The Complete Guide to the Use and Care of a Personal a.s.sistant
Translator: Jury
Editor: NomNom
First Published on Chaleuria
Chapter Ninety-one
Ling Miao grabbed the phone and glanced at the display. It was from someone called Zhou Mu. Ling Miao was about to tell Su Yuyang that someone had called when Su Yuyang"s shout came: "Xiao Miao, who is it?"
"Zhou Mu."
"Answer it for me."
"Hm?" Ling Miao let out a startled noise. Su Yuyang didn"t hear his reaction and didn"t respond, but the ringing of the phone stopped. After several seconds it rang again and Ling Miao didn"t hesitate this time.
"h.e.l.lo?"
"Shu Yang, what time are you coming?"
Shu Yang? Hearing the form of address used, Ling Miao was shocked. Not many people knew that Su Yuyang was Shu Yang, and the other person had used Su Yuyang"s penname and phone number. Ling Miao couldn"t guess at all who this could be.
"May I know who this is?"
"You"re not Shu Yang?" The other party was also surprised, but he quickly understood. He laughed and said, "You"re Ling Miao, right? I"m Mu Yu. Your and Shu Yang"s editor."
"Ah? Oh, uh, Shu Yang"s in the shower. You…"
"Oh, I see." Hearing Ling Miao"s hesitation, Mu Yu"s tone was understanding. He laughed drily and said, "In that case I won"t disturb you two. I called to confirm when he"d arrive at the hotel so we can send someone to greet you."
At this time, Su Yuyang walked out. Ling Miao eyed Su Yuyang"s body and, going by his expression, he was more than a little shocked! Ling Miao cursed inwardly, tossed the phone to Su Yuyang, then got his clothes and walked into the bathroom.
Over the phone Mu Yu told Su Yuyang that there would be a secret guest at this Author"s Gathering, one with a strong relations.h.i.+p to Su Yuyang. No matter how Su Yuyang probed Mu Yu refused to say who it was, causing Su Yuyang to feel very curious. He really wanted to rush right over to the hotel to question Mu Yu. Su Yuyang wasn"t too excited or curious, but Mu Yu"s tone was absolutely incorrigible!
After ending the call with Mu Yu, Su Yuyang opened his doc.u.ment and started to write, but he hadn"t written even a few words when his phone rang again.
"Yan Li?" Su Yuyang looked at the phone"s screen and wondered if it was displaying the wrong information. Yan Li and Su Yuyang rarely contacted each other by phone; they mostly corresponded over microblog. Before, when Yan Li had called, it had meant trouble for Su Yuyang.
Su Yuyang uneasily slid the answer b.u.t.ton across the touchscreen, but before he could say anything Yan Li"s sly laughter came through the phone. "Surprised to get a call from me, eh?" she said with satisfaction.
Su Yuyang rubbed between his eyes and said exhaustedly, "Do you need to come to my place to take shelter again? Sorry, I"m at my old house."
"I know you"re at your old house." Yan Li giggled and Su Yuyang could hear the joy in her voice. He grimaced. "You guessed I"m not doing well over here? Forget it, let"s not talk about me. What do you need?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to ask you if you have time the day after tomorrow. There"s something I need your help with."
"The day after tomorrow?" Su Yuyang looked at the calendar. "The day after tomorrow I have to be at a gathering my web novel site is organizing. I might not have time."
Yan Li let out a noise of disappointment. She thought about it then said wistfully, "Then forget it."
After ending the call, Su Yuyang narrowed his eyes and looked out the window. Ling Miao sneaked over to Su Yuyang"s side. Looking at Su Yuyang"s worried face, he put his hand on Su Yuyang"s and said tenderly, "Did something happen?"
Su Yuyang put his hand over Ling Miao"s and grimaced. "Yu-ge just told me that there would be a mystery guest at the Authors" Gathering and it"s someone related to me. Then Yan Li called and asked if I had time the day after tomorrow, saying she had something she needed my help with. The two calls aren"t related but I get this feeling that they have to do with each other. It"s weird, right?"
Ling Miao rolled his eyes at Su Yuyang and asked uncertainly, "Yan Li is the spokesperson for Demonic Song Defying Heaven. Didn"t you know?"
"Mm?" Su Yuyang jumped up from his chair. "Why didn"t you tell me?"
Ling Miao was stunned. "I thought Mu Yu had told you."
If Su Yuyang had known earlier that Yan Li was the spokesperson for Demonic Song Defying Heaven, he"d have done anything he could to get the game company to find someone else! For some reason, Su Yuyang felt that letting Yan Li be the spokesperson would put him in a precarious position. Seeing Su Yuyang"s worried expression, Ling Miao teased, "Su Yuyang, why are you so worried? Are you afraid Yan-jie won"t play the female protagonist well?"
"The… female protagonist?" Su Yuyang was momentarily dizzy. "My female protagonist"s personality is the complete opposite of Yan Li"s!"
"I heard the game company say that they"re asking Linxi to be a spokesperson for Demonic Song, and the character they want him to play is Feng Ji. Pft…" Thinking of Ji Linxi playing the part of Feng Ji, Ling Miao couldn"t restrain his laughter. "After I found out that Feng Ji is Feng Ji, every time I read Demonic Song I imagine Feng Ji"s face. Oh my G.o.d, if Linxi is playing Feng Ji, I won"t be able to take it!"
Seeing that Ling Miao was about to asphyxiate from laughter, Su Yuyang was worried he"d actually die from it. With the best of intentions he put his arms around Ling Miao and shoved Ling Miao onto the bed.
Ling Miao was stunned by the sudden attack and froze. He looked at Su Yuyang leaning over him in a daze, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
This tactic is effective!
Joy rose in Su Yuyang"s heart and he moved closer to Ling Miao, whispering in his ear, "Xiao Miao, when you"re like this I want to…"
Su Yuyang hadn"t finished speaking when he felt something pinch his thigh. The flesh was slowly being twisted, as if whatever had caught it wanted to tear the flesh off.
"Oww—" Su Yuyang let out an agonized yell. The pained screams sounded over and over and Ling Miao couldn"t bear to hear it any more but he also needed to teach Su Yuyang a lesson. Su Yuyang kept trying to do those things to him so, in order for Ling Miao to defend his own territory, he"d have to let Su Yuyang"s thigh down.
"Xiao Yu, Xiao Miao, what"s the matter?" Su Yuyang"s mom"s worried voice started up outside, followed by Su Yuyang"s dad"s severe scolding: "You two restrain yourselves or get out!"
"Be gentle," Su Yuyang yelled aggrievedly. Ling Miao let go of Su Yuyang"s flesh and lectured, "You were being dishonest!"
At Ling Miao"s side, Su Yuyang rolled over and looked up at the ceiling with dejection.
The footsteps at the door gradually grew farther away. Ling Miao turned his head to look at Su Yuyang"s worried expression and said apologetically, "I…"
"Don"t say anything. I was too impatient."
"Can"t tell you"re a person who"s so difficult to satisfy," Ling Miao teased.
Su Yuyang turned his head to look at Ling Miao. He was about to say, "Try and you"ll find out," but the pain in his thigh reminded him that the consequences for teasing Ling Miao were serious. Su Yuyang ruffled Ling Miao"s hair and helped Ling Miao up: "Your hair isn"t dry. Don"t lie down."
"I didn"t intend to lie down," Ling Miao mumbled.
Su Yuyang walked to the cabinet to get the hair dryer, turned, and motioned for Ling Miao to come over.
A warm breeze blew over the top of Ling Miao"s head and melted Ling Miao"s heart.