NOVEL WEB chapter 20
20
“Alright, dear guest, would you like to take the bed with you now, or should I arrange for someone to deliver it to you later?”
Gu Ming thought for a moment, feeling that using spatial magic might be too conspicuous, so he opted for the second solution.
“Dear guest, please wait here for a moment while I go get a pen.”
As the shop owner left, Gu Ming surveyed his surroundings and indeed discovered many odd and curious items, such as an X-shaped slingshot and bubbling potions in bottles.
“Hmm, what’s this? A book?”
At the bottom of the shelf, the packaging of a cardboard box caught Gu Ming’s attention.
The packaging, translated from the characters of another world, read ‘Man’s Little Treasury’.
Drawn by the title, an excited Gu Ming opened it to find a box of books and casually pulled out one titled
“The Secrets of Old Wang.”
“Masaka, Masaka, is this, could this be the otherworldly little h book I’ve been searching for all these years? Ward off, boss, I never expected you, who seem so honest and upright on the surface, to be so corrupt in private. Tsk tsk tsk, the world is truly degenerating.”
Although he said this, Gu Ming’s hands never stopped flipping through the book.
“Dear customer, sorry to keep you waiting, I was slow in finding a pen. Please bear with me.”
Sass politely apologized to Gu Ming.
Gu Ming turned around, his expression somewhat unfriendly, and he said with an angry tone,
“Bear with you? Tell me, how am I supposed to bear with this?”
Sass, taken aback by the scolding, didn’t understand why Gu Ming was reacting so strongly. Wasn’t he just slow in getting a pen?
“Sir, where is this coming from?”
Gu Ming beckoned him over, and although Sass was confused, he approached.
“Come here, take a look for yourself, what is this?”
Sass looked at the book Gu Ming handed him and said,
“Sir, isn’t this just a little h book? Is there a problem?”
Seeing his unrepentant demeanor, Gu Ming said with a bit of indignation,
“A problem? You don’t understand what the problem is? Let’s not talk about anything else, selling pirated books is already illegal, right? I don’t want to pursue that, but the h book you’re selling isn’t h at all, do you realize this is a fake? Doing business requires integrity. If it’s not an h book, why sell it as one? Fighting against counterfeit goods is everyone’s responsibility. In the name of the vast community of readers, I declare you guilty.”
Sass retorted,
“Nonsense, sir, you can’t just make blind accusations. Isn’t this book h?”
Seeing his stubborn ignorance, Gu Ming said directly,
“Bring me the ink, paper, and brush. Today, I will show you what true art is.”
With a brush in hand, Gu Ming, drawing upon knowledge from his previous life, began to furiously sketch on the paper. One by one, lifelike paintings emerged before Sass’s eyes. When Gu Ming finished writing, Sass was so excited that he slammed the table in approval.
“Good, good, such authenticity! I never thought I, Sass, would have the chance to see this in my lifetime.”
Suddenly, the look in Sars’s eyes towards Gu Ming changed. Don’t get it wrong, it was a look of true love.
“May I ask where you are from, sir? Sars humbly requests your assistance. If you would be willing to help, we could accomplish great things together.”
Gu Ming was touched by Sars’s change of heart. However, expecting him to make a fortune in this foreign world by drawing adult content was somewhat insulting. Forgive my bluntness, but I can’t afford such humiliation.
So Gu Ming refused and said,
“This is not appropriate. Although I am passionate about this matter, it is not what I seek for myself.”
Sars lowered his head and spoke with some disappointment,
“If that’s the case and your heart isn’t in this matter then all I can do is express my regret.”
Seeing how upset Sars was made Gu Ming feel bad as well so he said,
“Don’t be sad. Although my heart isn’t fully into this matter there still exists some passion within me for it. There should still be time for me to create some works of art for you occasionally.”
Upon hearing these words Sars almost jumped up with joy and excitedly asked,
“Do you really mean that?”
Gu Ming nodded and replied
“A gentleman’s word is his bond.”
Hearing Gu Ming’s promise made Sars pledge as well
“Sir’s generosity will never be forgotten by me – your first fan! Each masterpiece will be passed down through generations!”
Gu Ming didn’t comment on this but simply stated two words: settle the bill.
“Why would you say such a thing? You have been so kind to me! If I were to accept money from you then that would make me unkind; if I let you work hard without any compensation then that would make me unjust; please accept my humble token of appreciation.”
These words made Gu Ming feel somewhat embarrassed. But looking into his sincere eyes, Gu Ming felt that if he didn’t accept the money today, he might not even be able to leave.
Gu Ming opened the bag of money and was shocked. It was full of gold coins.
“Wow, does writing books make this much money?”
Sas thought Gu Ming was unsatisfied with the amount because he remained still.
“Sir, if you think it’s not enough, I can go home and get more,” Sas offered.
Gu Ming quickly stopped him.
“That’s enough, more than enough. I’m very… extremely satisfied.”
“That’s good to hear. Now sir, what should we use as your pen name for publishing?”
This made Gu Ming pause for a moment before deciding to use his online username from his previous life.
“Just call me ‘Despicable Foreigner’.”
“Alright, I’ll be sure to remember that… sir,” Sas responded with an awkward demeanor that sent a chill down Gu Ming’s spine.
“This kid isn’t gay is he?” Gu Ming thought to himself.
But Sas’s next words immediately cleared up any misconceptions about him.
“Sir?”
“What… What is it?”
“Could you sign this for me?”
“Um… okay, hand me the pen.”
Sas handed over the pen and pointed out where he wanted the signature on the book.
Gu Ming promptly signed in an artistic style of another world’s script while Sas praised him mindlessly from one side,
“You have such beautiful handwriting sir.”
“Too kind.”
Gu Ming smiled modestly, then prepared to leave.
After seeing Gu Ming to the door of the shop, Sass bid him farewell.
“Take care, sir.”
Gu Ming casually waved his hand and said,
“You take care too, brother.”
…
On the way,
Gu Ming was delighted inside.
“So this is what it feels like to have fans. Not bad at all.
Pigsy, Pigsy, you’re not a bad guy. Pigsy, Pigsy, so adorably foolish… ‘A Pig Fell from Heaven’…”
What the cheerful Gu Ming didn’t know yet was what kind of terror awaited him at home.