webnovel

Chapter 67

I've noticed people have been uncomfortable with the sudden change of pace in the story. I wouldn't have noticed if the special reader hadn't phrased it the way they did. If you're still reading, thank you.

This is the reply that I left to that reader and it'll help to clear some doubts:

"Hello, first, let me thank you for commenting.

If you read this entire thing, you're awesome.

It's supposed to make you uncomfortable. It's an unknown situation and suddenly the main character you're used to has changed. You have to figure it out with the hints I leave. That's what reading is all about.

I want you as a reader to have fun figuring how the story progresses and catching the small details that add on for later. Kind of like solving a puzzle until at last everything is explained and you can rate yourself on how good of a job you did.

Right now I'm merely cementing Charlie and Natsumi's relationship. I can't have them suddenly start going out without having the thrill of getting to know each other to deeper steps in the relationship to finally the ending piece.

The fluff is fanservice for readers. I did state this story would be Romance. It is included in the tags.

Charlie's temporary 'age regression' isn't in fact an age regression at all. If it were an age regression he'd be acting way differently. Charlie still has his manners and speaks politely. He 'defused' the rising tension between Natsumi and Blake. This is nothing a child would do.

Remember, characters are humans and humans commonly make wrong assumptions. You have to be the other spectator in the story and make your own conjectures and thoughts.

Charlie will also be getting a massive power-up. Remember, in any story, tribulation is rewarded by power-up. This is a basic rule in any webnovel book; apart from the ones that are satisfaction junk food. There can't be a power-up without an initial difficulty.

Reading is an adventure and you're part of it as well :). People that read books understand people better and read situations exceptionally well. This is because readers are used to having to constantly figure out people's thoughts and psychological reactions.

Books on this website usually give the reader everything for pure satisfaction for the reader. However, wouldn't it be more satisfying to figure out things for yourself?

Thank you and I hope this has cleared a few doubts and left some things in perspective. I hope I'll still be able to reply to your comments in the future but if you decide to drop the book now that's fine as well. Thank you for reading up to here. Have a good day!"

I hope this cleared some things and let's get on with the reading!

...

"Charlie, you want coffee?"

He shook his head.

"Dieting." He knows he's dieting? So confusing.

"By the way, what'd you guys do after we left?"

"Something adult-like."

"I don't doubt it."

Even the girls were teaming up and teasing with the adult remarks.

"Probably read the bible."

"Do something with their tongues."

"Recite sacred scriptures."

"We just did homework."

"And we watched a drama!"

"..."

"...Natsumi…

"Is it what I think it is?"

"Shut up."

Charlie looked at us confused.

"Mr. John, We don't mean to malign your credence or skill. We're just not sure if Charlie will continue to be safe…"

"Mr. and Mrs. Yang. I fully understand your concerns. The safety measures will be stricter and we'll focus on Charlie's health. The current condition Charlie is in is temporary and doesn't suggest a brain injury at all. He seems to have gained improved cognitive ability at the cost of his common sense which he's quickly gaining back. The full costs of his stay in hospital and other safety concerns will be provided by us.

"Yes… but what if he's hurt again?"

"...At the moment, Charlie's full expressions, desires, and thoughts are clear and open as the day. Every single word he says is what he thinks and every expression is true to his feelings. We'll ask him how he feels and we'll see if our partnership was truly meant to be."

"...Okay…"

"If he still wants to do it then…"

"...We'll just let him do what he wants. I'm worried too but… if he wants to do it we should let him."

"Mmm…"

"His grades are higher than before too… and he's found new friends."

"Yes… he's very outgoing now. Let's hope this is all for the best."

"Mr. John, we've come to a conclusion. We'll see how Charlie feels. It should be his decision after all."

The deeper message implied was noted by the two parties. The phone call ended.

"...I hope Charlie is safe."

"Sigh. Me too…"

"Don't sigh so much, you'll look older."

"Ah, what are you saying? I'll beat you."

"Sorry sorry respected ancestor."

"Ah? You wanna die?"

"I'm apologetic, beautiful older sister."

"Hmph~"

"Charlie really does seem like a child now."

"I want to carry him and hug him around like my baby. He's too big for that now, though."

"...Yea…"

"You're thinking about chess again aren't you?"

"...He's getting tougher to play…"

"John said he's gotten more impressive cognitive capability. Maybe this time he'll give you a real challenge."

"He'll definitely beat me."

"That's because you play mediocre moves against him."

"They're not bad moves."

"They're not the ones you make when you play against me."

"That's because you've got more experience playing."

"If you try your best, Charlie will get better at chess quicker."

"Hmm, that's true."

"You're just playing like an IM because you don't want him to get better than you at 16 years old."

"Don't expose me like that. It'd be embarrassing for my reputation."

"Hahaha..... Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing…"

"Falling in love with me all over again? Don't worry, it's normal for people to fall in love with me."

"You're talking like you used to when you were eighteen."

"The kids aren't here. I can joke however I want."

"You're a gentle wife and mother with them but you become a rascal when we're alone."

"You're the only one that has seen me like this."

"Aish, aish. Alright, alright."

"Don't alright me."

"Charlie, do you remember some of the gestures we learned before?"

"Yes!"

[Modeling has gained 14.3 points.]

"Great, Char—"

"Mmm, I can do better."

"Oh… Hm, let's try."

[Modeling has gained 16.5 points.]

"That was better, great job Charlie. You have a natural talent for controlling your muscles."

"Thank you, Blake!"

"This'll change our plans then… Your talent works as if the progress exponentially rises rather than hitting the brakes after improvement. It's very weird…"

Weird?

He shook his head looking at me.

"Sorry, Charlie. I didn't mean to say weird, I meant special. After you woke up from your coma you suddenly understood things at the speeds children receive information. Do you understand what this means?"

"...Don't children understand things really quick because their brain isn't wired yet?"

"Exactly. Your brain and thoughts were simplified which means you'll understand things much faster at the cost of your common sense and past nerve-connections. Or at least that's to our understanding."

"My… common sense?"

"You'll get it back."

"Charlie… would you like to take advantage of this situation to learn things really quickly?"

"...Learn what?"

"Your career path is very suited towards the show business… We'll condition you on a deeper level to get rid of unwanted habits you got since you were younger, you'll learn many languages, relationship theory, and others…"

"..."

"However, we don't know how long this period of brain sensitivity will last and we don't know the side effects."

"Mmm, okay."

He nodded and took more notes.

He muttered words unintended for me to hear,

"Complimenting him too much might make him become arrogant, especially with his new brain sensitivity so…"

Talent without hard work is nothing.

Why does my brain feel tingly?

Why is the system doing this to me?

[Host's brain has received a restart following the gain of the new secret feature. Learning efficiency was improved to allow the Host to fully appreciate the contents of the master's mantra.]

Oh, almost like resetting a phone.

Thank you.

"Blake."

"Hmm?"

"Could I learn how to sing?"

"Ah, you want to sing?"

"Yes, I want to sing a song I made."

"Hmm… I concentrated on modeling too much and forgot you were also a composer. I'll schedule some things for you but is it okay if I hear the song now?"

"Yeah, it's a song on the piano."

"Oh, it's a song on the piano then."

"Yep."

"Have you claimed rights for it yet?"

"Yeah, I did… some time ago."

He noted something down.

"Alright, let's listen to it. Do you need a piano accompaniment?"

"No, I can both play and sing it."

"Great."

I cleared my throat and softened my facial features.

Mood helps singing emotionality.

He stared at me with full attention.

I felt small tickles inside my stomach and wiggled myself.

Getting nervous when singing is a no-no because it constricts your voice.

I inhaled and exhaled.

Earlier in the morning, I sang melodies and pretty lullabies. My voice is confident now.

I opened my mouth loosely and filled my lungs with air.

"...I know you're somewhere out there…"

"Cough, cough, cough."

"...Blake?"

"Charlie, cough, cough. I'm sorry."

...Is my singing bad?

"What happened, Blake?"

"Cough. It's nothing, Charlie. Can you please repeat the song?"

I looked down at the floor and nodded.

The song is sad man wanting to talk to someone he lost with the moon.

...Talk to someone he lost.

"...I know you're somewhere out there…"

Peek at Blake. Just nodding.

"...somewhere.. far away~..."

"I… want you back…"

"I want… you back…"

I carefully sang the song. When singing or expressing anything you should always be free and happy! But I don't want Blake coughing…

I sang the last part and ended by making the last word reeaaally long. In musical terms, it's ritardando.

"Blake?"

"Yes. That was a pleasant song."

I felt tickles in my stomach.

"Did you like it?"

"Yes, yes. It's very calming and bitter. Charlie... what was your inspiration for this song?"

"Mmm… A sad man wants to talk with a lost person through the moon?" I did another of those weird faces Blake always tells me to do and pointed my two pointer fingers to each other.

[Modeling has gained 9.9 points.]

"Agh… I'll ask you when you've gotten your reasoning back."

"...Mmmm."

"Anyway, Charlie. I'll set up a singing regime for you. I am unsure of how you plan on releasing the song but I've got a few suggestions."

O.

"Well, you can release this a few weeks before Christmas or a few days before Valentine's Day. Which one do you want?"

"I… dunno."

"Your schedule will be way too busy for things like this now. After the Winter Show you might have enough space in our schedule to practice singing a little so let's just decide on Valentine's Day for now."

I nodded.

"...Why Valentine's Day?"

"...It's for… sad people...….. with no one to spend their Valentine's day with."

"...Saint Valentine?"

"...Yes, Charlie. Valentine's Day is the day for couples to get together and do lovely things."

"Do you have someone for that day?"

"..."

Head tilt?

"I might. Moving on, song production will be very stressful. I'm guessing you've already composed the accompaniment, but making a song that'll resonate with the public will need more work. The lyrics and flow of the song are okay and your emotion was decent. We're going to have to work on everything."

"Okay, I'll work hard."

"Yes, we've got to work hard."

"...Okay. What are we doing now? Where's the paper thingy?"

"The weekly schedule? It's in your phone…"

"Ohhh…"

"After this 5-minute break, we'll move on to your Psychology Idol PR lessons."

"...Okay."

"I won't be there, though. You'll be getting an instructor for this."

"Un…"

System, you still haven't told me what A Master's Disposition is for.

[The Host must figure out the secret feature!]

I don't like you. Bad bad.

[The System asks the Host to concentrate on the mantra.]

Ta—

I laughed at the tingly feeling in my brain.

That's so weird.

I really don't like repeating these words now. They seem so bland… Even blander than hospital food.

'Talent without hard work is nothing…'

I need to work hard and make use of the talent the system has given to me.

'You become the greatest version of yourself when in humility.'

I shook my head around. It's like a brain freeze but instead of a cold feeling, it's a wiggly feeling everywhere.

Ack, I should've slowed down on the words.

So the greatest version of myself when in humility…

My brain is running at miles speed. I feel… I looked around at my hands at the space around me.

I feel… norm—

No, not normal.

I'm good when humble.

Why? Can learn easy and don't get mad.

Like clearing to the surface, my brain submerged in the fuzzy and tingly feeling for a moment abruptly stopped.

My head circled around in a daze.

I'm supposed to do this until I can figure out the entire meaning of the mantra?

The system did say it made my brain like this to absorb the knowledge of the life lesson quickly.

Is this supposed to be some Martial Arts novel with learning Laws and Daos?

My brain started feeling fuzzy again.

Wait-wait wait. Wait.

Not yet.

The tendrils circling my brain did not stop and covered my brain in the confusing feeling again.

System bad bad.

'Talent without hard work is nothing…'

'Talent without hard work is nothing…'

'Talent without hard work is nothing…'

...

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