31: Chapter 31 will probably have around 400,000 to 500,000 words.

After the group stepped out of the courtyard gate, Chen Jianguo saw the skoda octavia parked next to his Chevrolet, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Judging by its condition, it was clearly a new car. He often saw the skoda octavia brand, so he knew the price—it cost around one hundred fifty or sixty thousand.

"Did you buy this car?" Chen Jianguo asked, looking at Chen Jianjun.

"Yeah." Chen Jianjun's expression was calm, but a hint of pride showed in his eyes.

"This car must cost over a hundred thousand, right? How could you bring yourself to buy it?" Chen Jianguo actually had another sentence he didn't say, which was: where on earth did Chen Jianjun get over a hundred thousand to buy such an expensive car?

Even though he had been working for so many years and had savings of over two hundred thousand, he wouldn't be willing to buy such an expensive car. His own second-hand Citroen only cost him a little over thirty thousand.

Chen Jianjun smiled and didn't explain much: "Let's go inside first; it's cold out here."

After returning to the house, Chen Jianguo looked at Chen Jianjun with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Chen Jianjun hesitated, not knowing how to explain it.

"I bought this car for my dad," Chen Fan suddenly spoke up.

Chen Fan didn't intend to keep the fact that he was earning money from writing novels a secret anymore; after all, there would always be a day when they found out.

Besides, his uncle was a good man, and he was very kind to him, his only nephew.

In his previous life, when Chen Fan was in college, his uncle had even bought him a laptop, which was Chen Fan's first computer.

However, Chen Fan wouldn't tell them the actual amount he had earned. It would be easier for them to accept if he downplayed it quite a bit.

As soon as Chen Fan finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Chen Tong was holding a cup and drinking water; she froze upon hearing this, then immediately burst into laughter: "Chen Fan, what kind of joke are you making?"

"Tongtong, I'm not joking. The car was really bought for me by Chen Fan," Chen Jianjun said.

"Huh?" Chen Tong's face was filled with disbelief.

Chen Jianguo also frowned, his surprise no less than Chen Tong's. He turned to look at Chen Jianjun, his tone laced with confusion and a trace of subtle inquiry, and asked: "What is going on? Jianjun, Chen Fan is just a half-grown kid; how could he afford a car worth over a hundred thousand?"

"Chen Fan started writing novels online last year. He's doing quite well and earned some money, so he bought me the car."

"Writing novels? Can you earn that much money writing novels?" Chen Jianguo looked incredulous.

"Chen Fan, you've been writing novels? Is it on Qidian Chinese Website?" Chen Tong's eyes lit up.

"Yeah. Sis, you know about Qidian Chinese Website too?" Chen Fan was a bit surprised.

"Yeah, some of the boys in my class love reading novels on Qidian Chinese Website." Chen Tong leaned in closer, her tone filled with curiosity. "What kind of novels do you write? What's your pen name?"

"No, wait, Tongtong, what are you and Chen Fan talking about? Why can't I understand?" Chen Jianguo asked.

Chen Fan began to explain to Chen Jianguo and Sun Hongli what online novels were, who read them, and why they could make money.

"Then how much money have you earned now?" Chen Jianguo interrupted her, looking bewildered.

Chen Fan had no choice but to explain from the beginning—what online novels were, who read them, and why they could make money. He tried to keep it simple, but Chen Jianguo was still confused, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Then how much money have you earned now?" Chen Jianguo asked.

"No, why are you asking about that?" Sun Hongli glared at her husband and looked at Chen Fan somewhat apologetically. "Chen Fan, your uncle just has a quick tongue; he doesn't mean anything else by it."

"It's fine, Auntie. I've earned about four or five hundred thousand," Chen Fan said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the room went quiet for two seconds.

Chen Tong almost dropped the cup she had just picked up.

Chen Jianguo opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back.

Although Grandpa Chen Jingshan didn't understand, upon hearing that his grandson had earned four or five hundred thousand, a look of shock also appeared on his face.

"No way, you earned four or five hundred thousand and didn't even buy your sister a gift? And here I was thinking about introducing my best friend to you as a girlfriend," Chen Tong asked, pretending to be angry.

"Tongtong, what are you saying? Chen Fan is only in high school; what kind of girlfriend are you talking about?" Chen Jianguo said angrily.

Chen Tong chuckled, "It's fine, I'll introduce her to him after Chen Fan finishes his college entrance exam."

Seeing that everyone was still in shock, Chen Tong pulled Chen Fan aside and asked impatiently: "Quick, tell your sister, what's the name of the novel you wrote?"

"Wait a moment, I'll go get my computer and open it for you to see."

"Okay!"

Chen Fan retrieved his computer from the car, and the two went into a side room. He plugged in the power, turned on the computer, and inserted the wireless internet card—the blue indicator light flashed a few times, and it connected.

He opened the Qidian Chinese Website and logged into the author dashboard.

Chen Tong leaned in front of the screen, staring at it without blinking.

Chen Fan found his work, clicked on it, and turned the screen towards her.

"High Martial Era." Chen Tong read it out loud, blinked, and asked, "This name sounds pretty impressive. What is it about?"

"Hmm... It's just a story about a protagonist in a world where martial arts flourish, fighting monsters and leveling up along the way," Chen Fan said casually.

Chen Tong nodded, reached out to grab the mouse, and scrolled down to look at the data below the cover—clicks, recommendations, favorites, and the fan ranking.

When she saw the income in the author income column, she froze for two seconds, counted the digits, then turned her head and stared at Chen Fan with wide eyes.

"Over four million? Didn't you say it was only four or five hundred thousand?"

Chen Fan's royalties for last month had arrived the day before yesterday, 1.73 million after tax, which was quite a bit more than the previous month. Adding it all up, it was already around four million.

"If I told them the actual amount, I'm afraid their hearts couldn't take it."

"That's true." Chen Tong nodded. "Never mind my dad and the others, even my heart can't take it."

Then she suddenly remembered something, reached out and poked Chen Fan's arm, "You've made it big now; don't forget your sister in the future."

"Don't worry, I won't forget you, no matter who I forget."

In his previous life, after Chen Tong graduated, she joined a private company with a salary of only over 5,000. Her husband was a programmer with a higher salary of over 20,000 a month.

However, because they had a child and had to pay off a mortgage, life for their family wasn't easy.

When her husband turned 35, he lost his job, and life became even more difficult.

In his previous life, Chen Tong had always been very kind to her younger brother. When Chen Fan was in college, Chen Tong often visited him, bought him clothes, and gave him gifts.

Even many years after Chen Fan graduated, Chen Tong still worried about his marriage and often introduced him to potential partners.

So now that Chen Fan had money, he would, of course, choose to let Chen Tong live a better life than she had in his previous life.

As the two were chatting, their grandmother's voice came from outside: "Tongtong, Chen Fan, time to eat."

"Coming, Grandma."

"Coming."