Chapter 132: See You Next Time

Chapter 132 See You Next Time

After saying goodbye to Jia Zhao, Meng Shu glanced at the sky—it wasn't too late yet.

There was still one person he had yet to see.

He first went to the seaside and fished for a while with the old fisherman. The old man still ignored him, occasionally scolding him for being impatient.

Meng Shu didn't argue; he just watched the sea with the old fisherman.

Finally, he picked up a rainbow shell by the shore.

This was a gift he had promised Xu Linzhou but had never delivered. Lately, he had been preoccupied with Ling Qingjue, and none of the things he'd promised to do had been done.

He took the rainbow shell and went to Xu Linzhou's home.

Xu Linzhou's house was enormous—a grand manor.

Meng Shu was dumbfounded. As expected of Young Master Xu, he probably needed a car just to get out the door.

He had messaged Xu Linzhou in advance, and Xu Linzhou had sent a servant to pick him up.

The maid led him into the manor and couldn't help tattling: "Lord Hero, you don't know, but recently the young master has been acting so strange! He's been smashing things at home every day, not eating or drinking. His mom and dad are really worried."

Meng Shu asked, "What's he throwing a fit about?"

"It seems his submissions to the publishing house got rejected again. They said his writing is garbage and told him not to submit anymore…"

Meng Shu curled his lip. "Oh, I see."

The maid looked concerned. "You came just in time. Please help persuade the young master! It's not like our family is short on money, so why is he so hung up on writing, only to be insulted like that?"

"I'll give it a try." Meng Shu didn't say much and followed the maid to Xu Linzhou's room.

He knocked on the door, and Xu Linzhou came running over with a thump-thump-thump. He opened the door, his hair all disheveled. "Meng Shu, you're here."

Meng Shu smiled and handed him the rainbow shell. "Here, the gift I promised I'd give you."

Xu Linzhou took it, looking very awkward. "It's been a whole year, and you only just remembered to give it to me… You don't care about me at all."

At the same time, a line of text popped up beside his head: "Current Affection Level: 65"

Meng Shu was stunned for a moment. His affection for me was already that high?

For Xu Linzhou, the gift he wanted for affection was really simple—it didn't even require spending much money. Just a walk by the seaside, and those pretty feathers, shells, and little stones were his affection gifts.

He invited Meng Shu to sit down and personally made him a cup of tea. His expression was dejected. "I haven't seen you in a long time. I heard you guys encountered a really scary dungeon recently, but my parents wouldn't let me go. They said it was too dangerous and that I'd die if I went."

Xu Linzhou was indeed unsuited to be an adventurer. Even after all this time, he could still only beat slimes.

Meng Shu accepted the tea. "Thanks. It's nothing major. It's already over."

He looked around and noticed a bunch of crumpled papers on the desk. "Are you writing a manuscript lately?"

Xu Linzhou became even more dejected, hanging his head. "Yeah, I've written a lot, but they've all been rejected… I've been trying so hard. I've read so many books. Why can others do it, but I can't? Everyone's telling me to give up. Am I really not cut out for this path?"

Meng Shu reached out and touched his head, speaking softly. "Try again. There's a guy named Edison in my world who failed many, many times trying to invent the lightbulb. There's a saying: Failure is the mother of success."

Xu Linzhou said with a tearful face, "Then I already have a lot of mothers."

"Haha, let's give it another shot." Meng Shu's eyes curved into crescent moons as he patiently coaxed him. "Just because the publishing house doesn't like it doesn't mean others won't. A lot of artists only became famous after they died."

Xu Linzhou asked, "So you mean I have to die to become famous?"

"…That's not necessary."

"I've tried everything, but they still don't like it. They say I don't understand at all, and they keep telling me to go home and inherit the family business…"

Xu Linzhou looked really pained. "If I can't become a writer, I'll have no choice but to go home and inherit billions! That's just too hopeless!"

Meng Shu: "…"

What a thing to say.

Man, I'd love to take that burden off you.

He couldn't help laughing, his smile carrying a hint of helpless affection—a typical expression of Meng Shu's. "Then start by writing about things around you. When I was a student, I couldn't write essays either. My teacher told me to keep a diary. You should try that too."

"…There's nothing interesting around me. Every day it's just money, money, money. My parents only give me money." Xu Linzhou pouted. "I have nothing but money."

"If other people heard you say that, you'd get beaten up, you know?"

Xu Linzhou sniffed disdainfully. "You wouldn't hit me."

He grumbled, a little reluctantly. "Are you sure you're choosing that Ling Qingjue? His temper isn't as good as mine."

Meng Shu said dryly, "You two are about the same."

Two spoiled brats, and they still looked down on each other.

"What do you mean?" Xu Linzhou raised an eyebrow, irritated. "I'm way better than him! I never throw tantrums!"

Meng Shu: "…Really?"

Xu Linzhou wanted to say something, but finally sighed, propping his chin on his hand and turning his head away. "Whatever. If you like him, then like him. There are plenty of people chasing me. I don't need to wait for you."

Meng Shu looked at him, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Thank you."

Xu Linzhou waved his hand, with a deep look in his eyes. "I don't want to hear you. You're just an illiterate who doesn't understand my profound art. When I'm acting magnanimous, you should understand my melancholy and feel my charm."

"I get it. Right now you're the Little Prince of Melancholy."

Xu Linzhou snorted again. "I told you—you're illiterate. Forget it. Since you gave me the shell, I'll let it go."

He stood up and gathered his rejected drafts, looking a bit disappointed. "But seriously, is my writing really that bad? Nobody likes it…"

Meng Shu volunteered. "Let me have a look!"

Xu Linzhou asked, "Aren't you illiterate?"

"I did study for a few years—I just don't get your high art." Meng Shu took the rejected drafts and pretended to read a few pages. "This is brilliant! It's definitely the people at the publishing house who don't get it. You'll go far!"

Xu Linzhou immediately fell for it: "Really?"

"Of course. I never lie." Meng Shu was lying through his teeth. Truth be told, he couldn't even read a single character Xu Linzhou had written.

This bastard wrote his book in some language. No wonder he kept getting rejected.

He coughed, racking his brains for compliments, "This article is... earth-shattering! Crackle! Uh, that, a face like a flower! A torrent of brilliance! And what else..."

Xu Linzhou was amused by him, "What kind of adjectives are those!"

Meng Shu laughed, "I'm praising you."

The gloom on Xu Linzhou's face lifted. He suddenly gently hugged Meng Shu's shoulders, resting his head on Meng Shu's chest, and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Meng Shu. You take care of yourself too. I will keep writing, and I won't let everyone down this time."

He quickly let go and smiled at Meng Shu, "Head on back, Lord Hero. I'll come find you to play another time."

Meng Shu stood there, his nose unexpectedly stung.

He smiled, "Okay. Then... goodbye."

Xu Linzhou waved at him, his eyes bright and clear, "Alright, next time you're free, take me on another forest adventure."

"... Okay."