What?! My anime figurines have all come true!

"I remember Ms. Kashiwagi Eri, didn't you draw heavy-themed works?"

When Chen Xiao saw Eriri Sawamura come out, he couldn't help but laugh, and then asked this question.

"I... I don't know any Kashiwagi Eri!"

Ah, she said the same thing as Sagiri, which is like "protesting too much."

"I'm just an ordinary artist... but you can rest assured about my drawing skills!"

However, before she could finish speaking, another girl jumped out.

"I can help with drawing too."

Shiina Mashiro, the pet girl from Sakura-sou, materialized and spoke calmly.

"Well……!"

The pressure instantly fell on the first two artists, because in terms of individual skill, they were no match for this genius painter.

Yes, the two of them are just painters at best, while Mashiro is a world-class painter!

At most, in terms of arousal, Mashiro might not be as good as them.

"Ah, this..."

Looking at the girls in front of him who had volunteered to share the financial burden, Chen Xiao felt both happy and a little ashamed.

"Speaking of which, would you say I'm living off a woman?"

Oh well, so be it. She's my 'wife' after all.

Moreover, the people present are all ordinary people. For Chen Xiao right now, the consumption might not be as fast as the recovery of his mana bar, so it's not impossible for Yamada Fairy and the others to remain in physical form for a long time.

After all, they earn their money at home.

"Alright, alright, everyone can write novels or draw, there are no limits on the number of participants... Oh, right, one computer at home is definitely not enough right now, I'll go buy some equipment tomorrow."

At this moment, Chen Xiao had no idea what kind of terrifying monsters his insignificant act of letting go and his small act of support had unleashed.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Encountering a Classmate While Out

Regarding the purchase of new computers and drawing equipment, besides the genuine need, another point is that Chen Xiao himself still wants to maintain some privacy.

Even though he knows that what's on his computer is no secret to the figure collectors, he still needs a little privacy of his own to make himself feel at ease, even if it's just on the surface.

Or rather, it made Chen Xiao believe that his privacy was being respected.

"Luckily, I had another card saved, otherwise I would have had to wait until Emily (Yamada Elf) wrote down the results before I could buy the equipment."

With that thought in mind, Chen Xiao took out his phone and dialed a friend's number.

The other party's family happens to own a computer store, so considering our past relationship, they probably wouldn't try to cheat him.

Although the possibility of exploiting acquaintances cannot be ruled out.

But if he dared to do that, the next day his other buddies would go to his house and give him a good talking-to for betraying his brothers...

That's utterly despicable.

"Hello? Is this Xiao?! Where have you been all this time? You haven't been on QQ, and you haven't replied to anyone tagging you! If Sister Lin Qi hadn't come out to explain, we would have thought you'd died!"

As soon as the call connected, a barrage of questions came from the other end, forcing Chen Xiao to hold the phone away from him.

"Go away! Even if you try, I won't!"

After the person on the other end of the phone finished venting, Chen Xiao finally answered, still feeling annoyed.

"So you really don't plan to go to New Star Academy for further studies?"

Almost everyone who knows Chen Xiao asks this question, and even after asking it on the phone, he might ask it again the next time they meet face to face.

After all, this is a crucial decision that relates to my future!

To everyone else, Chen Xiao's decision to give up seemed like he had lost his mind.

"Yes, and my family didn't object to my decision."

However, the price is that my living expenses have been cut off, and I will have to support myself in Shanghai from now on.

"In that case, I can't really say anything... Oh, by the way, is there something you wanted to call about?"

The person on the other end of the phone sounded disappointed at first, then decisively changed the subject, asking Chen Xiao the purpose of his call.

I'd like to buy something from you.

Chen Xiao read out the purchase list one by one and asked the other party to write it down.

"Hiss... Xiao, you not only want several computers, but also such high-end configurations and a drawing tablet. Is this enough money?"

The other party didn't ask Chen Xiao what he was going to do with all that money; they were just a little surprised to see Chen Xiao spending so lavishly for the first time.

"Don't worry, there's definitely enough money!"

Although less than half of the money was left after buying everything, keeping 30,000 to 40,000 yen would be enough to last until Yamada Elf and the others made money.

Of course, if there are other ways to make money, he will explore them as well.

"Alright, I've written it all down! Xiao, come pick it up from me later!"

Just as Chen Xiao was pondering, his friend on the other end of the phone had already copied down his shopping list and then walked into the warehouse behind the computer store while still on the phone.

"Okay, I'll be there in a bit."

After saying that, Chen Xiao hung up the phone, told Shiina Mahiru in the kitchen that he was going out for a while, and then left the villa.

But as soon as he got on the electric scooter, Chen Xiao had a strange feeling.

"That sentence just now... it's like a husband informing his wife in advance before going out, I'm almost used to it."

In a few years, I'm afraid I won't be able to live without them anymore.

Although that's what he thought, Chen Xiao wasn't bothered at all. Instead, he felt light and airy, and his speed on the electric scooter increased considerably.

After navigating the complex traffic of Shanghai, Chen Xiao quickly arrived at the commercial center. After parking his electric scooter, he prepared to go to his friend's computer store to pick up his order.

However, Chen Xiao had only taken a few steps when someone called out to him.

"Eh...hiss, Xiao? Is that Xiao?!"

Upon hearing the voice, Chen Xiao looked at the person who had entered and realized that he recognized them.

The man was tall and thin, wearing black-rimmed glasses, carrying a large backpack, and had a somewhat nerdy vibe.

"Ding Jiafang? What are you doing here?"

Chen Xiao stepped forward and greeted him.

All I can say is that Shanghai is a really small place.

I went out to get something and ran into a classmate.

No, we should say former classmates now, since we've all graduated.

But whether in the past life or this life, the other person was always a top student in the class, and the only thing I could beat him in was sports...

At this moment, Chen Xiao remembered Aoyama Nanami's suggestion. Looking at Ding Jiafang in front of him, he realized that the probability of running into an acquaintance as soon as he went out was quite high.

If Aoyama Nanami were to successfully utilize her workaholic efficiency, she would likely reconnect with her old friends before long, potentially exposing her secret affair. Then, people would start speculating about her absence from school...

Wow, that's a bit scary.

"Xiao, it really is you! I thought I was seeing things! Phew... I thought you had already left Shanghai and returned to Fujian Province!"

Ding Jiafang went straight up and hugged Chen Xiao, saying happily.

Then it's that same old question again.

"You really intend to give up on enrolling..."

"Oh, Lin Qi already said that I'm not going to Shenzhou New Star Academy, and my family has agreed."

Upon hearing Chen Xiao's words, Ding Jiafang sighed helplessly.

"You're the only one in the class not going, and everyone's really upset... After all, we'll have fewer chances to see each other in the future."

"Hey, what's with that tone... Anyone who didn't know better would think you're from Sichuan."

Chen Xiao almost couldn't hold back.

"Hmph! If I could use Purple Mood to pull you back from the brink of no return, I would have bought it long ago!"

Ding Jiafang feigned a sinister expression.

"I'll send you to Chengdu to be a loli then!"

"No, you're the one who should be the loli!"

Chen Xiao also put on a sinister expression.

"Pry it open yourself!"

Then the two of them pointed at each other and burst into laughter, just like when they used to make silly jokes back in school.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

After laughing, the expressions on their faces became complicated.

Once Shenzhou New Star Academy starts, they will truly be from two different worlds. Unless something unexpected happens, they may not see each other for a long time.

"Speaking of which, Xiao, did you come to the shopping mall to buy something? Do you need me to introduce you to a few new stores?"

"No, no, I just came to pick something up."

Chen Xiao smiled and waved his hand, then pointed to Ding Jiafang's attire and asked in return.

"But you, dressed like that, are you going to some comic convention?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Jiafang's expression became somewhat conflicted.

"It's more like a participation than a visit."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Chen Xiao glanced at his phone and, seeing that his friend from the computer store hadn't called, continued chatting with Ding Jiafang.

"It's just that New Star Academy is about to start... I don't know when I'll be able to go to a comic convention again! So I'm planning to spend some money and go big, to perform on the stage at the comic convention, sing some anime theme songs or something."

At this point, Ding Jiafang scratched his head in great distress.

“But I practiced for several days and still couldn’t sing it clearly. I wanted to give up but I was too embarrassed to say it, so I wondered if I could find someone to sing for me… After all, I only said I wanted to go on stage to sing, not that I would do it myself.”

Chapter Twenty-Three: Open a Smaller Opening?

Chen Xiao remembered that even in his previous life, Ding Jiafang's singing skills were no less than those of a certain elementary school student who was a death god. Letting him go on stage would probably mean paying the audience a large sum of money for emotional distress after the exhibition.

"Is the exhibition about to start now?"

Chen Xiao looked at Ding Jiafang in disbelief. "You're not some archangel from Shimokitazawa, and there aren't any randomly appearing singers on the street for you to grab and fill in for."

"No, it officially starts in about three days... but I missed today's rehearsal! Oh no... what am I going to do?!"

Ding Jiafang's expression at that moment was comparable to the world-famous painting "The Scream".

That was truly desperate.

Those who know the truth might sympathize with him, but those who don't might think he's throwing his weight around, which would instantly ruin his reputation.

"Well... I can only wish you good luck."

Although Chen Xiao wanted to help, he had never been exposed to anime or manga in this life, or rather, he had no knowledge of anime or manga works in this world. His mind was full of things from his previous life.

Even if he had practiced singing for a while, his performance wouldn't be much better than Ding Jiafang's emotionally charged "screams".

"No! Ah Xiao, quickly use your invincible connections to think of a solution!"

Ding Jiafang grabbed Chen Xiao's arm and shook it as if it were a lifeline.

"But I don't know any singers..."

Before Chen Xiao could finish speaking, the image of a pink-haired girl suddenly appeared in his mind. Theoretically, he did know a very famous singer.

If that person comes to sing, it might turn the entire anime convention into a one-woman show for her...