In the apartment.

Just after seeing off Kujou Kana, Yun Mingxin hurried eagerly to the dining table.

He’d only eaten breakfast since yesterday.

As he lifted food to his mouth, his hands trembled slightly. Tears welled up in his eyes.

He finally grasped how blissful it was to know a maid skilled in cooking.

With such capable Kujou Kana around, it made sense that Kujou Yukihime kept the seemingly useless Kujou Nana close.

After happily finishing breakfast, Yun Mingxin habitually opened his phone.

He skimmed his messages—mostly trivial chatter.

Replying to a few key ones, he closed WeChat.

Opening QQ, his eyebrows shot up.

The familiar 99+ notifications now brimmed with update demands.

He had no idea why these readers kept urging a stubborn rock like him.

Too lazy to scroll through each message, he focused on a few contacts.

The pinned Lady Ji stood out most.

After all, she was his top patron.

Blaze—his own account—had never joined the fan group, for some reason.

Reading her messages, he pieced together why fans were pushing for updates.

Lady Ji: Author-san, that special character lately—the cute dual-souled boy.

Blaze: Yeah? What about him?

Yun Mingxin’s message had barely sent when she replied lightning-fast.

Like she’d been waiting on the chat screen.

Lady Ji: I find him just okay, but readers adore him!

Lady Ji: How did you create him? He reminds me of someone. That personality contrast really charms fans.

Lady Ji: He barely appeared early on, but after his hidden side surfaced, discussions exploded.

Lady Ji: I don’t hate him, but he cut Qiananzi’s scenes. Hard to like.

Yun Mingxin’s fingers froze over the keyboard.

Not from uncertainty—her typing speed was insane.

As he typed one character, she fired off dozens. Before answering one question, the next arrived.

With that speed, writing novels or… well, it’d be thrilling.

Those hands… gender unknown, but he was smitten.

Only when she paused did he get a chance to reply.

He wondered if she never chatted normally. Every message dumped a flood of words on him.

She’d also vent about trivial things—like company presidents begging for orders despite terrible products.

Bound by politeness and family ties, she’d smile while wanting to slash someone.

Skeptical but playful, he’d tease: “If it doesn’t hurt you and feels good, slash away. Won’t hit me, right?”

She’d reply with a blushing emoji, swearing she’d take a blade for him before letting anyone harm Yun Mingxin.

All in all, an amusing, adorable chatterbox.

Yun Mingxin couldn’t dislike her.

Blaze: He started as a normal character. After meeting a weird pair of sisters recently, I saw similarities and built him from that.

Many know I base characters on real people.

This boy’s a cute, clumsy cross-dresser.

He resembles Kujou Nana I met. Seeing the coincidence, I planned to mold him after her as a side character.

But after meeting Kujou Yukihime at school—and then the sharp Kujou Kana—I created Wu Jia and Wu Di.

Wu Jia, the timid younger brother, gets bullied easily.

Wu Di, the elder, lives up to his name: truly invincible, with fierce combat skills.

His cute face even makes him look like a Sailor Scout.

Per Lady Ji’s notes.

I don’t get why so many lewd readers demand more screen time for the adorable Wu boy—wanting him to marry the male lead for BL pairings.

So readers will ship anyone pretty, even males?

I did consider turning the brothers into sisters.

After understanding Kujou Kana better, I thought a dual-persona character like them could work. Might boost their roles.

Gender issues aside…

Eh, let them develop slowly.

Lately, watching that Heartless Labyrinth anime, fans cried, “Such a cute wife—but a boy!”

If I flip it—such a cute boy, but actually a female wife…

Might earn good reviews.

After a pause, he typed to Lady Ji: He’ll have more scenes later. Trust my writing. Every character gets a happy ending.

Lady Ji: Of course I trust you. Sending another million in tips soon. Write well.

Blaze: …You’re stressing me out!

Lady Ji: Huh? Online, isn’t a hundred million a small goal? I’m giving just one percent.

Blaze: Hmm. It’s probably not what you imagine.

Lady Ji: Okay. One question?

Blaze: Anytime. A hundred are fine.

Lady Ji: What… is love to you?

Yun Mingxin frowned. Why did everyone ask such deep questions lately?

She wanted his view on love.

Thinking carefully, he felt a pang of sorrow.

His romance scenes were either fantasies or borrowed from stories.

Sad truth: he’d had a girlfriend a year. Three hundred kisses, nothing more.

Mostly… it felt like keeping a doll.

Still, he replied earnestly.

Blaze: Joy when you see her. Sadness when apart. Calm when together. Excitement when close.

Blaze: Understanding her heart, and her yours. Mutual response. A two-way journey. That’s simple love.

Lady Ji didn’t reply for ages.

Yun Mingxin waited.

Just as he nearly logged off, her message popped up.

Lady Ji: I understand!

Lady Ji: Thank you. See you tomorrow!

“Huh?”

Yun Mingxin was baffled. See you tomorrow?

A typo?

Before he could ask, she went offline. Her avatar grayed out.

“Whatever.”

He closed the app, ready to game.

His phone pinged sharply.

A stunning photo filled the screen.

Kujou Yukihime’s avatar—her real face.

Opening the chat, one message waited.

“Don’t you have class tomorrow?”

Without thinking, Yun Mingxin replied.

“Yeah. Why?”

She answered instantly.

“Set a time tomorrow. I’ll walk you through the area first. Get you familiar with the environment.”

Yun Mingxin: what???