Hello everyone, I am the Bug Squad member who quietly writes.

I never even imagined that one day I would write a completion statement for “Ten Days.”

First of all, truly, truly thank you all for listening to me tell this story to the end.

I know “Ten Days” still has many shortcomings and areas needing improvement, and over these nearly two years I have constantly been trying to improve my writing skills and enhance everyone’s reading experience. Thank you all for being tolerant until now, and for accompanying “Ten Days” as it grew, until now when it has matured.

Just like after completing my previous work, I will go silent for a while, focusing on creating side stories, and also going back to read through the entire work. Without affecting the plot, I will do my best to remove all typos, improve grammatical errors, smooth out foreshadowing, refine rhetoric techniques, enrich character dialogue, and all other content that can be perfected.

I hope that no matter how many years pass in the future, when someone opens “Ten Days” again, it will be a relatively complete work that can carry everyone’s joys, sorrows, and emotions.

This is the second full-length novel I have completed in my life. When I put down the first word, I never imagined “Ten Days” would achieve what it has today.

Looking back, that day I was just slacking off at work, opened my phone, and somehow mysteriously typed the two words “Empty Room” in my notes app.

After that, I began this long journey.

Because of “Ten Days,” I experienced many firsts.

The first time participating in author activities, the first time being published, the first time creating multi-person audio, the first time undergoing anime and film adaptations, the first time meeting everyone through livestream, the first time holding signing events and fan meetings, the first time giving lectures at universities, and also the first time winning an award.

Similarly, what I wrote was liked and disliked by an immeasurable number of people for the first time.

When I first saw sentences from “Ten Days” scrolling through the comments of other videos on other platforms, I finally realized that things were different from what I had imagined.

A fellow author once joked that on this writing path I was almost in a state of “speedrunning through life,” but I also knew that in this situation I faced enormous pressure I had never encountered in my life.

Since almost everything was my first time experiencing it, I could only learn while adapting, while strengthening my inner self, while striving to respond to everyone’s expectations.

But when I wrote the grand finale, when my words experienced eternity, I couldn’t help but cry every day.

When millions of eyes were watching me, when countless people were waiting for the ending of “Ten Days,” I finally realized I was just an ordinary person.

My original intention in embarking on this web novel writing path was to supplement my family’s finances during the most difficult time during the mask period. At that time, “Administration of Mysteries” already had an income of over 500 yuan per day. When I was at work, I daydreamed, I smiled foolishly fantasizing—if I had two books, each earning 500, wouldn’t I be rich?

Then I could support my family, I could buy many things for my family, and I could buy many things for myself. I wouldn’t need to fear the impact of the mask period, I could be worthy of my family and worthy of myself.

But later, I inadvertently carried more and more people’s expectations, so I could only stay true to my original intention. I adapted again, learned more things, and did everything in my power to respond to everyone’s expectations.

As of writing this passage, over 5,000 people have said goodnight to Qi Xia at the end of eternity. That day I looked at everyone’s messages and cried. At five in the morning in front of my computer, I said thank you to myself, and also told myself it was hard work.

I brought everyone out of the terminus, and my karmic ties with them ended. I gave explanations to the characters in the book, to the readers, and to all expectations.

I often think that tens of thousands of people under my pen are trapped in the terminus, but in this world the only person truly trapped by the terminus is me alone.

For nearly two years, my life has only been about the terminus. I think while walking, I think while eating, I think before sleeping, I think after waking up. I worry about the circumstances of every character in the book and their every subtle emotion. Even in my sleep, I dream of the terminus.

I gradually abandoned almost all entertainment activities. I have almost no travel or social life. Even when I got sick, I kept putting off seeing a doctor. I remained silent for two years in front of my desk, in front of my computer, in front of my keyboard. Yet two years ago, I was an outsider who couldn’t even distinguish between “de, di, and de” properly.

Even on the rare occasions when I took leave, if you look at my author notes, you’ll find it was almost always because I had to attend author activities, or because something related to the terminus slowed down my writing speed, so I could only take leave, then immediately fall into another terminus.

I remember on days when my throat wasn’t feeling well, I finally took leave to go to the hospital and discovered a benign tumor in my throat. The doctor suggested I have it removed, but because I soon had a livestream about the terminus, I’ve been putting it off until now.

As for other issues… lumbar muscle strain, tenosynovitis, conjunctivitis, chronic insomnia and anxiety—since they weren’t life-threatening, I haven’t even specifically gone to the hospital for them. As I write this passage, I’ve slept about eight hours total over approximately three days.

So at the grand finale, I couldn’t help but cry.

Perhaps it’s hard for everyone to understand my feelings, but I really have tried my absolute best to present this story with a beginning and end to everyone. Although there are still many shortcomings, I have always been working hard.

In these two years, whenever I encountered abuse or negative reviews, I ultimately attributed it to “I’m not working hard enough,” so day after day I buried my head in writing. I overthrew and rewrote many plotlines. I pushed myself into mental dead ends multiple times and almost completely isolated myself.

I always felt I wasn’t doing well enough. I always knew I still had many shortcomings. So I never asked anyone in the book for gifts even once. Every time my physical books were pre-sold, I would leave a note saying “Even if you don’t buy the book, you’re welcome to chat with me.” During livestreams, I always remind everyone not to send gifts, hoping everyone acts within their means, but if there really are gifts, I will always thank them, because those gifts sustain me.

Friends who have met me offline should remember that at every offline signing, I always look into each person’s eyes and sincerely say thank you, and also say it was hard work. I didn’t miss anyone. I thank everyone for their love, and acknowledge everyone’s effort in coming specifically to see me. After signings end, I continue to say thank you to all the staff members and tell them it was hard work. I always feel I should do better to carry this affection.

But even though I’ve treated everyone with all my goodwill, every day I still encounter people who read free novels while standing on moral high ground to curse at me. I haven’t charged them even a cent in compensation, haven’t deceived anyone, yet I still receive countless malice. Some people should know that I used to reply to every private message sent to me on every platform. Even if there were thousands or tens of thousands per day, I would check and carefully reply to each one.

But now I no longer even check private messages on various platforms. I can only take care of myself at this final moment. So I apologize to everyone—I’ve received all your affection, but I’ve locked myself away.

Many people know my first signing had some minor incidents. Later, various parties suggested I not do offline signings anymore, but I felt I must be worthy of everyone who likes “Ten Days,” so every time I made comprehensive considerations, I placed myself last. I will definitely do what needs to be done. I will do my best to ensure every kind person receives my kind feedback. This is the only thing I can give.

However, I seem too exhausted now. A very long journey has finally reached its end, and I really want to rest well.

I was never Qi Xia, nor a god in the book. I want to rest well after this journey. I want to eat lots of delicious food, and I also want to see the ocean. I want to play games for a very long time, and also want to travel to other cities without any purpose.

I want to take good care of myself after everything has settled. After today, I can briefly not be a Bug Squad member, but myself.

Regarding writing, I came to it halfway, so naturally I don’t have any advantages compared to others. I can only use all my sincerity. I will put my heart into doing everything. Even if I don’t do well, I will definitely try my absolute best. As I said, I’m not some god, nor some naturally talented author, but I will work hard to respond to everyone’s expectations. When countless people tag me on various platforms, I really want to say “I’m here,” and I really want to say “I’ve always been working hard,” but I’m really a bit tired now.

As for the new book, to be honest, I haven’t conceived it yet. The genre is unknown, the content is unknown, and the publication time is unknown. My thoughts these past few months have all been in “Ten Days,” with no spare brain capacity. I can only say there will definitely be one, and it will still be on Tomato. Rather than conceiving a new book, I should finish writing the side stories as soon as possible. One step at a time—the days are still long.

So… let’s leave it at that for now. I used approximately three million words to shape “Ten Days,” with 3,000 words left for myself. This time my curtain is closing. I sincerely bow to everyone who reads these words. “Ten Days” is not just my work alone—it cannot exist without each and every one of you. Gratitude and thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

For me, that long, entangled, painful, nostalgic, longing, joyful and sorrowful, eternal “Ten Days”—from this moment forward—

Completely ends.