After deciding to write a novel, Lin Zichen spent the next few days working out how to start it.
For the setting, he could just use the real world.
As for the plot, he'd piece together bits from all the novels he'd read in his previous life, along with some everyday experiences he'd shared with Shen Qinghan.
The only part worth thinking over was how to design the female lead.
For now, he'd make her a genius.
But what about her personality?
He couldn't just copy Shen Qinghan, could he?
A genius wouldn't be such a coward.
Lin Zichen spent an entire week thinking over the character designs.
Finally, one quiet night, he settled on the personalities of the male and female leads.
Male lead: handsome, weak, but a real bastard—sly, treacherous, shameless, lecherous, and always taking advantage of his childhood-sweetheart heroine.
Female lead: a genius, tsundere, with a good moral compass and a bit of a stubborn streak. She seemed aloof on the surface, but deep down, she longed for the male lead's affection.
The main plot: The male lead starts out weak and relies on the protection of his childhood-sweetheart heroine while he quietly grows stronger. Eventually, he surpasses her in strength and protects her in turn. Along the way, their feelings deepen, and the lovers end up together.
It was a cliché story, one many readers were already tired of.
But the good thing was that it was easy to write. He didn't need to think up a plot at all; he could just sit at his computer and hammer out whatever came to mind.
Once he'd settled on the leads' personalities, Lin Zichen immediately began typing the opening.
After about three hours, he had written a 6,000-word opening. He posted it straight to the website, then