A Single Person's Infinite Wonderful Life

Chapter 113. Small Interactions Like Couples

Kato Megumi looked at Li Wei with a meaningful gaze and said, "My dear is bringing a strange girl home."

"Don't say things that could be misunderstood, Hui. I've already promised them, so I have to keep my promise. There's nothing I can do about it," Li Wei said with a helpless expression.

In reality, it's not easy to get a despicable person like Li Wei to keep his promises. In Europa Universalis, he broke contracts more than once, and naturally, he only selectively keeps promises made to others.

If the party making the agreement is a beautiful girl, he will naturally keep his word. If the other party is someone else, then he will have to decide based on his mood. If the other party is someone like Aki Tomoya or Ito Makoto, Li Wei will not hesitate to play them to death first.

Michiru Hyodo fits the requirement of a "beautiful girl". As someone who values ​​appearance, Li Wei would never break his promise to Michiru Hyodo unless it was a matter of life and death.

Kasumigaoka Utaha remarked from the side, "I'm actually quite curious about that girl."

Li Wei said helplessly, "You guys are really overthinking it. I was even planning to bring her back for one night. Do you think I would do anything irrational? Especially right under your noses."

These days, girls are getting harder and harder to fool. The traditional Yamato Nadeshiko is still the most obedient, but the girls around her are all incredibly individualistic. If it were anyone else, they would probably drive them to the brink of nervous breakdown.

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled teasingly: "Who can say for sure about these things? After all, it's so exciting."

Li Wei didn't know what to say. Although he had feelings for Hyodo Michiru, he wasn't about to make a move now. What if he scared her?

Furthermore, it seems that Kasumigaoka Utaha has watched too much "Hakuki Eri Paradise," and she always has some strange ideas in her mind, although Li Wei doesn't dislike Kasumigaoka Utaha like this.

"Don't keep thinking about weird things. Have you been influenced by Eriri?" Li Wei said with a sigh.

It's normal for Eriri, as a doujinshi artist, to have some strange thoughts in her head, since it's part of her job. But Kasumigaoka Utaha, as a light novel author, is so perceptive in this regard, and that's what Li Wei wants to criticize.

"Are you bringing that girl back for dinner? I'll prepare in advance," Kasumigaoka Utaha said.

Machida Sonoko, who was standing nearby, quickly said, "Leave this to me. Utaha, you just need to wait patiently for dinner!"

Even Kato Megumi showed a nervous expression.

"For dinner, I made bento boxes. They don't need to be heated; just take them out directly," Li Wei said. As a cultivator with extraordinary powers, Li Wei applied these powers to various details of his life. For him, using spiritual energy to keep the bento boxes fresh was a basic skill.

"Okay, darling, are you planning to treat that Ice Hall to dinner?" Kasumigaoka Utaha said lazily.

Li Wei said, "I guess so. A girl came all the way from her hometown to Tokyo all by herself, so this is a welcome-back party for her. But I don't have high hopes for her music dream. Who knows, she might give up on her dream and go back to her hometown someday. This is just to leave her with some good memories, so that she doesn't feel like she has no happy memories at all in Tokyo."

The three girls also sensed the cruelty in Li Wei's words, but it was the truth. The pressure to survive in Tokyo was immense. Even the natives of Tokyo needed to work extra hard to maintain a normal life, let alone the young people who came from outside to make their way in the world.

Tokyo doesn't believe in tears.

Sonoko Machida sighed and said, "Although I don't know much about the music industry, I know that the competition in the music industry is much fiercer than that in light novels. So many people are chasing their dreams, but how many of them can actually realize them?"

Becoming a famous singer isn't just about having skills. You need not only skills, but also a great personal stage presence, a strong mentality to handle unexpected situations, and most importantly, opportunity.

In Tokyo, there are far too many talented but unfulfilled musicians.

After leaving the apartment, Li Wei bought a box of delicate little cakes and a small iced milk tea at a nearby shopping street. He then flew there at the perfect time and, after finding the location of Michiru Hyodo, landed in a relatively secluded corner.

Hyodo Michiru sat on the bench, idly scrolling through her phone, looking at all sorts of strange news, waiting for Li Wei to arrive.

Although she had been waiting for some time, Michiru Hyodo didn't feel that it was too long. After all, this was the massive city of Tokyo, not her hometown, a small city with only two main roads. Even by taxi, it would take some time to get here.

Just then, she felt a cool sensation on her face. Startled, Michiru Hyodo let out a soft "Eek," just like a frightened hamster, creating an adorable contrast.

"It's Li Wei! You scared me! I thought it was a bad guy." Michiru Hyodo turned her head and saw Li Wei's handsome face, which was so handsome it was almost dazzling. Li Wei had a mischievous smile on his face, which made her blush. It was like an interaction between lovers.

Li Wei laughed, "Sorry, I wanted to give you a little surprise, but it turned into a shock, didn't I? But that voice was so cute. My inner recorder has already captured that sound, and I'll remember it for the rest of my life." Li Wei's little joke made Michiru Hyodo blush so much that her ears burned.

"Li 960 Wei-kun is really wicked..." Hyodo Michiru said in a low voice.

Li Wei sat down next to Michiru Hyodo, placed the prepared snacks and milk tea beside her, and said, "You must be hungry after waiting for so long. Eat something first, and we'll have dinner outside before going home."

"Wouldn't it be a little inconvenient to go to Li Wei's place?" Hyodo Michiru was a little embarrassed. If Li Wei lived alone, wouldn't she and Li Wei be alone in a room? Although, she was also a little looking forward to it.

"No problem, are you afraid I might do something to you? I live with my girlfriend," Li Wei said with a smile.

Hearing Li Wei say that he already had a girlfriend, Hyodo Michiru felt a void in her heart. She quickly banished these thoughts from her mind. She and Li Wei had only met twice, and it was really inappropriate to be thinking about such trivial things.

However, while Hyodo Michi remained curious, she was also somewhat unwilling to give up. What kind of beauty could possibly win over Li Wei?

Michiru Hyoudou opened the confectionery box, took out the delicate little cakes inside, and ate them in small bites. She hadn't eaten for several hours and was now starving. She felt she could eat twice her usual amount of food; after all, carrying a guitar case and dragging a suitcase around required considerable stamina.

Chapter 114. Pouring Cold Water

“Let’s go. There aren’t any particularly good restaurants around here. I know a place that specializes in beef hot pot, and it’s pretty good,” Li Wei said.

Japan is a country surrounded by the sea, so the vast majority of seafood is affordable for ordinary people. Seafood is not a rare thing for Japanese people, except for a few special high-end seafood.

Li Wei arranged dinner at a beef hot pot restaurant. The restaurant was quite down-to-earth, but the ingredients used were of good quality. It was the kind of place that looked ordinary but was actually a bit pricey.

Li Wei's sensitive nose caught a faint fishy smell from Hyodo Michiru. He was certain that Hyodo Michiru was someone who frequently dealt with seafood. In addition, the coastal town where she lived was a city where seafood was the main industry. Hyodo Michiru was probably sick of seafood. That was why Li Wei had arranged for dinner to be at a beef hot pot restaurant.

Although Li Wei never asked what Hyodo Michiru's family did, some things don't need to be asked; you can figure it out simply by collecting information yourself.

The two took a taxi to the beef hot pot restaurant. The restaurant was quite popular and seats were always in high demand, but Li Wei used his financial power to reserve a table. After arriving at the restaurant, the two were led into a private room by the waiter.

Li Wei helped Hyodo Michiru put her musical instruments and luggage on the shelves in the room. After a while, several waiters came in carrying steaming hot pots and trays full of dishes, covering the entire table.

Only Li Wei and Hyodo Michiru remained in the room. To make Hyodo Michiru less reserved, Li Wei took the initiative to start cooking beef hot pot while they chatted.

To capture prey accurately and fatally, one must have sufficient knowledge of the prey. Li Wei lacked relevant information about Michiru Hyodo, so he could only try to obtain as much information as possible through conversation.

Li Wei used serving chopsticks to place the cooked beef into the small bowl in front of Hyodo Michiru.

"Michiru, you're a guitarist?" Li Wei asked.

"Yes, I'm not just a guitarist, I'm also the lead singer of the band. I'm quite confident in my singing abilities," Michiru Hyodo said confidently.

"The music industry may seem glamorous, but to succeed in it, you have to endure a lot of hardship," Li Wei said.

The music scene in China has shifted from being based on talent to a fan-driven game, resulting in a decline in the quality of pop music. The market is now entirely supported by the fans of young, attractive celebrities. This "bad money drives out good" market dynamic has dragged the entire industry into a vicious cycle. With a profit-driven mentality, the number of high-quality works in the Chinese music scene is decreasing, with the vast majority being low-brow, catchy pop songs.

In Japan, the situation is different from that in China. Because of the discerning tastes of music fans and a relatively complete market mechanism, musicians have to do everything they can to please their fans in order to make a living. As a result, the overall quality of music in Japan is quite impressive.

In the 1980s and 90s, many songs in China were simply copied from Japanese songs, with the lyrics rewritten. This trend continued until after the millennium, when the domestic music scene developed many excellent works, and this trend came to a halt.

With her eyes fixed on the hot pot, Michiru Hyodo said, "I know this industry is tough, and I might not even make it big, but I just want to give it a try. Anyway, I'm still young. If I don't succeed in this industry, I'll go back to school, get into a good university, and settle down in this city in another way."

Based on his understanding of the original storyline, Li Wei knew that Hyodo Michiru's academic ability was quite good. Although she couldn't match a monster like Kasumigaoka Utaha, she was still far above ordinary people.

For Michiru Hyodo, as long as she puts her mind to it, she can get into even the University of Tokyo. It is precisely because she has this confidence and backup plan that she dares to come to Tokyo to pursue her career as a musician.

It's fair to say that in the original story, the entire game development team, apart from Aki Tomoya who was a bit less capable, consisted of geniuses.

Even Aki Tomoya, who is relatively the least capable, is not entirely useless. His strong action ability and appreciation ability are not something that ordinary people can possess.

“Going to university is better than becoming a musician right away. There are music and art colleges in Tokyo. Studying there first will greatly increase your chances of success,” Li Wei said, offering his advice in a “for your own good” tone.

“But that’s too slow. It would take several more years. I don’t want to wait that long. Besides, I can wait, but the other band members can’t…” Michiru Hyodo sighed.

“V, it seems you’ve already made your decision, so I won’t waste any more words. Prices are very high in Tokyo. Do you have any ways to make a living?” Li Wei asked.

Michiru Hyodo shook her head and said, "Besides music, the only thing I'm good at is sports, but those can't be used as a stepping stone to finding a job."

Michiru Hyodo was somewhat troubled. She had indeed acted too impulsively this time, but she wouldn't regret her choice. Now that she had chosen this path, she would walk it no matter what. Going back in disgrace now was not her style.

“Right now, even if you wanted to work, it would be very difficult. Nowadays, students not only face wage arrears when they work, but there are also very few opportunities, and you have to fight for them,” Li Wei said.

The remaining workers are "contract workers" without formal employment, which are similar to casual laborers or temporary workers in China.

In Japan, it's common for over a dozen people to compete for a slightly better temporary job. It's difficult for Michiru Hyodo to support herself through part-time work; after all, Japan has reached a terrifying level of corruption these days, even affecting the sex industry, which gives you an idea of ​​how bad things have become in other sectors.

"I can do jobs at convenience stores and delivering newspapers, and I can also be a tutor at cram schools. I've self-studied all three years of high school material, and I've passed the University of Tokyo's mock exams dozens of times," said Michiru Hyodo.

"Is this all you're capable of? It'll barely keep you from starving. If you want time to practice instruments and sing, these means of livelihood aren't enough." Li Wei shook his head, throwing a bucket of cold water on Hyodo Michiru.

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Chapter 115. Huge Gap

Li Wei dipped a large amount of beef in the sauce and put it in his mouth: "It's not that working is bad, but the jobs you can do are all time-consuming, while music requires a lot of practice to maintain your form. Doing these jobs can indeed support you, at least you won't go hungry, but what about your music career?"

Michiru Hyodo fell silent. She already felt that she had acted somewhat impulsively this time. Just as Li Wei said, the pressure of life in Tokyo was immense, and according to her original plan, she simply wouldn't have much time to devote to music.

Li Wei continued, "Music can be said to be a game for the rich. Not only do you need good talent and a lot of practice, but you also need the right connections and enough money."

"Connections and money...that's definitely what I lack." Looking at the delicious food in front of her, Michiru Hyodo felt that her appetite had diminished. Although she was an optimist, she wasn't a complete fool who didn't consider the future.

After arriving in Tokyo, she felt uneasy. This vast city was like a giant beast crawling on the ground, its oppressive power making it hard for her to breathe.

The thought of making a name for herself in such a place filled Hyoudou Michi with fighting spirit, but also with some worries.

Michiru Hyodo said, "This topic is really heavy. It's getting a bit boring to keep talking about me. Let's talk about Li Weijun yourself. You look about my age, but you're able to spend so much money to support Alan's work. Are you perhaps a rich young master?"

Li Wei laughed and said, "I'm not some rich young master, but I do have a rich young lady by my side. The reason I can take out a sum of money to support An Yi's creation is because I am a light novel author myself. The last volume of my work sold more than 300,000 copies, and I earned 50 to 60 million yen in royalties from just that one volume of light novel."

Hyodo Michiru gasped for breath. If what Li Wei said was true, then this was even more amazing than being born into a rich family. After all, the glory of rich kids was because they had powerful parents.

However, Li Wei's income at such a young age is purely due to his strong personal abilities, something that most people can only envy.

"Is this how light novel authors make money?" Michiru Hyodou asked curiously.

"That's not necessarily true (cgch). The vast majority of light novel authors earn between ten million and fifteen million a year. Individuals who earn more than that are a tiny minority. There are only about a hundred people in the entire industry," Li Wei said.

In the world of light novels, Li Wei is already considered one of the very top-tier figures. He has only published one volume of his work, yet after deducting personal income tax, he still earns fifty to sixty million in royalties. If he publishes two or three more volumes, Li Wei's annual income this year will definitely exceed one hundred million.

Of course, while this number seems exaggerated, when converted to RMB, 100 million Japanese yen is only about 6 million RMB. However, this amount is enough to buy a house in a first-tier city in China, and possibly more than one house in Japan. After all, China has the highest housing prices in the world, and even Dubai's wealthy have lamented that housing prices in Japan make it somewhat unaffordable for them.

"This is too outrageous!" Michiru Hyodo exclaimed softly. She also noticed the details in Li Wei's words. Li Wei was talking about the income from one volume, but light novels are definitely not published in just one volume. If the income from each volume is this high, then Li Wei's annual income will definitely exceed 100 million.

Hyodo Michiru looked at Li Wei as if he were a living, breathing pile of money.