Chapter 36: The Counselor Is a Big Mouth

"It's true! Teacher, the website where he published his novel has already posted an announcement on its homepage, clearly stating that one hundred thousand copies have been pre-sold!"

Song Chao, sitting beside Cao Sheng, answered the counselor's question before Cao Sheng could speak.

Others chimed in enthusiastically.

"Yes! Absolutely true!"

"Teacher! I saw that announcement on Rongshuxia too—Cao Sheng is really awesome now!"

"It's true!"

"It seems to be published by a publisher called Huacheng."

……

The students' clamoring answers made Lu Xiangwei's smile deepen; he nodded slightly, his smiling gaze fixed on Cao Sheng. When the noise subsided, Lu Xiangwei asked: "Hey! Cao Sheng, since your book is being published, could you give me a copy to keep? If not, I'll just buy one later."

Could Cao Sheng refuse?

Besides, he had always liked Counselor Lu Xiangwei.

When "I Want to Become an Immortal" was published, he had already planned to give Lu Xiangwei a complimentary copy; now that Lu Xiangwei had openly asked for one, he naturally owed him that courtesy.

He immediately nodded and smiled: "Teacher, even if you hadn't said anything, I was going to give you a copy anyway. As soon as the publisher sends me the proof copies, I'll bring you one right away."

Lu Xiangwei was delighted, nodding repeatedly: "Good, good! Then I'll be waiting."

"Me too! I want one too!"

"Yeah! I want one as well!"

"Cao Sheng! Can you give me a copy too?"

……

Classmates began clamoring around him; Cao Sheng was both pleased and helpless, helplessly shrugging his shoulders, explaining that the publisher couldn't give him so many proof copies, and jokingly asked everyone to buy a copy to support him.

For a moment, his corner was bustling.

Every student in the class had their attention fixed on him.

Including Wu Can, who had once pursued him.

Wu Can, seated in the front row, turned to look at Cao Sheng in the center of the crowd; she bit her lip lightly, her expression complex.

After Cao Sheng had embarrassed her last time, she had angrily switched targets and started dating a taller, handsomer boy in another major.

She had felt quite satisfied, thinking: What's so great about you, Cao Sheng? I've found someone better-looking than you.

But now, she suddenly felt the guy she'd chosen was all surface, lacking substance—compared to Cao Sheng, he felt dull and uninteresting.

A strange unease settled in her chest.

She had expected today's triumphant Cao Sheng to at least glance her way—but discovered he hadn't looked at her once.

Soon after, Lu Xiangwei left the classroom, walking briskly toward the department building with a beaming smile.

His expression suggested he was even happier than Cao Sheng.

Arriving at the department building, he went straight to the head of department's office door, knocked on the open door, and the head of department looked up from behind his desk.

Lu Xiangwei beamed: "Director, may I come in?"

Director Wu Chengping, ever stern, gave a slight nod: "Come in."

Lu Xiangwei strode to the desk and sat down abruptly, his voice excited: "Director! Did you know? One of our students wrote a novel—it's confirmed for publication! It's already pre-sold one hundred thousand copies! One hundred thousand! Isn't that incredible?"

Wu Chengping, who had been about to resume reviewing documents, frowned in surprise and looked at Lu Xiangwei: "What? One of your students wrote a novel? And it's being published?"

Lu Xiangwei nodded vigorously.

Wu Chengping's frown deepened; he raised a hand to rub his bald, shiny forehead: "And it's pre-sold one hundred thousand copies?"

Lu Xiangwei nodded again, forcefully.

Wu Chengping: "Is this confirmed?"

Lu Xiangwei nodded again: "Confirmed! Absolutely confirmed! Several of my student's roommates saw a woman come to campus to sign a publishing agency contract with him. Several other students saw the official announcement on that website—it clearly and unmistakably stated that my student's novel had pre-sold one hundred thousand copies. It's definitely true, Director."

Wu Chengping's eyes grew more puzzled: "Website? You just said it was published—why are you mentioning a website?"

Lu Xiangwei quickly explained the whole situation.

After a while, Wu Chengping finally understood.

The usually stern man's face broke into a faint smile; he nodded slightly: "Good! Xiao Lu, rare indeed! Your accounting class has produced a student with such literary talent. When your student gives you a proof copy, bring it to me—I want to see what kind of novel he wrote. 'Days Living with an Air Hostess'… hmm, that title sounds a bit suggestive. Are you sure this isn't pornography?"

Lu Xiangwei felt awkward.

Because he couldn't be certain—and he too thought the title sounded suggestive.

He had actually asked Cao Sheng whether the book was pornographic, and Cao Sheng had firmly insisted it wasn't even a little.

But since he hadn't read it himself, he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy.

Still, facing the director's question, he instinctively nodded: "Director, rest assured—I asked him. The book's only the title that's suggestive; it's just meant to attract readers. The content is completely respectable—you can be certain of that."

Wu Chengping nodded: "Actually, even if it's a little pornographic, it's fine. Literature—many great writers' works have some pornographic elements. I understand. I'm not some old-fashioned prude. As long as it's not excessively pornographic, using it as a selling point is perfectly acceptable—I get it. So don't be so tense."

Lu Xiangwei was surprised by Director Wu's openness; instantly, he relaxed, his smile becoming more natural.

He nodded vigorously in agreement.

……

The following days proved that the mild-mannered counselor Lu Xiangwei was a big mouth.

In the following days, nearly every teacher who came to teach Cao Sheng's class asked two questions about his novel.

For example: the math teacher, while taking attendance, called out Cao Sheng's name, looked up at him curiously, and asked: "You're Cao Sheng? I heard from Teacher Lu that you wrote a novel that's being published? Is that true?"

When Cao Sheng gave him an affirmative answer.

The math teacher asked again: "It's already pre-sold one hundred thousand copies?"

For example: the English teacher walked into class, came straight to Cao Sheng, brushed her bangs aside, and smiled: "I remember your name is Cao Sheng, right?"

Cao Sheng nodded.

She asked again: "You wrote a novel about living with a flight attendant? Your advisor said your book is definitely going to be published—do you still plan to send him a copy?"

Cao Sheng nodded again.

She hesitated slightly, asking shyly: "Then, could you also send me a copy? I like reading novels too."

Over the next few days, nearly every course instructor asked Cao Sheng a few questions.

Two of the instructors asked Cao Sheng for a copy.

Cao Sheng couldn't refuse, so he agreed.

He planned to wait until the book officially launched, then buy several copies from the bookstore to give away.

There were too few actual proof copies; besides the advisor, he didn't want to give any to the other instructors.

……

A few more days later, at noon, Cao Sheng logged into his email on the internet cafe's computer and saw another email from Wang Jing.