Lin Mu was truly speechless.
"Erin, I came to you to collaborate and help me create illustrations, but you say you can't draw them."
"Is this looking down on me and not wanting to draw for me, or are you deliberately messing with me?"
"Ah, no! I don't mean to look down on you. I've carefully read the preview chapters of Twilight Sky's work, and it's already popular before even being released; it's an excellent work."
"Um, I just didn't want to hide it from you. While I'm skilled with doujinshi, my art style is already set. Flat-chested characters are no problem for me, but I really can't do large breasts…"
Eiri explained frantically, almost on the verge of tears.
She didn't want to lose such a good opportunity to break into the mainstream.
"Alright, alright, calm down. Since there are difficulties, let's figure out a solution together. For now, why don't you come to my place and try drawing?"
"Eh? Go to your place?"
Eiri's eyes widened.
Why did the topic suddenly shift to drawing at his house?
"Yes, is there a problem? Are you going to discuss how to draw a large-breasted female protagonist with me in a cafe?"
"Uh… you're right. Then… then let's draw at your place."
And so, the meeting at the cafe was unilaterally turned by Lin Mu into a situation where he was taking Eiri home.
… … …
A long while later.
Standing at Lin Mu's doorstep, Eiri changed into indoor slippers and politely said,
"Excuse my intrusion."
Lin Mu smiled and looked at her, "No intrusion at all, come in quickly, I'm the only one home right now."
"Oh, excuse me."
Eiri's face flushed as she followed him into his room.
Upon entering, her eyes lit up.
Lin Mu's room was not only not messy, but exceptionally clean and tidy, without any strange odors.
Instead, there was a pleasant scent that made one feel much more comfortable.
Next to the bed was a computer desk, and beside the desk was a row of bookshelves that Lin Mu had just prepared to stock up on light novels and game discs.
After all, he was going to bring Kato Megumi and Dan Ma to play, so he had to prepare some related items.
As for the cleanliness and tidiness of the room, it was all due to Shiina Mahiru's efforts.
"Don't be shy, you can sit anywhere you like, Erin. Just find a comfortable spot to draw."
"Okay, thank you."
Eiri took a deep breath, sat down in the chair in front of the computer desk, then pulled out her paper and began to draw illustrations.
Soon, a blonde, tsundere, twin-tailed anime girl appeared on the drawing paper.
Lin Mu couldn't help but exclaim, "Not bad! She looks a lot like Eiri, and she seems to fit Hoshino Nagi's character design well."
Eiri's cheeks were burning. She glanced at him, said nothing more, and continued to draw Tsukimi Miyabi's character design.
But in her heart, she was complaining.
How could it not resemble her?
She didn't know what Lin Mu was thinking, to create a character so similar to herself as the female protagonist in the book. Just reading the preview of his novel felt familiar.
And now, knowing that she and Lin Mu were elementary school classmates, she immediately had a guess.
This guy, could he also be one of the people who kept sending her love letters?
Was he secretly in love with her?
Lin Mu was admiring Hoshino Nagi's character design, completely unaware of Eiri's strange expression.
A little while later, Eiri's somewhat embarrassed voice rang out.
"Um, it's done. Take a look."
Lin Mu took it and his brows furrowed instantly.
"Kashiwagi Eri, are you serious?"
"Tsukimi Miyabi's face is fine, but what's with those eyes, looking like she's already reached climax, and her tongue?"
"Especially these big breasts, not even a dairy cow is this exaggerated. Her body is completely disproportionate. Wouldn't it be heavy to walk? If she intentionally bumped into the male lead, she could crush him to death, suffocating him."
Listening to his complaints, steam began to rise from Eiri's head.
"That's why I said I couldn't draw it well. I subconsciously drew it in an exaggerated doujinshi style. This is already me trying my best to restrain myself."
Lin Mu looked at her with an unreadable expression.
"Or, should I just go ask Eromanga Sensei…?"
"Wuwu, no! I know what the problem is, I'll try my best to correct it, Lin Mu, please don't give up on me!"
Eiri looked at him pitifully.
Lin Mu sighed, rubbing his forehead, "Then how can you draw it well? Honestly, the illustrations need to be done in the next two days, otherwise Ms. Machida will scold me terribly."
Eiri fiddled with her fingers and said awkwardly, "Um, as long as you find a beautiful girl similar to Tsukimi Miyabi and let me observe her various outfits carefully, I can definitely draw it."
"Lin Mu, I truly want to do a good job on the illustrations for your work, which is why I'm exposing my weakness. Please entrust the illustrations to me, okay? I will definitely work hard and make you satisfied!"
Lin Mu rolled his eyes.
"The problem is, where am I going to find a beautiful woman with a good figure for you to observe? Even if I had someone in mind, she might not agree, right?"
Eiri, however, fidgeted with her fingers, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I do have someone in mind, but if I ask, she'll definitely refuse, so I was hoping you, Lin Mu, could ask her."
"Oh, who is she?"
"It's Kasumi Utako, who's with the same publishing house as you. Although I don't want to admit it, her figure is the best I've ever seen, and her face is absolutely beautiful, exactly like Tsukimi Miyabi!"
At this point, Eiri's expression turned strange again.
Is this person really unrelated to Kasumigaoka Utaha?
Why could he depict such a familiar image so clearly?
Lin Mu's interest was piqued by her words.
"Why do you think she'll agree if I ask? Although Utaha Kasumigaoka is from the same school as me, and we've talked, we've only met once. She definitely wouldn't agree to such a request, would she?"
Eiri, however, confidently patted her chest and guaranteed, "As long as you ask, she'll definitely agree. Just try it, how will you know if you don't try?"
Lin Mu's mouth twitched, and he pulled out his phone.
"If the beautiful senior sister ends up hating and despising me, you, Eiri, will have to compensate me!"
Saying that, he dialed Kasumigaoka Utaha's number.
"Hello, is this Utaha Kasumigaoka? This is Lin Mu."
"Yes, I hear you, Junior Lin. What can I do for you?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's clear and pleasant voice rang out from the phone.
Eiri became inexplicably nervous.
"It's like this, Utaha Kasumigaoka, I've encountered a problem with my light novel. Are you free right now? I'd like to invite you to my place to serve as a reference for my illustrator."
… … …
Kasumigaoka Utaha was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.
(Nuo Zhaozhao) "Junior Lin, you're not being honest. That blonde twin-tailed girl, she's with you right now, isn't she?"
Eiri's eyes widened instantly. She quickly shook her head and covered her mouth, afraid of making a sound.
"Ahem, Utaha Kasumigaoka, what blonde tsundere?"
"Still pretending? Hmph, besides Kashiwagi Eri, whose art style is so skewed that she draws exaggeratedly large breasts, who else would think of using my image as reference?"
"Uh… but doesn't that also mean that, in Kashiwagi Eri's mind, Utaha Kasumigaoka's image is the most perfect? In fact, only Utaha Kasumigaoka's image can help her art skills break through and get back on track."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "…"
After a moment of silence, Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke, revealing an address.
"Junior Lin is quite the talker. On your account, I'll agree to your request. Come pick me up now, and I'll give her an opportunity to gather material."
"I'll be right there, Utaha Kasumigaoka, wait for me!"
After hanging up, Lin Mu looked at Eiri with a strange expression.
He always felt there was a story between Eiri and Utaha Kasumigaoka….