Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Zhang Zian was Pi’s only friend. The other elves in the pet shop could talk but Pi couldn’t, and Pi was the only elfin that could type, so Pi found it difficult to communicate with others. Zhang Zian had always been worried about Pi. When he couldn’t keep it company, who could relieve its loneliness?

  In China, it was forbidden to have primates as pets, so Pi couldn’t appear before humans. Zhang Zian couldn’t explain to others that Pi wasn’t an animal, it was an elfin, ruling out the possibility of Pi making friends in real life.

  Zhang Zian felt that the Internet was a good space to make friends. As the saying goes, on the Internet, nobody knows who you are.

  Pi carefully thought about his suggestion, nodded, and typed: I’ll try it.

  So, Zhang Zian helped it join the group established by the readers. The application was approved almost instantly. The readers in the group were so exhilarated seeing that Pi had joined the group.

  “Are you the author?”


  “Are you really the author?”


  “Are you actually the author of Pet King?”


  Everyone asked questions one after another.

  Zhang Zian looked at Pi with encouragement. Having just learned the skill, Pi captured the screen of the platform for authors on the Qidian website and sent the image to the group. Then Pi typed: Hello, everyone. I’m the author of Pet King. Thank you for your support!

  The readers were even more excited, expressing their love of the book and their curiosity about the author.

  Pi was bemused, not knowing what questions to answer first or how to answer them. Fortunately, the group’s manager helped Pi in a timely manner.

  [Killed by A Sword]: Everyone, don’t harass the author. You’ll delay Popo’s writing.

  Zhang Zian was surprised. They’ve given Pi a nickname?!

  “Eeek.”


  Pi smiled. It seemed to like the nickname.

  Pi found that the readers were very friendly. Whether they were discussing the plot of Pi’s book or talking about their life experiences, they were very polite, which was completely different from what Pi had imagined. Every once in a while, Pi would slip in one or two sentences to express its own opinions. Each comment from Pi was praised by the readers, who would subsequently ask Pi a series of questions or urge Pi to release more chapters, making Pi feel overwhelmed again.

  As Zhang Zian watched the interaction between Pi and the readers, he knew it was a great idea to ask Pi to join the Book Group.

  While chatting with the readers, Pi refreshed the website from time to time. Previously, the number of readers who had put Pet King in their libraries was 9,853. Now, the number was increasing.

  9,887.

  9,923.

  9,945.

  9,972.

  Finally, the number became 9,999.

  Zhang Zian held his breath, and Pi minimized the chat room window. Their eyes stared at the number, waiting for the moment when it became ten thousand.

  However, reality was different from their expectations. When Pi refreshed the website once again, the number decreased to 9,998.

  “Eeek.”


  Pi lowered its head. Every time it saw the number decline, it’d be so frustrated and thought that the readers gave up reading the book because of its poor writing.

  “Pi, raise your head.”


  Zhang Zian patted its shoulder, comforting it. “Pi, you have to remember that your novel isn’t the Renminbi and it will never be liked by everyone. You should know that only two out of ten customers actually decide to buy my pets. Money means nothing to me.”


  Pi raised its head and pointed at its chest. The gesture meant: You should be ashamed of what you just said.

  However, Zhang Zian’s joke had helped Pi regain its confidence and courage. Pi quickly forgot the one reader who had just left and refreshed the webpage again.

  10,000

  “Eeek!” Pi danced with joy.

  “Finally, 10,000! High-five!” Zhang Zian raised his right palm.

  Pi lifted its small pink hand and gently hit Zhang Zian’s palm. Zhang Zian wanted to celebrate, but his cell phone suddenly rang.

  He took out his cell phone, thinking that it was a message from an acquaintance or merchant. He was surprised to find that Pet Hunter had opened with new three tips.

  [Game Tips]: Congratulations! Your Molecule Monkey has collected enough Strength of Faith to upgrade!

  [Game Tips]: Your Molecule Monkey is currently an Elite level elfin. After upgrading, it will become an Elite/Premier elfin.

  [Game Tips]: Are you upgrading now? If you choose “No,” you can upgrade it later.

  [Yes/No, remind me later]

  Zhang Zian was stunned. It was his first time encountering the upgrade of an elfin.

  His palm was still touching Pi’s, so Zhang Zian could feel its temperature that was slightly higher than that of humans. He looked at Pi, who was staring at the computer screen with joy and refreshing the page with the other to see the number increase.

  Zhang Zian glanced at the computer screen. The Add to Library number had become 10,031.

  Although he didn’t pay attention to the time, he believed that the game’s upgrade option popped up when the number had reached 10,000.

  Was that a coincidence?

  “Pi, I’m going to the bathroom. Stay here by yourself for a while. By the way, don’t just chat with the readers, start writing,” he said, taking his hand back.

  Pi nodded and excitedly launched the Word document. However, the novelty of joining the group hadn’t yet passed, and Pi still occasionally looked at the chatroom.

  Zhang Zian entered the bathroom, closed the door, and said in a low voice, “Navigation Elfin, are you there?”


  [Navigation Elfin]: At your service.

  A flashing light appeared on the screen of Zhang Zian’s cell phone.

  “Navigation Elfin, is this ‘upgrade’ the kind I imagined?” he asked, thinking that the Navigation Elfin would be able to understand what he meant without explanation.

  [Navigation Elfin]: Yes, the upgraded Molecule Monkey won’t disappear, unless it’s downgraded due to losing its Strength of Faith.

  “Are there any side effects?” he asked with concern.

  [Navigation Elfin]: There are no side effects.

  There was no reason that the Navigation Elfin would lie, Zhang Zian believed it. “Thank you, I have no other questions.”


  [Navigation Elfin]: Enjoy playing your game!

  The light disappeared.

  Zhang Zian took a deep breath, and clicked “Yes.”


  [Game Tips]: Your Molecule Monkey is upgrading. Please wait!