Song Wuli’s first day back at work today, he only worked overtime for half an hour and got off work.
He had things to do—he needed to hold a rehabilitation banquet.
Qian Dehao had already asked his wife for leave, saying he wanted to throw a rehabilitation banquet for his good brother Old Song, so he had to head back early. Since he had someone keeping him on a leash, he had to ask for permission to do anything else, which inevitably earned him some mockery from Old Song and Old Huang.
The way he mocked Old Song and Huang Yijun for not being married was exactly how those two fired back at him for losing his personal freedom, like being in prison.
Old Huang wasn’t free either. He had to explain things to the director and also to their “Silver Future Church”—he needed to ask for leave too.
Tonight they were going to the barbecue restaurant, still the same one near the milk tea shop where the employees mechanically chanted “Star-Piercing”—that COS barbecue restaurant.
Inside, it was still bustling with noise. If they hadn’t made a reservation, they probably wouldn’t even have gotten a seat. It had been a few months since Yin Lin bombed this street, yet the place still used magical girls and Yin Lin as its main selling point for business.
After sitting down, Huang Yijun noticed Old Song’s confusion and explained it to him.
The reason this street was still thriving, with countless people coming on pilgrimages and a huge number spending money under the magical girl banner, came down to a set of psychological principles.
In fact, it was simple—people just wanted a place to gather with like-minded individuals.
Just like some people go to comic conventions, others hang out in QQ groups. Many don’t have any special goal; they just want a certain atmosphere. Even just being around people with similar interests, that kind of vibe was what they needed.
Song Wuli nodded, half understanding.
Suddenly remembering something, he took out his phone, sent a file to the scriptwriter Biao Ji, and finished in one minute.
Coming back to himself, he looked at the view outside the window. There were a bunch of street vendors along the road—they’d been drawn here too. Because of the crowds, some were also chasing an atmosphere, others were just after the excitement.
A tutoring shop on the street had changed owners—a new store selling goods had opened.
What was interesting was that they weren’t mainly doing anime merchandise, but magical girl merchandise instead.
That was actually a bit odd. Normally, magical girls and anime should be one and the same. But since this world had real magical girls, magical girls had become three-dimensional, while anime remained two-dimensional.
The shop was packed with people, business booming.
Why so booming? Aside from being located in the right spot and riding a massive wave of traffic, this merchandise store also had a huge promotional banner—
[Officially Licensed Magical Girl Merchandise]
What was up with that Yin Lin merchandise a young guy had just been carrying?
Old Song didn’t remember ever authorizing anyone for that.
“Are you concerned about that store across the street? It really is a new owner—pretty sharp. Used to be in education and training, then suddenly became a big shot in the two-dimensional world.”
Huang Yijun explained while ordering food.
Song Wuli voiced his doubt:
“But doesn’t it say officially licensed merchandise? Where did they get the copyright?”
“Of course, we from the Silver Future Church gave our consent. They got our church’s permission.”
Huang Yijun said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Song Wuli quickly pressed on:
“Wait, Old Huang, did your Silver Future Church get Yin Lin’s authorization?”
Huang Yijun shook his head.
“No.”
Song Wuli: “Without authorization, how can you use Yin Lin’s name to give others permission to produce and sell merchandise?”
Huang Yijun: “Our Master and Heavenly Father didn’t object either.”
‘That’s blatant copyright infringement!’
He had to find an opportunity to get his own share back.
Old Song made a mental note.
Then Huang Yijun added,
“Of course, our Silver Future Church didn’t keep the licensing fees and royalties for ourselves either. They’ll go toward the church’s construction, development, and daily expenses.”
‘That’s exactly keeping it all for yourselves!’
Suddenly, a few young people at the next table burst into excited weird screams.
Song Wuli turned his gaze and saw them gathered together eating barbecue, huddling to read a doujinshi.
From the cover, it was two familiar characters cuddling.
The huge title read: No Matter How Many Cycles, I Will Save You, Yin Lin
Subtitle: Jin Luan × Yin Lin – The Forbidden Love Between Magical Girls
Wait, what the hell was this?
“Did this also get authorization?”
Song Wuli asked Huang Yijun.
“Oh, I remember that. A well-known doujinshi artist asked us for permission, and we gave it.”
Huang Yijun suddenly turned serious.
“Old Song, I’m telling you, this thing sold like crazy—great reviews and huge sales. It’s freaking amazing!”
Song Wuli: “Isn’t this an adult work?”
Huang Yijun: “Yeah.”
Song Wuli: “Your Master and Heavenly Father having ‘sexy times’ with someone else—you guys are okay with that?”
Huang Yijun: “Well, our Master and Heavenly Father didn’t object.”
“Old Song, I remember you’re a Yin Lin fan too. This doujinshi is really worth a look—it’s fantastic.”
Qian Dehao chimed in from the side.
“You’ve read this thing too?”
Song Wuli was shocked.
“I wasn’t interested at first, but I couldn’t resist the recommendations from those around me, so I gave it a read. It’s a masterpiece of pure love.”
Qian Dehao started selling it.
“Not interested.”
Song Wuli refused outright.
The barbecue came up, and they started grilling it themselves, eating their fill.
In the middle of it, Song Wuli opened his phone again and sent the file he’d prepared earlier to the scriptwriter Biao Ji. Basically, whenever he remembered him, he’d chat with him—whether during a meal or in the bathroom.
Full and satisfied, the three said their goodbyes at the door. After walking a few steps toward the metro, Song Wuli turned back. He looked around, and when he was sure no one was watching him, he went into that merchandise store.
There was still an employee in a COS outfit—this time in Jin Luan’s COS—but the employee looked a bit older, not really like a young girl.
Song Wuli looked around the store. There were plenty of common merchandise like badges, acrylic boards, and such.
In the most prominent spot sat a Yin Lin figure, exquisitely crafted, with a sign next to it reading “Store Treasure.” The figure was so lifelike—even the proud expression on the small face was clearly visible, and it was even posable with removable clothes.
Then he looked at the price tag—four bold digits: 99999.
‘Holy crap?! Is this the two-dimensional world? They’re this rich? A figurine costs ten thousand?’
He looked at the other figures: Jin Luan was 4000, Huan Hong was 500.
Even that famous Black Phoenix figure was only worth 5000.
For some reason, Song Wuli felt a surge of pride.
After browsing around, with a spirit of scientific research, he bought one of his own badges for 20 yuan.
As for badges of other magical girls? Not familiar.
He then snuck over to the doujinshi section. There were countless doujinshi comics and novels, and the best-selling one was indeed that pure love masterpiece with the long title they’d mentioned earlier—he only remembered “Reincarnation Rescue Yin Lin.”
Covering his face, he waited until there were fewer people around, then paid for it, and quietly hid it in his bag.