I turned reality into a romantic comedy

Suddenly, he heard Xu Youwei, who was lying next to him, say something.

"Yeah, August 10th, right? I'll definitely go, since I promised you last year. Are you planning to have dinner at home or have the banquet at a hotel?"

Although it wasn't a grand tenth birthday celebration, Chen Junqian still asked the question because of the other person's family background.

"This time it's at home."

I had a feeling that Xu Youwei hesitated a bit when she said that.

"What's wrong?"

Actually, I didn't plan to let you come.

As if she had made up her mind, Xu Youwei leaned closer, almost resting her head on his shoulder. Her lips, still slightly cool from eating ice cream, were pressed against Chen Junqian's ear:

"Qinqin, how about we celebrate our birthdays separately, just the two of us?"

"If this is your own idea, then I will definitely have to listen to your opinion as the birthday person."

Does this count as agreement?

"of course."

“Yes, I wanted to visit my mother’s grave that day. I remember the location very clearly. I had just been there once before when we burned paper money for her on the anniversary of her death. We took a taxi to the bottom of the cemetery and then walked the rest of the way up.”

"it is good."

The two communicated very efficiently, finalizing their specific action plan and route for the day after just a few words.

It wasn't until August 10th, when Chen Junqian and Xu Youwei actually arrived at the foot of the cemetery, that they realized there were some issues they hadn't fully considered.

First, there's the road leading up the mountain. Previously, Xu Youwei's father always drove her up, taking her all the way to the parking lot near the very top. However, taxis only accept dropping her off at the foot of the mountain because the road up is troublesome and the road down is even more troublesome, and they don't want to waste any more of their time.

The second point is the issue of carrying the load. After all, Xu Youwei wouldn't go to worship her mother empty-handed. She prepared a variety of items, including yellow paper printed with copper coins, paper money, incense sticks, paper gold ingots, and a beautifully crafted flower basket. However, all of these items had to be carried up by the two of them.

The third point is the issue of site selection.

Whether it was love or just a show, Xu Youwei's father did choose the most auspicious and highest burial site for his wife. After all, the higher the burial plot, the more expensive it is. Xu Youwei's mother is laid to rest in the top row, with a long, gentle slope and hundreds of steps leading up to her.

In the past, even with her excellent physical strength compared to her peers, Xu Youwei would find it quite challenging to climb the last few steps without taking the first part of the path. This was even more challenging today, especially since she had climbed such a long distance and her mental state seemed rather unstable.

Although Chen Junqian had already noticed Xu Youwei's weakness in the first half of the journey and took all the things himself, Xu Youwei still became increasingly listless after walking for a while in the high summer temperature.

"I remember there are stores that sell these kinds of products upstairs. If they're a bit pricey, then so be it."

Suddenly, Xu Youwei heard Chen Junqian mutter something beside her. Before she could react, she saw him put down everything, including the flower basket, by the roadside and then, without saying a word, carry her on his back.

The boy who was exactly the same height as her at this time last year is now significantly taller.

"Don't move around, that will save me some energy."

Fortunately, I unlocked the tenth crucial achievement at the end of last year thanks to the other party. Although I am still limited by my current physical development and specific age, I have at least gained some physical qualities comparable to the male protagonist of a romantic comedy.

After putting down all the weight, Chen Junqian was able to carry Xu Youwei for a short distance, finally managing to bring her to the platform before putting her down. The sweat on his forehead dripped into his eyes, making them sting, so he quickly wiped them with the tissue he had brought.

He bought a bottle of mineral water at a nearby store selling funeral and memorial supplies, and after taking a couple of sips to replenish his fluids while sitting on the curb, Chen Junqian finally recovered and turned his gaze to the tombstones atop the hundreds of steps.

Because burning these items requires a special incineration pit, all I brought up were a flower basket, incense sticks, and a lighter provided by the shop.

Xu Youwei, who had been carried almost halfway by Chen Junqian, managed to conserve some of her strength, so she gritted her teeth and climbed all the last steps. However, all her strength suddenly vanished when she saw her mother's photo.

This was the first time Chen Junqian had seen a girl cry in front of him since his rebirth, and the first time he had seen Xu Youwei truly like a child her age.

To be honest, he was just as familiar with the cemetery as the other party was with the store where they had just repurchased those funeral supplies.

If humans truly possess souls and ghosts, then the sheep charm would indeed be the most desired charm for many.

In this world, some people believe in ghosts, while others do not.

Some people are afraid of ghosts, some want to become ghosts, and some want to see ghosts but can't find them.

Chen Junqian lit incense sticks with a lighter and placed them in the incense burner in front of the tomb. He then helped Xu Youwei, who was crying and somewhat exhausted, down the steps one by one. In the smoke of the burning area, they turned the yellow paper and ghost money into ashes to express their grief.

He removed the cigarette butt, which was almost completely burned down to his lips, and stubbed it out in the ashtray beside him. He parked on a nearby car and, looking at the man staring through the one-way window, unconsciously thought of the words in his daughter's diary.

Well, he was probably the one least qualified and least justified to feel any anger, unease, or worry about what was happening in front of him, just like any other parent.

After all, the worst outcome is just puppy love.

A boy who was willing to carry his daughter up here in this weather, who excelled in both academics and sports at school, and who had received a banner for bravery and city-wide commendations, is indeed qualified.

Chapter 71: Mu Mu is also a child that others envy (Part 2)

To be honest, this was probably the first time Chen Junqian had ever seen Xu Youwei remain so quiet and well-behaved for such a long time. Even after the two of them went down the slope, left the cemetery, took a taxi, and returned to the city, she didn't say a word, but she held Chen Junqian's hand tightly the whole time.

It wasn't until she was standing on the bustling streets of the city center again that she finally looked up at Chen Junqian, as if belatedly realizing it. Her voice was nasal and sounded a bit muffled.

"Let's go, I'll treat you to Dicos."

In an era when Wallace had only been established for a short time, and KFC and McDonald's had not yet penetrated into markets at the county level, Dicos was already the only Western fast food restaurant that could be found and sold locally.

Aside from those off-brand fried chicken shops, Dicos is definitely the top choice for Guoning's kids to have a meal together, since the combination of Coke, fried chicken, and hamburgers is simply irresistible to them.

After finding an empty seat in the store, Xu Youwei casually ordered a two-person set meal and two extra servings of Dicos' signature crispy chicken drumsticks. She seemed to finally recover from her earlier emotional outburst, first apologizing to Chen Junqian, then thanking him.

"...I didn't think things through, I'm sorry, and thank you."

"Yeah, if we really want to go next time, I'll have my dad drive us up. The back of my clothes was completely soaked with sweat today."

Lifting up his shirt, which had been soaked and dried repeatedly, and fanning himself slightly to let it air out, Chen Junqian grabbed the iced cola the waiter had brought him and gulped it down two mouthfuls without a straw before letting out a long, satisfying sigh.

"But since you're the birthday person today, we have to make your wish come true."

"I didn't know that celebrating one's birthday here was such a privilege?"

Xu Youwei, who seemed to be in a slightly better mood, said this while sitting opposite Chen Junqian, and at the same time, she casually rubbed her foot against his side.

What Chen Junqian found slightly regrettable was that if there were more than just the two of them sitting in the seats at this moment, they could have gotten another achievement from the system.

The game played under the table

From the scene in "Water Margin" where Ximen Qing uses the pretext of picking up chopsticks to grab Pan Jinlian's bound feet, the under-the-table power struggle has never truly stopped, especially on the set of romantic comedies.

Whether it's secretly kicking each other under the table while maintaining a facade of calm, or stealthily taking off her shoes and gently stroking her beloved's thigh with her toes to gauge his reaction, every female protagonist should give her all in this silent war.

Conditions for achieving this: Trigger any of the above scenarios when at least two female protagonists with romantic comedy suitability are present.

Other achievements related to this one include "Under the Table... (Please read this after you reach adulthood)".

You know what, the localization of the system seems to be quite successful; they've even included "Water Margin" in it.

Xu Youwei, of course, had no idea that Chen Junqian was thinking about his achievements. She only noticed his sudden, regretful glance at the empty seats around him, and immediately blurted out an explanation, as if trying to cover something up:

"Ah, actually I did want to invite Mu Mu along at first, but considering her small size, I decided against it. We can do it together next time."

As she said this, Xu Youwei was also a little guilty, frantically stirring the ice and cola in her cup with a straw, clearly realizing that her excuse was a bit lame.

"It's okay. Mu Mu just went back to her grandma's house yesterday. Even if you wanted to call her, you probably couldn't get her back."

Hearing Chen Junqian's casual explanation, Xu Youwei, who had clearly gotten past this hurdle, felt a little bittersweet. After all, the two of them seemed to know exactly where the other was and what the other did every day, and they had even recently gone on a trip to the Shanghai World Expo together.

She had already seen many photos shared by Lin Mu on his QQ space, and every day it was a nighttime background, as if he was showing off that the two of them played from morning till night every day.

Just then, the dishes the two ordered were served one after another. What attracted their attention the most were the two huge, crispy chicken drumsticks that looked like they couldn't be picked up with one hand.

Putting on disposable plastic gloves, Chen Junqian and Xu Youwei, who were genuinely hungry, completely abandoned all manners and began gnawing on the chicken leg until they had each gnawed it down to a bare bone that the little monsters would probably love. Only then did they temporarily stop, remove their greasy disposable gloves, wipe the meat juices and oil stains from the corners of their mouths and even their faces with tissues on the table, and then let out a long, satisfied sigh in perfect unison.

"If you haven't eaten here in a long time and suddenly have a meal here, it's quite delicious."

"Indeed, eating too much of it will make you feel greasy and oily."

After quenching his thirst with an ice-cold Coke, Chen Junqian leaned back lazily in his seat. He was really exhausted today. Physical fitness is one thing, but this thing doesn't completely eliminate the feeling of fatigue.

Do your legs and feet hurt?

Facing Chen Junqian, who was almost completely paralyzed, Xu Youwei was equally concerned. While asking him questions, she reached out her foot again as if to comfort him.

Since both of them were wearing sandals today, their toes were basically exposed. Xu Youwei, who had kicked off her shoes at some point, touched Chen Junqian's toes and arches with her toes.

"I've heard that people feel sore the day after strenuous exercise, and some can't even get out of bed."

"...That's not the case, my physical condition is quite good."

Feeling a little ticklish from Xu Youwei's toe, Chen Junqian remarked again, wondering why Lin Mu/Zhu Wenyun weren't there at this time, while simultaneously pulling his foot back slightly.

"I should be fine after taking a good shower and soaking my feet when I get home tonight."

"Okay, Qinqin, make sure you get plenty of rest when you get home. You really had a tough day today, a really tough day."

"Okay, I haven't officially wished you a happy birthday yet. Shall I sing you a birthday song right now?"

"No need for that. I already did all the birthday songs, birthday cake, blowing out candles and stuff at home at noon. Qinqin being here with me to celebrate my birthday is the best birthday blessing for me."

Unlike Lin Mu, Xu Youwei understood after her mother's death that any so-called vessel that can carry memories will eventually become a boomerang that may fly back at any time.

Just like how she couldn't control her emotions every time she looked at all the records related to herself among her mother's belongings, from the entire book of nicknames and formal names she wrote during her pregnancy to the photos she took with her mother when she was a child.

If you can't be together forever, then all this will only make you sad.

And if we can stay together, then these are shared memories that can be created every moment in the present and the future.

Therefore, only a relationship that is truly established and held firmly in one's hands is the only thing that truly matters.

There was absolutely no intention to say anything like, "Come with me to see Mom again next year, the year after, or even after that." Hsu Yu-Wei was simply enjoying every moment she spent with Chen Chun-Chien.

There's no point in thinking about what will happen next.

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In fact, you can get a glimpse of a child's family's financial situation just by looking at the types of popsicles his family buys every summer.

In Lin Mu's refrigerator, the quantity of ice cream filled the bottom two or three freezer compartments, and the types were all Torch, Thousand Layer Snow, and Chocliz, which cost four or five yuan each.

But Zhu Wenyun's home was completely different.

The most common ones are Little Pudding, Old Popsicle, and Seven Dwarfs. Two-yuan random items are rare. They are basically priced between 50 cents and one yuan.

However, Chen Junqian didn't seem to care about picking and choosing. After all, everyone has grown up eating popsicles that cost five cents or a dollar. He casually grabbed a small pudding and stuffed it into his mouth. Then he looked at Zhu Wenyun, who had been back for a while but was still there, patiently counting the three thousand dollars in her hand over and over again.

Actually, he could understand her feelings quite well. After all, most people don't receive that much money in New Year's gifts every year. And unlike the New Year's gifts from elders, this was royalties she earned through her own writing, which made it all the more meaningful.

"Three thousand dollars!"

It has to be said that Zhu Wenyun now looks even more genuinely happy than when the two of them stood on the stage together to receive the city's commendation a few months ago. Her smile is so radiant that Chen Junqian almost couldn't help but chuckle. It's mainly because he suddenly remembered that hellish joke from when he was a child, hoping to have a hundred yuan every day, but ended up with a job with a monthly salary of three thousand yuan.

"What does Yun plan to do with this money?"

Even for adults, three thousand yuan is definitely not a small amount, so Chen Junqian himself was a little curious about how Zhu Wenyun would use this first royalty payment.

"I think Lin Mu definitely deserves credit for me earning this three thousand yuan, then you, and lastly me, so how about we split the money?"

"I wouldn't accept that. Mu Mu is the same. She was so happy after reading the manuscript. The thought that countless children all over the country had read her story makes her want to give you a thank-you fee, let alone money."

Chen Junqian quickly waved his hand in response:

"Just like you said at the beginning, just invite her to dinner."

"And what about you? You really don't want it?"

"Well, if Wenyun still feels indebted to me, when you become famous and I want to ask you to write a story, just reduce my fee."

"It's not as exaggerated as you say."

Zhu Wenyun scratched her cheek a little embarrassedly, then took a small pudding from the refrigerator and sat down next to Chen Junqian, causing him to subconsciously move aside as well.

There was no way around it; as the fastest-developing member of the trio Chen Junqian knew, even though the two of them were eating one-yuan steamed buns on the roadside just over half a year ago, now, after a semester or two, the curves of two more steamed buns had clearly appeared on the other's chest. This was especially noticeable in the scorching summer when she was only wearing a white shirt. It was hard for Chen Junqian not to think of that mysterious achievement called "facial cleanser" that had just set off during the Shanghai World Expo last month.

However, Zhu Wenyun herself seemed completely unguarded in front of Chen Junqian. After sitting down next to him, she naturally raised her hand to eat her popsicle. With the movement, her loose sleeve lifted up, revealing a glimpse of her inner world to Chen Junqian.

Although Chen Junqian looked away the next second, the long-lost trigger sound of the achievement still rang in his mind, and it was a rare achievement that could be triggered multiple times.

Of course, romantic comedies need fan service (or fanservice).

[As the saying goes, fan service has always been a staple in romantic comedies. Whether it's swimsuit episodes, hot spring episodes, maid cafe episodes from school festivals, Rito's wrestling match, Touma's door-opening scene, or various lucky pervert segments, it all boils down to fan service! (sound)]

Even if this is the real world, and even if the guidance has been broken, please rebuild the glory of the male protagonist in a romantic comedy.

Achievement conditions: In daily life, seeing or experiencing fan service scenes and services from heroines who are suitable for romantic comedies through various means, and reaching key milestones such as once, ten times, one hundred times, one thousand times, etc., will count as completing one achievement.