Chapter 71

Is Lin Mu thinking of me?

I haven't contacted him for so long, will he be disheartened?

During the holiday, Lin Mu didn't invite her to go back together, and after returning, he hasn't sent any messages. Has Lin Mu really forgotten about me?

What about Chen Jing, and Wei Yun, who kissed Lin Mu back then, are they still纠缠 (bothering) Lin Mu?

I was the one who proposed the breakup, so why do I still feel so upset when I see Lin Mu being pursued by other girls?

Shen Bingjiao didn't know the answer. The number she had memorized in her mind was dialed without her realizing it...

On the other end, Lin Mu was silent for a moment before softly replied, "Hmm... I understand. Focus on your studies. Let's resume our relationship after next summer vacation. Just endure for another half a year..."

After hanging up, Lin Mu sighed, feeling a bit depressed.

No matter how beautiful other girls were, Lin Mu would still tease them without any hesitation.

But in front of Shen Bingjiao, who had always cared for and liked him, he couldn't bring himself to say a single word.

In the kitchen, a middle-aged woman who had been watching Lin Mu make the call suddenly laughed.

"What's so funny?" Lin Mu's mother asked casually.

"Hehe, nothing much. I just find your little Mu likable. I wish I had a son like him..."

Lin Mu's mother laughed and scolded, "If you want one, go have one yourself!"

...

The New Year's Eve dinner was extremely joyful, with the elders happy and the children delighted.

Staying up late on New Year's Eve, the first day, the second day...

Every day was very lively, with relatives visiting. Lin Mu also took his younger brother and sister to visit relatives and collect New Year's money.

Although these New Year's money would eventually be confiscated by Lin Mu's mother with the poor excuse of "I'll keep it for you," the three of them still ran around happily.

"If only Mom and Dad could be at home every day..." Lin Lin, sitting in the bed, suddenly said.

Lin Mu's mother's smile froze, and Lin Mu felt a bit sad.

Before the New Year, it wasn't noticeable, but after the New Year, time seemed to pass particularly quickly. The happier the day, the closer it was to the time of parting.

"Looks like I need to change my attitude of valuing reputation over稿费 (royalties)... If I bring back a few hundred thousand in cash next year, Mom and Dad won't have to go out anymore, right?"

...

By the third day of the New Year, most of the relatives they needed to visit had already been visited, but distant relatives would still come by occasionally.

Lin Mu accompanied his younger brother and sister, watching the animated series he had downloaded on his computer, and occasionally opened his phone to check the news online.

Suddenly, a phone call rang, from a Beijing number.

"Hello, is this Yiyeshu, Lin Mu?" a deep male voice asked.

Lin Mu, puzzled, replied, "Yes, who are you...?"

The other party said happily, "I'm Wang Yang, the manuscript editor of 'Storytelling.' I'm on my way to Shuizhen from Zhengzhou. Can you send me your home address via text message? I want to discuss a collaboration with you..."

'Storytelling'?

Whether in his previous life or this one, this name was well-known.

In the era when the internet was not yet widespread, 'Storytelling' became popular across the country, reaching every corner of cities and rural areas, even remote mountain villages.

The format of short stories in the front and long or serialized stories in the back, which is now adopted by most magazines, originated from 'Storytelling.'

A nationally famous magazine, coming to discuss a collaboration with me?

Lin Mu blinked and agreed, gave him the address, and asked him to send a text message after getting on the bus to this place.

"Bro, who called you?" Lin Ye asked curiously.

Lin Mu chuckled, "A magazine. Go tell Mom to prepare some dishes. We have a guest coming this afternoon. Lin Lin, stop playing, I need to organize the computer."

Lin Ye, who had almost idolized Lin Mu over the past six months, nodded and ran out.

Lin Lin obediently sat beside him, watching as Lin Mu moved some files into subfolders, leaving only two documents.

'City of Linked Fortunes' and 'The Wandering Swordsman'!

"Mom, my brother said we have a guest coming this afternoon. He asked you to prepare some dishes," Lin Ye ran to the kitchen, grabbing a piece of fried fish while speaking.

Lin Mu's mother was surprised, "A guest? Who?"

Lin Ye said proudly, "My brother didn't tell me, but I heard it was someone named Wang Yang from 'Storytelling'..."

"'Storytelling'?"

Lin Mu's mother clearly knew the name. In fact, due to the lack of entertainment activities in rural areas and among migrant workers, 'Storytelling' was even more widely circulated.

"Is my eldest son writing for 'Storytelling'?"

This thought suddenly came to her mind, and Lin Mu's mother was instantly filled with excitement, her hands trembling with the ladle.

"Um-hum, I'll prepare the dishes. You go tell Dad to buy a bottle of wine."

In the kitchen, Lin Mu's mother became more and more excited, unable to resist wiping her hands on her apron and walking to the side room to ask Lin Mu.

After getting a positive response, Lin Mu's mother, who had been a bit nervous and afraid of making a mistake, was now beaming with red cheeks and went out.

...

"Old lady, can I buy one of your chickens? We have a guest coming."

"Lin Mu's mother, do you have relatives visiting? Not enough dishes?"

"No, no, hehe, the editor who Lin Mu writes for is coming. I want to prepare well since it's his first time visiting us."

"An editor? So impressive! Which editor?"

"The editor from 'Storytelling,' hehe." Lin Mu's mother said with a bit of pride.

The old lady was also delighted, "You should prepare well. Don't even mention buying! We can't let them down when they come to our place! This old rooster has been pecking people, I was thinking of killing it. Come, I'll help you catch it..."

In the old lady's house, other neighbors and relatives, upon hearing Lin Mu's mother, also became happy and called her to their houses to take things.

Some said their homemade salted duck eggs were fragrant and offered a few to make a dish.

Others said their daughter and son-in-law had brought sweet oranges from the city and asked their grandson to quickly bring a bag to Lin Mu.

The most generous was Auntie San, who said she had just slaughtered a pig for the New Year and had a ham left.

Life in the countryside was a bit tough, and they would haggle over every dime when buying vegetables.

But this didn't mean they lacked generosity.

Hearing that an editor from 'Storytelling' was coming, and for the sake of Lin Mu, who used to run around the village bare-bottomed, these lovely villagers instantly felt a sense of pride in the success of their younger generation.

PS: Thank you, Yizhan Qianji, for another 1888 donation, making you the first Admiral of this book. Everyone, give a round of applause~~

[AD begins on the previous page]

[AD ends on the previous page]