Chu Ge made his decision and immediately informed Lao Zhu: "We plan to draw our own comics and set up our own studio. Is that alright?"
Lao Zhu was stunned for a long time. Actually, he hadn't even considered comics. Only after hearing this did he remember that it was indeed possible to release comics first…
"If you want to handle it yourself, that's easy. You were going to find a studio to draw anyway, so drawing it yourself will save you trouble, and you can earn the money yourself… But are you sure you can do it?"
"Qiuqiu is very good at drawing, but she needs to relearn computer graphics, and the comic system is different from single-panel painting. Panel layout and such are all knowledge…"
"Simple. I'll arrange a comic class for you? How about online classes?"
"Okay, thank you very much."
From then on, Qiu Wuji's days became fulfilling.
Every morning she studied comics, and every afternoon she went to driving lessons, full of energy every day.
Although Chu Ge no longer had the time to serve tea and water as a little assistant, he enjoyed one less aspect of her life, but he was happy for her.
As mentioned before, Qiu Wuji is on the path to becoming a more "modern" person.
He has learning experiences, exam records, classmates, a social network, and countless other aspects of his existence in this world, not just peripheral figures.
Including teachers and driving instructors, the number of Qiu Wuji's WeChat friends has visibly increased.
Not only teachers and classmates, but also fans, and various interactions on Weibo.
His Weibo content has also increased, including sketches for his studies.
With this, the nature of his Weibo has subtly changed. Before, it was all about shipping couples; the Weibo itself didn't have much content. Chu Ge once thought he would become a food blogger, but even just home-cooked meals couldn't support a food blogger… But now he actually has drawing talent, and he's really good at it!
That's a different story!
Even if they're both just popular, an idol with no skills and only good looks is clearly not on the same level as an idol who showcases talent.
"Qiuqiu is so amazing!"
"Oh no, I'm hooked on Qiuqiu! She's so beautiful and draws so well, waaaaah! I don't want to ship anymore, I want to kill Chu Ge! Anyone want to join me?"
Surprisingly, there were quite a few responses, though they were usually like this: "If I kill Chu Ge, Qiuqiu will be mine too. What does it have to do with you?"
"Let's get an excavator upstairs!"
"You guys should just give up. One's a writer, the other an artist; they're a perfect match. What are you all doing making a fuss about..."
"This ship is even more amazing now, waaaah..."
"Chu Ge! Chu Ge!" Qiu Wuji excitedly ran into Chu Ge's room: "Someone messaged me asking for a drawing!"
Chu Ge was very surprised: "Holy crap, you can make money so quickly? What price did you offer?"
"Five hundred yuan!"
"Alright..." "Oh, what are you drawing?"
"I don't know, they said it's a doujinshi... They said hiring famous ones is too expensive, but I, as an apprentice, can draw better than them, good quality and cheap!"
"...Blocked you. If you're going to draw a doujinshi, draw it for me..."
"So what exactly is a doujinshi?"
"You should maintain the good habit of asking Baidu yourself... Now you often use 'Mengmeng' to replace Baidu, which is not good, Baidu has become 'Mengmeng'..."
Qiu Wuji knew that doujinshi weren't a good thing, and snorted twice in resentment, then said, "What about commissioning illustrators? That's okay, right?" Chu Ge's expression twitched: "Didn't you ever think about drawing an illustration for yourself first? We have a bonus chapter function, but we haven't used it in a long time!"
"Eh, wait a minute!" Qiu Wuji ran back.
A moment later, Qiu Wuji's avatar on Chu Ge's QQ popped up, sending two pictures.
Gu Yi posted a beautiful full-body illustration of Qiu Wuji, holding a long sword and standing by the riverbank in the setting sun—the visual effect was stunning. "How about this as a bonus stamp?" she asked. Chu Ge saved it with great satisfaction. "I think this can also be used for a birthday illustration and a card." Qiu Wuji's character card had recently reached two stars, enough for a birthday celebration, but a card wouldn't be available until it reached one star. Panda was urging Character Meow to find someone to draw a birthday illustration, a process that usually dragged on for half a year—beating people wouldn't help anyway. This time, Chu Ge decided to forgo their search and just use this illustration; it would guarantee everyone would swoon.
Whispering: If Qiu Qiu were willing to turn this into a manga illustration and send it to me privately, that would be even better…but that's just a dream.
Opening another image, he saw a small cartoon portrait, different from the one the author had given him before—more refined and cuter, with the head tilted slightly.
"So many people are using that old profile picture, it doesn't make us stand out," Qiu Wuji said smugly. "Quickly change to the new one, this will be our exclusive profile picture from now on." Chu Ge changed his, then refreshed Qiu Wuji's profile picture, noticing that his was tilted to the left and Qiu Wuji's was tilted to the right—two perfectly matching profile pictures, the more he looked, the cuter they seemed.
Chu Ge couldn't help but laugh. Qiu Qiu was so girlish now.
She seemed even cuter after learning about manga.
After all, manga girls are cute! What? There's also shonen manga? I don't know that.
Qiu Wuji was also laughing, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at their matching profile pictures, unconsciously chuckling. She felt that signing up for the manga class was worth it.
"Tomorrow's the weekend, comic book class is closed," Qiu Wuji typed. "The driving lessons schedule is flexible; I can arrange a break with the instructor anytime." Chu Ge, sensing her meaning, asked, "Want to rest for two days and go back to the book?"
"Yes," Qiu Wuji sighed reluctantly. "I've been really enjoying my lessons these past few days, and I really don't want to go back. However, I've stayed too long this time, and I'm finally feeling my limits."
Chu Ge nodded. It's true that there's a little frustration when things are going well but suddenly stop. However, Qiu Wuji had often had to go back halfway through things before, but this time was much better; he could arrange his vacation and go back however he wanted.
He assessed his own condition and smiled, "I don't think I'm in too bad shape; I've recovered."
Qiu Wuji's beautiful eyes sparkled. "Let's go back to my parents' house together."
This was a "together" that didn't really have much practical meaning in theory, because in reality, they couldn't go in hand-in-hand; they would each go in their own way… However, it seemed important to both of them.
In the past, every time Qiu Wuji returned home, it was like a farewell, passively waiting for the day of his return.
But this time, although they weren't returning hand in hand, they were still splitting up, setting off together, and hoping to return together—this feeling was truly different.
"Then tell the coach we'll try it now."
"Okay!" Qiu Wuji crawled into bed, wrapped himself in the blanket, took out his phone, sent a message to the coach saying he wouldn't be going this weekend, and then said to Chu Ge, "Ready!"
Chu Ge sat in front of his computer, opening a document.
The Earth-Shattering Transformation Technique was activated at the opportune moment.
On the main peak of Cloud Peak, at a pavilion on the cliff edge, Qiu Wuji, sleeves lightly rolled up, was painting in the pavilion.
The world in the book was already in winter, snow falling heavily on the cliff.
Qiu Wuji looked up at the sky, and amidst the falling snow, there seemed to be subtle ripples in space, and within these ripples appeared his divided soul, merging with his main body.
Almost simultaneously, higher in the sky, another illusory figure silently descended, piercing through all the defenses of the Cloud Realm Sect, as if the protective array had never existed.
As it fell, the illusory figure gradually solidified, transforming into Chu Ge's appearance. He was still wearing his previous disciple's attire, only this time it was an illusion.
The divided soul seemed to sense something, stopping in the air outside the pavilion, turning its head to look, its face full of joy, and extending its slender hand in a gesture of greeting.
Chu Ge gracefully landed, naturally taking her hand, and together they landed beside the pavilion.
Amidst the swirling snowflakes, they truly appeared as a divine couple, arriving with the snow.
Inside the pavilion, Qiu Wuji's true form, whose previously smiling face had gradually turned colder than the falling snow, almost breaking her paintbrush, gritted her teeth and muttered, "You adulterous couple!"