Liyue Publishing House
“Director Hu, we really don’t need the services of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Please stop coming here to advertise.”
A young woman with a work badge hanging on her chest received the two of them.
The name on the badge was Intern Editor Mu Yun.
“Are you sure you don’t want to consider it?
Your work intensity is so high—who knows when some unexpected situation might occur.
There’s a saying, isn’t there?
‘Prepare for a rainy day.’ If you cooperate with our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in advance, I can give you a twenty-percent discount.”
Velina froze for a moment.
This was the first time she had seen Hu Tao in sales mode.
It was rather… novel.
“Director Hu, we really have no interest.
Please leave.”
“Aiya aiya, don’t reject me so directly.
Twenty percent off is no good?
Then how about thirty percent off?”
Mu Yun prepared to leave.
“Wait wait wait, don’t go.” Seeing this, Hu Tao hurriedly called her back and pointed at Velina beside her.
“There’s another matter.
She wants to submit a manuscript.”
“The young lady wants to submit a manuscript?
I’m an editor.” Mu Yun revealed a smile.
She had already noticed Velina earlier; it was just that the other party had not spoken the entire time.
Clearly beautiful beyond words, yet with an ethereal immortal air about her.
Confirmed—this was definitely a veteran novel author.
“Yes.”
Velina nodded and handed the manuscript over.
She was currently feeling dizzy and did not really want to talk.
Mu Yun lowered her head and saw the name on the manuscript.
Hotarubi no Mori e
She could not understand it.
What a strange book title.
“Alright, I’ll give you a reply after I’ve finished reading it.” Mu Yun smiled.
Judging from the thickness of the manuscript, it seemed to be a short story.
“When the time comes, just contact Wangsheng Funeral Parlor directly.” Hu Tao said with a cheerful grin.
Mu Yun fell silent once more.
Why did Director Hu’s words sound so strange?
“By the way, what is the young lady’s name?” Mu Yun lowered her head again to look at the first page of the manuscript paper, but found no signature.
“Velina.” Velina answered subconsciously.
She felt a bit dizzy right now and only wanted this to end quickly.
“Velina, I’ve got it.”
Mu Yun nodded.
It seemed this was her pen name.
A few months ago, after completing her studies and writing a few novels part-time, she had decided to formally step into this industry.
She had defeated several hundred fellow job seekers and finally obtained this position.
Unfortunately, because her seniority was not deep and she lacked resources, she could currently only do odd jobs, secretly envious of the authors under those senior editors.
But now?
Mu Yun felt that her turn of fortune had arrived!
This somewhat frail great beauty who had been personally brought over by Director Hu might just become the first general under her command!
After seeing the two of them off, she was met with a round of questioning from her seniors, mainly about Velina.
They found it hard not to pay attention.
“Director Hu came this time to accompany a friend to submit a manuscript.
It was that super beautiful great beauty, you know.”
Mu Yun sat down at her seat, waved the manuscript paper in her hand, and laughed.
“You’re not interested in her, are you?” an editor who was currently reading a manuscript looked up and teased.
“What kind of talk is that, what kind of talk is this!” Mu Yun glared.
“Senior, don’t tell me you don’t like beautiful girls?”
“That makes so much sense!”
For a moment, the entire editorial department was filled with a lively atmosphere.
Mu Yun flipped open the first page of the manuscript, which only had the book title.
The second page was a single sentence—
Unable to form bonds, only adding to loneliness.
She fell silent for a moment.
She told herself that for a story, the most important thing was still the story itself.
Mu Yun’s gaze became firm once more.
Then she flipped another page and finally saw the main text.
[Cicadas chirping, sunlight, midsummer—it is summer once again]
[The story between me and Gin began in the summer when I was six years old]
[…]
With just those few opening sentences, Mu Yun’s eyes lit up.
The writing style was fresh yet mature.
Either this was a veteran author, or she possessed talent beyond ordinary people.
If the subsequent descriptions were all like the beginning, signing a contract would definitely be no problem.
If they could also get a skilled illustrator, and promote the identity of the beautiful girl author…
This wave was secure!
Mu Yun had already imagined the scene of the first novel she signed exploding in popularity, and she began to giggle foolishly.
Noticing the gazes of several seniors around her, she wiped away her drool and refocused her attention on the text.
Mu Yun read carefully.
The story was slowly unfolded by Velina’s delicate brushstrokes.
The six-year-old girl Hotaru, on the way back to her grandfather’s home in the countryside for summer vacation, got lost in the “Spirit Forest” that was said to be inhabited by adepti and spirits.
Then she met the other protagonist of the story.
[“Hey, brat, what are you crying for?”]
[“It’s a human!
I’m saved!”]
In Mu Yun’s mind appeared the scene of the clumsy little girl meeting the slender youth wearing a mask, and because the youth dodged, the little girl directly fell onto the ground.
She could not help but smile.
At the same time, confusion and curiosity inevitably arose in her heart.
Why did the youth dodge?
She continued reading downward and quickly understood the reason.
It turned out that the youth named Gin was not human.
Because of a restriction placed by an adeptus, he would disappear if touched by a human.
“This setting… an untouchable lover?”
“Looking at the subsequent plot, it should be about how they find a way to solve the problem and finally live happily together, right?”
This was indeed the normal development of the plot.
She wondered whether Velina would write something that would make her eyes light up.
With expectation, Mu Yun continued reading downward.
Gin led Hotaru out of the forest, the two of them holding opposite ends of a wooden stick.
[“Hehe, it feels like a date!”]
[“What an unromantic date… Aren’t you afraid?”]
[“Afraid of what?”]
When it was time to part, Hotaru mustered her courage and shouted to Gin the words “I’ll come again tomorrow.”
Mu Yun rested her chin on her hand, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face.
The words under Velina’s pen were light and cheerful, as if they had also brought her into that quiet and deep Spirit Forest, immersing her in every little moment of Hotaru and Gin’s interactions.
The moment of parting would eventually arrive.
When Hotaru informed Gin that she was about to leave, Mu Yun also felt a wave of reluctance in her heart.
But when Gin asked “You’ll come again next year, right?” and Hotaru happily agreed, Mu Yun also secretly let out a breath of relief.
[Just like that, I began to look forward to the arrival of summer]
[In the promised summer, Gin would be waiting for me]
The plot of the story continued to advance in an orderly manner.
Yet the monsters that appeared from time to time, along with their warnings—”Gin will disappear if touched by a human”—gave Mu Yun an inexplicable bad feeling.
“It shouldn’t… be that, right?”
She murmured and continued reading downward.
Time passed year after year.
Hotaru kept her promise and came to the forest every year.
Hotaru gradually grew up and became a graceful young lady, yet Gin remained in the appearance of a youth, exactly as he had been when they first met.
[“I who should have died was once saved by an adeptus.
Fragile as a ghost.
Hotaru, you can forget me.”]
[“I won’t!”]
“Phew, it’s almost over.”
Mu Yun looked at the remaining manuscript paper that was not much and lightly exhaled.
Clearly the words Velina wrote were very fresh, yet this seemingly peaceful and light daily life carried a faint sorrow that seemed just out of reach.
She continued reading downward, wanting to know the final ending of the two.
Next, Gin would definitely find a way to become human, and then the two of them would live happily together, right?
The monsters of the Spirit Forest also celebrated their own Lantern Rite.
Only monsters could participate.
For the first time, Gin invited Hotaru to the monsters’ festival.
Just as the two of them were immersed in the festive atmosphere, two boys who had intruded bumped into Hotaru.
Just as she was about to fall, Gin caught her by the arm.
The boys were human intruders.
Gin’s body began to gradually dissipate.
[“Hotaru, come.
I can finally touch you.” The youth opened his arms and said with a smile.]
…
[For the time being, I will definitely not look forward to summer anymore]
Mu Yun stared blankly as the story ended with the young girl’s final monologue.
Warmth could not help but well up in her eyes.
She sniffed and directed her gaze to the casual note Velina had left at the very bottom.
[Spring has April, summer has fireflies]
[As time flows, may you and your true love be able to meet again]
When she saw this final sentence, Mu Yun, who only felt her chest grow stuffy, could no longer control herself.
Her nose suddenly stung, and her vision instantly blurred.
“Velina, how could you be so heartless!”
===✧✦✧===
EXTRA:
Mu Yun: “Velina Don’t you have a human Heart?”