Moonlight Variations

Dating Online

At the same time.

Yuan Yue Publishing, [Yue Guang] Editorial department office.

While sitting in her spot, Chu Li had already rolled her eyes a hundred times over a certain someone’s shamelessness. If it wasn’t for A’Gui’s persuasion to allow L Jun to tearfully plead, she would have wanted to personally black list that piece of shit a few times.

[Disappearing L Jun: Don’t be so fierce, we are currently dating online, you should be more gentle towards me.]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Dating Online my ass.]

[Disappearing L Jun: Hahaha, little wife! 1 What is my little wife doing now, I heard from A’Gui that you encountered a problem? Something about a Frontal Piece Project thing, you needed to get a team of authors together but you were lacking in number?]

At the mention of the Frontal Piece Project her attention was immediately diverted. For a moment she forgot about her anger towards that dumbass L Jun. Her fingertips flew over the keyboard—

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Yes, I’m just organising the submission mailbox in passing…however these are all just trivial things, the most important thing is that Frontal Piece Project–I’m a new editor, where will I go to find writers?]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: At first, this project was the responsibility of another new editor and I, but the Deputy Editor in Chief who is supposed to care for us both is partial to only her. He introduced all the Da Shen’s 2 that he personally fostered to her. She didn’t even tell me, those two people colluded together to deceive me……]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: I only joined two month’s later than she did, on what basis can you bully me ah?]

The complaints came in quickly, from what Zhou Chuan could see, it turns out that the little lady was actually living under in deep water and hot fire.3 The Deputy Editor in Chief… isn’t that Lao Miao?

[Disappearing L Jun: Is that other new person better looking than you?]

Chu Li “….”

She raised her head to look at Xiao Niao who was nearby, delicate facial features, exquisite makeup, wearing a short skirt, long smooth hair settled over her shoulder. Xiao Niao made people feel that she deserved the name “Little Bird” 4, she was quite good looking.

Chu Li was even angrier with this fact.

[Monkey Invited Water Army: That had nothing to do with it! The Deputy Editor’s sexual orientation isn’t even clear!] 5

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Why is it that once you men open your mouths it’s about appearance, shallow.]

[Disappearing L Jun: Hahahahahahahahahaha, great I’m superficial, I’m superficial ah! Come on, talk to me, your deputy editor helped your beautiful partner find what Da Shen ah? Look at how jealous you have become!!]

Chu Li carefully thought back to the list of names that she overheard in the bathrooms, then listed them out…

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Su Heng, Nian Nian, and He Ma.]

After Chu Li finished listing them out, she didn’t think that the other party would have such a calm reply. There was even a faint sense of disdain between the lines at the 25 to 80 thousand….

[Disappearing L Jun: Just this?]

[Disappearing L Jun: Su Heng was quite popular eight or so years ago, but these few years haven’t been too good. Eight years ago she only had 80 thousand Weibo fan’s, now she only has 60 thousand. Back then her Weibo fan’s couldn’t compare to Jiang Yu Cheng’s 600 thousand; Nian Nian is another writer from that era too; He Ma is also——]

[Disappearing L Jun: This is a lineup of all these old ancestors, what has made my little wife so jealous about them?]

[Disappearing L Jun: I’ll say this plainly, these people, finding one A’Gui is enough to match them equally… can you wake up a little?]

Chu Li “…….”
Keeping an eye on the screen, Chu Li’s first reaction was that this person has eaten an expansion pill, how else would his tone be so cocky. The second reaction was that all these writers in her memory were very popular, extremely popular, not at all like how L Jun said they were—

Chu Li hesitated, sneakily using her phone to have a look on Weibo to search the three writers. Only then did she realise that the “Very Popular, Extremely Popular” writers in her memory had an issue. The most popular one of them all was Su Heng. Now one post didn’t have more than ten comments and shares…….

………………..it really was really old in appearance.

[Monkey Invited Water Army: …..Seriously ah, I just had a look and that is really the case, what the hell why do you have such a good understanding of this circle?]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: However, even if this is the case it’s still better than me since I haven’t been able to invite anyone— I have thought about inviting A’Gui, but her expertise does not conform to the theme that our magazine is orientated towards.]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: A skinny camel is still bigger than a horse, don’t you know?] 6

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Also, stop calling me your little wife, making our relationship unclean and corrupted.]

Chu Li looked at the previous few messages.

At this moment, L Jun thought for a long time.

Chu Li wanted for a while but he still didn’t reply, so she continued to organise the mailbox, after a while the other person’s avatar flashed. Chu Li opened it to have a look and realised that the reply from the opposite party was quite concise and comprehensive—

[Disappearing L Jun: Don’t you have Zhou Chuan?]

Chu Li was silent for a moment, she was reminded of the past regarding the initial print volume, and with an expressionless face she typed—

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Looked, was rejected, an outcome that could be predicted.]

[Disappearing L Jun: Try again, perseverance is the most precious thing. What if by chance you ran into Zhou Chuan when he is in a good mood, while he is being moved he agrees?]

Chu Li: “…..”

Not knowing why, after seeing L Jun’s reply, CHu Li’s heart jumped without reason and flipped. Immediately feeling strongly encouraged, the banging in her chest seemed like her heart was trying to break through her chest…she blinked, also not knowing where this strong and wonderful feeling came from.

It was almost like…

Just like how L Jun ahd said, Zhou Chuan will be in a good mood, and will really give her a reply——

This feeling felt wonderful.

Very wonderful.

Without rhyme or reason she suddenly felt empowered.

Chu Li faced the screen and daydreamed for a moment. Taking the mood that was empowered by L Jun and she clicked on the avatar that she looked at everyday without the courage to open. Typing carefully with a careful tone she said—

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Zhou Chuan Laoshi, my apologies for disrupting you again, last time when I spoke about the frontal piece project, I was wondering if you had time….]

This time Zhou Chuan replied within a second.

[Zhou Chuan: I don’t.]

Chu Li: “………………………………….”

The “inexplicably strong feeling” is a fart!!!

Quickly capturing the screenshot of what Zhou Chuan Dashen said, copied it, opened up the chat with Disappearing L Jun, clicked pasted and sent a message with the font set at the biggest, in blood red. Word by word she sent—

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Go]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Fuck.]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Yourself.]

[Monkey Invited Water Army: Scram!!]
The thing that Chu Li didn’t know was that in front of the computer on the other side, the man looking at the two QQ chats was already laughing until he was breathless. Not feeling that his behaviour was childish at all.

Chu Li banged on the keyboard—

[Monkey Invited Water Army: You don’t know, Laozi is so anxious I’m about to go crazy!! Blind Chicken giving council! If I don’t make it through the probation period, will you raise me?!!]

[Disappearing L Jun: On the basis of our serious online romance, isn’t it natural that I raise you?]

[Disappearing L Jun: Won’t, don’t forget you still have Zhou Chuan’s contract in your hand. The woman who convinced Zhou Chuan, would they be willing to sack you?]

Chu Li paused for a while then remembered, after a few days of pretending to be stunned and confused she had forgotten about this matter.

…..

On this side, Zhou Chuan was happy to get his own person back through some other inexplicable and unknown factors. Meanwhile not knowing that Chu Li’s side would be severely tested by a tempest of a storm.

As the saying goes, what you fear will come.

On the second day, when Chu Li carried her bag over, as she stepped over the threshold into the office, at a glance she spotted Lao Miao standing next to the Editor in Chief’s desk. Lao Miao raised his head to glance at her, at that time Chu Li didn’t know how to feel.

As expected, within the next moment, Chu Li was called over by Editor in Chief Yu Yao.

Yu Yao: “Chu Li, since you’ve joined for a few days, how do you think it has been?”

Chu Li who had her head in the fog and water felt restless: “….pretty good.”

Yu Yao: En, that’s good. I received a late notice, the higher up have determined that the internship period for this batch of newcomers will last until the first of the next month. This also means that you have ten days or so until the end of your probation period. At that time you would sign the official contract to be an employee. The monthly salary would also increase by a few hundred yuen— however, before that happens I hope you can provide me with a reason to keep you.”

Chu Li: “…..”

Yu Yao: “Zhou Chuan’s contract will be a dead end next week.”

Chu Li: “……”

Yu Yao: “How has finding writers for the frontal piece project gone? I heard that XIao Niao has already gotten Su Heng, Nian Nian and He Ma; three big shot writers, how is progress on your side?”

Chu Li lips moved: “….found one, called Gui Wa.” 7

As Chu Li’s words sank in, she kept on feeling that she had heard a slight giggle behind her back— of course that giggle was from Xiao Niao. When she turned her head to take a look, Xiao Niao pretended to turn her head away. Chu Li turned her head back, at the same time that Lao Miao asked: “Who is Gui Wa?”

Chu Li: “….A new writer, writes… true love.”

Lao Miao: “And is it possible to cooperate with our magazine?”

Chu Li nodded frantically.

Lao Miao continued to speak: “But one isn’t enough is it? At least Xiao Niao found three Laoshi’s already, the one you found I have not heard of cannot compare right….ai. Both brought up by me, the difference between you both is too big, it cannot be my problem right? —Right, there is still Zhou Chuan’s contract, give it to me in a while, I will go visit him. The closing date is next week, I cannot continue to let you waste time….”

Waste time?

…..since that’s the case.

It turns out that they weren’t ready to give her until the last day, and prepared a Plan B. From beginning to end, Lao Miao had prepared himself to go convince Zhou Chuan— but still gave the contract to Chu Li, all just to make life hard for her?

Why?

Was it just because she came in later? Because she broke the so-called ‘calm ecosystem’ that should have been harmonious? In order to make her fail probation period to reduce competitors, and ensure that the old employees will not be affected by the wave of layoffs after the IPO of the company? 8
That’s why everyone saw her as an eyesore?

The lightning thought of this point allowed Chu Li to understand a bit. Her facial expression at this point was a little pale, raising her head, she faced Yu Yao. It seemed as though Yu Yao did not agree with Lao Miao’s sentiments, or perhaps tactically consenting? Her face was full of regret when she faced Chu Li: “Chu Li, at that time I admired your enthusiasm which was why I took you in— now that I look, it seems that your enthusiasm was actually not reflected in your work ethic and capabilities…..”

Yu Yao’s expression had “sorry you did not pass your probation period” written all over.

Chu Li saw this, panic rising in her heart.

“No it’s not like that Editor in Chief,” Chu Li put down the purse that she didn’t even have time to put down, “I really want to pass the probation period, Zhou Chuan’s contract—”

Chu Li took out the contract that she had been holding onto for a long time, she didn’t even have the opportunity to completely take it out before it was snatched up by Lao Miao. In front of everyone, Lao Miao glanced at her while smiling lightly and muttering “After being with you for so many days it can’t have been ruined right.” as he opened the contract…

Chu Li let out a deep breath, at the same time as when Lao Miao was scrutinising the signature page she turned to Yu Yao and said word for word: “Zhou Chuan’s contract has already been signed.”

When Chu Li’s voice sounded, Lao Miao who was holding the contract personally saw the signature written in Dragon’s flying Phoenix Dance handwriting on the signature page. The smile on his face congealed in an instant.

At the same time, the office fell into an incredible silence.

————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Xixi Theatre:

XX: Heheh face slaps all around…hey Lao-who-has-an-undetermined-sexual-orientation-Miao want some Aloe Vera for that Burn!!! 

L Jun: That’s my little wife!!! *proud*

CL: Who’s your little wife!!!

Xiao Niao: …wtf?!

XX: *clapping hands in satisfaction while fangirling and cackling like a witch*
————————————————————————————————————————————————–

 

 

1

Used by Chinese men to affectionately refer to their significant other…(^///^)

2

Great Gods ie. the very popular or major writers

3

Basically saying that she is in dire suffering or great misery

4

Xiao Niao’s name when translated means Little Bird

5

TN: Heh…pfffttt 

6

This is a saying that regardless of how bad it is it is still better….for example even if the chocolate tastes disgusting it still is more expensive??Pretty sure this is talking about different grades of things. Regardless of how bad something is at the bottom of the barrel in its grade, it’s still superior to something that’s at the top of an inferior grade. For example, no matter how small the lobster is, it’s still better than the largest prawn. They can’t be compared on the same level

7

Meaning Ghost Child/Ghost Baby

8

IPO stands for Initial Public Offering which is when a company joins the public stock exchange.