Chapter 293: Guiding Her

"What kind of genre are you talking about?" Zhou Yanyan asked Su Zhaozhao, looking completely baffled.

"You haven’t read them? For example, the trope where the female lead has a one-night stand, gets pregnant, and runs away. Have you ever read one of those?"

Zhou Yanyan shook her head.

"It’s where the female lead gets a hotel room, but goes into the wrong one and sleeps with a strange man. Then she runs off, only to find out she’s pregnant..."

"Ah, why would you read something like that?" Zhou Yanyan’s face immediately turned red. "I only read very pure stories about secret crushes."

Su Zhaozhao suddenly felt like she had let things slip.

’Right. The romance novels from this era are all very innocent. Even if some are a bit racy, they don’t have the kind of explosive plots that modern ones do.’

’At most, they’d get a bit steamy during the explicit scenes, but day-to-day interactions would just be cute squabbles.’

’Not like the novels from later on, where characters transmigrate into erotic fiction at the drop of a hat.’

’These authors nowadays are so innocent.’

Su Zhaozhao immediately grabbed Zhou Yanyan’s hand. "Yanyan, I think you should read more of these, apply what you learn, and write one yourself! I love this kind of story. They’re really great!"

"No, no, the stories I write are... more conservative."

Zhou Yanyan’s cheeks were bright red.

But with this bit of lighthearted teasing, Su Zhaozhao successfully closed the distance between herself and Zhou Yanyan.

Finally, Zhou Yanyan asked Su Zhaozhao, "Zhaozhao, what’s your relationship with my mom? How come I’ve never seen you before?"

"I’m your neighbor! You probably just weren’t home before, so we never ran into each other."

They weren’t exactly next-door neighbors, as there was another house between them. It was perfectly normal that Zhou Yanyan didn’t know her.

During summer break, Zhaozhao had happened to leave West State for Jiang City. By the time she returned, the school year was about to start for them.

"So, are you a writer? You know so much about these novels."

There were many things she’d never even heard of, yet Su Zhaozhao spoke about them with such expertise, even suggesting she could write time-travel novels.

Zhou Yanyan found it all so novel. She had read so many books, but her knowledge still couldn’t compare to Su Zhaozhao’s ideas.

Su Zhaozhao immediately smiled at Zhou Yanyan. "Nope, I’m not a writer. I’m an English teacher at the military district’s elementary school."

"Then how do you know so much about novels?"

"Reading and writing novels is just something I do in my spare time," Su Zhaozhao told Zhou Yanyan. "I don’t think it has to interfere with anything else. After all, a person’s energy is finite. You can’t possibly devote all your time to writing a novel. You can use your spare time to write, which frees up your energy for other things."

"Is that what you do, too?" This was the first time Zhou Yanyan had met someone in her life who wrote novels, and she felt that Su Zhaozhao’s experience could be very helpful to her.

Before, her mother, teachers, and classmates had always tried to persuade her to stop writing novels, telling her it was a dead end.

This was the first time someone had so earnestly and patiently told her how she should properly approach it.

Besides, she seemed very professional.

This made Zhou Yanyan really believe what Su Zhaozhao was saying.

Su Zhaozhao nodded with a smile. "Yes, I just use my free time to write a little. You can do the same. It must be exhausting to write from morning till night, right?"

Zhou Yanyan nodded. "It is, but... the more they disapprove, the more I want to prove them wrong."

’She really is a girl with backbone. So her current behavior is all because she feels misunderstood by those around her, and this is her way of trying to prove herself?’

"If you’re tired, then take a break. Wait until you’re done studying and finished with your homework, then you can write. I think you might even get more inspiration that way. Don’t punish yourself because of what other people do, Yanyan. It’s truly not worth it. Do what you want to do, not torture yourself because of others’ opinions."

Zhou Yanyan looked at Su Zhaozhao. "You look like you’re about my age, but why can you always say such wise things?"

For some reason, chatting with Su Zhaozhao suddenly made her feel very relaxed.

The unhappiness she’d been feeling before seemed to vanish without a trace.

"I’m older than you, so you should listen to me. I’ve also experienced more," Su Zhaozhao said with a grin.

"If there’s anything you don’t understand in English, you can ask me. Even though I’m just an elementary school English teacher right now, I think my English is pretty decent."

"Okay." Zhou Yanyan nodded.

"I came today just to get to know you. I’m very happy to be your friend." As she said this, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but smile and extend her hand to shake Zhou Yanyan’s.

"Me too!" Zhou Yanyan said at once. "I don’t have many friends here in the military district because I only moved here with my parents in middle school. Zhaozhao, I’m so happy you’re willing to be my friend."

Coming out of Zhou Yanyan’s room, Su Zhaozhao closed the door.

Li Lianxin immediately came over, looking nervously at Su Zhaozhao. "How is she? Is Yanyan okay?"

"She’s fine," Su Zhaozhao told Li Lianxin.

"So, is she willing to listen to you and study now?" Li Lianxin watched Su Zhaozhao anxiously, terrified of hearing something she didn’t want to hear.

"Of course. You really don’t have to worry. Yanyan is a great kid; she just needs someone to guide her."

’And I happen to be exactly that kind of person.’

As long as Zhou Yanyan wasn’t living under so much pressure, Su Zhaozhao knew she would definitely return to the real world.

"That’s wonderful! Zhaozhao, thank you! You’re truly our family’s great benefactor!" Li Lianxin grasped Su Zhaozhao’s hands, so moved she was on the verge of tears.

Su Zhaozhao comforted her, "It’s all right. Yanyan is a good girl. Her personality is just a bit simple and straightforward, so it’s easy for her to get stuck when she runs into difficulties. But really, she’s a very, very good kid."

"Yes, I know. I was in the wrong before, being too overbearing with her upbringing. Yanyan seems gentle, but she’s very strong-willed on the inside." Li Lianxin wiped the tears from her face as she spoke.

"But I can’t guarantee she’ll change overnight. It might take a period of guidance. In any case, I’ll come hang out with her whenever I’m free from now on."

"I’m sorry to trouble you, Zhaozhao. By the way, I heard that what you do is a form of psychological therapy, right? What are your rates?"

’Rates?’ Su Zhaozhao did indeed charge for her services when she was at the military hospital.

’And the prices were quite reasonable.’

’Now, Li Lianxin’s question reminded her. Oh, right, this was technically one of her services. She had just forgotten about it.’