Chapter 76: Advancing Haltingly

It's getting late; if they lingered any longer, even if this place allowed performances, the police would come asking—after all, they were all wearing school uniforms.

The Mercedes-Benz MPV drove up, and everyone loaded their instruments onto it.

Only Qingshan Li's wife Agatsuma Haruka, Bass Sakurako, Drummer Gu Meng Shi, and F·Rino got in the car this time; this vehicle would take them straight home.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

"Little brother, I'm counting on you~"

"Don't push yourself too hard~"

After waving goodbye to the four, Qingshan Li, holding a camera, said to Ono Mika, "Mihana, when we go back, let's go buy a computer together, and pick up a mobile phone for Miyuki on the way?"

"I was just about to ask what editing software you want to use." Ono Mika wore a look of sudden realization.

"Buy a phone, buy a phone~" Ono Mizuki almost jumped up dancing.

Ono Mika and Qingshan Li both laughed.

Qingshan Li also looked forward to it: "With a computer, I can finally get away from manuscript paper and type on the computer."

"Then let's buy it!" Ono Mika was in high spirits.

Qingshan Li looked at Mikami Ai, and the Ono Sisters also glanced at her.

"Mikami Classmate, thank you for your help." Ono Mika bowed in thanks.

"Thank you, Senior~" Ono Mizuki also bowed, then glared at Qingshan Li.

To her surprise, as she bowed and looked up, Qingshan Li, also bowing, was looking at her and smiling smugly.

'Hmph~' Ono Mizuki said silently, and after lowering her head, a smile appeared on her face.

She couldn't say what it was inside—perhaps a feeling of being tamed, or a sense of tacit understanding, or perhaps the feeling of the other person accommodating her.

"No need to thank me, really!" Mikami Ai was full of guilt.

But she had promised Qingshan Li to hide it for him, so she couldn't be honest with them.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Ono Mika, she took her leave and departed.

A 62S slid silently to the roadside; after Mikami Ai got in, another Mercedes-Benz MPV appeared and followed along.

"By the way, Mihana, do you want to change your phone?" Qingshan Li said.

Ono Mika's and his mobile phones were both old and outdated.

"You just want a new one yourself, right?" Ono Mizuki immediately teased him.

"Nonsense!" Qingshan Li quibbled, but looked as if he really thought so.

The three chatted idly as they walked down the street; various lights were charming, the evening breeze was gentle, and it was a good season to appreciate cherry leaves.

Finally, at Qingshan Li's insistence, they walked into the Apple Store.

He himself had no special feeling for Apple phones; in his past life he had finally switched to another phone, but unfortunately hadn't used it for long.

But he knew women's fondness for this brand.

Upon entering the store, the latest model cost 160,000 yen!

Too expensive—Ono Mizuki secretly made faces at the other two, looking as if she were struck speechless.

"Since we're buying, let's buy the latest model." Qingshan Li analyzed, "If you buy an old model, it doesn't matter if you use it yourself, but at school, with classmates around, you'd feel it's lacking something."

"No way! Who's as vain as you!" Ono Mizuki immediately retorted, "I just need a regular smartphone!"

"Buy it!" Ono Mika suddenly said.

"Sister?" Ono Mizuki was puzzled, "I really don't need one!"

"This is Li's money, he gets to decide." Ono Mika said somewhat playfully.

"That's right, it's my money!" Qingshan Li put on the air of the head of the household, "I've decided: we each get one mobile phone, you two each get one tablet, and I want one computer."

"No!" the Ono Sisters said at the same time, firmly disagreeing.

Saying things like "there's no difference between a phone and a tablet," "wait until after university to buy, it affects studies now," "save money," and so on.

After Qingshan Li persuaded them and even promised not to spend recklessly, and even brought out reasons like "there's also a set of real estate worth hundreds of millions" and "after we graduate from university, won't the three of us earn money?", the two still refused to agree.

No matter what, they wouldn't budge.

One hundred million yen was still too little.

However, his words weren't entirely wasted; all three switched to older model Apple phones.

"Then I'll buy an older model computer too, anyway I only use it to write drafts and edit videos." He said.

"Editing videos requires performance, right?" Ono Mika was willing to buy a new one.

"You're supporting us, so the equipment can't be subpar!" Ono Mizuki also said.

"Alright, by the way, the memory should be larger."

A computer like that cost as much as three new phones; when Ono Mika paid, her expression looked less like paying and more like selling blood.

On the train home, Ono Mizuki impatiently studied her new phone.

Ono Mika was steadier, but her gaze fixed on Ono Mizuki studying the phone could feel her anticipation and curiosity.

Qingshan Li, protecting the two, laughed.

Writing novels, enjoying life, neither bothering others nor failing to make those around him happy—he really liked this kind of life.

Returned home.

"Study!" Ono Mika commanded forcefully.

Ono Mizuki was about to obey, but Qingshan Li pointed at the notebook and said, "I need to edit a video, probably two hours."

Ono Mika checked the time on her new phone.

It's nine o'clock now; two hours later is eleven o'clock.

She thought for a moment and said, "Then you go take a shower first, and work after your shower. Mizuki, before your shower, you can play with your phone for a while."

"Wonderful, thank you, Big Sis~" Ono Mizuki rose on her toes, her sweet lips planting a kiss on Ono Mika's tender cheek.

"How come I don't get one?" Qingshan Li protested, feeling he was being treated differently.

"Hmph, dream on, I'm going to run your bathwater!" Ono Mizuki walked away contemptuously.

After confirming Ono Mizuki couldn't hear, Qingshan Li secretly told Ono Mika, "Later you can also sneak in some phone time."

Ono Mika also secretly told him, "I was planning to do that too."

The two laughed, Ono Mika kept gazing into Qingshan Li's eyes.

Tonight, the Ono Sisters discovered each other's toilet trips were taking a bit long.

Even Qingshan Li, in his own room, fiddled with the new phone for a while.

Then he started editing video.

He didn't hand it directly to the System; the System does things too perfectly, it would give him away.

—System, can't you lower the quality a bit?

The System did not respond.

—Useless! And you claim to have Intelligence!

Qingshan Li opened YouTube, learned how to edit, and incidentally looked up and downloaded editing software.

Some required payment.

"They still want my money?" Qingshan Li immediately felt the pinch.

Have Seiten Band split the cost? A bit stingy, he has money now, no need to be this tightfisted.

But that was just money in his card.

Ask Ono Mika? Qingshan Li could already envision her pained expression.

Any pirated versions?

"Li?" The door opened, the freshly showered Ono Mika poked her head in.

"Mika-nee, you came at just the right time, come in quick." Qingshan Li beckoned.

Ono Mika walked in, knelt beside him, a faint fresh fragrance lingering.

Ono Mika's pajamas were conservative, but worn long, very thin, clearly revealing the slenderness of her waist.

Her hair draped over her left shoulder, quiet and gentle with a touch of allure, like a married woman.

"Editing software seems to cost money." He said.

". How much?"

Sure enough, she felt the pinch.

"So I plan to use the free version, just the result might be crude, should be fine, right?"

"Just need to prove we have activity, doesn't need to be too good, right?" Ono Mika mused.

"Then fine, I'll just do a simple edit." Qingshan Li said, "Pro software for me would be a waste, might only use it this once."

Because it was Qingshan Li who would use it, Ono Mika was reluctant but couldn't help hesitating; now hearing him say that, she set her mind at ease.

"Then use the free version." She said, "Rest early, okay."

"Mm."

Ono Mika rose and left; Qingshan Li watching her back could clearly see through her pajamas.

Clothes should be bought new too.

But given the two's personalities, they probably wouldn't buy anything too good.

One Hundred Million ah One Hundred Million, you're not impressive either.

Qingshan Li continued learning editing.

Actually the "Editing" skill is not bad; in this era, even schools have started teaching students how to shoot videos, act in short dramas.

Pity, the System does it too perfectly.

On the computer screen, scenes switched, the timeline jumped, Qingshan Li operated clumsily.

The new phone lit up; because the old phone was really too old, the old-model Apple's glow actually looked quite high-tech.

【Agatsuma Haruka: Little Brother, hard work, how far has the work progressed?】

【F·Rino: I looked up info, editing video takes unexpectedly long, don't stay up too late.】

【Bass Sakurako: Just edit the few segments with the most audience, that's enough, no need to overthink it, Junior Student. (Attached a pre-shower mirror selfie)】

【Mikami Ai: Free? Want to chat a bit.】

【Drummer Mumi: Thanks for today!】

【Ono Mika: Rest early, don't affect tomorrow's exam】

【Ono Mizuki: (Good Night emoticon pack)】

Qingshan Li didn't pay attention.

Past life habit, Apple phone he subconsciously kept on silent.

【Video Editing E↑】

Qingshan Li stared fixedly at the screen, fully concentrated, sometimes pondering, sometimes operating rapidly as if struck by inspiration.

11:30, he finally finished work.

Picked up his phone, browsed messages one by one, felt Ono Mizuki's good night was simply because she wanted to play on her phone.

Long-press saved Bass Sakurako's photo, can threaten her with it later, make her perform properly, not drag Ono Mika down — that last sentence of course would never be said outright.

Everyone should be asleep by now, he thought a bit, didn't reply.

Drink water, go to the toilet.

When he came back, like a Home Security Guard, he stood at the Ono Sisters' bedroom door, eavesdropping on whether they were playing on phones or tablets.

Returning to the room, Qingshan Li looked over the edit once.

"Crude and shoddy." Even he himself felt contempt for it.

But it was already enough, not worth spending more time on.

Taking out the textbook, he began to study, also on his own.

After suffering many losses, besides training his body, he didn't really want to rely on the system anymore.

Actually, just being able to see the 'Skill Name' and the '↑' was enough to give him motivation to learn that surpassed ordinary people.

At one o'clock, he started yawning; at one-thirty, tears welled up.

At two o'clock, he put down the book, lay on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

At four o'clock, when that familiar alarm of the Apple mobile phone rang, there was a moment when he thought he was lying on the bed of his previous life.

Couldn't get up.

Completely couldn't get up.

——System.

Every day like this, isn't that a kind of laziness!

——Give you a day off!

Qingshan Li gritted his teeth and got up himself, threw off the quilt, got out of bed, put on clothes, and sat at the low table to study National Language.

It seems it's not the previous life, just simply not having woken up fully.

Later I'll still change the ringtone, to avoid causing neurasthenia.

An hour later, he put down National Language and picked up English.

The exam is divided into two days; the first day only tests National Language and English.

English is this important because Kaimei High School is adjacent to various countries' embassies, and the school has quite a few foreign children.

Because he was very sleepy, he would occasionally open the system panel, draw motivation from 【Intelligence B↑】, and incidentally confirm whether he had truly learned it.

Qingshan Li advanced in just this halting, stumbling way.

(Chapter End)