The story grew longer and longer as it was written.

After an entire afternoon of effort, trying out the same scene over a dozen times and searching for all kinds of feelings, nothing was quite satisfactory. Da Huang muttered, “Aren’t your standards a bit too high? You’re making us perform at the level of film actors—it’s just not possible. Most web dramas are just thrown together, but people still watch them, right?”

Fatty retorted, “Other people are other people. We are who we are.”

It was already past four and school was about to end. Zhang Pa said, “That’s it for today. I need to get back to school.”

“Why go back now?” Fatty protested. “It’s almost dinner time.”

Zhang Pa shook his head and asked Lu Yiyi and Da Huang, “Are you two going?”

“Yes,” Lu Yiyi replied, going to gather her things.

Zhang Pa said, “You guys keep working on it. If all else fails, just imitate.”

Fatty scowled, “You’ve said everything there is to say. I really hoped we could make some money out of this... Sigh. Maybe you should call your goddess in and have you two play the leads.”

“Come on, if we change the actors, the script has to change too,” Zhang Pa said, frustrated.

Fatty replied, “No need to change, just alter the names a bit. The main plot stays the same.”

Zhang Pa chuckled, “If only it were that simple. Besides, I still have to write stories.”

Turtle suddenly interjected, “Speaking of writing, it reminds me—everyone thinks your script is good, so you clearly have talent. But why don’t your novels make money? Why does no one read them?”

Zhang Pa answered, “Because I don’t write well.”

“That’s not it,” Turtle argued. “We’ve read a lot of web novels, and honestly, yours isn’t much different, but theirs are huge hits.”

Zhang Pa said, “That’s just your opinion. Let me tell you something, every web novel that becomes popular has its own reason for success—it’s not what you imagine.”

“I don’t really get all that,” Turtle admitted, “and I don’t care if those books are popular or not. I just think your script is great. Why not end your current novel and focus on this script? Expand it into a novel—it could work. I’ve never seen a book start with a shameless male lead hitting on a beautiful woman in such an outrageous way. I like it. How about you guys?” He looked to Fatty and the others.

Girly chimed in, “I don’t know if I like it, but it’s definitely interesting.”

Old Meng laughed, “Are you talking about those movies where a few people don’t wear any clothes? If so, I’d be very intrigued.”

Fatty sneered, “Keep pretending to be innocent and I’ll kill you.”

Zhang Pa pursed his lips, “I’ll think about it.”

“What’s there to think about?” Fatty pressed. “You write to make money, don’t you? If your writing doesn’t earn anything, what’s the point? You’ve been true to yourself for years, but you still haven’t made a dime. How’s that working out for you?”

Zhang Pa fell silent.

Girly added, “Forget the past and the future. Think about now—you’ve got the campus beauty from the music academy. If you don’t make money, how will you buy a house or a car? How will you support your goddess? She can’t ride a bike with you everywhere; at least get her a Maserati or a Mini Cooper. Those things cost money.”

Zhang Pa protested, “Are you guys crazy? Are you sure you’re talking about me? Even if my books made money, I couldn’t buy a single wheel.”

“You have to dare to dream,” Fatty said. “The elders say: the bolder the dream, the greater the harvest. You need to be brave, have ambition and drive, then you’ll want to make money and know how to get it.”

Zhang Pa thought for a moment. “I want to make money too, but I just can’t.”

“That’s why you need to switch projects—wrap up your current book and start the next one. Write this script. It should be stunning from the first scene,” Fatty insisted.

Zhang Pa replied irritably, “Your idea of ‘stunning’ is just having a beautiful woman not wear any clothes in a movie?”

“Don’t get hung up on the details,” Fatty answered. “Think it through. And don’t let your current book end badly—come up with a decent conclusion, finish the story, and start fresh. Maybe get that person from last time to recommend you again, and then you’ll be on top of the world... Am I getting ahead of myself?”

Zhang Pa smiled, “Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ll think of an ending when I get home.” He stood up. “I’m off.”

“Get out of here,” Fatty cursed, then called Girly and the others to play games. He’d moved all the computers from the failed internet café here, and their main entertainment was playing multiplayer games every day.

Zhang Pa left the neighborhood with Lu Yiyi and Da Huang, hailed a cab for them, gave the driver twenty yuan to take them back to the music academy, and then caught another cab to return to his school.

He had no choice but to take a cab—any later and the students would be leaving. Today was the third day after the parent-teacher conference, and the students were on their best behavior; no one left early. Zhang Pa stood at the classroom door, seriously saying goodbye to each student, making them laugh. “Sir, are you using a waiter’s teaching method?”

“If you don’t like it, I can switch to the bouncer’s teaching method,” Zhang Pa replied.

“No problem, sir. Goodbye!” the student said, hurrying away.

The provincial capital was strict about compulsory education—no extra classes, no evening study, eight classes a day, and dismissal right on time.

Students left while it was still bright outside, and many didn’t go home but wandered to internet cafés or elsewhere, which was a bit of a problem. Zhang Pa understood, but you have to take things one step at a time—at least get them to stop skipping class first.

There were still two students who hadn’t shown up, having been absent for days. They’d been sick but had recovered now, and Zhang Pa needed to address the issue.

Old Pi and a couple of students waited until the end—this group of “walking wounded” caught rides to and from school every day, enjoying the comfort.

When only five of the “monkeys” were left in the classroom, Zhang Pa said to Old Pi, “Take off that shabby bandage.”

Old Pi insisted his wound wasn’t healed.

“Don’t try to fool me. Take it off,” Zhang Pa said.

Of the four injured, Old Pi’s wounds were the mildest. Seeing Zhang Pa was serious, Old Pi grinned and unwound the bandage, ratting out his friend. “Dan Niu, you should stop faking too.”

“Damn, you want me dead?” Dan Niu cursed. “Mine’s a real injury.”

“Cut the nonsense,” Zhang Pa said. “What are you thinking?”

“About what?” Old Pi asked.

“You four were attacked. I say let it go. What do you say?” Zhang Pa asked.

The four monkeys fell silent, clearly still thinking of revenge.

Zhang Pa’s expression hardened. “Let it go. Don’t cause me any more trouble.”

“Boss, we were attacked right outside school and you want to let it go?” Madman protested.

“Where have you been staying these days?” Zhang Pa asked.

“At my place,” Fang Zijiao replied. “You were sick, so we didn’t want to bother you.”

“Move into my place,” Zhang Pa said. “There are a few mattresses in the room next door—bring them over. You can stay even when I’m not home.”

“That’s great. Thanks, boss,” Madman said.

Fang Zijiao wanted to move in too. Zhang Pa said it was all floor beds anyway, so anyone could.

With that, Old Pi and Dan Niu wanted to move in as well, saying it would be more lively together.

Zhang Pa considered it. “We’ll talk about it at home.”

The six of them split into two cabs. Zhang Pa sighed—he’d been spending money like water lately: treating students to barbecue, taking cabs everywhere, hospital visits. Luckily, he’d earned a little extra recently, or he’d have been broke.

When they got home, Zhang Pa told the monkeys to wait outside while he went to knock on the first-floor apartment, but no one answered. Who knew what Wang Baihe and her daughter were up to—they were often out.

He went upstairs. Seeing Zhang Pa’s room empty as ever, Old Pi joked, “Was this place robbed?”

Yun Zheng laughed, “Who’d rob a dump like this?”

“Go home and pack your things. Don’t bother me here,” Zhang Pa said.

The five monkeys obeyed and went to gather their things. Madman and Fang Zijiao had it worst—one had only a dad, the other only a mom, and neither parent paid attention, so they barely had any personal belongings. At least Old Pi and Dan Niu’s parents cared enough to give them some clothes and toys.

In no time, they were back. Madman had just a bag, Fang Zijiao a single suitcase. Zhang Pa sighed, “I thought I was living light, but you two are even more so.”

Here, “living light” meant having no baggage.

Old Pi and Dan Niu’s bags were larger, holding pillows, quilts, and seasonal clothes and shoes.

Yun Zheng didn’t move in, staying with his mother at home until she returned to work, then he’d decide.

Zhang Pa was busy typing. Old Pi asked Yun Zheng why he didn’t move in, and when Yun Zheng explained, Zhang Pa was surprised. “Didn’t your mom say she’d be back at work these days?”

Yun Zheng cursed, “Damn, her ruthless boss fired her.”

Zhang Pa was shocked. “Didn’t even let her take sick leave?”

“She got two months’ pay as compensation, but it’s just enough to cover the medical bills,” Yun Zheng said. “The richer people are, the blacker their hearts.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re broke and your heart isn’t any better,” Zhang Pa replied.

Yun Zheng protested, “Boss, why are you always picking on me?”

“Picking on you? You’re lucky I don’t hit you. Now shut up, all of you. I have work to do,” Zhang Pa said.

The five monkeys exchanged glances. There was only one bed in the room—nowhere to sit or stand comfortably. Old Pi said he was hungry and asked if Zhang Pa wanted to eat.

Zhang Pa took out fifty yuan. “Go buy something to eat.”

“Boss, what can fifty yuan buy?”

“Fifty yuan can buy a lot of cabbages,” Zhang Pa replied.

“Alright, we’ll get cabbages.” The group took the money and left.

Zhang Pa went back to work. At six, Wang Baihe and Sun Yi returned. Hearing the door downstairs, Zhang Pa hurried down and knocked.

“I have something to discuss with you,” he said.

“Sit down, no need to stand. Baihe, pour some water,” Sun Yi said.

“No need, this won’t take long,” Zhang Pa replied. Then he asked, “The room next door is empty now, right?” He meant the one where Wu Laosan had gathered a bunch of girls. Wang Baihe confirmed it was empty.

“They didn’t take the mattresses, did they?” he asked.

“No, do you want them?” Wang Baihe replied. “If you want them, go ahead.”

“Yes, but there’s something else,” Zhang Pa continued. “The room next door is empty, and with the area set to be demolished soon, you probably won’t find new tenants. Since I’ve already paid two months’ rent in advance, could you rent me the other room as well? Let’s say I get a bit of a deal—how about it?”

“You want to move in?” Wang Baihe asked.

“Not me. Old Pi and Fang Zijiao and a few kids will stay there,” Zhang Pa explained. “You know their families—it’s tough for them at home. I’ll take care of them for a month or two, is that alright?”

“You’re really kind-hearted,” Wang Baihe said, looking at Sun Yi. “Mom, what do you think?”