Chapter 3: The Years I Spent as a Literary Plagiarist

Chapter 3: The Years I Worked as a Literary Copyist

Lu Anzhi looked at Qianqian solemnly. Seeing the little girl blinking her big eyes at him, he nodded and said, "Alright."

Zhang Suxin glanced at the delicate watch on her slender wrist. "It's getting late. I should take the child home. I still need to prepare her milk. Are you free tomorrow morning? If you are, I can bring her over again."

Lu Anzhi asked, "Aren't you going to have dinner before leaving?"

Zhang Suxin replied, "No, I'll eat at home. I don't feel comfortable taking off my mask here."

Lu Anzhi nodded. "Tomorrow at nine, I'll be at a music shop on Jiu'an Road. The shop is about to close, and I'm planning to buy it and turn it into a bookstore."

Zhang Suxin was surprised. "A bookstore?!"

Three years ago, Lu Anzhi was still working as a waiter. Zhang Suxin assumed he was still doing odd jobs and never imagined he would have such good financial standing now.

She didn’t mind that so much; her main concern was whether Lu Anzhi would be good to the child.

But hearing that a waiter from three years ago now had the means to buy a storefront and open a bookstore was still somewhat astonishing.

Lu Anzhi nodded. "Over the past three years, I've written a few books and earned some money—just enough to buy the shop and open a store."

Zhang Suxin was even more surprised. "I like reading in my free time. What kind of books do you write? I wonder if I've read any."

Lu Anzhi said, "The Sacred Legend, The Monkey King, and The Dragon Clan."

When he was reborn, youth angst literature was all the rage. Internet literature was just emerging and hadn't yet developed platforms like Qidian.

Today, the most popular online sites still operate primarily by transitioning online works into physical publications.

Three years ago, after gauging popular trends, the first story that flashed through Lu Anzhi’s mind was the once wildly popular Phantom City.

He took the original template of Phantom City and Clamp’s manga The Sacred Legend and rewrote it as a novel.

Of course, his writing style mirrored Phantom City’s—laden with lavish, melancholic phrases that could make readers gaze skyward at a 45-degree angle.

It turned out this approach was highly favored three years ago. His reputation took off immediately, and he earned enough to confidently quit his job and start traveling.

Encouraged, he then wrote The Monkey King.

This book, full of youthful rebellion and angst, became a hit again. Phenomena that had appeared in his previous life surfaced here as well.

Adolescents in their rebellious phase would often change their chat app signatures to quotes from The Monkey King, such as "If the sky cannot cover my eyes," "If I become Buddha, there will be no demons; if I become a demon, what can Buddha do to me," and "I came, I loved, I fought; I don't care about the ending."

He finished these two books in his first year.

In the second year, noticing a slight shift in trends, he wrote The Dragon Clan, which skyrocketed his fame. He became known as a prolific author with a particular quirk for knife-wielding characters.

This world had no Harry Potter, so the modern-day setting of Kassel Academy and dragon slayers was even more novel to readers.

And the unlucky child Lu Mingfei resonated with many readers, just as in the previous life.

Now, sales of the first and second volumes of The Dragon Clan kept climbing. The Sacred Legend’s animation and The Monkey King’s film rights had been sold, and the third volume of The Dragon Clan was soon to be published.

This world didn’t have Ultraman. When writing stories set in the Sakura Kingdom, he had to change the iconic phrase, "We are all little monsters who will one day be killed by the righteous Ultraman," to "One day, we will be defeated by righteous heroes," to fit the setting.

Once the third volume of The Dragon Clan is released, he plans to stop the series. He’s earned enough money, and any further writing would only draw criticism.

Since he would be criticized no matter what, he might as well save his energy.

After all, he had become a dog author; why not write a new book and make more money?

"So, you’re the author of The Dragon Clan, Dora B-Meng?"

Zhang Suxin’s expression shifted suddenly, her gaze sharp and unfriendly as she looked at Lu Anzhi.

Dora B-Meng was Lu Anzhi’s pen name.

In his previous life, Doraemon’s pocket produced futuristic gadgets, and now Lu Anzhi’s mind held countless cultural products from his past life with perfect clarity.

Hence, he chose such a pen name for himself.

Lu Anzhi asked, "You read The Dragon Clan too?"

Zhang Suxin said softly, "I told you I read books for leisure. Why did you kill off Xiami?"

Lu Anzhi was speechless.

Seeing Zhang Suxin staring intently at him, Lu Anzhi leaned back slightly and sipped his tea. "Sometimes, characters in a story take on a life of their own, making choices that lead them to their fate beyond the author’s control. There's nothing I can do about it."

Zhang Suxin stared at him for several moments before finally letting up, much to Lu Anzhi’s relief.

"If you don’t mind, tomorrow at nine, I’ll also bring Qianqian to Jiu’an Music Shop. Does that work for you?" Zhang Suxin asked.

Lu Anzhi replied, "Why not?"

Looking at the little girl before him, so endearing, Lu Anzhi even felt like holding her to sleep tonight. But knowing Zhang Suxin wouldn’t agree, he didn’t voice the thought.

"Alright, I’ll come over tomorrow," Zhang Suxin said, gently patting Qianqian’s little head. "Qianqian, say goodbye to Daddy."

Qianqian blinked twice, opened her tiny arms, and said, "Daddy, hold me."

Lu Anzhi suddenly felt his heart melt, unable to hide his wide smile.

He glanced at Zhang Suxin and saw she was watching him too.

In that instant, their thoughts aligned.

After this exchange, Zhang Suxin finally lowered some of her guard toward Lu Anzhi.

Though she still couldn’t entrust Qianqian directly to him, she was fine with Lu Anzhi holding the child while she watched.

Zhang Suxin lifted Qianqian from the table, and Lu Anzhi carefully took her, as if afraid of dropping the little girl.

The tiny child was chubby, with pudgy arms and legs, feeling surprisingly heavy in his arms.

Holding Qianqian close, Lu Anzhi smiled at Zhang Suxin. "She’s quite heavy. You must have some strength."

Zhang Suxin said, "I’ve carried her since she was little. My arms are almost muscular."

Lu Anzhi looked at her smooth, fair arms. "You wouldn’t have guessed."

Zhang Suxin said nothing, her expression still a little sour, perhaps still resenting Lu Anzhi for killing off Xiami.

But little Qianqian paid no attention to the adults’ mood. Once in Lu Anzhi’s arms, she giggled like a little fool.

Her tiny hand gripped his arm, warm and plump, feeling strangely comforting.

"Mu ah!"

Suddenly, the little girl kissed Lu Anzhi’s cheek.

Lu Anzhi was momentarily stunned.

Qianqian then tilted her head back slightly and said, "Oops, sorry!"

Lu Anzhi touched his cheek and couldn’t help but laugh.

He had just returned from traveling and hadn’t shaved yet. The few stiff whiskers had pricked the little girl.

"Does it hurt?" he asked softly, his voice unconsciously tender.

Qianqian shook her head. "No."

Lu Anzhi smiled and gently ruffled her hair.

Soon after, Zhang Suxin took Qianqian back.

The little girl seemed reluctant to leave, and Lu Anzhi felt the same.

"Say goodbye to Daddy," Zhang Suxin said, shaking Qianqian’s little hand.

"Goodbye," Qianqian said, placing her hand near her mouth and blowing Lu Anzhi a flying kiss. "Mu ah!"

Lu Anzhi couldn’t help but smile again and asked Zhang Suxin, "Did you teach her that?"

Zhang Suxin shook her head. "No. I don’t know where she learned it."

(End of Chapter)