“Your father and I raised you, sent you abroad to study. Is that so you could come back and question us?”
He Zhinian was caught in a dilemma, but Dai Chenglan, fresh from washing up, stepped in to defuse the situation for her husband.
“I’m just curious about Mr Zhao—”
“Whether Mr Zhao is trustworthy, your father and I have our own judgement. We’ve been in the business world for years. Do you think we’d be easily deceived? You’re only just starting to get involved in the family business. When you can take charge one day, you can decide who we partner with and who we don’t!”
Dai Chenglan’s words were firm yet tactful, leaving He Zhen too embarrassed to press further.
To continue would seem like he doubted his parents’ abilities.
“I was overthinking. Sorry.”
He Zhinian quickly said it was fine, while Dai Chenglan shot her husband a stern glance.
He Zhen was their only son, cherished beyond measure, but parents must maintain authority in front of their children!
Once He Zhen returned to his room, He Zhinian gave a wry smile. “Good thing you came down. I didn’t know how to explain to our son!”
Dai Chenglan was unfazed. “What’s there to explain? Our business is neither stolen nor robbed. You think Xie Jinghu is a fool? He wouldn’t invest if he didn’t see potential in our business! I didn’t tell He Zhen because he’s too young to handle the nuances. Once he’s seasoned in the business world, he’ll understand.”
Does it matter where the money comes from?
The process of capital accumulation is always brutal. What’s wrong with the He family using Xie Jinghu’s funds? Xie himself relied on his father-in-law to rise and still cheated!
In this world, moral crusaders are doomed to starve.
He Zhinian felt uneasy with his wife Dai Chenglan’s bluntness, yet he knew this was the harsh reality. Society mocks the poor, not the corrupt. Once the He family reaches a certain status, people will flock to curry favour, and no one will care how they secured their investments.
The He couple’s private talk aside, He Zhen didn’t go straight to bed after returning to his room.
Not arguing with his mother Dai Chenglan didn’t mean his doubts were gone.
Having studied abroad since his teens, He Zhen had an independent mind.
After chatting with his girlfriend Rebecca, He Zhen opened his computer.
Modern people should use search engines wisely. Using Zhao Dong’s name and company as keywords, He Zhen found plenty of information.
There were traces of Zhao Dong’s business activities in Rongcheng, news of his donations to the Writers’ Association, and even his memoir, *The Zhao Family Letters*.
“Into cultural tourism?”
He Zhen mused.
Zhao Dong, a Chinese-American, returned as an investor, initially focusing on Rongcheng, dealing in cultural tourism, unrelated to healthcare.
Last year, Zhao Dong suddenly moved his company to Shanghai and grew close to the He family.
From cultural tourism to healthcare, Mr Zhao’s business scope is quite broad!
Since the news of Song Foxiang’s disruption at the bidding event was suppressed, He Zhen didn’t find it online. Lacking leads, he decided to check out *The Zhao Family Letters*.
“I’ll buy a copy at the bookstore tomorrow.”
Once suspicious, He Zhen couldn’t rest easy without clarifying Zhao Dong’s background.
An unreliable partner means too many variables. If ‘Silan’ grows big only to benefit others, how embarrassing!
…
“Little Fish, are you nervous?”
Though very familiar in person, Little Salamander still called Wen Ying by her pen name.
Too excited to sleep until late last night, Wen Ying barely got up with the alarm, ate breakfast, got ready, and set off with Zou Weijun and Little Salamander for the book signing. The bookstore had arranged a nanny van to pick them up from the hotel, giving Wen Ying a taste of celebrity treatment.
Early that morning, Xie Qian said he had an appointment, left with Peng Guoqing before Wen Ying, and promised to head to the bookstore after his business.
Facing Little Salamander’s suspicion, Wen Ying denied it vehemently. “I’m not nervous.”
She always maintained a calm persona in front of Little Salamander and the others. Admit to nerves? Never!
Zou Weijun laughed. “Being nervous is no big deal. Not everyone gets this experience. It’s your first time meeting readers face-to-face. I believe most are here because they love your books. A signature and a few words of blessing will make them overjoyed. When they queue up to meet you, they’ll be more nervous than you!”
Wen Ying burst into laughter at Zou Weijun’s words.
Writing was her dream across two lifetimes. The thrill of publishing her first short story in a magazine was unforgettable. Dreams can’t be quantified by money, and Wen Ying cherished every reader.
The signing was planned on short notice, promoted for only a few days. Wen Ying thought few readers would show up, but when the nanny van arrived, she was stunned.
“So many people?”
Little Salamander peeked out and gasped. “At least a thousand!”
Wen Ying’s books had sold over a million copies, true, but buying a book and travelling to a signing were different. Before seeing the crowd, Little Salamander couldn’t predict the turnout.
Wen Ying clearly had real fan appeal.
As her editor, Little Salamander felt proud!
“Not just that, at least two thousand,” Zou Weijun said, staying calm amid the excitement.
The bookstore faced the street, and readers lined up outside, requiring staff and police to maintain order.
If two thousand readers showed up, Wen Ying would need to sign at least 2,000 books. With each reader wanting a signature, blessing, and photo, one might take little time, but 2,000? A huge test of her stamina and energy!
“Ready?”
Wen Ying nodded firmly. “Just 2,000 books? I’ll sign them!”
She stood tall, like a brave warrior heading to battle.
As the nanny van’s door opened, the bookstore manager came to greet them. Sharp-eyed readers spotted Wen Ying and erupted into screams.
“Little Fish!”
“Little Fish is here!”
“Little Fish, I love your books!”
“Ahhh!”
Under security’s protection, Wen Ying entered the bookstore. Little Salamander felt her eardrums nearly burst. Amid the screams, she shouted to Zou Weijun, “Sister Zou, should I warn Little Fish that 2,000 readers doesn’t mean just 2,000 books?”
Who’d come all this way and not get a few extra signed?
Some were for personal collections, others for friends. Two thousand readers meant Wen Ying might sign four or five thousand books!
Zou Weijun made a “shh” gesture.
“Don’t tell her. She’ll get scared.”
The boat will find its way to the bridge. Sign until the end… and keep signing!
Little Salamander shrugged.
For some reason, she felt Sister Zou was getting sly.
Maybe it was her imagination. Sister Zou was always straightforward, kind, and passionate about work. Sly? No way.
Half an hour into the signing, Wen Ying realised she’d miscalculated.
The main book was *The Galaxy and You*, with readers getting it signed alongside *Teen Idol*. That seemed normal.
But one reader bringing a stack of *The Galaxy and You* and a few *Teen Idol* copies? What’s that about?
Worse, some collected every issue of *Spark* since its launch, hauling them for Wen Ying to sign!
Since *Spark* featured Wen Ying’s work in every issue, either serials or short stories.
And even earlier *Aige* magazines… these were diehard fans.
But you’re bringing too many books!
If that wasn’t bad enough, bringing *The Galaxy and You* soundtrack album for her to sign? The album had nothing to do with her!
Wen Ying’s wrist ached faintly, and keeping a smile for readers made her cheeks stiff.
She tentatively asked a reader why they brought so many books. The reader, thrilled to shake her hand, said, “I’m from out of town. So many classmates love you! I begged my parents forever to let me come to Shanghai. Others couldn’t make it, so I’m getting signed books for them… Oh, did I bring too many? Are you tired, Little Fish?”
Wen Ying didn’t dare admit to tiredness.
What could she say? Keep signing!
Signing, writing blessings, posing for photos, Wen Ying was patient and warm, making readers feel their trip was worthwhile.
Some younger readers even cried from excitement, laughing and weeping on the spot.
Only in youth can one love a writer so unreservedly, right?
At first, Wen Ying saw the endless queue, but later she stopped thinking about it.
Readers came from afar, some lining up outside the bookstore at four or five in the morning. They loved her work and, by extension, her. How could Wen Ying let them down?
And the readers were so good at sweet-talking.
Wen Ying lost count of how many times she was called beautiful and talented. After hearing it so much, she started to believe she really was beautiful and talented… heh heh!
Outside the bookstore, He Zhen was speechless at the queue.
He just wanted to buy *The Zhao Family Letters*, not expecting to stumble into Wen Ying’s signing event.
For the event, the bookstore had set up long barriers outside.
He Zhen hesitated, only to be nudged into the queue by staff. “No cutting!”
“I—”
Readers behind urged him forward. He Zhen assessed the situation: unless he went to another bookstore, buying *The Zhao Family Letters* today meant queuing to enter!
