“Who is The Fish Against the Current?”
“Is The Fish Against the Current here today? Can we interview them?”
“We’re reporters from Rongcheng Evening News…”
Some carried video cameras, others had cameras slung around their necks.
Those with microphones and video cameras were from TV news programs, while those with cameras were from print media.
If blocking Han Qin was with ill intent, interviewing The Fish Against the Current was genuinely without malice.
Firstly, the matter was newsworthy.
Secondly, there were personal connections involved.
Lastly, based on the clues they had, The Fish Against the Current was from Rongcheng. A rising literary star from their city made the reporters quite excited!
The reporters asked questions while locking their gazes on Xie Qian.
They didn’t have X-ray vision to see Wen Ying hiding behind him; their focus was solely on Xie Qian.
Good heavens, if this was The Fish Against the Current, a single photo published in the newspaper would make it sell out!
One reporter instinctively raised their camera and snapped a picture of Xie Qian.
This young man wasn’t just ordinarily handsome—he was the kind of striking figure who could stir up a storm in the entertainment industry. Even without any talent, he’d be admitted to a film academy just by standing in front of the examiners. No wonder Rongcheng Publishing Group and Aige magazine fought so fiercely to sign him, rolling up their sleeves and trading blows. Rongcheng Publishing Group’s firm stance in suing Aige, all to restore The Fish Against the Current’s reputation, made sense—both sides were practically fighting to the death for a reason!
The reporters’ initial doubts vanished upon seeing Xie Qian.
Talent was already a rare gift, and with such looks paving the way, it would be unjust if this author didn’t achieve both fame and fortune!
To put it more crudely, The Fish Against the Current was a solid money tree.
The Fish Against the Current wasn’t relying on their appearance yet, but if they ever ran out of creative steam, using their photo as a book cover could conservatively sell over a million copies.
The reporters were thrilled, convinced Xie Qian was The Fish Against the Current, and eager to interview him.
“I’m not The Fish Against the Current, please don’t take photos.”
Xie Qian denied it.
The real The Fish Against the Current was hiding behind him!
Xie Qian felt Wen Ying’s hand clutching his shirt, trembling slightly.
It wasn’t fear—she was probably struggling to hold back laughter.
This hamster was using him as a shield and had the nerve to laugh!
If not for the fact that she genuinely treated him as a good friend, he’d have reached back, yanked her out, exposed her identity, and let her face a family hurricane when she got home!
Zou Weijun had been amused since noticing Wen Ying’s nimble dodge, and now, seeing her son coldly deny the reporters’ assumptions, she couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Wen Ying could be very mature at times, yet childishly playful at others.
“He’s not The Fish Against the Current.”
Zou Weijun stepped forward to explain to the reporters.
Wen Ying, hiding behind Xie Qian, shot Zou Weijun a pleading look. Zou Weijun, mindful of Wen Ying’s concerns, firmly cut off the reporters’ hopes: “The Fish Against the Current isn’t here today. I’m her publishing editor, and this is her lawyer. You can ask us anything.”
Two reporters clearly didn’t believe it, suspecting Xie Qian was The Fish Against the Current and that Rongcheng Publishing Group was hiding his appearance for some reason.
Now it was Zheng Zhihe’s turn. As the lawyer, he explained the court session to the two reporters, emphasizing Xie Qian’s underage status and stating that taking photos without permission violated his portrait rights.
“We’re still fighting a reputation lawsuit, and taking on a portrait rights case would be exhausting. Please, do us a favor and let it go.”
Zheng Zhihe spoke pitifully but with an edge, mixing soft and hard tactics, ensuring the reporters deleted Xie Qian’s photos and footage in his presence.
Xie Qian’s expression finally softened.
The reporters, disappointed, cast reluctant glances at Xie Qian, their eyes filled with resentment.
They just wanted to interview The Fish Against the Current in person—it was such a scoop! But now, they could only grudgingly interview Zou Weijun and Zheng Zhihe.
Both were resolute about pursuing their rights to the end. Meanwhile, Han Qin and Lawyer Xiong struggled through the reporters’ blockade to catch a cab and leave.
The reporters interviewing Han Qin weren’t upset.
They’d already captured her grim expression. With one photo, they could spin the rest as they pleased—let her run, they weren’t chasing.
Zou Weijun and Zheng Zhihe were surrounded by reporters, while Xie Qian shielded Wen Ying, inching them out of the encirclement.
Xiao Ni glanced at Xie Qian, then at Zou Weijun, deciding to stay and support Sister Zou.
Though Xiao Ni didn’t plan to badmouth her former employer, if the reporters insisted on asking, she felt she could reveal just a little.
Just a tiny bit.
Mainly because Editor Han’s twisting of the truth was infuriating!
Under Xie Qian’s cover, Wen Ying smoothly escaped the encirclement. Even when hailing a cab, Xie Qian stood to block her, ensuring she wasn’t exposed.
The two left the court entrance first, while Editor Wan and Song Foxiang, lurking across the street, were perplexed.
Editor Wan nudged Song Foxiang’s arm: “Old Song, what are you spacing out for? That boy might be The Fish Against the Current. Zou Weijun really struck gold, no wonder she’s hiding him so carefully!”
In Xie Qian’s presence, everyone’s eyes went to him first, making Wen Ying easy to overlook.
With the reporters swarming Xie Qian, Editor Wan and Song Foxiang both misunderstood.
Editor Wan said Xie Qian was The Fish Against the Current, and Song Foxiang jumped: “Impossible, that’s Little Zou’s son!”
He clearly remembered Xie, the classmate who’d been to the hospital.
Xie Qian, who looked so much like that annoying Boss Xie!
Song Foxiang had gone from pretending to like The Fish Against the Current to genuinely admiring their writing talent. He couldn’t accept that the person he admired was Xie Jinghu’s son.
“Little Zou’s son, you sure?!” Editor Wan was shocked at first, then rubbed his hands and laughed: “What’s impossible? I’ve seen Little Zou’s resume—she graduated from a top university’s Chinese department. It’s normal for her son to be a writer.”
Song Foxiang, a poet, author, and editor-in-chief, had a daughter, Song Chan, who was influenced by him and took up writing.
Zou Weijun, a top university Chinese graduate now working as a publishing editor, had a son who inherited her literary genes—it made perfect sense!
Editor Wan convinced Song Foxiang.
Song Foxiang calmed down from his anger, muttering to himself: “So Boss Xie passed down the looks, and Little Zou passed down the talent?”
That way, Song Foxiang could just about accept Xie Qian as The Fish Against the Current.
Song Foxiang had wanted to introduce The Fish Against the Current to Song Chan as a friend for young writers to exchange ideas, but now he completely dropped the idea.
