Avoiding eye contact wasn't Lu Qing's fault; it was just that he really couldn't manage to maintain eye contact with his otaku roommate for more than 5 seconds.
So, Wen Le understood everything.
Realizing the full situation, he stopped being aggressive and simply patted his good friend on the shoulder, sighing, "Dude, I wish you happiness."
"……"
Unlike mindlessly tipping virtual streamers, if Lu Qing really did "box" Hoshizuki Rina and was willing to spend money on her, then the essence of this matter had already risen from 2.5D to 3D. It was a conscious and rational active investment, where you knew the product information and made a clear decision, rather than blindly paying a full deposit without even knowing what the product looked like.
— That's called "opening a blind box," and nine out of ten times, it's a scam, with the remaining one leading to PTSD.
Because you might end up with a guy.
…
The silent Wen Le was terrifying, standing in the corridor without saying a word.
Lu Qing tried to gauge his mental state, but just a second of simple role-playing made him feel the pain.
Dragging your best friend to watch his favorite VTB, only for him to "box" the person behind the avatar and even plan to become her top supporter… All of that was bearable, but once the VTB actually "graduates," you'd experience that feeling of being a stray dog all over again, raw and unsolvable.
Was this the fate of a weeb?
It hurts, too much!
Lu Qing thought to himself.
Actually, after Su Ling actively offered to provide support for the female lead's image, he had also considered whether to base the character on his sister.
But after much deliberation, he still felt that their relationship was a bit complicated, especially the way she looked at him and her sometimes subtle actions, which all exuded a dangerous aura…
In contrast, after getting to know Bai Xing better, Lu Qing found that her current situation, her values, the internal conflicts she faced, and her goals she was striving to achieve, everything about her was perfectly suited to be the heroine.
She was unique, kind and lovely, strong yet fragile, with an almost bipolar contrast between her appearance and her inner self.
This multi-layered complexity had already formed a perfect arc over time, requiring no additional embellishments from the author, as it was already perfect as is.
Such a character is the dream of most creators, an ideal subject to observe. Lu Qing wanted to delve deeper, to understand, to empathize, to magnify her beauty and convey it, so that more people could resonate with her.
He knew that in this world, there are souls that are inherently radiant.
No matter where they go, they shine, drawing the eyes of others.
Bai Xing was such a presence.
If he didn't make her the core of the story and instead chose Su Ling, he would likely get stuck in the complexities of their sibling relationship, unable to move forward, easily falling into a self-imposed trap.
"Su Ling being willing to serve as the prototype for the heroine's image and let me observe her closely is already very rare, especially since this is something I can't get from Bai Xing. So, as long as I can make the two complement each other and gather enough material, I can move the new book to the next stage."
His plan was extremely clear.
First, establish the character, then write a backstory, and with a backstory, create illustrations. With illustrations in hand, the heroine's image would become more vivid, allowing the author to write with inspiration and creativity.
"It's clear that Su Ling shouldn't be a problem, as long as I can handle Bai Xing's situation well, the next step would be to assign the work to Lubia. Hopefully, he can create a character design that will truly impress me."
He muttered to himself.
Time passed quickly.
At noon, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
Wen Le walked towards the end of the corridor, still in a gloomy mood, showing no intention of returning to the dorm with Lu Qing.
When asked where he was going, the guy replied, "To that maid cafe you didn't like last time. I need to be alone."
"……"
Although he didn't know who "being alone" was, it was clear from today's events that his roommate had built a mental wall between them.
Lu Qing felt a headache coming on, but he couldn't reveal the truth, as Bai Xing's identity was highly sensitive and couldn't be disclosed; his writing and research activities were also not something he could easily talk about, as it could lead to social death. So, for now, he could only wait for the right opportunity to slowly explain everything to Wen Le.
Others didn't matter, but Wen Le was a decent guy, and Lu Qing didn't want to owe him anything.
Soon, the two parted ways at the bottom of the teaching building. Lu Qing walked alone to the secluded bench in the school's lakeside garden.
"By the way, Bai Xing seems to have skipped class again this morning. Although the teacher didn't take attendance, skipping so close to the limit, is that really okay?"
The fact that she had skipped 80% of her classes four times was no longer a secret.
Compared to her failing grades, he was more worried about her mental state.
The aftermath of last night's live stream incident was still lingering, and he imagined she couldn't just rest easily, especially without anyone to accompany her. Would she become even more reclusive?
Lu Qing thought this was a problem.
At this point, he took out his phone, found the profile picture of "Rina," and decided to check in on the girl.
"Bai Xing, are you there?"
He sent a message.
To his surprise, the reply came quickly, showing "the other party is typing."
"What's up, senior?"
The tone was suspicious.
"Why didn't you return my coat? Did you forget?"
When chatting, starting with a matter-of-fact topic can significantly lower the other party's guard.
Especially when the facts are in your favor.
Lu Qing knew this trick well.
Sure enough, Bai Xing paused for a long time before replying somewhat awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I forgot. Is it cold for you, senior? I'll bring it over later."
It was clear that her mood was low, far from the lively, playful, and slightly mischievous vibe she had shown in previous conversations.
Lu Qing's lips curled into a smile. "No rush, you can return it whenever you want. I just wanted to remind you that Professor Liu's class this afternoon is one where she definitely takes attendance."
Bai Xing: "……"
After a moment of silence, the girl reluctantly replied, "Got it, I'll be there."
Indeed.
Her reaction showed that she had suffered a significant blow, and if not for his inquiry, she might not have even considered coming to class this afternoon.
If he wasn't mistaken, the cause of her lifeless eyes was either her grandmother's illness or her source of income. The former hadn't reached the chemotherapy stage yet, so it was temporarily ruled out, which left the latter as the root of the problem.
"I guess I was right."
Lu Qing pondered how to pull the girl out of her predicament without hurting her, while also obtaining the "payment" he deserved from her.
As a cunning author, although he might not be able to outwit those at the peak of their game, he was quite confident in achieving his goals through some sleight of hand and indirect means, especially when his intentions were clear.
"Maybe today, I should let her taste a bit of sweetness?"
He thought to himself, deciding not to reply to her message.
Time quickly moved to the afternoon class.
Fifteen minutes after the bell rang, the girl arrived late.
Today, she looked extremely disheveled, far from the level of her appearance during their last meeting over the weekend.
Her hair was a mess, she wasn't wearing makeup, and she hid her face with a hat and mask, not even spraying perfume.
Of course, she still smelled nice.
She wore a fluffy knitted hoodie, loose and easy to slip on in a second.
Judging by her empty hands, it was clear she hadn't brought his coat with her.
Either she had forgotten, or she had left in a hurry.
"Senior."
"Mhm."
The same seats, a different relationship.
Lu Qing stood up to let her sit inside, while he resisted the urge to get too close and observe her face, instead sitting down and continuing to scribble in his notebook.
"?"
As expected, Bai Xing glanced over after sitting down, showing some interest.
"What are you writing?"
She asked.
Although her entire world had collapsed since last night, not eating or drinking and staying up all night in extreme fatigue… none of that stopped her from still having a strong interest in Lu Qing and a persistent desire to explore him.
"Writing a proposal."
Lu Qing said casually, his expression calm.
"The proposal?"
"Yeah, the proposal for the new project."
He deliberately made his work sound high-end, leaving the girl in a daze. After thinking for a while, she finally reacted and asked, "Is it something like a business plan?"
"Yeah."
"You can do business plans too, senior?"
She opened her little mouth, full of curiosity.
"Yeah, I'm almost a junior now, so I need to plan ahead for after graduation. I've always been interested in writing, so I occasionally take on some planning or copywriting jobs to earn some extra cash."
Seeing her expression growing serious, Lu Qing's heart stirred, and he continued to bait her.
"But these jobs aren't very stable, so I didn't stick with them. I just did them in my spare time as a hobby until recently when I decided to pick it up again."
"Senior, do you... are you interested in writing scripts or show proposals?"
Somehow, Bai Xing seemed to grasp at a lifeline, her breathing quickening as she asked.
"Scripts? What kind of scripts? I'm good at writing dialogue for novels, but for show scripts... it depends on the type of show."
Lu Qing pretended to think, speaking in a slightly unsure tone.
This time, it was Bai Xing who perked up.
She turned her head slightly, carefully observing Lu Qing's expression to make sure he wasn't bragging. Then, she stealthily glanced at the notebook with her peripheral vision.
In the next moment...
Her pupils dilated.
The words "VTB Debut Premiere" were boldly written in the center of the page, with a detailed flowchart laid out below it in a mind-map format...
Such professionalism would likely earn a thumbs-up from even the copywriters at her own agency after reviewing it.
— Someone who hadn't deeply immersed themselves in the V-tuber community wouldn't be able to divide the show's pacing so perfectly.
Even the comments the shills were supposed to post at each timing point were written out.
"Senior... may I ask, this job of yours...?"
Bai Xing pointed timidly at the notebook.
"Oh, this? It's a small job I took on the fly. Someone wanted me to plan for a new V-tuber's debut. The character is a voice actress catgirl. I thought she was pretty cute, so I took it. After all, it's just for money, nothing to be ashamed of."
Lu Qing smiled warmly, seemingly unintentionally pushing the notebook closer to the girl's eyes.
"!"
This time, Bai Xing glanced quickly and was shocked to find that his designs almost perfectly matched her own live streaming situation!
Even the character's catchphrases were similar to her own!
"Senior, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"Do you... do you watch V-tuber streams often?"
The girl lowered her voice, trying to probe indirectly.
"Yes, I do."
Lu Qing didn't lie, his expression very open. "And to be honest, I only watch one person's streams."
"Hmm? Only one person's streams?"
Bai Xing's pupils shrank, thinking she might have misunderstood, and subconsciously wanted to confirm.
"Yes, only hers."
"?!"
Hearing this, the girl couldn't stay calm.
She immediately turned her head away and, with her ears perked up, asked in an even smaller voice, "Who... who is it?"
"Why do you ask? Do you watch her too?"
Lu Qing started to act shamelessly.
"No... it's just that I... I might be a bit short on money recently... and I heard that doing this is quite... easy to make money... so I thought of asking around, and I didn't expect senior to be involved in this circle too."
She was a bit incoherent, realizing her heartbeat was accelerating, and quickly steered the topic back—
"Anyway, just tell me, who do you only watch? Including real-life streams, right?"
"Right. I never watch real-life streams, only one V-tuber's streams. I'm not afraid you'll laugh or think I'm some otaku or something, so I'll just say it—the V I like is Hoshizuki Rina."
"! Like...?"
"Yes."
Lu Qing slightly raised his head, his eyes filled with admiration. "Her voice is exceptionally beautiful, the kind that can make you fall into a fantasy at first listen. Oh, and she's a voice actress, so her skills are top-notch, definitely not just a pretty face.
And she's very cute, incredibly cute.
Although I've only watched her stream three times, every smile she had left a deep impression on me. It made me think that the girl behind the screen must also be someone who, in real life, brings comfort and healing energy.
It's just a pity that last night, during her stream, something happened... and she was flamed by some extreme fans, which really broke my heart."
"Why... why do you feel heartbroken?"
"Because I can sense that she must be very tired, very exhausted. Even in that state, she still tried her best to smile, wanting to give everyone warmth.
Sigh. Despite working so hard, she still couldn't be understood by everyone and faced a barrage of verbal attacks. I can't stand seeing such things happen, especially to someone I like."
"Someone you like..."
"Yes."
Lu Qing shook his head, his face filled with worry. "I don't know if she's doing okay today, but I was thinking, if only I could do something for her. But as you can see, I don't know much about this circle, and the only streamer I've watched is her.
So, I thought I'd pick up planning in my spare time, hoping that if I could become reliable, someday I could personally plan for Rina-chan. That would be so fulfilling. That's why I took on this job, planning to..."
"Hmm? Bai Xing, why are you blushing?
Why do you look like you're about to bleed from your face?
Are you feeling feverish?"
...
...