Simply put, Su Shichen was not from this world — he had transmigrated, as people online liked to call it.
In his previous life on Earth, he was an ordinary, smooth-talking otaku — the kind who had plenty of desire but little courage, expressing bold opinions only from behind a screen.
Average-looking, with a mediocre job and an unremarkable family, Su Shichen remained single and a virgin well into his thirties. Of course, he'd had many "girlfriends," but all of them existed only online. Every real-life meeting ended in disaster.
He had once considered losing his virginity at a massage parlor, but in the end, he couldn't cross that moral line in his heart.
He wasn't hit by a car, struck by lightning, or drunk. He simply went to bed one night — and woke up in another world.
At first, he thought he'd been reincarnated, but after a bit of observation, he realized that wasn't the case.
The calendar year was 12 when he was on Earth, but now it was year 13 — just one year apart. If this were reincarnation, he should be thirty-two years old, not fourteen.
Before long, while browsing the internet, Su Shichen discovered something even stranger.
This world seemed to have never experienced World War II. It was peaceful, and people's pursuit of art was far greater. As a result, the entertainment and literary industries were astonishingly developed.
Another contributing factor was the world's total crackdown on piracy — especially regarding intellectual property. Huaxia was no longer the land of counterfeit goods.
When he first transmigrated, Su Shichen tried to download a couple of 3gp movies to watch on his phone, only to discover there were no pirated copies online. In the end, he had no choice but to pay for legitimate downloads.
In this world, the United States was still a global superpower, still hosted the Oscars and the Grammys, and Los Angeles remained the world's entertainment capital. However, Huaxia's international status had risen significantly — and, at least, there was no such thing as the "Senkaku Islands."
But strangely, despite how developed the entertainment and literary fields were, many famous figures and works from Earth didn't exist here.
When he checked online, he was completely stunned.
Where was the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley? Where were MJ and Justin Bieber?
Where were Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne?
Even the three generations of Hong Kong's "Gods of Song" — Jacky Cheung, Sam Hui, and Eason Chan — were missing.
Comics, songs, novels — everything was scarce. This world resembled Earth in many ways, but it was fundamentally different.
Su Shichen had transmigrated into a parallel world. His name remained the same, and the body he inhabited was his own fourteen-year-old self. His parents were also his original parents. That, at least, was a comfort — after all, expecting a man with a thirty-two-year-old's mind to suddenly accept strangers as his parents would've been far too awkward.
---
"Hey, hey, Xiao Si, what are we doing here?" Li Dongfang tugged at Su Shichen's sleeve.
The eighteenth floor was a busy office level. Employees in sharp suits and elegant office attire passed by — a scene very pleasing to the eye. However, the two middle schoolers stood out like sore thumbs, both carrying small backpacks.
"Little brother, who are you looking for?" The receptionist didn't look down on them because of their age. Her tone was polite and professional.
Entering an unfamiliar environment naturally made people nervous — especially when they felt like intruders. The receptionist's question made Li Dongfang even more uneasy.
She looked up and read the sign: Deyun Publishing House.
A publishing house?
"I'm here to see your Editor-in-chief," Su Shichen said calmly.
"Oh? You mean Editor-in-chief Wang? Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes."
"Alright, what's your name, little brother? I'll check for you."
"Su Shichen — Su as in 'awake,' Shi as in 'release,' and Chen as in 'morning.'"
"The appointment is for 8:30 a.m., just on time." The receptionist made a quick call, then gestured. "You can head in. Editor-in-chief's office, just down the hall. Please knock before entering."
Su Shichen nodded and knocked.
"Please come in."
It was a woman's voice — gentle but firm.
He pushed open the door. The office was elegantly decorated in shades of violet and lavender — sophisticated, yet calm.
There was no secretary. Behind the desk sat a beautiful woman in her thirties with delicate brows, peach blossom eyes, and a cool expression. Her fitted black-brown suit outlined her graceful curves. A purple bra strap peeked slightly from beneath her blouse, and when she shifted, a sliver of pale skin showed at her waist.
[Deyun Publishing House · Editor-in-chief · Wang Ni]
"I was expecting Mr. Su Shichen," she said with a surprised smile. "But I didn't expect him to be little brother Su Shichen."
When Wang Ni smiled, it was like watching an iceberg melt. The small mole beneath her lip added a charming allure.
"I don't think my age should be a problem, right?" Su Shichen replied lightly.
"Heh, indeed, it's not. Please, both of you, have a seat," Wang Ni said warmly.
Su Shichen and Li Dongfang sat down on the sofa.
"Editor-in-chief Wang—"
"Su Shichen, you're the same age as my daughter. Calling me Editor-in-chief Wang is too formal. Just call me Auntie Wang. And I'll call you Xiao Chen — how's that?"
"Then I'm honored, Auntie Wang."
"What's there to be honored about? If you keep talking like that, Auntie Wang will really get angry," she said with a playful smile, though her tone remained graceful.
Then her gaze shifted to Li Dongfang. "Xiao Chen, is this your little girlfriend? Why don't you introduce her to Auntie Wang?"
Before Su Shichen could answer, Li Dongfang's face turned bright red. "Uh—no, we're classmates! I just came along to keep Xiao Si company!"
"Oh~?" Wang Ni teased, her voice lilting, making Li Dongfang blush even more and lower her head.
"Alright, Xiao Chen, let's get to business. Auntie Wang just wants to confirm — was Journey to the West really written by you?"
"Of course. Piracy is punishable by thirty years in prison. I'm still young; I don't want to go to jail. Besides, Auntie Wang should've already verified that online, right?"
"Hmm, true. I just wanted to confirm it personally. Then, may I ask — are the simplified and traditional Chinese publishing rights still in your hands?"
"Yes, they are."
"Good. Since you're calling me Auntie Wang, I won't treat you unfairly. Auntie Wang has prepared a contract for you — fifty yuan per thousand characters. Journey to the West has about one hundred thousand characters, so you'll earn five thousand yuan from this book."
Though the literary industry in this world was flourishing, that rate was quite generous for a newcomer. Su Shichen nodded in satisfaction.
"This is the contract. Since you're under eighteen, you'll need a guardian's signature. Take it home, discuss it with your parents, and bring it back after." Wang Ni's words were as neat and tidy as her perfectly tied hair.
"Okay," Su Shichen said, slipping the contract into his backpack.
"Auntie Wang, what's being published? What's Journey to the West?" Li Dongfang asked curiously, eyes wide like a cat's.
"You don't know? Of course, it's Xiao Chen's book. He's the author."
Li Dongfang froze. Publishing a book? For a middle school student, writing even a 600-word essay was a struggle — and he'd written a whole novel?
She took the stack of A4 papers with trembling hands.
Journey to the West? Isn't that the story about Sun Wukong?
As one of Huaxia's four great classics, Journey to the West was well-known. Every summer, CCTV would air the series. What else could be written about it? Surely it wasn't in classical Chinese, right?
She began reading, thinking it would be boring — and was immediately stunned.
---
Chapter One
The four of them walked onward. Ahead lay a dense forest, no path in sight.
"Sun Wukong, I'm hungry. Go find something to eat," Tang Monk said grandly, sitting down on a rock.
"I'm busy. Can't you go yourself?... It's not like you don't have legs," Sun Wukong replied, leaning on his staff.
"You're busy? Doing what?"
"Don't you think this sunset glow is beautiful?" Sun Wukong said, still gazing at the horizon. "Only by watching this can I find the will to keep walking west every day."
"You can watch while you search — just don't bump into a tree."
---
To Li Dongfang's surprise, it wasn't written in classical Chinese, but in a witty, modern style — humorous and full of personality.
Lines like these made her laugh out loud:
> "What is love in this world? Buddha says: Trash!!"
"If Heaven knows my sincerity, let even stones sprout!"
"Buddha is in your heart — why speak of him? Better to fart!"
And though it was funny, the book's Sun Wukong had a heroic, awe-inspiring dominance.
> "What use is it to live, if I cannot laugh?"
"What use is it to die, if my pride remains unbroken?"
"If Heaven presses me down, I will cleave the Heavens.
If Earth restrains me, I will shatter the Earth.
We are born free — who dares stand above us?"
Li Dongfang was speechless. This Sun Wukong... is a hero — an awe-inspiring hero.
---
"This is Auntie Wang's private number. Once your parents sign the contract, give me a call," Wang Ni said with a smile, subtly seeing them out.
Su Shichen, understanding the cue, nodded and led Li Dongfang away from the office.
"Xiao Si, did you really write that Journey to the West?" Li Dongfang asked.
"Of course. Huaxia has strict laws — plagiarism can mean thirty years in prison."
"Xiao Si, you're amazing! You're actually publishing a book!" Li Dongfang's eyes sparkled with admiration.
There are, they say, three kinds of men most attractive to women.
The first are artistic youths — eloquent, poetic, and full of delicate feelings. Young girls often call that "romance."
The second are wanderers — free as the wind, untamed and charming. Married women, drawn by maternal instinct, always want to make this "wind" stay, though they themselves are swept away.
The third type are uncles — not just older men, but mature, confident, and knowledgeable ones. Not every man can be called "uncle." The term belongs to the rich, handsome, and composed — men who understand women, who listen, who care. And for girls lacking fatherly affection, such men are dangerously irresistible.
Artistic youths captivate young girls.
Wanderers attract married women.
Uncles — capture the hearts of lolis.
"Xiao Si, where are we going now?" Li Dongfang asked.
"To class, of course. The first period should be over by now. Da Ban Zhang, congratulations — you've officially skipped class!"
"Ah!" Li Dongfang's face went pale as she remembered she had, in fact, skipped school.
"Haha, relax. I got permission from the teacher in advance."
"You big meanie, Xiao Si! You tricked me!"
Under the morning sun, the laughter and chasing of the boy and girl became the most beautiful memories of their youth…