Chapter 50: First Intimate Contact: Fans Explode

July 22.

Just past 10 a. m.

In the county town of Cao Sheng's hometown, his old classmate Tan Lei was dragged by her high school desk mate Jiang Ya to a newsstand; the moment they arrived, Jiang Ya began rummaging through the stacks of newspapers in front of her.

While rummaging, she said, "You and he both attended Huizhou Teachers College; you truly didn't know he wrote a novel? He's already become a famous writer? Don't you two keep in touch at all?"

Before the complex-looking Tan Lei could reply, Jiang Ya pulled out a copy of Wenhui Daily, pointed to a report on it, and said, "Look! Read this! This news story is about him! Read it quickly!"

Tan Lei frowned and looked; she saw the headline of this news story: "The Pioneer of Internet Novels — Zhongyuan Yidianhui!"

The report below read: "Cao Sheng, pen name Zhongyuan Yidianhui, is only 18 years old and still a freshman, but earlier this year, he rapidly became popular on the internet with 'Living with the Flight Attendant'; the number of readers on a single website alone has surpassed 2 million. He and this work of his are both the pioneers of internet novels and the creators of the current highest popularity..."

Just as Tan Lei reached this point, Jiang Ya rummaged out another copy of Yangcheng Evening News and shoved it in front of her.

"This one has it too! Look here!"

Jiang Ya pointed to a spot on Yangcheng Evening News, signaling Tan Lei to look.

This headline was — "Have You Read This Year's Hottest Love Novel 'Living with the Flight Attendant'?"

The main text read: "What's blazing hot isn't just this year's midsummer, but also Zhongyuan Yidianhui's 'Living with the Flight Attendant'! This is the first internet novel! It is also the internet novel with the highest current heat; total online popularity has now surpassed 2 million, and physical book sales have broken 100,000 copies!"

Jiang Ya placed another copy of Chongqing Daily in front of Tan Lei.

Bai Xi's fingers pointed to a news story, "Look here again! This is also reporting on him!"

Tan Lei looked.

Headline: "Cao Sheng! A New Writer Bursting Forth!"

Main text: "If you love reading and follow literature, then you must surely know that recently a novel called 'Living with the Flight Attendant' has become popular; I was fortunate enough to meet the author of this book, Cao Sheng. If you wish to understand him more deeply, please read the dialogue between me and Cao Sheng below.

Me: 'Hello, Cao Sheng! Under what circumstances did you decide to create this work?'

Cao Sheng: 'Hmm, it must have been out of boredom!'

Me: 'Boredom? Are you saying your university life is very boring?'

Cao Sheng: 'More or less! My university courses aren't many; sometimes I only have classes for half a day, with the afternoon and evening being free time; Saturdays and Sundays are also free, so I often feel bored and want to find something to do for myself.'

Me: 'And then you decided to write a novel?'

Cao Sheng: 'Yes! Writing this doesn't cost much money; it counts as very cheap entertainment.'

Me: 'Ah? You treat writing novels as entertainment?'

Cao Sheng: 'Is that not allowed?'

..."

Tan Lei looked at these things, not knowing what flavor filled her heart.

The facts seemed to have already proven that her judgment was good; before he became famous, she had already taken a liking to him.

But she had not been able to walk the path with him to the end.

And now he has become famous, becoming a new writer in the newspapers.

Jiang Ya was still finding other newspapers for her; in a short while, she had found seven or eight newspapers reporting on Cao Sheng.

The female owner of the newsstand became unhappy.

"Hey! You two young Misses can't do this! If you want to read something, just spend money and buy it! You can't just read for free like this!"

Jiang Ya frowned and retorted: "I bought one yesterday; is it not allowed for me to bring a classmate over today to take a couple of looks?"

The female owner: "Who knows if you bought one yesterday? Anyway, I have no impression of it."

Jiang Ya was about to argue further when Tan Lei raised her hand to stop her, then took out her wallet and bought the three newspapers they had just read.

That afternoon.

Jingcheng.

Donglaishun Hot Pot.

Cao Sheng, who had finally completed this signing event, was eating sliced mutton with Zhao Ping and others.

The past 10 days had been days he had never experienced before.

Every day was spent rushing against time.

Rushing to accept interviews from one media outlet after another, rushing to record radio programs, rushing to attend signing events, rushing to board planes.

And so on.

Busy like a star.

At the five cities for the signing event, although he stayed two days in each city, he rushed to each and rushed away from each, with no time for sightseeing and no time to taste the delicacies of each city.

These 10 days, everything was a mere glance at the flowers while riding a galloping horse.

Very tired.

Fortunately, it was finally done; after finishing this hot pot meal, he could go home.

Although physically and mentally exhausted, he still raised his wine glass and proactively toasted Zhao Ping and others, thanking them for following him flying back and forth these past few days and rushing to various events everywhere.

For this signing event, Huacheng Publishing House had assigned him a marketing team.

Zhao Ping was mainly responsible for his travel, accommodation, and dining; other tasks, such as contacting the signing points and media in each city, arranging the signing venue, and so on, were all handled by dedicated personnel.

The person in charge of this signing event was named Huang Song.

At this moment, Huang Song raised his glass with a full face of smiles, "Cao Sheng! You've worked hard recently; come! Let me toast you another glass! I hope we will have the opportunity to cooperate again next time."

Cao Sheng raised his glass and clinked it with him, "You've worked hard too! Everyone has worked hard; I also look forward to cooperating again next time!"

After this glass of wine went down, Huang Song sighed with emotion: "The recent hard work was indeed hard, but our hard work was worth it! I just contacted headquarters today; in just these past few days, the initial print run of 100,000 copies has already sold out, and headquarters is already working overtime for an Additional print run!"

Zhao Ping, curious, asked, "Boss, how many copies were printed in this Additional print run?"

Huang Song: "100,000 copies!"

Before everyone could react, he added: "However, judging by the current market heat, I personally estimate that an Additional print run of 100,000 copies might not last long; I estimate another Additional print run will be needed very soon."

This remark made Zhao Ping and the others beam with joy.

Because the higher the sales of this book, the higher the bonus they could receive.

Two hundred thousand copies...

On the passenger plane flying to Huizhou that afternoon, Cao Sheng thought of this number, and a sense of accomplishment arose in his heart.

According to Huang Song, such sales figures had already broken their publishing house's record for recent years.

It was a bona fide bestseller.

The sales figure of two hundred thousand copies itself was not particularly shocking; the key was that the time was too short!

Ten days after going on sale, the initial print run of one hundred thousand copies sold out.

And in the current domestic publishing market, the vast majority of works do not reach ten thousand copies in sales even in a year.

Evening.

Cao Sheng returned to Huizhou Teachers College.

Back in his dormitory, the clothes and shoes he had previously bought for his parents were still in the suitcase in the dorm; if it were not for the need to return and fetch these things, he could have gone straight home after finishing the signing event in Jingcheng.

That night.

A new chapter of "The First Intimate Contact," serialized on the BBS, was Updated a chapter.

Shortly after this chapter was updated, the fans of this book went into an uproar.

Because in this chapter, the female lead, Qingwu Feiyang, died.

The Taiwanese author Pizi Cai had no chance to buy the newly published physical copy of "Living with the Stewardess."

And the part of this book serialized online had not yet written about Ran Jing's death.

However, many readers online had recently been following updates for both "The First Intimate Contact" and "Living with the Stewardess," after all, these were the two hottest novels on the internet this year.

Moreover, the female leads of both books were very likable.

Readers who liked them numbered in the tens of thousands.

So what happened?

The newly published "Living with the Stewardess" wrote Ran Jing to death, and tonight Pizi Cai wrote Qingwu Feiyang to death as well?

Who could stand that?