Chapter 50 - 45: Youth is Wonderful

In 2013, starting to write novels was somewhat late, but Zhou Yuwen had fought through the online literature circle, he still had the talent. With many works from this world not yet appearing, he thought integrating them a bit would easily earn him a few million.

He briefly checked the novel rankings on the novel website. In 2013, fantasy still dominated, though it was already declining. Zhou Yuwen wanted to write fantasy too, given the potential for TV adaptations to make money later, but unfortunately, he could only write urban stories. His writing was loose, and he wasn’t good at planning plots. The only area he might be good at was character development.

In his previous life, he had fortunately made a breakthrough with a single work, making Su Qing regret divorcing him for a while. She thought Zhou Yuwen would go further and further in the novel circle, as she didn’t understand the industry.

Thinking back, Zhou Yuwen had earned millions from just his first novel. He was surrounded by people praising him, saying he would soon become a legendary figure. Su Qing believed it to be true, feeling she had missed out on sharing in Zhou Yuwen’s success and kept pestering him to remarry.

Actually, Zhou Yuwen’s path in online literature wasn’t as smooth as others said. After finishing his first novel, he was out of ideas. It was inevitable; he was not truly skilled in writing novels. He had just mildly adapted things he had experienced, never expecting them to suddenly become so popular.

Now, having been reborn, he sat with his mind blank, unsure what to write. He couldn’t just redo his previous works; it was unnecessary. After all, Zhou Yuwen’s novels were mostly about getting women, and though such works were popular among readers, they couldn’t escape being banned.

Since he had been reborn, he at least ought to achieve the honor of becoming a grandmaster.

So, he pondered for a long time.

Zhou Yuwen decided on a plot: about a successful, carefree middle-aged man who had just returned from a party and was driving home.

Then, he was hit by a truck at a turn.

When he opened his eyes next, he found himself back in his high school days.

There, he met his childhood sweetheart from high school.

Then in college, he met his "White Moonlight".

In this process, initiating intense dramatic conflicts, hitting two hundred thousand words would be no problem.

Once he had settled on the theme, writing became easier. Zhou Yuwen had seen this plot before and remembered many of the scenes. Relying on his writing skills, he swiftly rewrote it.

There wouldn’t be any problems.

Of course, the most important thing in writing novels now was the gimmick.

.

For starters, release four thousand words and then in the comment section, write, "Cough! It’s my first time writing on this website, I don’t know the rules here. After signing a contract, I will update twenty thousand words a day, otherwise I’ll cut off my little brother xgg."

Of course, writing novels now was not just about gimmicks; it also depended on your financial power.

In his previous life, Zhou Yuwen suffered from a lack of culture. Initially, he knew nothing about writing and thought as long as he wrote well, "fine wine needs no bush", and he would make money regardless.

Actually, he needed to invest and keep himself at the top of every chart. How could he fear no viewers then?

That day, although Zhou Yuwen promoted his novel with bells and whistles, he updated only four thousand words. A thirty-year-old experienced man, his writing indeed showed a depth those young novices crossing the river by feeling the stones couldn’t match. In just the opening two chapters, he vividly defined the images of the protagonist and his childhood sweetheart.

That year, the novel website’s traffic was still good, not yet manipulated by capital interests. Newly published books could still be seen by organic traffic, and quite a few people stumbled upon Zhou Yuwen’s published novel.

Seeing that the author would cut his little gg, someone immediately commented, "Holy crap, this novel’s author is so hardcore!" and clicked to take a look.

The result? They couldn’t stop after they started.

Holy crap, just two chapters in and it was so good, mainly because Zhou Yuwen’s protagonist was completely different from the popular ones at the time.

Back in 2013, popular protagonists were mostly shameless, meek characters who couldn’t move when they saw a woman, going up and slobbering all over them messily.

And then the female lead would tremble and blush.

Zhou Yuwen’s protagonist clearly seemed written by someone experienced.

Fantastic, anticipation had already begun.

"Guys! I’ve found a great book. The author says he’ll update twenty thousand words a day or else he’ll cut his little gg!"

"Is that true? That’s intense. What if he doesn’t actually have a little gg?"

"Just four thousand words, what the hell! Seems like the author is a real tj!"

In another readers’ group:

"Guys! Check this out, there’s a true eunuch writing!"

"Holy crap, is that real? Let’s see, let’s see!"

The internet works like that, a phrase repeated three times inevitably gets twisted, but it doesn’t matter. As long as the traffic comes, why bother about the rest?

The first day, without any promotion, it got two hundred favorites.

This was absolutely unprecedented in the history of novel writing. You see, even in Zhou Yuwen’s previous life, the number of favorites on the first day was only in single digits.

Taking advantage of the free time he had, Zhou Yuwen wrote several more chapters to save for later.

The next day, during military training, he continued to take leave and went out to sell campus cards.

Zheng Yanyan also took leave with Zhou Yuwen, but the two of them only chatted briefly.

Now Chang Hao, being the class monitor, definitely couldn’t take any leave, diligently and responsibly helping the instructor to complete the tasks.

After three days like this, they welcomed the first weekend of university.

During military training, weekends weren’t holidays, but there were open hours in the evening, from five thirty to nine o’clock when they could leave the school gate to purchase supplies.

Only living necessities were allowed, no snacks or drinks allowed in the campus!

If caught, there would be a penalty!

Failure in military training would be reported!

These words were just to scare them. In the beginning, it was taken very seriously, but by graduation, the school would find ways to let everyone graduate!

Of course, these words still had some deterrent effect on current college students.

Since they couldn’t bring stuff in, they could only eat their fill outside!

That day, Li Qiang and the others were particularly excited because Chang Hao was taking him to eat in Toronto and also to mingle with pretty girls!

Zhou Yuwen was actually indifferent. He certainly knew he was going to meet his ex-wife, but he really couldn’t pass up the meal in Toronto—what a waste it would be not to eat when there was seafood.

Chang Hao even teased Zhou Yuwen, appearing not to like Su Qing, yet his body was very honest.

Zhou Yuwen replied, "I can’t help it, I can’t get over Zheng Yanyan!"

"Man, Zheng Yanyan doesn’t fancy you, give up!"

"Well, she doesn’t fancy you either, why don’t you give up?"

College roommates really could become close friends quickly. It had been less than a week since Zhou Yuwen and Chang Hao met, but their relationship was already very good, after all, there were past life relationships here.

When they were about to leave, Chang Hao was spraying perfume, applying gel, and had put on new clothes.

Li Qiang was not to be outdone, although he didn’t have as many accessories as Chang Hao.

But what belonged to a roommate was his too.

Watching Chang Hao use something, he would pick it up and ask, "Brother Hao, what’s this?"

"Country bumpkin, this is facial cleanser, you haven’t seen it before, have you?"

"What’s this, isn’t this for girls?"

"Countryside!"

"Hey, let me use it!"

"Man, you’ve squeezed out too much, this is from Innisfree!"

Listening to the two bicker, a familiar scene reappeared, and Zhou Yuwen looked out the window.

September, five in the afternoon, the sun had set, but the sky was particularly blue.

Outside the window, the treetops of camphor trees covered a small patch of the clear blue sky.

A cool breeze was blowing.

In the dorm, Chang Hao frowned and said, "Why use so much? You don’t have a girlfriend!"

"Hey, you never know, maybe Shen Yu will fall for me!"

All of this was mundane yet ordinary.

Youth, truly wonderful.