Chapter 661

Come to think of it.

This novel should have been finished yesterday.

But one thing after another dragged it out until now.

But it's not a big problem.

Now he has read to the final part.

He thinks he can finish reading it completely tonight.

He opened the pages of the book, soon immersed himself in the world of words, and occasionally raised his eyes, his gaze drifting unconsciously toward the three busy and happy backs in the kitchen.

After a while.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui's voice sounded with a happy sense of accomplishment:

"Done—time to eat!"

Natsume Chikage closed the book and looked up.

He saw that the small low table was already filled to the brim.

Three plates of steaming stir-fried dishes were tempting in color, emitting different aromas.

Four bowls of rice were also served, among which his and Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui's bowls were obviously piled like small mountains, while Natsume Ruri's and Kaga Reisa's were normal girl-sized portions.

None of the three girls picked up their chopsticks first, but instead looked at Natsume Chikage in unison, full of expectation.

As if he were the "food critic" who needed to taste the dishes first.

Natsume Ruri's eyes were bright, pointing to the dishes and introducing them:

"Brother, hurry and taste! These three dishes, I, Reisa-chan, and Sister Fujiwara were each responsible for one! How do you think they taste?"

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui also held her breath, nervous yet expectant:

"Natsume-kun, does this taste... suit your palate? I specifically adjusted the spiciness."

Kaga Reisa clutched the corner of her clothes slightly, her voice thin and soft but earnest:

"Brother Natsume... if, if you think there's anything that doesn't taste good... please be sure to tell us. We... we will improve in the future."

Natsume Chikage, under the focus of six gazes, picked up his chopsticks and tasted the three dishes one by one.

He savored them carefully and smiled:

"No need to improve at all."

"On the contrary, they all taste very good, and I like them very much."

"And I didn't expect that, besides Ruri, your cooking skills, Fujiwara-san and Kaga-san, are also so great."

Hearing this, smiles of relief and immense happiness bloomed on the three girls' faces instantly.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui watched Natsume Chikage start to eat heartily, and a sense of indescribable satisfaction and happiness surged in her heart.

She understands a little now why it is said that "to capture a man's heart, first capture his stomach."

Natsume-kun also seems to be someone who knows how to appreciate good food, which is exactly the same as herself.

However, Natsume-kun seems to rarely cook himself, after all, there is Ruri, the "kitchen manager," at home.

So... can she take him to explore more delicious shops and use food to quietly close the distance?

Thinking of this, the corners of Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui's mouth couldn't help but curl up, feeling that this strategy was highly feasible.

Although Natsume Ruri had long since figured out her brother's taste, watching her brother eat so deliciously, mouthful after mouthful, she still felt sweet inside, like drinking warm honey water.

As for Kaga Reisa, those always lowered eyes were now quietly and focusedly following every movement of Natsume Chikage eating.

She silently kept in mind his subtle expressions while tasting and his preferred order of picking up food.

At the same time, she also deeply engraved in her mind the satisfied expression he had when eating the dishes she had made with her own hands.

At this moment.

A three-mat room, a warm lamp, a table of simple meals, three girls, one teenager.

Amidst the noisy comedy background sound of the television, they strangely formed a warm, harmonious, and life-filled picture.

They shared simple food, occasionally chatted a few words, and time flowed quietly amidst the light clinking of bowls and chopsticks and sporadic laughter.

After finishing the late-night snack.

The girls nimbly cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks.

Soon, they gathered around the small low table again, heads together, and re-entered the heated manga discussion time.

Natsume Chikage looked at their engaged appearance and couldn't help but feel a bit of curiosity.

He asked softly:

"Can I take a look too? Your manga."

Natsume Ruri immediately raised her head, her smile bright:

"Of course you can! On the contrary, we originally intended for Brother to be the first reader!"

Kaga Reisa also rarely took the initiative, carefully organized a stack of drawing drafts, held them with both hands, and handed them to Natsume Chikage:

"Brother Natsume, please... please take a look."

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui also nodded with a smile on the side, full of confidence:

"I think it's super great! After you finish reading, Natsume-kun, tell us your thoughts too!"

Natsume Chikage took the stack of drawing drafts, nodded, and began to read them earnestly.

After the revision, the outline of the plot is roughly as follows:

A male high school student who is an extreme shut-in meets a girl with a warm smile on the street one day.

A word of encouragement from the girl unintentionally is like a beam of light shooting into his gray world, making him determined to change himself.

Through unremitting efforts, he successfully transforms into a popular figure at school, handsome and outstanding.

However, the girl who gave him light at the beginning, because of suffering from school bullying, becomes closed off and refuses to go to school.

The boy, just like being saved by her back then, starts to clumsily but firmly encourage her time and time again, trying to pull her out of the shadows.

At the same time, the top school beauty at school, who is also outstanding and dazzling, also becomes interested in the male lead and starts to intervene strongly.

The goddess even uses a boy who also likes the female lead to create an ambiguously angled photo—in the photo, the female lead and that boy look like they are chatting happily, just like a couple.

This photo plants a seed of doubt in the male lead's heart, and the relationship between the male and female leads develops a crack because of this...

But in the end, relying on their initial trust in each other and the firm love hidden deep in their hearts, they break through the misunderstandings and obstacles and come together.

Overall.

The story core is positive, and the plot twists are reasonable.

Although it is a short story, the rhythm is fast and not dragging, and the setting of conflict points effectively enhances the watchability.

Natsume Chikage finished reading carefully, handed the drawing drafts back to the girls who were looking at him expectantly, and nodded sincerely in praise:

"After the revision, the rhythm is indeed much tighter than the previous version."

"The newly added conflict also makes the story more tense and attractive. It's really good."

Hearing this, Natsume Ruri was so happy she almost jumped up:

"Even Brother says so! It seems our version is really revised correctly!"

Kaga Reisa knew that Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui contributed the most to this revision, turned to her, and thanked her earnestly:

"Yeah... I really have to thank Sister Fujiwara. Without your advice, we wouldn't have revised it so quickly."

Natsume Ruri also nodded quickly:

"Right, right! Sister Fujiwara is super amazing!"

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui was a bit embarrassed by the praise, rubbed her nose, and giggled:

"Oh, don't say that."

"Your original story foundation was already very good, it just needed a little dramatic 'seasoning'."

"Just adjust it a little, and the effect comes out immediately!"

Natsume Chikage remembered the key question and asked:

"Ruri, Kaga-san, when do you plan to contact the editor to submit?"

Natsume Ruri and Kaga Reisa looked at each other and replied:

"Since Brother also thinks there's no problem... we plan to send emails to several manga publishers we've been eyeing tonight to book a time for an editor interview."

"It will most likely be booked for Saturday afternoon, as there are no classes that day, and the time is relatively abundant."

Kaga Reisa's tone carried a trace of imperceptible anxiety:

"It's just... I don't know what it will be like when we meet then..."

Hearing this, a trace of worry also flashed in Natsume Ruri's bright eyes.

After all, it was the hard work that she and Reisa had put into several days and nights.