Even with a diploma from Beiling University and a bunch of awards, no company dared to hire her because that man had put in a good word for her.
Once, Zhu Yao ran away to a small county town, where a florist took in her when she was down on her luck and gave her a job.
During her first week at work, the store was vandalized, and the older woman fired her while crying. Her evasive eyes made Zhu Yao realize that the Zhu family was pushing her to the brink and did not want her to resist.
In an instant, a sense of panic washed over her. Zhu Yao felt as if she were being watched by the Zhu family's spies at all times.
Sometimes she wanted to compromise, but when she thought about that suffocating life... in the end, she barely made ends meet by writing novels.
Fortunately, the Zhu family did not find out that she wrote novels, nor did they expect that she, who had always been a diligent student with no entertainment activities, would set her sights on the arts and entertainment industry.
In contrast, Yu Nan is sometimes quite slow-witted... If she can't write a single line of code, she racks her brains and studies it without eating or drinking.
Just like Wolf Knife said—some people succeed simply because they are too dull-witted and don't know that things are impossible.
Zhu Yao admires Yu Nan's tenacity and optimism, but she is also deeply jealous of her.
She also longs for a warm family, for parents who love her and support her choices… She also wants it to be okay even if she makes mistakes, and she wants the opportunity to try and fail…
But just surviving in this society in secret had already exhausted her...
In the darkness, Zhu Yao forced a smile, for herself and for life.
…
The next day, Zhu Yao was woken up by Yu Nan, who looked worried.
"Sister... what happened to your face?"
Perhaps because she had cried, Zhu Yao's eyes were a little red and swollen the next day.
"Yu Nan, did you bully Xiao Zhu?" Yu's mother took a boiled egg and said, "Quickly roll it over her head."
Yu Nan took the egg and placed it on Zhu Yao's eye socket, gently rubbing it. "Hey, this is my girlfriend. I'm heartbroken for her, how could I possibly bully her!"
Hearing Yu Nan openly call her "girlfriend," Yu's father almost spat out his tea. "You... be careful when you go out, don't let people gossip about you because of this!"
Yu's mother held Zhu Yao's hand, "Sigh, my good daughter, you've suffered so much in the past. From now on, treat this place as your home. Tell Mom if you have any grievances..."
Yu Nan: Although I'm very happy that my mom approves of my wife, isn't it a bit too fast for you to change your mind like this?
Chapter 55 Reunion
Yu Nan's parents' leave ended quickly, and they went back to work. Only Zhu Yao and Yu Nan were at home.
"Let's play a game."
Yu Nan, grinning, pulled Zhu Yao along and led her to the front yard, where Da Hei lay on the ground, staring at them with a long face.
"Can we play games here too?"
There were no gaming devices in Yu Nan's hometown, and the computers were just old-fashioned desktop computers. Moreover, the two of them were standing in the yard, surrounded by stacks of corn and coal.
"Is it not allowed? Or... what do you think a game is, sister?"
What is the definition of a game?
Zhu Yao gestured in the air as if holding a controller, "Something like... something you can play?"
Yu Nan picked up a twig and brandished it like a sword: "Then the toy is a game too."
"Boys and games are both things that bring joy. Toys are for children, while games are suitable for all ages?"
“Sister, even children can play with toys!” Yu Nan waved the branch and made what she thought was a cool sword-like flourish. “For example, this stick can be used as a sword.”
Uh… After junior high school, Zhu Yao never saw a classmate who would still use tree branches as swords to play around.
When Dahei saw Yu Nan gesturing, it stood up and jumped up and down following the trajectory of the branch, seemingly trying to bite it. The iron chain shook on the ground with its movements, stirring up loose soil.
"Look what I see! I see a childish kid teasing a dog with a stick!"
A familiar voice came from behind her, and Zhu Yao turned around to see Lang Xi.
"What are you doing here?" Yu Nan asked, looking annoyed. "It's one thing to go to my house, but why are you stealing from my hometown?"
"Get out! Get out! Get out! You're not welcome here! Monsters and demons, get out!"
Yu Nan used the tree branch she had been teasing the dog to scare Lang Xi away like a fencing match, and Da Hei also barked wildly at Lang Xi, making the yard quite lively.
Lang Xi brushed the twig from Yu Nan's hand with a look of disgust. "How childish! How old are you to still be picking up twigs to play with? Wild children like you will never get married."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nan ran to Zhu Yao's side, planted a kiss on Zhu Yao's cheek, and looked at Lang Xi provocatively.
"Oh, you're together now?" Lang Xi winked at Zhu Yao.
Zhu Yao hugged Yu Nan and kissed her cheek as a silent response.
You should spoil your girlfriend no matter how childish she is.
Lang Xi looked shocked. "Miss Zhu, how come even you are so sticky and oily..."
Following behind, Yu Hua, who had just entered, and Ning Chen, who was pushing Chang Jingxue in a wheelchair: …
"Uh...why are you guys here too?" Yu Nan was overwhelmed looking at the group of people.
She finally managed to get her parents back to work, leaving only her and Zhu Yao at home... and then a whole group of people showed up.
And... Yu Hua is in this group! What's her brother doing here?!
Annoying! Humph!
…
"What, did I interrupt your fencing with Miss Zhu?" Lang Xi mimicked Yu Nan's movements, making a few gestures in the air.
“Uh…” Yu Nan wanted to explain that the time she wanted for just the two of them shouldn’t be like this… it shouldn’t be fencing… but it shouldn’t be disturbed by a group of people either!
“Yu Nan was just discussing the difference between games and toys with me,” Zhu Yao said, pointing to a twig on the ground with her chin. “Look, a toy.”
"Have you reached a conclusion?"
"No," Yu Nan said irritably, "We haven't even had a chance to have a proper conversation before this third wheel shows up."
Lang Xi understood, "You're implying something in your words."
"So you better pray that you have a very important reason for coming to my house!" Yu Nan said through gritted teeth.
Yu Hua silently raised her hand: "I'm just going home normally."
Lang Xi: "Well, mainly, Miss Zhu's matter has been resolved."
Yu Nan was speechless: "You can send me a message. With such advanced communication technology, there's no need for you to come to find us in person."
They even brought their families along... Lang Xi and Yu Hua are one thing, but Ning Chen and Chang Jingxue aren't familiar with each other!
Seemingly noticing Yu Nan's gaze, Chang Jingxue, sitting in her wheelchair, slowly spoke: "Actually, it's the latest game, and we need to film at your house, Miss Yu."
"Huh? A new game? When did a new game come out?"
Yu Nan seemed out of sorts, "Why do you insist on filming at my house?"
Lang Xi explained, "The script was written by Teacher Chang Jingxue when you were not around. There is a scene in it involving a small town in the northern countryside, and Yu Hua suggested that we film here."
"Why is Yu Hua here too?"
Lang Xi revealed a wicked capitalist-like smile: "I've dragged your brother over to write code."
Yu Hua was standing obediently at the door, lost in thought, occasionally stealing a glance at Lang Xi.
Yu Nan: ...
During his studies abroad, Yu Hua once solved a programming problem outsourced by a foreign company in one night, and saved two million yuan as a result—that was his first pot of gold. In addition, he made a fortune from his early game startup...
Nowadays, having money isn't enough to get Yu Hua to come to court.
Seemingly sensing Yu Nan's thoughts, Lang Xi shrugged and offered a rare explanation: "When I graduated from university, he asked me to join Liji Studio. Now it's my turn to repay that favor."
I need to repay the favor...
Yu Nan looked at Yu Hua, who was still looking up at the sky, with a pitying gaze. He looked completely detached and was playing with dirt by rubbing his shoes on the ground.
I've heard that writing too much code can make people naive, and the same goes for playing games.
As a programmer who plays games, Yu Hua embodies both qualities.
He believed that money was easy to make, that as long as he had the skills, others would ask him to write programs, that "loyalty" was more important than anything else, and that "starting a business" was easy.
They have absolutely no idea about the hardships of millions of working people, and even have some of the bad habits of being a shrew.
These kinds of people are very simple-minded, and their emotions are easy to guess. If they like someone, they'll do everything they can to treat her well...
…
The new game is a light yuri gal game. The main story is about a girl who encounters a "god" in the mountains of the countryside. The rural setting was filmed in Yu Nan's hometown, which happens to be surrounded by mountains.
"This script really does have Chang Jingxue's style..."
Chang Jingxue truly lives up to her Hugo Award win; even in a story about a young girl's encounter with a mountain god, there's a strong science fiction flavor.
Chang Jingxue smiled, a smile as warm as the March sun melting the snow, unlike the bizarre and fantastical world she created.
"I'm only responsible for writing the script and the world-building."
Zhu Yao bent over slightly as she looked at the script with Chang Jingxue, who was sitting in a wheelchair—Chang Jingxue had written about 150,000 words.
"I think we need to add some scenes here, multiple options, and multiple endings..."
Chang Jingxue showed the script to Zhu Yao and explained several key points in detail. Then she winked mischievously and said, "That's all I have to say. I'll leave the rest to you, Miss Zhu. Just contact me if you need any changes."
Is Teacher Chang leaving?
Chang Jingxue stood up from her wheelchair, stretched, and walked briskly to Ning Chen, who was standing to the side. She hugged her tightly, "I'm not going~ I want to go sightseeing in Miss Yu's hometown with Chenchen~"
Ning Chen maintained her celebrity airs, standing coldly to the side without saying a word, only softening her sharp gaze when she occasionally made eye contact with Chang Jingxue.
At this moment, Chang Jingxue was clinging to her. Ning Chen nodded to Zhu Yao, then pulled Chang Jingxue away, leaving Zhu Yao with only an empty wheelchair.
Zhu Yao: ...?
So, Chang Jingxue's leg is fine after all...
Lang Xi, with an ice pop in his mouth, passed by Zhu Yao from behind and happened to see this scene. He tiptoed over and suddenly patted Zhu Yao's shoulder from behind.
Zhu Yao coldly removed the wolf claw from her shoulder. "I'm not Yu Nan. This kind of thing can't scare me."