Chapter Twenty-Five: Did the Comics in My House Grow Legs?

“How about this: you give me a copy of the homework, and I’ll hand it in to you once I’m done,” Luo Chen said, eyeing the books on the desk. Was he really going to be reduced to doing homework every day?

“Copy it?” The girl hesitated.

“Why not?”

Just how diligent was the academic atmosphere here, that even this would surprise her?

“Forget it, I’ll do it myself.” Luo Chen sighed, opening the homework notebook. There was no hope for copying, after all.

English, history, politics—these three subjects.

English was no problem; he’d passed the college-level exams in his previous life, so he could handle it.

Politics? Just follow the party line, that never went wrong.

As for history? Aside from a few major events, he’d forgotten almost everything. Being a science student in his previous life, he barely touched these subjects during three years of high school.

“Hmm? Aren’t you going back?” Luo Chen, lost in thought, suddenly realized the girl had no intention of leaving. Was she planning to supervise him? How responsible could one be?

Dai Xinhua gave an awkward smile. Was she supposed to admit her nerves had made her legs too weak to walk?

She sneaked a glance at Luo Chen, who didn’t seem to have noticed anything amiss, thank goodness. But how long would she have to live with such anxiety? All because someone leaked her manga—if she ever found out who, there would be hell to pay.

Luo Chen glanced at the visibly uneasy Dai Xinhua. He’d better hurry, he thought; it wouldn’t do to keep someone waiting.

Though he wasn’t especially skilled, all those top students he’d known in his previous life always made him feel inadequate with their brilliance. Was that why his old video projects never took off?

He remembered creating his first video, accidentally adopting the perspective of a test subject. Could it really be that simple?

Staring at the exercise book before him—history, politics, English—he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and imagined: If I were the Innocent Mage…

He opened his eyes. The world was unchanged, but the homework in front of him felt utterly different.

History? No need to think—just write!

Politics? Effortless—write, write, write!

English? Write, write, write!

Dai Xinhua, meanwhile, watched in astonishment as Luo Chen’s pen flew across the page. Was he not even thinking? Could he really be scribbling nonsense at this speed? Even if he was in a rush to hand in his homework, couldn’t he show a little care, especially with the class monitor watching?

“Xinhua! So this is where you’ve been! Why haven’t you updated in so long?”

The sudden voice startled Dai Xinhua, nearly making her jump out of her skin. With the original right in front of her, who would dare speak so carelessly? Did people think she only knew how to draw manga?

“Qianqian?” Dai Xinhua turned to see a girl in a long dress running toward her.

“Dear Xinhua, why haven’t you—” Qianqian looped her arm around Dai Xinhua’s shoulder, then stopped short when she noticed Luo Chen.

After a brief pause, Qianqian pulled her friend aside and whispered, panicked, “Don’t tell me you’ve been found out?”

“What will you do? Are you going to stop updating? I was counting on your manga to make a living!” Qianqian shook Dai Xinhua by the shoulders, worry etched on her face.

“That’s your concern?” Dai Xinhua hadn’t expected her best friend to be so pragmatic. Shouldn’t she be worried about her safety first?

Glaring at Qianqian, whose face was alight with excitement, Dai Xinhua pressed, “So, who leaked the manga? I remember telling you all not to let it out.”

She’d only ever shared it with a few close friends—how could it have spread so widely?

“It wasn’t me, I swear! At least, I don’t think so…” Zhao Qianqian raised her hands defensively. She’d reminded her besties, over and over, never to share it, and they’d all promised. So it couldn’t have been her—probably.

“If I ever find out who it was, she’s dead meat! Dead!” Dai Xinhua gave Zhao Qianqian a fierce look.

“Yes, yes,” Zhao Qianqian replied, swallowing nervously under the pressure.

“Anyway, Xinhua, since I’ve already read the last chapter, where’s the next one?” Qianqian clung to Dai Xinhua’s arm, rocking her back and forth.

“Hmph, no more updates,” Dai Xinhua said. With all her friends denying responsibility, who could she believe? Did the manga leak itself?

“Come on, Xinhua, send it to me,” Zhao Qianqian whined, drawing out her words. She didn’t believe for a second that Xinhua could resist drawing.

“Fine, I’ll send it to you, but you must not leak it! Otherwise, you can look forward to starring in the next chapter!” Dai Xinhua, unable to refuse her friend, sent the file from her phone but not without a stern warning.

“Ha, Xinhua, you’re the best!” Zhao Qianqian opened the file and found the latest chapter, with Luo Chen and Yan He still as the protagonists. Satisfied, she left.

Dai Xinhua watched her go, puzzled. If it wasn’t Qianqian, then who could it be?

Around the corner, Zhao Qianqian suddenly stopped, looking uneasy. She quickly pulled out her phone, entered a group chat, and sent a message:

“Did any of you leak the files?”

The previously silent group immediately erupted.

“Wasn’t me, not my fault.”

“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.”

“Qianqian, how could you not trust us?”

“I never said a word!”

Seeing everyone vowing secrecy, Zhao Qianqian relaxed a little.

“Qianqian, is there a new update?”

“Yeah, it’s been days since the last one!”

“Come on, Qianqian, send it over.”

“You should always share good stuff!”

Watching her best friends beg for the new chapter, Zhao Qianqian’s worries vanished, and she floated on a cloud of pride as she sent them the file. At least she remembered to add a warning.

“Remember, don’t spread it any further. You all promised me before.”

“Got it, won’t share.”

“Relax, we’re not gossips.”

“Promise one!”

“Promise two!”

“Promise three!”

“Promise ninety-nine!”

Seeing her friends respond so sweetly, Zhao Qianqian finally felt at ease. With friends this trustworthy, there was no way it was her fault.

But then, who could it be?

Well, as long as she wasn’t the protagonist in the next chapter, what did it matter?