Distance blurred Wen Ying’s perception, preventing her from promptly sensing Xie Qian’s subtle little moods.
Invited by Shui Mingyue, Wen Ying happily went out for dinner after class. These past few days, she had been arranging to eat at the canteen with her three roommates. Since she was not eating there tonight, she specially informed them.
Seeing Wen Ying change clothes and head out, one roommate called to her, “Shall we fetch hot water for you?”
“Yes, and when I return, I will bring supper for you all!”
Exchanging supper for a bottle of hot water was very fair, and the roommates gladly accepted Wen Ying’s offer.
After a few days of living together, the roommates had set aside their initial concerns.
Wen Ying had no airs of a celebrity at all. Viewing her as a bestselling author, she was impressive.
Stripping away that aura, Wen Ying was simply a very likeable girl.
Such a likeable girl had already stirred restlessness among the boys at the university.
For now, no one had boldly confessed directly to Wen Ying, but several had indirectly asked her three roommates about her preferences, especially senior students.
The captain of the university basketball team.
A third-year rich second-generation.
A talented student from the journalism department.
These three currently stood out with the best personal qualities.
Without Wen Ying’s permission, the roommates would not betray her personal information. They had only been roommates with Wen Ying for a few days, and their relationship was not yet that close.
Wen Ying clearly had many friends in Modu. From the first day of enrolment, people had called to invite her out for meals, all of which she declined, saying to arrange for the weekend.
Today was Friday, and sure enough, Wen Ying accepted the invitation and went out for dinner.
Once Wen Ying left, the roommates discussed in the dormitory.
“Which one do you think has the most potential?”
“The basketball team captain, the rich second-generation, or the talented one?”
“Yes, surely one matches Wen Ying’s type…”
“Not necessarily. I think Wen Ying will not choose any of them.”
It was only the first week of term, and these seniors were already eagerly approaching. They had never even interacted closely with Wen Ying. Their so-called affection was either lust at first sight or dazzled by her fame as a bestselling author.
Such affection lacked depth.
The other two roommates thought about it and had to agree.
A boy worthy of Wen Ying must have depth.
While the roommates discussed, Wen Ying had already met two friends who were writers with depth.
Shui Mingyue was in Modu because one of the two books for which she had previously sold film and television rights was finally starting production. The production company specially invited her to attend the opening ceremony.
“During training in the capital, it had not even started filming yet. So quickly there is good news?”
Wen Ying remembered Shui Mingyue had worried that the adaptations of these two books might sink without trace. Unexpectedly, just over two months later, filming began.
Shui Mingyue was clearly delighted. “I only found out last week. The production company had started casting months ago. Initially, they even considered Yun Chen for the male lead. Unfortunately, after starring in your ‘Star River and You’, he became far too popular. His fee was beyond what the company could afford, and his schedule was hard to book, so they had to search anew for a suitable male lead, which delayed things.”
Invite Yun Chen for the male lead?
That was not just a matter of schedule and fee.
Yun Chen had signed his first drama with Tianjiao at age 25. His youthful appeal was a gift from nature. Yuan Fenghui genuinely considered the long-term development of the company’s artists and did not want Yun Chen to rely forever on idol dramas. She planned for him to take only quality series and transition to film.
This was originally the path Yuan Fenghui had planned for Yu Tianlin, now benefiting Yun Chen instead.
Yun Chen himself was ambitious. He had successfully auditioned for a supporting role in a film, making a successful big-screen debut. The director required him to undergo closed training with other main creatives.
Wen Ying smiled. “Yun Chen’s luck is poor, missing the chance to become even more famous. What about you, Mu Fan? Why are you in Modu too?”
Mu Fan produced his prepared answer. “I bought a property here. Recently, I wanted a change of city and mood, so I came to stay temporarily.”
Wen Ying had no suspicions about this answer.
For creative work, simply changing residence was perfectly normal.
Mu Fan immediately climbed the pole, saying he had few friends in Modu and asking if he could arrange meals with Wen Ying.
The straightforward Wen Ying nodded. “Meals are no problem, but not Monday to Friday. If I am free at weekends, I also meet friends. If you do not mind, you can join us.”
Mu Fan lacked friends in Modu? Wen Ying certainly did not.
Li Mengjiao, Wang Shuang, Peng Guoqing, and the recently met Pang Jinglong, these were all her friends.
Shui Mingyue could barely contain her amusement.
How could Mu Fan lack dining companions? He had become famous early, with loyal fans everywhere and many industry friends. If Mu Fan announced he was bored, people inviting him to eat would queue from the start of the month to the end, ensuring he never dined alone, three meals a day.
Mu Fan wanted to dine alone with Wen Ying, to find opportunities to spend time together, yet Wen Ying delivered a direct blow.
Whether Mu Fan was depressed, Shui Mingyue did not notice. Anyway, she smiled throughout the meal.
Both Shui Mingyue and Mu Fan congratulated Wen Ying on winning the lawsuit.
Their focus was not on Wen Ying receiving 2.8 million in compensation, but on the positive impact for the entire industry.
“In future, if someone considers plagiarising, remembering Blue Whale’s hefty 2.8 million penalty will likely make them hesitate.”
“Will Blue Whale appeal?”
Mu Fan raised a key point.
The court ordered Blue Whale to pay 2.8 million; she might not willingly accept it.
Wen Ying immediately thought of Zheng Zhihe handing his business card to Blue Whale.
Originally, Blue Whale might have appealed, but with Zheng Zhihe’s intervention, her attention was probably now on settling scores with Bao Lixin. She likely would not appeal.
One stone two birds instantly upgraded to one stone three birds. No wonder Senior Brother Zheng had so many schemes and was going bald.
Thinking this inwardly, Wen Ying would never betray her senior aloud. “Whether she appeals or not is up to her. The court has ruled anyway. If she appeals, I will simply continue litigating with her.”
The plagiarist was not Wen Ying; she was full of confidence.
Skipping this topic, Wen Ying remained preoccupied with Shui Mingyue’s sudden retirement from writing. From the current situation, Shui Mingyue showed no signs of intending to retire.
A novel for which film rights had been sold long ago was finally being adapted for screen, and Shui Mingyue’s words were full of anticipation.
“The production company said filming finishes this year, and if all goes smoothly, it could air next year.”
Wen Ying was somewhat distracted, suddenly snapping back. “Air next year?”
Shui Mingyue nodded.
Wen Ying thought she had misremembered and confirmed again with Shui Mingyue which book was being adapted and who the confirmed leads were.
Shui Mingyue patiently answered, and Wen Ying felt a thud in her heart.
This drama, Wen Ying remembered it.
In her previous life, she had read many of Shui Mingyue’s novels and counted as a fan. Though Shui Mingyue retired, upon learning a novel she had enjoyed was adapted into a drama, Wen Ying naturally paid attention.
The drama Shui Mingyue said would air next year had actually only broadcast in 2012 in her previous life.
The reason was that the male lead suddenly exploded in popularity in 2012. The first drama he starred in upon debut naturally found a network willing to buy broadcast rights.
Coincidentally, the drama that made him famous in early 2012 was also adapted from another of Shui Mingyue’s novels.
In 2012, Shui Mingyue had two books adapted for screen, both starring the same male lead, generating huge discussion and buzz. Netizens thus discovered that this former romance queen seemed to have vanished for quite some time.
A wave of nostalgia for Shui Mingyue suddenly swept the internet.
Everyone wanted updates on Shui Mingyue, but her blog had not updated in years.
Former collaborating publishers kept silent; no one knew what she was doing.
A reporter asked the male star who had starred in both adaptations if he knew Shui Mingyue’s recent situation. He said he was not familiar with her but loved her novels and had bought film rights to several years earlier.
The male star had excellent vision. From 2012 to 2019, over seven years, three more of Shui Mingyue’s works were adapted into dramas or films, each achieving high ratings and buzz.
Shui Mingyue’s talent was recognised by readers now and by audiences in the future. Her retirement and disappearance left many regretting.
The male star who bought rights to several novels profited immensely from the adaptations. Starting as an actor, he later became an investor in the industry with his own company.
Around early 2019, this male star suddenly faced scandal, for reasons similar to Yu Tianlin’s earlier fall.
The difference was that he had accumulated capital. Unable to remain a star, he retreated behind the scenes as an investor, continuing to earn in entertainment without hindrance.
Moreover, having starred as male leads in Shui Mingyue adaptations, his fanbase was solid. Even with ironclad evidence, fans tirelessly defended him.
In 2019, Wen Ying paid little attention to entertainment news and did not follow subsequent reports closely.
Now thinking about it, Shui Mingyue’s sudden retirement and disappearance, might it be connected to this adaptation, originally set to air next year but actually delayed until 2012?
