Chapter 21: Hot and Ongoing (Please Add to Favorites and Recommend)

During the period of military training, Li Jie's new book, *The Miracles of the Namiya General Store*, began its serialization. Having taken a long enough break, he saw his publisher, Mengya Magazine, invest heavily in a large-scale promotional campaign before the official release.

As the serialization heated up, the physical copies were released simultaneously. Major media outlets reported on it extensively; the storm stirred up by Li Jie’s previous work, *The Devotion of Suspect X*, had made them highly optimistic about his new book. With the serialization underway, word-of-mouth spread, turning it into a hot topic that journalists scrambled to cover.

"Renowned author Ming Ri’s new book, *The Miracles of the Namiya General Store*, arrives in a blaze of glory." — *Guangzhou Daily*

"A genius author’s work, two years in the making! A magnificent return!" — *Literary Review*

*The Miracles of the Namiya General Store*: A shop that can solve all your troubles! — *Daily Morning Post*

"With a gripping plot and immense popularity, the genius author Ming Ri has gathered thousands of readers around his book." — *Wen Hui Bao*

Fans, who had been eagerly awaiting Li Jie’s new book, were overjoyed. In an increasingly digital age, the book triggered massive online discussions. The wave of hype surrounding *The Miracles of the Namiya General Store* grew with each passing day. On the Haijiao Forum, various bulletin boards, and the blog Bailang had recently launched, countless readers were fervently recommending the novel.

On Bailang’s blog, the well-known author Han Xiao posted an article titled "A Brief Discussion on Ming Ri’s New Book: The Miracles of the Namiya General Store." At the end of the post, he asked readers for their thoughts. The number of replies shattered the blog's previous records, with countless netizens leaving comments:

"Flowing Time: An orphanage, an elderly man, and a trio of thieves—five stories that are distinct yet interconnected, weaving together the lives of people lost in confusion, melancholy, and hesitation as they seek direction and light. This is another masterpiece from Ming Ri! Highly recommended!"

"Smiling Rabbit: I love how the book’s plot is so tightly woven; it’s a truly satisfying read. Everyone is inherently kind, and this book allowed me to feel the warmth of humanity."

"Grey: A very heartwarming story! Using one’s own strength to bring even a flicker of hope and change to others, and feeling a genuine sense of self-worth—that sense of being needed is enough to illuminate our ordinary lives."

The blog post was pushed to the homepage in a very short time. Many people then jumped into the comments to share their own takeaways. Those who had never heard of the book clicked in out of curiosity, only to be deeply captivated by the plot and subsequently become loyal fans of Ming Ri.

Compared to his first book launch, this one received massive attention from the start. Long lines formed at bookstores, and copies were flying off the shelves. Even though they had prepared sufficient stock, it ran low within days. Endless reorders from bookstores flooded into Mengya Magazine. Editor-in-Chief Liang had been walking with a spring in his step lately, smiling every day and brushing off even the most irritating matters with unexpected grace.

At Capital Media University, the atmosphere was equally electric due to the release of Li Jie’s new book. Fortunately, Li Jie had declined to be photographed during interviews, so his image hadn't gone viral. While many knew of Li Jie, few could recognize him at a glance, which gave him a sigh of relief—otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to step outside.

During this time, Geng Geng was constantly checking news reports, overjoyed by the critical acclaim for Li Jie’s new book, as if she were the one being praised. Whenever she saw malicious comments online, she would jump into the fray to defend him. In her eyes, anyone speaking ill of Li Jie was an idiot and her personal enemy.

One afternoon, Li Jie had no classes, so he accompanied Geng Geng to her lecture. Capital Media University had produced many celebrities, so people were largely indifferent to seeing them; however, among the freshmen, Li Jie’s presence still caused a minor stir.

After the class, the two walked out together, with people greeting Li Jie from time to time. He responded with a simple smile before leaving with Geng Geng. As they strolled across campus, Geng Geng excitedly recounted the various reports she had seen and told him about her online battles. Li Jie responded with a smile; he didn't pay much attention to such things, knowing that someone would always be watching for him and keeping him updated.

"The reviews for your new book are even better than the last one! Everyone is recommending it constantly. You’re truly amazing! But there are some ignorant people belittling you; it’s so infuriating!" Geng Geng said, her voice filled with indignation on his behalf.

"Alright, don't be angry. These people are just trolls. The more you engage with them, the happier they get. Just ignore them," Li Jie said, his eyes crinkling with a soft smile.

"But... but whenever I see someone saying bad things about you, I just can't help but want to argue back!"

"Yes, yes, I know you’re doing it for my sake. But it’s not worth arguing with these people. We walk different paths; there’s no need to get worked up over them. If you make yourself sick with anger, I’ll be the one who hurts," Li Jie said, gently kissing her forehead.

"Fine! I’ll try not to argue with those trolls from now on," Geng Geng said, blushing and feeling a bit flustered by the intimacy in public.

"Let’s go back to Harbin together for the National Day holiday. Didn't you say you wanted to go back and visit?" Thinking of the upcoming holiday, Li Jie made the suggestion. Seeing Geng Geng’s occasional homesickness during military training, he felt it was necessary to make the trip.

"Yes! Let’s go back together. Even though it’s a short break, I feel like I’ve been away from home for a long time," Geng Geng said, her eyes lighting up as she eagerly agreed.

The National Day holiday arrived as scheduled. As Geng Geng contemplated what gifts to bring for her parents and younger brother, Li Jie suggested they go to Wangfujing to buy some local specialties. They spent the day shopping, with Geng Geng buying most of the items. Li Jie’s family back home lacked for nothing, but he still picked up a few items with the distinct character of old Beijing—things that were different from what could be found in his hometown.

On October 1st, Li Jie and Geng Geng arrived at the train station, laden with bags of gifts. Due to the long holiday, the station was packed with people. Returning travelers and tourists from all over the country filled the massive station to capacity. Li Jie held Geng Geng’s hand tightly as they navigated the crowd. Fortunately, once they reached the waiting room, it was less congested than the outside.

"Passengers for train K1501 from Beijing to Harbin, please note that the train is arriving soon. Please proceed to the platform for boarding..."

As the announcement echoed, Li Jie took Geng Geng’s hand and headed toward the train that would carry them home.