What? Have I been unfilial since April 23rd?

Time flies like an arrow, and before I knew it, those seven gourd babies I owed have... well, they haven't grown into adults yet, mostly because I haven't even given birth to them.

I always felt like the thank-you note I wrote to all you wonderful ladies was just the other day, but when I checked just now, it turns out the last one was on April 23rd? Have I really been that heartless and shameless since then?

Forgive me, ladies. You keep supporting and encouraging me, and I keep being a bad child... Let me count my blessings and tally up those seven gourd babies I owed back then, which have now turned into a whole crowd of Minions. Don't flip the page just because it's a thank-you chapter; what if your name gets called?

I’ve been running around quite a bit lately. I suspect that as long as I’m away from home, I won’t be able to pay off my debts properly. Fortunately, this travel phase is reaching its end, with Shanghai being the final stop. Once I get home, I really don't want to leave again for the rest of the year. I love writing, writing loves me, and no one can keep us apart.

(Unless someone cordially invites me to New York for research on the Artifact Report—I could literally leave right now. And so what if the book is struggling? That’s all the more reason to work harder, right?)

The line of people waiting to "cradle the babies" outside the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Second People’s Hospital of SZ City has grown much longer:

Oh my, "Bohemian's Xiang" (I dare not look too deeply into that name) has come to support the grand opening. I’m sure many of you remember this big shot... I can't even remember how many children I owe you... can we just count it as one for now?

A new big shot has arrived: "Gunsmith Rousseau." You’ve added two children to the roster all by yourself, and to be honest, my legs are trembling a bit... The ID feels familiar, but I dare not claim it. Are you a new reader lured in by the Artifact Report? Or perhaps a legacy of good fortune from the apocalypse?

"b111111111," I refuse to believe you got the number of ones right the first time you entered your username! I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to tell if I added or missed one, but either way, the debt for the child is officially logged.

Thank you to Yao Yao and Lin Lin for the KFC (yes, I’ve abandoned McDonald’s because the management of Golden Arches has disappointed me—do you know they don't even use Heinz ketchup anymore?), and to Ironclad Bai Tang for buying me dessert (dessert is so expensive now; I saw an egg tart for over 20 yuan). Thank you to "First Encounter with the Word Love," "Ink Kite (Read as Black Bird)," and "Ying You" for each stuffing a milk tea into my hands (milk tea flavors are so rich these days, how do they come up with them?). Heineken even treated me to dinner—you lot have basically covered my entire day!

How many kids is that now? Oh, I owe five more—but who cares!

The more persimmons, the less astringent the taste!

Thank you to "Twenty-Four's QD" for the DQ (DQ is truly delicious, and your purchase was so auspicious), "vitang" (buying me two bottles of mouthwash in Shanghai, no less), "Maple Shade" (did I owe you from last time?), and "Joiiiii" for sending a grand opening flower basket...

And thank you to "Gift Bag’s Bag" (oh my, I have no idea what the origin of this name is—you really must tell us), "Tall Fish" (this fish is truly tall; I’ve been eating it since the last book), "Junmi xi" (all old readers here), "Dong Xie" (how could I be so bold, hehehe), and "Ah Ah Ah What’s Going On" (what is going on indeed).

And "Kafka by the Shore" (no Fujin by your side this time), "San Xi Yi" (I think I saw your comment), "Ciel Mo" (what was it you said? I’m only going to shear this many sheep), and "One Hundred Thousand Volts" (was it you who recommended that Northeast bathhouse?).

Thank you to "Chen Chengye" (a new reader?), "Little Sun Takes You Flying" (not a new reader), "Liu Jinqi" (I know you so well), "Parsons Prep Student," "Emmy-chan," "whhit," "MARGINAL Fish," "Ya’er" (met again), and "Book Friend 20240202130643416" (I’m going to die after typing all those digits), and "Book Friend 20230109114807508" (I beg you all to change your names).

Let me catch my breath and continue:

"Sanjiu’s Exclusive Bandage" (fine by me, as long as you don't take a bath), "Brainless Diu Diu," "Whirlwind Fat Ball" (who uses tips as check-ins), "Yuezhu Loves Adventure Stories," "Miaoao," "Lin Sanjiu’s Dog" (?), "Fish, Shrimp, and Crab Everywhere," "You Are Forever Owed to the Sun," "mocaozy," "yoleen Fish"...

And to all the friends who cast monthly votes, I see you all, really. It’s just that I can’t fit all the names here. I am truly grateful that you are willing to cast your monthly votes for such a niche book. I do worry about the stats, so seeing those votes and follow-up reads is very reassuring.

I’ve realized that if I save up all the tips and thank everyone at once, it makes it look like my business is booming. It’s just 12 babies, right? Come on, let’s go for the full Chinese Zodiac!