Chapter 73: Daily Chat

**Chapter 73: Daily Chat

As soon as the door opened, Gu Qianli smiled brightly at Lin Qingshan, who stood in the doorway.

At that moment, Lin Qingshan immediately sensed that something was off.

Even Pochita, who was by his side, instantly detected the dangerous aura emanating from Gu Qianli and bristled in response. But it cowered in the corner, too frightened to make a sound.

"You're here early to help again, Ayumi..."

However, in the next moment, Gu Qianli turned to look at Ayumi Itou, who was bringing out a pot of soup, and spoke with a smile.

"Yes, I thought I could help Mr. Qingshan if I came early..." Ayumi Itou nodded as she set down the pot.

Over time, she had become quite familiar with Gu Qianli. She even had Gu Qianli's private phone number, something that even Gu Qianli's three roommates didn't possess. Needless to say, other classmates at Modu Polytechnic couldn't dream of having it.

"Hehe... Let's eat first, let's eat first. I'll go finish making the last of the fried eggplants!" Sensing danger, Lin Qingshan quickly decided to retreat to the kitchen, saying, "The beef jerky salad is ready, Qianli, feel free to start!"

With that, he promptly disappeared into the kitchen to keep himself busy. Although he knew it was only a temporary escape, Lin Qingshan believed in the saying: "Avoidance may be shameful, but it's useful!"

Gu Qianli, seeing his reaction, shook her head with a wry smile. She then turned to Ayumi Itou and said, "Let's watch some TV and chat a bit while we wait for Qingshan to finish cooking."

"Sure, I guess there's not much more I can help with," Ayumi Itou agreed after a moment's thought.

The two women sat on the couch in the living room. The television, an expensive plasma screen that Lin Qingshan had splurged on primarily for gaming, was showing a live-action adaptation of a manga titled *"Kiss of the Little Devil."*

This world, where manga culture thrived, often saw manga being adapted into television dramas. However, due to technological limitations, most adaptations were of shoujo manga, romance stories, or sports series. *"Kiss of the Little Devil,"* a popular shoujo manga about a genius rich boy who falls in love with a clumsy yet kind-hearted girl, was a classic example of a Mary Sue story. Despite its clichéd plot, it remained incredibly popular with young girls.

"This manga is really popular. I heard it's currently the top-rated show," Ayumi Itou commented.

[Translator: sauron]

The manga was from a major publisher but wasn't serialized in *"Manga World Gogo,"* which catered more to male audiences and shonen manga, similar to Lin Qingshan's previous life's *Shonen Jump.*

"I'm not really into this type of manga anymore. It feels... a bit outdated," Gu Qianli remarked, shaking her head.

"So you prefer something more like Mr. Qingshan's *'Edge Runners,'* then?" Ayumi Itou asked, curious.

"Yes, I really like *'Edge Runners,'* but I also read *'Photon Verdict,'* *'Sorcery King,'* *'Zero Time,'* and *'Mortal Celestial.'" Gu Qianli listed some of her favorites.

To be honest, she read all kinds of manga, even those she deemed outdated like *"Kiss of the Little Devil."* But that was in the past; her tastes had changed, and now she preferred male-oriented series.

"Those are all top-notch works..." Ayumi Itou noted. "But Mr. Qingshan is amazing too. His ranking shot up to fourth place last time, which surprised everyone."

Typically, the top eight spots in the popularity rankings were dominated by veteran manga artists with long-established fanbases. It was nearly impossible for a newcomer, especially one publishing their first series, to break into that group. For someone like Lin Qingshan to not only place seventh or eighth but to leap to fourth place was unprecedented. It was nothing short of a miracle.

In the eyes of all the editors, Lin Qingshan was a super rookie with extraordinary talent, akin to a genius cultivator in a wuxia novel—someone with unparalleled insight and an exceptional, monstrous gift.

"Yes, Qingshan is very talented, especially with his latest chapter... It was incredibly impactful..." Gu Qianli said with a smile. She paused, then asked, "Ayumi, have you read the latest chapter of *'Edge Runners'*?"

"I have... Mann and Dorio have exited the stage. I kind of expected it, so... I'm okay with it," Ayumi Itou said, blinking.

"Okay with it?" Gu Qianli was taken aback. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're okay with Mann and Dorio's deaths? You didn't find it... shocking?"

Ayumi Itou thought for a moment. "Well... it's sad, but it was kind of inevitable, right?"

"It might be because of my work. As an editor, when I read the works of the artists I manage, I'm either indifferent or just a little moved," Ayumi Itou explained. "It's like when someone else's child is making noise—you get annoyed. But when it's your own child, you think they're just being lively and it's not as bothersome. That's what the veterans always say. I guess both Mr. Qingshan and I are like that."

Gu Qianli nodded in understanding. "I see..."

At that moment, Lin Qingshan emerged from the kitchen with the finished eggplant fritters. "Um... Let's eat, everyone."

"Okay," both Ayumi Itou and Gu Qianli responded in unison.

As Gu Qianli sat at the dining table, Lin Qingshan braced himself for the scolding he was sure was coming. However, Gu Qianli said nothing, choosing instead to chat about other fun topics with him and Ayumi Itou as they enjoyed their meal.

This left Lin Qingshan completely bewildered.