Chapter 920 - 919: I Feel That I Am Needed

After some playful banter, the serious discussion about feelings just began.

"Actually, I only got the notification to participate in the show two days before the recording. Initially, I was supposed to interact with the production team as a game design writer for a while and then go back, just waiting for the show to air in a few months.

I didn’t expect the director to suddenly call me, saying they’d offer me another reward for appearing as an ordinary guest. At the time, I was quite reluctant, not really wanting to be exposed in front of the camera. But then I thought, this is my first book to get adapted, turned into a reality show no less, and I felt like I had to get involved or else I’d be itching to know more, and so I packed my bags and came here."

Shu Ran laughed, "And then unexpectedly, you participated in a show and brought back a boyfriend?"

Mu Qiu glanced at Cheng Zhirang next to her, who looked content, raised her eyebrow and nodded, "Yeah, that was unexpected, wasn’t it? It’s one of those storylines you only dare to write in novels suddenly happening to you, enough to exclaim ’Mary Sue’ even in a dream."

"Is there anything else, any other changes?" Cheng Zhirang asked gently.

She leaned on her elbow, thought for a bit, her voice relaxed, drifting away with the night breeze.

"Yes. I’m just an ordinary person, participating in such a highly exposed program, the changes are definitely bigger than yours. For instance, the number of readers is increasing, but criticism is also growing, like my fans on Weibo are increasing, and I now have a fan group, hahaha, people look for me daily to chat, sharing interesting things."

She hugged a pillow and laughed, her expression joyful, not affected by the mention of criticism.

"Although you are not familiar with the specific work of an online novelist, it’s not hard to understand if you think a bit. Usually, my job is typing, sitting in front of a computer or typing on a phone anytime, anywhere. It’s quite dull, and most of the interaction with readers happens within the book.

Within the book, interactions are mostly about the plot of the novel, and rarely about life. But over the past two or three months, readers have been finding me through other channels and sharing their lives with me.

For example, readers who are still in school might complain about failing an important exam, worrying about whether it will affect their future. Some who just stepped into society are facing challenges on the front lines of the country, inevitably feeling anxious and nervous. Maybe because my life is too simple and monotonous, I enjoy writing and hearing other people’s life stories.

I use the little life experience I have to comfort them, while admiring and longing for their lives. It’s a wonderful experience, making me feel like I’m not just a dull person who buries herself in typing, living a simple life with no purpose. I’m needed, attracted by this rich world, and finding it more interesting each day."

"Your thinking is so... healthy."

Guan Yu squeezed out such a descriptive word, sinking into the gentle evening breeze and echoing a couple of sentences.

"I can see that someone like you doesn’t easily get depressed. However, I sometimes have the same thoughts as you—just recently. Before participating in the show, I had been dormant for several years, and the little fan base I had also disappeared. After joining the show, fans have been gradually increasing, many send me private messages saying they like me, praise me as amazing, and send funny gifs, music, or recommend delicious snacks.

Some even said they watch the show just for me, and can’t sleep without watching my funny clips. This might not matter to others, but it’s very important to me. I feel needed, recognize that I have some ability in certain aspects, and it makes me very happy.

Moreover, being praised is wonderful for people like us who love living in a world full of compliments. Normally, I can only bounce around for three hours, but when praised, I can bounce all day without feeling tired. Being praised makes me feel happy, and significantly boosts my efficiency."

This is a very normal mindset, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many groups focused on compliments nowadays, and even commercialized, becoming a profitable transaction.

Mu Qiu nodded in agreement, then started showering her with compliments generously.

"Sister Guan Yu, you really summed it up perfectly, how can you be so smart? You’re not just open-hearted, kind, and extremely emotionally intelligent but also so smart."

"... That’s not the kind of compliment I wanted."

Guan Yu rubbed her arms, feeling goosebumps, and looked at her disdainfully before saying, "Even though what you said is true."

Mu Qiu rolled her eyes.

The others joined in with a "tch" sound.

Recently having a spirited back-and-forth with her, Shu Ran immediately said, "Your mouth corners are about to reach the skies."

"Shouldn’t you be happy when praised? You wouldn’t be happy if you were praised?"

Guan Yu looked her up and down, offered a casual compliment: "Your face tonight is glowing, beautiful even without makeup, and you’re tall and slim—anything you wear looks amazing. Look in the mirror, your mouth corners are not just reaching the skies, they’re almost shoulder to shoulder with a hot air balloon."

Shu Ran’s instinctive smile paused.

"Because what you just said is the truth, more real than what Mu Qiu said, why couldn’t I be happy?"

Guan Yu: "How is what she said not the truth?!"

Shu Ran: "What you said is the truth."

Guan Yu: "I said what she said is true, since what I said is true, it means what she said is true too!"

These Russian nesting doll-like words made Shu Ran’s brain knots, unable to find strong enough words to counter her.

Li Yang glanced at Guan Yu then at Shu Ran, wanting to laugh but afraid to.

Sitting next to him, Shi Yuhuai stretched out his long legs and nudged him.

"Li Yang, you’re actually laughing? Do you think what they said isn’t true?"

Guan Yu and Shu Ran immediately glared.

Li Yang: "... Brother Huai, why are you so shrewd now?! In the pilot episode, you were a reserved, high-cold, socially awkward terror!"

Mu Qiu casually chimed in: "In the pilot episode, you were still a polite, sunshine boy bowing at a full ninety degrees."

"I’m still a sunshine boy now!"

"No, now you’re just a sweet innocent."

"... Mu Qiu!"

Li Yang tossed a pillow at her arm, not hard, but enough to make her laugh.

"Is there no justice anymore if people get hit for speaking the truth? Go ask others, haven’t you changed a lot?"

Li Yang certainly won’t ask, "I’ve changed a lot, but it’s a transformation from a sunshine boy to a more mature and stable sunshine boy!"

Definitely not some sweet innocent! How can a man be called sweet innocent?!

Mu Qiu tossed the pillow back, "What’s blinding your eyes? Saying you’re mature and stable in front of Brother Cheng? When compared with him, the difference is quite evident!"