In a small bookstore on Holywell Street, the shopkeeper Joseph was meticulously checking each book on the shelves.
Every evening after closing, he would stay behind alone, relying on the dim glow of a kerosene lamp to carefully log the days sales into his little accounting notebook, cross-referencing them with the store's inventory.
"'A Dreamy Journey remains the top seller," Joseph murmured with a sigh. Although he had long been aware of the books popularity, he was still amazed every time he saw its sales figures soar far above the rest.
Following closely behind were a slew of spin-offs related to A Dreamy Journey, with titles like A Dreamy Romance and Fantasy Voyage. At a glance, they seemed to be written by the same author. But in fact, each was penned by a different hand.
These works rode the coattails of A Dreamy Journeys success and took off with a bang. Yet in terms of quality, they couldnt hold a candle to the original. Still, they inadvertently boosted the fame of the original. Every time Joseph sold a spin-off, he would enthusiastically recommend readers to check out the first book. After all, readers who began with a sequel were bound to wonder just what made the first installment so captivating. Perhaps that was one reason A Dreamy Journey maintained its enduring appeal.
However, no matter how gripping the book was, Josephs passion began to wane after repeatedly poring over it. Everything loses its novelty after enough exposure. And yet, despite this, he found it hard to take interest in any other book. Once you've tasted something as exquisite as A Dreamy Journey, its difficult to go back to anything less.
"How is it going to develop from here?" Josephs mind wandered as he tallied numbers. "I notice a lot of the sequels move the story straight into real-world settings. Sure, its more thrilling, but it loses that sneaky, subtle charm—it feels like somethings missing."
As the manager of an adult bookstore, Joseph had recently been receiving a flood of submissions daily. There was a time when he could go for days—weeks even—without seeing a single manuscript. But now, most of the submissions were of poor quality. It was obvious these writers had never attempted adult fiction before. They were merely copying the style and plot elements of A Dreamy Journey.
Perhaps theyd only skimmed half the book before getting carried away and diving headfirst into writing a sequel. Joseph now spent each day busy filtering through this ever-growing pile. He used the word "filter" for the first time—because in the past, even a half-decent submission was a delight. Back then, even subpar stories would excite readers, and there was never any worry about poor sales.
But now, with so many choices at hand, Joseph hoped to find something truly outstanding.
Hed read through all kinds of sequels during this process. If every story were a dish, Joseph was no longer the starving man whod eat anything—he was now full to the brim.
These days, he even began to wonder how the original author could innovate and stand out among so many existing continuations. After all, the sequels seemed to have explored nearly every possible development.
After carefully finalizing the accounts, Joseph locked up the shop and, as usual, headed to Mr. Hermans printing press to check on the progress of new print runs.
But this time, Mr. Herman greeted him cheerfully, holding a stack of manuscripts. Damn it—Joseph instantly recognized it as the script for A Dreamy Journey.
"Is this... the second part of A Dreamy Journey?" His voice betrayed his excitement and anticipation.
"Yes indeed," Mr. Herman beamed. "The moment the author sent it in, I had someone bring it over right away!"
Joseph's heart raced. He rubbed his hands together nervously, his eyes glinting with desire. "Mr. Herman, may I have the honor of getting a sneak peek? I'm just so curious about how the story continues."
But Herman didnt agree outright. Instead, he gave a meaningful smile. "Joseph, you know how intense the content is. I think this kind of thing is best enjoyed alone, late at night, when no ones around. Dont you think?"
Joseph blushed at the implication, but curiosity still drove him. He chuckled awkwardly, then said tentatively, "Mr. Herman, Ill just take a look. Really—just one look."
"Of course, youre my friend," Herman said, handing him the manuscript. "If you insist."
Joseph took the stack of papers, glanced around, and sat on a bench in the corner. Under the weak light of the kerosene lamp, he eagerly opened the first page.
The writing style was unmistakably that of the original author—smooth and straightforward, without unnecessary fluff. This was definitely the authentic manuscript, not a forgery.
Joseph restrained himself—it wasnt the time for a leisurely read. He simply wanted to see where the story went. Skipping over the steamy parts, he tried to focus solely on the plot, reading rapidly without dwelling on any tantalizing passages.
"Wait, this is... the friends older brother?" Joseph muttered in shock. The older brother secretly tickled the ladys palm while passing her the chopsticks? Then he went even further under the tablecloth? That couldnt be real! And the husband? Was he blind?
This had to be a dream. The lady must be dreaming. She sure knew how to dream. Joseph himself had never dreamed anything this spicy. If the author hadnt written it, he wouldve never imagined such a scene. He didnt even own a tablecloth.
The mental image alone made his blood rush. Joseph had thought hed built up some resistance after reading so many adult novels, but clearly not. Just one under-the-table stunt was enough to shake his composure.
He quickly looked away—at the sky, the walls, the lamp—anywhere but the page. Only after calming down did he dare to continue.
"Now this is... the sisters husband?" He hadnt gotten far before another character entered the scene. At first, this brother-in-law was upright and disciplined, even accusing the lady of seduction. Joseph was furious. But later, an accidental touch sparked a change in him.
Joseph disliked the man at first, but watching him gradually give in was thrilling. Especially when the brother-in-law pressed the lady against the door just as his wife called from the other side—and he ignored her. That... that was electrifying! This author was truly a master.
Joseph dared not read further. Even though he tried to avoid the explicit bits, his imagination refused to be contained. The images lingered in his mind. If he kept reading, he might embarrass himself in front of Mr. Herman.
His face flushed, Joseph took a deep breath, trying to regain control. Then he handed the manuscript back. "This is absolutely brilliant. I cant imagine how the author came up with these scenes."
He began to suspect that the writer must have been some kind of high-society Casanova—how else could he depict everything so vividly, so convincingly, as if it were all firsthand experience? These scenarios, those gestures—Joseph had never seen such things before, but now, thanks to this book, hed seen them all.
"Indeed," Herman nodded in agreement. "Ive seen tons of sequels lately, but none of them come close to this. Mr. Allen barely lifted a finger, and he already left all the others in the dust."
Joseph nodded vigorously. Compared to this, the other sequels were as clear and bland as water.
"When do you plan to print it?" Joseph asked eagerly. "Please keep me informed. You wouldnt believe how many readers have been asking about the sequel—the real sequel."
Herman pointed at the typesetters by the printing press. "We started layout the moment the manuscript arrived. But you better keep this under wraps for now. I plan to stockpile a few thousand copies before selling. Otherwise, I fear bookshop owners and eager fans will swarm the press. That would be chaos."
After all, it was an adult novel. It wasnt illegal, but certainly not something to flaunt in broad daylight.
"Still," Joseph sighed with a wry smile, "I doubt this secret will last long."
Sure enough, the very next day, the word was out.
"Shopkeeper!" Joseph had barely stepped through the bookstore door when a familiar customer rushed up. "I heard A Dreamy Journey Part Two is coming out soon?"
Joseph was stunned. He had only found out yesterday—how did they know already?
"Please reserve a copy for me—no, two copies," the customer insisted. "Ill pay in full right now. Just send it to me when it arrives."
"Ill prepay too," another customer chimed in. "Ill come by every day to check. Save the postage."
"Lets just make a reservation list," someone suggested. "Well buy according to the list order."
Joseph had never seen anything like it. When Part One was released, it was virtually unknown. But now, after gaining a solid reputation, this adult novel had customers lining up to pre-order—with full payment upfront. Even respectable books didnt enjoy such demand. Good lord—werent they worried he might run off with their money? They dared to pay, but he didnt even dare to take it!
"Everyone, please calm down," Joseph said, ushering them inside. Hed already noticed people on the street casting curious glances. "The printing press is working full speed, but I cant promise the price will be the same as Part One. So I cant accept payment just yet. But rest assured—Ill record every reservation, and once the books arrive, Ill set yours aside."
Then, worried about holding stock for too long, he added, "But I can only hold it for two days. If you dont pick it up within that time, the reservation will expire."
"Thats fine!" the customers agreed. Just as Joseph sighed in relief, one customer shouted, "Then Ill reserve ten copies!"
"You can do that? Then Ill take ten too!"
Huh? Joseph stared in disbelief at one, then another.
Wait... what were they planning to do with so many adult novels?