With this kind of treatment, why would you need a shoulder massage?
Huh? Why would you need a shoulder massage?
Chu Ge figured it out. Qiu Wuji was stubborn as a mule. If you asked her to "massage your shoulders," you could forget about ever getting one.
If she didn't want anything, she would naturally and subtly take care of you, letting you experience the gentleness of an older sister.
That was her genuine, wifely, and motherly nature at work.
Just don't challenge her stubbornness; just wait for her to act naturally…
In other words, she wasn't really angry about that hug today; on the contrary, she felt a little sorry for Chu Ge for the elbow injury?
Chu Ge truly felt like he was floating on clouds, oblivious to the world around him.
Forget about mental fatigue; even if his brain was completely blank, he had to answer Qiu Qiu's question!
"Your question pertains to writing skill. Master writers can make everyday trifles interesting or evocative, while ordinary people's writing is dry and dull. This isn't something that can be taught quickly in a few words; even I'm not very good at it myself," Chu Ge said. "But if you're interested in improving in this area, you can start by reading essays and miscellaneous writings by famous authors, such as Zhu Ziqing and Wang Zengqi. True interest is found in the ordinary."
Qiu Wuji asked, "Is it about writing style?"
"It's writing style, but not entirely. Some sentences may not be beautiful, but they always accurately touch our hearts—that's the power of words. Take the simple act of describing a father's back, for example. Zhu Ziqing's writing and my Chu Ge's writing—he can directly touch people's hearts, while I can only use his words as a joke."
Qiu Wuji nodded. Although she didn't know Zhu Ziqing, she understood the meaning.
When writing about the same thing, she compared the writing of a top female author with her own. She felt that the other author's writing didn't have any particularly special vocabulary, but the effect was different—that's skill.
The principle is similar to writing poetry and prose; some verses, devoid of any ornate language, can endure for millennia with a single, simple line.
She didn't feel regret about not being able to "quickly achieve" it; instead, she felt a sense of naturalness. Some things require years of cultivation, not a day or two, just like Chu Ge's training.
Qiu Wuji, on the other hand, thought Chu Ge was quite remarkable. No wonder he could construct their world. He could answer any question, readily citing allusions and examples, demonstrating his vast knowledge. Indeed, Qiu Wuji had chosen the most capable master; she didn't need some old man withered hermitage.
She relaxed, chuckling, "I was too hasty. A newcomer like me wants to know everything... I should have observed more. Shall I skip this part for now?"
"You can skip it. After all, this isn't a complete story; it's just a side story. Theoretically, it could even be written as an independent episode. Skipping some less important parts won't bother anyone." Chu Ge paused, then chuckled, "I look forward to the day you build your own complete world."
After they finished teaching each other, Qiu Wuji realized she was still massaging his temples. Her face flushed slightly, and she casually withdrew her hand, saying, "Going out to eat? Let's eat out today."
Chu Ge sighed slightly, still lacking the courage to lean back.
That would be truly "falling into the clouds."
Unfortunately, he didn't dare...
It's okay, he'll be able to someday!
Chu Ge abruptly stood up: "I've been thinking, you don't seem to have ever tried KFC or McDonald's? How about we try them today?" Qiu Wuji was always quite excited about the food Chu Ge recommended, and smiled, "Okay, I'll give it a try."
...From eating a bowl of beef noodles for a dozen yuan to McDonald's for several dozen yuan, it showed how wealthy Chu Ge was now.
Although he couldn't even afford a bathroom.
And yet, he usually complained about Western fast food and considered it a waste to eat too much. But occasionally, he actually found it quite delicious.
"This chicken is so-so," Qiu Wuji commented, gnawing on a chicken leg. "I watched people sell chickens at the market and learned that chickens these days are categorized as 'local' or 'non-local.' Some chickens look okay in terms of plumage, but they're actually weak and listless, just like you before." Chu Ge: "?" Qiu Wuji, his mouth greasy, continued, "This chicken definitely wasn't fed grains, and it wasn't free-range... its nutrition is pretty poor..." Chu Ge chuckled, "But you seemed to enjoy it." Qiu Wuji replied, "As long as it tastes good, that's enough."
"So, you're paying attention to nutrition now?"
"I've been paying attention from the beginning. Haven't you noticed that your diet is now nutritionally balanced?" Qiu Wuji waved his chicken leg, a little smug. "Your cultivation requires..." It requires a significant amount of energy, and balance is essential. Our concept of energy and the world's concept of nutrition are actually the same.
"No wonder my cultivation is going so smoothly, is it related to this?"
"Of course it is!" Qiu Wuji continued waving her hand. "When I go to the market, I can tell at a glance whether something is good or bad. The vegetables I buy for you are all the best!" Seeing that "Praise me!" little face, Chu Ge couldn't help but laugh, so he quickly praised her: "My Qiuqiu is of course the best." Chu Ge's pistol leg froze in mid-air. Qiu Wuji looked around and scolded, "Who's your Qiuqiu! I'm just a poor little assistant forced to cook by a wicked boss who harasses and teases me from time to time without paying me." Chu Ge almost spat out his cola.
"Hey, aren't those two the couple from the beach in early autumn?" A little girl's voice came from beside him.
The two turned to look, and several young women were excitedly pointing and whispering nearby. Seeing them looking over, the girls weren't shy at all and swarmed around them: "It really is! We saw it in person! That's not a staged photo; it's just like that all the time!" Chu Ge and Qiu Wuji exchanged bewildered glances. Had they become this famous? Even eating McDonald's resulted in recognition?
One of the girls exclaimed excitedly, "I knew it was a local seaside stall! I've been there before! It's definitely someone from Nanjiang."
"That stall even has photos posted on Dianping (a Chinese review platform), and you only just found out?" Chu Ge then realized that it wasn't so much that he was incredibly famous, but rather that he was more famous locally than elsewhere. But this was still quite exaggerated; it had only been a few days since the news started circulating.
"Hey, hey, can we take a picture together?" The girls pulled out their phones one after another. "My Weibo followers need to increase too..." Chu Ge was really exasperated. "Hey, girls, what's in it for me to gain followers with my photos?"
The girls whimpered, "I don't have any money..."
Just as Chu Ge was about to refuse, Qiu Wuji said with a smile, "Posting photos is fine, but it'll also help promote our account."
The girls were delighted. "No problem!"
The girls happily took the photos and left. Chu Ge curiously picked at his ear and asked Qiu Wuji, "How come you've actually managed to get this account up and running?"
Qiu Wuji smiled and said, "I'm your account manager, aren't I?"
"Ugh, an account manager is just... that kind of..." "I feel a bit awkward about the operations; the book's appeal depends on the work itself..."
"You're so bookish," Qiu Wuji said. "It's not like it's against the rules, what's so awkward about it? I'm not afraid of being pointed at, and you're getting all cocky." Chu Ge: "..." Qiu Wuji's expression became more serious, and he lowered his voice: "Chu Ge, we need a sense of presence in the world. It's not just about making money to eat anymore." Chu Ge's heart skipped a beat, and his back straightened involuntarily. He said solemnly, "Yes, I understand." Qiu Wuji leaned back in his chair, picked up his cola, and slurped it down: "Chu Da might not have noticed the backend performance... Do you know how many average subscriptions this wave boosted?" Chu Ge shook his head.
Qiu Wuji opened the Dian Niang app, scrolled to the bestseller list, and turned the screen to show Chu Ge.
Chu Ge stared blankly at the top ten bestseller titles, unsure of his feelings for a long time.
Top ten bestsellers again?
Qiu Wuji put away his phone, continued slurping his cola, and muttered, "What's so great about being in the top ten? In my heart, you should be number one." As if noticing Chu Ge's strange look, Qiu Wuji turned his head and added, "In my world, I should be number one, not at your level."