Chapter 98: Thank You for Unlocking Me!!!

After midnight tonight, the book will be unlocked.

Three chapters will be updated at midnight, and three to four more will be added tomorrow, totaling around 12,000 to 14,000 words.

The minimum for a new book is 6,000 words; I’ll try my best to hit 10,000 words a day.

The bonus chapter rules follow those of my previous buddy (Sajia Jiu Sa Yi Di):

One alliance leader adds one bonus chapter, two hundred monthly votes add one bonus chapter, and if first-subscription reaches two thousand, I’ll lock myself in the room and write until I collapse (just kidding, don’t take it seriously—I’m talking about first-subscription).

…

Now comes the familiar book promotion section—my buddies are few, but I can only say I’m the weakest in our group; it’s up to your interest.

《Sajia Lu Zhishen, the White Snake Comes to Repay a Debt?》—a xianxia brain-bending story; the title tells you exactly where the hook is.

《Dream of the Red Chamber: I Found a Lin Daiyu》—one of the few quality Dream of the Red Chamber stories on Qidian.

《Damn, I Became a Villain NPC》—also titled 《Pure-hearted Maidens, Please Stop Offering Me Your Loyalty!》

…

Let me vent a little.

I’m just a 27-year-old laid-off software tester who jumped into web novels out of interest, ended up making no money and burning through all my savings.

Honestly, the most anxious time wasn’t now, when I’m drowning in debt, but earlier this year, watching my bank balance slowly drain away, my first novel failing to hit 500 average subscriptions, and not even qualifying for the full-time bonus.

I couldn’t tell my parents—because all it would do is make them lose sleep too, with no real benefit—so I had to endure it alone; anyone who’s been through it knows exactly what that feels like.

That previous job—I wouldn’t have stayed in it if the industry hadn’t collapsed these past two years. I felt like a screw, valueless, unsure what purpose my work even served.

Writing may make me poor and draw more critics, but at least someone reads it. During this book’s new-release period, watching the follow-up count slowly climb, I nearly had a heart attack from joy.

That feeling is priceless.

I’m not saying this to beg for sympathy, but because this book finally shows me a glimmer of hope to pay off my debts—all my words boil down to one word…

Shit!

The only regret is that I just missed the Three Rivers strong push.

Big-name authors all released books at once.

Feng Chao Huang and Cuo Nai E dominated the new-book rankings.

They pushed the Three Rivers strong push requirements sky-high.

Still, with current follow-up numbers (Thursday’s data was around 4,300), the dog author is already very satisfied.

Aside from that one issue with the Hawk-Eye plot point that angered some patrons, everything else has been an upward curve.

All I can say is, thank you, dear readers, for giving me my meal.

The major plot outline points have been fully mapped out; I just need to fill in the details as I write.

…

My lord!!!

Please, I beg you—first subscriptions!!!

This book’s life-or-death line!!!

(End of chapter)