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Chapter 24: Loved by All, Flowers Bloom Wherever He Goes
"From now on, call me Gu Lu the Wealthy!" With the royalties finally deposited into his bank account—after tax deductions, he had 4,352 yuan sitting comfortably in his account.
In 2012, four thousand yuan held significant purchasing power, roughly equivalent to six or seven thousand yuan a decade later.
In his past life, Gu Lu was a struggling writer who could churn out ten thousand words daily for a measly six or seven thousand yuan—but never had he felt this excited! Finally, he could afford to sustain himself and no longer endure days eating only one meal every few days. Gu Lu contemplated whether drinking more milk now could help him make up for his stunted growth.
"It should be fine," he reasoned. "Though the peak growth period is between thirteen and fifteen, boys continue growing until eighteen." Feeling optimistic, Gu Lu resolved to improve his nutrition in high school and participate in sports activities—like playing basketball more often.
Standing in front of the ATM, after much deliberation, Gu Lu withdrew two hundred yuan. Considering his young age, carrying too much cash made him an easy target for theft—a common occurrence among students near the school. He recalled similar incidents where older bullies would demand lunch money from younger students. In fact, the previous owner of his memories had been so penniless that even those “borrowing” thugs left empty-handed.
Two hundred yuan might still seem excessive, but with mobile payments not yet widespread and online banking tools like U-shields limiting transactions, cash remained indispensable for daily purchases.
"Help! Stop him!"
Zhang Yudong sprinted through the schoolyard, shouting for assistance as if pursued by a ferocious beast—or rather, something far worse.
Hot on his heels was Xie Fangqi, nicknamed "Baboon" due to her wiry arms and legs. Nicknames during middle school often revolved around physical traits or homophones. For instance, there was another girl in class dubbed "Booby," mocked for developing early. Such teasing wasn’t exaggerated; introverted girls sometimes faced outright isolation.
Xie Fangqi, however, possessed a tomboyish personality and frequently roughhoused with the boys. Moments later, she caught up, and Gu Lu learned what had transpired: Zhang, sitting behind Xie, had snipped off a small tuft of her hair without warning using scissors...
Serves him right! Gu Lu didn’t lift a finger to intervene.
For many boys, playful scuffles with girls signified camaraderie. If their relationship were strained, complaints would’ve reached the teacher immediately. Observing several classmates eager to replace Zhang Yudong’s position revealed why teenage boys deliberately provoked girls—it fostered interaction.
Of course, some simply couldn’t resist mischief, like Zhang Yudong.
With newfound wealth burning a hole in his pocket, Gu Lu grew increasingly eager for dismissal—but time seemed to crawl the more impatient he became.
"After finishing these papers, I’m officially retiring from the copying business!" Gu Lu declared resolutely.
As mentioned earlier, the demand for copied assignments had dwindled significantly. Without the timely arrival of his writing fees, Gu Lu would’ve soon depleted his resources.
Even with money, completing current tasks remained essential—it was a matter of professional integrity!
"Still buried in your studies? Oh wait, I almost forgot—you’re entering a writing competition," Wang Jianhua sneered, approaching mockingly.
Did the original owner harbor any grudges against him? Gu Lu reflected on his memories, recalling only that Wang was shorter—and chubbier—than him.
Seeing Gu Lu momentarily stunned, Wang pressed on smugly, "Maybe this wannabe author really can pull it off. Bold move deceiving Mr. Li just to skip homework."
"At least he has the guts to try. Can you say the same?" Zhou Lin interjected sharply. "What gives you the audacity to ridicule someone brave enough to change while you sit idle? Go ahead, try deceiving Mr. Li yourself!"
Faced with Zhou Lin's superior academic performance and popularity, Wang faltered, unable to retort. Pretending to tie his shoelaces, he feigned ignorance of her words.
Yet upon standing, Wang strutted back to his seat triumphantly, as though victorious.
"Don’t mind him—he’s just jealous. Seeing someone academically similar suddenly improve triggers his insecurities," Zhou Lin consoled. "People who belittle others to feel better about themselves are the worst kind."
"I understand. His mockery is somewhat justified," Gu Lu replied.
"What do you mean?" Zhou Lin asked curiously.
"In novels, whenever a protagonist rises, random characters appear intent on bringing them down. It’s inexplicable hatred," Gu Lu explained.
"...Being a protagonist sounds exhausting, constantly battling irrational adversaries," Zhou Lin remarked dryly.
"You’re absolutely right, leaving me speechless," Gu Lu praised, giving her mental applause.
"If being a protagonist invites such disdain, then I’ll settle for being a supporting character. At least everyone will like me," Zhou Lin declared earnestly, embodying youthful naivety untainted by societal cynicism.
Anyone seasoned by life’s hardships would find such innocence laughable. Yet gazing at Zhou Lin’s sincere expression, Gu Lu swallowed his cynical thoughts.
During class, when tired of copying, Gu Lu flipped through the book Mr. Li gifted him, undisturbed by Wang Jianhua’s earlier remarks. Regarding Gibran’s poetry, Gu Lu struggled to appreciate modern poetry altogether. Currently, his what manifested solely in short story collections. He hoped poetry wouldn’t emerge—how could he plagiarize confidently something he couldn’t appreciate?
"Let’s go! Today, I’m treating you to spicy and sour rice noodles!" Gu Lu announced to Fan Xiaotian at noon dismissal.
"!" Fan Xiaotian gasped—three yuan per bowl!
"Did you find some money?" Fan Xiaotian inquired skeptically.
"Not found, earned—a little side income," Gu Lu corrected.
"Earned?" Fan Xiaotian’s eyes widened incredulously, silently wondering if he could achieve the same.
"All will be revealed shortly. Afterward, we’ll play PS3—all expenses covered by yours truly," Gu Lu promised.
Indulging in spicy noodles followed by PS3 gaming? Could anything surpass such bliss? If so, it was surely the joy of indulging without spending a dime!
"Deal! I’ve mastered Imperialdramon Flame Mode—I’ll crush you utterly!" Fan Xiaotian boasted confidently.
Enjoying a hearty bowl of spicy noodles purchased from the school-side stall felt luxurious. Gu Lu opted for the large portion at four yuan.
Deciding to celebrate further, Gu Lu planned to cook half a kilo of shrimp that evening. Pre-transportation, he adored steamed prawns.
After satisfying their hunger, the duo headed to Fat Boss’s shop. Spotting Gu Lu, Fat Boss greeted them casually.
"Remember to restart the computer—I left it running overnight watching dramas," he reminded.
"We’re here to play Digimon today," Gu Lu informed.
Delighted, Fat Boss loaded the game disc, ushering in an hour of thrilling gameplay. Predictably, Fan Xiaotian dominated ninety percent of their matches.
This tale once again demonstrated that gaming prowess bore no relation to age. Gu Lu, confident in easily defeating Fan Xiaotian, suffered repeated losses instead.
"Let’s extend another half-hour—I’ll pay! We can rush back to school afterward," Fan Xiaotian pleaded, relishing his rare victory streak.
"Next time. No need to rush—we’ll manage," Gu Lu declined firmly. Naturally, losing repeatedly made him less inclined toward generosity.
Reluctantly agreeing, Fan Xiaotian muttered, "Fine, next time then."
Next time? Perhaps not.
"Boss, here."
Besides handing over two fifty-yuan notes for the gaming fee, Gu Lu also presented Fat Boss with a copy of Story Digest, the red edition from the first half of May.
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