In the real world, even if Xu Jing were the kind of meticulous, brilliantly organized super academic genius who calculated every variable, accidents would still happen when carrying out a plan. Reality was far too messy, filled with unpredictable human impulses and the chaotic friction of everyday life.
But inside a manga's world, accidents didn't exist. Or rather, even if they appeared on the page, they were merely part of the creator's careful arrangement. Now that Zhao Youyue had taken control of the story's direction, everything proceeded with terrifying perfection according to the script planned by the darkened Xu Jing. Even the author had to follow Xu Jing's will. Su Li could no longer alter the plot's direction. That was the price of Xu Jing becoming so overwhelmingly popular and making Pure Love explode in the rankings.
The most unsettling thing was that Su Li herself didn't feel anything strange about the story she was drawing. On the contrary, she felt that her creative state lately was incredible. Her drawing skills had reached their peak, the ink flowing from her pen with a life of its own, and the story had completely escaped the tired, cliché tropes of the genre. No one could possibly guess what would happen next. Surely every reader following Pure Love was reading each new chapter in a completely stunned state.
Was the male lead not supposed to be a gentle herbivore type?
Was there not supposed to be a harmonious harem?
Was there not supposed to be a perfect happy ending?
Then how had the herbivore male lead turned into a relentless bulldozer, sleeping with every girl who liked him except his own younger sister?
How had the originally harmonious harem descended into such vicious infighting that some of the more timid girls quietly withdrew from his side? The emotional entanglements and raw heartbreak had driven each heroine's supporters to the brink of ruin. Why had it become like this? How had the author become so skilled at writing this kind of visceral drama?
As for the perfect happy ending.
Heh. Heh heh heh.
Of course, Pure Love had not yet reached its final chapter. During this period, Xu Jing didn't fall in love with the male lead as most readers had predicted. Instead, she poured all her affection into Yang Qianqian. She unexpectedly displayed a "yuri" appeal, which surprised many readers. Yet the audience widely felt that this development was excellent. It avoided clichés while preserving Xu Jing's fierce independence. Her attentive and tender care for Yang Qianqian—the way she would silently adjust the other girl's collar or watch her with a heavy, devoted intensity—even attracted a large number of female readers. Many of them said that if they had a best friend like Xu Jing, they would be more than willing to enter a yuri relationship with her.
Many people in the manga industry couldn't help sighing with admiration. A manga artist named Su Li might actually become legendary with her very first work. She had created an incredibly popular female character like Xu Jing late in the story and even used that character to draw in a massive female audience. Pure Love had suddenly become the harem manga most followed by female readers. Teacher Su Li truly seemed to be playing a very long game.
Meanwhile, an anime adaptation of Pure Love had officially been approved. This pushed Su Li even deeper into her almost possessed creative state. She felt as if she was about to transcend the limitations of the medium. She kept creating in this state, though in truth the darkened Xu Jing had already taken the lead behind the scenes, her cold logic guiding every stroke of the brush.
The story continued.
The gentle and passive Yang Ming was indeed seduced by his childhood friend Li Xiaotong. Their relationship progressed quickly from tentative kissing to touching, and then Li Xiaotong began pleasing him with her hands and mouth. After tasting the intense pleasure of desire, Yang Ming completely unlocked the restraints he had placed upon himself. From then on, he followed his desires freely. When he interacted with the other girls, he was no longer the reserved herbivore type. He couldn't help getting a little handsy, and the girls certainly weren't about to reject him. They were thrilled by the sudden heat in his eyes.
They all thought Yang Ming had finally come to his senses and chosen someone. Little did they know that while he used to behave like a saint around every girl, he now wanted more whenever a girl didn't refuse him. It simply felt too good to stop.
Did that make him a scumbag? Not really. He was simply facing his desires honestly.
During this process, Su Li poured all the talent she had honed as a doujin artist into Pure Love. The result was a manga that never showed anything explicit, just like a novel that never directly described certain body parts. Yet it was incredibly provocative, the art focusing on the curve of a neck or the flush of a cheek. Male readers found themselves completely worked up, female readers blushed furiously, and everyone became more addicted than ever.
It was simply too thrilling.
But believe it or not, the scenes between Yang Ming and the girls weren't the most exciting parts.
The most compelling moments still belonged to Xu Jing.
One day, Yang Ming finally brought Li Xiaotong home. When he discovered that his younger sister, Yang Qianqian, wasn't there—apparently out with her best friend—he couldn't help sighing that heaven was helping him. Unable to wait any longer, he pulled Li Xiaotong close and began passionately embracing her. They couldn't even make it to the bedroom and ended up tangled together right in the living room, their clothes discarded on the floor.
That day became the most painful day of Yang Qianqian's life.
Earlier, Xu Jing had suddenly said she wanted to eat snacks. Yang Qianqian happily dragged her outside to buy them. They bought quite a lot, the colorful bags crinkling in their hands. In her eyes, her best friend had finally learned how to enjoy life instead of acting like a machine that only knew how to study.
But when they returned home and opened the door, Yang Qianqian saw a scene that shattered her completely.
Her beloved older brother was pressing Li Xiaotong onto the coffee table. The same Li Xiaotong who had always taken care of her like an older sister, and who had also been her childhood companion. The two of them were completely absorbed in each other and didn't even notice the door opening or the heavy silence that followed.
If this explosive scene appeared in the anime adaptation, the comment barrage would certainly turn green instantly.
For a moment, the atmosphere was unbearably awkward.
Yang Qianqian loved her brother too deeply. She didn't have the courage to step into the house and condemn them while they were lost in passion. Instead, she burst into tears, the bags of snacks falling to the ground, and ran away.
Xu Jing followed her outside.
Deep in the darkened girl's heart, she perhaps even felt a trace of dark pleasure.
With this, Yang Qianqian would surely become completely disappointed in Yang Ming. The pedestal he sat on would finally crumble, leaving only Xu Jing to pick up the pieces.
But how could that possibly happen so easily?
Of course she would forgive him. Her heart was too soft for anything else.
Still, Yang Qianqian didn't want to return home that night. She and Xu Jing went to a love hotel together. The money they carried was only enough for such a place, a building with a flickering neon sign and thin, dingy walls. Naturally, the room contained only one bed.
After the two finished showering, the scent of cheap soap clinging to their skin, they lay down together. Xu Jing, who was normally calm and expressionless, suddenly had a bright red face and a racing heartbeat. The contrast was unbelievably charming. She watched Yang Qianqian in the dim light, her obsession simmering just beneath the surface. She wanted to lock this moment away, to keep her friend in this small, quiet room forever.
Yang Qianqian turned onto her side. Her eyes were still red and swollen as she looked at Xu Jing and asked in a voice softer than a whisper,
"Xiao Jing, what kind of person do you like? I want to know… tell me."
Xu Jing only looked at Yang Qianqian's trembling lips.
Countless memories of their time together flashed through her mind—every smile, every shared secret, every time Yang Ming had taken her away. Her cheeks burned as she gently touched Yang Qianqian's face, her fingers lingering on the girl's soft skin.
Then she leaned forward and kissed her.
While drawing this breathtakingly beautiful scene, a Japanese song titled Parallel Lines was playing in Su Li's studio.
"太阳系を抜け出して,平行线で交わろう."
Taiyōkei o nuke dashite, heikōsen de majiwarou.
"Let us escape the solar system together and meet again on parallel lines."
"私と君の影のように伸びている."
Watashi to kimi no kage no yō ni nobite iru.
"Like the shadows of you and me stretching beneath the setting sun."
"あぁ,平行线."
Aa, heikōsen.
"Ah… parallel lines."
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The lyrics in the chapter come from "平行線" (Heikousen, "Parallel Lines") by Sayuri, often credited as 酸欠少女さユり. The song was released in 2017 and served as the ending theme for the anime Scum's Wish (Japanese title: クズの本懐/ Kuzu no Honkai). This song is really good, recommended by me to listen (y)
To be honest, this really good anime. I somehow can relate with MC, it's suffocating, it's hurt, but it also refreshing in certain sense.