Chapter 5: Can’t We Be Friends Even After I Rejected You?

On the first day Chen Yuchen's novel was published, the comment section was quiet, with only a few simple messages: "Keep going, looking forward to more!" He stared at the screen, feeling a bit disappointed. But Chen Yuchen knew that to capture readers' hearts in female-oriented novels, a domineering CEO's "mysterious smile" was a surefire way to captivate young female readers.

Sure enough, the next day, Chen Yuchen wrote a scene where the domineering CEO pulled the heroine close. The CEO, impossibly handsome, smiled wickedly and said, "From today on, you're my woman." The comment section exploded.

"More updates, please! I love this part!"

"Oh my god! So sweet, I'm cheering for you!"

In just one day, the comments went from a handful to hundreds, with everyone eagerly discussing the plot and urging him to post more chapters.

Some of the comments made Chen Yuchen laugh: "Are you really a guy? Your writing is so detailed and delicate; you must be a kind-hearted gentleman!"

"Can we be friends? Are you single?"

The internet in 2010 was still filled with a sense of innocence and warmth. People would start conversations with a polite "hello," and end them with courteous goodbyes. This friendly atmosphere made Chen Yuchen feel amused, and it motivated him even more to keep writing.

A few days later, Chen Yuchen was fully immersed in writing female-oriented novels, neglecting his male-oriented story updates. It wasn't that the male novel wasn't doing well, but the reactions from the readers were worlds apart. Male readers often nitpicked: "How can Cai Wenji be in her forties when Xiao Qiao appears? That makes no sense!" Or they would criticize, "This author didn't even learn basic history—did you skip elementary school?"

In contrast, the comments from female readers felt like heaven. Young girls surrounded him with enthusiasm, urging for updates: "Come on, we're dying for the next chapter!" "Do you have a girlfriend? Can we discuss the plot together?" These sweet messages made Chen Yuchen realize that the female novel market might just be his true calling.

By mid-July, his female-oriented novel had surpassed 300,000 words and was featured on the platform's homepage, driving a surge in traffic. Overnight, the comments and fan discussions skyrocketed, and some loyal readers even formed fan groups.

Seeing this, Chen Yuchen went with the flow and created a 500-person fan group, which quickly filled up. Most of the group members were young women, though a few guys had snuck in. Chen Yuchen had an idea and posted a message: "This is a female-novel discussion group, so no boys allowed!" He promptly removed the male members from the chat.

From that moment on, Chen Yuchen's QQ (messaging app) never stopped buzzing. The fan group was constantly active, with female readers not only discussing the plot but also sending him private messages asking to chat.

"Mr. Chen, are you really a guy? Your writing is so delicate!"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

In response to their curiosity, Chen Yuchen, trying to sound mysterious, replied, "Don't overthink it. My kid is already six years old." The group immediately burst into chatter.

"So you're a dàshū (uncle)!" one excited young girl sent a flurry of emoji-filled messages.

At the time, a popular foreign drama called The Prosecutor and His 18-Year-Old Wife had gained traction, and the trend of calling older men "uncle" (dàshū) was starting to catch on in China. Soon, the nickname "uncle" stuck with Chen Yuchen in the fan group. He didn't mind, though—what really mattered to him was how to keep boosting his novel's popularity.

As the story progressed, Chen Yuchen started introducing more dramatic twists. The heroine, after a tragic accident, loses her memory and forgets the male lead, causing their romance to take a tumultuous turn. The fan group exploded again.

"Uncle! How could you make the heroine lose her memory? They were finally together!"

"Yeah! This is too heartbreaking! Uncle, please let them reconcile soon!"

Chen Yuchen simply smiled at these comments, thinking to himself, Without drama, would you still be hooked? If he didn't create some turbulence, how could he keep the readers emotionally invested?

By the end of July, his novel was once again prominently promoted on the platform, and his earnings soared. In July alone, his male-oriented novel brought in 18,000 yuan, while the female-oriented one earned a whopping 42,000 yuan—bringing his total income to 60,000 yuan. This success gave him immense confidence in his future as a writer.

Meanwhile, Chen Yuchen also signed up for driving lessons. Thanks to his driving experience from his previous life, as soon as he sat behind the wheel, the instructor laughed and said, "You've got the skills already. Just take the test—you don't need more practice."

Chen Yuchen laughed and felt nostalgic as he enjoyed the familiar summer scene. The plane trees lined the streets, forming a natural green canopy, while the cicadas sang tirelessly from above. The summer air carried a sense of comfort. Holding a chilled bottle of Coke, Chen Yuchen sat at his computer and continued writing. This was shaping up to be one of the most productive summers of his life.

When his college acceptance letter arrived, he found out he had been placed in an unpopular major: landscape design. His mother suggested he switch to computer science, thinking it would give him better prospects, especially for a government job. But Chen Yuchen didn't care. He knew that college was just a stepping stone; what truly mattered was how he shaped his own future.

Just then, his QQ blinked twice—it was a message from Lin Siyen.

"Are you really not going to retake the exam?"

Chen Yuchen coldly replied, "What's it to you?"

Lin Siyen was taken aback by his response. Ever since that gathering, Chen Yuchen had practically disappeared, never reaching out to her again. All she had done was give him some harsh advice for his own good, and he treated her like this?

"Fine! I won't bother you anymore!" she typed angrily, feeling a mix of frustration and regret. Had she been too harsh?

After waiting a few minutes, seeing no reply, she couldn't help but send another message: "Why aren't you responding?"

"Are you there?"

"Chen Yuchen?"

Still no answer. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Chen Yuchen sent a brief reply: "Aren't you tired of this? You rejected me and still want to control my life?"

"Just because I turned you down, we can't be friends anymore? I didn't realize you were so petty, Chen Yuchen!"