九九影院

“I’m serious,” Lin Chuan said earnestly.

“People say that web novel writers are poor communicators and not good with words, but you’re clearly an exception,” Xia Qingqing teased.

Lin Chuan chuckled and served Xia Qingqing a large shrimp, “Consider it my apology.”

“But I’m the one treating you to this meal.”

Xia Qingqing pursed her lips, her cheeks puffing out slightly to indicate that she was the one paying for the shrimp.

“So what should we do?” Lin Chuan asked with a smile.

“Idol, peel one for me,” Xia Qingqing sipped jasmine tea and blinked her eyes, shining like twinkling stars.

Lin Chuan smiled.

For a true fan and a high level of approval, he would put on a disposable glove and peel one for her.

Peeling shrimp doesn’t require skill, just sincerity, enough to make a girl happy.

Well, except for those who are too eager to please.

“What comes around goes around.”

After happily eating the shrimp Lin Chuan had peeled, Xia Qingqing peeled the whole plate of shrimp on the table and pushed it in front of Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan grinned from ear to ear.

This girl knew her game too well!

Which man could withstand such a test?

Unable to resist, not at all!

It’s true, shrimp peeled by someone else always tasted better than the ones you peel yourself; the flavor may be the same, but the feeling is completely different.

“On a serious note, I think your book ‘All-In’ can play a great role in anti-fraud. When do you plan to publish it? I’ll recommend it to my dad,” Xia Qingqing said with a smile.

“Probably after the May Day holiday,” Lin Chuan replied with some surprise, “Does your father work in anti-fraud?”

Xia Qingqing curled her lip, “No, he’s been the victim of fraud.”

“Uh…”

Lin Chuan found himself at a loss for words, feeling a bit awkward.

Xia Qingqing laughed and said, “Despite being a cyber police officer and often dealing with anti-fraud cases at work, and sharing this knowledge with my family, my dad is stubborn and still got scammed. Not just him, many older people are easily deceived.”

Lin Chuan found that to be true.

When he had observed fraud salesmen, he had seen quite a few cases of fraud.

These people, they love to lure older folks into their traps.

Because most of the elderly’s means of communication are relatively simple, their sources of information are relatively outdated, especially in some underdeveloped areas, making them more susceptible to scams.

Huh!

A thought crossed Lin Chuan’s mind that his own hometown was a rather underdeveloped area, but his mom was shrewd and frugal, so she probably wouldn’t be easily deceived.

As for his dad, without any control over finances and barely any money in his pocket, there wasn’t much chance for him to get scammed.

“Let’s not talk about this.”

Xia Qingqing changed the topic and asked, “Writer Lin, do you have any plans for the May Day holiday?”

“Nothing yet, why?” Lin Chuan answered.

“I have some internet-related technical issues, and I was hoping to consult you,” Xia Qingqing said with a smile.

“That’s no problem,” Lin Chuan replied with a smile.

The night deepened.

Along the Anling Riverside, lights twinkled, ripples spread across the water reflecting glimmers of light, and willow branches hung down, swaying gently in the night breeze.

Lin Chuan and Xia Qingqing walked on the stone-paved river embankment, the cool breeze from the Anling River refreshing their hearts and minds.

The embankment along the Anling River was long, and the two of them had been walking for quite a while.

A road, seemingly without end.

It wasn’t until around 9:30 p.m. that Xia Qingqing waved goodbye to Lin Chuan, with a radiant smile on her face.

The evening breeze tonight was delightful.

Lin Chuan let out a long sigh of relief.

‘Ring ring ring—’

Old Wang called: “Brother, I’ve got a big problem now!”

Lin Chuan, sitting on a bench next to the riverside, asked in surprise, “What’s the issue, when you have been relying on others for a living just fine?”

“Well… I’ll tell you more when we meet. Can I treat you to a late-night snack?” Wang Zikai sighed deeply.

“I’ve already had a feast, I’m not hungry,” Lin Chuan said with a laugh.

“Hm?”

Wang Zikai was very surprised, “You’re a bachelor, why are you having a big meal all by yourself?”

“Sorry, it was two people going, actually.” Lin Chuan chuckled.

“Officer Shen?” Wang Zikai asked in astonishment, “Old Lin, you’re doing well, I see. Progress isn’t bad.”

“Uh, not Officer Shen, it’s Officer Xia.” Lin Chuan said with an embarrassed smile.

Wang Zikai: “???”

Twenty minutes later, Wang Zikai arrived at the scene: “Old Lin, what’s the situation here?”

“Just the usual situation. Officer Xia really likes my novel; she said she wanted to treat me to a meal.” Lin Chuan smiled.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Wang Zikai clicked his tongue in amazement and gave a thumbs-up, “You, you’ve got some hidden depths!”

Lin Chuan was confused, “What do you mean?”

“Yesterday, Officer Shen was asking my Qiqi, and through her wanted to ask you if you had any plans to go out on a trip during the May Day holiday. I thought you two were getting quite close,” Wang Zikai explained.

Ah?

Lin Chuan’s mouth hung open and his eyes widened.

Little Landlady, Xia Qingqing, Shen Qianqian… hiss, why are they all squeezing into the May Day holiday?

I’m not a time management guru!

“Ah… it’s just really annoying.” Lin Chuan also sighed, suddenly feeling a bit more bothered.

“I suspect you’re just being coy,” Old Wang spit out, “But honestly, which one do you like?”

“I’ve never been in love; I have no idea,” Lin Chuan shook his head.

With a full belly, one thinks of lust.

The royalties had come in, and the studio was getting started; a man indeed starts thinking about ’emotional needs.’

Old Wang gave it some thought, then asked, “Do you like the pretty ones?”

Lin Chuan countered, “Who doesn’t like the pretty ones?”

“You just need to answer whether you like them or not,” Old Wang pressed, “What about the ones with large chests?”

“Like.”

“What about the ones with long legs?”

“Like.”

“What about the perky ones?”

“Like.”

“What about the pure lust ones?”

“Like.”

“What about the sexy ones?”

“Like… I guess,” Lin Chuan frowned, “Wait, aren’t these all things no man would dislike?”

On the bench beside the riverbank.

Old Wang sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Lin Chuan, chuckling, “That’s true.”

“Let’s skip this subject.”

Lin Chuan moved on from this topic, deciding to talk about the May Day matter when the time came and turned to Old Wang, asking, “Did you run into some big trouble?”

“Got a stomach ache from living off a woman.” Old Wang said.

“Old Wang, did you seek me out late at night just to play around?” Lin Chuan teased with a laugh.

“I’m serious,” Old Wang’s face visibly fell.

“Aha?”

Lin Chuan, who had never lived off someone else, was a little perplexed.

“Even though living off someone else is indeed tasty, I find it hard to fit into her circle,” Old Wang heaved a sigh and continued, “These days, I’ve met many of Qiqi’s friends. They are either Heavenly Kings or Influent Authors, the least of them has ten thousand subscriptions.”

“Are you feeling inferior?” Lin Chuan asked.

Old Wang, who usually brimmed with confidence, gave a rare nod, “Old Lin, you know me. I don’t aim too high, and Qiqi doesn’t mind my achievements, but having only one fairly successful book, I can’t hold my own in Qiqi’s circle. It’s frustrating!”

“Old Wang, don’t worry about it for now,” Lin Chuan said with a smile.

“What’s up?” Old Wang was surprised.

“I’ve got ten thousand subscriptions too,” Lin Chuan chuckled.

Old Wang’s eyes widened: “???”