Chapter 123
This was the first time she had seen such a scene, and Zhuang Chi was somewhat apprehensive. But seeing The Notebook's unhurried demeanor, she felt it probably wasn't a big deal. She quickly understood the situation, but Gu Ximian was still completely bewildered. Looking at the desk, chair, and the self-writing notebook before her, she frowned and asked, “Is this the notebook you mentioned to me before?”
Before Zhuang Chi could speak, words appeared on The Notebook: 【Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you.】
As polite as ever, Zhuang Chi thought. She nodded to Gu Ximian, watched as Gu Ximian, looking uncharacteristically helpless, returned the greeting, and then looked around at the surrounding chaos. “Where is this? I was here as soon as I opened my eyes… Am I in a dream?”
【Answer: Yes.】 The Notebook replied honestly. 【I judged that this was a matter both of you needed to be aware of, so I took the liberty of pulling you into a shared dream. If I have frightened you, I am very sorry.】
“Frightened… not really, because I saw Zhuang Chi soon after…” Gu Ximian said, tightening her grip on Zhuang Chi's hand. Once her initial confusion passed, a sense of novelty washed over her. She couldn't help but look around, murmuring, “Although the fact that I'm the female protagonist of a novel is already quite supernatural, counting the time I saw the Light Ball that only I could see when I was fifteen, this is only the second time I've experienced such a wondrous situation…”
Gu Ximian didn't seem very nervous, likely much more at ease after seeing Zhuang Chi. Zhuang Chi smiled at her, replying, “Well, it's not like I wrote a fantasy novel.” Then she turned to The Notebook. “…Speaking of which, why in a dream? If it's not a big deal and you just needed the two of us, couldn't you have just appeared on a picture frame or something in reality to see us?”
【You are correct, but this time is special.】 The Notebook responded. 【Because this time, it is necessary for the female protagonist to be able to touch me.】
“…”
It was looking for Gu Ximian. Zhuang Chi frowned, feeling that The Notebook was being increasingly suspenseful. Fortunately, it didn't seem to be doing so intentionally and quickly continued: 【Regarding the ability you previously transferred to the female protagonist, 'to change the world with one's subconscious'—】
“?! You're just saying it outright like that?!”
Zhuang Chi's pupils quaked. The secret she had agonized over for so long was revealed so casually by The Notebook. Even though she had cried out in a panic, trying to stop it when it was halfway through writing, she couldn't prevent The Notebook from finishing the sentence: 【—it no longer exists.】
“…Huh? Huh?”
Such a roller coaster of events successfully left Zhuang Chi bewildered. Gu Ximian, having taken in both sentences, frowned and asked first, “What is this ability to change the world with one's subconscious?”
“…You transferred it to me? When?” she asked, looking at the still-unresponsive Zhuang Chi. “How come I've never heard you mention—”
She stopped mid-sentence. Zhuang Chi watched as the look on Gu Ximian's face shifted from confusion to understanding. She knew the reason wasn't hard to guess, and Gu Ximian was very smart; knowing a little was enough for her to piece together the rest. Sure enough, she heard Gu Ximian continue slowly, “…So this is what you've been hiding from me?”
At this point, there was no use denying it. Zhuang Chi sighed and nodded. “Yes.”
“You transferred it to me when I was fifteen?”
“…Yes.”
“Why did you—”
“Wait, wait a minute, Gu Ximian,” Zhuang Chi had to stop her. This would take a long time to explain, and she was still preoccupied with what The Notebook had said about the “ability no longer existing.” “I'll tell you everything, from beginning to end, later. For now, why don't we see what The Notebook has to say…”
Gu Ximian clearly had a long line of questions to ask, but she seemed to agree with Zhuang Chi's suggestion. She took a slow, deep breath and turned back to The Notebook. “…Please continue. What do you mean by 'no longer exists'? From what you said earlier, does it have something to do with Zhuang Chi marking me?”
【Answer: Yes.】 Having waited quietly for their conversation to finish without writing a single word, The Notebook now readily picked up the thread. 【Let me explain briefly.】
【First, I must explain: The essence of Zhuang Chi's original power was actually 'the power to edit and modify this world.' Its source was the complete control she possessed over the novel itself as its author during the writing process.】
【In other words,】 The Notebook paused, then slowly wrote, 【this is a power that primarily applies 'before completion.'】
“…” There are rules like that? Zhuang Chi was completely baffled and couldn't help but interject, “…No, an author can revise their work even after it's finished, right?”
【Other authors might be able to, but you are different.】 The Notebook wrote in a businesslike tone. 【It's true that digital documents are easy to modify, whether during serialization or after completion. However, you wrote on paper—that is, on me.】
【Once words are written on paper, if they are not revised during the writing process, there is no extra blank space to go back and change the plot's direction later.】
…That sounded surprisingly reasonable. Zhuang Chi was at a loss for words, thinking that it was unexpectedly logical in this regard. She reluctantly accepted it and moved on to the next topic. “…Alright. Even if you're right, it's not finished yet, is it? So that power shouldn't be affected…”
They had only been in university for a little over a semester. Her novel was written all the way until Gu Ximian reached the pinnacle of the world. They were nowhere near that point. Just as Zhuang Chi was wondering, before The Notebook could write anything, she heard Gu Ximian say thoughtfully, “…Because I was marked?”
Zhuang Chi's heart skipped a beat. She saw The Notebook quickly respond: 【Yes.】
【In the novel, the female protagonist was never marked from beginning to end. I surmise that this world has determined that the situation of the female protagonist being marked would only occur after the ending, where it was written that 'she met a perfect person.'】
【This was not my doing, so this is merely my speculation. However, based on the past actions of this world's will, when neither my power nor Gu Ximian's has intervened, it adheres very faithfully to every word and sentence you wrote.】 The Notebook paused for a moment before giving an example. 【For instance, the reason Gu Ximian can only smell the original scent of your pheromones is because your original text stated, 'To her, the pheromones of every Alpha in this world smelled absolutely disgusting.'】
【And you, fundamentally, do not belong to this world. That is why this situation occurred.】
“…I see.”
If The Notebook hadn't brought it up, she would have almost forgotten about this matter. She never expected it to be for such a minor reason—by that logic, if she hadn't written the words “in this world” back then, wouldn't Gu Ximian have been disgusted by her pheromones too? The thought sent a shiver of fear through Zhuang Chi. But Gu Ximian's attention had already shifted to the more pressing matter at hand. She tightened her grip on Zhuang Chi's hand, her voice lowering. “So, you're saying that because I was marked, this world has judged the novel to be complete? Then… this world…”
…This world isn't going to “end” along with it, is it?
Gu Ximian didn't finish, but it was enough for Zhuang Chi to understand her unspoken words. A brief worry rose in her heart, but it was quickly soothed by The Notebook: 【Although that is the case, from my observations, this world is still operating normally. The reason is unknown. Perhaps it's because Zhuang Chi also wrote in the ending, 'They loved each other and lived a blissful life together.' In any case, there is no need to worry about this for now.】
Thank you, middle-school Zhuang Chi.
Zhuang Chi piously thanked her past self in her heart. She also felt Gu Ximian's tense hand beside her relax slightly, and her voice became much steadier as she said softly, “…That's good.”
Actually, if she thought about it carefully, she could have figured out that there wouldn't be such an impact. After all, she had been marked by Zhuang Chi several days ago. If such an unwritten rule truly existed, the world should have been destroyed the moment Zhuang Chi bit her. She could think of this after calming down, but in the heat of the moment, she couldn't help but lose her composure. Gu Ximian let out a soft sigh, then, puzzled by the time lag, asked The Notebook, “Why did you only come to us today? Did you only just discover something was wrong?”
【Answer: Negative.】 Gu Ximian had thought so, but she didn't expect The Notebook to give a negative answer. She watched as the emotionless text continued to extend. 【I was thinking of finding you after the mark was completed. But Zhuang Chi told me before that there are times I need to look away and not keep watching.】
“Wait a minute.”
【I judged that was a time I should not be watching. So I thought I would wait until the night after you were finished. I didn't expect that the next night wouldn't work either.】
“Hey, wait a minute, Notebook, you…”
【And so I've waited until now. When I saw that you were sleeping together again today, I thought I might have to wait another day.】
“Do you really have to say everything from beginning to end?!”
Zhuang Chi, her face beet red, covered the words on The Notebook. But honestly, it was just self-deception. After all, Gu Ximian had already read those lines clearly along with her and was now also blushing, unable to say a word. After they both calmed down a little, Zhuang Chi weakly removed her hand and saw another line had appeared on The Notebook: 【I'm sorry. Should I have contacted you sooner?】
“…That's not what I meant.”
Zhuang Chi sighed and pulled her hand back, not knowing whether to praise The Notebook for its flexibility or to have another long, earnest talk with it. But the main business wasn't finished yet, and they kept getting sidetracked. Zhuang Chi forced the conversation back on topic. “Just continue. After being judged as 'complete,' is Gu Ximian's power gone?”
【Answer: Inaccurate. The power to change the world with one's subconscious has indeed disappeared, but another power has appeared at the same time.】
The Notebook returned to the main topic and responded: 【Three years ago, you said, 'Whatever power I have, I now entrust it to you.' Therefore, the latent abilities that you were unable to use at that time were also transferred to Gu Ximian.】
【It is a power that can only be used after completion. Whether you call it writing an extra chapter or starting a second part, the term doesn't matter. In short, it is—】
It paused, suddenly flipped a page, and then a very ordinary black gel pen appeared out of thin air on the desk, placed beside it.
【—the power to continue writing on me.】
At the top of the new page, The Notebook quietly displayed the words: 【Please pick up the pen, Gu Ximian.】
Gu Ximian sat down at the wooden desk.
She hesitated before picking up the pen, feeling an inexplicable warmth from its barrel. Just as she felt a flicker of confusion, The Notebook thoughtfully clarified for her: 【Because I am currently simulating the moments my master and I shared in the past. She would always write for a very long time, and the pen would be warmed by her hand when she put it down.】
“…” Gu Ximian stared blankly, then said softly, “…I see.”
She silently tightened her grip on the pen.
Gu Ximian looked at the notebook before her. The new page was blank except for The Notebook's words, which were now slowly and silently fading away, as if considerately making space for her. She noticed that there were only a few pages left in the notebook; more than half of it had already been turned. A thought stirred in Gu Ximian's heart, and she reached out to flip to the earlier pages, but found the front part of the notebook seemed to be stuck, unmovable.
【I'm sorry.】 The Notebook floated up words, apologizing to her honestly. 【The preceding pages contain the original novel. Setting aside any potential impact on this world, I believe it is better for you not to read it. Because even if my master is not here right now, I think she would definitely be embarrassed for you to see those words.】
That's right, Zhuang Chi wasn't beside her now. After learning the specifics of the situation, she had actually relaxed a lot, smiling and saying things like, “You'll definitely write better than I did.” She also thoughtfully added, “It's hard to write with someone watching, right?” and then walked away with confidence, leaving Gu Ximian some personal space—her retreating figure seemed to radiate an air of “Aren't I so considerate?”
【Because she is like that herself.】 The Notebook explained again. 【My master can only write when she is alone. She tried bringing me to school to write during her free time, but she was too conscious of the people around her and couldn't write a thing. The few hundred words she managed to force out all became scrap drafts. She was very dejected at that time.】
Imagining little Zhuang Chi like that, Gu Ximian couldn't help but chuckle softly. She suddenly felt a pang of regret that she wasn't by Zhuang Chi's side back then. So she asked The Notebook, “Do you know everything about her past? Can you tell me more?”
【I can. It's just that I believe if you were to ask her, she would tell you everything as well.】
Sensing a hint of self-awareness, as if to say, “I shouldn't gossip about my master's embarrassing stories behind her back,” Gu Ximian felt that this notebook was a bit like Zhuang Chi in some ways. She let out a soft laugh, followed by a small sigh. “…I don't even know where she ran off to.”
She had wanted to ask for Zhuang Chi's opinion on what to write. Although The Notebook had said she could write whatever she wanted and there was no rush, it had also mentioned that frequent entry into dreams would be a mental burden. So, Gu Ximian actually wanted to write something as soon as possible—and for something like changing the world, the sooner, the better, of course.
【As long as it doesn't contradict the plot written in the novel before, you can basically write anything.】 Seeming to sense her hesitation, The Notebook wrote, 【Even if you write something like 'Zhuang Chi will be with Gu Ximian forever,' like a wish on a prayer tablet, it's fine. I speculate that it can be realized.】
…Seeing it write such things so seriously was rather embarrassing. Gu Ximian blushed slightly and uncomfortably lowered her gaze. Then she saw The Notebook add after a moment of silence: 【It's alright if you don't have any ideas right away. After all, my master was the same when she was creating this world. Lack of inspiration, writer's block, rough patches—there were countless moments like that. She only finished after overcoming all of it.】
【And perhaps the reason she could keep writing despite all that was because she cherished you, even back then.】
【Now it's your turn to write your own story. I think no matter what you write, she will be very happy.】
Gu Ximian was a little dazed. She watched The Notebook until those words also faded away. She suddenly realized that she was in the same position as Zhuang Chi had been, holding the same pen, facing the same notebook. This pen was like a baton passed across time and space, across worlds. The person who created her had willingly transferred her power, as if placing Gu Ximian's very life into her own hands.
And it was under these same conditions—a dimly lit desk lamp, a wooden desk and chair, and an ordinary notebook—that Zhuang Chi had solemnly written her name.
From that moment on, Gu Ximian's world slowly began to awaken.
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