Happy Mid-Autumn Festival (Part 1)
“Oh, the Mid-Autumn Festival is tomorrow already.”
Snail sat at the desk, opened the computer, and started editing photos from work over the past few days.
Ugh, I still have to work on the Mid-Autumn Festival? How’s a poor Snail supposed to live like this?
Still, there’s apparently gonna be a big feast tomorrow night. Just thinking about it gets me a little excited.
Just then—
Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a bang.
“Hey, what’ve you been so busy with lately? Are you even gonna keep writing?”
“I’ve been off the grid for days! Get back to writing!!!”
A strangely familiar voice rang in Snail’s ears.
“Who the hell are you? What makes you think you can barge in here like that?”
“I just finished editing those photos, and you startled me so badly my hand slipped and…”
Snail looked to the right, his pupils shrinking.
There, by the door at the other end of the room, stood a black-haired boy holding a black sword.
“Y-you… y-y-you…” Snail’s hand began to tremble uncontrollably.
“Y-you what? Don’t you know the great Ye Xiaobai—dashing, handsome, and loved by everyone?”
“Of course I know who you are! I wrote you! But how did you get here…? Did you cheat your way into the real world or something? Wait, what are you doing? We can talk this out. D-don’t come any closer…”
Xiaobai drew the black sword from his back. Its blade shimmered with the light of night as he pointed it at Snail and slowly walked closer.
“What am I doing? I’m here to demand an update!!!”
“You haven’t updated in ages! Think I won’t slice your house in half with a Sword Qi Wave?”
The cold gleam of the black sword made Snail break out in a cold sweat.
After all, Snail had written him himself.
The Sword Qi Wave was no joke.
Not long ago, someone signing their letter “Mountain of Heaven” had written to him, too.
They’d said they’d only appeared in a few chapters before getting chopped down for no reason.
Could Snail please write a little more about them,
and show them a little more respect?
And so on…
Oh, right.
I’m the author. Why should I be afraid of you?
As Snail thought it over, he calmed down. Then, utterly composed, he started working at the computer.
“What are you doing?”
A sudden, ominous feeling crept into Xiaobai’s heart.
“Heh. Come on, let me show you something.”
Snail pointed at a folder on the computer screen labeled “The Sword God’s Life Shouldn’t Be This Boring.”
“This is everything I’ve written.”
A strange smile spread across Snail’s face.
“You’re a character in my work, and you dare threaten me? Hmm?”
“I don’t know how you got into the real world.”
“But here’s something pretty interesting: did you know that if I press the Delete key, you’ll disappear from the world?”
“From every world, actually~”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. Why would I lie to you?”
“It’s that easy?”
“Yup. Easy and quick. It’s the perfect cure for a shameless little pest who popped up out of nowhere.”
Snail nodded.
“Y-you… y-y-you… That’s not fair!!”
Xiaobai’s face flushed bright red.
“Wait! If you delete your novel, aren’t you worried your readers will curse you out?”
“Nope. Between my life and my novel, I choose my life. I’m sure everyone will understand. Besides, I’ve already started my second novel… Wait, wait, we’re getting off track.”
“I asked if you give up. Do you?”
Snail stared at Xiaobai.
“No!!!”
At Xiaobai’s furious shout, Snail quickly opened a new Word document and started typing.
〔Xiaobai lowered the black sword and slapped himself across the face.〕
At the same time,
Xiaobai was horrified to discover that he couldn’t control his own body.
“You…”
“Xiaobai” slowly lowered the black sword, then gradually raised his right hand.
“Smack~”
A crisp slap rang out.
“The person sitting in front of you is your beloved Snail Daddy.”
“If Daddy wants you to do something, you do it.”
Snail burst out laughing.
“This is so fun!!!”
“Well, little Xiaobai? Do you give up now?!”
Xiaobai looked at his own hand, then glared at Snail.
Grinding his teeth, he had no choice but to force the words out:
“I give up…”
“And are you gonna try to hit me again?”
“No…”
“Good boy.”
