When this story made it onto the Sanjiang list, I completely forgot to write a reflection. So, I'm combining it with my launch note here.
I never imagined this story would achieve what it has.
My initial goal was humble: to surpass a thousand follows before completion.
A modest dream, right?
I've mentioned before that my first book, lucky enough to get signed, only reached 102 follows by the day it hit a million words and wrapped up.
Those follows trickled in slowly after that, hitting 300 half a year later. That was only after I couldn't resist venting in a chapter comment about how my first book had a measly two average subscriptions, sparked by another author's self-deprecating plot about a "flop" with only a thousand average subscriptions.
That rant drew a wave of curious readers, earning me the "honor" of 300 follows.
Back then, I realized I wasn't some gifted writer.
I often brag about my first book: "I'm proud I finished a million words over 243 days without missing a single update, all with just two average subscriptions."
But how many can truly understand the bitterness behind that?
During that time, I'd come home from work dinners, bleary-eyed, and force myself to write.
I stayed up late, grinding my teeth, reminding myself that giving up was easy but would leave me with nothing.
I've never been good at socializing. Maintaining relationships feels agonizingly painful to me.
Pandering to others, giving "face"—it's exhausting.
So I'm deeply grateful to my editor, Starlight, who signed me back then. They gave me a chance—a chance to live life on my terms without navigating the torment of interpersonal games.
I saw a path I could control.
I believed things would get better.
I started buying books: writing guides, craft manuals.
On Writing, Hirohiko Araki's Manga Techniques, Dialogue in Great Stories, The Art of Language, Story…
I bought anything I thought might help.
I've never been in love, so I read A Man Called Ove, Six Records of a Floating Life, Snow Country, The World's Most Touching Love Letters…
I wanted to craft a moving romance.
I felt I lacked depth, so I dove into Thus Spoke Zarathustra, bits of Marx and Lenin, How the Steel Was Tempered, Lu Xun's Collected Works…
But I ended up lost. The sea of books left me more confused than ever.
They were all right, yet they contradicted each other.
For the first time, I started seriously thinking about what kind of story I wanted to tell.
This story is my experiment—a stepping stone to sustain my life.
To be honest, I didn't polish it meticulously or plan it perfectly.
There are still plenty of flaws, and I own up to them.
But I can say with certainty that every character was built with extensive research. I've never half-assed this story or its plot, not once, not for any reader.
Every few days, I revisit my outline, tweaking it, rearranging events—a routine I've grown used to.
Before publishing, I submitted it internally to Editor Deer Song, who told me it could be signed and to add them after the review.
That day, I was over the moon and made a wish: to hit a thousand follows before completion.
Before this, my second book reached 200,000 words but was rejected for a contract four times.
That hopeless grind was soul-crushing.
So I cherish this story deeply.
From the start, I committed to at least two chapters a day. After the trial push, I upped it to three chapters, over 6,000 words daily.
Thanks to Editor Deer Song's support and you, the readers, I received a string of recommendations.
I'm endlessly grateful.
Many books that started before mine haven't even hit 200,000 words, while I've reached 280,000.
Among my peers on the recommendation lists, my update volume has consistently been the highest.
My follows surged most dramatically when I topped the sci-fi signed authors' list, holding the spot for five or six days.
With the boost from recommendations, my follows jumped by nearly 7,000 in those days—a number I never dared dream of.
I wondered if I should slow my updates to stretch out the free period.
But I didn't.
I know part of why you've supported me is my consistent updates.
When the story's quality isn't top-tier, frequent and stable updates can offset that, at least a little.
That's all I can offer.
Since starting this book, I've dealt with moving, renovations, and now the ongoing exterior insulation work on my old building. Life's been fragmented.
Two days ago, I even tweaked my back…
I've been sitting at my desk, wincing through the pain to write, forced to lie flat on my bed every hour to ease the ache in my waist.
But I have no complaints.
My health's average. I'm a smoker—at least a pack and a half a day, worse than my character Constantine.
In April, after some heavy lifting, I felt off and went to the hospital.
Asthma…
The ER doctor urged me to stay, saying my wheezing was severe. I sat in the ER, hooked to an IV, thinking for a long time.
In the end, I yanked the needle out and fled the hospital like an escapee.
Let my story be a warning: steer clear of cigarettes.
I hate hospitals.
I can't stand things I don't like. I refuse to twist myself into someone I'm not just to fit in.
That's not me.
That kind of mental strain feels like standing on a cliff's edge.
I fear a sudden collapse…
So I treasure every single one of my readers.
I've never muted a reader or deleted many posts—only three so far, and that's because they stung my sensitive heart.
You'll see both praise and criticism in the comment section. I'm grateful you take the time to share your thoughts on this story.
That's why I don't delete negative reviews.
If you didn't read this story or care about it, why would you bother commenting?
So I'm sincerely thankful to every reader who leaves a trace.
From the start, I've never asked for tips, only humbly requested recommendation votes.
Of course, I'd love your tips, but I know I can't demand what you're not willing to give.
This story is, at its core, a product. I'm deeply grateful to those who buy or tip.
But what right do I have to insist you purchase it?
None.
Buying is a mutual choice. No one can force anyone to act.
Launch day is finally here. It's not my first, but this time feels entirely different.
My first book had only two average subscriptions, so I still remember the nickname of my one full subscriber: "Sky of Frost."
Though they never commented, I sometimes wondered if they accidentally hit auto-subscribe and forgot about the book.
But this book has shown me a real chance at making a living.
So I've come up with an update plan that suits me.
For every 100 monthly votes, I'll add one extra chapter. For every 100 yuan in tips, I'll add another. This will run for a month.
For average subscriptions, it's a long-term goal: at the end of each month, I'll divide the average subscriptions by 100 to set the next month's extra chapters.
If this book hits premium status, I'd need to add at least 30 chapters a month.
What do you think of this plan?
I know my chances of hitting premium are slim, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming, right?
There's also a long-term fan leaderboard plan: one extra chapter for each new Rudder Master, two for a Hall Master, three for a Guardian, four for an Elder, five for a Sect Leader, ten for a Grandmaster, fifteen for an Alliance Leader, and thirty for a Golden Alliance Leader.
Fan leaderboard extras will be named after the supporter.
It sounds like a lot, but the outcome doesn't stop me from dreaming, does it?
If this story doesn't clear all owed extra chapters by completion, I'll carry them over to my next book.
For the first month after launch, I'll guarantee at least 10,000 words daily—three chapters minimum. Only the fourth chapter counts toward paying off the "debt."
Next month's updates will tie to your subscriptions: the higher the average, the more I'll post daily.
I've come this far thanks to your support.
I want to write pages and pages of thanks, but all I can muster is a string of "thank yous."
I'm just too overwhelmed.
So let me say it: Thank you.
Thank you, everyone!
Thank you for giving me hope!
All I can do to repay you is keep updating.
Right now, I'm going to lie down to ease my back pain, then get back to writing.
On September 1st, launch day, I'll release a minimum of fifteen chapters! I hope you'll love this story and find it worth your purchase.
If money's tight, I don't mind too much if some read pirated versions…
Just please, don't come to me complaining about the paid chapters if you're reading for free.
I haven't experienced that yet, but I imagine it'd hurt…
So, thank you, everyone!
Don't stay up waiting—my updates won't slow down.
(End of Chapter)
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