Shanruo Kingdom, Shanruo Calendar 5135, Qingshui Metropolis, Moonpetal Bakery.
"Hey. Peipei, look, are you sure you want to go on with this job?"
I mean...
"You literally never show up. Just drowning yourself in that miHoYo game!"
"..."
"Moreover, you've changed quite a lot. When I met you in highschool, my IQ was high, now, after another national IQ test, I ranked tenth!"
"... It's not really my fault, is it—"
"Be quiet!"
"..."
"And look at your physique, compared to all those bodybuilders on TV, you look like an ant."
Pei Roulan snorted. "Muscles? I have them! I workout twice a week."
However, when he flexed, it was as tiny as sweet bread.
Gu Qingyue sighed. "Peipei, compared to others, you're not that athletic or as sporty as them. We haven't talked for a long time, please tell me, how much weight have you gained since then?"
Pei Roulan was completely silent after the word "weight."
"Uhm... That's not a problem, I can lose it."
"And then what? We're already engaged, and we were planning marriage a few months ago. I'll even admit that, you have been a very good person to me for all of these years..."
"You might even rival that international YouTuber named Nickocado Avocado. Look at him now, what makes you any different?"
"..." I'm not even that fat! If I had to guess, I was around... 25% bodyfat or so.
Gu Qingyue shook her head with a somewhat droopy manner. "In short, you aren't the Peipei I used to know. You used to be the cutest ever."
"... I get it."
She patted his head and gave him a warm smile, "I've been by your side for so long, what will it benefit me?"
After taking a bite of her pastry she said: "But one thing should be cleared, you said you wanted to become a book publisher right? Your dream hasn't come true yet, what do you think you should give me? More time?"
Pei Roulan gripped his water bottle. "We've been together for so long, you still don't trust me that much?"
"I do."
Today is the day that Pei Roulan would receive his first copyright fee. His book, "Beyond the Universe's Stars" had gained tremendous feedback after two years of serialisation, and it was picked up by a comic production company, and was about to adapted into a real comic book.
The copyright fee was about 150,000 - 200,000.
This was essentially a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
For a newcomer who had recently entered the world of novels, this was a huge sum.
He had planned a travelling trip, booked first-class tickets, and bought the watch that Gu Qingyue had taken to a liking last time they went out together. He had put all of these things in a heart-shaped present.
However, they served no purpose now...
"Peipei, I'll be honest, I actually plan to travel soon. Do you remember the holiday event our school hosted a year ago?" As she said this, Pei Roulan saw a tedious smile on her face. "Someone proposed to me, a senior from our school, Ye Shuxin. He graduated seven months ago."
"..."
"And I'm pregnant..."
"?!"
"Don't worry, the child isn't yours."
"..." To hell with that f**king statement!
For some reason, he had the urge to just chug down the water bottle! (which he did...)
"Look, I know I should've told you beforehand. But I thought it would be obvious to you. I mean, we don't even talk anymore nor go out as much as we used to, what gives?"
Gu Qingyue took a deep breath as if mustering up courage, and then she said. "So I'm here to accompany you."
"... You're kidding."
At this point, she took out a present from her bag.
Pei Roulan hadn't seen that type of present before; he guessed it was from that senior.
So what if you have money?
So what if one can do whatever he wants to?
Gu Qingyue pushed the present to him and zipped her bag shut. "These are resources and a invitation to my wedding in a few months. You have a older brother right? Tell him he's invited too. It's not easy for brothers to depend on eachother, right?"
For a long time, Pei Roulan didn't know what to say.
She sighed and added: "I know this is hard to accept right now, but, you can't take care of me. I'm sorry but... this is the reality of—"
He slammed his hand on the desk cutting her off, and he stood up. He had enough of her nonsense.
This aura startled Gu Qingyue.
This was the first time she had seen him with such an expression...
This was utter disrespect!
"Since we've already cleared things up, let's leave things at that. I obviously won't be attending your damn wedding and don't ever call me 'Peipei'. Also..."
Pei Roulan had a lot to say but he swallowed it down. "... Nevermind, that's all."
As soon as he finished talking, he grabbed his milkshake and left the store leaving Gu Qingyue somewhat stunned.
Pei Roulan...
An ordinary 20 year old university student attending Star and Bright University in the outskirts of Yanzhou City.
After five years of dating, on November 15th 5135, he was dumped...
As he left the shop, Pei Roulan tried his hardest to forget her... but she still lingered in his mind.
It's all gone...
He ran towards the park to which they first kissed, and near that place was the Lover's Bridge. That place, is where they walked shortly after being admitted to Star and Bright University.
"It's all gone... gone!"
Pei Roulan roared as he threw the present to the ground with a thump, startling the nearby couples who were enjoying the scenery.
A few seconds later...
Pei Roulan saw a lotus carp, its belly glowing, on the surface of the rippling river water...
Pei Roulan: "...?"
...
When Pei Roulan grabbed the carp and pulled the unfortunate lotus out, he made a preliminary assessment that it had lost all its vital points, he assumed it didn't have much time to live.
Poor Lotus...
He carried the lotus to a nearby tree wanting to bury it.
He felt kind of bad, he decided to name it "Kitsune."
But just as he was about to leave it, it suddenly glowed even more!
His attention was immediately drawn to it as he gazed upon it.
He saw a QR code. Pei Roulan was confused. A QR Code on a flower?
Overwhelmed by curiosity, Pei Roulan brought out his phone and scanned it.
WeChat system notification: "Congratulations! You have now entered a Multi-Person GC: The Kitsune Fairy Cultivator's Ascension... Note: New members are not friends with the following veteran members in his group chat: Drunken Moon Patriarch, Iron Bamboo Sovereign, Thousand Coffin Daoist, Jade Furnace Alchemist, Thunder Ink Sage, Nine Lantern Scholar etc."
Pei Roulan gasped as he read the message.
Are lotuses really this valuable?!
Also, what's with the cringy names? They hear as if they are from the underworld...
Pei Roulan immediately thought of those novels he read online... what was he about to step into?
The Kitsune Cultivator's Ancesion...
Pei Roulan sat on the grass and did the famous pose of the statue "The Thinker" as he was lost deep in thought.
Are these protected by something?
Will I... get the death penalty?
...