A Painful Reflection: The Decline and a Desperate Transition

With three thousand bookmarks at its launch, this book’s performance is dishearteningly similar to my very first novel on Pineapple Bun. It essentially confirms a harsh truth: it has utterly flopped.

The sole distinction lies in the circumstances surrounding that first book’s release in 2018. Back then, life felt vibrant and full of promise; everything, including myself, seemed to be on an upward trajectory, brimming with boundless hope for the future.

I genuinely believed my books would only improve, and for a time, they did. That first novel brought me my initial subscription revenue and earned an S-rank debut, a monumental achievement at the time.

Yet, seven years later, I find myself back at square one, tracing a continuously downward spiral. None of my books since *Demon Lord* have achieved S-rank status, and my income has become woefully insufficient, leaving me with a monthly deficit of approximately 2000 yuan.

At this juncture, I must concede that I’ve grown old, my touch has faded. I can no longer accurately gauge reader preferences, nor can I consistently produce the kind of cultural content they desire.

When this book first emerged, I was brimming with confidence. In an earnest attempt to capture the market, I even drafted a test version, meticulously gauging reader reactions.

I painstakingly revised numerous ‘pain points’ that the general public found unpalatable, ultimately consigning over a hundred thousand words to the discard pile.

Despite all that, it still utterly flopped.

It was as if I unleashed a flurry of flashy, intricate moves, only for the market to instantly counter with a single, decisive blow.

The agony is palpable; I feel like an aging courtesan, caking my face with what I mistakenly believe to be alluring makeup. I preen and pose, attempting to ensnare clients, only to find them blanching with disgust, recoiling in nausea.

Even then, I’m forced to plaster on a brave smile, even if it’s merely to elicit pity from my few returning patrons.

Gone is the unbridled joy I once felt writing *Demon Lord* or *Mechanical Girl*, that freedom to simply write whatever flowed from my mind, unburdened by concerns. As I reflect now, myriad memories of those happier days resurface.

Back then, I wrote with abandon, simultaneously delving into various theories, watching my craft and achievements grow visibly.

But now, truly now… everything seems to be in decline, both my personal standing and the broader landscape.

Alas, alas, alas.

The online literature market is merciless; a book unloved by its readers simply has no right to exist. Naturally, I am aware of this novel’s shortcomings.

I’ve recently made some revisions, addressing, for instance, certain cringe-inducing elements that marred the male lead’s image. However, the convoluted ‘cheat’ system remains an unalterable issue, as does the ‘wicked woman’ character archetype, which feels like an immutable part of the underlying code.

Many of these elements are deeply interconnected, like the very foundation of a building; to remove one would inevitably destabilize a vast portion of the structure.

This situation is beyond salvage, serving only as stark proof that my previous predictions regarding reader preferences were catastrophically wrong. I shall dwell on it no further.

Tomorrow will bring a substantial twenty-thousand-word update, scheduled for release at 00:01 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM respectively.

Moving forward, this book should ideally receive double daily updates. My editor has promised that if daily subscriptions stabilize at 1000, I can apply for a ‘Pinnacle Recommendation’ slot – a standard feature in the past, but one this book’s current performance sadly doesn’t merit.

These double updates are, in essence, a desperate attempt to perform CPR on my struggling ‘daughter’ – this book.

This novel will comprise four volumes, concluding around 700,000 words. Regardless of its reception, I am determined to see the original plot through to its intended end.

I intend to complete it swiftly. During this time, I will explore new avenues, embarking on a painful transition towards writing male lead novels.

The rationale behind this shift is simple: I need to earn a living → which means catering to market demands → which means not writing ‘gender-bender’ novels → so why not write male lead novels instead?

Should you, in the future, find me returning to ‘gender-bender’ novels, publishing them once more on Pineapple Bun, it will signify one of two things: either I succumbed to the fear of transition, remaining trapped in my comfort zone, or I’ve achieved sufficient success and financial freedom to indulge my own preferences.

Finally, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all my long-standing readers for your unwavering support. Thank you.

PS:

On a related note, I’m currently selling off my old plate armor to make ends meet, hoping to stave off a negative bank balance for a little longer.

For those interested, tomorrow you can search ‘used Gothic plate armor’ on a certain online marketplace. The pieces have been de-rusted and treated with anti-rust oil.

Available items include a breastplate (nearly 2000 yuan), a gorget (hundreds of yuan), a Charell helmet (1000 yuan), leg armor (1000 yuan), and elbow armor (hundreds of yuan). They are made of carbon steel and exhibit only minor surface rust.