Wangsheng Funeral Parlor dining hall.
Hu Tao handed the small package to Velina.
“This is the Qingxin flower cake I specially asked Xiangling to make for you.
Quick, try it.
It’s just out of the oven—if it sits too long it won’t taste good.”
Snacks…
Velina recalled the morning of her first day at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, when Hu Tao had asked her to guess what was in the box, and she had said whether it was snacks.
She had almost forgotten about that matter.
Hu Tao’s kindness could never be fully repaid…
Velina sighed in her heart and opened the package.
At once, a unique sweet fragrance mixed with the scent of Qingxin flowers quietly spread.
The flower cakes still carried a faint warmth.
Velina pinched one piece and sent it into her mouth.
The outer crispy layers were stacked one upon another, carrying the aroma of baking.
The filling inside had a light sweetness that refreshed the heart.
“How is it, how is it?”
Hu Tao’s eyes sparkled.
“Delicious!”
Velina nodded repeatedly, speaking in a muffled voice.
At the same time, she subconsciously held out the flower cake in her hand.
“You try some too.”
Hu Tao directly took a bite, narrowed her eyes, and gave a thumbs-up: “Delicious.”
Only then did Velina belatedly realize what she had just done.
She looked at the flower cake that had gone from a full moon to a crescent moon shape, as well as the trace of crystal remaining on the edge of the bite mark, and could not help but freeze.
“Eh, Velina, why are you spacing out?”
“Ah?
Nothing, nothing.”
Velina shook her head repeatedly and hurriedly took a bite herself.
This flower cake… was a bit sweet.
===✧✦✧===
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Velina’s life over these seven days had been especially comfortable.
At Hu Tao’s invitation, she had participated in several funeral business operations of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor together with her.
Of course, she was only doing odd jobs.
Velina felt that the main reason was still that Hu Tao did not want to see her always cooped up in the room and was pulling her out for some fresh air.
Although every time they went out it would attract quite a bit of attention, Velina had also gradually adapted to this situation.
Besides that, there was another job.
That was going to Liyue Publishing House to sign the published novels.
These were the so-called personally signed copies, which were a bit more expensive than the ordinary versions.
However, because they had collection value and faith bonus, they could still be considered worth the price.
When Velina first went, she naturally caused waves of exclamations from the editors in the editorial department.
But when they learned that Velina was the author who had written Hotarubi no Mori e, she felt as if she could no longer leave the editorial department.
Fortunately, there were Millelith patrolling outside, so Velina’s personal safety was guaranteed.
“Velina, are you up yet?
Hurry, hurry!
We have to grab a good spot!”
Early in the morning, Velina’s door was knocked on by Hu Tao.
The woken Velina opened her bleary eyes.
At this moment, a trace of ink-blue night color still remained outside the window, and only a bit of rosy red had just begun to show in the east.
“Wait a moment, right away.”
Velina reluctantly sat up and pulled out her right hand that had somehow slipped under her clothes.
The feel of her little belly was really nice—soft and fluffy—making her unable to help but rub it again.
Under Hu Tao’s urging, the two quickly left Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
What Velina had not expected was that Xiangling had actually come as well.
“Good morning, Velina.”
Xiangling greeted her with a smile.
Over these days, under Hu Tao’s lead, Velina and Xiangling had also become friends.
“Why did you come too?” Velina asked.
“Of course it’s to support your novel.” Xiangling put her hands on her hips.
“A friend’s first book—no matter how you look at it, you have to come support it in person, right?”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
Hu Tao chimed in.
“Speaking of which, I still don’t know what story you wrote, Velina.
I heard from Hu Tao that it’s a very interesting love story?” Xiangling asked again.
“Ah hahaha, it should… count as one, right?”
Velina laughed a bit guiltily.
Xiangling’s personality was much more sentimental than Hu Tao’s.
Even Editor Mu Yun had cried after reading it.
She could already foresee the scene of Xiangling finishing the novel.
Hopefully she wouldn’t let Guoba breathe fire.
Hopefully people would be fine.
Peach gate.
Because of the Rite of Descension, there were quite a few more people on the streets than usual.
Another reason was that today was also the new book release day at Wanwen Bookhouse.
When the three arrived at Wanwen Bookhouse, people had already formed a line, sufficient to show how popular novels were in Liyue.
Of course, it also caused a small commotion.
Wherever three beautiful young girls walked, it was an especially eye-catching scenery.
Not to mention that among them was a young lady whose appearance and figure were both perfect to the point of seeming as if she should only exist in fantasy.
Not to mention that this young lady was clearly here to buy books!
At once, quite a few readers became excited.
Beautiful young girls were popular, and beautiful young girls who shared common hobbies with them were even more popular.
At this moment, the proprietress of Wanwen Bookhouse, Jifang, finally opened the door.
“Boss, I want one copy of the latest volume of The Great Senior Brother of the Guhua Clan!”
“I want… mm… let me see…”
“Auntie, hurry up, Auntie!
Don’t dawdle.
Look how fast the line next to you is moving!”
Velina had come relatively early, so the line quickly reached them.
“Give me one as well.” Xiangling followed closely.
“I want twenty copies!” Hu Tao was even more straightforward.
“Also the personally signed versions!”
“Ah?
You need that many?” Velina could not help but freeze and lowered her voice.
“The ordinary ones are fine.
I’ll sign them for you when we get back.
However many you want, I’ll sign that many.”
“Didn’t we already agree?
One copy for each employee of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
These are to be distributed to them.” Hu Tao indicated she was not short on money.
Ordinary version thirty Mora, personally signed version forty Mora.
Besides the signature, there was also an extra large poster.
It was precisely the scene of Gin wearing a mask and Hotaru holding the two ends of a wooden stick as they walked.
Seeing this scene, the readers in line also became curious.
Then, when purchasing novels, they casually bought a copy of Hotarubi no Mori e as well.
The proprietress of Wanwen Bookhouse, Jifang, looked at this scene and could not close her mouth from smiling.
Such good business—the novels sold today would definitely be many more than before.
However, she was a bit curious.
She had never heard of the author of Hotarubi no Mori e before.
It was definitely a new author.
She just did not know how the quality of the work was.
So many people buying it was largely due to the influence of those three young ladies.
Those readers who had bought the novel were also in no hurry to leave.
They casually found a spot or stood in place and began reading the novel.
Very soon, low exclamations arose.
“A new author?
This writing is really quite good.”
“Could it be some old veteran’s side account?”
“Eh, has our Liyue finally gotten its own sweet romance novel?”
“Stop looking at the others for now.
Quickly come read Hotarubi no Mori e.
This is definitely a treasure novel!”
For a time, the readers gathered together began crazily recommending it.
…
The sun gradually rose higher.
The long line in front of Wanwen Bookhouse dispersed and turned into scattered groups of readers gathered together.
But suddenly, a heart-rending cry rang out.
“No!”
“What happened?
What happened?”
Everyone was startled and looked toward the sound, only to see a young man tightly clutching the book in his hands, his eyes bloodshot, his body still trembling.