Thread by @pseudonymoose12

#svsss had a dream about modern mamajiu where SJ is a novelist 📖✍️
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"So...what do you think?" Shen Jiu asked once he was sure A-Yuan had finished reading.

A-Yuan did a few more cursory page flips before shifting himself to a more comfortable position by Shen Jiu's side.

"I think it's great!"

"But...?"

His son sent him a cheeky grin, "...But I do have a
/few/ notes."

Shen Jiu rolled his eyes at his son in fond exasperation, "Alright then. Out with it."

"I wished the talking dog had more time to shine,"

A-Yuan beamed up at him, "I think he was the coolest character."

"Really?" Shen Jiu rose a brow, "I thought you found the hero the most appealing when you read the previous chapter."

"Mhm. He's awesome, but mama...no one can beat a cute talking dog."

Shen Jiu huffed in amusement. He couldn't argue with that logic.

He supposed his son's opinions were only fair. It had only been his first time to publish a children's novel after all, a genre he would admit was not his forte.

But he was trying. And A-Yuan seemed to enjoy

reading it (he had given his son a lecture about reading the four hundred page book from cover to cover and forgoing sleep. The silly boy argued that he cannot put the book down for he had to know what happens next.)

"Mama?" A-Yuan's voice came out smaller than intended. He was growing tired, "When you make the sequel, please add more of the talking dog, okay? I'd really like to know more about him too."

Shen Jiu smiled as he pulled the boy closer. Who was he to deny his baby.

"Of course," he planted a kiss on A-Yuan's forehead, "Any other requests?"

The boy yawned, his eyes blinked tiredly, "Yeah. Please give them a happy ending."

"Don't worry. They would all have a happy ending."

___

Shen Jiu had received a lot of criticism back in the day when he decided to solely focus on writing children's novels. However, it turned out to have been one of the best decisions he had ever made in his life.

The first installment of the series was a hit.

And every addition after became a best seller. Apparently, a lot of people enjoyed his story. A lot of people were happy to have read his story.

But really, he had written it all for his A-Yuan.

His A-Yuan who laughed at his characters' quips. His A-Yuan who grumbled when his favorite tastes defeat. His A-Yuan who cheered when the hero got back on their feet.

His story was all for him. He had poured his heart into writing for him.

Shen Jiu remembered too bright lights, and the too clean sterile smell. The hum of the AC and the rythmic beeping of monitors had been the backdrop of his and A-Yuan's reading sessions.

A-Yuan always insisted on reading his story aloud. And sometimes, Shen Jiu found himself drifting at the sound of his son's soft voice.

But there had been times when the boy was much too tired. His breathing labored; every breath a struggle as he fought for more than air.

Shen Jiu took it upon himself to read then. Even if A-Yuan was asleep, he read aloud.

That time seems distant now, so far away. But it also felt as if it had all happened yesterday. It was hard to think back on those times but also not so hard.

It had taken him a couple of years but he had already finished the final installment for his story.

The story that his A-Yuan never gotten to see finished.

Shen Jiu's finger brushed against the dedication page. Hoping with all his heart, that wherever his baby is, he was happier.

...
ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏ ʙᴀʙʏ ᴡʜᴏᴍ ɪ ᴅᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ 'ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢꜱ' ᴛᴏ.

(//End)