novelnext Chapter 18: My blind date is a platinum-level author?
Chapter 18: My blind date is a platinum-level author?
At 3:30 p.m. sharp, Chen Mo appeared at the entrance of a coffee shop.
This is a charming independent café with a wooden sign that reads "Corner of Time".
Chen Mo pushed open the door and walked in, the aroma of coffee wafting towards him.
The store wasn't crowded, and soft jazz music was playing.
Chen Mo looked around. According to the information his mother had sent, the other person should be sitting in the third booth by the window.
He walked over and, sure enough, saw a woman's back.
She was wearing a light gray knit sweater, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders, and she was looking down at her phone.
"Hello, may I ask how I am...?"
Chen Mo had just opened his mouth when the woman turned around.
Their eyes met, and both of them froze.
"Is it you?"
"Is it you?"
The two spoke in unison.
Chen Mo looked at the face in front of him. Wasn't this the woman he had accidentally bumped into while jogging that morning?
Wearing glasses, she exudes an intellectual air.
Yes, it's her.
The woman recognized Chen Mo at that moment.
A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, then she laughed.
"What a coincidence?"
"Yes, what a coincidence."
Chen Mo sat down opposite her somewhat awkwardly and said, "I apologize again for what happened this morning."
"fine."
The woman put away her phone and looked Chen Mo up and down, and the awkward atmosphere of the blind date suddenly became much more relaxed.
"Since this is a blind date, let's get to know each other properly."
Although women are there to complete tasks, they shouldn't show it, otherwise it would be disrespectful to the other party.
She extended her hand and said, "My name is Su Xiao, I'm 27 years old, and I'm a freelancer."
"Chen Mo, 30 years old, programmer."
When they shook hands, Chen Mo could feel that the other person's hand was very soft, but it quickly released its grip. He tentatively asked, "You're probably being forced by your family to come here for a blind date, right?"
Why do you think that?
"Because you are very beautiful."
Chen Mo said frankly, "Logically speaking, a woman like you shouldn't lack suitors, so if that's the case, you don't need to worry about me, we can end things anytime."
Upon hearing this, Su Xiao couldn't help but laugh and said, "It seems you were also forced to come by your family."
"We are both wanderers in this world."
Chen Mo joked, "My mom's worried I won't be able to find a wife."
"My mom too."
Su Xiao shook her head and said, "She always thinks that I stay at home all day writing and will grow old alone."
Actually, I think being alone is quite nice; it's free and peaceful.
"Write something?"
Chen Mo asked curiously, "Are you a writer?"
"I guess so, I'm an online writer, someone who writes novels."
Su Xiao casually said, "My pen name is 'Su Xiaotang,' and I write on Qidian's female-oriented platform."
"An online novelist? That's impressive!"
Chen Mo praised, "I've always thought that people who can support themselves through writing are really amazing. When I was in school, I also had a dream of becoming a writer, but it never came to fruition."
"No, I'm just barely making ends meet."
Su Xiao said modestly, but a hint of pride flashed in her eyes.
At that moment, the waiter came over, and the two ordered a coffee.
While waiting for her coffee, Su Xiao spoke up, "Since we're so coincidentally connected, why don't we skip the blind date process today? Let's just meet as friends and chat?"
"That suits me perfectly."
Chen Mo readily agreed, saying, "Anyway, I was just completing a mission so I could explain it to my mom when I get back."
"Me too."
The two looked at each other and smiled, both feeling that the other was very genuine.
After the coffee was served, the conversation became more natural.
Su Xiao is a talkative person, especially when she talks about writing and literature, her eyes sparkle.
Do you usually read novels?
She asked, "Either online novels or physical books are fine."
"Yes, but I read more male-oriented content."
Chen Mo truthfully replied, "I've watched shows like 'Lord of Mysteries' and 'Joy of Life'."
I also read male-oriented novels, but not many.
Su Xiao laughed and said, "After all, the style of our female-oriented content is quite different from that of the male-oriented content."
"I can imagine."
Chen Mo nodded, then, remembering the book he had been reading recently, said, "But I've been reading a physical book lately."
"Oh? What book?"
"Ordinary World"
Chen Mo said, "It's by Lu Yao, three books, quite thick."
"You watch this too?"
Su Xiao was somewhat surprised and casually asked, "Where are you looking? Is Sun Shao-ping still looking for work in Huangyuan?"
"I saw Sun Shao-ping go to the Dayawan Coal Mine."
Chen Mo said, "His younger sister, Lanxiang, got into university, and the family is worried about the tuition fees."
Su Xiao continued, "What do you think of the character Tian Xiaoxia?"
"A very idealized female image."
Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "She is independent, cheerful, and thoughtful, which was rare in that era."
But her relationship with Sun Shao-ping always felt somewhat unreal to me; it was too beautiful, like a dream.
"Do you think they'll end up together?" Su Xiao continued to press.
"Based on Lu Yao's writing style, it's highly unlikely."
Chen Mo himself has a high level of literary talent; otherwise, he wouldn't have been in the literary society in college.
This can be seen from the evaluation attributes given to him by the system.
He began his analysis: "This book is called 'Ordinary World,' and it tells the story of ordinary people's ordinary lives."
Tian Xiaoxia was too outstanding; the gap between her and Sun Shao-ping could not be bridged by love alone.
Therefore, forcing them together would actually undermine the authenticity of the work.
Su Xiao listened quietly, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes.
"What do you think of Sun Shaoan and Tian Runye's relationship?" she asked again.
"More realistic, and more brutal."
Chen Mo said, "Sun Shaoan felt unworthy of Tian Runye because of his family's poverty, so he chose to back down."
This is not cowardice, but a kind of helplessness.
Sometimes, love is truly powerless in the face of reality.
He took a sip of coffee and continued, "Actually, what touched me most about this book was not the love story, but the spirit of persevering and striving to live a better life despite suffering."
Sun Shao-ping, Sun Shao-an, and everyone around them are fighting against fate in their own ways.
Although the final outcome may be ordinary, the process of struggle itself is meaningful.
"..."
Su Xiao fell silent.
She looked at Chen Mo, her eyes softening.
"You didn't just flip through it casually; you really read it carefully."
She said softly, "And they also have their own thoughts."
"The main problem is that I can't sleep at night."
Chen Mo smiled and said, "I like to think about these things a lot when I'm reading."
"There aren't many people who can calm down and read physical books these days."
Su Xiao sighed, "Especially young people like us, we really enjoy watching short videos on our phones and surfing the internet."
"Maybe my mindset has changed recently."
Chen Mo also sighed, "I used to find reading tiring, but now I find it relaxing."
"Writing and reading are actually interconnected."
Su Xiao said, "These are all things that require calming down to do, so in this fast-paced era, being able to calm down is a skill in itself."
Chen Mo: "Thank you for your compliment."
The two hit it off as they talked, eventually moving from literature to life, and from work to ideals.
What was supposed to be a blind date ended up looking more like a literary discussion.
Chen Mo also discovered that although Su Xiao was a writer, she was very rational in her thinking and spoke in a clear and logical manner, unlike the kind of sentimental and artistic girl he had imagined.
Su Xiao also felt that Chen Mo was not like a typical boring programmer.
He not only understands technology, but also has his own insights into literature. He speaks frankly and without affectation, and occasionally cracks a humorous joke, giving people a very comfortable feeling.
Time passed by unnoticed, and the sky outside the window gradually darkened.
Are you hungry?
Chen Mo glanced at the time; it was already past six. He then asked, "How about we grab some dinner together? I know a good Sichuan restaurant nearby."
"Are you treating?" Su Xiao asked with a smile.
"certainly."
Chen Mo readily agreed, "I bumped into you this morning, and then you kept me company for so long this afternoon, so it's only right that I treat you."
"Then I won't be polite."
The two left the coffee shop, and Chen Mo led Su Xiao toward the Sichuan restaurant that Zhong Yi had recommended last time.
On the way, Su Xiao suddenly said, "Actually, before I came here today, I was prepared to just give it a quick answer and leave."
I never expected to meet you, and I certainly never expected we'd have such a pleasant conversation.
"Me too."
Chen Mo said frankly, "Nine out of ten blind dates my mom arranges for me are very awkward."
Either there's nothing to talk about, or the other person's expectations are too high, or they're just there to freeload.
"So you're relieved to see me today?" Su Xiao asked playfully.
"To be honest, yes."
Chen Mo laughed and said, "At least I don't have to worry about being weird, and I won't feel embarrassed, since I'm a nobody."
"Same to you."
This was Chen Mo's second visit to the Sichuan restaurant, where he ordered several of their signature dishes.
During the meal, the conversation became more casual.
Su Xiao talked about her writing life.
"I get up at seven o'clock every morning, wash up, read for a while, and then start writing."
I wrote until noon, then cooked my own lunch, took a half-hour nap, and continued writing in the afternoon.
I usually don't write in the evenings; I watch movies or go for a walk.
"It's very regular."
Chen Mo said, "I thought writers were all nocturnal, only writing when inspiration struck."
"That's a stereotype."
Su Xiao shook her head and said, "Professional writing relies on self-discipline, not inspiration."
Inspiration is like the lottery; you might win it once in a while, but you can't rely on it to make a living.
True writing means sitting in front of the computer at a fixed time every day, writing regardless of whether you have inspiration or not.
"That's a bit like writing code."
After listening, Chen Mo said, "We don't have inspiration every day. Most of the time we're solving specific problems and debugging bugs."
"Therefore, we all belong to the category of mental laborers."
Su Xiao smiled and said, "The difference is that you create a virtual world, while I create a world of words."
"But they are all creations."
Chen Mo raised his teacup and said, "A toast to the creator."
"Cheers."
After finishing their meal, the two left the restaurant.
The streets were brightly lit at night, and a gentle breeze was blowing, making it a very pleasant experience.
Thank you for today.
Su Xiao said, "I haven't had such a pleasant conversation about literature with anyone in a long time."
My friends either don't read books or only read online novels; there are very few people I can talk to about Lu Yao.
"Thank you too."
Chen Mo sincerely said, "It made me realize that blind dates don't have to be torture; they can also be very enjoyable."
"Then... how are you going to explain this to your family when you get home?" Su Xiao asked, revealing the purpose of her blind date today.
This is also something they need to explain to their families when they go back home.
Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "Just say that it feels pretty good and we can continue to get to know each other. That way, we can both at least have some peace and quiet for a while."
Great minds think alike.
Su Xiao smiled and agreed, "That's what I was thinking too. So... let's add each other on WeChat? That way we can exchange information in the future."
"it is good."
The two added each other on WeChat.
Chen Mo saw that Su Xiao's WeChat name was "Su Xiaotang" and her profile picture was a cute hand-drawn cartoon character.
"That's also my pen name."
Su Xiao explained, "If you're interested, you can search for my books on Qidian. But let me make this clear first: they're all about romance and love, so you might not like them."
"I'll go take a look."
Chen Mo casually said, "Maybe it can open the door to a new world for me."
"Then I look forward to your review." Su Xiao winked.
"must."
Chen Mo escorted Su Xiao to the subway station and watched her enter before turning to leave.
On her way home, Su Xiao was actually in a pretty good mood.
Today's blind date completely exceeded her expectations.
Not only was it not awkward, but I also met an interesting person.
Although there was no "love at first sight" feeling between the two, Chen Mo was definitely a great person to chat with as a friend.
He is thoughtful, talented, and has a good personality.
More importantly, both of them were troubled by their families pressuring them to get married, so they were "comrades-in-arms".
On the other hand, back home, Chen Mo leaned back on the sofa.
He picked up his phone and suddenly remembered the pen name Su Xiao had mentioned. Curious, he typed the name into his browser and clicked search.
The page quickly redirected, and the author's column appeared.
Chen Mo clicked on it, then froze.
Because next to the author's portrait, there is a gold "Platinum Author" logo.
Further down the list, there are three works: "The Princess Weiyoung," "The Phoenix Cries in the Nine Heavens," and "A Beauty in the City," each with hundreds of thousands of collections.
What surprised him even more was that these works were all labeled "adapted into film and television series".
He randomly clicked on a drama called "The Princess Weiyoung," and the synopsis stated: "Adapted into a TV series, it aired in 2020 and achieved the highest viewership rating during its run."
I clicked on "The Legend of Phoenix" again: the TV series adapted from it aired in 2022 and garnered over 100 million views online.
Chen Mo gasped.
He knew that Platinum Author was the highest level of author title on Qidian, and there weren't many of them on the entire website.
Those who can obtain this title are all top earners with an annual income of several million or even tens of millions.
And Su Xiao, a 27-year-old girl, is already a platinum author?
He thought she was being modest when she said she was "barely making ends meet," but he didn't expect her to be overly modest.
This isn't just barely making ends meet; this is the mark of a true success story!
Chen Mo searched for news related to "Su Xiaoxue" and found that she had received an award at a literary award ceremony last year and had been interviewed by CCTV.
In the video, she wore a well-fitting dress and light makeup, speaking confidently and calmly in front of the camera, a stark contrast to her casual demeanor today.
"Oh My God……"
Chen Mo muttered to himself, then said with self-deprecation, "So, I guess I just... met a super big shot?"
He recalled that during their conversation earlier that day, Su Xiao had remained calm and showed no intention of showing off.
When talking about writing, she only mentioned the daily hardships; when talking about achievements, she glossed over them; when talking about income, she only said "enough to live on."
This low-key demeanor only made Chen Mo admire her even more.
Truly capable people never need to flaunt their abilities.
Just as Chen Mo was feeling sentimental, the system interface suddenly popped up.
[Host's social circle has expanded, triggering a new task]
[Task Title: A Courageous Literary Encounter]
[Task objective: Establish a stable friendship with platinum author Su Xiao and engage in at least three in-depth literary exchanges with her within one month.]
[Task Rewards: Appearance +1, Literary Cultivation +3, Courage +500]
[Note: By befriending excellent people, you will become excellent yourself. Courage in middle age also includes proactively expanding one's high-quality social circle.]
Chen Mo looked at the task, hesitated for a moment, then opened WeChat and sent a message to Su Xiao.
Have you arrived home safely?
A few minutes later, Su Xiao replied.
Su Xiao: [Just got home, revising the manuscript, otherwise today's update would be interrupted.]
Chen Mo: [Okay, then I won't bother you anymore.]
Chen Mo put down his phone and let out a long sigh of relief.
He went to the bathroom to wash up and took a look at himself in the mirror. As his appearance improved, he did indeed look better and better.
But he still doesn't quite reach the level of being handsome.
"But it's okay."
Chen Mo said to himself, "Take it one step at a time."
At this point, another long-term task of the system popped up: a progress update.
[Courageous Lifestyle Enthusiasts: 25%]
"It's gone up again?"
Chen Mo muttered to himself, "It seems that meeting Su Xiao today is part of what the system meant by 'improving the quality of life.'"
So it seems that way.
The criteria for judging this task are not only material, but also spiritual and social.
After washing up, Chen Mo went to bed and picked up the third volume of "Ordinary World".
He wanted to watch a little longer tonight.
It wasn't just to complete the task, but also to have more topics to talk about with Su Xiao in the future.
And then there's more.
He also wanted to know what else Sun Shao-ping would experience in the coal mine, how his relationship with Tian Xiao-xia would develop, and whether Sun Shao-an's brick factory would succeed...
He quickly became engrossed in it.
Just as he put down his book and prepared to go to sleep, the system update notification flashed before his eyes again.
[Courageous Reading: 5/7]
Chen Mo smiled with satisfaction, closed the book, turned off the light, and lay down.
……
PS: (This is a combined chapter; this is the only one for today.)