Chapter 21: Destroying Both Life and Spirit

"Guoguo, over here!"

Dressed in a long skirt, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders and a crossbody bag slung over her shoulder, Chen Mengting stood at the school gate, waving excitedly at the baby-faced Ling Guoguo.

"What's up? You look so excited." Ling Guoguo asked, munching on a *jianbing guozi* (savory crepe) in her hand.

"Hehe~" Chen Mengting shook her phone, looking smug. "Let's go shopping! All expenses today are on Miss Chen."

"How many bowls of porridge did you have for breakfast? You're talking like you're floating on air."

"Oh, I'm not kidding! I’m actually rich now! I can buy you anything you want." Armed with a small fortune, Chen Mengting was the picture of confidence.

The two friends set off toward the only shopping mall in their small county.

"Alright then, get me an autograph from ZJ~"

"Guoguo!" Chen Mengting's smug smile froze, and she cast a resentful look at Ling Guoguo. Currently, there were only ten of ZJ’s signed photos in circulation, all randomly inserted into his first album; they were the definition of priceless and unattainable.

"Hahaha, sorry, sorry." Ling Guoguo finished her crepe in a few bites and tossed the plastic bag into a nearby trash can. "But seriously, how much pocket money did you get to be acting so generous?"

"Guess~"

"Hmm... 200?" In their small town, carrying two hundred-yuan notes was considered quite extravagant, so Ling Guoguo could understand her friend acting a bit bold with that much cash.

"Nonono~ Guess higher."

"...Don't tell me 500?"

Chen Mengting smirked triumphantly. "It's 1,000!" Before leaving the house, she felt the 10,000 on her phone was too heavy to carry, so she transferred 9,000 to her mom for safekeeping. She had brought the remaining 1,000 to show off to her friend.

As expected, Ling Guoguo gasped. "Mengting, you didn't steal this from your uncle and aunt, did you?"

"..." *Am I that pathetic in your eyes?* "My sister-in-law gave it to me."

"Sister-in-law?" Ling Guoguo immediately pictured Guo Yue'er. She didn't know her, of course, but she had heard her best friend complain about her constantly. And, naturally, complain about her dense brother.

"Did your brother finally land her?"

Chen Mengting knew exactly who she meant, but she shook her head. "No, my brother went on a blind date, and they hit it off so well they even got their marriage license. This money is what my sister-in-law gave me."

"Oh~ your sister-in-law is quite generous."

"You bet."

Ling Guoguo grabbed her friend’s arm and shook it. "Hey, you said you were treating me, don't go back on your word~"

"Of course."

***

Meanwhile, Chen Fan returned to his room after having breakfast with Peng Jiaxin. His CEO wife said she had to head to the company to handle the business regarding his song, so she left right after eating, taking the demo they had recorded at the KTV the day before.

Sitting at his computer, Chen Fan knew sleep was out of the question, so he decided to find something to do. He opened his email, scanning through the messages. Most of them were requests for manuscripts or adaptation rights, which he ignored; once the news of his collaboration with Xinghai Entertainment got out, these people would quiet down.

*What?* You want a live-action adaptation? Chen Fan wasn't that desperate for money.

As for the manuscript requests, he read through them with some interest. Most wanted him to bring his novel *Flame Emperor* to their platform or write another novel of the same caliber, promising to negotiate a good price. Chen Fan had zero interest in that. With an editor as useful—er, responsible—as April, why would he ever stray?

However, some of the requests gave him an idea. Perhaps his next book could be more "healing," providing comfort to the many netizens who loved reading novels late into the night. Thinking about it, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Suddenly, his phone pinged. Looking down, he saw an avatar heavily themed with anime characters.

"Bro, you free today? Let's go grab a drink."

Chen Fan checked the time. "Big brother, it's eight in the morning, not eight at night."

"Exactly, it's just a continuation of the night before, isn't it?"

"..." *So you've been drinking until now?* "Where?"

"The usual spot."

Chen Fan grabbed his phone and headed out, hailing a taxi straight to the Old Street of Suzhou. This street was known as the "Food Street," and true to its name, it was lined with restaurants and eateries. At night, the street would be packed with small stalls, buzzing with life.

The "usual spot" was a barbecue joint where Chen Fan had worked for a long time. Because he had spent so much time there, his own "lovesick" history was somewhat well-known to the locals. The guy with the anime avatar had come specifically because of that. Like Chen Fan, he was troubled by love, and after Chen Fan gave him some veteran advice, he had latched onto him. Over time, they became close, and he was arguably Chen Fan’s only friend in Suzhou.

Returning to the familiar barbecue shop, Chen Fan felt a wave of nostalgia. It was only eight in the morning, so the shop wasn't open yet, but seeing the supercar parked outside—covered from top to bottom in anime girl decals—he knew his friend had already arrived.

Pushing open the door, Chen Fan saw his old boss bowing and scraping, serving a man wearing a T-shirt featuring the same anime girl as the car outside.

Xiang Yongyang was the second son of a Suzhou real estate tycoon. With a capable older brother inheriting the family business and a younger sister who excelled in both arts and sports, he was the "middle child" that neither parent cared much for. Luckily, he was easygoing and had fully accepted the fact that he was a disappointment, becoming obsessed with anime instead. The family’s only requirement for him was to avoid causing trouble or trying to start a business; he could squander as much money as he wanted, as he would never run out in several lifetimes.

When the boss saw Chen Fan, he almost burst into tears. "Chen Fan, you’re finally here! This ancestor has been crying since he walked in, and I can't stop him!"

"It's okay, Boss. Go ahead and get busy, I'll take care of it."

"Ah, thank you so much." The boss hurried away.

Chen Fan sat down across from Xiang Yongyang and poured a glass of wine. "Tell me, what's going on?"

"Chen Fan, I think I've been dumped."

"Hmm? When did you even start dating?"

A fast, sharp blade of truth pierced Xiang Yongyang’s heart. He clutched his chest and lowered his head. "Bro, you’re brutal!"

That one sentence calmed him down more effectively than all the comfort his drinking buddies had offered him the night before.

"So, what’s the situation?"

"My goddess... she got married."

"Oh." Chen Fan took a sip of wine and grabbed a couple of lamb skewers. *Mmm, haven't had the boss's skewers in a while; still the same taste.* He should bring Peng Jiaxin to try them sometime.