Elder Fu’s questioning left the journalist speechless.
Of course, Elder Fu had no need for public relations.
It was truly strange. A person like Elder Fu ought to reject commercial writing outright.
For some unknown reason, Elder Fu held “Fish Swimming Against the Current” in exceptionally high regard. This was not the first time he had publicly endorsed her. Now he had even drawn on his savings to co-found a literature fund with her. Had this fish truly bewitched the old gentleman?
Fortunately, Elder Fu’s integrity was unassailable, and his age was more than enough to make him Wen Ying’s grandfather. Otherwise, people would certainly have speculated about some improper relationship between them.
Thanks to Elder Fu’s unexpected arrival, the second half of the press conference went particularly smoothly. Wen Ying outlined the future direction of the Dream Building Fund, and the event concluded in a thoroughly harmonious atmosphere.
When Wen Ying supported Elder Fu, she immediately sensed that the old gentleman had lost a considerable amount of weight.
“You should not have rushed here like this. It is too taxing.”
Elder Fu himself remained very optimistic. “I am not afraid of a little exertion.”
Compared to physical fatigue, Elder Fu feared far more the day when he could no longer exert himself at all.
The old gentleman did not fear death. At his age, he had long prepared himself mentally for it.
While he could still move about, Elder Fu intended to help the younger generation he believed in whenever possible.
The literary world renewed itself generation by generation. Elders guiding juniors forward made for a fine tradition.
Wen Ying felt a sudden ache in her nose.
Elder Fu had helped her repeatedly without expecting anything in return. Wen Ying knew perfectly well why.
She could not guarantee that she would produce works that shook the world. She could only promise to write every book with genuine care.
“That is already very good. Keep writing well. Creation will reward you.”
Elder Fu spoke with double meaning, making Wen Ying laugh. “I have already felt the rewards of creation. Without it, I would never have met you.”
…
No journalist raised any more unpleasant questions. When the reports went out, the public reaction was largely positive. Most praised Wen Ying for earning money through her novels and giving back to literary creation, commending her sense of social responsibility.
Readers were accustomed to Wen Ying being criticised. This rare occasion when all major media outlets praised her left them slightly unaccustomed.
After reading the reports, Zhuo Chen felt a faint helplessness. What a swift response.
Though Zhao Dong had lost, Zhuo Chen remained in China.
With nothing else at present, Zhuo Chen could only quietly monitor developments on Xie Qian’s side. He had not leaked the news that Wen Ying was a shareholder in a medical aesthetics company, planning to hold it back for the right moment. He had not expected Wen Ying to launch the Dream Building Fund so quickly.
With the fund now front and centre, raising the medical aesthetics investment again would achieve little. A potential crisis had thus been effortlessly neutralised.
In Beijing, Ran Keqing was also irritated by the news.
“It must be the Xie family helping her, right? She has fame but lacks prestige, so the Xie family brought in someone like Elder Fu to endorse her, gradually improving her public image bit by bit.”
President Ran could not answer his daughter’s question.
Wen Ying and Xie Qian were dating. It was perfectly normal for the Xie family to help Wen Ying, but this was clearly not what his precious daughter wanted to hear.
“Keep a low profile lately and avoid too many moves. Wait until the film is released.”
President Ran reminded Ran Keqing.
Two films competing at the box office was normal. Under-the-table manoeuvres must stop. The Xie family could mobilise connections to bring Elder Fu out for Wen Ying’s sake. They might do other things for her too. If Ran Keqing acted frequently, she could easily be caught in the fallout.
Ran Keqing was unwilling in her heart, but since she targeted only Wen Ying and did not wish to involve Xie Qian, she obediently heeded her father’s advice. “Dad, don’t worry. I won’t cause trouble for the family.”
President Ran sighed. “Why not consider a different target? As the old saying goes, a melon twisted off the vine is not sweet.”
Even without family background, Xie Qian was an outstanding young man. With it, his excellence gained layer upon layer of aura.
President Ran admitted it would be hard to find another potential son-in-law like Xie Qian, but since Xie Qian himself was unwilling, matters became complicated.
Failing to become in-laws with the Xie family was regrettable. There was no need to force enmity.
Ran Keqing smiled. “Dad, do you think I am still hung up on Xie Qian? The way I treat his girlfriend, even if he broke up with that Wen woman, he would never consider me.”
“Then why…”
President Ran was puzzled. She seemed to understand the situation clearly.
Ran Keqing’s smile faded. “Because it makes me feel bad.”
She herself had no intention of being with Xie Qian, but she wanted him to regret his choice, to admit he had misjudged.
President Ran was somewhat speechless.
After all this, it was not about seizing Xie Qian?
He did not advise further, merely cautioning Ran Keqing to mind her limits and avoid escalating a personal dispute with Wen Ying.
Deep down, President Ran felt Wen Ying’s appearance was perfectly timed.
The existence of such a “romantic rival” had ignited his daughter’s fighting spirit in her career.
Rich men like President Ran often worried about cultivating heirs. Wen Ying was practically a “whetstone” delivered to help Ran Keqing grow.
Besides Zhuo Chen and the Ran family, others were also paying attention to the Dream Building Fund.
Xie Yuping read the news and looked deeply gratified. “Xie Qian’s mother and Little Wen truly share the same values. Such two people are destined to be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.”
Earning money is a skill. Spending it wisely is another. For someone as young as Wen Ying to balance both so well filled Xie Yuping with approval.
Moreover, the biggest challenge for such a fund was not initial capital but finding reliable management.
That Zou Weijun had persuaded Chen Tongfu to manage the Dream Building Fund surprised Xie Yuping.
After all, a mere 20 million scale was rather small for someone of Chen Tongfu’s calibre.
His agreement was probably for Zou Weijun’s sake.
Xie Yuping did not suspect anything between Chen Tongfu and Zou Weijun. Anyone who had dealt with Zou Weijun normally tended to see her as a friend. The only abnormal one had always been Xie Jinghu.
Thinking of Xie Jinghu, Xie Yuping asked Zhong Yong, “Has the third brother been behaving lately?”
Zhong Yong forced a smile. “President Xie has been… very fulfilled recently.”
“Behaving” and “fulfilled” were worlds apart. Xie Yuping immediately caught the subtext and rubbed her brow. “Tell me. What has that scoundrel been up to now?”
“President Xie is very concerned about Ms Zou’s romantic life.”
Not only frequenting Junyue, but investigating Zou Weijun’s social circle thoroughly.
Zhong Yong truly could not comprehend Xie Jinghu’s thought process. Cherishing nothing when he had it, now resorting to endless clumsy attempts at reconciliation. Truly bizarre.
If Xie Yuping had not asked, Zhong Yong would not have reported on Xie Jinghu. Since she did, he told everything.
Xie Yuping: My heart is truly weary.
That scoundrel third brother had surely investigated Chen Tongfu too.
Chen Tongfu was capable yet low-key. Xie Yuping was certain Xie Jinghu had found nothing.
Which would only make Xie Jinghu exceptionally inflated.
…
In Beijing, within Shouhang School.
Gan Tao waved a newspaper in front of Wen Kai. “Was my judgement not excellent?”
The paper carried reports on the Dream Building Fund. Gan Tao felt proud of Wen Ying’s actions.
“They say the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Little Fish is exactly that kind of person. Some do good deeds by shouting slogans. Little Fish is the most practical. She directly contributed 5 million… Hmph. Those journalists have all gone quiet now. They dare not criticise Little Fish casually anymore.”
The journalist who had pressed Wen Ying was not foolish. Seeing the tide turn, he withheld the earlier recorded exchange, omitting the part questioning her motives for donating 5 million to the fund. Though not reported, hardcore fans knew. Several local Shanghai readers had been invited to the press conference.
Afterwards, those readers relayed the scene in QQ groups, thrilling fans like Gan Tao who could not attend.
Gan Tao had recounted this episode to Wen Kai more than once.
Each time, Wen Kai felt a twinge of guilt.
Alas, at first he had not wanted to say anything, fearing it would affect Gan Tao’s judgement. Now he simply did not know how to bring it up.
“Actually…”
Wen Kai had just begun when his future brother-in-law Leng Jun approached, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Brother, it is not that I do not want to help you two. I really cannot hold out any longer.”
When Gan Tao started dating Wen Kai, the elders of both the Leng and Gan families learned of it and immediately wanted to meet him. Leng Jun had held them off desperately.
Young people in love. Early elder interference would only backfire.
Leng Jun persuaded both sets of elders to stay calm and not meddle in Gan Tao’s romance. Perhaps in a little while, Gan Tao would break up on her own.
The reasoning made sense. The elders knew girls Gan Tao’s age were prone to rebellion. The more parents opposed, the more fiercely she would cling.
But they waited and waited. In the blink of an eye, Gan Tao and Wen Kai had been together over three months, with no sign of splitting.
Each time she returned home from school, Gan Tao would shut herself in her room chattering away on the phone, her laughter carrying through the door to the living room.
Not only no break-up, but their relationship growing stronger?
No, this would not do. They must meet Gan Tao’s boyfriend, or the elders could not rest easy.
Leng Jun came to convey the elders’ wishes. Gan Tao was strongly opposed. “What is there to meet about? Dating is my own business.”
It was perfectly pure romance. Early elder involvement would sour the flavour.
Gan Tao thought Wen Kai wonderful in every way. She worried the elders’ generational gap would lead them to nitpick him with strange standards, like Leng Jun’s unreliable friends.
Wen Kai’s pride was strong. If her family elders strongly opposed, her boyfriend, so newly acquired, might fly away.
Wen Kai also felt meeting parents this early was premature. He was not ready.
In a few more months, once his job was secured, he would have more confidence before Gan Tao’s parents.
Plans could not keep pace with change. With the girlfriend’s family elders wanting to meet, Wen Kai could not avoid it.
“It was my oversight. I should have visited Uncle and Auntie earlier.”
Wen Kai asked Leng Jun to arrange a time. Leng Jun was greatly relieved. “I knew I had not misjudged you. You are a responsible lad. Though I also think meeting so early is not ideal, the elders have their concerns. Just be yourself. You will surely pass with flying colours.”
