Uneasy daily life

Inside the room, Bai Ying, upon hearing this, eagerly decided to go.

"no!"

Chitanda Eru quickly stopped her, crossing her arms and saying, "Uncle Shiro, Yukinoshita just lay down to rest. Let's not go visit her now. Let's see her this afternoon."

Houtarou Oreki leaned against the wall listlessly, his eyes, which were already evolving into dead fish eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling... He felt that Bai Ying's visit to the sick might be different from the common definition of visiting the sick.

"The hero wants to rest? That's even better." The white figure shook his head and said, "Since there's no one to share this pleasure with, he went to the inn's room to seek out the snow. Although the hero was already asleep, he woke up and drank his medicine..."

Chitanda Eru shook her head and said, "Yukinoshita has already taken her medicine. What she needs now is rest."

Houtarou Oreki always felt that they were not on the same wavelength at all.

"Uncle Bai, shouldn't you go take a shower and change your clothes now?" Chitanda Eru asked worriedly, looking at the person covered in grime. "What happened to you...?"

"I fell into the river, and inspiration struck; I couldn't sleep all night."

Bai Ying sat cross-legged, gently patting a stack of printed papers beside him with his hands covered in dried mud, and sighed with a worried expression.

Several question marks popped up above Chitanda Eru's head.

"Last night, Baiying returned to the dormitory looking like she had fallen into the water, and spent the whole night creating in a corner," Oreki Houtarou explained, conveniently ignoring the fact that the four of them had used a blanket barrier to protect themselves last night, and that they looked at each other with surprised eyes, as if to say, "You're still alive?"

It was an extraordinary experience. The next day, I groggily opened my eyes and saw the sunlight. I was surprised to find that the new day was so wonderful.

It's incredibly bizarre in every sense.

"Then Uncle Bai should take a shower and rest." Chitanda Eru looked at the worried look on Bai Ying's face and asked curiously, "Is the creative process still not going well?"

Bai Ying let out a deep sigh.

Chitanda Eru looked at the printed paper next to her and asked, "Uncle Shiro, can I take a look?"

"Look, look."

The white figure continued to sigh, as if it had aged decades.

Chitanda Eru opened the printed paper, and Oreki Houtarou silently moved closer and glanced at it.

Hmm... it really is related to Chitanda's uncle.

Although the script and popular stories have completely different structures, and the reading experience is not very good, both authors have a good literary foundation and can feel the vibrant highlights and emotions within it.

I suddenly realized that what I longed for wasn't her, but her reflection in my eyes.

[Foolishly capturing a fleeting moment, mistaking it for an eternal feeling.]

Human beings have mastered the art of using fire to their fullest potential: the torture of branding by King Zhou of Shang, the Roman cross, the willow baskets of Gaul and Japan. Fire ignites passion, and a blazing inferno transforms into revelry; what is burned is ultimately irrelevant.

They encouraged me, urged me to work hard, spoke of justice, and said they supported me. They grabbed me, pushed me, and shoved me forward.

I burn silently among them, and no one hears my cries of anguish.

“…My uncle once told me…” Chitanda Eru lowered her eyes, unusually, and said somewhat sadly, “People have to be strong, otherwise they can’t even let out a wail. Not long after that, I heard from the adults that my uncle was expelled from school, went abroad to relax, and then disappeared without a trace.”

Houtarou Oreki twirled his bangs, gestured to the last few paragraphs of the script, and said softly, "This is a roar that is more than ten years late, but has finally been uttered."

"Yes... that's not a wail, that's a roar."

Chitanda Eru looked at the last paragraph, which was filled with a lot of cinematic imagery and seemed somewhat fragmented: "This is my uncle's story, but it's not just my uncle's story. Compared to this story, my uncle's experiences are enough. Uncle Shiro, thank you for depicting my uncle's novel and experiences so well."

“After all, creation always needs to transcend reality in some aspects. Logically speaking, there shouldn’t be such a roar, but emotionally, there should be,” Bai Ying said heavily. “But the problem is, I feel this script is too good!”

Oreki Houtaro: "?"

Chitanda Eru: "Huh? Is it good or not?"

"Of course not! I'm facing a variation of the trolley problem—the anti-fan problem!"

The white figure suddenly stood up, shook off the mud, and clenched his fist in grief and indignation.

The trolley problem!

Pulling the lever causes a trolley to kill one innocent person, while not pulling it causes five innocent people to be killed. This serves as a critique of utilitarianism in ethical philosophy, expressing that no one is perfect and that complete moralism does not exist.

Chitanda Eru and Oreki Houtarou certainly knew, but what exactly is the "anti-fan problem"?

"One of the most talked-about thought experiments in the field of ethics, after being fermented by the unfathomable internet and influenced by social changes, has now given rise to expressions such as 'I choose to cheer loudly for the trolley' to express cynicism, 'I choose to quickly shake the lever to make the trolley drift and kill everyone' to prove that the problem is not difficult enough, 'I just passed by holding a toilet peg' to mock myself, and 'Let the trolley hit me first' to express the idea of ​​finding solace in a simple act."

Bai Ying said sadly, "Now, I have a problem to solve."

On a track, Mai Sakurajima is tied to her script.

On another track, the director of "The Untamed" and the crew members with their maxed-out urgency for updates are holding up the small dark room.

"If I pull the lever, the tram will take the script and Mai Sakurajima directly away. At that time, the title of 'bad movie actress' will be stripped of her false halo, and the surviving directors and crew will definitely rush up and stuff me into a small dark room, where I will become a cruel drafting animal with no chance of survival!"

"If I don't pull the lever, the tram will smash the little dark room to pieces, but that would give the movie the potential to be a hit and elevate Mai Sakurajima's status as an actress to a higher level! My painstakingly crafted script, and I, a proud hater, have become a stepping stone for Mai Sakurajima!"

Bai Ying said painfully, "Damn it! I just wanted to write a terrible script that would suit Brother Guan Gu's tastes but would definitely be rejected by the market! You really are a hero plus, using no moves to defeat all moves, using the crew to fight against haters, you are truly a formidable enemy!"

"Huh? Uncle Bai doesn't want to use this script? It's clearly very well written." Chitanda Eru handed the script back. "Uncle Bai stayed up all night and put a lot of effort into writing it, right? It would be too unfair to Uncle Bai to shelve it because of something like this."

"Just put it there." Bai Ying didn't reach out to take it, but rubbed her forehead and muttered, "As expected, Brother Guan Gu was right, not a single creation has ever gone exactly as I envisioned... Should I just take Sakurajima Mai down with me...?"

Huh? Uncle Bai said he was going to become a hater, was he joking?

Chitanda Eru asked doubtfully, "Uncle Bai, even if we don't use this script, do you still have time to write a new one?"

puff--!

Deadline strike!

"And even when writing a new script, when Uncle Bai is thinking, won't he subconsciously incorporate better parts from the current script?"

puff--!

I copied myself and hit myself hard!

"As a writer, Uncle Bai clearly wrote a better script, so how could he force himself to write a inferior version?"

puff--!

The creator's moral compass is severely damaged!

I never imagined that my most well-behaved niece would betray me like this...

The white shadow burned away completely, turning into pale ash.

Chitanda Eru suddenly panicked. "Huh? Did I say something wrong? Uncle Bai is so shocked he's practically falling apart!" She instinctively looked at Oreki Houtarou.

"The chances of some art films gaining market recognition are already very low. Even if the script is good, there are still steps such as shooting and editing to go through."

Houtarou Oreki suppressed a smile, finding it rare to see Bai Ying so badly injured: "This script must be quite difficult, right? It demands a lot from the actors' acting skills, including their delivery of lines, facial expressions, and emotional expression... The script focuses on several scenes that place high demands on the female lead—she has to play the 'female lead' from the male lead's perspective as well as the 'female lead' from the audience's perspective, and she has to consciously make different performances to differentiate between them. It must be a real test of her acting skills."

"That's right! How much acting skill can a mere traffic star have? In the end, there will be endless reshoots, emotional breakdowns, and tears on set. Her former stardom will become the straw that breaks the camel's back!"

Bai Ying patted Oreki Houtarou on the shoulder: "Not bad, not bad, as expected of my biggest worry."

Chitanda Eru breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the other party had recovered, and then asked in confusion, "Huh? Why is Oreki-kun such a big threat?"

"Are you curious?"

"Mmm! I'm very curious!"

"But I'm not curious, so I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. No guests please."

Bai Ying took clothes out of the closet, leaving the room with crumbs as she went, and headed to the hotel bathroom.

"Oreki-kun—"

Chitanda Eru watched the white figure leave, then turned her head and called out.

"Ah, I'm going to the restroom. See you later."

Houtarou Oreki immediately broke away from the battle and fled.

Chapter 140 A Major Hidden Danger

"I'm so sorry for the trouble my daughter has caused you."

At the Chitanda family mansion, after having lunch together, Chitanda's father solemnly thanked Yukinoshita's mother.

"Judging from the current results, the students are very satisfied with this school trip. The Chitanda family also put in a lot of effort. Chitanda touched me, so it can't be considered as causing trouble at all," Yukinoshita's mother said with a gentle smile.

"Please forgive the child if he does anything rash."

Chitanda's father shook his head and said, "Occasionally... well, that child does some unexpected things."

"Unexpected?" Yukinoshita's mother asked curiously. "I think Chitanda is very composed and mature, and his speech and behavior are very graceful. He doesn't seem like a reckless child."

If we're talking about the most reckless person I know... well, that student who can't be treated like a minor at all, he's gone beyond just reckless.

"Well, how should I put it..."

Feeling that he was half a step behind the goddess, Yukinoshita's father noticed her hesitation and asked, "Did Chitanda only announce the good news after the school trip was finalized?"

“Yes, I was quite surprised when I first received the news. She guided the students to vote, persuaded the guardians' association, successfully negotiated with the school, and even sorted out most of the activities for the school trip... That child is still so energetic.” Chitanda’s father said with a wry smile, “It was so hard to coax her out to see the world, but I never expected that before summer vacation even started, Eru would bring her classmates on a school trip.”

Yukinoshita's mother said in surprise, "Being able to do these things proves that your daughter is very capable. There aren't many young people who can hold their heads high and talk calmly with adults, let alone coordinate with all parties to complete a school trip plan."

“Speaking of which…” Yukinoshita’s father tentatively added, “Chiba is quite a distance from Jinde, and Kamiyama City is not without its top high schools. Mr. Chitanda went to the trouble of sending his daughter to Chiba. Is there some special reason?”

“Firstly, Kamiyama City is ultimately remote, and I trust Chiba more in terms of educational resources. Secondly, Chiba is within the Tokyo metropolitan area, giving Eru the opportunity to gradually connect with the outside world and broaden her horizons.” Chitanda’s father hesitated slightly before speaking, “Actually, during that time, I mentioned going out to see the world more or less, guiding Eru to choose Chiba Soubu High School as her choice. My biggest thought was that I hoped she could find her dream in a place far enough away from Jinde.”

"A wish?" Yukinoshita's mother was a little taken aback. "That child didn't really want to stay in his hometown..."

“Yes, she likes it here, but I think it’s because she’s still young and hasn’t seen much of the world, so she prefers familiar places.” Chitanda’s father didn’t hesitate and said seriously, “Eru is an only child. From a young age, I’ve been raising her as the family heir. That’s how she developed her manners and behavior as a lady of a prominent family. But actually, Eru also has a childlike curiosity and liveliness, which she usually doesn’t show in front of strangers.”

Yukinoshita's father nodded and said, "Mr. Chitanda, have you changed your mind, which is why you're sending the child to another place?"

"Yes."

The mother remained silent beneath the snow, listening quietly.

“When she was little, Eru was actually closer to her uncle. She would often pester him to tell her stories when she was tired or annoyed. After some events, Eru took the initiative to assume the responsibilities of the heir.” Chitanda’s father sighed softly. “Times are changing. I don’t have much ability. I tried to push things forward, but I couldn’t stop the fact that Jinde’s population was gradually decreasing and the country was becoming increasingly impoverished. If Eru continues to work in this direction, her future will only be bound by Jinde.”

"The times are burning at the forefront, and even if we pick up some fallen sparks, we can't reignite the embers. Building roads, developing tourism, and expanding commerce only make this place seem less backward. Over the years, I've seen many young people leave, those who are doing well take their families away, and those who are doing so poorly come back. This is the general trend."

“Family should not become a constraint and burden on a child’s future. I let Eru leave Jinde to see the outside world and find a more worthwhile goal for her to strive for… I didn’t expect that before the first semester was over, she would come up with the idea of ​​a school trip and come back.”

Yukinoshita's father smiled and said, "Your daughter and our daughter are good friends, and we elders like that child very much. As for the child's future wishes, perhaps after more time, your daughter will have new ideas."

Chitanda's father expressed his deepest gratitude, saying, "I am extremely grateful."

Yukinoshita's mother suddenly asked, "Has Mr. Chitanda discussed his thoughts with our daughter?"

Chitanda's father was taken aback: "I originally wanted to wait for her to change her mind naturally, but this school trip... I'll probably talk to her about it in a while."

The father silently looked up at the ceiling.

“My eldest daughter and I had a huge fight the night before last.” Yukinoshita’s mother wiped the smile from her lips, as if she could still see and hear her hysterical expression and painful roar. “The argument was very unexpected. Both of us said some very hurtful things.”

Chitanda's father found it strange. He had brought up family matters to ask the other party to take care of his daughter, but the other party suddenly brought up family matters, or even family conflicts... What was he trying to do?

The goddess was just saying whatever came to mind, especially since the topic of raising children came up. Yukinoshita's father silently stood like a wooden stake.

"In my eyes, my eldest daughter, Yukino Yukinoshita, is an excellent heir to the family. But it was only after a big fight by chance that I realized that she had been suppressing herself and pretending to be the excellent child in my eyes."

Yukinoshita's mother paused for a moment, then said, "Recently, I've been thinking about whether my child was really that amazing and had deceived me, or whether my expectations of my child had deceived me. In the end, I still haven't found an answer. Parents and children are inherently unequal, and misunderstandings and distortions can occur at any time. Mr. Chitanda, I hope you can communicate your thoughts with that child properly, instead of just issuing a one-sided notice."

"Uh, is that right?"

Chitanda's father was clearly a little confused.

Did your own child have a godmother?

After bidding farewell to Chitanda's father, who seemed hesitant to speak, the Yukinoshita couple left the mansion.

She's still so direct and assertive, always confident and justified. This temperament of the goddess is probably something she'll never change, but that's what makes her a goddess. Just thinking about this goddess waiting for her to come home makes all the storms outside seem insignificant, and even the flowers and grass seem insignificant. Every time she steps through the door, she can forget about work and easily put on a smile.

A smile had just appeared on the father's lips under the snow—in his mind, the image of the healthy, sunny, and profound young man was laughing heartily.

Can't laugh anymore.

To be fair, he was an exceptionally talented young man beyond his years, a master of deception and swindling, his sweet talk piercing to the heart. He used the goddess as a fulcrum to completely swindle his family, and afterwards, he quickly resolved the issues that arose after the conflict, resolving the long-standing tensions within his family.

So, before you kill him, you should sincerely say thank you.

Why kill him? That goes without saying.

This is no longer just a minor threat! It's a major threat plus version!

Under the snow, the father had a vague premonition that the young man was definitely the most difficult and daunting enemy he would ever face in his life! His destined foe! A challenger to his position in the family!