Chapter 67: Chapter 66 A Lifetime Free Membership Card at the Clubl i
Trantor: Inschain Editor: Inschain
Zhuge Zhn and Feng Lingxi were characters from the new work Master’s Love by the rtively unknown contemporary Chinese web novelist Forest Gazer.
Feng Ling Xi was the female protagonist in the story, while Zhuge Zhn was her sect leader and master.
Ever since a drama featuring a romance between master and disciple became popr like spring shoots after rain.
The trend became a master with an indifferent demeanor, powerful magic, deep-seated loneliness, and a tsundere attitude paired with a cute, hardworking, innocent, and mysterious female disciple.
It seemed that in the world of fantasy and martial arts, a powerful master would be remiss if he didn’t take on a female disciple.
Thus, when Master’s Love introduced such character settings, readers instinctively felt that Zhuge Zhn would surely be the official love match for Feng Lingxi.
Following the current popr plotline, it progressed from a deepening affection over time, to moral disapproval, to a third party stirring up trouble, to suppressed emotions, misunderstandings without exnations, the female lead’s identity being dramatically revealed, the female lead turning dark or evil, the male lead, as a master, silently sacrificing, a love-hate torturous rtionship, and finally the truthing to light with more emotional torment…
However, Qian Quan, who knew the main plot of the book, was aware that Zhuge Zhn would heroically fall whilebating the antagonist. Then, after a small plot twist, the sect’s head disciple would ascend to power.
While many Master’s Love readers did enjoy the master-disciple romance, in actual content, Zhuge Zhn and Feng Lingxi had a pure master-disciple rtionship – a refreshing change from the norm.
Qian Quan mentioned this to counter Ding Ling’s portrayal of master-disciple rtionships.
However, the problem was that he pretended not to know what Ding Ling had written. His confession, revealing not only that he followed the book but also deeply understood it, flustered Ding Ling.
Confronted by Ding Ling, Qian Quan quickly responded, “One line in your bio was my idea, so it was easy to find.”
“Qian Quan, don’t lie to me. Judging by your tone, you’ve finished reading my previous book, haven’t you?”
It was hard to deceive each other. They knew each other too well, often hanging out together, rarely pretending or being guarded.
He could have lied, but seeing how far she had gone with her suspicions, it seemed pointless to hide it.
He nodded, “Not only did I finish it, but I also voted daily and made numerous highlightedments in thement section. 1 am, you can say, a die-hard fan of Forest Gazer.”
“Qian Quan!” Ding Ling’s face turned beet red.
This was utterly embarrassing!
It felt as if a diary she wrote when she was eleven or twelve was being read aloud to her.
“Are you in my reader’s group?” Ding Ling inquired defensively.
“If 1 tell you, you can’t get mad, and you can’t kick me out of the group either.”
“Go ahead.”
“Promise first.”
“Alright, I won’t get mad or kick you out. Now, tell me.”
Qian Quan switched to his alternate ount “Mystery Man” and messaged Forest Gazer, “This is Qian Quan. 1 am talking to the real Forest Gazer.”
Upon receiving the message, Ding Ling almost dropped her phone. Three secondster-
“Qian Quan! I’m going to kill you!”
That’s right, not only was Qian Quan in her reader group, but he was also an admin!
He had interacted with her countless times in the group, sometimes even discussing topics rted to himself.
Other members often teased her about her mysterious childhood friend.
And the so-called friend was right there among them, asionally joining in the teasing.
This was the ultimate embarrassment!
Ding Ling lunged at him, trying to strangle Qian Quan.
“Hey! I’m an expert, I am… ouch! The sixth star of the Big Dipper…”
Ding Ling, of course, didn’t use real strength. It was just the sudden wave of embarrassment thatpelled her to do something to alleviate the awkwardness.
After a yful scuffle, Qian Quan, in his attempt to retaliate, pulled her into his embrace. Both hastily and tacitly separated.
Such close contact had happened in their younger days. Yet now, as both matured, it seemed more prudent to avoid such intimacy.
Ironically, their attempt to break the tension only made the atmosphere more awkward.
“When did you find out 1 was writing?” Ding Ling quickly changed the subject.
“Not long after you started typing away. Your constant typing piqued my interest. Then one day, I spotted you browsing your book on the Thornbush Literature website. Combining your writing style and pseudonym, it was easy to deduce,” Qian Quan exined.
Ding Ling remained silent for a while before stating, “Thements made by my pen name, Forest Gazer, don’t necessarily reflect my real views. You understand that, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Some plots and details in my book were crafted for the storyline and many details were searched on the fly online. I’m not particrly knowledgeable about them myself, okay?”
“Yeah,” Qian Quan replied with utter sincerity.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t.”
“Don’t tease me using my book’s plot or quotes!”
“I promise, no teasing.”
Ding Ling pondered for a moment and added, “That’s it for now. If I think of anything else, 1’11 let you know.”
“Alright.
The two had dinner and then went back to their respective schools.
Not long after they parted, Ding Ling sent another message to “Mystery Man” online.
“Don’t check our chat history.”
Mystery Man replied, “I won’t.”
At 6 in the afternoon.
Zhao Chunjia sent a car to pick up Qian Quan and bring him to Tulip Garden.
Apanied by his wife and daughter, Zhao Chunjia personally greeted Qian Quan upon his arrival.
When they met, Zhao’s wife, Huang Lingyan, naturally exchanged pleasantries with Qian Quan..