. His mentor is even worse.”
Seeing Yu Mian quiet and lost in thought, Secretary Hals assumed it was his first time meeting such eccentric scientists.
“No, no, I wasn’t scared. I just think it’s quite interesting,” Yu Mian quickly explained.
“By the way, the last sentence you said—did you also find that in the library? It’s quite intriguing.”
Even Secretary Hals had noticed that the words Yu Mian occasionally said were quite refreshing.
“Yes, books always contain infinite knowledge and power.”
Seeing these sentences he had memorized since childhood being unconsciously used and getting adopted in daily life by people from the Interstellar era felt quite amazing.
But somehow, it didn’t feel bad…
It made him feel like he was no longer just a lonely soul from Earth.
His words had left a unique trace in this interstellar world.
Speaking of which, “Eternal Night Rose” was Western fantasy, while “Rebirth of the Interstellar Soldier King” leaned more toward Eastern fantasy, and writing them was truly a different experience.
Take “Rebirth of the Interstellar Soldier King”, for example, it was a classic “Long Aotian” style upgrade novel but there were endless tropes/themes to explore such as dragon kings, son-in-laws, crooked mouths, and gods of war… any of these could easily spawn thousands of chapters of face-slapping and upgrading.
**Dragon King themed novels refer to those with a powerful and awe-inspiring protagonist that embodies grandeur, dominance, mystery, and invincibility.
Son in law novels focus on a protagonist who marries into a wealthier or more powerful family and starts off as humiliated or underestimated. Over time, he reveals hidden talents, strength, or a mysterious background, shocking those who ridiculed him.
In “God of war” novels, the protagonist is often a legendary soldier or martial artist with unmatched skills. This theme focuses on the protagonist’s heroic battles and dominance over enemies, combining combat, strategy, and revenge arcs.
Sometimes switching up the flavor felt good, but filling in the gaps was always painful.
As the saying goes, ‘Digging pits is fun for a moment, but filling them is a crematorium’.
Yu Mian thought for a moment. Maybe starting a new pit wasn’t worth the risk.
Moreover, “Eternal Night Rose” was reaching a critical point in its updates.
After all, with the appearance of a traitor who sought immortality by aligning with the Eternal Night, Su Yan, who had been working tirelessly to help the people, was framed and confined. The conflicts that had been hidden beneath the calm surface of daily life were about to erupt.
And just when Su Yan approached the moment of betrayal from his close kin, the only person who trusted him was Dreven, who firmly believed Su Yan would never betray humanity.
With Dreven’s help, Su Yan was able to prove that the strange anomalies in the nutrient solution were not due to a flaw in his formula but were secretly tampered with by someone.
However, after clearing his name, Su Yan was deeply shaken and he started questioning his previous beliefs.
“Does humanity have to be purely good, and is the so-called Bart clan always the embodiment of evil?
‘Then why, after I’ve dedicated countless efforts to help my people, did I end up as the pawn almost sacrificed in the political struggles of the settlement?’
‘If it weren’t for Coal Ball’s unexpected cry, which led me to catch a glimpse of that sneaky figure, would I have already been expelled from the territory and branded a traitor?’
At this moment, Su Yan couldn’t answer the question in his heart.
He couldn’t help but hold Coal Ball tightly.
“I don’t know who I should trust anymore…”
When Su Yan unconsciously said this, Dreven seemed to be the only comfort.
But despite the growing bond between Su Yan and Dreven due to the traitor incident, readers outside the book were nervously eating this sugar.
[No matter how you look at it, it seems like Coal Ball is also ‘tricking’ Su Yan… This guy isn’t just from the Bart clan, he seems to have known everything that was going to happen, and deliberately let Su Yan see that humanity isn’t purely good! Ahh!]
[Help! When is this knife going to drop? It’s so painful and tense, can we get some resolution soon?!]
After all, the readers had a god perspective, and had already figured out that Dreven was definitely trying to conquer his wife for a second time, and deliberately started this life over to win Su Yan’s love in the most perfect way.
But once they realized Su Yan’s memories might be restored, this pile of sugar would instantly turn into waves of sharp knives, making people want to die from anxiety.
What shocked everyone even more was that Xiao, while searching for evidence to clear Su Yan’s name near the Bart clan’s territory, was unexpectedly spotted by an awakened and powerful ancient Bart clan prince in the mysterious Silver Forest ruins!
During their fierce struggle, Xiao was bitten!
Although Xiao covered the wound on his neck and ultimately killed the prince with a Mithril dagger, in the final moments, under the blood-red moon, Xiao, who was gasping for breath, had pupils that constantly changed between black and red, which undoubtedly showed that Xiao, who hated the Bart clan the most, had been “corrupted”!
