I turned reality into a romantic comedy

"Hehehe?"

Chen Junqian flicked Xu Youwei's forehead as she tried to fool him, once again experiencing the feeling of being a research group leader in his previous life at university. He could only emphasize it again seriously and earnestly:

"You need to show me at least a first draft by next week, otherwise I won't be spending time with you the day after tomorrow."

"Waaah, Qinqin is so mean."

The moment Chen Junqian uttered those words, Xu Youwei was like a kitten whose fate had been seized by the scruff of its neck. With her weakness held in her grasp, she could only obediently surrender.

"Okay, I'll speed things up these next couple of days."

However, it wasn't just Xu Youwei's side that needed to speed things up. Rather, aside from Mu Mu, who didn't need his attention at all and immediately started carrying out the tasks as soon as they were assigned, the other two people, as well as Gu Lingguo, an unofficial member who hadn't yet joined the department, were all formidable opponents for Chen Junqian.

Sure enough, after school, he had just ridden his bicycle to the club's activity room with Zhu Wenyun, and before he could even chat with Xu Youwei about the cover design, she casually said to him, "I'm having writer's block, sorry."

"How about we take a break first? Have some snacks or something?"

Because there was a convenience store at school, the club's funding was quite sufficient. In addition to books, Chen Junqian also stuffed a lot of snacks and drinks into the activity room. As soon as he turned around and took them out, Zhu Wenyun picked up her pen again and lowered her head to the manuscript paper, seemingly about to start writing.

If you look a little closer, you'll see that what the other person is writing on the blank manuscript paper is a continuous string of "Hey me, hey me, hey me, hey me." Chen Junqian even thought about getting Zhu Wenyun a laptop specifically for writing, since copying and pasting might be easier that way.

Incidentally, since Zhu Wenyun herself still doesn't like Pocky which is ridiculously expensive and not cost-effective, the two of them have been trying hard to find many alternatives to it over the past period of time. The stick-shaped biscuits that Chen Junqian is currently feeding her with chocolate sauce are one of them.

Actually, if we were to make a Pocky nine-square grid, I feel like shrimp chips could also be included?

He pulled a cookie out of the packaging, dipped it in the included chocolate sauce, and then, being careful not to block Zhu Wenyun's view, held it next to her face. He then put the tip of the cookie near her lips, and the next second, the whole cookie was bitten into the girl's mouth with a strange crunching sound.

Don't ask, it's a skill I developed after playing Pocky games a lot.

His fingertips inadvertently touched the other's lips, but it was much better than the near-lip-to-lip kiss during the Pocky game. Seeing the words "Again, again, again" on the manuscript, Chen Junqian had no choice but to continue his feeding mission, only regretting that the system's achievement limit was only one thousand times.

However, this time did not last long, because Xu Youwei was not blind. Soon, she called Chen Junqian over again, saying that she wanted to show him the two crabapple trees she had drawn at the entrance of the teaching building during the day's break. By the time Mu Mu, who had finished distributing today's flyers, arrived late, the entire activity room had already become an observation site for Chen Junqian's back-and-forth movement, leaving her a little dazed.

"All the flyers have been handed out. There are more interested people than I expected. Quite a few students also want to submit their work, since it can be printed in the book."

Since there were no outsiders around, Lin Mu simply found a table and sat down, her two little legs swinging in mid-air. Her lively tone made the atmosphere in the activity room much more relaxed. Chen Junqian also broke free from the cycle of his own thoughts and came to her side to take some of the manuscripts she had temporarily collected.

The creative desires of junior high school students are stronger than he imagined. The manuscripts collected so far include various forms of writing, such as prose, modern poetry, narrative essays, and classical-style poems. Regardless of the quality, the variety is certainly rich and colorful. Otherwise, why would the essay topic at the end of each Chinese exam always specifically state "all forms except poetry"? Because some students really love to write poetry, even if it's neither ancient nor modern, and it's somewhat like the style of General Zhang Zongchang.

"Thank you for your hard work. Let me see if there are any reliable ones that can be published."

As soon as Chen Junqian found an empty seat, Lin Mu hopped down from the table and followed him. Unlike Xu Youwei and Zhu Wenyun, who were still working, she had already finished all her tasks for the day. So, she naturally came over, stood behind her childhood friend, put her head on his shoulder, and looked at the collected manuscripts with Chen Junqian.

As it turns out, this kind of "chuunibyou" (middle school syndrome) symptom isn't just limited to Japan, like the currently popular anime "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions." There are also a lot of severe cases in China. Among the manuscripts he had were even beginnings similar to web novels. And the hardest part wasn't the original works, but all sorts of fanfiction. Not only were there male-oriented fanfictions like "Battle Through the Heavens" and "Douluo Continent," but Chen Junqian even saw a very mysterious article like "EXO: The Twelve Emperors Belong to Me." After reading it, he felt like he was going to suffer a work injury.

The girl lying on him seemed to be laughing happily; Mu Mu's charm in winter was definitely several levels higher than in summer.

Today is the 19th of the last month of 2012, two days before the end of the world, but that's for Hsu Yu-Wei.

For Lin Mu, the day she was waiting for was six days away, which was Christmas this year.

This is the fourth year since they became childhood sweethearts, and the fourth castle has already been built, inside which she has written her blessings and wishes for this year.

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Chapter Seventeen: What were you doing during the apocalypse? (Part 2)

December 21, 2012 was a Friday.

So if this day really is the end of the world as predicted by the Mayans, then it is indeed quite apocalyptic for students who have finally managed to attend school for a week. At least let them finish this weekend before destroying the world, okay?

However, apart from Xu Youwei, the girl who had been thinking about this day for two whole years, it seemed that not many people really cared about the date of this supposed apocalypse. After all, whether it was the end of the world or not was another matter; the weekend was coming up, so let's have some fun first.

After reviewing the assignments that the class representatives had obtained from their respective teachers and written on the blackboard in the corner, and tidying up the miscellaneous newspapers, test papers, and practice questions and putting them into his schoolbag, Chen Junqian naturally glanced at Lin Mu, who was sitting two rows in front of him.

Incidentally, because of his good grades, the homeroom teacher intended to make him the class monitor when he first entered school. However, Chen Junqian himself was not interested in such things, so he ended up taking the position of history class representative, while Lu, who had been the class monitor for six years since elementary school, continued to serve. Lu was the kid Chen Junqian had ever seen who was most enthusiastic about such so-called 'official positions'. He was clearly a good candidate for taking the civil service exam when he grew up.

He had already told the other two yesterday that he wouldn't be participating in club activities today and would be going home with Xu Youwei. However, at the end of school, Chen Junqian still took the initiative to greet Lin Mu again.

"Mumu, don't forget to bring your homework home again."

Just like childhood sweethearts always repeating each other's embarrassing moments, Lin Mu really forgot to bring her homework a few years ago, so much so that Chen Junqian had to rush to the school overnight to help. It's impossible for her to avoid this topic. Just like the two hundred yuan she lost at the beginning, it feels like she'll still be talking about it in five or ten years.

"No, I sorted out the homework one by one from the blackboard. And even if I really forgot, Qianqian can just come back with me to get it. It's not like I haven't done this before."

Lin Mu's response to Chen Junqian's joke also had a strong childhood sweetheart feel to it. After all, there are too many childhood sweethearts who use "we did this and that when we were young" as an excuse when they grow up. But whether it will turn into a paper airplane or a boomerang and fly back to your hand in the end is another matter.

As always, Mu Mu wouldn't pry into the relationship between Chen Junqian and Xu Youwei. This had been her practice for years, and it remained true today. So, after saying this, she took the initiative to say goodbye to Chen Junqian.

"I'll head back now, see you on Sunday."

"Well, see you the day after tomorrow."

Lin Mu had just stepped down the stairs when she bumped into Xu Youwei, who was already waiting there, at the corner of the first-floor hallway. She greeted her good friend as well.

"Are you waiting for Qianqian? He'll be down soon, he should be right behind me."

"Um……"

Unlike the previous incident on the night of the eighth day of the first lunar month during winter break, Xu Youwei suddenly felt a little guilty when she unexpectedly bumped into her best friend again before this important moment arrived. For some reason, she suddenly remembered what her friend had said to her at the Children's Day celebration a few months ago: "I was here first." Even her tone of reply became a little strange.

However, Lin Mu seemed completely unaware that her basic attack had almost been scared out of her wits by the opponent's ultimate move. She had simply bumped into the opponent on the road, exchanged a casual greeting, and then walked away with light steps, carrying her schoolbag, since her mother was still waiting for her in the car at the school gate.

So when Chen Junqian came down with his schoolbag, he saw Xu Youwei there, looking anxious and uncertain.

"Sorry, it took me a little longer to pack."

"Hmm, it's alright, let's go then."

Upon seeing Chen Junqian approach, Xu Youwei felt reassured and followed him, slightly behind, towards the bicycle shed.

There are always too many problems in reality. Take Lin Mu, who just passed by her, for example. What will become of the relationship between the three of them? How does he perceive Chen Junqian? And how does he view her?

If you just start to think outside the box, you'll feel like you can never finish thinking, and you'll just stay stuck in the same place without making any progress.

That's why it's always good to take action before thinking about these issues, just like today. After all, on the clock of time, there are only the two words "now". People's thoughts change every moment. With so many tongues, so many hands, and so many unexpected events, there will be so much hesitation, so much delay, and so much indecision.

Thinking of this, Xu Youwei unconsciously placed her hand on her chest again, where she could clearly feel the throbbing that originated.

When something is about to take shape in one's heart, a feeling that is mixed with joy and unease always arises, perhaps closer to animalistic emotions than that of humans.

Just like a fox that smells a distant scent and gradually approaches the location of its prey, even before it has actually caught it, its heart is already firmly gripped and lifted into the air.

The more this happened, the more Xu Youwei began to fear looking Chen Junqian in the eye, even though it had been an ordinary sight in the past.

Even the feelings of others, which she had never paid attention to before, suddenly made her feel that the gazes of others were a bit too intense. It was as if everyone passing by them was intentionally or unintentionally casting their gazes on the two of them. Xu Youwei, who had always enjoyed the atmosphere of being under the spotlight, felt the burning sensation brought by the focus for the first time, and her skin became hot as a result.

If this were some kind of two-dimensional romantic comedy world, Chen Junqian would probably have seen steam rising from the other person's head and blushes on the girl's face to indicate shyness. But the expressions of emotion in reality are not so obvious. What he could feel was the warmth of the other person's palm, which had somehow taken his hand.

Chen Junqian once talked to Zhong Yu about when he won over his online girlfriend. Zhong Yu told him about their first offline meeting. At that time, he was still a brat and a habitual show-off. While waiting for her at the door, he deliberately put his hands in his pockets in a cocky manner. As a result, his online girlfriend gently took them out of his pockets and held them.

It can only be said that this move was indeed very effective against Zhong Yu. Anyway, the two of them have been talking like this for several years now.

"where to?"

After unlocking the bicycle with the key, Chen Junqian kicked the kickstand away and turned to Xu Youwei, asking her this question.

Since it had been agreed beforehand that Xu Youwei would arrange his time after school today, Chen Junqian also informed his mother in advance. It was Friday, so he had plenty of time, since he had done things like staying out all night before.

"Let's go to the base."

"Okay, then I'll just ride over there."

"Ah."

Sitting on the back of the bicycle again after a long time, Xu Youwei recalled the scene when she first met Chen Junqian in the countryside three years ago. The scenery she saw then was completely different from what she saw now.

In another three years, things will probably change again.

Everything around me rushed past in the evening breeze, receding into the distance. A person's memory is a city, and time erodes all buildings until all the high-rises and roads are turned to sand.

If you don't keep going, you'll be buried by the sand.

Memories of childhood sweethearts, along with the years of childhood, are always buried silently in the deepest part of my heart.

Therefore, it can warm the soul inside the body at all times.

Of course, one day, one could violently sever the entire body and soul from the inside.

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If the world were to be destroyed tomorrow, what would we eat for our last meal today?

This problem, which could probably inspire writers and philosophers to write a great deal of work, is now very real and right in front of Chen Junqian.

If he were with Zhu Wenyun now, Chen Junqian was sure she would bring up the chapter "Moon Prison" from the Pipilu series of fairy tales. The huge amount of food the male protagonist ordered before being exiled to the Moon Prison to fend for himself was something that both of them remembered vividly. If he remembered correctly, it should be 'Creamy baked prawns, snail pastry box, medium-rare fried steak, half a roast duck, ham salad, vegetable soup, Italian pie, Belgian braised beef noodles with shark fin, Scotch whisky and a box of ice'.

Of course, these things can't be replicated in reality, so he and Zhu Wenyun will probably continue to work on localizing and improving the menu with low-cost alternatives. It seems quite interesting, and he might consider mentioning it to Wenyun later.

"Yoyo, is there anything you'd like to eat? Whether you buy it or I cook it for you, it's fine."

"If the Earth were to be destroyed tomorrow, my last meal would definitely be to eat all these snacks as if it were revenge."

Well, it seems that Xu Youwei's last meal was a snack set meal.

However, when it came to drinks, the other party thoughtfully chose to recreate the Sprite mixed with red wine that the two of them had a few years ago.

Due to the national conditions in Japan, alcohol is absolutely forbidden in most romantic comedies, and every time it appears, there is a serious note stating, "All characters who drink alcohol in this work are over twenty years old and adults."

So here's the question: what if sometimes alcohol and a slightly tipsy state are really needed to advance the plot?

The answer is the mysterious liqueur-filled chocolate.

Don't ask. The answer is that I didn't know before I ate it. The answer is that although I ate a so-called liqueur-filled chocolate, I just can't hold my liquor. Then, I can use my slightly tipsy state to enter the delightful romantic comedy segment.

However, such a thing is of course impossible to happen in China in reality. Although the snack set in front of the two of them really does contain chocolate-filled liqueurs, just like what Xu Youwei is doing right now, in a situation where alcohol is not strictly regulated for minors and many children's first taste of alcohol is even taken by their parents, there is no need to go through such a roundabout process.

Although Chen Junqian wasn't a fan of alcohol, Xu Youwei felt the same way, even despising it. For them, a little bit of red wine mixed with Sprite was essentially a beverage, mainly for novelty and fun.

The first time the two drank this was also the first time Xu Youwei slightly opened up to Chen Junqian. She remembered it was at Lin Mu's tenth birthday party. So, the connection between the two of them can never be separated from Lin Mu. This is also one of the real reasons why Xu Youwei has not been able to truly make up her mind to put her various ideas into practice.

To be honest, their shelter wasn't really suitable for facing the winter cold. After all, no matter how much they tidied it up, Chen Junqian and Xu Youwei couldn't install an air conditioner inside. However, they did buy an electric blanket and an electric brazier.

The bed in the room was warmed up beforehand, the place where the two of them would sleep that night—something that had been decided long ago.

The latter is already in use; the two of them put their feet inside and covered them with their thick down jackets as blankets.

Kotatsu is a great companion in winter.

The achievement that I had noticed several years ago was finally officially triggered today. The main reason is that the only person who could complete this scene with Chen Junqian each year was his sister, who has not yet been included as the female lead. So it was delayed until now and was triggered by Xu Youwei in front of me.

Just like many romantic comedies that happen in a kotatsu, Xu Youwei's feet were also very restless inside. After all, she was the kind of person who would tickle his feet even under a fast food restaurant table, let alone in this situation where it was just the two of them.

So in no time, Chen Junqian felt his feet being firmly clamped in the electric brazier, the warm touch of the cotton socks spreading from his soles, arches, and ankles all the way up to his calves.

God, who once destroyed the world, probably regrets not adding a wagging tail like a dog when creating humans; otherwise, many of their expressions and movements would be much more vivid.

Just like the girl he was already holding in his arms.

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Chapter 18: A Confession I'd Planned (Part 2)

The night of December 21, 2012, was a clear night. If it were summer, Chen Junqian and Xu Youwei might have been able to set up a deck chair outside in the courtyard, watch the moon, and feed the mosquitoes. The mosquitoes in the countryside are much more vicious than those in the city. In the summer, you could come back from the bathroom with several bites on your buttocks.

So winter does have its advantages. Not only are mosquitoes completely eradicated, but it also prevents Chen Junqian from saying things like, "Why are you getting so close? It's so hot!" Just like the system wrote in many winter-related achievements, seeking warmth from the outside in winter has always been one of the most fundamental logics of winter romantic comedies, whether it's a scarf, gloves, or a kotatsu.

Aside from these external objects, the most intimate contact is naturally skin-to-skin contact, just like those ancestors who lived in caves hundreds of thousands of years ago, using this most primitive method to resist the cold and those emotions called loneliness and solitude, just like Xu Youwei now.

Of the four seasons in a year, there is only one spring, one summer, and one autumn, but there are only two winters, one at the beginning of the year and one at the end of the year.

Time always flies by so fast it feels a little surreal. It seems like only yesterday that winter and the fireworks were over, and now another winter has arrived. A whole year has indeed left its mark on the girl in front of Chen Junqian.

The graceful young girl, just over thirteen, was about to turn fourteen after the New Year. Unlike her best friend, whose body and mind seemed to remain in the past, all the changes of adolescence were vividly reflected in Xu Youwei, especially her psychological awkwardness, which was probably the most obvious among the three Guo Ning members.

The longer Chen Junqian spent with Xu Youwei, the more he understood why many writers liked to focus on the length of girls' hair. During their school years, when everyone wore school uniforms and had fixed hairstyles, this was indeed the most obvious change in everyone.

Just like now, when he looks at Xu Youwei in front of him, he is a little dazed and can't equate the girl in front of him with the little girl he saw a few years ago when he was riding a tricycle in the countryside, flipping through craft materials on the country road.

"Qinqin".

Although he had heard it countless times, Chen Junqian still wanted to mentally complain that the nickname the other person had given him was really too much, since playing puns on the internet could get him fined.

"Well, what's wrong?"

Since the room wasn't actually that cold, and the two of them were warming themselves by an electric brazier, Chen Junqian and Xu Youwei took off their outermost bulky down jackets, leaving them only in their sweaters and cotton shirts.

If the Mayan prophecy of the end of the world had come a little later, Chen Junqian would probably be wearing the sweater Zhu Wenyun knitted for him tonight. Just like Mu Mu's castle has already been built four times, Zhu Wenyun's Christmas gifts have evolved from gloves and scarves to sweaters. I just wonder what she will knit for Christmas and birthday gifts next year.

"It's so uncomfortable to hug a sweater through the sweater, the fuzz is so rough."

Even though the sweater underneath wasn't Zhu Wenyun's work, Xu Youwei seemed quite dissatisfied with it, snuggling in Chen Junqian's arms and complaining.