Overcast skies, the sky a blanket of gray, like a massive curtain folded upon itself, hiding the warmth of the sun beyond the clouds, felt somewhat oppressive, as though rain was about to fall.
Lin Chuan walked out of the police station and boarded the Route 13 bus without hesitation.
Ring-ring-ring—
His phone rang.
"Mom, what's up?" Lin Chuan answered the call.
"Chuan, how's the novel you've been writing coming along?" His mother asked with concern from the other end of the phone.
Lin Chuan's face twisted with bitterness, "It's not going well recently."
"Not going well, eh? Chuan, your auntie came by today and mentioned that her workplace is hiring clerical staff, contract-based. Why don't you give it a try?"
"Your auntie said the salary is decent. Including subsidies, you could make four or five thousand a month, and if you do well, there's even a chance to become a regular employee. That would mean job security for the future."
His mother rambled on and on.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Chuan replied, "I'll consider it."
His mother began to worry about his life-long matters, "If you have a job at an institution, it'll be easier to find a girlfriend. Remember that girl Hua from next door? She already has a kid..."
Lin Chuan gave a bitter laugh.
A girlfriend...
It wasn't as though there had never been a girl he liked, but shortly after they graduated, she married a rich second-generation and is now a married woman.
Cough, although she's become more attractive, Lin Chuan has gradually drifted further and further from her.
Out of reach.
"Chuan, are you listening to me? You stay in your rented room writing novels all day, not going out. Where will you find a girlfriend? Are you waiting for the girls to come knocking on your door?" His mother inevitably nagged a bit.
Girls coming to knock on my door?
Well, don't you know, there actually was one!
Only she was wearing a police uniform, taking me to the police station, locking me in an interrogation room, and grilling me fiercely.
But such a girl was nothing more than a ship passing in the night to me.
Meet again?
Forget it, Lin Chuan is scared Shen Qianqian might drag him back into the interrogation room for questioning.
Too draconian!
Absolutely nightmarish!
"Get out more, you hear me?" his mother reminded again.
Lin Chuan agreed, "Okay, I got it."
After hanging up, Lin Chuan looked out at the dim cityscape through the bus window, feeling the hard seats of the bus, quite uncomfortable, not nearly as soft as those in the interrogation room.
Lin Chuan took a deep breath and briefly summarized his current situation.
Good news: He possessed a golden opportunity.
Bad news: The golden opportunity was a bit tricky.
Good news: He could generate novels automatically.
Bad news: It almost landed him in jail.
This golden opportunity, well...
Lin Chuan thought it resembled a mystery box.
Careers were random.
If he could experience some remarkable careers, then he would likely have a chance to gain the corresponding skills...
That would mean life on easy mode!
But his first time, he experienced life as a Thief, receiving lock-picking skills.
That was seriously tricky!
So, Lin Chuan had to pin his hopes on writing novels.
There isn't a child that cries every day, nor a novel that flops with each release, right?
As for love, marriage, and carrying on the family line—those life events weren't even within Lin Chuan's considerations.
When making ends meet was a problem, what was the use in thinking so far ahead?
With money, he would have everything.
It might seem utilitarian, but faced with the stark reality, that's just how it was.
Money can solve most problems.
As for the things money can't solve, those aren't for Lin Chuan to worry about.
So, make money!
Lin Chuan opened his system panel.
[Work: "Life of a Thief"]
[Popularity Value (Average Subscription): 76/100]
"Life of a Thief," 329,000 words, was published all at once on Sailing Novel Website.
Sailing Novel Website is a relatively liberal platform; you can publish serialized novels or release everything at once. It uses AI algorithms to distribute and recommend works. (Parallel world)
"Just 24 more average subscriptions, and I can unlock the next career experience," Lin Chuan said with a knowing smile.
After that, Lin Chuan opened the QQ reader group with great interest.
In the reader group with dozens of members, many people were @ing Mr. Lin.
[Author, your book is written so realistically!]
[It's too thrilling, author you've got talent!]
[Eh, something's off, Author you should be popping up about now!]
[It's been over three hours, how come there's no sign of you?]
[You didn't really get locked up, did you?]
[It's quite possible he went out to look for new inspiration and got arrested on the spot!]
[...]
Lin Chuan laughed and quickly sent a photo with the caption 'at the police station' to the group to dispel the rumors: Bros, I'm not locked up!
The group wasn't big, but it was rather active.
[Holy moly, author, did you really get locked up?]
[Did you actually go out to find inspiration?]
[Sheesh! Author, you're actually living your diary!]
Lin Chuan hurriedly defended himself, "Go away, I am a good citizen just helping the police with an investigation, don't get weird ideas!"
[I don't believe it, there's got to be some case on you, Author!]
[Case closed, no wonder it's written so realistically!]
[Using what's at hand, is this why the author never hits a block?]
[At this rate, with one word from you and one from me, the author will end up in prison!]
A few active readers were stirring things up.
The mood in the group suddenly became jubilant.
[Author, hurry up and teach me some lock-picking skills, there are still some locks I can't open.]
[Little brother, you were supposed to read the book, and now you're learning the tricks?]
[The author is so awesome, definitely a writer with techniques and practical experience!]
[Whatever the author writes next, I'm definitely following!]
[I also want to learn some new skills, hehe...]
[+1]
[+1]
"The next book?"
Lin Chuan leaned back on the stiff bus seat, muttering to himself.
The next book, huh.
When the average subscription reaches 100, I'll experience a new life, then I'll know.
Hehe...
The Route 13 bus wove through Anling City.
Arriving at the stop, Chuan got off.
Lin Chuan returned to Happiness Community from the police station.
This was an old neighborhood, with no crossbar restricting vehicle entry or exit, pale brick walls, and peeling plaster, which looked like it had grown moss, all faded and old under the gray sky.
The slow pace here was out of sync with Anling City's rapid rhythm, seeming more like a chugging old train—clunking and jolting—
For Lin Chuan, as long as it was livable, that was enough.
As for everything else, it didn't matter.
Lin Chuan, free from suspicion of any crime, felt light-hearted as he quickly opened the metal door of his rental, ready to boil some instant noodles.
Then.
He turned on the computer, focusing on the average subscription data on the backend.
But "Life of a Thief" wasn't attracting much interest, and the subscription rate grew very slowly.
Until the three hands of the clock lined up at the 12 o'clock position.
[Work: "Life of a Thief"]
[Popularity Value (Average Subscription Number): 100/100]
The Popularity Value finally reached 100!
At that moment.
A sweet electronic female voice arrived as expected.
[Always full of enthusiasm, always with anticipation, a new life, a new experience.]
[Congratulations, the novel adapted from the 'thief life' you experienced has reached 100 average subscriptions, that is, 100 Popularity Points, and you can unlock a new career experience.]
[Would you like to immediately experience a new career and start a new life?]