Crossing over, and then being blocked by a rich JK.

Chapter 414 Prelude and Night Talk [4K]

Despite some minor disturbances, life in the countryside is generally peaceful and relaxing.

I give Keiko Hojo extra lessons throughout the day, take a walk holding Ryoko's hand when the sun sets, and chat with grandma when I have nothing to do. Time flies.

But compared to the leisurely and peaceful environment here, Qiuye Bookstore is much busier.

[Next Friday, let's see Mr. Watanabe's new book again! ]

As this short slogan was issued, the staff responsible for the operation of Qiuye Bookstore suddenly became busy, and the supporting publicity and promotion department also responded quickly and started operating like a sophisticated machine.

As one of the operators joked, the system was in 60% energy-saving mode yesterday, but when they woke up, the normal standby mode had turned into 120% full efficiency operation.

But the effect is indeed gratifying.

With their joint efforts, this short slogan was quickly transmitted until it was pushed to every target user they targeted, as well as potential target users.

The literary circle, which had been stable and had no major news recently, has become lively.

This short slogan was like a depth charge that was quietly dropped before anyone could react and when everyone was least prepared. It exploded with a loud bang, stirring up an undercurrent.

The authors who were planning to publish new books in the near future but whose schedules conflicted with Watanabe Yu's chose to back off after much hesitation. The authors who were dissatisfied with Watanabe Yu's high profile chose to wait first.

As for the authors who had no new book plans this year, they were happily waiting for the annual drama.

After all, the fact that Watanabe Yuu attended a gathering of Naoki Award authors and then refused to give those people face was no secret in the circle. It is no exaggeration to say that it was known to everyone.

But then again, many authors in the industry have complaints about the small circle of "Naoki Prize winners."

Indeed, it is human nature to stick together.

After all, when faced with the unknown, everyone will subconsciously seek cooperation to increase their ability to resist risks.

But the problem is that people in that circle go too far.

They only allow themselves to 'eat' and not allow others to 'eat'.

Each of them has their eyes looking up at the sky, they are arrogant and stubborn, contemptuous and stupid. Apart from the good image they present to the public, they have done a lot of things in private to exclude dissidents, suppress similar authors, and throw mud at others.

As for private life, it is even more decadent.

It is no exaggeration to say that he could write a palace drama.

The most important thing is that they are surprisingly consistent in not letting new star authors "eat"

——That is, when talented authors appear, if you don’t give them face and don’t join them, they will be slandered, given a hard time, or even stabbed in the back, just to write a small essay or something.

Like last year, Watanabe was the classic target of "attack".

Logically speaking, this group of people should be able to suppress Watanabe. After all, before Watanabe, several new authors who were in the limelight were suppressed by them.

However, Watanabe's new book was so popular, and Akiba Bookstore was extremely firm in its attitude towards this matter. In addition, the well-known senior in the industry, Kiriyama Atsushi, also stood on Watanabe's side, so these people left in disgrace.

But things are different now.

When Watanabe publishes a new book, it means that it will need to be tested by the market again.

As we all know, during the verification process, the power of public opinion is amazing. As long as a little handle is caught, a little manipulation can turn a small matter into a big one.

It just so happens that the group of people who suffered a loss last year are the ones who are best at doing this kind of thing.

In other words, this group of people will definitely try every means to get back at their wits' end this time and avenge themselves for being slapped in the face last year.

However, from the perspective of the spectators, they hope that Watanabe can hold on.

After all, apart from the very old seniors in the industry, the only author who can slap those people in the face is Watanabe in recent years.

However, they also know that no matter how they hope, it is only their business, and the specific development of the incident will have to wait and see.

And considering that those people are vindictive but extremely cautious by nature, I'm afraid they won't take action so quickly.

In a word, let's wait and see.

However, the smoke of war and the undercurrents spreading on the Internet did not affect Watanabe Yu.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. As his mood became calmer, he got more and more into the state.

"To be honest, I think this story is a bit heavy."

In the evening, walking on a country road, it was Ryoko Hamabe who took the initiative to start a conversation.

At this moment, the summer heat has just dissipated, the ground is no longer as hot as it was in the afternoon, and the wind blowing in our faces has a more comfortable coolness.

"Especially compared to the stories you've written before."

She put her hands behind her back, thought for a moment, and then added this sentence.

Perhaps she was influenced by Ayana, or perhaps by her past experiences. Compared to her peers who always have some "mono no aware" in their bones, she sincerely prefers light-hearted and happy stories.

Just like her previous chat with Ayana, life is hard enough, and most people just want to take a moment to relax.

“It is a bit heavy.”

Watanabe Yu slowed down his pace, raised his eyebrows, and looked at the country road in front of him in the dim light.

Unlike the bright lights of big cities, the only way to see the winding country roads at night is with the help of the street lights.

"So will Ryoji and Yukiho have a happy ending?"

Hamabe Ryoko turned her head and looked at his face which was blurred by the darkness.

"will not."

Watanabe Yu gave a negative answer without thinking.

No matter whether it is the male or female protagonist of White Night Walk, their every step was planned by Keigo Higashino. If you want to change the ending, you can only change it from the beginning, but the problem is that if you change it from the beginning, then "White Night Walk" will no longer be "White Night Walk".

It's stuck there.

"...That's it."

Hearing this, Hamabe Ryoko silently withdrew her gaze, lowered her head and started kicking pebbles.

The sound of chattering rang out in the night.

"Speaking of which, Hojo Keiko's tutoring should be over, right?"

Watanabe Yu coughed lightly and took the initiative to change the subject.

It’s not that he can’t see Ryoko’s slight disappointment, the problem is that he really can’t change it.

"Tomorrow is the last day."

Ryoko Hamabe raised her eyebrows, took a deep breath, and drove away the layer of loss between her brows.

"Then the day after tomorrow..." Watanabe Yu paused, "Should we stay for another three or four days?"

He had been planning to talk about this tomorrow, but after thinking about it, he decided that it didn't matter whether he said it earlier or later, so he might as well just take advantage of this opportunity and say it directly.

"why?"

Hamabe Ryoko looked at him in surprise.

To be honest, she didn't expect him to bring this up suddenly.

According to the original plan, they were supposed to set off early the day after tomorrow.
——In fact, the drivers came once at the agreed time, but for various reasons, they did not go back. After confirmation, they made a new appointment.

"Because I want to finish writing "White Night Walk" here." Watanabe Yu paused, "And I also like this pace of life at the moment."

Compared to the bustling Tokyo, this place can calm his mind more. Of course, another reason is that the aftermath of the real-name system for Internet access has not yet completely subsided.

According to the 'information' sent back by Kiriyama and Ma, someone has even found Chengnan Private High School.

It belongs to giving him a "box".

"That's fine with me." Hamabe Ryoko lowered her head and looked at the fireflies in the low grass. Frogs croaked in the field at the right time. "It's Ayana and Yuki."

Judging from the surface, many people would not guess that Ayana is actually the one who is more afraid of loneliness than Yuki.

This can be seen from the length of time Ayana spends calling Yu every night.

From the initial twenty minutes, to forty minutes, and then to an hour yesterday, this speaks volumes.

Of course, the Saint Lady would definitely not admit this in front of them.

"I've already told them." Watanabe Yu thought for a moment, moved closer to Hamabe Ryoko, and then took her hand. "On the day we leave, they will come down to pick us up."

This can also be considered one of the conditions of "exchange".

"Hmm." Hamabe Ryoko responded, and then whispered about her thoughts, "You should still remember what I said about my original plans for the future when I confessed to you."

"Ah."

Watanabe Yu nodded.

Not only did he not forget, he remembered it very clearly.

"I... I don't know how to describe my current mood. I just feel a little emotional, and a little complicated." Hamabe Ryoko was rarely incoherent, "After today's tutoring, I chatted with Hojo.

"About her plans for the future, about some random things."

In fact, such casual chat was an accident. She had not intended to ask about these things, but when the words came to her lips, she suddenly started talking about it. She thought about it and just followed her own temperament.

"Well, then what?"

Watanabe Yu took over the conversation and acted as the supporting actor.

"She gave up... No, I can't say she gave up, but she was embarrassed because she felt disappointed." Hamabe Ryoko paused, "When she was in junior high school, her grades were good in the class, and she was also very active and outgoing, so she was a star in the class...

"After entering higher education, she found that her academic performance, which she was proud of, was not that good, and her eloquence was not that good. There were always people who were better and more outstanding than her.

“After the things she was so proud of were gone, she kind of wanted to give up.

“Then after one test after another, she became what she is now.

"To be honest, I can understand her experience and her mental journey, but I shouldn't have put myself in her shoes. I even felt a little uncomfortable, but I did. Maybe it was because... her words about 'sense of gap'."

This word has a very special meaning to her in the context of similar experiences.

"So you encouraged her?"

Watanabe Yu thought about it and asked tentatively.

Given Ryoko's personality, she would probably do so.

"No, I just asked her to think about it carefully and not make an impulsive decision."

Hamabe Ryoko took a deep breath. She didn't know why she was suddenly so conflicted. She failed to "respect the fate of others" and failed to keep herself out of trouble. Not only did she get stuck, but she also made herself feel uncomfortable.

“That’s fine.”

Watanabe Yu felt something vaguely, but he didn't point it out. Instead, he decided to observe it for a while.

"That's fine, but it's just that she was too polite, and it made me feel a little sick." Hamabe Ryoko pursed her lips, "I want to advise her not to be stupid, and not to start just because of a sense of disparity, because there will be many ups and downs in life.

“But when the words came to my lips, I couldn’t say them.

"Because I suddenly realized that I am not her relative and have no right to comment on her choices, let alone talk about her future life so arrogantly. I am just a high school student, right?
“Who knows what will happen in the future?

"What if she follows her heart and makes the seemingly evasive choice, and it turns out to be the right choice in the future?"

The more she thought about it, the more conflicted she became, and the more conflicted she became, the more complicated her mood became.

"It turns out that Ryoko, you are indeed suitable to be a teacher, but you are also not suitable to be a teacher."

Watanabe Yu squeezed her little hand.

People who have too strong empathy are easily hurt when they become teachers, but they are also very capable of being teachers.

"What does it mean to be both suitable and unsuitable?"

Hamabe Ryoko laughed at these words that were a fight between her left and right brain.

"It's good if you can empathize with the students' experiences, but it's not good if you empathize too much and you instinctively think too much."

Watanabe Yu raised his hand and lifted up their clasped hands.

Just in time, their hands blocked the street lamp that was emitting warm light.

However, a little light still escaped through the edges.

“My idea is to just follow your heart.”

Instead of thinking too much, it’s better to think less.

Instead of being a thinker who runs out of courage before taking action, it is better to be a practitioner who moves forward courageously.

There are always more problems than difficulties.

And in the long run, the future is always optimistic and bright.

"Is this why you can make such a firm promise?"

Hamabe Ryoko looked at him.

The little incident in the afternoon made her understand him better.

"No."

Watanabe Yu put down his hands that were blocking the light of the street lamp and started walking again.

The two walked hand in hand onto the country road.

Under the warm light, the two people's shadows were closely pressed together.

"What's that for?"

She couldn't help but ask.

"Because when I opened my mouth, I had already thought about it and decided that I would take responsibility for your future life."

He chuckled.

Now that I think about it, he is quite competent as the 'Pure Love God of War'.

At least it wasn't like the old-fashioned urban novels he had read before traveling through time, where he had to struggle for a long time over who to choose.

"...Damn scumbag."

There was silence for a long time.

She mumbled something to him, but she held his hand even tighter.

(End of this chapter)