Chapter 12

Looking at Zhou Qingluo seriously counting the money with him, Song Ling didn’t dare utter the ‘underpants are a bit tight’ on the tip of his tongue.

He was a coward.

He didn’t know what happened. A certain person used to try their best to crawl into his arms, but now they even wanted him to pay for a pair of underwear.

His face froze and after a few seconds of silence, walked to the table like he was compromising.

Song Ling grew hungry looking at the hot home-cooked meal on the table.

In order to do Song Jinyi’s blood transfusion, the meals he ate were all carefully calculated. Although they were all delicacies, they were tasteless.

Zhou Qingluo: “Eat quickly.”

Song Ling picked up his bowl and chopsticks, burying his face in food. Without saying a word, Zhou Qingluo picked up his tablet and started drawing.

In this small space, the two didn’t speak, doing their own thing seriously. Even though the two hadn’t known each for long, the atmosphere was inexplicably harmonious.

The dark clouds outside came and went, went and came; the summer rain stopped and fell again. Unlike the wind and rain outside, the house was like an ivory tower, comfortable and peaceful.

After Song Ling finished eating, he placed the bowl and chopsticks in the sink. Zhou Qingluo looked up and showed off the air of a host, “Just leave it there, I’ll wash it later.”

Although Zhou Qingluo’s kitchen was small, it was very clean. The range and hood were as good as new, and there was no trace that it was just used to cook a table full of dishes.

Song Ling consciously washed the dishes.

Zhou Qingluo didn’t remain on courtesies and continued to draw.

He suddenly found that his efficiency was pretty high. In just this short period of time, he had already drawn several pages. If it wasn’t because his second-hand tablet was too slow, he could’ve drawn an extra page.

At some point in time, Song Ling walked over and watched him work.

Zhou Qingluo quickly put it away, saying with displeasure: “Peeping is shameful.”

Song Ling: “You also signed a contract with Xingchen Comics?”

“Also? Who else is there?”

Song Ling paused but didn’t answer, “What’s your pen name?”

“Of course I can’t tell you.”

Song Ling laughed, “Zhou Qingluo, do you think I won’t know if I want to know?”

Zhou Qingluo recalled the description of him in the original book. Any firewall was transparent in front of him, added with the fact that he could hack into the delivery platform backend in ten minutes, Zhou Qingluo clutched the tablet subconsciously: “Don’t be like this. You’re an honest person.”

Song Ling: “I’ll give you a hand and push you onto the homepage.”

Zhou Qingluo shook his hand, “Don’t, the homepage is dedicated to Great God Oath’s work.”

Speaking of the platform’s Great God, Zhou Qingluo admired him very much. His art style was very beautiful and his stories were heartwarming. Every work was read by many readers who said it had a lot of artistic value.

On the other hand, his drawings were full of mundane daily life, nonsensical sand sculptures (silly things), and readers criticized his work as fast-food comics with no depth and soul.

It wasn’t that Zhou Qingluo didn’t know how to draw these deep things, but as a newcomer, if he did these things, he would probably be yelled at for pretending.

Once the topic was on art, Zhou Qingluo turned into a chatterbox, telling Song Ling all about Oath.

“Oath’s works have a lot of artistic value and is suitable for your way of thinking… The Beautiful Reader, you can go take a look.”

“Don’t understand.”

“You saw it before?”

Song Ling pursed his lips and said nothing, as if he didn’t want to mention it.

Zhou Qingluo didn’t notice Song Ling’s darkening expression and continued to blabber.

He didn’t envy Oath on the technical aspect of drawing, but he was jealous of his fans.

Zhou Qingluo sighed with emotion, “I have to say, Oath’s fans sure are rich, especially that one with the ID ‘.’—a local tyrant known throughout Xingchen Comics. He tipped millions of yuan for each one of Oath’s works and hangs at the top of the reward list every year. Tsk, envious, give me a fan like that.”

Song Ling was silent for a long time and Zhou Qingluo realized that he said too much, almost treating him as a confidant.

The listener’s expression was complicated, as if he was thinking about something, and his eyes gradually turned cold.

Zhou Qingluo silently shut his mouth.

Could it be that Song Ling had some resentment with this Great God Oath?

Wait, Song Ling’s plan to destroy the world in the novel was called “Oath” (Shiyan), and the white moonlight’s name was called Jiang Shiyan (Oath). Could it be that the artist great god was Jiang Shiyan?

It can’t be so coincidental, right?

Did he have the same skills as the white moonlight? Was he a bit more similar to the white moonlight?

Zhou Qingluo looked at Song Ling with grievously.

Song Ling: “Why do you look like you just caught a couple in the act?”

Just as the atmosphere was turning awkward, Zhou Shoulin came back, “Come, eat some watermelon.”

Zhou Shoulin brought out the cut watermelon and Zhou Qingluo’s phone dinged as the plate was set down.

[. transferred you 10,000 yuan]

(TN: Around $1500.)

Zhou Qingluo looked at the small period and only thought, ‘Sure enough, the richer the person, the simpler their nickname.’

He was in a complicated mood seeing the big fan he just raved about.

Zhou Qingluo who was thinking wildly looked like he was just in a daze to Song Ling.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you hesitate for so long after seeing money.”

Zhou Qingluo came back to his senses, “It’s too much, the fare was only 50 earlier.”

Song Ling took his phone and collected the money.

Zhou Qingluo: “?”

He pushed the screen in front of Zhou Shoulin, “Your cooking is delicious, really.”

Zhou Shoulin wanted to refute, but when he saw the empty rice cooker and dishes, he couldn’t say a word, scratching his head in embarrassment.

Before Zhou Shoulin could refuse, Zhou Qingluo struck while the iron was hot, “You can probably tell but Xiao Song doesn’t praise people often. Since he said so, then it must really be delicious.”

After Zhou Qingluo finished, he jabbed Song Ling with his elbow, quickly winking at him suggestively with his left eye while Zhou Shoulin wasn’t paying attention.

“Right, Xiao Song?”

Song Ling was stunned, looking away in awkwardly. Some people never paid attention to occasion.

He cleared his throat, “Zhou Qingluo, be serious. I’m talking business with Uncle.”

Zhou Qingluo: “?” How was he not serious?

Song Ling: “This is the money for lunch and delivery I’m ordering from you for a month. I forwarded to him and he’s also accepted.”

Zhou Qingluo: “?”

Zhou Shoulin, “But this… this is too much.”

Song Ling: “My private nutritionist earns 100,000 a month, but his food isn’t even 1/10th as delicious as yours, so I’ve been suffering from anorexia.”

Zhou Shoulin: “Still…”

Song Ling: “If you don’t agree, then I’m afraid I’ll have to starve in the future.”

Zhou Shoulin: “This…”

“If you don’t agree, then I’ll break off relations with Zhou Qingluo.”

Zhou Qingluo: “?”

Zhou Shoulin: “Okay!”

Song Ling increased the stakes and the balance finally tipped in his direction, “Uncle Zhou, your food is really delicious.”

Zhou Shoulin scratched his head and smiled embarrassedly, but his eyes were bright, “Really?”

A certain person coolly said, “I never joke around.”

Zhou Shoulin happily agreed.

Zhou Qingluo: “?” Just like that?

He was a little dazed. He had been trying to persuade Zhou Shoulin for half a month, but Song Ling finished it with just a few lines and that expressionless face?

Starve? Breaking relations? Like coaxing a three-year-old? That was it?

Or did he have a PhD in Psychology to be able to figure out Zhou Shoulin so thoroughly after just one meeting?

Prescribe the right medicine for the right disease.

Wait, wasn’t it a good thing for Song Ling to cut off relations with him?

Zhou Qingluo suddenly wanted to persuade Zhou Shoulin to refuse him, but seeing the gleam in Zhou Shoulin’s eyes from being affirmed by others, he couldn’t bear to speak.

Zhou Shoulin threw the watermelon peel outside, looked up at the sky and said excitedly, “Oh, there’s a rainbow!”

Zhou Qingluo and Song Ling went out to look. Clouds floated through the blue sky, blocking the sun, a colorful arch stretching between them. It was as if everything would get better after they passed under that arch.

Zhou Qingluo stood side by side with Song Ling, looking up at the rainbow.

Zhou Qingluo: “You’re pretty good, settling my dad with a few words. He wouldn’t listen to me no matter how I persuaded him before, fearing that he wouldn’t do well.”

Song Ling glanced at him lightly, “Excellent people are excellent in all facets.”

Zhou Qingluo turned his head and glanced at him. His eyes were lowered and he appeared rather rebellious, but Zhou Qingluo actually saw some brightness on his usually gloomy face.

He thought to himself, if he was more upright and less paranoid, it was only a matter of time before he got rich through his talents.

Why did he just have to be a villain?

“Zhou Qingluo, what are you staring at me for?”

Zhou Qingluo came back to his senses and took back his gaze. He raised himself up and looked at the top of his head, “You don’t seem taller than me, how could that be…”

Song Ling somewhat harshly grabbed his head, levelling his palm at his nose, “Half a head taller than you.”

“…”

At this time, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, a ray of light gleaming through.

Song Ling squinted his eyes and suddenly recalled the dark community that lit up when he heard Zhou Qingluo’s name.

He glanced sideways, hooked the corner of his mouth and asked, “Zhou Qingluo, what are you thinking?”

“When I was young, I always wondered… since there can be such a beautiful rainbow in the sky, why can’t it rain money?”

“…”

The rainbow was fleeting and another storm followed.

After the wind and rain raged for half an hour, the skies finally cleared up, revealing the boundless clear skies.

Zhou Qingluo glanced at the alarm next to his bedside, subtly reminding Song Ling: “The rain’s stopped and it’s getting late.”

Since there was no living room in the house and it was raining outside, Song Ling could only stay in Zhou Qingluo’s room.

Two big men stayed in the same small room. Zhou Qingluo felt as awkward as he could get, but lucklily, there was a small balcony and it wasn’t too stuffy.

Song Ling had already stared at his computer in a daze for half an hour, unable to write a single line of code.

His program had already run nearly 100,000 lines of code, and he obviously still had thoughts when he was in the hospital earlier, but none of those things were coming to mind now.

He felt like he had a very short dream. It was peaceful and serene, and he didn’t want to wake up.

Song Ling glanced at his watch, “It’s still early.”

Zhou Qingluo: “…” Why doesn’t this person get that there are words behind words?

Song Ling looked at Zhou Qingluo and saw through him, “We’re wearing the same pair of pants right now, what are you embarrassed for?”

“Do you know what it means to wear the same pair of pants?”

“Literally,” Song Ling pointed at his pants, “wearing the same pair of pants as you.”

Zhou Qingluo gave him a thumbs-up, quietly mocking, “Sure enough, didn’t graduate from high school.”

While speaking, Song Ling tapped on his computer, multi-tasking as he spoke.

Zhou Qingluo knew what program he was writing. It must be that program that could break through any firewall in the world and mess up the world.

However, Jiang Shiyan would definitely come out to persuade him in the end, and this program would never appear. Let the relationship between the two develop well; everything would be fine as long as Song Ling didn’t kill him.

Zhou Qingluo wanted to breathe a sigh of relief but suddenly remembered Song Ling’s ending, where he felt that he had too many sins and committed suicide. His organs were donated to others and he became a tragic figure.

Zhou Qingluo felt like his heart was tugged.

If it was just the setting of the novel, Zhou Qingluo would feel like it was just dramatic. However, when the real, living Song Ling was standing in front of him, rejected by his family, abandoned by his white moonlight, he suddenly felt that such an ending was absurd.

Did Song Ling really like Jiang Shiyan that much? Loved him so much he had his name tattooed on his aorta.

How did it feel to love someone so ardently?

Some time ago, Zhou Qingluo saw a line in a novel he was reading—

When they smiled, I could give up my life for them.

Was that so?

Then what if they fell in love with a fool (sand sculpture) who laughed happily all day, wouldn’t that be a tragedy?

Song Ling paused his fingers, suddenly turning around and looking at Zhou Qingluo, their eyes meeting unexpectedly.

Zhou Qingluo felt guilty and averted his gaze subconsciously. But after thinking about it, what was there to be afraid of? Laozi was a transmigrator.

Thus, he looked straight at Song Ling without missing a beat or blushing.

“Zhou Qingluo, you’ve been staring at me for almost a minute.”

Goddamn him.

“Yeah.”

“In psychology, if a person stares at another for more than seven seconds, then they either have feelings for that person, whether it be love or hate.”

“…”

Seeing his triumphant look, Zhou Qingluo jeered, “You didn’t even graduate from high school, how would you know psychology?”

“Not graduating from high school doesn’t mean you don’t study.” Song Ling snorted, wearing a ‘I thought that you’d know’ expression. “So, what kind are you?”

Zhou Qingluo: “I’m the third type.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Curious.”

“Curiosity is the beginning of liking.”

“…”

At this moment, Zhou Qingluo really wanted to rush over and shake his body hysterically.

You f*cking wake up!

He closed his eyes in resignation, leaning on the recliner and continuing to work on his comic, slowly saying: “If narcissism was against the law, you would already be under capital punishment.”

Song Ling smiled silently, his voice growing colder, “If that’s a capital crime, then how about destroying the world?”

Zhou Qingluo’s breath hitched.

Song Ling looked ahead, smiling both righteously and evilly with eyes deep like the abyss.

Before he could speak, Song Ling took back his emotions and his eyes returned to normal. He pressed the enter key on faced his computer screen towards him, “Showing you something.”

Zhou Qingluo raised an eyebrow and Song Ling pressed the enter key again. It was a short animation.

At the beginning, it started to rain heavily and two stick figures riding a bike were drenched. After a while, the rain stopped and a rainbow appeared in the sky. The two stopped and looked at the rainbow, but it suddenly started raining again.

However, it was raining gold coins. One of the stick figures picked up a bucket and rushed out, collecting a full bin shortly.

The little guy walked back happily, drooling while laughing.

This short animation also had sound and the room was filled with a magical ‘hahaha’.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingluo couldn’t help but laugh. What a clear thinking and soulful artist.

Song Ling also couldn’t resist laughing.

Some people laughed easily, really easy to coax.

“Zhou Qingluo, I’ve helped you realize your childhood dream.”

“Thank you.” Zhou Qingluo wiped the tears from laughing, “The drooling part is a bit too exaggerated.”

“That’s teeth. It’s laughing your teeth out, not drool.”

“…”

Zhou Qingluo was silent for two seconds, then couldn’t help but burst into laughter again.

He played it again, “Damn, you know how to use this program? This is specially used to make professional movies!”

“Don’t be so serious about these small issues. Black cats and white cats, as long as they can catch mice, they’re good cats.”

“…”

Song Ling took back his computer and pressed the delete key, preparing to erase this animation he made on a whim. But when the dialog box popped up, he paused subconsciously.

He pursed his lip, clicked ‘Cancel’, created a folder, and saved it.

[Smile].