I'm in Love Apartment, and the system is making me cultivate immortality.

Chapter 253 Cartoonist Exchange Meeting, Dude, is the toilet really your birthplace?
in the room.

Gu Yifan had just pushed open the door.

A small, earthy-yellow shadow darted out from the blind spot behind the door.

It jumped and hugged Gu Yifan's leg, its little tail leaving afterimages.

"Let's play together."

A child's innocent voice echoed in Gu Yifan's heart.

With its adorable little face, pink tongue sticking out, short limbs, and fluffy body covered in milky hair, it's a perfect little creature.

Isn't it absolutely adorable?

Gu Yifan squatted down and rubbed Xiao Shiwan's golden head, feeling somewhat ashamed.

It seems that ever since I adopted Xiao Shiwan, I haven't spent much time with it.

Last night, when Gu Yifan came downstairs, Xiao Shiwan was still sleepy, curled up at the door, waiting for him to come back.

Today I have to send Xiao Shiwan to Meijia again so she can help take care of it. I haven't been spending enough time with my 'child'.

Especially since Xiao Shiwan is so intelligent and perceptive, he's almost like a child.

I'll definitely take it with me when I go out in the future.

Feeling guilty, Gu Yifan took out five spirit beast pills and fed them to Xiao Shiwan along with goat milk powder.

I played with it for a while longer.

It was very easy to teach it to sit, shake hands, turn around, and follow the top of the head to the washbasin filled with cat litter, which was temporarily used as a dog toilet.

It was almost time.

After explaining to Xiao Shiwan, Gu Yifan took it to room 3602.

On the sofa in the living room, number 3602.

Meijia was pestering Hu Yifei, wanting to know what skincare products she used to maintain such good skin.

"Sister Yifei, why don't you talk to them about it?"

"I beg you."

Meijia's coquettish manner was also adorable, but Ms. Hu seemed a little guilty. She said, "Meijia, you can't use this method."

"Well... actually, I just use milk as a face mask every day. You can try it too, Meijia."

Gu Yifan just happened to push the door open and walk in.

I heard Ms. Hu say that she washes her face with milk every day.

Gu Yifan: ∑(O_O；)——_''
Ms. Hu is good at making things up.

Meijia believed it and even planned to buy some expired milk to wash her face.

"Oh, Yifan, you're here! Ten thousand~ Did you miss your sister?" Meijia walked around the sofa and took the ten thousand from Gu Yifan's hand.

When Hu Yifei saw Gu Yifan come in, her pretty face flushed red, and she avoided looking at him.

"Meijia, I'm entrusting the 100,000 yuan to you. I've already taught her to use the toilet in a designated spot, and I've already fed her, so she doesn't need to be fed anymore."

Gu Yifan didn't teach Xiao Shiwan; he went straight to the restroom to take care of it.

One reason is that it's too small; even if you jump, you can't reach the toilet.

Another reason is...

Toilets are for human use, and even if Xiao Shiwan is smart, it's still a dog.

Even if you could jump up and stomp on it with your claws, would you still be able to sit down?

Taking all factors into consideration, Gu Yifan decided to first teach Xiao Shiwan how to use a litter box.

After you get the dog tag and vaccinations, when you take it for a walk, let it relieve itself outside.

Meijia was quite surprised to hear that Xiao Shiwan had already learned to use the toilet at a fixed location.

"Really? Wow~ Shihwan, you're so smart!" Mika lifted Shihwan high and exclaimed happily.

Xiao Shiwan turned her head, her big, dark eyes staring at Gu Yifan with a reluctant expression, looking aggrieved.

Seeing this, Gu Yifan almost wavered, thinking he should just take the small sum of money.

Seeing this, Guan Gu quickly pulled Gu Yifan away.

The Shanghai Cartoonists Forum was held in the meeting hall of a large hotel.

Gu Yifan, along with Guan Gu and their senior brother, arrived at the venue.

The venue was bustling with people.

As soon as he entered, Gu Yifan was certain that he hadn't come to the wrong place.

Simply put, the atmosphere here is too strongly influenced by the "otaku" (homebody) culture.

Looking at the 'teachers'—most of whom wore short-sleeved shirts with images of girls, One Piece, or Naruto, and were round and chubby, with glasses on their faces—I saw a group of 'teachers'.

If it weren't for the poster for the cartoonist exchange event at the entrance, Gu Yifan would have thought he had arrived in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan.

The stereotype has been proven to be true.

In comparison, Gu Yifan and Guan Gu, dressed formally, stood out in the crowd.

Another reason is that they are both very handsome.

Their appearance has, to say the least, directly raised the average attractiveness level of cartoonists in Shanghai!
Like a magnet, it attracts the attention of those around it.

As Gu Yifan walked through, he occasionally overheard lines from comics or discussions about comic characters.

That feeling of being at a comic convention is getting stronger and stronger.

But it's pretty much the same, since everyone here is a cartoonist.

Other professions are uncertain, but for artistic creation professions, most people who enter the field are people who are passionate about the industry.

Cartoonists, for example, mostly started as young people who liked reading comics.

I rushed in with a heart full of passion and enthusiasm, not caring about the profits.

Just like becoming a novelist isn't necessarily about making money; it could also be about being a reader who loves novels.

Out of boredom, I picked up a pen and wrote my first novel. I was then lucky enough to get a contract and gradually became an author.

Of course, passion often gradually changes over time.

They strive to gain wealth and fame.

People need to eat.

However, these two groups unexpectedly share some commonalities.

For example, they spend most of their time at work and don't communicate with others for long periods of time, which can lead to some social anxiety disorder, causing them to intentionally avoid eye contact with others.

When discussing familiar areas, they become very talkative and excited, retaining a sense of naivety (having not been severely beaten by society), and possessing a strong sense of fantasy, etc.

The reason Gu Yifan said so much was that he felt this was not quite the cartoonist exchange meeting he had imagined.

More relaxed, free, and a bit niche.

Most of them were in small groups of two or three, and Gu Yifan was in a dilemma: could he find all the right cartoonists?

"Mr. Gu, isn't the atmosphere here wonderful!"

Guan Gu, on the other hand, stepped into the venue with his eyes shining and whispered excitedly to Gu Yifan.

He was practically beaming with joy.

"So many familiar CCs! Oh, that's Teacher Thief Cat! His 'My Cat Turned into a Beautiful Girl' drawing is the industry benchmark!"

"Oh my god, that's Teacher Wudu! His comic style is exactly the ancient Chinese style you need!"

"And there's Mint Hard Soup Teacher! Her comics are all sweet romance-themed, I love them so much!"

"Seeing so many well-known teachers in the industry has fulfilled another of my wishes to come to Shanghai."

It seems that as long as the other person has some well-known works, Guan Gu can definitely recognize them.

Gu Yifan was filled with questions.

Guan Gu, you Japanese devil, how do you know so many cartoonists in Shanghai?

He seemed to sense Gu Yifan's confusion.

Du Jun, the senior disciple, whose attire was finally more normal—wearing a suit and shirt—still seemed a bit off in the otherwise nerdy venue (like a hard-working salesman), spoke with an air of nonchalance.

"Our mentor once said that Guan Gu's love for the comic book industry comes from the bottom of his heart."

"Even though my drawing skills are far superior to my junior's, I have to admit it."

"Passion may allow Guan Gu to go further in this journey."

The eldest brother spoke with a touch of emotion, and although he still spoke slowly, at least his words were coherent.

After listening, Gu Yifan glanced at the book again, still excited, and immediately took action, grabbing his notebook and running to find other cartoonists to sign it.

After receiving it, Guan Gu kept bowing and saying "Arigato, Arigato" and grinning like an idiot.

silence
Guan Gu loves comics, without a doubt.

Gu Yifan could only manage a wry smile.

"Hey! Guan Gu wouldn't be so adamant about not letting Mika see him like this, would he? That's why he's determined not to let Mika come."

Probably!

The next period of time.

Guan Gu and Du Jun also didn't forget to help Gu Yifan find a suitable cartoonist.

However, most of the artists here are somewhat famous, or at least have one popular work.

They initially greeted Gu Yifan with smiles, but after learning his purpose and that he wanted to find an assistant, they became somewhat indifferent.

Gu Yifan wanted to try his best, so he said he could offer the most generous compensation.

But it seems to have the opposite effect.

Most teachers simply shook their heads and refused.

"Boss, don't be discouraged. Most of the cartoonists here have famous works. They are proud but sincere. Don't take it too seriously."

After strolling around for a while, the senior brother took the initiative to comfort Gu Yifan.

Gu Yifan nodded, looking annoyed. "Everything else is fine, it's just the way they look at me."

It's exactly the way Guan Gu looks at 'the unscrupulous Boss Biao'.

Depend on!
He is Gu Yifan!
Are we to be compared to Boss Biao, who publishes pirated and erotic comics?
Du Jun: The main problem is that they don't know how generous you are, boss.

The company has been renovated and officially established, but it has not yet been confirmed to be open for business.

However, Gu Yifan still gave Du Jun a large red envelope, a five-figure sum, equivalent to more than three months' salary for an average person. Such a sucker... cough cough, wouldn't he be a fool not to follow a good boss?

Just as Gu Yifan sighed, realizing he had been making assumptions, and was preparing to go back and find some new people...

Anyway, the newbies' jobs are actually the same as the senior brother's, which is to help Gu Yifan draw backgrounds. They don't all need to be top-notch comic artists.

At this moment, Guan Gu returned with a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, who looked somewhat like a brother to him.

"Yifan, Senior Brother, you're here."

"Teacher Mu, let me introduce you. This is my senior brother, Du Jun, and this is my friend and roommate, Gu Yifan."

Guan Gu pulled the slightly shy young man beside him aside and introduced him.

The other person extended their hand, "Hello, teachers. My name is Mu Wei. Are you Teacher Du Jun, known as the Little White Dragon in the Waves?"

Du Jun realized that he had finally been recognized and was no longer invisible!

He immediately put on airs and nodded expressionlessly.

"That's right. I am Du Jun."

Gu Yifan was pleasantly surprised to hear that the other person's surname was Mu, but he was somewhat disappointed when he learned that his name was Mu Wei.

Gu Yifan thought to himself, "This person looks familiar. I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."

It's a pity that Mu Wei has short hair now; if he had long hair, Gu Yifan would recognize him at a glance.

The other party is Teacher Mu, who single-handedly changed the reputation of the Douluo Continent comic.

(My real name is Qian; this is the surname of my new name and the courtesy name of my old name.)
The main reason is that Gu Yifan had seen Teacher Mu's self-portrait with long hair, and it looked almost identical to the real person.

Gu Yifan is unaware that, by a twist of fate, he has actually found Teacher Mu, whom he most wanted to find.

Mu Wei, who hadn't changed his name yet, was still a little reserved. He told Du Jun about his idea of ​​developing in the field of Japanese comics.

Du Jun is quite famous in this area, and he is very good at Japanese anime style.

Guan Gu pulled Gu Yifan aside and lowered his voice.

"Gu Jun, haven't you always wanted to find a cartoonist with good drawing skills and a talent for storyboarding? This CC is quite good."

"Alright, then I'll have my senior brother invite him later."

Since it was Guan Gu who recommended it, Gu Yifan was willing to give it a try, but this time he was smarter.

Given that he has no famous works and seems to have unrealistic ambitions, it's understandable that other cartoonists would refuse his invitations.

But Du Jun and Guan Gu are different; they are both considered veterans.

Especially Du Jun, who has a certain degree of fame in the comic book circle, might be more effective if he were to handle the negotiations.

"Don't worry," Guan Gu nodded.

Gu Yifan felt the urge to use the restroom, so he told Guan Gu and turned to find one.

He's in a good mood right now; if he really can't attract anyone, he'll just consider it a trip.

Three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged cartoonists are plentiful.

When he's being reliable, the eldest brother is quite reliable.

His professional skills are very high, and he also learned from the Japanese comic style, which gave Mu Wei a lot of guidance.

This cartoonist, who bears a resemblance to Guan Gu, is also as shy as Guan Gu, and repeatedly thanked Du Jun.

She even proactively added Du Jun's contact information, hoping to communicate frequently in the future.

Du Jun hesitated for a moment, "I'm currently involved in the production of a comic, so I might not have much time to reply to messages."

Upon hearing that Du Jun was involved in creating the comic, Mu Wei became quite curious.

At this moment, Du Jun took out the manuscript of "Under One Person" that he had prepared beforehand.

The still-young Teacher Mu took it and carefully looked through it.

What started as a polite gesture gradually became captivating as I watched.

I read all twenty episodes that Du Jun brought in one go, and I still felt a little unsatisfied.

“This new comic is amazing!” he exclaimed, his eyes shining.

The opening appearance of Feng Baobao is very eye-catching, and the various foreshadowing elements also make people want to keep reading.

In addition, Du Jun's top-notch drawing skills elevate the quality of this comic to another level.

"This is your latest work, Teacher Du." After reading it, the young Teacher Mu's attitude towards Du Jun became even more respectful.

"Truly worthy of being called the White Dragon of the Waves," Mu Wei exclaimed.

As a cartoonist, he is quite certain that as long as this comic maintains its current level of quality, it will definitely be a hit, and very likely a huge hit.

When asked, Du Jun nodded without hesitation, head held high, exuding the air of a master.

"That's right. This is my latest idea, which I came up with all by myself!"

Guan Gu: "."

Senior Brother, are you serious?

But considering that this might be part of his senior's plan, Guan Gu held back for the time being and did not directly expose Du Jun's scheme.

"By combining ancient Chinese style with supernatural abilities and linking it with the Taoist Qigong of my University of Tokyo, I believe this will be the beginning of University of Tokyo's manga catching up with and even surpassing Japanese manga!"

Du Jun's eyes lit up, and taking advantage of Gu Yifan's absence, he spouted nonsense.

Nearby, the cartoonists who heard the commotion all turned to look with curiosity.

"Awei, what are you guys talking about? You seem to be having a lot of fun."

A cartoonist approached them and struck up a conversation.

With Du Jun's permission, Mu Wei enthusiastically showed the sketches in his hand to the people next to him.

Soon, the other person became completely engrossed in watching.

"What's going on?" someone asked.

"Stop messing around, we'll talk about it later. This comic is pretty good."

Now, many more cartoonists are curious.

Some, unable to contain themselves, took the already viewed sketches and began to peruse them.

Seeing this, Du Jun was extremely pleased with himself.

"Senior Brother, why did you say that the comic's ideas all came from you? This is clearly Gu Jun's work," Guan Gu questioned from the side.

Du Jun quickly whispered, "If I don't say it like that, how will I pique their curiosity?"

"Don't worry, once we've attracted them to join, I'll introduce the boss in a grand way."

the other side.

Gu Yifan was unaware of what had happened after he left.

He's going to the restroom in the lobby now.

I happened to glimpse the hotel lobby manager introducing the wedding banquet to three guests.

The girl with short, flaxen-brown hair stood to the side, clearly looking impatient, while the middle-aged couple next to her listened attentively.

Just then, Gu Yifan's curious gaze met hers.

The girl was visibly taken aback when she saw Gu Yifan's good looks.

Gu Yifan quickly looked away and continued walking towards the bathroom.

She's just an ordinary girl.

Releasing water is more important.

Just as he reached the corner of the bathroom, a series of desperate pleas came from behind him.

"Big brother, are you done using it? Can you give it back to me now?"

"Be gentle with her, don't be so rough, be gentle."

"Can you give her back to me now?"

Gu Yifan: "."

The boy's pleading tone was hard to ignore.

Damn, could it be that he encountered that kind of situation?

Right in the hotel lobby restroom, where people come and go?

How audacious!
Gu Yifan felt he had to lend a helping hand out of a sense of justice, so he quickened his pace.

Let him see what's going on?

When Gu Yifan turned the corner, he found that it was not quite what he had imagined.

In front of the mirror, a tall man wearing a vest is using a hairdryer to style his hair.

While rudely using the hairdryer, she impatiently spoke to the short-haired man in a suit next to her.

"Alright, alright, I just used your hairdryer for a bit, why are you being gentle? Is this how your hotel serves its customers?"

"Watch out, or I might file a complaint against you!"

The boy with the buzz cut was taken aback, then said, looking aggrieved, "Who said I was a hotel waiter? I'm a customer!"

"A customer?" The man in the vest was stunned and asked suspiciously, "Then why are you wearing a suit and carrying a hairdryer with you?"

"I'm a lawyer, and it's perfectly normal for me to carry a hairdryer with me, style my hair, and maintain a presentable appearance when facing clients!"

"Give it back to me right now!"

The man in the vest was slightly embarrassed, especially after noticing Gu Yifan walking in.

"Okay, okay. That's strange, it's not a waiter, but they still bring a hairdryer."

After the man in the vest left, the man with the buzz cut carefully picked up his precious hairdryer, gently wrapped the cord around it, and put it in his bag.

At this moment, he noticed Gu Yifan standing at the door, smiled shyly, and quickly tried to leave as well.

But just as he passed by Gu Yifan...
"Zhang Wei???"

"Huh?" The boy with the buzz cut paused, looking innocent.

"you know me?"

With a strange expression, Gu Yifan didn't answer, but instead glanced at the restroom sign hanging on the ceiling.

"Dude, the toilet must have been your birthplace!"

(End of this chapter)