Regarding Wen Ying’s question, Xie Qian just smiled.
Oh well, when a heartthrob plays mysterious, he’s still a heartthrob!
Wen Ying agreed to publish the judgment in Chengdu Evening News. The newspaper quickly cleared a page for the matter, and Zou Weijun sent Xiao Ni to follow up.
Chengdu Evening News also needs an author bio. Wen Ying said it’s fine to go public, so we have no concerns.
As soon as Xiao Ni left, Zou Weijun began packing her personal items from her desk.
Recently, Zou Weijun had been handing over her work. She was moving to Chengdu Literature Publishing House for a promotion. Though it was just moving to the building next door, it was a genuine step up.
Editor Wan was green with envy.
Both were publishing editors, yet Wan had gone bald from years of work without becoming chief editor, while Zou Weijun rose so quickly!
But what could Wan do? Little Zou had strong backing and real talent, launching two hit books in a row, fully deserving her promotion and raise to the peak of her career.
More importantly, Zou Weijun was leaving Hush, Little Secret behind as she moved to the Literature Publishing House.
Who would take over wasn’t officially announced yet. Wan, thinking of his quiet contributions to Teen Idol, felt he had a good shot at taking on the Hush, Little Secret series.
Hearing about the judgment, Wan sidled up to Zou Weijun to flatter her:
Congratulations, congratulations! Justice has triumphed over evil, haha!
Wan had a knack for sounding greasy, his good words coated in a layer of lard. Sometimes, Zou Weijun couldn’t tell who seemed more villainous, Wan or Han Qin.
You’ve contributed a lot too, Wan. Thank you.
Zou Weijun recalled the controversy-driven promotion for Teen Idol.
She didn’t approve of Wan’s methods, but he had indeed helped Teen Idol. Zou wasn’t one to play dumb, so before leaving, she spoke plainly.
There was no sarcasm in her tone, and Old Wan was flattered.
Little Zou was praising him?
Wan felt like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit, overjoyed to the point of madness. Little Zou, no, I should call you Chief Editor Zou now! As long as you see my efforts, it’s all worth it!
Zou Weijun subtly stepped back.
Wan was someone you couldn’t praise, lest he turn into an even greasier human oil slick!
Knowing they’d no longer be in the same department, and Wan could no longer meddle in her projects’ promotion, Zou Weijun felt relieved. Thinking of Hush, Little Secret, she added a few words of advice:
Wan, the Hush, Little Secret series must be handled well. There may be doubts along the way, but time is the best test. With your ability, if you put your heart into it, you’ll do even better than I did.
Zou Weijun offered Wan a high hat, and the human oil slick’s face flushed with excitement.
Hush, Little Secret is really mine to handle?
Zou Weijun wasn’t tricking him, was she?
No, Little Zou wasn’t that kind of person!
Though Zou Weijun hadn’t been in the publishing department long, her reputation for integrity was solid. Even someone as greasy as Wan trusted she wouldn’t deceive him.
So Wan felt his life was complete.
This was a nationally bestselling science series, and he was in charge!
Zou Weijun’s decision was well-considered. Despite Wan’s minor flaws, his professional skills were strong. She couldn’t let personal dislike affect work arrangements, so when the boss asked for her input, she recommended Wan.
Hearing confirmation from Zou Weijun, Wan walked with a spring in his step. Returning the favour, he boasted to her, not mentioning his own efforts but saying he respected her privacy, never leaking The Fish Swimming Upstream’s personal info, and praising Zou for raising such a low-key, high-achieving son who accomplished so much without bragging.
The more Zou Weijun heard, the stranger it felt.
Wan thought Xie Qian was The Fish Swimming Upstream?
Normally, Zou Weijun might have let it slide to avoid Wan pestering Wen Ying. But with the author bio set to be published alongside the judgment, and Wen Ying not minding her pseudonym being revealed, there was no need to keep up the pretense.
Zou Weijun interrupted Wan: You might be mistaken. My son isn’t the author of Teen Idol. The Fish Swimming Upstream is a female author, truly a young talent, not some random upstart. She won first prize in the New Concept Essay Contest!
What?
The Fish Swimming Upstream wasn’t Xie Qian?
Last time at the courthouse—
Wan nearly let slip, biting his tongue and changing tack: But the media said Teen Idol’s author is a young person.
If it wasn’t Zou Weijun’s son, why did she protect The Fish Swimming Upstream so fiercely?
Zou Weijun clearly had no need to explain the details to Wan. Who The Fish Swimming Upstream was would become clear to him when he met Wen Ying in person during later promotions.
Perhaps Wan had already met her, unaware she was The Fish Swimming Upstream.
Judging by appearances was a common flaw, and Wan was no exception.
Wen Ying was a raw gem, easily overlooked before but destined to shine brightly in the future!
To Wan’s confusion, Zou Weijun just smiled. Her personal items were packed in a cardboard box, and, carrying it, she left the publishing department.
The clack of her high heels faded as she walked away from Wan. He should’ve felt relieved, no longer under the shadow of a towering figure, still the top editor in the department. Yet, somehow, Wan felt an emptiness.
Hey, Chief Editor Zou, let me help with your stuff!
Wan hurried after her.
When today’s Chengdu Evening News arrived, Wan finally believed Zou Weijun hadn’t lied.
The Fish Swimming Upstream really wasn’t Xie Qian!
Wan and his like-minded friend Song Foxiang huddled together. Wan nudged Song’s arm: This Wen Ying is also a student at the provincial key school, and she won first prize in the New Concept Essay Contest, same year as Little Chan. Do you know her?
Song Foxiang stared at the newspaper.
Of course he knew her!
At the New Concept Contest award ceremony, he and Wen Ying’s mum sat in adjacent rows.
He’d tried to exchange parenting tips with her. What did Wen Ying’s mum say? Oh, right, just casually scribbling. Finding her words incompatible, Song Foxiang had no interest in continuing the conversation.
This was casually scribbling?
Not only did she win first prize in the New Concept Contest, but she also scribbled a bestselling novel!
Wait, he was a fan of Wen Ying’s, cheering and charging for her these past two months?
Song Foxiang, fuming, refused to speak, like a sad frog who’d backed the wrong horse.
