78: Faded Friends

Jingcheng, Hong Guo Net Headquarters.

At one in the morning, the lights in the Data Operations Department were still glaring.

The man in the suit tugged at his tie.

His expensive custom-made shirt was wrinkled like a rag from working overtime for so long.

The strong tea in his hand had long gone cold, but he didn't have time to drink it.

His bloodshot eyes seemed to be glued by a magnet.

They were fixed on the almost vertically rising red curve on the large screen.

Those were the backend subscription data for the human world is like a prison.

Ever since this book began serialization,

all its metrics had skyrocketed, breaking multiple records set by Hong Guo Net since its establishment.

As Hong Guo Net's CCO (Chief Content Officer),

he practically wanted to enshrine this

Editor-in-chief Hong Hu had two large dark circles under his eyes, his voice trembling with excitement:

"General Manager Zhou, readers are showering us with rewards, and the private messages urging for updates have completely jammed the backend!

Especially that 'chopping the examiner' plot, the entire internet is memeing it now, the buzz is terrifyingly high!"

Zhou Tong slammed his teacup onto the table.

"High buzz? This is false prosperity!

Look at the progress in these past few chapters.

The protagonist just dealt with the starving ghost, then immediately went to chop the examiner, with no transition in between to even catch a breath."

Zhou Tong's finger jabbed forcefully at the screen.

"At this rate, the book will be finished in less than three months! This pace... it's too fast."

Hong Hu was stunned for a moment:

"Isn't fast good? Readers just like this kind of no-nonsense story."

"Good my ass!"

Zhou Tong smacked his thigh in exasperation.

"This kind of divine book is a money tree! It's a treasure trove!

According to the convention of web novels, a book with such achievements should at least be millions of characters long.

It should be drawn out for two or three years to completely exploit its IP value.

But looking at the Dream Weaver's stance, he's aiming for completion!"

There's an unwritten rule in the web novel circle:

Good books are watered down, bad books are left unfinished.

A phenomenal book, if it concludes at one million words,

is a huge waste of resources for the platform.

"No, we can't let him write like this."

Zhou Tong made a decisive call.

"You contact him immediately!

No matter what method you use, you must make him slow down the pace!

Make him write side quests, everyday life, even if it's Yang Jian going to catch cats or find dogs, anything is fine!

As long as it doesn't end, anything can be discussed!"

"Also!"

Zhou Tong lowered his voice, his expression grave.

"Recently, Zhongdian Network next door has been making frequent moves; I heard they're poaching people everywhere.

If a top author like the Dream Weaver is poached by them, Hongguo's year-end bonus for this year will all be gone!"

Hong Hu's eyelids twitched.

This wasn't just about performance, but also the year-end bonuses for hundreds of people in the entire content department.

Without a moment's delay, he quickly switched to that dark avatar.

The sound of typing on the keyboard seemed particularly urgent in the silent night.

[Hong Hu: Great Dream Weaver, you haven't slept yet, right? There's an urgent matter I'd like to confirm with you!!!!]

...Jiangcheng, SOHO Studio.

Lin Que had just finished showering, his hair still damp on his forehead.

He casually picked up his constantly vibrating phone and glanced at the screen.

Since the release of the ferryman and his speech, he had enjoyed a relatively peaceful couple of days.

At school, thanks to the halo of the special prize,

the teachers turned a blind eye to his sleeping in class, as long as he wasn't too excessive.

Seeing the string of exclamation marks from Hong Hu, Lin Que raised an eyebrow.

[Dream Weaver: Speak.]

The reply was concise and exuded an aloof demeanor.

In Jingcheng, Hong Hu saw the reply and immediately typed furiously.

[Hong Hu: Great one! It's like this:

The group leaders saw your update progress and felt... wasn't the pace a bit too fast?

Our book is gaining such momentum right now, we can totally expand the world-building a bit more!

For example, those passengers on the ghost bus, each must have a story behind them.

If we just elaborate on one or two, readers would definitely love it...]

[Hong Hu: Great one, this book is the pillar of our website.

If you finish too early, readers definitely won't be happy!

How about we discuss it and slow down the pace a bit?

We can increase the royalty fees!]

Lin Que looked at the text on the screen and grinned.

Make him water it down?

These people really don't understand the charm of books like the human world is like a prison.

That desperate sense of oppression,

once watered down and dragged out, the horror atmosphere would completely vanish.

[Dream Weaver: I have my own pace. When it's time to end, it will naturally end.]

As this line was sent, Hong Hu on the other side almost cried.

[Hong Hu: Great one! Don't be impulsive!

Is it... is it that Zhongdian Network contacted you?

Let me tell you, their recommendation mechanism is very tricky, and their reader base isn't as loyal as our Hongguo.

If you're not satisfied with the price, we can talk! Please don't jump ship!]

Lin Que paused, then realized.

So they were afraid he would leave.

Indeed, the ID "Hell Dream Weaver" now

is truly unique in the suspense and supernatural genre.

Major platforms have been eyeing this lucrative prize for more than just a day or two.

He had already seen requests for Hell Dream Weaver's email address on various forums and platform websites.

But the books in his mind weren't just this one.

Lin Que stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, Jiangcheng's night view remained quiet, much like the stories waiting to be unearthed.

Those astonishingly brilliant works from his previous life were quietly arranged on the bookshelf.

"My House of Horrors," "Hell Apartment," "Late Night Bookshop"... any one of them, brought out, would be enough to stir up huge waves in the web novel world of this era.

Hong Guo Net was worried that his money tree would fall?

What a joke.

What he possessed was an entire forest.

Lin Que sat back down at his computer, his fingers tapping lightly on the screen.

[Dream Weaver: Don't worry. I'm not going to Zhongdian Network, nor anywhere else.]

[Dream Weaver: The completion of this book is just the end of one story.

My inspiration extends beyond this.

Don't worry about the rise and fall of one tree; I will bring you an entire forest.]

Jingcheng, Hong Guo Net Headquarters.

Hong Hu looked at these two replies, and his anxious heart finally settled.

He turned to Zhou Tong, his face flushed with excitement:

"General Manager Zhou! It's settled!

The great one said his next book will still be signed with us!

And from the sound of it, he has quite a few in stock!"

Zhou Tong let out a long sigh of relief, picked up his teacup, and gulped it down.

"If that's the case... then a shorter book is fine."

Old Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Quickly, call the technical department and add another server cluster for the human world is like a prison!

Also, reserve the completion recommendation on the homepage for him in advance!"

...Jiangcheng.

Lin Que put down his phone and stretched.

With the platform appeased, next,

it was time to give the readers a small shock.

Yang Jian got on the ghost bus; this stop wasn't for tourism.

He turned his gaze to the blinking cursor on the computer screen, his fingers flying.

Since readers enjoyed this heart-pounding sensation,

as the ending approached, it was time for some heavy dishes.

On the screen, a line of bold, black text slowly appeared—the title of the next chapter.

Carrying a chilling coldness that made one's spine tingle.

"Old Friends Wither"

...