Chapter 297

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you.】

【Xiyuanji Qilai: That... I have something I want to ask you.】

【Natsume Chikage: What is it?】

【Xiyuanji Qilai: No... let's talk about it when we meet tomorrow. It's not early now, I'm a bit sleepy, good night.】

【Natsume Chikage:... Good night.】

He was a bit confused and didn't know what Xiyuanji Qilai wanted to ask.

But he didn't pursue it; he would know tomorrow anyway.

Finally, his gaze fell on the message sent by Yue Dao Lin around 8:30 at the very top.

【Yue Dao Lin: Natsume-kun, have you returned home?】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm, actually, not long after I parted with you, I returned home.】

The reply came almost immediately.

【Yue Dao Lin: You're only replying now... Could it be that the guest only left not long ago?】

【Natsume Chikage: That's not it, Auntie Miyuki left around nine o'clock. It's just that I rarely open LINE, and I basically only check it before going to bed at night.】

【Yue Dao Lin: (=^_^=) So that's how it is, that's great, I thought Natsume-kun you were deliberately not replying to my message.】

【Natsume Chikage:... How could that be.】

【Yue Dao Lin: Speaking of which, I didn't expect to meet you by chance today. And I was saved by you; if you weren't there, I don't know what would have happened...】

【Natsume Chikage: Just a small favor, even if it were Senior Araki and the others, if they saw you weren't feeling well, they would make the same choice as me.】

【Yue Dao Lin: Mm-hmm—but regardless, thank you very much this time, if there is a chance, please be sure to let me repay you!】

【Natsume Chikage: Really no need...】

【Yue Dao Lin: (。^＿^。) It's already very late, since Natsume-kun you are preparing to sleep, I won't disturb you, good night.】

【Natsume Chikage: Good night...】

After the message was sent, the chat box fell into silence.

Natsume Chikage thought she had agreed not to need repayment, so he didn't say anything else.

At this time.

He remembered that the pen name had been decided, so he took the initiative to send a message to the publishing house's editor, Gao Qiaochun.

【Natsume Chikage: Editor Gao Qiaochun, have you slept yet?】

The reply came very quickly.

【Gao Qiaochun: No, Teacher Natsume, is there anything you need me for? Just say it, even if I have to go over to your place to help now, I can totally do it!】

【Natsume Chikage:... That's not needed. I sent this message just to say that I've thought of the pen name.】

【Gao Qiaochun: That's great, if the pen name is decided, I can start contacting the printing factory. So what is the pen name? I'll note it down now.】

【Natsume Chikage: 'Sanchinri'.】

【Gao Qiaochun: 'Sanchinri'? What a special pen name... Did you think of this yourself, Teacher Natsume?】

【Natsume Chikage: No, my sister helped me think of it.】

【Gao Qiaochun: I see... No wonder I said it sounded a bit like a girl's pen name. But regardless, this pen name is very nice. If you have no problem, Teacher, I will confirm this pen name.】

【Natsume Chikage: No problem, let's use this one.】

【Gao Qiaochun: Okay. Is there anything else, Teacher Natsume? If so, please don't hesitate, just order me.】

【Natsume Chikage: No more.】

【Gao Qiaochun: Okay, it's already very late, I won't disturb your rest, Teacher, good night.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm, good night.】

After replying to everyone's messages, the screen's light looked particularly dazzling in the darkness.

Natsume Chikage adjusted the phone brightness to the lowest, opened the document, and started typing.

His fingertips tapped rapidly on the virtual keyboard, making subtle, rhythmic sounds.

Time passed quietly in focus.

It wasn't until the time at the top of the phone screen jumped to "00:00" that he stopped and rubbed his somewhat dry eyes.

He closed the document and turned off the screen.

The room was once again shrouded in complete darkness.

Natsume Chikage lay down and adjusted his posture on the not-so-spacious bed.

He was the type who needed to toss and turn on the bed for a while before he could settle his thoughts and slowly fall asleep.

Before closing his eyes, the many fragments of today played back in his mind involuntarily.

He silently calculated the income and expenditure of the day.

The 10,000 yen won from Tian Feng.

The 20,000 yen won from winning the second round of the match.

A total of 30,000.

But treating Senior Yasui and the others to dinner at night, at 3,000 yen per person, for four people, it was 12,000.

Calculated this way, the bet won from Tian Feng almost exactly covered the expenses of this treat.

He only spent an extra 2,000 yen.

Fortunately, Tian Feng "delivered" himself to the door, otherwise this treat would really be considered a "small hemorrhage".

However, returning the treat was still appropriate.

In any case, that "dust-covered chessboard" was ultimately a gifted item.

Since Senior Yasui was willing to return it, he should return the favor.

Now that the matter was resolved satisfactorily, it was a good thing after all.

There were no shogi matches for the next few days.

He didn't know if the publishing house would contact him again in the near future.

As long as there was nothing else, there was no need to go again in the short term.

If there was, he would arrange the time then.

And the most important thing right now seemed to be continuing to write "Snow Country".

Anyway, "The Devotion of Suspect X" had already been submitted, and the progress of "Snow Country" didn't need to be too urgent.

Then, the focus of the next few days could be placed on trying to "collect" those "special equipment" he had seen before.

He had already personally experienced the power of attribute points.

Currently known, "Spirit" can accelerate thinking and make the mind clear.

"Physique" perhaps enhanced vitality?

As for "Strength" and "Agility", because he hadn't added points yet, the specific effects were not yet clear, but they shouldn't deviate much from the names themselves.

As for "Charm", there was nothing to mention...

As for whether there would be deeper changes after the five-dimensional attributes continued to improve?

It was still unknown.

To know, he needed more attribute points.

The acquisition of attribute points was closely linked to "collecting special equipment".

Therefore, Natsume Chikage decided that the next focus would be to try "collecting"!

Subsequently.

His thoughts gradually blurred, and he sank to the edge of sleep.

The next morning.

Subway platform.

The morning light was faint, and the air carried an unscattered chill.

"The pen name was adopted by the editor? That's great!"

Natsume Ruri's eyes immediately curved into crescents upon hearing this news, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.

She then remembered something, looked up, and asked:

"By the way, Brother, you went out early this morning, are you exercising like before?"

Natsume Chikage nodded.

"Mm, I've been waking up early recently, and since I'm idle, I went out to move around."