Living in the bubble economy of Tokyo, I became a literary giant through lotteries.

Guan Gufeng gave a bitter smile to himself.

Well, he originally thought he was just here to chat casually, get closer to his idol, and maybe even shamelessly ask for an autograph.

But before I could even sit down properly, the impromptu Q&A session started.

Fortunately, although he was a plagiarist, he wasn't the kind who just copied without thinking.

With the literary enhancement brought about by that fountain pen, his understanding of these works has long since moved beyond the superficial retelling of plot details.

He pondered for a moment, then looked up to meet Miyazaki Hayao's gaze.

"Actually..." he began slowly, "there weren't many profound considerations involved."

Miyazaki raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not interrupt him.

"I have read many works, whether novels or comics, and the growth trajectory of the female protagonists mostly follows the same template."

Guan Gufeng's gaze fell on the ivy swaying in the wind in the distance, his voice calm.

"A girl in distress, a prince charming who falls from the sky, a romantic story of being rescued, and living happily ever after—this narrative is so ordinary that it feels like a given."

"But I always felt that people shouldn't be divided like that. It's not only those hot-blooded male protagonists in Weekly Shonen Jump who have the right to experience hardships and struggle to stand up from the mud."

"Girls can do the same. They can also confront the ugliness and weakness in their own hearts, and they can also grasp their own strength in the deepest abyss of despair."

He paused, then a smile appeared on his lips, carrying a hint of youthful spirit.

"A girl doesn't need to be saved, nor will a prince on a white horse come to save her. She has to stand up on her own two feet and cut through the darkness with the sword in her own hand."

"I really want to see protagonists like this. If others don't write them, then I'll write them myself."

The courtyard was quiet for a moment, the wind rustling through the leaves of the ivy.

Hayao Miyazaki remained silent for a long time. He lowered his head and looked at "The Wind Rises" in his hands again.

Then he looked up and exchanged a glance with Eiko Kadono. The two smiled at each other, their smiles conveying a tacit understanding.

"See? I told you my judgment was right," Miyazaki said to Eiko Kadono, his tone smug.

"How could someone capable of writing such imaginative and vibrant works possibly be confined by those decadent ideas?"

Kadono Eiko smiled and shook her head. She glanced down at her watch, closed the book in her hand, and stood up slowly.

"Then you two keep chatting, I won't disturb you since I'm just here to read the book."

Guan Gufeng hurriedly got up to see her off, but Kadono Eiko reached out and pressed down on his shoulder.

The hands, covered with fine wrinkles, carried a warmth unique to elders.

"No need to see me off, Mr. Guan Gu." She looked at Guan Gu Feng with a gentle yet solemn gaze.

"Please keep up the good work, I look forward to your future works."

Guan Gufeng looked at this senior, nodded solemnly, and sat back down in the rattan chair.

He picked up the half-cold coffee, and even though it was bitter, he had to take a sip to moisten his throat. Miyazaki Hayao's voice came from beside him.

"Teacher Guan Gu."

"Um?"

At this moment, Miyazaki Hayao looks just like an old fisherman preparing to cast his bait.

"Would you like to come to this seaside town and accompany a thirteen-year-old witch on a delivery mission?"

"what?"

A witch, a delivery girl, thirteen years old—Guan Gufeng vaguely guessed what was going on.

Seeing his somewhat bewildered expression, Miyazaki stopped teasing him and casually revealed the answer: "Today, Professor Kadono came here partly to borrow some books."

"On the other hand, she came to see the film adaptation of her novel, 'Kiki's Delivery Service,' which our studio is working on. The work is almost finished, and she came to check on the results."

"However, there's one more thing." Miyazaki held up one finger. "There's a character in the film that I'd like you to voice."

"A teenage character, not a lot of screen time, but a crucial one in the whole story. Interested?"

Guan Gufeng's vague guess instantly became clear, and he blurted out, "Is it 'Dragonfly,' the boy who dreams of soaring through the sky?"

Miyazaki's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward slightly. "You've read the original story?"

Guan Gufeng had certainly read the original novel, and he had also watched the movie.

In his past life, this story about a girl living alone in a strange city on a broomstick had comforted him during a low point in his life.

The moment Kiki lost her magic in the sea breeze, and the boy clumsily pedaling his homemade flying machine, both seemed like old friends who had once walked alongside him.

"I've read Kadono-sensei's original work." He put down his coffee cup, his tone sincere. "To my shame, while reading it, I kept fantasizing about how I wished I had the ability to talk to cats."

Hayao Miyazaki raises an eyebrow.

"That way I can have a proper talk with my two little guys and get them their own cat food every day."

Guan Gufeng's expression was quite serious. "Stop stepping on my face so early in the morning. I still need to sleep."

Hayao Miyazaki was stunned for a full three seconds, then he burst into laughter, laughing so hard he almost fell over, and even took off his glasses to wipe his eyes.

"Interesting!" He laughed, slapping the armrest of the wicker chair. "That's so interesting! Your idea is the most unique I've heard from so many people."

After he finished laughing, he put his glasses back on and looked at Guan Gufeng with undisguised admiration.

"So, Mr. Guan Gu, what's your answer?"

"It would be my honor." Guan Gufeng readily agreed. "As long as Miyazaki-sensei doesn't mind that I'm not from a voice acting agency and haven't received professional training, that's fine."

"How could that be?" Miyazaki waved his hand. "On the contrary, I just need your youthful voice."

"The people trained by those agencies nowadays are too perfect, unrealistically perfect, and have lost their original characteristics. I need a more down-to-earth voice."

"I'll have someone contact you in a few days to schedule an audition. Once the audition is done and things are settled, we'll sign the contract."

"Okay, I'll wait for your news." Guan Gufeng nodded in agreement.

After finishing their business, Miyazaki clapped his hands, becoming more relaxed.

He stood up, gestured with his chin toward the studio, and a hint of something indescribable appeared in his smile.

"Now that we've finished discussing business, how about it, Mr. Guan Gu, would you be interested in taking a tour of my studio?"

"certainly!"

Guan Gufeng's eyes lit up. As a fan, he was very happy to be able to visit the holy site in his heart.

Miyazaki walked ahead, glancing sideways at Guan Gu Feng's enthusiastic expression, a smile playing on his lips that Guan Gu Feng couldn't see.

He pushed open the studio door, stepped aside to make way, and gestured for them to pass.

"Welcome to my studio, Mr. Guan Gu."

Guan Gufeng walked in full of anticipation.