Chapter 19: Sci-Fi Fermentation
**Chapter 19: Sci-Fi Fermentation**
"Hello, hello~"
Lin Qingshan picked up the phone, seeing the caller ID as "Ito Ayumi."
After all, the only person who would call him was Ito Ayumi.
"Mr. Qingshan! Congratulations! This time, 'Edge Runner' has reached 12th place in the popularity survey! Currently, it ranks first among the four entries in the Newcomer Grand Prix."
Ito Ayumi's excited voice came through the phone.
Lin Qingshan turned over lazily on his bed and said, "Ah, that's really great news~"
He was currently flipping through a manga volume.
From the tone of Ito Ayumi's voice, it was clear she was excited, but her words revealed that Lin Qingshan seemed indifferent and nonchalant about it.
She knew Lin Qingshan was not taking this matter seriously.
Ito Ayumi felt a bit helpless but understood that Lin Qingshan had always been this unmotivated person.
"Ito-san, since it's something to be happy about, how about we celebrate this weekend?"
Lin Qingshan thought for a moment and added.
In fact, he was using this opportunity to find a reason to invite Ito Ayumi over as a dinner companion.
More importantly, Ito Ayumi was a very well-behaved person.
The last time they had a meal at Lin Qingshan's rental apartment, she even offered to wash the dishes and pots herself.
For someone like Lin Qingshan, who didn't want to wash dishes after a meal, this was fantastic! He was the type who preferred paying money rather than putting in effort.
He might be enthusiastic about cooking, but he was reluctant to do the tedious work of washing dishes and pots.
In his previous life, he even bought a dishwasher, but it seemed that dishwashers were not yet widespread in this world.
"Ah?"
Ito Ayumi was a bit surprised, but she nodded and said, "Well... okay then."
"Also, due to the rising popularity of 'Edge Runner' and feedback from readers, there might be a few text interviews for you to answer next time."
She added.
"It's not a special interview, just a few questions. I'll send them to you later, and you can answer them next time."
Ito Ayumi explained.
"I see..."
Lin Qingshan had no problem with it. "Alright, it's just a small matter."
"Sorry for the inconvenience."
"Not at all."
""Translator: sauron""
---
As a serialized manga, 'Edge Runner' could not instantly gain widespread recognition.
In simple terms, the popularity of serialized manga is still far less compared to anime, games, and other forms.
However, the initial chapters of 'Edge Runner' drew attention from manga fans who favored science fiction due to its "cyberpunk" concept, which had never appeared in this world, and its bold sci-fi setting.
In a group chat named "Magic City Sci-Fi Enthusiasts ①" on QQ, which was a large group of sci-fi fans with around 2000 members. Despite frequent exits of old members, new ones joined, so the number remained roughly the same.
Even during work hours, many members were chatting idly.
**King of Force:** "The premiere of 'Jurassic Park 2' is on the first of next month. Anyone want to join me?"
**Online Romance Victim:** "Force, did you get the premiere tickets? Damn!"
**Black Hole Gravity:** "He's just showing off that he got the tickets, damn it!"
**King of Force:** "Haha, I prepared three months in advance just to get those tickets."
**Science Guy:** "Not really, premiere tickets are hard to get. I got tickets for the next day."
**Man Is Tired:** "I'm so envious. 'Jurassic Park 2' seems to be well-received in North America. It should be as good as the first one."
**Online Romance Victim:** "It depends on the special effects. The first one had the original team, so the plot should be fine. Just see how the special effects of this sequel are after three years."
**Black Hole Gravity:** "If only we had Hollywood-level special effects. The effects in domestic sci-fi movies are really eye-watering."
**King of Force:** "Bullshit. It's not just a special effects issue; there aren't any good sci-fi works."
**Man Is Tired:** "That's true. I feel that our country's sci-fi works are all about fantasy, and many sci-fi works are just fantasy under a sci-fi guise."
**Man Is Tired:** "Damn it, even interstellar travel has become a thing."
**Science Guy:** "Indeed, there is too little hard sci-fi. It's all fantasy or magical realism. But I recently came across a good work."
**Science Guy:** "It's a manga, still serializing, called 'Cyberpunk 2077: Edge Runner.'"
**Black Hole Gravity:** "A manga... I'm not really interested."
**Online Romance Victim:** "With such a long name and being a manga, it won't be another one of those fantasy mangas disguised as sci-fi, right?"
**King of Force:** "Hey, why mention 'Star Wars'? What's wrong with 'Star Wars'?"
**Science Guy:** "No, it's different from 'Star Wars'. It's set in a future world, and the setting is really hard and novel."
**Science Guy:** "Brain-machine interfaces, cybernetic enhancements, virtual super dreams... it's really daring, probably more so than anything in the West."
**Man Is Tired:** "Cybernetic enhancements are just modifications, nothing new, right?"
**Science Guy:** "You'll know once you see it. These enhancements are different from typical modifications, and the brain-machine interface is truly innovative."
**Galaxy Empire Private:** "I think I've seen this before, at a magazine stand. It's quite good."
**Online Romance Victim:** "Okay, I'll check it out. What magazine was it in?"
**Science Guy:** "Manga World Gogo. It's a newcomer's work, but it seems quite promising."
**Online Romance Victim:** "I'll check it out. But if you're lying, you're dead."
**Man Is Tired:** "+1"
**King of Force:** "+2"
**Black Hole Gravity:** "+10086"
---
Zhou Wenwei took a sip of the milk tea beside him and stretched.
"Wenwei, have you finished the module you're responsible for?"
His supervisor walked up and asked.
Zhou Wenwei quickly switched to the code page on his Tab and said, "Almost done, I'll upload it tonight."
"Okay."
The supervisor didn't think much of it and hurriedly left.
Zhou Wenwei sighed in relief.
He was a pure IT guy, with a huge interest in science and technology from a young age, so he majored in computer science in college and became a programmer after graduation.
He also had a strong liking for sci-fi works, particularly hard sci-fi.
So, he had just recommended 'Edge Runner' in the group.
"The latest issue of 'Edge Runner' is in English as 'Edge Runner,' but what does 'cyberpunk' really mean?"
He suddenly thought of this and muttered to himself.
(End of Chapter)