Chapter 126 : Chapter 126

Chapter 126: “Readers, it's a pleasure to meet you.”

A night passed.

When Chu Zu got up in the morning, he was almost tripped by the uninvited guest squatting by the bed.

Stabilizing his balance, Chu Zu and the little Shiba Inu, who was grinning foolishly at him, met eyes.

Soft, floppy ears, a curled tail wagging like a helicopter rotor, black and white coloring, and bean-like eyebrows.

Chu Zu: “Where did this black Shiba come from?”

The system reflexively said: “It's not a Shiba Inu, it's a black wolf.”

Chu Zu: “……”

The system came to its senses and said embarrassedly: “Sorry, Host, I just rebooted and didn't react in time.”

Chu Zu squatted down and patted the Shiba Inu's head.

The little black cat was afraid of him, but the dog was inexplicably close to him, licking his palm with its tongue and circling around Chu Zu.

The little yellow chicken secretly wanted to find the little black cat to drag this dog, which didn't look too smart, out.

Why was it acting so spoiled so early in the morning, and trespassing in the bedroom at that?

What a disgrace!

The little black cat had its own room, while the dog's activity space was much larger.

It usually rolled around in the yard, where it also had its own little mansion.

Chu Zu hadn't seen it yesterday and asked the system.

The little yellow chicken glanced at Qiao Tian and reported: “Qiao Tian took the dog for a walk yesterday, broke into a mad dash, ran too far, and both the dog and the person were exhausted.”

“It just so happened that the house she rented was nearby, so the person and the dog fell asleep as soon as they went back to rest.”

“The dog is very obedient. It woke up first, saw that Qiao Tian was still resting, and went back to sleep.”

So Chu Zu didn't bother with the person and the dog; as long as nothing happened, it was fine.

It seemed that early this morning, Qiao Tian had sent the dog back.

Chu Zu walked out of the bedroom, and the little black Shiba followed closely behind.

In the living room, Marcus was chatting with Qiao Tian.

“I know about molecular science and engineering, but you actually didn't pursue a graduate degree. I remember this major basically only considers master's degrees and above. Anyway, Zu can wait, why don't you get your master's first and then consider your career development?”

“My teacher also advised me this way when I graduated. Before graduation, I also signed up for the graduate entrance exam, but for… certain considerations, I gave up.”

“Then you don't have to bang your head against a wall in the entertainment industry. You could apply for government positions or technical research posts. This industry has too many troubles, and you seem like a very down-to-earth girl.”

“There are also… certain considerations.”

“It seems that helping to walk the dog is also one of your considerations. You just didn't expect it to be too boisterous and take up your extra time outside of work.”

Marcus's tone when talking about serious matters was cute, and his baby face gave him a natural advantage.

Even with his slow Hong Kong-style Mandarin, communicating with him only made people feel close.

Qiao Tian had taken him for the little black Shiba's owner, loving the dog and by extension, the person.

When she heard he was a famous lawyer with his own Baidu Baike entry, and that he looked familiar—Marcus had been popular for a while after participating in a variety show—Qiao Tian's guard against strangers wasn't so strong.

Chatting with Marcus was indeed very relaxing, thanks to Marcus's personality and professional demeanor.

He could handle stubborn clients, so maintaining a pleasant conversation with Qiao Tian was naturally a piece of cake.

Wanshu Zu didn't ask Qiao Tian too many things, seemingly completely incurious about her past.

He was always focused on Qiao Tian's future.

Marcus, however, was very curious about her past.

Mainly curious as to why his childhood friend was willing to wait so many years, and even after being “forced” to terminate the contract due to an incident, he was still unwilling to let go, finding a roundabout way to let Qiao Tian shine under his command.

Wanshu Zu was simply insane.

It was unknown whether it was a “collector's obsession” or a sense of superiority, but he had to get his hands on anything he took a fancy to, and firmly believed that he was the best platform to display the treasure.

Marcus sometimes felt that a large part of why his childhood friend maintained a good relationship with him to this day was because he was at the top of the pyramid in the legal profession.

If Marcus were just a small-time lawyer who was getting by, this friend of his would have silently cut off contact long ago.

It wasn't that he was a snob.

In China, this might be called “a flock of swallows seeks a warm nest, a group of wise men seeks high places.”

In the foreign countries Marcus was more familiar with, this was a typical case of “Greatness desires its equal, like fire seeks its match.”

Marcus and Qiao Tian got along quite well.

The young lady was straightforward and only seemed slightly awkward when she brought the dog back, as she felt it was her failure as a dog walker.

After entering the door and briefly introducing herself to Marcus, Qiao Tian didn't rush to explain the situation and apologize.

She first went to clean the dog's toilet, got it food, and refilled its water with fresh water.

After finishing her work, with the dog happily wandering around the house, Qiao Tian sincerely expressed her apologies to Marcus and proactively offered to forgo yesterday's wages.

Since Wanshu Zu was paying anyway, Marcus naturally didn't care.

Seeing the dog's attitude towards the young lady, he could probably guess that she was indeed serious about her work.

Even if he were the one paying, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Qiao Tian had her back to the bedroom and didn't see Wanshu Zu.

Marcus caught a glimpse of the figure first and said with a hint of mischief.

“Have you considered continuing your graduate studies? I can sponsor your education. It's not appropriate to call it sponsorship; it's more like an interest-free loan. If you continue with molecular science and engineering and choose materials science, you'll earn a lot of money after getting your master's and doctorate.”

“Of course, it's not as much as the top players in the entertainment industry, but it's stable and has fewer worries.”

Qiao Tian was about to answer when the little black Shiba barked, “Woof woof.”

She turned her head and met Wanshu Zu's eyes behind her.

Wanshu Zu: “Good morning.”

Qiao Tian answered woodenly: “Uh… good… good morning.”

She hadn't seen Wanshu Zu in a long time, not counting on TV and the internet.

She had gone to bed early yesterday and hadn't watched the live broadcast replay and related news that had been on the hot search for hours.

Wanshu Zu's hair had grown a bit longer.

Because he had just woken up, his black hair all hung down, and his bright red eyes were also lazy, lacking some of their usual impeccability, looking homey and casual.

Qiao Tian was surprisingly not nervous, just surprised.

Marcus, who was deeply loved by the little black cat itself, was ignored by the black Shiba.

The little black Shiba only circled around Wanshu Zu, gently biting his pant leg, trying to drag him into the yard.

Its intention to play with him couldn't be clearer.

One could tell at a glance who the real father was.

Wanshu Zu had become Qiao Tian's boss again.

It was originally a very dramatic thing, but because it was Wanshu Zu, it wasn't strange at all.

He was always filled with all sorts of bizarre drama.

Not knowing how long Wanshu Zu had been listening, he didn't inquire about the conversation and simply asked Qiao Tian: “Have you had breakfast?”

Qiao Tian continued to answer woodenly: “Not yet.”

Wanshu Zu nodded, and Marcus immediately stood up: “I checked the fridge last night, there are still some ingredients, watch me.”

“You sit down.”

Wanshu Zu looked up at his childhood friend, clearly aware of the level of his divine cooking skills, his disdain obvious and undisguised.

Marcus shrugged.

Wanshu Zu walked to the kitchen.

Qiao Tian held onto the black Shiba to prevent it from following.

The little black Shiba was much less trouble than the ancestor cat.

Throw a tennis ball into the yard, and it would immediately pounce out and play joyfully.

Only then did Marcus talk about his relationship with Wanshu Zu.

Qiao Tian learned that Marcus was Wanshu Zu's lawyer.

Because of recent transactions, he had been flying around with him.

Wanshu Zu had made a last-minute decision to return to China, so he had come along.

Also, he and Wanshu Zu were childhood friends.

When Wanshu Zu's parents were still around, the two families were neighbors.

It was rare to encounter Chinese neighbors in non-Chinese areas abroad, so after a few interactions, they became family friends.

They had known each other since they were three.

After a few fights, relying on Wanshu Zu's fists and Marcus's tolerance, the two finally became friends.

Marcus's sister was born late.

When Nora was little, the two brats revolved around the beautiful baby every day.

From a young age, Marcus tried to instill in Nora the idea that “big brother is the best in the world, and evil forces will eventually be sanctioned.”

It was self-evident who the evil forces were.

But Nora clearly preferred Wanshu Zu.

This big brother doted on the little princess more than the three members of the Li family, and was more willing to spend time.

Nora even learned to walk with Wanshu Zu's company.

At that time, the boy was already starting to grow taller.

He had to bend down, holding Nora's favorite toy in his hand, and retreat step by step, encouraging the babbling Nora to take another step.

Marcus, who had been entrusted with a heavy responsibility by his parents, was reading a comic book on a hammock nearby, his eyes glued to the new issue of Injustice, while chiming in: “Great, Look at those little feet go!”

So it was no wonder that when Nora called for her brother, she aimed at Wanshu Zu.

Her real brother fuming beside her was useless.

Hearing about Nora, a clear look of envy appeared in Qiao Tian's eyes.

She knew from the news that Wanshu Zu had signed Nora.

As soon as Nora stepped into the film industry, she got a top-tier female lead role.

The project was from Netflix, which wasn't afraid to burn money.

The male lead was Li Yamin.

Except for the slightly inexperienced director team, everything else was top-tier.

At that time, Qiao Tian didn't envy anything.

There was just a group of people in the world whose starting point was the endpoint for most ordinary people.

Ordinary people needed to have talent, work hard enough, and seize every opportunity to meet the prerequisite of standing before them.

There was nothing to envy; she preferred to spend her time wringing her hands over herself.

Now Qiao Tian… couldn't help but be envious.

Marcus was a good observer of people's expressions.

Seeing Qiao Tian fall silent, he naturally changed the subject and said lightly: “But later Zu returned to China, otherwise my status at home would really be in jeopardy.”

…

His good brother had added some settings for Chu Zu with lightning speed.

While making coffee in the kitchen, the little yellow chicken suddenly pulled out the setting book: “Host, please be prepared. Marcus Li has added a childhood for you. This time, there are witnesses and physical evidence. You may have to go back and play out the plot.”

Chu Zu: “…Fine.”

The little yellow chicken was originally gnashing its teeth at Marcus Li, but after the flashback, it gradually sighed: “It really has to be a good brother!”

Marcus Li’s memories were completely different from Li Yamin's.

Wanshu Zu's family was in Illinois, Chicago, USA.

The third-largest city in the United States and one of the world's financial centers.

This time, Chu Zu finally had sound parents.

Wanshu Zu's parents worked in finance and were usually very busy, but they were not indifferent to their child.

They didn't force the child's education, but instead paid great attention to the child's happy childhood.

They had never pulled a long face at him.

The only time they were strict was when he beat up the neighboring Marcus Li.

The two kids were usually boisterous and had many minor scuffles, but this time it was because of Wanshu Zu's beating.

On their way home from school, they saw a kitten that had died in a cardboard box after being abandoned.

The kitten's fur was all wet and it had stiffened.

Next to it was a small card with a photo of the cat when it was alive.

Its face was round, its eyes were round, and its long white fur was clean and beautiful, like a different creature from the dirty corpse in the cardboard box.

Beside the photo was written: Take care of her.

This was a huge shock to both children, and the shock further turned into anger.

The two kids didn't go home, but started searching for the kitten's original owner based on the clues on the card.

—And they actually found them.

The owner was a resident of a nearby street, also a young child.

He had bought the cat behind his parents' backs.

After raising it for a few days, he felt the kitten was disobedient, peed everywhere, and wasn't close to him.

His parents told him to handle it himself, so he simply put it in a box and threw it out.

Marcus's family had three generations of lawyers, so he had picked up a thing or two.

“According to the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act, a pet owner is responsible for providing their animal with a safe habitat and sufficient, clean food to prevent it from suffering from harsh weather, thirst, and hunger, and must give it sufficient care and attention—you just wait to face criminal charges!”

Wanshu Zu's reaction was much more direct.

If Marcus hadn't been so familiar with the prelude to his attacks and hadn't held him down, he would have definitely beaten the pale-faced boy in front of him to a pulp.

With the obstruction, that person escaped.

It was Marcus who was beaten to a pulp.

As Marcus ran home crying, he was still shouting: “You just wait, Wanshu Zu, you just wait!”

That night, Wanshu Zu was pulled into a serious family meeting by his parents.

His parents fully affirmed the intention of his actions but completely denied his methods.

Marcus's handling was the correct one, and, Wanshu Zu should not have taken his anger out on a friend who was on the same side.

Violence couldn't solve the problem, nor could it save the kitten, or more kittens.

Wanshu Zu couldn't refute.

He held the cardboard box, his head bowed, and only said: “She was a very beautiful kitten. Everyone would have liked her. She shouldn't have been treated like this.”

His parents keenly caught something in their son's words and pointed out: “She wasn't your kitten… What are you really angry about?”

The boy held back his defiance, but there was a knock on the door.

Marcus stood outside in a raincoat.

His face was still swollen, his curly hair stuck to his face, and he shouted at Wanshu Zu: “You idiot, hand over the kitten!”

Wanshu Zu yelled back with a stiff neck: “You're the idiot, get lost!”

Wanshu Zu's parents told them to have a good talk and not be too loud, otherwise there would be consequences—for both of them.

The only consensus the two children reached was: first bury the kitten in the backyard.

In the pouring rain, Marcus squatted in the mud digging: “I told my dad. We'll file a lawsuit at dawn tomorrow. That person won't get away.”

Wanshu Zu was also digging a hole, his face dirty, and said mockingly: “You're so capable, running to your dad for everything.”

“I also went to my mom, ha.”

“Next time you dare to stop me, I'll dig a hole and bury you too.”

Marcus's movements became rougher, like a groundhog digging: “When I become a lawyer, you can wait to be cellmates with the scumbag who abandoned the kitten!”

Wanshu Zu ignored him, picked up the kitten in the cardboard box, and gently placed it in the narrow grave.

At that time, Marcus didn't notice that his little friend's expression was very strange as he watched the kitten's eyes being covered by the dirt little by little.

It was only later that Marcus belatedly realized that Wanshu Zu's almost greedy pursuit of things he admired could be traced back to his childhood.

But in childhood, it was more about a desire to protect, a sense of responsibility, and self-blame that was hard to vent through his actions because things had already happened and couldn't be undone.

There were many shiny things, but only one or two could appear in the public eye, be loved, and be paid attention to.

More were obliterated in unnoticed corners, just like that kitten.

A very strange and domineering logic.

Wanshu Zu's starting point was protection, but it ended up becoming possession and control.

He didn't trust others; he only trusted himself.

And now, Marcus was just squatting in front of the kitten's grave with his little friend.

Both of them were battered by the storm.

Their raincoats couldn't keep out the rain, and their bodies were soaked long ago, sticking to their clothes.

That sticky murkiness and the unwillingness in their hearts drilled into their skin through their pores, clinging to their hearts little by little.

Marcus said he wouldn't be rebellious anymore; he wanted to be a lawyer.

Wanshu Zu said, oh.

…

The system couldn't bear to see the kitten's tragic state and had been hiding in the sea of consciousness during the flashback, refusing to peek out.

It fully supported the Host in beating the shit out of the white kid, wishing it could use “Master Wang.”

When the parents were lecturing, the little yellow chicken was more defiant than the silent Chu Zu.

It checked the laws of Illinois.

As long as it wasn't a serious violent crime, the most that would happen was being sent to juvenile court, with the focus on education and correction.

Chu Zu comforted the little yellow chicken with one sentence: “It's okay, when Marcus Li is not around, I'll go put a sack over his head.”

At this point in time, there were almost no street cameras in the United States.

In slightly more remote areas, there were hardly any people.

Chicago was famous not only for finance but also for its local gangs.

If you got beaten up while disoriented, it was useless to go to the police; they couldn't investigate.

During this flashback, Chu Zu was uncharacteristically quiet.

As Wanshu Zu, his emotions were completely externalized.

A child lacked the composure accumulated over time.

He liked what he liked and said what he hated.

Wanshu Zu's parents were impeccable.

The parents valued the child's emotions but analyzed specific incidents on a case-by-case basis.

They didn't preach grand principles but laid out what they considered important in the form of a peaceful family meeting for discussion.

Wanshu Zu could express his own opinions, and they would listen to these opinions and make corresponding suggestions.

Wanshu Zu's friend was also impeccable.

Even after being beaten, Marcus would stand up straight and continue to argue with him.

As long as he believed he was right, he could wear a person down.

And he never brought emotions about matters into their friendship.

Marcus often cursed Wanshu Zu for being an arrogant, violent, and foul-mouthed person.

But when his family baked cookies, he would still bring over a box with a show-off expression, saying what part he played in this delicious food.

Nora was a very cute little girl.

Chu Zu had never taken care of such a small child before and was indeed as clumsy as Marcus with Nora's chubby little arms and legs.

Nora didn't like her brother's way of holding her, but she didn't cry, only struggled desperately, kicking her brother's face away as he leaned in, and then desperately reached out to the brother next door.

Looking at Nora, who was showing him a sweet smile, Chu Zu thought of Sidney.

Sidney was also like this, rarely throwing tantrums at Chu Zu, very well-behaved, very obedient, and every smile carried a hint of fawning.

At first, there was a purpose, but later, that fawning was only left with a craving for affection.

Of course, Chu Zu could see it; he just rarely paid attention.

At that time, he was full of his own purposes.

He had too many things to do and too many things not done.

He had a lot of time, but he still couldn't slow down.

Life is a game of opportunities.

Some characters' starting lines are the finish lines that other characters can't reach, yet the starting line is actually not high—just living.

Living like a normal person.

Having normal parents, friends to argue with, unwillingness hidden in the heart when angry, reconciliation, and a small life worthy of his gentle treatment.

A normal person's life is not always smooth sailing.

A small matter can make them face difficulties that are difficult to solve at the moment, thus making a decision that is enough to shape their lives.

Is it so hard to be a normal person?

For Chu Zu, it was too hard.

So hard that he had to deliberately ignore Sidney, throw the entire summer filled with piano music to the back of his mind, turn away from the student's trembling respect, and forget the Zerg Queen's fifty-billion-year wait for Azul.

So hard that while he was making up the setting of two brothers supporting each other, he had to constantly repeat the sentence he had written in his diary.

—You don't mind whether you are lonely or not.

The little yellow chicken happened to be whining in the sea of consciousness: “She! Is! So! Cute!”

Why could Chu Zu not mind?

He knew the answer in his heart because he knew what loneliness was, so he could also distinguish whether he was lonely now.

The little yellow chicken usually minded when the Host showed affection for other creatures, especially those it felt were competitors.

But it also liked Nora very much.

A child so young doesn't understand anything, expresses curiosity about the outside world without purpose, and shows affection for familiar people.

Nora was very close to Chu Zu.

The little yellow chicken felt that it was one with the Host, so being close to Chu Zu was also being close to it.

It called her pretty little sister, whining non-stop in the same childish, boyish voice.

Chu Zu became even quieter because of this.

Chu Zu had to admit that Death by Entertainment was indeed an unforgettable vacation.

He wandered between his own reality and Wanshu Zu's reality, occasionally detaching himself.

In this rare relaxation, he felt everything he had been pursuing that a normal person could touch.

So when the flashback ended, Chu Zu felt an even more obvious sense of fragmentation.

He suddenly realized his superior's subtle hint—

Wanshu Zu was a manager, always able to formulate corresponding development plans based on the artists' own conditions.

Idol stars, talented actors, and the majority whose line was not clearly defined.

Chu Zu had never been a manager, but he was not unfamiliar with it.

He was a novelist before his sudden death, and novelists treated their characters in a similar way.

Characters piled up with tags to cater to the market.

Stories that had to be written down regardless of their success after a brilliant inspiration was born.

The majority that combined hot tags with their own stories.

The amazing thing was that even the final results were similar.

A novel that simply piled up characters with tags would not do too poorly, but the characters were absolutely not allowed to do anything that deviated from the tags themselves, not even one thing.

What readers remembered was not their names or lives, but the tags themselves.

A carefully polished story might not see the light of day in fierce competition, but once it stood out, readers would recognize the characters' transformations, no matter how complex, whether they were annoying or likable.

And those that were lukewarm…

People struggling in the entertainment industry needed attention.

Not being seen by the public was equivalent to the end of their careers.

Characters in novels also needed attention.

Not being seen by readers was equivalent to the characters' death.

So, the superior was actually telling him: don't be so extreme, don't do so many dangerous things, relax—entertainment is everything.

Wanshu Zu didn't want to see the dead kitten again.

He would forever remember the muddy, dull eyes covered by dirt.

Chu Zu was that kitten.

Chu Zu was also Wanshu Zu.

Wanshu Zu didn't believe in others, only in himself.

Chu Zu was the same.

Being bound by the system was a miracle and an opportunity.

Chu Zu had to pull himself out of the mire with his own hands.

It didn't have to be that heavy; readers didn't like heavy things.

If we substitute the assumption of "not being valued by the author, a side character thus disappears," the current Chu Zu can also be understood as "not being valued by the author, but miraculously seen by the readers."

Because he was seen by the readers, paid attention to, and his work of "Side Character Correction" was affirmed, he could survive to this day, instead of facing an unreasonable and inexplicable cycle of death.

If he really was, as he had previously judged, an original draft character that the author had not deleted, and for various reasons, had been deleted again and again…

Then what about now?

In this novel where "Chu Zu" still exists, was he still hated by the readers, not anticipated, and considered a side character that shouldn't exist?

Readers who saw me by chance, by miracle, and are willing to accompany me until now, do you truly know me now?

I am very happy to invite you to witness a new step taken by an ordinary person after three thousand five hundred and forty-eight deaths.

This is the chance you gave me, and I am certain I will not let you down.

So, can I continue to invite you to keep watching?

In this era of death by entertainment, I sincerely invite you to witness the self-rescue of a Side character.

Finally, a belated greeting: I am Chu Zu, a "Side Character Correction" specialist.

Readers, it's a pleasure to meet you.

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