When questioned by Chen Ru, Deng Shangwei’s leg hairs stood on end, practically saluting in fear.
He was genuinely scared!
But Deng Shangwei had a basic sense of responsibility. It was his idea for Wen Ying to keep things from her parents for now, and with the truth exposed, he couldn’t let Wen Ying take the fall alone.
Just as Deng Shangwei was about to own up, Wen Ying jumped in, “Uncle only found out recently, Mum, don’t blame him. If he’d known earlier, how could he dare hide it from you?”
Hmph, I think his courage is plenty big!
Chen Ru didn’t entirely buy Wen Ying’s story, but with external issues to handle, internal matters came first. If there was a problem with Wen Ying’s contract with the publisher, they’d need to hire a new lawyer for the lawsuit. Deng Shangwei, having lived in Chengdu for years, had better connections than Chen Ru or Wen Dongrong and could be useful, earning a chance to atone for his sins. For that alone, he’d get a stay of execution!
Deng Shangwei’s value secured him a suspended sentence. He didn’t realise how furious a mother could be when her child was bullied, turning that anger into a fierce drive to protect her cub, even choosing to overlook Wen Ying’s half-truths.
At the critical moment, Wen Ying stepped up to clear Deng Shangwei, deeply touching him.
He hadn’t doted on this girl for nothing!
Now, buying 100 copies of Teen Idol felt too stingy. It wasn’t like he lacked the means, buying 1,000 copies wouldn’t bankrupt him.
As for what to do with 1,000 copies of Teen Idol, Deng, still caught up in his emotions, hadn’t thought that far.
With a fortune in the tens of millions, arranging 1,000 books was no big deal.
After intimidating Deng Shangwei, Chen Ru’s gaze seemed to land on Wen Dongrong.
Old Wen, driving, silently groaned, feeling a mix of envy and bitterness.
Black-hearted Cotton was more like Deng Shangwei’s little padded jacket, quick to shield him from trouble.
When it was her own dad’s turn to suffer, would Black-hearted Cotton kick him while he was down?
Being the head of the family was too hard, too much to bear!
Chen Ru didn’t head straight home; she wanted to meet the publisher’s people immediately.
She didn’t care if they’d already left work. They’d agreed to let a minor sign a contract, so now that the parent was knocking, the publisher’s person in charge should face the music!
In front of Chen Ru, Wen Ying reluctantly called Zou Weijun, “Auntie Zou, I want to apologise. I lied to you when we signed the publishing contract.”
In a few words, Wen Ying explained the situation. Just half an hour earlier, Zou Weijun had learned the latest details from Xie Qian, so she wasn’t too shocked by Wen Ying’s words.
Zou Weijun had already been suspicious.
Wen Ying had claimed her parents agreed to her negotiating and signing the contract alone, which could be seen as them wanting to toughen her up.
But when Aige published its termination statement, and Zou Weijun decided to sue Aige and Han Qin, even on the court date, Wen Ying’s parents never showed up once. Zou Weijun knew Wen Ying hadn’t been truthful.
No matter how laid-back, no parent would let their underage daughter handle a lawsuit alone!
Wen Ying had lied.
Zou Weijun had her suspicions but didn’t pressure Wen Ying, choosing to bear the burden herself.
Every family has its struggles, and Wen Ying must have had her reasons for hiding her pen name.
But secrets can’t stay hidden forever. When the day came, Zou Weijun didn’t blame Wen Ying or fear her parents confronting her.
Zou Weijun treated Wen Ying like a niece, caring for her and fulfilling her duties as an elder. Professionally, she admired Wen Ying’s talent, valued it, and secured the best publishing terms for her.
With a clear conscience, why fear Wen Ying’s parents coming to question her?
Of course, she was at fault for not insisting on signing the contract with Wen Ying’s parents present.
Zou Weijun’s magnanimity made Wen Ying feel ashamed.
“Auntie Zou, I deliberately lied to you. How is it your fault?”
“It was my oversight at work.”
Zou Weijun took the blame and said she was free to meet Wen Ying’s parents now, ready to cooperate whether they were there to confront her or discuss the lawsuit.
Wen Ying glanced at Chen Ru, who nodded sternly, “Tell her to give us an address, we’ll go over.”
Chen Ru overheard Wen Ying’s entire conversation with Zou Weijun.
Wen Ying was covering for Zou Weijun, but Chen Ru didn’t fully believe it.
Wen Ying was soft-hearted, lying to protect Deng Shangwei and likely others too.
One phone call couldn’t reveal Zou Weijun’s character. How could Chen Ru be at ease without meeting her in person?
They agreed on a time and place to meet. On the way, Chen Ru asked Wen Ying seriously, “Anything else you need to add? Don’t let me meet this Editor Zou and find out you’re still not telling the truth.”
Say everything at once. Trickling out bits and pieces, it’s embarrassing to discipline a daughter in front of others!
Wen Ying hesitated. Of course, it wasn’t just this one thing she’d hidden. Besides writing and publishing a novel, there was her screenwriting.
Oh, her parents knew about the screenwriting, thinking her earnings went to her dad’s second-hand car, unaware the payment far exceeded the car’s price, or that she’d invested it in The Princess’s New Clothes, earning over a million.
That money was already promised, mostly lent to Xie Qian. If she confessed, she’d have to mention the loan. A high school girl lending over a million to a male classmate, Wen Ying saw it as pure friendship, but Manager Chen and Old Wen might not buy it.
This had nothing to do with publishing or the lawsuit, so Wen Ying resolved to keep it secret, clinging to the saying, “Confess and be lenient, sit in jail forever; resist and be strict, go home for New Year.” She mumbled, and Chen Ru raised an eyebrow, “You really have more you haven’t said?”
Wen Ying gave a dry laugh, “It’s not something else. It’s just that Editor Zou, who published my novel, is my classmate’s mum. That’s why she didn’t doubt what I said.”
Classmate?
Qin Jiao, Li Mengjiao, or Wang Shuang?
If it was one of those three, Wen Ying wouldn’t be so evasive. Chen Ru’s gut told her the classmate was Xie Qian!
That overly good-looking male classmate.
The one Chen Ru constantly worried would lead Wen Ying into puppy love.
Her friend Wu Chunqin’s words resurfaced: You should check the boy’s character and abilities. Bah, almost swayed by Wu Chunqin. What character or ability does a teenage boy have? He knows nothing of responsibility or duty. Puppy love bears no sweet fruit!
Chen Ru said no more, and Wen Ying grew uneasy.
Her mum meeting Auntie Zou, wouldn’t that be like Mars crashing into Earth?
