The naming style of this book was indeed unique, as Kuroda noted. He had never seen an author come up with such a title before. Admittedly, it was quite attention-grabbing. Amidst a sea of light novels, this explosive title stood out immediately.
What makes a good novel? First and foremost, it should capture the reader's interest, enticing them to open the book and read.
Without even delving into the content, the novel was already quite qualified. Of course, the content was even more explosive than the title.
Kuroda led Shen Xing to Yae Miko's studio. As soon as they entered, Shen Xing could see Miko lazily reviewing the manuscript in her hand, resting her chin on her hand. She seemed bored, her expression listless and lacking energy, even letting out a yawn.
Recently, Yae Publishing House had received many submissions of novels with a "transmigration" theme, likely inspired by the success of A Jiu's previous work about a modern person transported into an otome game. However, these novels clearly failed to pique Miko's interest.
They were all the same.
Very dull.
These authors' imaginations were confined to the Teyvat Continent, far inferior to that young man who appeared out of nowhere, the one with the pen name A Jiu. Yae Miko even read his book again, intrigued by his depiction of modern life.
And the lifestyle of modern people—do they really have things like airplanes and subways?
It was a novel worldview.
If it could captivate the chief editor of novels, it would certainly attract ordinary readers.
Kuroda brought Shen Xing before Miko, "Guji-sama, A Jiu has submitted another manuscript."
Miko, who had been listless a moment ago, suddenly perked up. A new book already? "Let me see the manuscript."
Kuroda handed the manuscript Shen Xing brought to Yae Miko. She glanced at the title, "The Yandere Experiment Maniac and His Runaway Harbinger?"
Does it involve the Fatui Harbingers? Interesting.
She gestured for Kuroda to leave first and invited Shen Xing to sit down with a smile, as she began to skim through the manuscript.
Miko read quickly, initially with great interest. Shen Xing observed the fox's expressions—at times serious, at times twitching, at times shocked, and at times pursing her lips.
Under his mask, Shen Xing's mouth couldn't help but twitch... holding back laughter.
Even the sly old fox Yae Miko probably didn't expect the book to be written like this.
"The Yandere Experiment Maniac and His Runaway Harbinger" could be summarized as: a belated love is cheaper than grass, a perverted control freak deserves no wife, a dog-blooded story of abusive love.
It starts with a stray child named Tartaglia.
Like countless novels, he was unloved, had no family, and lived a life worse than pigs and dogs, scavenging through trash every day.
But one day, a light of salvation reached him. Not only did it feed him, but the handsome blue-haired man also took him home. Tartaglia felt warmth in his heart, and with Dottore's coaxing, the naive child gave all his affection to that man.
But he soon discovered that the man's identity was peculiar. Every day, he would bring many children to his room.
The place Dottore forbade him to approach.
Tartaglia was curious, and eventually, his curiosity got the better of him. He secretly hid in a corner to watch.
Only to find that the benefactor he regarded as his salvation and light was actually a cruel pervert, experimenting on these children. The surgical knife in the man's hand reflected a cold light under the lamp, the bright red blood almost burning Tartaglia's eyes.
He panicked and made a noise.
Unfortunately, Dottore noticed him. The once gentle man's face twisted into a terrifying smile, his gaze like a hungry wolf finally seeing its prey.
Young Tartaglia was cruelly captured and placed on the experiment table, unable to move his limbs.
He said:
He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Come, my good child, let me see your expression.
No matter how the boy struggled, screamed, or pleaded, the man remained unmoved, even looking at him with an appreciative gaze as if admiring a piece of art.
Tartaglia completely fell into the clutches of a nightmare named Dottore.
He wasn't treated like the other children; he didn't die. He survived, grew up, and reached adulthood. Those beautiful blue eyes, once clear as a pool of water, lost their luster after being oppressed on the day he came of age.
Dottore was skilled. Even though Tartaglia's love vanished after realizing it was all a lie, after being locked in a dark room for years, coaxed and deceived, he was successfully brainwashed and became Dottore's toy.
Dottore achieved his most satisfying creation.
The subsequent text was like a high-speed chase.
Later, Dottore brought back a beautiful puppet, whom he called Harlequin.
Dottore liked him very much and no longer came to Tartaglia's side. Day after day, Tartaglia's heart sank, becoming cold and indifferent.
Finally, he made a life-changing decision and escaped.
Dottore didn't bother to search for him, showing complete indifference.
They met again when the Tsaritsa summoned all the Harbingers to announce a new member.
The poor little fool, once deceived and manipulated by Dottore, had transformed into the newest member of the Fatui Harbingers.
Dottore found this amusing and began to "pursue" Tartaglia.
Harassed to no end, Tartaglia went to Liyue on a mission. After Rosalyne snatched the Gnosis, he returned to Snezhnaya to report, only to be overpowered by Dottore and captured.
The following sections were again like a high-speed chase, with some additional elements. Dottore developed a potion that could make men pregnant and forced Tartaglia to drink it, resulting in his pregnancy.
In the end, the two Harbingers' abusive love story culminated in mutual destruction, achieving a BE (Bad Ending).
Under his hood, Shen Xing's crimson eyes gleamed with amusement. This bucket of dog blood had finally been splashed across Teyvat, and he eagerly anticipated the readers' reactions, which were sure to be spectacular.
Speaking of which, he wondered if this book could become a bestseller across the continent. He was genuinely curious about the Harbingers' reactions—pfft—
Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to see it. Tartaglia wasn't in Liyue recently; he must have returned to Snezhnaya.
With his mind in a whirl, Miko's eyes were momentarily dazed before she snapped out of the shocking narrative. She cleared her throat, drawing Shen Xing's attention, and said meaningfully, "I've looked it over. I can publish it here."
Shen Xing's eyes lit up. They could publish something with this level of content? Excellent.
Miko continued, "But if... the Harbingers come to Yae Publishing House, well, I don't do unprofitable business."
She smiled and added, "After all, Yae Publishing House doesn't have the strength to oppose the Fatui Harbingers from Snezhnaya."
Shen Xing nodded. Of course, he had written these novels, and he wasn't afraid of them coming in a fit of rage. Otherwise, why would he be so heavily disguised?
His disguise must not be revealed.
Seeing Shen Xing agree and nod, Yae Miko was actually quite curious about his true appearance. However, this short-statured boy had twice wrapped himself up so mysteriously that it was impossible to see his face.
Yae Miko blinked lightly and leaned forward slightly to observe Shen Xing up close.
Shen Xing hadn't expected her to suddenly approach and quickly backed away, lifting the edge of his hood. Miko caught a glimpse of a pair of fiery eyes and was momentarily stunned.
It seemed... familiar?
She couldn't quite remember.
Startled, Shen Xing pulled down his hood again, lowering his voice to feign anger, "Don't get so close to me!"
Miko snapped back to reality and apologized, "Sorry, sorry. I was just curious about why you're so mysterious every time you come. Do you have some unspeakable secret, like being ugly?"
Shen Xing: ...
Who's ugly?!
Miko chuckled and returned to the topic, "If they come looking, how should I respond?"
"I need to give them an answer. I have to protect my subordinates' lives."
Shen Xing pondered for a long time before finally saying, "Just tell them he seems to be from Mondstadt, always wearing a black cloak, covering himself tightly, and you don't know anything else."
Sorry, Anemo Archon, for interrupting your leisurely life.
Just consider it a little spice in life.
Yae Publishing House's efficiency was swift. Within three days, the novel was already on the market.
As expected, "The Yandere Experiment Maniac and His Runaway Harbinger" sold like hotcakes, even explosively so, an unprecedented phenomenon.
Everyone at Yae Publishing House was busy, working overtime to print more copies.
The primary audience was adult women; it wasn't sold to minors.
A week later, Shen Xing, enjoying his leisure in Liyue, received a generous royalty payment and a letter from Miko.
The letter stated that they planned to print a million copies for sale in the seven nations, offering a 5% royalty, and asked for his opinion.
Of course, he agreed. It was money!
Shen Xing, who was practically swimming in money, agreed without hesitation. What author wouldn't want to be successful? He was no exception.
Nothing was scarier than being poor.
After joining Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Shen Xing intimately understood the meaning of poverty, especially with a certain someone at home who could spend money like water.
This person had no concept of Mora.
After all, as the god who once created Mora, it wasn't a habit or style that could be changed overnight.
Forgetting about money was quite normal. In the past, as the Geo Archon, he never needed to spend money.
Having no Mora... well, it was normal. He indeed had no Mora on him, as he no longer minted Mora after abdicating, and his wages were with Hu Tao, so the reason was the same as above.
Shen Xing hurriedly stuffed the still-warm Mora into Zhongli's arms at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and slipped away before Zhongli could react.
He was more than happy to spend money on Zhongli. In other words, by currying favor with the Geo Archon, he would have a safety net if he ever got exposed, right?
Consider it buying insurance for himself.
Zhongli picked up the bag of Mora tossed into his arms and fell into contemplation.
Where did all this money come from?
The peaceful days quickly passed, and the novel Shen Xing wrote, thanks to Yae Publishing House's relentless efforts, finally became a bestseller across the entire Teyvat Continent.
Even Liyue's Wanwen Bookhouse was conquered.
There was no choice; it sold too well. Who wouldn't want to make money?
Now, on the streets, young girls walked around with copies of "The Yandere Experiment Maniac and His Runaway Harbinger," their faces excited as they discussed it with others. When Shen Xing passed by, he overheard them whispering:
"Isn't this Tartaglia the same as that Snezhnaya merchant who came to Liyue recently? Same name."
"Then doesn't that mean he's a Fatui Harbinger!"
"Oh my, he actually hid his identity and came to Liyue. Was he behind the Geo Archon's passing?"
"I don't know..."
"Don't you think he's quite handsome? I saw him playing with a child at Liyue Harbor before, smiling warmly. He didn't seem like a bad person. Maybe not all Fatui are bad."
"... Hehe, I want to know if the relationship between these two in the book is real. It's so intense. Especially the story after he became a Harbinger, it got my blood pumping, that sense of rivalry."
"Just that the ending was a bit..."
"..."
"I really want to drag this author out, lock him in a dark room, and make him change the ending! They both died."
"They died! They both died!"
"Yes, the sisters are right. Who is this A Jiu..."
At the end of the discussion, the tone suddenly shifted, and they were sharpening their knives for A Jiu.
Shen Xing: ...
He quietly moved his feet backward and quickly left the scene.