Yuan Fenghui doesn’t deny that her heart is black when cut open.
What’s wrong with asking for more money? If she can’t secure the rightful benefits for the artists under her, why would they stick with her?
Oh, Wen Ying isn’t Yuan Fenghui’s artist… no need to dwell on such details. Wen Ying can boost the artists Yuan Fenghui has signed, so whether she’s one of them doesn’t matter anymore.
What matters is that Li Mengjiao’s bold advertising on variety shows, the acclaimed broadcast of The Princess’s New Clothes, Wen Ying’s dual identity as a writer and screenwriter, and the platform’s promotional tilt towards The Four Prodigies, all these events happening in quick succession have significantly boosted Wen Ying’s personal fame and the sales of Teen Idol!
Zou Weijun, initially tasked by her son Xie Qian, had told Wen Ying’s parents that Wen Ying’s blog was for promoting Teen Idol, a half-truth at the time, now entirely true.
What kind of author is the least trouble?
Someone like Wen Ying!
Not only does she write well, but she can also propel herself forward, barely needing the publisher to worry.
Signing such an author is effortless, worry-free, and yields astonishing returns.
Wen Ying is genuinely famous.
Not nationwide fame, perhaps, but her reputation is soaring locally in Rongcheng and across Sichuan Province. Beyond the province, her fame is mostly online. For Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong, they’ve already felt the impact of their daughter’s rise to fame.
Wen Dongrong initially indulged in all sorts of subtle bragging, but he soon found it tedious when the boasting went on too long.
The best target for his bragging was Old Li, but Old Li had learned to lie back and take the mockery, making it no fun for Wen Dongrong.
Resistance was futile, his kids were far behind Wen Ying, impossible to catch up, so he just had to let Wen Dongrong show off.
Everything in excess backfires. Wen Dongrong overdid his bragging, and not only did Old Li stop playing along, but colleagues and friends grew numb to it.
They were truly fed up hearing it.
One day, Wen Dongrong went to the restroom and overheard two colleagues complaining, saying that while having a daughter like Wen Ying was something to be proud of, parents should reflect on themselves too.
“She’s a writer and a screenwriter, must be earning a lot, right? He should just retire early and enjoy life!”
“Exactly, what’s he so smug about? Is he the only one with a talented daughter?”
“Our colleague Old Peng’s kid got into a top American school this year, and they’re so low-key, didn’t even hold a celebration. If not for the kid needing documents for going abroad, we wouldn’t even know!”
“Relying on your kid’s achievements, what kind of ability is that…”
Wen Dongrong heard this at the door but didn’t barge in to confront the colleagues speaking ill behind his back, sparing them the embarrassment.
He was shocked, or rather, it was like a bucket of cold water dumped on his head while he was floating high.
In a government office, unlike a typical company, staff turnover is low. After years as colleagues, he could tell who was speaking just by their voices, no need to see their faces.
When he bragged, these colleagues who were badmouthing him in the restroom had always chimed in… so privately, they had such strong opinions about him?
Wen Dongrong didn’t expect everyone in the office to like him, but if more people disliked him than liked him, that was a problem.
Most importantly, if regular colleagues thought this way, would it affect the big boss’s opinion?
In front of the big boss, Wen Dongrong restrained his urge to boast, remaining as cautious as ever in his work. But with good things happening, his spirited demeanour couldn’t be hidden.
Bragging once in a while, colleagues would be envious.
Bragging every day, colleagues would be fed up!
Under this wave of resentment, there were bound to be petty people badmouthing him to the big boss.
Wen Dongrong was jolted, wishing he could slap himself twice.
Floating, floating, too carried away!
But Old Peng’s kid got into a top American school this year, and he didn’t even know, his social connections had really taken a hit!
Wen Dongrong was pulled back down from the clouds.
Coincidentally, that afternoon, a friend called, asking him to treat them, with a tone that carried a hint of mockery, saying Wen Ying’s book sales and screenwriting must have earned her a fortune. Wen Dongrong firmly refused:
“Don’t talk about royalties we haven’t received yet, even if we did, it’s her own money. We, her parents, won’t touch it. She manages it herself. I’m just a guy on a fixed salary, where would I get the money to treat everyone like a big shot?”
The friend mocking Wen Dongrong didn’t buy it, “That’s not very friendly, we’re all friends, your family’s got money, I’m not asking to borrow any.”
Believe it or not!
Wen Dongrong hung up.
They were all adults, no need for pretence. Asking for a treat was a test, the next step would probably be borrowing money.
If he gave in for the sake of friendship and agreed to lend money, not to mention whether Little Black-Hearted Cotton would agree to lend it, the tigress at home would make him sleep on the balcony for life!
Lending money leads to more lending, once you open that door, it’s hard to stop.
Lending money was out of the question, it wasn’t his money to begin with. If Wen Ying had money to lend to outsiders, she might as well give him a bit more for filial piety.
Subsidising relatives was also off the table, after supporting Wen Hongyan’s family of three for years, all they got were three ungrateful wolves!
So Chen Ru letting Wen Ying manage her own money was actually pretty good?
At least it gave them an excuse to shut down borrowing requests.
As long as parents don’t force their kids to be money-sprinkling fairies, few thick-skinned people would dare ask a minor for a loan.
Wen Dongrong spent the whole day reflecting. When he got home, he wanted to share with his wife how clear-headed he’d become, hoping for her praise. What awaited him was Chen Ru’s brutal criticism, like autumn winds sweeping fallen leaves:
“You’re only now reflecting?”
“How many days has it been since you studied?”
“Do you know there’s an exam next month?”
“I didn’t touch Wen Ying’s earnings for the home renovation, if you dare promise to lend money to save face… heh!”
These days, Chen Ru had watched Wen Dongrong’s behaviour, coldly observing how long this dog would keep floating.
Parents in their prime, not working hard, lying back on their child’s achievements to leech, Chen Ru would feel ashamed!
The one who vowed to strive and improve was Wen Dongrong, and the one now breezily forgetting those bold words was still Wen Dongrong. Naturally, Chen Ru had to mock him ruthlessly.
Wen Dongrong was scolded to pieces, unwilling to lose face as the head of the family, he stubbornly kept boasting: “An exam? Fine, your English is way behind mine, I’ve been taking a break to let you catch up.”
“Hmph.”
This stubborn man, he wouldn’t cry until he saw the coffin.
Chen Ru couldn’t be bothered to argue with Wen Dongrong, they’d see the real results in next month’s exam!
—
Mini Skit:
Wen Dongrong: I don’t believe any thick-skinned person would dare ask a minor for a loan!
Xie Qian: That could only be another minor.
