Chapter 98: Showing One's Sharp Edge

Cao Sheng knew about the news of the sales breaking one million on the very first day it was reported in the news.

Wang Jing told him via email.

That evening, Huang Qingya also happily brought over some braised dishes to celebrate with him; she had also learned the news so quickly.

With sales breaking one million, Cao Sheng was naturally happy.

But the continuous media hype for over half a month afterward left him a bit overwhelmed.

Because the media’s hype directly affected everyone around him.

Especially after the new semester started, every day on the way to school, to the cafeteria, or even on the way to the restroom, he could be stopped at any time by people wanting autographs.

Being stopped on the way to school or the cafeteria was one thing.

Can you imagine him holding in a bladder full of urine, rushing to the restroom, only to be stopped by people who even pulled at him to keep him from leaving, while rambling on about how much they loved his novel and insisting he sign an autograph before they would let him go?

What made him break down the most was that—most of the time, it was several people stopping him together.

He would say he needed to go to the restroom, and the people stopping him would say: "No rush! There's no rush to use the restroom! You sign an autograph for us first!"

Of course they weren't in a rush, but the one who was in a rush was him, Cao Sheng!

Yet he couldn't even get angry, because the people stopping him all claimed to be his fans, and some were even beautiful women.

These things were one thing.

His classmates and teachers also joined in the commotion.

They said he was already the number one new-generation writer, that his autograph had collection value, and not only did they want his autograph, they also wanted him to write things like: "Gifted to dear Teacher Wang," "Gifted to my good friend so-and-so," "Wishing classmate so-and-so good health and endless romantic luck," and so on.

The school also joined the fun, surprisingly and ostentatiously hanging several banners at the school gate and inside the campus.

Each banner read: "Warmly congratulate our school's student Cao Sheng for his work 'The Days of Living with a Flight Attendant' breaking one million copies in sales!"

Furthermore, for over a week straight, students from other classes came to the door and windows of their classroom every day, pointing at him.

He could faintly hear some of the things they were saying.

"Look! That guy is Central Plains Little Gray, his real name is Cao Sheng!"

"Wow! So handsome?"

"This is our school's top talent? He doesn't look like anything special to me!"

"This guy has the same surname as Cao Cao; I heard many junior and senior girls chased him, but he rejected them all. I suspect he also likes married women!"

"That's him! That's him! That fake-serious guy who won't look at us is Cao Sheng!"

The media also came one after another, over a dozen outlets.

Today this media outlet would come to sneak photos of him in class, tomorrow that media outlet would come to interview him personally, and the day after, more media would interview his classmates, teachers, and former roommates.

Fortunately, his relationships with his teachers, classmates, and roommates were all quite good, so no one had exposed any dirt on him yet.

After more than half a month, just when Cao Sheng thought this wave of popularity was about to pass, that morning, while he was sitting in class, Song Chao suddenly nudged his arm, and Cao Sheng turned to look, "What?"

Song Chao gestured toward the window with his chin and whispered: "Look outside the window, so many people holding microphones, cameras, and carrying video cameras, they must be reporters, right? I think they're here for you, believe it or not?"

Cao Sheng looked in the direction he gestured.

Sure enough, he saw a crowd of twenty or thirty people who looked like reporters gathered on the plaza on the first floor outside the window.

Security guards had already gone over to ask about the situation, but those reporters showed no signs of leaving.

Cao Sheng also saw a few people who looked like teachers go up to ask questions.

Those reporters still showed no signs of dispersing.

He faintly heard them mention "Central Plains," "Flight Attendant," "Living Together," "Professor," and such.

Cao Sheng felt a headache coming on.

He was just a homebody who liked to type; he was actually resistant to being interviewed by reporters frequently. He thought these reporters today were just here to ask about his feelings on his work breaking one million in sales or similar questions.

Until his counselor Lu Xiangwei suddenly came to the classroom, beckoned him out, and brought him down to those reporters.

Listening to the questions the reporters were shouting all at once, Cao Sheng realized something had happened.

Judging by what these reporters were saying, it seemed quite a few writers and professors had been trashing him recently.

Cao Sheng was a bit stunned.

He had always felt he was harmless, and in his life, besides typing, his only other hobbies were good food, beautiful women, and fishing.

But since his rebirth, he had only had one woman, Huang Qingya.

Was that excessive?

Liking good food wasn't excessive either, right?

Liking fishing, could that be very excessive?

I didn't fish for these writers and professors, why are they trashing me? Do they really think I'm a young person who's easy to bully?

The anger in Cao Sheng's heart kept rising.

At this time, a few teachers helped maintain order at the scene, and the reporters gradually quieted down.

Lu Xiangwei pointed to a reporter who had raised their hand.

This reporter asked: "Hello, Central Plains Little Gray! I am a reporter for the Yangzi Evening News. May I ask how you feel about the famous writer Gongyang Buyu questioning your writing as being too plain and lacking aesthetic beauty? Do you have anything to say?"

After finishing, they shoved the microphone toward Cao Sheng's mouth.

Cao Sheng frowned, "Famous writer?"

The reporter nodded, "Yes! Famous writer Gongyang Buyu, he said your writing is too plain, lacks aesthetic beauty, and also criticized the attitude toward life reflected in your work as being very unconstructive! How do you feel about this? Do you want to say anything?"

Cao Sheng shook his head, "Sorry, I haven't heard of any Gongyang Buyu, so I don't quite believe you when you say he is some famous writer, because in my impression, famous writers are all very cultured and very caring toward young writers; it's impossible for them to criticize me like this. Please be realistic and don't just slap the label of 'famous writer' on anyone; it will ruin the public's perception of the title 'famous writer'! Thank you!"

Cao Sheng appeared very polite, but the words he spoke were not polite at all; he simply didn't give the senior any face.

The reporters became excited.

When it was another reporter's turn to ask a question, this female reporter was so excited her face turned red, and she asked at a rapid speed: "Cao Sheng! Famous writer Huang Shuren said you are shameless, not studying knowledge properly in university, actually living with a flight attendant, and even writing this into a novel; it is simply a decline in public morals. What do you have to say about this?"

Cao Sheng frowned again, "Who? What Shuren?"

Female reporter: "Huang Shuren!"

Cao Sheng curled his lip, "In my mind, the only Shuren who can be called a famous writer is Zhou Shuren. I haven't heard of any other Huang Shuren or Bai Shuren. So, I want to repeat what I just said to you: don't just slap the title of 'famous writer' on anyone. For Shuren, please recognize Zhou Shuren, beware of fakes and imitations! Thank you!"

The reporters at the scene became even more excited.

One by one, they raised their hands high, desperately wanting it to be their turn to ask a question.

The third reporter to ask: "Cao Sheng! Famous Professor Li Mubai says your work is selling vulgarity and making dirty money to the public with low cultural levels. What do you have to say about this?"

Just when everyone thought Cao Sheng would again question this professor's identity and tell everyone not to just slap the title of "famous professor" on anyone.

Cao Sheng was silent for a moment and said: "I would like to quote a famous saying: The masses like it, he doesn't like it, who does he think he is?"

Before the words had even faded, the counselor beside him, Lu Xiangwei, quietly kicked Cao Sheng's foot. When Cao Sheng looked over, Lu Xiangwei frowned and shook his head slightly at him.

It was clearly a reminder to Cao Sheng not to talk nonsense.

Contrary to Lu Xiangwei, the reporters at the scene were all incredibly excited.

Soon, the fourth reporter asked: "Cao Sheng! Part-time writer Professor Wang Gongjue says your work is not as good as the works created by many writers who carefully choose their topics and pour their heart and blood into them, and that your work being so popular will cause a phenomenon of bad money driving out good money. He also said that for you to have such great fame and wealth at such a young age is not a good thing for you personally; he is afraid you won't be able to handle it and is very worried that you will really go live with a flight attendant. Do you have anything to say to Professor Wang about this?"

Cao Sheng: "..."

After a moment of silence, Cao Sheng asked: "Is this Professor Wang trying to say that things like becoming famous, making money, and living with a flight attendant should be left to him? That he could handle it?"

The scene went quiet for a moment, then erupted into loud laughter.

Lu Xiangwei, standing to the side, closed his eyes and raised a hand to pat his forehead; the other teachers were also very helpless, each wearing a bitter smile.

When the laughter at the scene died down slightly, Cao Sheng said again: "Additionally, I want to say that the eyes of the masses are sharp. If what he writes is truly good money, then the sales should be higher than my work, not the other way around. As for whether I can handle having money and fame now?"

Speaking of this, he paused and smiled: "I enjoy the blessings and I bear the misfortunes. Since he is getting on in years, he should worry more about his own blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids! Worry less about things that have nothing to do with him. Thank you!"