Always Quiet

Li Changle felt a little helpless. Ever since this woman had gotten drunk last night, she'd been acting strangely. Even after sobering up...

She still seemed drunk. She kept acting all pitiful, and sometimes she even flirted with him!

Couldn't she stop to consider whether he could handle it?

"The latest chapters are on the Chinese Web Novel Platform app. Just read them there."

Li Changle replied without looking up.

But Wang Siyi pointed at the latest chapter on his computer.

"I want to read that one!"

"Hey, don't mess around. I need to write and build up my chapter buffer."

"You've already saved up a hundred chapters. I don't care—I want to read it!"

Wang Siyi wasn't just acting coy now; she was getting unreasonable, too. Li Changle felt like his head was about to split.

What was wrong with this woman? Couldn't she stop with the antics and go back to being the aloof goddess she used to be?

"I'm saving these chapters for a reason. If I go traveling later, I won't have time to write."

"What!? You're going traveling?"

Wang Siyi was shocked. If this guy went traveling, what would she do? Her foot hadn't healed yet, and who else would cook for her?

Then she suddenly remembered the dream she'd had at noon. If he left, what was the point of her staying here...

"Come on, don't get so worked up. I didn't say I was leaving now. I'm just thinking about it. I'll decide when to go later..."

"Oh, I see..."

Wang Siyi breathed a sigh of relief. But she still couldn't feel happy. If he left, what would she do...

She'd be back to those days when no one cared about her, and she'd never get to drink that delicious chicken soup again...

Li Changle saw that Wang Siyi was in a bad mood and assumed it was because of the plot of Legend of Sword and Fairy.

Women were such a hassle. He didn't know what to do with her.

"Give me your phone."

He mimicked the way Wang Siyi had asked him for his phone last time.

Wang Siyi froze. She had no idea why he wanted her phone, and his tone sounded strangely familiar.

Then she remembered. Wasn't that exactly how she'd spoken to him last time?

He was definitely doing it on purpose. What a jerk. Still, she handed him her phone.

Li Changle downloaded the Chinese Web Novel Platform writer's assistant app onto Wang Siyi's phone, then logged into his account.

He could access his saved chapters on the phone, so he could let her read there while he wrote on his computer. That way, she wouldn't interrupt him.

Li Changle gave himself a mental pat on the back for being so clever.

Wang Siyi stared blankly at the Chinese Web Novel Platform app on her phone. He trusted her that much? Wasn't he worried she'd publish all his saved chapters or delete them?

She glanced at the author name on the screen. This guy had actually chosen Li Xiaoyao as his pen name. What a shameless man. Hmph.

"Remember, just read the novel. Don't hit publish or delete, okay? That could be a disaster..."

Li Changle knew Wang Siyi wouldn't do something like that, but there was always the chance she might hit the wrong button. That would be a catastrophe.

Wang Siyi nodded and began reading seriously. She was probably the second person on the entire internet to know the latest plot of Legend of Sword and Fairy 1...

Just thinking about it made her happy, and she forgot all about her earlier mood.

Later, Li Xiaoyao found Ling'er, and Ling'er learned that she wasn't a snake demon, but a Descendant of Nuwa.

Then the main characters met. As they talked about the future, Wang Siyi felt as if she were right there with them.

I, Li Xiaoyao, will become the greatest hero under heaven! I'll fight for the weak and make my name live on through the ages!

I, Lin Yueru, will make Lin Family Fort the greatest clan under heaven! I'll be its leader, and I'll compete for first place with that jerk!

I, Zhao Ling'er, will make sure every citizen of Nanzhao Kingdom lives happily forever!

I, Liu Jinyuan, will lay down my life to help His Majesty restore the Tang Dynasty Empire.

I, Tang Yu, will defend my country with the same fierce loyalty as my adoptive father.

I, Anu, will be happy and eat every day...

At this point, everything seemed so beautiful and perfect to Wang Siyi.

But as the story went on, Wang Siyi's happiness soon faded...

The smile slowly disappeared. [JPG]

Anu was buried underground, Ling'er was imprisoned in the Demon Locking Tower, and Liu Jinyuan's wife, Cai Die, turned into a butterfly to save him. Liu Jinyuan was taken away, and then Lin Yueru died beneath the Demon Locking Tower...

Wang Siyi burst into tears, murmuring:

"How could this happen? Why did Yueru have to die..."

Good question! Why did Lin Yueru have to die? Li Changle didn't know, either.

"Why would you write something like this? It hurts so much to read..."

"It's supposed to hurt!"

"???"

Wang Siyi looked utterly confused.

Li Changle glanced at Wang Siyi, then awkwardly explained, "Lin Yueru's role is a tricky one. She loves Li Xiaoyao, but no matter what he does—even if he loves her too—he's already married Ling'er. And Li Xiaoyao and Ling'er truly love each other. So having Yueru die to save Ling'er makes sense, and it gives her character more depth..."

Li Changle didn't know how else to explain it, so he just gave her his own take.

Wang Siyi nodded thoughtfully, seeming to agree with what he'd said.

At last, she felt a little calmer. This novel was so good. How did his mind work? His writing was captivating. She'd really cried when she saw Lin Yueru die.

It was the first time she'd ever cried over a fictional character. If she'd reacted like that, there was no telling how other readers would take it.

She gave Li Changle a deep look, then suddenly thought of something.

Your novel seems like a tragedy. Is the ending going to be awful, too?

"Well..."

Li Changle looked conflicted. He felt like he shouldn't spoil it.

"Is it really going to be a tragedy?"

Wang Siyi asked uncertainly.

"Mm... Strictly speaking, this novel does have a tragic ending..."

"How tragic? Lin Yueru dying wasn't enough?"

"No..."

Li Changle answered, bracing himself.

"You're not going to kill Ling'er, too, are you?"

Wang Siyi asked half-jokingly.

Then she saw the conflicted look on Li Changle's face, as if he were trying to figure out how to answer her...

Wang Siyi's heart tightened. Was this guy really planning to kill off the heroine, too?

"Does Ling'er really die at the end?"

Wang Siyi asked uncertainly.

"Mm... But I can explain—"

"What about the Wine Sword Immortal, Liu Jinyuan, Anu, and Tang Yu Xiaobao?"

Wang Siyi ignored him and threw out another killer question.

"Ah... Well..."

Why had she happened to name the characters who all ended up dead...

Wang Siyi immediately knew the answer. Despair filled her heart. There was no point to life.

"Just tell me who's still alive. Is Li Xiaoyao the only one left? Or are you planning to kill him off, too..."

"Not quite. Li Xiaoyao definitely won't die. Strictly speaking, Yiru survives, too. Oh, Yiru is Li Xiaoyao and Ling'er's daughter..."

Hearing that, Wang Siyi felt that she never should have read this novel. Anyone who finished it probably wouldn't recover for ten days or half a month.

And she'd learned the ending in advance.

Wang Siyi stomped back to bed, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at Li Changle.

"Go to hell!"

Her chest felt tight. She was miserable. If only she hadn't read those hundred chapters!

Watching Wang Siyi sit there sulking, and feeling the pillow that had just smacked him in the back of the head, Li Changle felt a little wronged.

He really shouldn't have spoiled it...

People who spoiled stories never got a good ending...

He couldn't focus on writing now. Wang Siyi sat there, and whenever Li Changle looked over, she turned her head away so he couldn't see her.

Great, she was mad. Women were such a hassle. She'd been the one who wanted to know what happened, but now that she knew, she was upset—and somehow it was his fault.

He'd even told her that spoilers were a bad idea!

Since he couldn't focus on writing, he suddenly thought of something and hurried out.

Wang Siyi watched him leave. She had no idea where he was going. She wanted to follow him, but her foot was injured.

She was just about to get up and see what he was doing when Li Changle came back into the room with a guitar. Was he going to play it?

"What are you doing? Can you even play guitar?"

"Underestimating me, are you? I studied guitar in college and even had a band..."

He said it with a smug look.

Wang Siyi hadn't expected Li Changle to play guitar. Before, she'd thought he was a musical novice, since he hadn't even recognized her...

"When did you buy that guitar?"

Wang Siyi asked in surprise. The guitar hadn't been in the room before. It wasn't the one she usually used, either, and it looked brand-new.

"I bought it before you left last time. I was planning to try writing a song, but the guitar hadn't arrived yet when you left..."

"You can write songs, too!?"

Wang Siyi asked in astonishment.

"I told you, don't look down on me. I was in a band in college..."

How many college bands could write good songs? A few, sure, but not many...

Wang Siyi had seen plenty of college bands. Most of them couldn't write their own songs.

Still, hearing that he'd wanted to write a song for her warmed her heart. He'd cared about her even back then, when they'd barely known each other.

"Listen up. I'm going to sing you a song now. I wrote it specifically for Lin Yueru in Legend of Sword and Fairy. I was even planning to use it as an insert song when Legend of Sword and Fairy gets made into a TV series..."

Li Changle muttered defiantly, clearly unhappy that Wang Siyi doubted him.

Wang Siyi couldn't help laughing. He was such a braggart. Never mind whether Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 would ever become a TV show—he was already thinking about the insert song.

"Look at you, acting so impressive. Why don't you just fly to the moon? A song used in a TV show has to be good. Are you really that talented?"

"Of course! Just listen. I'll sing it for you now."

"Sure. I'm listening..."

Li Changle tested the guitar. It was in tune.

He cleared his throat and began to play.

He really could play guitar, and he was pretty good. Wang Siyi played, too, and could tell Li Changle was at least as skilled as she was.

A wistful melody rang out with the gentle guitar, followed by Li Changle's singing.

On this empty street, I long for someone to pour my heart out to

Loneliness is the only company I have as I make this choice

Our love is like a passing scene you glimpse along the way

It keeps moving forward, but your footsteps never stop for me

The love I give you has always been quiet

In return for the occasional care you give me

Though this love story has three people in it

I never get to have a name of my own

You said love was like a cloud