Having found a demon, I've decided to raise her.

His lips trembled violently, as if he were having a seizure. Although Mr. Gu didn't seem to mean it that way... why did saying that his personality matched his writing style sound like an insult to him?

Do you think I don't know what I've written?

The person is as their writing style... I'm so pissed...

Your talent is reflected in your writing, and your whole family is reflected in your writing.

Chen Ming was in a state of turmoil, and quite exasperated. Some say that only hitting a sore spot makes someone truly angry, and now it seems that's certainly true.

To put it simply, it means... speaking such blunt truths!

I'm so angry.

Gu Qing looked at him with some curiosity, blinked, and asked—

"You've also written novels? What were they called?"

"This, this..."

Chen Ming's forehead was covered in cold sweat all day; one might mistake him for having kidney deficiency, given his pale complexion.

Gu Qing tilted her head, took out a tissue, and wiped his face with utmost care. It seemed that every girl around him doted on him.

The family's pet boy?

Seeing Gu Qing's interested expression, Mr. Gu's face lit up slightly, as if he had found a breakthrough in communicating with his daughter.

He said—

"Didn't Mr. Chen Ming tell you? It's a fantasy tale, about fantasy creatures called ship girls and deep-sea creatures..."

Ahhhhh!

Stop talking!

Stop!

Being solemnly explained the contents of one's book by an elder—is this some kind of torture? Even the Ten Great Tortures of the Qing Dynasty couldn't compare.

Chen Ming's face turned pale, while Gu Qing froze when she heard the terms "ship girl" and "deep sea." Of course, she knew what these were, and her expression became somewhat strange.

Seeing Gu Qing's reaction, Chen Ming knew she understood something. He recalled that Qin Hui had once said that Gu Qing was a "2D person," but was retorted with "You're the 2D person."

However, Gu Qing clearly had some understanding of these things.

She's a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) young lady, and now she has heterochromia (different colored eyes), and a demon has infiltrated her body, making her even more chuunibyou.

Chen Ming, trembling, changed the subject and said—

"Mr. Gu, I'd like to propose a toast to you..."

"???"

Mr. Gu seemed to have three question marks on his forehead as he watched the young man opposite him pick up the soy milk and raise it... He hesitated for a moment.

Chen Ming was determined to break the conversation and raised his glass firmly.

Fortunately, although Mr. Gu had his doubts, he quickly raised his glass, solemnly clinked it against Chen Ming's, and they drank soy milk together...

Why does this scene look so eerie?

Even Aunt Bai's expression cracked slightly; her lips twitched as if she wanted to laugh, but then she seemed to realize it, covered her mouth, and lowered her head.

Mr. Gu and Chen Ming put down their cups, leaving Gu Qing stunned. Chen Ming also had a serious expression, but given how close she was to him, she could sense his reluctance.

Is it because of that novel?

Why interrupt something that's supposed to be funny?

This made Gu Qing a little curious. What kind of dark history had he written?

Mr. Gu nodded, looked at Chen Ming, and, seemingly misunderstanding his intentions, a slight smile appeared on his resolute face as he said—

"Mr. Chen Ming is very understanding. I've just recovered from a serious illness and can't drink alcohol, so I'm using soy milk instead. I'm really sorry, you brought Gu Qing back, I should thank you properly, but my health..."

"No... Mr. Gu, please rest and recover."

Chen Ming breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had escaped a disaster? Hmm... Although Mr. Gu looked unfriendly, he might actually be a very honest person? He actually understood Chen Ming's behavior in this way.

He seems a bit simple-minded...

Of course, I only thought it to myself; I wasn't foolish enough to say it aloud, that would be too impolite.

Mr. Gu nodded, then suddenly paused, and said—

"Speaking of which place we were talking about earlier..."

"!"

Chen Ming's internal alarm bells rang. Seeing Mr. Gu's expression as he tried hard to recall, he said—

"Those things are unimportant..."

"They've started talking about stories involving ship girls and fantastical creatures from the deep sea..."

Gu Qing suddenly whispered a reminder.

Both Chen Ming and Mr. Gu stared wide-eyed.

Chen Ming looked at Gu Qing with a "Damn it, why?" expression, never expecting that Gu Qing would betray him.

Gu Qing felt something was wrong as soon as she said it. She had accidentally let it out. She was actually a little curious, but she didn't dare to look Chen Ming in the eye and looked away.

Chen Ming felt somewhat helpless at the sight of her making a small mistake, and swallowed the words that were about to come out...

"Gu Qing..."

Mr. Gu was surprised that his daughter had spoken up; such a normal conversation hadn't happened in a long time.

A smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

Okay, since Gu Qing is interested, let's continue with this topic.

Chapter 657 I'll give you anything, please spare our daughter.

Oh well, whatever.

Chen Ming's eyes were lifeless; he had completely given up on himself. He was being seriously discussed and commented on by others.

Mr. Gu had a serious expression, while Aunt Bai would occasionally burst out laughing, though she hid it very well; you could only see her occasionally lower her head and slightly shrug her shoulders.

Gu Qing pretended to Chen Ming that she wasn't listening and knew nothing, but at the same time, she was listening intently...

Indeed, you can tell a bit about a person's personality by reading their writing. Putting everything else aside, Gu Qing's attention is focused on one point.

A novel, a harem novel.

It seems like nothing's wrong yet.

But isn't a harem of over four hundred people a bit too exaggerated? She secretly glanced at Chen Ming and her gaze became somewhat strange.

His family already has many girls, and they seem to have no restraint. Could it be that this is his ideal, to have hundreds of wives and concubines?

I couldn't help but have some doubts.

Chen Ming noticed Gu Qing's strange gaze and felt wronged.

You guys, don't confuse the protagonist with the author! A novel is a novel, not a documentary told from the author's perspective. What the protagonist does has nothing to do with me, the author! (With an air of self-righteousness)

If the protagonist can fly and teleport, can the author do the same? If the protagonist is popular with girls everywhere, can the author also build a harem? Could it be...?

Wait, something seems off.

Chen Ming tilted his head.

Anyway, the author is the author, and the protagonist is the protagonist; they're not the same. It's perfectly normal for the protagonist to be brilliant and powerful, but the author to be a nerdy otaku.

Chen Ming was thinking about something very dangerous.

Mr. Gu said—

"It depicts a special world and explores a bit about time travel... If I hadn't met Mr. Chen Ming, I might have thought it was all fake, but now I have some doubts..."

"Ok?"

Chen Ming was slightly taken aback.

Doubt? Doubt what? This is definitely a fictional novel, what's there to doubt?

His doubts grew deeper and deeper.

From the moment Aunt Bai led the way to them until now, they have been chatting for a long time, but the other party has always been very polite to him.

This politeness was excessive from the start, and she didn't relax at all during the conversation. Aunt Bai was even unwilling to laugh out loud, instead covering her mouth and lowering her head to hide it.

Extremely restrained.

Excessive formality can also make people uncomfortable.

Such an attitude is clearly abnormal.

Now you're saying such strange things, where exactly did things go wrong?

Did I do something to be disliked?

It doesn't seem like it.

Mr. Gu looked at Gu Qing, whose gaze was mostly on Chen Ming. She wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and offered him all sorts of words of concern.

He's just like a simp.

Mr. Gu's expression seemed unchanged. He looked at his hands and said—

“Our Gu family is in business, and we understand one principle very well… If you want to get something, you have to give something in return, and this is especially true for the most precious things.”

Aunt Bai lowered her eyes slightly, placed her hand in his, and was held by his other hand.

There was a hint of emotion in his eyes.

I almost didn't see him again.

Death is truly terrifying—cold, dark, and lonely… leaving behind the sorrow of loved ones, with only one thought in mind: “I’m sorry.”

"What could be more precious than life? Without life, you have nothing. Don't you agree, Mr. Chen Ming?"

Mr. Gu's voice was somewhat low.