Group Chat

When she arrived at the residential complex, Lin Xia realized that You Xin lived in Building Eight, while Xie Xitong was in Building One. The two weren’t close neighbors, which explained why she had never encountered him when going to school with Xie Xitong.

Still, the complex wasn’t very large, and Lin Xia couldn’t help but ask, “How come I’ve never seen you before?”

You Xin curled his lips into a slight smile. “You’ve never seen me, but I know you. Yesterday, at Teacher Liu’s place.”

At Teacher Liu’s—he played the piano, didn’t he?

“That pianist yesterday, was you?”

You Xin nodded. “I’m too ordinary; you simply didn’t notice me.”

Lin Xia smiled and didn’t reply. She indeed had this flaw—rarely paying attention to people when walking.

Feeling awkward, Xie Xitong scoffed, “Don’t pretend—who received a pile of love letters in first year?”

“Chen Zi Mo,” You Xin replied with utter seriousness.

“You—” Xie Xitong was quick to defend her brother.

“Of course, with Liu Ziqing around, your brother wouldn’t glance at those letters, rest assured.”

“Mind your own business.” Xie Xitong gave him a glare, took Lin Xia’s arm, and said, “Come on, Xia Xia, let’s go. Ignore him; he’s too sharp-tongued.”

You Xin chuckled, following unhurriedly behind them.

Little Dumas once said, “Women may sometimes allow others to deceive their love, but never permit anyone to wound their pride.”

That was quite true.

But Xie Xitong’s temper flared and faded quickly. With just a few words from Lin Xia, she was back to her usual self, joking with You Xin as if nothing had happened.

When Lin Xia got home, her mother was cooking dinner. She turned on her computer, and as soon as she logged into QQ, she heard a chaotic string of notification pings.

Meow Meow: Are you there?
Meow Meow: Are you online?
Meow Meow: Where’s the new book you mentioned? *grinning emoji*
Meow Meow: Hey hey, you’re really not here? Don’t tell me you’ve gone to bed so early!

She scrolled through all the messages, sent around eight o’clock, when she was usually online.

Though her body had grown younger, the habits forged in university were slow to change. Moreover, the sense of crisis and responsibility pressing on her after her rebirth always reminded her not to squander her youth.

“Black hair doesn’t know the value of study early; white-haired regrets reading too late.”

Thinking of this, she hurried to reply.

Liuyan: I’m here.

Soon, Meow Meow responded: Why didn’t you log in yesterday?

Liuyan: Something came up.

Meow Meow: …And then a window shook.

Liuyan: …

Meow Meow: By the way, I created a QQ group. Join it—everyone there is a writer I’m working with. We can chat when we’re free and maybe even collaborate.

Liuyan: Sure!

To be honest, Lin Xia was quite fortunate. She bought her computer after gaining some fame, and by then, she was already collaborating frequently with editors, so their private relationship was good. She didn’t have the anxiousness of new writers facing indifferent editors.

Of course, since she hadn’t written novels in her previous life, she didn’t feel this acutely.

When she joined the group, it was lively, messages flooding in.

Online novels were still a novelty, and because people weren’t familiar offline, everyone was their genuine selves online.

Lin Xia was a little stunned by the spectacle.

Meow Meow: A new girl is in the group—everyone, welcome her!

Qin Mo: Xiao Wan Wan, repeat what you just said to me.

Yu Xiyan: Welcome, newcomer.

Wan Wan: Welcome, newcomer.

Qin Mo: Welcome, newcomer.

Black-and-White Photo: Welcome, newcomer.

…

Qin Mo: Where’s the newcomer? Show yourself!

Liuyan: Timidly raises hand.

Wan Wan: Wow, is this the legendary Liuyan? Group photo, quick!

Yu Xiyan: Group photo +1

Qin Mo: You’re weak—group photo plus 10086!

Black-and-White Photo: You stole my lines. Yan, up close, screenshot for posterity.

Liuyan: …

Meow Meow: Alright, alright—have you all finished your drafts? Get back to writing, or else I’ll bring out the whip!

Qin Mo: Meow Meow is furious—I’m off!

Wan Wan: Will you really obey? Hmph, doubtful.

Qin Mo: Haha, Wan Wan knows me best. Kiss!

Yu Xiyan: Don’t pretend—everyone here knows your true nature.

Lin Xia laughed, surprised that Qin Mo, whose writing was so sharp, turned out to be such a character in private.

The group continued to chat, but Lin Xia muted notifications and messaged Meow Meow privately: The first chapter of my new book is done. Want me to send it now?

Meow Meow: Drooling, yes please! I really want to see it. You haven’t submitted anything for two issues—the editorial department is nearly drowning in your readers’ letters.

Liuyan: Surely it’s not that dramatic.

Meow Meow: You have no idea! Anyway, less chit-chat, send the draft. The chief editor’s been hounding me.

Liuyan: As if! The chief editor is your uncle. Points finger, looks to the sky—not my words, not my words.

She then dug out the new manuscript from the F drive and sent it over.

Meow Meow received the file and said, “Hmph, for the sake of your draft, I’ll let you off this time.”

Liuyan: Alright. Take your time reading. I’ve only rough-drafted chapter two and need to revise it. I’ll get back to writing—QQ stays open; message me if you need me.

Meow Meow: Okay, go ahead. I’ll chase the others in the group.

Liuyan: Haha, speaking of which, Meow Meow, you have so many top authors now.

Meow Meow: Top authors?

Liuyan: I mean those who write well and have potential at our magazine.

Meow Meow: Are you talking about yourself?

Liuyan: Honestly, I’m being objective. I didn’t expect Qin Mo to be under your wing too. I’m following her serialization, “The Lonely Lost Empty City.” It’s really good. If possible, I hope to collaborate with her.

Meow Meow: Sure. You’re all in the same group now—it’s easy to connect.

Liuyan: Got it, going silent.

Meow Meow: Going silent?

Liuyan: Sweat, are you a cave dweller? “Diving” means lurking, not talking.

Meow Meow: I’ll slap you—no respect for elders.

Liuyan: …Seriously, no more chatting. I have a heavy workload today and want to go to bed by ten.

Meow Meow: Why sleep so early?

Liuyan: Uh, my period’s here, and my stomach really hurts…

Meow Meow: Sympathy—go rest. I’ll message you when I finish reading. Sleep early.

Liuyan: Bye!

Just as she finished, Lin Xia’s mother called her for dinner.

After eating, she opened RD and pondered, “‘His white shirt blooms in summer like a pure lotus’—is it alright to describe the male lead’s clothes with a lotus?”

Lin Xia thought for a moment and decided to let it be for now.

“In the dusk, the faint twilight brushed his hair, turning the bustle into silence.”

She revised chapter two, wrote chapter three, and checked the time—it was already half past nine.

Typing was indeed much faster than handwriting. If she’d written by hand, revising and drafting a chapter would have taken two and a half hours.

Is it by】.
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