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[ ... Shang Qinghua has to work really hard not to sigh at that. He sees what sort of thing is happening here. ]

Alright, I understand.

[ Oh, he understands something alright... ]

But let's return to the original point. You're... from fiction? And yet you exist now. [ Please elaborate; he is interested in this! ]

Yeah, I'm from Water Margin. I don't wanna get into specifics, but I was summoned by a mage on Earth...

Well, that unbelievable premise aside, the modern world is really interesting! I've just started looking into the Water Margin live action dramas, hahaha. Ah, but the actors who get my role are never as hot as me.

[That's not important. He just wanted to say that.]

Ah, sorry, sorry. Live action dramas are kinda like plays...

So... it sounds like you're rather famous.

I know a pair who have a story written about them, but [ it's real-person slash. He can't say that. ] it's more as if... their escapades made them famous, so people wrote about that, rather than them being from that story in the first place...

[ Except that they're also from a story. That he wrote. And the characters of that story also wrote stories inside the story, which is what he's talking about right now.

It's sort of complicated. ]

I suppose it's not the same at all, is it?

Are there others like you?

Mmm... Well, I know Heroic Spirits like that. People who had stories written about 'em, I mean! As for your other question...

Yeah, there are. They're called Heroic Spirits, like I said. It ain't exactly my place to say who's one and who's not, though. I don't think some of 'em will mind, but as for the likes of me, having my name plastered everywhere kinda makes it hard for me to do my job, you know?

[SAYS THE GUY WITH THE PRISMAGRAM ACCOUNT.]

[ Heroic Spirits... it doesn't ring a bell. Though he's not surprised that it seems to have little to do with his own situation, considering they're rather backwards from each other.

Shang Qinghua has been avoiding pointing out the presence of the Prismagram account potentially blowing Yan Qing's cover, lest he give away that he knows what sort of thing said account entails. ]

Then, what happens when you're done? Will you go back? Will you remember that you're from a story?

Huh?

[Genuine confusion.]

The story's done. How would I even do that? Guess if I had the Grail, I could... Well, when I'm done with whatever I gotta do, I just go back to the Throne. That's where all the heroes go — even the ones that ain't real. [He shrugs.] What's real, anyway? That ain't for anybody to say.

Oh.

When you put it that way, I suppose it was a silly question. [ So what's going on with his story? Isn't it over, too? Does he just get to stay around until he decides to leave, or is he going to get kicked out at some point, or is the story secretly not over?

Has this conversation even been any help?! ]

What's the Throne?

[Tut tut, Airplane. All things will be explained in due time. Or maybe they'll never be explained! They are from different universes, after all. Still, Yan Qing humors him.]

You know how when somebody does something great and people remember them forever? Whether they're real or not, those somebodies go to the Throne of Heroes. Sometimes, those heroes are summoned by the...

Hahaha. Why are you so interested in this, ge? Lookin' to be a superhero in your own personal story? I saw your pictures before calling you up, and I can't say you'd look good in a cape.

Huh--?!

[ Busted!!

Shang Qinghua flails for a few seconds, caught off-guard by the sudden shift in focus. ]

No--I--ah--ah--Ahem!

[ Compose yourself, Airplane! ]

I was just curious. I never expected to meet someone from a work of fiction... [ And then he met a very large number of them! And now he's talking to someone who even knows it! If nothing else, this conversation has failed to convince him that he ever wants to explain to his characters that they're fictional. Especially since he put them through way too much for most of them to want to do anything but kill him if they found out. He likes to live, please and thank you! ] ... and then your answers kept giving me more questions, so I kept asking...

Ah, I can stop. I apologize for asking so much.

[ You're the sort of person who has his name, phone number, and picture apparently? He doesn't know where you got those, and he's sort of worried! Please don't be offended by his curiosity! ]

It's fine, it's fine. I like talking!

[ It's as if Yan Qing wants him to stop apologizing more than anything else. It seems Shang Qinghua's curiosity runs deep. Yan Qing's a little curious about that in turn, but he's not too keen on giving information to the wrong people. What if this guy summons Gao Qiu? Shang Qinghua can say sorry to his airplane faster than Lu Bu switching sides! ]

So long as everything I wanna say about it stays here, I don't give a shit. Well, ain't like most folks here know Water Margin's a book. Maybe it's better that way. The last thing I want is someone telling me my life's a joke...

I mean, I know it's just a story. Doesn't change that I lived through hell.

Yes, I suppose... if no one knows the story you're from, does it really change anything? You might still be from a work of fiction, but if you act like anyone else, and no one knows your history, it's not like you'd be different from anyone else here...

[ Although, Airplane has read it, but he is absolutely not saying that! Feigning ignorance is much better than suffering any potential consequences! He's done it for a long time before, he'll continue to do it now! ]

Real or fictional, suffering is universal, isn't it?

[ But being fictional tends to result in a lot more suffering! A lot! ]

... Yeah. That's the idea.

[He is all too aware that suffering is something all his comrades are intimately familiar with.]

I like you, Shang Qinghua! We should hang out sometime! You drink, right?

Thank you, I think? [ Well, better to be in this guy's good graces than on his bad side, right? ] Yes, I do.

[ ... Ah. Is he about to be bullied into drinking with this guy...?

Fuck, is it too late to take his answer back?! ]

Hahaha, good! Good! I like the sound of that. Saturday, then!

[He's getting bullied.]

[ Fuck! ]

I don't suppose I can politely decline...?

Who would you decline? You're free, aren't you? All you gotta to do make money is fuck around.

[ Shang Qinghua stammers for several seconds at that. ]

I... I'm not the sort of person who does that sort of thing!

[ He's no Luo Binghe! He doesn't have nearly the courage for that! ]

Hahahahahaha! You're busy, I getcha. But I'll be out there anyway, so drop by when you got the time! I'll get you a discount.

[This is where he gives the address of some chill bar and lounge place. Shang Qinghua doesn't know that, though. It could probably be the rowdiest bar in the city, given who Yan Qing is.]

I'll text it to you later. See you around!

I--See you? Wait, no, I'm still not agreeing to this just yet!

[ He is absolutely getting bullied into this.

He has no idea of this bar is perfectly normal, or a death trap, or of ill repute... any of it. What has this guy gotten him into? Why are fictional characters the most difficult to deal with?! ]

[Too late. He already hung up. If there's anything Yan Qing is good at, it's sealing a deal.]

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