Chapter 136: Original Self and Family

Chapter 136: Original Self and Family

Zhou Wenwei did cast his vote for *Edgerunners*, but he didn't leave any comments on the official website. Why? Simply because he was lazy.

Most internet users are like this—silent for the most part. Only a few are active, posting comments all over the web. Others only speak up when something directly affects them or when a piece of work disgusts them so thoroughly that they can't stay silent.

However, even when silent, the majority still show their preferences and dislikes. For instance, in the manga world, the popularity rankings consistently reflect the opinions of these silent users. If a manga stays at the top of the rankings, no amount of criticism can change the fact that it's a good piece of work.

This time, though, the promotional campaign involving *Edgerunners* and *Chainsaw Man* really caught the attention of these normally silent users. Many of them, like Zhou Wenwei, began eagerly participating in discussions on the official *Chainsaw Man* forum.

In no time, the comments under the official *Chainsaw Man* post had surged to over ten thousand.

"Chainsaw Man is currently an excellent work in many ways, with a completely unique storyline compared to other series. Aoyama-sensei's gorgeous drawing style, outstanding character design, and rather unusual values make it a surprising work in every aspect."

"Although *Chainsaw Man* hasn't reached a particularly impressive point yet, I believe with Aoyama-sensei's skills, it will only get better."

"There are many similarities between *Chainsaw Man* and *Edgerunners*, such as Aoyama-sensei's solid, mature drawing skills that make you feel like you're watching an actual animation. The cinematic and narrative style is something other manga can't quite match."

"From a storytelling perspective, I prefer *Edgerunners*, but *Chainsaw Man* is also quite good. It conveys the idea that an ordinary life can be fulfilling and that dreams, whether grand or humble, are all valid. Unlike other series where the protagonist's goals are often grandiose to the point of being unrealistic, Denji's dreams in *Chainsaw Man* are refreshingly down-to-earth."

Reading through the comments, you can see how hard people try to stand out, hoping to be selected for the prizes. Even though the current *Chainsaw Man* storyline isn't universally liked, fans are willing to exaggerate its merits for a chance at winning.

Zhou Wenwei, too, wrote an elaborate piece of praise for *Edgerunners*. After posting his comment, he clasped his hands together and prayed, "Alright, let's hope I get picked for the beta test!"

Meanwhile, Lin Qingshan was unaware of all this, as he had no involvement in the promotion of either *Edgerunners* or *Chainsaw Man*. He was focused on preparing the single-volume release of *Flame Fist*.

Yang Dahai had already decided that Manga World would help Lin Qingshan publish the single volumes of *Flame Fist*, which would be split into eight volumes, covering the entire 83 chapters of the series. After getting approval from the higher-ups, the layout work began.

This kept him busy for over half a month, and soon, the most important holiday for the Republic and surrounding areas—New Year's Eve—was approaching.

[Translator: sauron]

This would be Lin Qingshan's second year in this world, but he didn't feel much about it. Ever since high school, his life had been somewhat solitary, and New Year's Eve was no different from any other day. If anything, it just seemed a bit livelier at other people's homes.

In his previous life, he hadn't received a New Year's gift in years, except for the occasional red envelope from a group chat or from his boss and senior colleagues after the holidays. But those were after New Year's Eve and didn't really count.

Last year, his first year in this world, wasn't much different from his previous life. But this year was going to be a bit different.

"...Qingshan, why don't you come and spend the New Year with us this year?" came the voice of his cheap uncle, Lin Pinzhang, over the phone. "Our house is quite big. I've already had a room prepared for you."

Lin Qingshan was slightly taken aback. So far, his uncle had been quite good to him, so it didn't feel right to refuse.

"It might not be convenient... I have some work scheduled during the holiday," Lin Qingshan replied, trying to decline politely.

Lin Pinzhang sighed. Although he had successfully reconnected with his nephew Lin Qingshan, they hadn't had much time to bond since then, so it was natural for Lin Qingshan to be a bit distant.

But Lin Pinzhang didn't mind. As long as Lin Qingshan was doing well, he felt he was fulfilling his duty to his late brother. However, he was most concerned about Lin Qingshan's mental state...

He had discussed it again with Gu Qianli, and they concluded that Lin Qingshan might have suffered a head injury, leading to both memory loss and some psychological issues. For instance, his identity recognition disorder in the last psychological report, where he identified himself as a dog and showed clear tendencies toward self-harm and masochism. Considering the results from the brain CT and other evaluations, they couldn't rule out the possibility of his condition worsening into a suicidal depression.

So, Lin Pinzhang had consulted several well-known domestic experts, who were ready to treat Lin Qingshan once he came around. The plan was to bring Lin Qingshan home for the New Year to strengthen family bonds. This way, Lin Qingshan might be more receptive to treatment, achieving better results.

"Work isn't that important," Lin Pinzhang said warmly. "After all, we're family. Just set aside work for now and come spend the New Year with us. You can stay for half a month before going back, or better yet, move your work here and stay longer."

He tried to be as gentle as possible, avoiding the authoritative tone typical of older relatives. He had read online that young people today disliked overbearing elders who pressured them based on seniority, so he wanted to avoid that and hoped Lin Qingshan wouldn't feel too resistant.

"Well... alright then," Lin Qingshan finally agreed. After all, he had taken over the original owner's body, so he felt obligated to fulfill some of its responsibilities.

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**(End of Chapter)**