I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 96

 

The Tongmeng website used to be a small site that started with second-dimensional (2D) and ACG-related videos (ACG: Anime Comics Games). As it grew, it expanded into various fields, including movies, TV shows, lifestyle, cute pets, live streaming, and finally, the novels and manga that I am currently involved in.

 

The name “Tongmeng” chosen for the website when it was established meant “childhood dreams.” The main topics of discussion were related to childhood movies, animation, toys, and snacks. The Tongmeng was quite rich. There were classic Animations such as ?Ne Zha?, ?Bao Lian Deng?, and ?Journey to the West?. In anime, there were also some imported ones, such as ?Beyblade?, ?Digimon?, ?Saint Seiya?, ?Dragon Ball?, ?The Powerpuff Girls?, and so on. There were also many excellent tokusatsu dramas, such as ?Ultraman Tiga?”

 

As for movies and TV shows, they were even more diverse. Things like ?Young and Dangerous?, ?Fight Back to School?, ?The Wonderful Doctor?, and ?The Young Bao Qingtian? were all from that era. There were also many toys, such as glass marbles, slingshots, toy cars, and yo-yos. Snacks were mostly discussed, such as “Tang Monk Meat”, “Big Roll Prawn Crackers”, and “Ice Pack”.

 

These were the childhood memories of those born in the 1980s and 1990s. At that time, the website was not well-known, mostly frequented by working professionals born in the 1980s who reminisced about the past and their youth. As the generation born in the 1990s entered society, the website experienced further development and publicity. At that time, on this website, all anime and movies could be directly watched for free. This led to the emergence of numerous editing and discussion groups, somewhat resembling the current online forums. These were various discussion groups, each focusing on reliving the joy of childhood.

 

Following that, the user base of the website expanded to include those born in the 2000s. Discussions shifted to animation such as ?Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf?, ?Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit?, ?Boonie Bears?, and so on. Childhood toys transformed into items like transformation devices, Kamen Rider belts, and rollerblades. It was during this period that the website’s popularity skyrocketed. Due to copyright issues, many old anime were taken down, prompting the CEO of the website to purchase new ones to maintain interest. This included popular anime of that time, such as ?Puella Magi Madoka Magica?, ?Attack on Titan?, ?Fate?, ?Shakugan no Shana?, and more.

 

As more anime were acquired, the website continued to grow, expanding into various fields, and requiring more payment for certain content. This was around the time when I first learned about Tongmeng website.

 

At that time, I was still a university student. After registering an account, I mainly used the website to watch anime and gain knowledge. When my favorite streamers went live, I would go to the snack shop across the street from the male dormitory to buy chicken claws or duck wings and enjoy them while watching the live stream.

 

During my university days, I relied on part-time work and student loans to pay my tuition. I had very little time and money to spare for leisure activities, so I wasn’t deeply familiar with Tongmeng website itself. I only knew it as a place where I could watch anime and live streams for free.

 

After graduating and entering the workforce, my time for watching anime became even scarcer. Additionally, Tongmeng website faced stricter regulation, leading to restrictions on many popular anime—either making them unavailable or heavily edited. Most of the time, if I wanted to watch, I would simply download from online storage. My interest in this aspect gradually diminished.

 

I never expected that one day I would return, especially with the goal of “uploading videos and getting a hundred thousand views.”

 

“Nuo’er, let’s take a photo together for the profile picture of this new account!”

 

After completing the entire account registration process on the computer, binding my phone, filling in all the information, and reaching the step to upload a profile picture, Yin Xiamo pulled me into the living room.

 

“Right here, it’s perfect. Let’s try out the phone’s camera function.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I was still puzzled when the girl beside me reached out her right hand to stop my shoulder. With her left hand, she raised her phone and snapped a series of photos.

 

“Alright, let’s use this one!”

 

After flipping through the phone album for a while, the girl hurried back to the bedroom.

 

By the time I followed her back, Yin Xiamo had already set the profile picture for the new account. In the picture, I occupied about two-thirds of the frame, looking somewhat clueless about what to do. On the right side, Yin Xiamo only showed half of her face, happily making a victory gesture towards the camera.

 

“Um…”

 

In front of the computer, I looked at the profile picture. “How about adjusting it a bit? My face looks so big like this…”

 

“It’s supposed to be round and cute.” Yin Xiamo clicked the “Confirm Changes” button. “Besides, you’ll be mainly managing this account in the future, so the profile picture should focus on you.”

 

Uh… alright.

 

I took out my phone, opened the Tongmeng website app, and logged into the new account. “Little Xia Nuo Does Not Hide in the Cardboard Box… I always feel like the name is a bit silly.”

 

“This week, if the views of all the videos on this account reach a hundred thousand, our previous debts will be offset against each other.”

 

Closing the computer page, Yin Xiamo had an expression that seemed to say, ‘I believe in you’.

 

“Looking forward to the performance of our little pet!”

 

“Why do I become a little pet again? Last time it was ‘Little Cutie,’ the time before that was ‘Little Nuo’er,’ can’t you be consistent with your nicknames—ouch!”

 

“Oh, so you remember it so clearly?”

 

“……”

 

Returning to my own bedroom with a sulky expression, I glanced at the time and set a few alarms on my phone. One for waking up after a short nap, another for the first time changing sanitary pads, one for going out to buy groceries in the evening, and yet another for the second time changing sanitary pads…

 

By the way, what do people usually have for lunch around here?

 

Thinking about it, I peeked my head out of the bedroom. “Xiao Mo, what do you want for lunch?”

 

“Huh?”

 

The grim reaper on the opposite side seemed busy with something on the computer. Upon hearing my voice, she quickly turned around. “I like whatever you cook.”

 

“But I don’t want to cook.”

 

“Then, I’ll accompany you to go out and see what to eat.”

 

“You pay.”

 

“Okay, okay, today is a special day. My little pet, whatever you say goes.”

 

“I’m not your pet!”

 

Reflexively refuting, I continued, “Let’s go out for a walk around 12 o’clock. I’ll write and save drafts for now.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Closing the door carefully, I returned to the computer. To be honest, despite my stomach no longer hurting, my body feeling less weak, and the temperature rising as noon approached, even after trying the “cardboard therapy,” my mood hadn’t completely recovered to the state it was in before.

 

But the novel… still needs to be updated.

 

Currently, Ai Luodi is connected to my previous rather ordinary isekai novel. With the website’s closure, the loss of readers for this novel is quite severe. Even though it has been restored, the book has been merged into the Honeydew platform, and subscriptions and followings cannot be recovered.

 

In Ai Luodi’s words… continuing to write is fine, but not recommended.

 

Because in this state, no matter how hard I try, the readership and subscriptions won’t increase. It’s better to start a new one.

?Your new book contract badge is up. I reviewed it again. The beginning and the first few chapters barely pass, but the subsequent plot might be challenging to develop.?

?Did Ai Luodi teach you how to write this kind of traditional fantasy novel before? Or are you confident in this genre??

 

Opening the computer, logging into QQ, to my surprise, Tuzi, my Honeydew editor whom I haven’t contacted for two or three days, sent a message —

?According to the plot development, this should be a more conventional, enjoyable novel. You understand the basics of creating enjoyable points, right??

 

There’s still such a dedicated editor? After repeatedly reading the few sentences Tuzi sent, amidst my shock, I also understood where the online claims about Tuzi being “responsible” came from. She really… sigh… Even Ai Luodi didn’t care for me this much back then.

 

Generally, the relationship between website editors and authors is somewhat similar to that of “workers” and “foremen” on a construction site. The editor’s daily task is to check new novels published online, find authors who write “profitable novels,” and then sign contracts with them, handling various aspects of their affairs.

 

The key here is “profitable.” Even if an author has excellent writing skills, if their novel starts with scenery descriptions and world-building that leave readers confused, they will be classified as an author who “cannot make money,” and editors won’t sign them. On the other hand, an author with poor writing skills, but who starts with something like “Don’t underestimate the poor youth” or “Ding! Acquired the show-off system,” creating an initial sense of anticipation, will attract the desire to continue reading. As long as the sentences are coherent, they qualify for a contract because these books, once published, attract subscribers, rewards, and votes.

 

Formulaic content is not a problem. Even if it’s formulaic, there will be readers. The concern is when some authors don’t even have the intention to “write formulaic content.” Editors sign based on this “attitude.”

 

A foreman goes to the job market looking for strong workers, and what matters is their physical strength. If you claim to know computers, art, nuclear bomb construction, or even how to use a particle collider, it doesn’t matter; what others want is strength to do the job.

 

In novels, authors are like waiters. If a waiter lacks the attitude and awareness of serving readers, doesn’t have the intention to create a sense of excitement and anticipation, and lacks the belief in making money while writing, editors won’t sign them.

 

I understand these principles, but the only thing I don’t understand is how to create this so-called “sense of anticipation,” how to keep readers engaged, and how to maintain the pace of the book so readers don’t “abandon” or “store” it.

 

Talking about “storing” a book is unnecessary. Behaviors like “storing” a book lead to a decrease in the novel’s “follow-up reading” on the editor’s end. Consequently, the editor’s recommendation weight for the book decreases, giving recommendation slots to novels with higher follow-up rates. Over time, novels with more “book hoarders” gradually fade away.

 

To “prevent readers from hoarding books,” the author needs to know how to “create enjoyable points” and generate a sense of anticipation. In simple terms, it boils down to the author’s abilities.

 

As Ai Luodi mentioned, due to my part-time status before, I updated a chapter every day. We both adopted a relaxed approach. Besides essential communication, we had little interaction, and she didn’t really teach me how to write novels.

 

Editors do have the “obligation to teach authors how to write books,” but it’s more of an obligation than a responsibility. In my experience, most editors don’t bother with this thankless task—why should I teach you? If you’ve dug yourself into a hole, figure it out or start a new book. They would rather spend their time teaching someone who is already skilled.

 

“I… am not sure.”

 

After contemplating in front of the computer for a while, I decided to be honest with “Tuzi”:?Previously, I wrote novels part-time, and I haven’t read many online novels. I’ve been writing based on my feelings.? This is the status of most authors—seeing others making big money from writing novels, thinking, “I can do that too,” and writing a book according to their own ideas. The difference is that I have some foundation compared to those new authors. Anyway, it’s all about learning—learning as you live.

 

In the café, I steamed chicken for the first time, wore a maid outfit for the first time, wore stockings for the first time, had so many encounters with cats, and even had to help groom them. I didn’t know many things, but I learned on the spot.

 

If the new editor Tuzi is willing to teach, I don’t mind learning how to write novels. Future me will probably also need to learn how to manage an account, how to edit videos, how to take beautiful pictures, and how to enhance images…

 

?So, similar to a novice author??

?Yes.?

?Alright, I’ll send you a few documents later with the beginnings and climaxes of some popular novels on the website. Take a look and learn by yourself.?

 

The Tuzi on the other side of the chat window quickly understood the meaning behind my words: ?Just follow the outline I sent you and write accordingly. Don’t mess up the rhythm, and remember these points in the documents.?

?Honeydew Editor Tuzi sent you a file: Crafting Novel Enjoyment.doc?

?Honeydew Editor Tuzi sent you a file: Maintaining and Advancing Story Rhythm.doc?

?Honeydew Editor Tuzi sent you a file: Classic Plot Elements in Bestselling Novels on the Website.doc?

 

After receiving these files, I saw another message from Tuzi: ?Take a good look at them. Use them as a reference but don’t trust them entirely. It’s best to develop your own style. I’m going for lunch now; if you have any questions, ask in the afternoon.?

?Alright, thanks, Editor.?

“…”

 

I took a deep breath in front of the computer and opened the three documents.

 

?Numerical Division of Novel Enjoyment, Psychology of Human Nature (1)?

?Which of the following examples is more likely to stimulate reader enjoyment? 1: The protagonist gains experience points and jumps from level 1 to level 30, with attributes skyrocketing. 2: After some effort, the protagonist gains experience points, goes from level 29 to level 30, gains certain skill points, and also fulfills the conditions to unlock a previously mentioned special dungeon.?

?Introduce the concept of “purpose” and provide setup before and after, rather than a simple “lots of experience” and a significant improvement.?

?Conversely, the protagonist invests 100 units of resources and gains 100,000 combat power, while at the same time, a fellow cultivator or classmate, due to their background and financial resources, invests 1000 units of resources but only gains 10,000 combat power…?

“…”

 

Wait, notes, notes!

After staring at the computer screen for less than five minutes, I realized that this thing was a “treasure” for my current self. Subconsciously, I opened the drawer and took out a notebook and a water-based pen.

 

So, I feel that “online novels” are not something to be taken lightly. Realizing my shortcomings, I even forgot that my body was still in its menstrual period. I began to record these documents on the computer, copying the key content word by word in my own style.

 

?Different Aspects of Protagonist’s Enjoyment Points (1)?

?1: The protagonist in the team is a very ordinary character, such as an ordinary priest, archer, or warrior, with no special skills. 2: The protagonist in the team is an indispensable character, the core of the team, the captain, most matches or battles without the protagonist will surely fail, and only the protagonist can lead the team to victory. 3: The protagonist’s abilities are somewhat niche or extreme, usually not well-received in the team or considered a slacker position, the team has another captain. The team doesn’t usually face situations where it can’t survive without the protagonist. However, in a critical moment when everyone is struggling and even the captain is helpless, facing imminent team wipeout, the protagonist, with their seemingly insignificant ability, becomes the only one capable of turning the tide and making the impossible possible.?

 

?May I ask which type of protagonist is easier to create a sense of enjoyment??

?The protagonist can have areas of weakness, but cannot be weak.?

?Analysis of the protagonist’s “unique” nature?

?…?

 

I don’t know how much time has passed. In the gradually stuffy room, I looked at the densely packed notes in the notebook. After checking several times against the files sent by Editor Tuzi and ensuring that no content was missed, I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

 

Looking out the window, the blazing sun was already high in the sky. I have to admit that the materials sent by Tuzi have been of tremendous help to my writing.

 

I’m not a “talented” author who knows how to write and shape a protagonist from the start. When I wrote my first book, it was more of a fluke, and the content happened to align with what was popular on the Yae-Do Novel Network at that time. Subsequent to being published, my lack of talent was quickly exposed—no one read the book, it attracted only book hoarders, and as they kept hoarding, they stopped reading. I often updated a chapter, gained two new readers, and lost three old ones.

 

I really… need this kind of “knowledge” supplementation.

 

“Gurgle, gurgle…”

 

At this moment, amidst a clear sense of hunger, I heard an awkward sound from my own stomach.

 

Checking the time, it was already past 1 PM.

 

Is it already this late?

 

Shutting down the computer, putting away the notebook, I got up and opened the room door.

 

The door to Yin Xiamo’s room was slightly ajar, and I could see the young girl inside seeming to be looking at something on the computer.

 

“Knock, knock.”

 

I knocked on the room door a few times and cleared my throat. “Xiao Mo, are you ready?”

 

“Oh, coming!”

 

Amidst the “thud, thud, thud” of running footsteps, in no time, the door in front of me was pulled open. “Did you finish writing the novel?”

 

“No, I didn’t. The editor just gave me a lesson a moment ago.” I smiled. “And I have some drafts saved, so it’s all good.”

 

Compared to Tuzi, Ai Luodi really isn’t suited to be an editor. She’s too much of a “slacker.” If I remember correctly, Ai Luodi comes from a very well-off family. The reason she became an editor is probably just to avoid idle gossip at home and find a decent job. Of course, being a maid isn’t suitable for her either. At least maids have less time to slack off… customers and the manager are always watching.

 

“I spent quite a while browsing the otaku dance section on Tongmeng Net just now, but those girls aren’t as cute as you.” Yin Xiamo, coming out of her room, had a look of “I’m impressive, right?” “I feel like if it were you, Nuo’er, becoming the leader of the otaku dance section would definitely not be a problem.”

 

“What leader of the otaku dance section? I don’t want that at all.” I gave her a disdainful look. “Writing novels and working as a maid are already enough for me.”

 

After experiencing several dreams related to “Miss Grim Reaper” these days, I probably understand the changes in the mindset of the girl in front of me. If I’m not mistaken, in her past life, Yin Xiamo was probably a character taken care of by the hero in various ways, constantly being protected by him with reasons like “You’re a girl, and I’m a man,” “Men and women should keep their distance,” and “I’m older than you, so you have to listen to me.”

 

Then, something must have happened, prompting this little devil who had silently enjoyed the hero’s protection to develop the idea of “In the next life, I’ll protect you.” For example, the first time we met, she swung her knife without any hesitation.

 

Turning me into a soft and cute girl, her attitude was so strong when we first met, probably because of that reason. Perhaps she believed that if she appeared tough, I would be scared, and then naturally become her “little pet,” accepting her care?

 

Or… maybe she thought that by turning me into a girl and forcing me to accept this fact, there would be no situations like “men and women should keep their distance.” As long as I got used to the idea that girls “can be protected,” gradually… what was that word again? A fall into femininity?

 

No, no, why am I having such random thoughts? A fall into femininity is a tag in manga, and artists tend to exaggerate it. In reality, such a phenomenon doesn’t exist.

 

Anyway, the current situation is that Yin Xiamo wants to “suppress me,” that’s for sure. If we were to really talk about it, all of this is actually the “hero’s” fault—why didn’t he just push the little devil down at the time? Maybe now the story in the other world would be about the daughter of a human-demon hybrid seeking revenge for her father, and the mother-daughter duo launching a full-scale attack on the Demon King.

 

As a result, the hero faced the repeated attacks of the little devil without moving, and calculatedly landed on the head of an innocent passerby like me who had no hero memories.

 

Even if the Miss Grim Reaper says my soul is the real “hero,” without memories, what’s the use of just having a so-called “soul”? At least on my end, I am me, not someone else.

 

So, I will never submit.

 

“I’m going to check out the restaurants around the house, and by the way, I’ll visit the supermarket and the nearby market to buy dinner.”

 

Walking to the nearby bathroom, I took the face cream and facial cleanser and washed my face according to the routine of these past two days. Afterward, I applied some sunscreen on my face, hands, and thighs. Glancing at the scorching sun outside the balcony, I grabbed an umbrella from the utility room.

 

“Ugh…”

 

The moment I saw the umbrella, scenes flashed in my mind of rushing into the park to save someone during heavy rain. The handheld “hand cannon” that Yin Xiamo had was disposable, usable only once. I had picked it up and brought it home, and it was currently placed in a small box under the bed.

 

The only thing I couldn’t figure out was why Yin Xiamo chose to battle the “Demon King” at that particular moment. Moreover, looking at her expression at the time, especially when mentioning the “Demon King” and saying, “I took down the Demon King who harmed you,” it felt like she wasn’t talking about the “Demon King” itself.

 

I just… had a vague feeling that she seemed to be hiding something from me, but I couldn’t pinpoint what was off.

 

“What’s up?”

 

In the corridor outside the room, perhaps sensing my gaze, Yin Xiamo questioned curiously, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“I just feel like there’s a bit of a difference between you now and when we first met.”

 

I asked tentatively, “Did you get hit on the head during the fight with the Demon King?”

 

“You’re the one who got hit on the head, and now you want to get chopped, right?”

 

As she spoke, Yin Xiamo casually tore open a rift and pulled out the scythe from inside, saying, “I don’t mind letting you experience what it’s like to be immortal.”

 

“Uh… if you chop me here, will the newly grown body still be in the menstrual period?”

 

“You can try.”

 

“Ah… let’s forget about it.”

 

“I know what you’re thinking.”

 

The girl put away the scythe, saying, “Don’t worry, the Demon King is really dead. Everything is in the past. I will explain it to you… but not now.”

 

“When will you explain?”

 

“When your body and mind become entirely mine, little pet.”

 

“Hey, what do you mean by my body and mind becoming…”

 

At this moment, my phone in the pocket of my skirt started ringing.

 

“Wait a moment, let me take a call.”

 

Holding the phone, I walked to the living room near the balcony and glanced at the incoming call reminder. I pressed the answer key.

 

“Is your body okay now? Feeling better?”

 

It was a call from Ouyang Xue, the manager of the cafe. As soon as I answered, she went straight to the point, “It’s really not the same without you in the shop. Those two rascals probably leaked the photos yesterday. Now, many people are coming, saying they want to meet you.”

 

I awkwardly said, “Should I go back now?”

 

“No, no, no. I said you have a two-day break, and it’s two days off. I can handle things here. I didn’t call you to talk about this.”

 

Ouyang Xue cleared her throat, “Where does your sister work?”

 

“My sister?” I thought for a moment and honestly replied, “She’s not exactly my sister. We’re currently renting a house together. We’re friends.”

 

“So, what does she do for a living?”

 

I glanced at the nearby Yin Xiamo, “She works at a grocery store.”

 

“Tell me the address of that grocery store.”

 

Ouyang Xue’s tone was quite determined—

 

“I’ll go recruit her tonight.”

 

“……”

 

……