Chapter 1042: with translation of chapter title

No. 165: Questioning the self that will not go OOC

Often, 'not OOC' is the lowest standard for fan creation.

But just as often, 'not OOC' is the hardest standard for fan creation.

Because the character images in the creation perhaps differ in everyone's heart.

Even if there is a fixed, official image that can be listed as a formulaic form.

Even if that image is as thin as a sheet of paper.

People can also see differences from it.

This difference stems not only from differences in perspective and cognition, but also is tinged with each viewer's own worldview.

When watching audiovisual works, it's not hard to see such a phenomenon: the same event, the same person, everyone will show their own understanding.

Even the character analyses and event interpretations done by public figures with many fans, who appear to have substantial substance, likewise show certain differences.

The root of disputes between people lies in that difference which is hard to mutually understand.

And in the creative field, we simply call it 'many mouths, hard to tune'.

Although aesthetic differences between people are certainly worthy of respect, they are definitely not a reason for compromise.

The creator will reveal their own positional bias in the work's creation, and that itself is part of what the work intends to express.

So when Aomo's script was rushed to the second, third, and fourth acts, having already completed the opening and middle plot of two short pieces, the Thus we have term: ailishuma club saw some controversy.

Simply put, it is an inevitable link in the cooperation between Party A and Party B.

Such remarks as 'Should we XXX a bit here?', 'I have another idea', 'This doesn't match my conception!'—after Aomo confirmed that Shu Zi Lao Shi shared his sensory stance, he paid no heed.

Since the big boss in Party A's group is fine, let him go debate the scholars.

If it really doesn't work, letting that opinionated guy write it himself wouldn't matter, right? Originally it was supposed to be a short manga collection, and that artist seems almost superhuman, truly able to fumble out results on his own that would make the other want to draw, which wouldn't be wasting resources.

After all, that meticulous-style painter hasn't yet entered work.

In this morning, Aomo had been grasping every second, even while eating not forgetting to multithread think the outline; although he had achieved an astonishing completion rate, he was still far from finished.

It was originally a deadline that would drive people mad, not so easy to rush, but knowing his own affairs, Aomo is quite satisfied with the current progress efficiency, and he is confident he can send the complete manga script to that artist before the day after tomorrow.

So he paused, and paused quite decisively.

Caught in the after-school time when today's trainer work had just ended, he left no pressure for his off-duty self.

Of course, in fact the pressure is already full.

After all, it is now 5:20 p. m.

The vast majority of schools let out at this time, and at the same time, most companies with regular working hours let employees off work.

Although the working hours of dispatched staff at logistics companies are hard to say, if she wanted to take leave, presumably no one would block the procedures.

Even possibly a penguin boss might voluntarily give her a holiday.

"'So have you set the place and time with her?' The inquiring voice pressed against the ear, overwhelming the wind's pressure with proximity."

"'Yes, and the time is quite ample,' Aomo, who for once was not wearing a helmet, let the slight pressure on his right shoulder continue, 'but that address is a place where volume needs attention.'"

He rode his Beta motorcycle through the city streets of Jiemen District, just having left the school gate of Sai.

"'Eh~'"

"'Under Zhouri Ningjing's coffee shop, there are many bigwigs who relax there; regardless of drink quality or customer caliber, both are quite high.'"

"Aomo explained: 'Conversely, it can naturally exclude certain troublemakers.'"

"'It's actually Zhouri Ningjing...' Sai didn't know what to say, 'Don't you think she might proactively bring a bunch of people to come watch?'"

"'No, she actually understands the meaning of rules better than she appears.'"

"Aomo said, glancing at the traffic in the rearview mirror."

"As expected, a bright red streak mixed in among them."

"How many people are actually paying attention to this today, he really can't say."

"Even his four subordinate horse girls, when parting, also showed a bit of hesitation to speak, making him feel somewhat subtle."

"After all, if they really cared about this matter, they shouldn't be reacting this way; they should be giving encouragement or blessings or the like… his subordinate girls are basically all good kids."

"Perhaps they're just not used to encountering this complicated emotional situation themselves."

"Aomo knows in his heart that the decision he is about to make would, for ordinary girls, indeed be hard to cheer or bless."

"But even so, he probably will still pay attention in some way… after all, this kind of thing is just like when they once watched Yu Tai at Azalea Terrace High."

"Even on Aomo's light screen popped up a message from the badger, asking if he wouldn't come back tonight to cook, and whether she herself should just settle something at an outside shop."

"My childhood and teenage self also never spoke of this… how widespread has this become?"

"Feeling that it would soon turn into a situation where bushes talk, trees talk, and air talks, Aomo restrained himself from directly inviting Cherenina to the office, or from going to her house himself."

"To be frank, he actually doesn't mind others' gazes, after all he's been accustomed since childhood to working under others' eyes."

"The so-called 'display' art is thus cultivated, enabling him to choose the living environment he hopes to obtain."

"Even when facing important occasions in romance, he doesn't think there will be anything recorded that would make him feel ashamed."

"But the situation of responding to a confession, surrounded by an atmosphere like a group of axe-wielders, always feels rather off, and he doesn't know how Cherenina would think about it."

"Although he can also guess that the other side probably has some 'tails' as well, being followed regarding this matter and the other person's thoughts are two different things."

"Feelings have always been a two-person matter; a confession is more like a 1v1 showdown."

"Only such a stage can reveal each other's operational execution; at this time, any onlookers are really superfluous, even if they are actively hiding their presence."

"Once their presence becomes clear, it will create an invisible pressure, showing a hint of coercion."

"The most direct manifestation of this case is when some people confess in a large public setting and are then stirred up by a crowd of men and women."

"What appears to be a beautiful, heated scene is actually the crowd's will being imposed."

"The one being confessed to often has a blank mind, swept by the atmosphere into making a hasty decision."

"In a sense, this also counts as a tactical choice available to the confessor."

Although some are despicable, there are also many who claim that feelings and love are inherently a manifestation of despicableness.

But Aomo is not that kind of person.

Although love itself is a battle of offense and defense, employing such tactics from the start only sets the stage for defeat.

As everyone knows, a sneak attack only has value before or after a greeting; a sneak attack during a greeting is worth less than a frog's urine.

Qielienina is obviously not that kind of person either; although she made that confession in front of everyone, she likewise gave Aomo time.

Think calmly, then decide—that is what she meant to express, but it is not only directed at Aomo; it is likely also directed at herself.

She actually wants to escape as well, and Aomo is well aware of that.

Liking someone does not necessarily mean one must confess, nor does it mean one must be together; this is not only for the other's sake, but also because one feels unprepared to fully commit.

Rather than preparing to bear someone else's life, it is more like making room in one's own private domain for personal preparation.

In fact, aside from a portion of the East Flame people, young people in other regions do not hold the fixed notion that love must lead to marriage.

Even in the Jidong region, holding this mindset in a relationship is itself seen as a trait of 'gravity man/gravity woman,' imposing great pressure on both parties.

But Aomo cannot help but admit that he indeed harbors such thoughts.

He dislikes stories that end without conclusion, and he dislikes feelings that collapse midway; he believes Qielienina shares this view, and nobody likes wasting time.

Therefore, if he feels unprepared, he simply avoids thinking about it, unconsciously evading the matter and pretending it does not exist.

After all, love is a two‑person game; if either party is unprepared, they must prepare to endure torment together.

Such a development would be better off not happening—one would likely think that way, then wait for a personal breakthrough, or be pulled out of self‑consumption by someone else.

Aomo is undoubtedly the latter, while Qielienina…

At first glance, it seems that being pressed by Aomo's affairs and the people around him has stimulated the former.

But whether that is merely a momentary bravery, even Aomo is not entirely sure.

After all, over these two days he and Qielienina have been in a state of utter disconnection, akin to a cold war, with no further information forthcoming.

And he believes she feels the same.

Even if well‑meaning people nearby might try to push things forward, neither will accept it; instead, each will remain focused on staying calm, waiting to see how the other reacts.

It feels awkward, yet it will also be straightforward.

Because a clear mind will not allow itself to waste time on useless pursuits.

Or put another way, an efficiency freak cannot tolerate wasting time like this.

In their hearts they have a personal deadline that forces them to make a decision before it arrives.

No matter what choice is made, they must definitely break free from the current ambiguous state.

So he will not conceal or delay this matter from Xintiaoqian.

Even if this will clash with her views and provoke her anger, he still went ahead with the morning conversation.

To be frank, there actually are approaches that look better.

Whether it's time management or counter‑intelligence awareness, his various abilities seem already primed for the classic playboy‑womanizer setup; all that remains is to sever a bit of conscience, and he could maintain a façade that appears satisfactory to everyone, like many chaotic relationship protagonists of today.

But that is merely an appearance of being better.

He never even needed a second to consider it; he never wanted to become that kind of person, and since returning from Dujuantai these past days, he has grown increasingly weary of suppressing himself, forcing himself to act like a bland, featureless passerby.

Moreover, this time he is facing someone of the same kind.

Why bother hiding his abnormality any further?

Besides, you have long since lost the detached, causeless, responsibility‑free observer stance.

Everyone already knows the truth inside out; what difference is there between a meaningless pretense and a rag?

Thus, he even brought his current girlfriend to that coffee shop that faces the confessor.

Under Zhouri Ningjing's utterly displeased glare, he and Xintiaoqian finished ordering, then turned their gaze back to Qielienina sitting directly opposite.

"This place can detain Leimiule and Lapulande together, and it has equipment that blocks municipal networks and interferes with electromagnetic waves; after all, it is also a leisure spot for officials and dignitaries, and nobody wants to run into trouble here."

He said, then crossed his fingers and pressed them to his nose, gazing at this calm, silent 'challenger'.

"Although you said two days ago that you would wait for my reply, now, two days later… perhaps it is you who needs to answer."

He spoke, and in his dark‑red pupils, the black slit seemed poised to split the quiet girl in two.

Together with her attractive blue‑gold gradient eyes.

He uttered something akin to a challenge before a court verdict:

"Qielienina, at this moment, can you still hold to the stance you took two days ago?"