Wen Kai kept his mouth shut. He neither told his rich classmate that he was Wen Ying’s cousin, nor mentioned to Wen Ying that his classmate’s cousin was a die-hard reader.
Upon checking further, his classmate’s cousin had even made the news?
Thus, Wen Kai clamped his mouth even tighter.
Wen Ying learned from the news that the “no.000600” edition of “Seeking Yong”, specially sent by Editor Ding to Rong City, had been bought by a reader for 50,000 yuan.
Someone actually spent 50,000 yuan on a book?
Even Wen Ying, with her millions in assets, would not spend like that!
Wen Ying did not admit she was stingy. She believed it was a difference in consumption views between first-generation and second-generation rich. She classified herself as first-generation.
Now, only the “no.600000” edition of “Seeking Yong” remained unaccounted for. This news greatly stimulated the readers. Even if someone disliked the “luxury seven-day cruise”, selling it after winning would still be profitable!
Without a tycoon reader offering 50,000, selling for 40,000 would not be too much, nor 30,000 too little. For most readers who were still students, it really was a large sum.
Of course, most readers were just daydreaming. First, they knew the odds of winning were slim. Second, even if they won, they probably would not bear to sell it.
Unless the family was truly in need of money, these teenage young readers still held youthful ideas: money was not the most important thing, liking something was priceless. In their long future lives, they could earn many “50,000 yuan”, but the chance to get close to Little Fish was only once!
Wen Ying did not know that the sold “no.000600” “Seeking Yong” was the prize won by her own father, Wen Dongrong. Wen Dongrong had cautiously used Old Li as the intermediary for the transaction, and besides Old Li, no one else knew.
Wen Dongrong pondered for a long time and did not even tell his wife, Chen Ru.
He wanted to see how things developed first.
If he got invited to the overseas writers’ conference of “Zhiyin” this year, he would reveal the truth.
If not… he would consider using the 50,000 yuan to pretend it was his manuscript fee and spend it on a trip with Rouge Tiger and Black Heart Cotton.
Advance or retreat, Wen Dongrong was in high spirits and could not help humming a tune on his way to work.
Old Li’s mood was not great.
Old Li bought the lottery numbers Wen Dongrong had helped pick. When the draw happened, he won 5 yuan.
Why could Wen Dongrong casually sell a book for 50,000 yuan, while he could only win 5 yuan?!
Old Li was naturally unconvinced.
He did not cause trouble for Wen Dongrong, but he also did not change his mind. He decided to buy that same set of numbers every period. “Luck” was something mysterious and elusive, probably needing to be borrowed multiple times!
Old Li shared his theory with Wen Dongrong, leaving Wen Dongrong stunned.
This worked too?!
Sigh, no helping it. It must be his own irresistible charm with nowhere to go.
Wen Dongrong felt elated and encouraged Old Li: “Then keep buying. Anyway, do not buy too many per period, just spend 2 yuan on one set of numbers.”
To some, buying lottery was paying an IQ tax. Wen Dongrong, however, felt that as long as one did not get addicted and spend heavily, buying one set per period was fine.
2 yuan could buy what? Not even a pack of cigarettes, yet it bought two or three days of anticipation. Thinking about it, it was quite a bargain!
Because of the “treasure map” matter, the internet was abuzz. Some netizens who were not Wen Ying readers also joined the treasure hunt, popping into bookstores whenever they had time, trying to find the yet-to-be-claimed “no.600000” edition.
With Song Fotxiang’s “Elopement at Dawn” rising unexpectedly before, and now the “treasure map” stealing the spotlight, Bao Lixin was about to explode with anger.
What were these people hunting for “treasures”? They should be discussing Blue Whale and “Crown of Thorns” instead.
Was Blue Whale not pretty?
And “Crown of Thorns”, which clearly had built-in topicality, why stop discussing it?
Bao Lixin learned many hype tactics from Manager Guan to promote Blue Whale and boost “Crown of Thorns”‘ heat. Even black-hot fame would do, as long as “Crown of Thorns” gained commercial value.
Bao Lixin’s plans were beautiful, but he rubbed heat in the wrong direction.
He thought his opponent was Editor-in-Chief Ding of Modu Literature Publishing House. In truth, his real opponents were Yuan Fenghui and Wen Ying!
Competing in hype?
When Yuan Fenghui promoted “Miracle” to fame, Manager Guan had not yet tapped his wife Liang Dan’s resources to start a company. Bao Lixin learned from Manager Guan, but if Manager Guan had the chance, he would probably want to learn from Yuan Fenghui too!
As for Wen Ying, she was like an old cucumber painted green to pretend youth: outwardly a teenage high school senior, but inwardly the steadiest-minded Lawyer Wen.
Bao Lixin wanted to break Wen Ying’s mentality, but Wen Ying carried on as usual, her studies and personal life unaffected.
As a lawyer, she was best at dragging opponents into her own rhythm.
Wen Ying’s current rhythm was to ignore Bao Lixin’s side entirely!
With Wen Ying not engaging, Bao Lixin grew anxious, and Blue Whale truly started to crack.
Readers would not leave messages under Wen Ying’s blog, not wanting to disturb her mood, but they swarmed to Blue Whale’s blog in groups to hurl abuse.
Bao Lixin had warned Blue Whale not to read blog comments, but Blue Whale could not resist.
Those who did bad things were prone to guilt. Ever since “Crown of Thorns” was exposed for plagiarism by readers, Blue Whale could feel the odd gazes around her even walking in school.
Were they looking at her?
Did they all think she plagiarised someone else’s book?!
Her roommates huddled discussing, scattering the instant Blue Whale returned to the dorm.
On campus, students gathered in twos and threes, pointing and whispering at Blue Whale.
These people must be gossiping about her behind her back… The boys were actually more enthusiastic towards Blue Whale than before, thinking she was pretty and had appeared on a variety show, making her a solid campus goddess.
Unfortunately, Blue Whale had become paranoid and no longer believed the boys’ enthusiasm.
Blue Whale could not help reading the blog comments.
Almost every comment was cursing her.
Occasional supportive messages encouraging her were drowned in the torrent of abuse.
Blue Whale panicked and gasped for breath, shoving the computer over in one go.
Blue Whale cried as she called Bao Lixin, saying she regretted it and wanted to quit. Bao Lixin laughed coldly over the phone: “Quit? The whole country knows “Crown of Thorns” is by you. How do you quit? Do not tell me you forgot, we signed a contract. If you breach it, besides the 500,000 yuan penalty, the entire project’s losses can be claimed from you too.”
Wen Ying signed with Modu Literature Publishing House, and the publisher prepaid 500,000 yuan in royalties to Wen Ying.
Bao Lixin wanted to mould a bestselling author and feared Blue Whale slipping control, so he had her sign a harsh contract. Breaching it meant Blue Whale had to pay 500,000 yuan!
The arrow loosed could not be recalled. Hearing “500,000 yuan compensation”, Blue Whale cried even harder.
Bao Lixin first scared then coaxed her, “Alright, we are in the same boat. Ruining you does me no good. Did I not tell you? Do not read online comments. What do those people say? It will not cost you a piece of flesh. Money and fame are what matter. I will make you very famous and very rich!”
