Chapter 98

Cao Sheng learned on the very first day the news began reporting that sales had broken one million.

Wang Jing had sent him an email to tell him.

That same evening, Huang Qingya happily brought some braised dishes to celebrate with him; she had learned the news just as quickly.

Naturally, Cao Sheng was happy that sales had broken one million.

But the media hype that followed for over half a month left him somewhat exhausted from dealing with it.

Because of this media hype, everyone around him was directly affected.

Especially after the new semester began, whether going to school, to the cafeteria, or even on the way to the restroom, he could be stopped at any moment to sign autographs.

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

Could you imagine him holding a full bladder, rushing to the restroom, only to be stopped, even held back, while someone talked endlessly about how much they loved his novel, insisting he sign an autograph before letting him go?

What made him most broken was that most of the time, several people would stop him together.

He would say he needed to go to the restroom, and the people blocking him would say: "No rush! Going to the restroom isn't urgent! Please sign an autograph for us first!"

They certainly weren't in a rush, but the person who was in a rush was him, Cao Sheng!

Yet he couldn't very well lose his temper, because the people blocking him all claimed to be his book fans, some of them even beautiful women.

That was one thing.

His classmates and teachers joined in the commotion too.

They said he was already the number one new writer, that his signature had collectible value, and demanded not just a signature but also inscriptions like: "To dear Teacher Wang," "To my good friend So-and-So," "Wishing So-and-So good health and endless romantic luck," and so on.

The school joined the fun too, shamelessly hanging several banners at the main gate and inside the campus.

Every banner read: "Warmly congratulating our school's student Cao Sheng on his work 'Days Living with an Air Hostess' selling over one million copies!"

Furthermore, for over a week straight, students from other classes came daily to stand outside their classroom door and windows, pointing and talking about him.

He could faintly hear some of what they were saying.

"Look! That guy is 'Zhongyuan Yidianhui,' his real name is Cao Sheng!"

"Wow! He's that handsome?"

"This is our school's top literary talent? I don't see anything special about him!"

"This guy shares a surname with Cao Cao; I heard many junior and senior female students chased him, but he rejected them all. I suspect he likes married women too!"

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

More than a dozen media outlets came one after another.

Today one outlet came to sneak photos of him in class, tomorrow another came to interview him personally, and the day after that, another outlet interviewed his classmates, teachers, and former roommates.

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

For over half a month straight, just as Cao Sheng thought this wave of attention was about to fade, that morning, while he was sitting in class, Song Chao suddenly nudged his arm. Cao Sheng turned to look, "What?"

Song Chao nodded toward the window, speaking in a low voice: "Look outside the window, so many people with microphones, cameras, and even carrying video cameras; they must all be reporters, right? I think they're here for you. Do you believe me?"

Cao Sheng looked in the direction Song Chao was nodding.

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

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

Cao Sheng also saw several people who looked like teachers stepping forward to ask questions.

Those reporters still showed no sign of dispersing.

He faintly heard them mentioning "Zhongyuan," "air hostess," "living together," "professor," and other things.

Cao Sheng felt a bit of a headache.

He was just a homebody who liked typing words; he was actually resistant to being frequently interviewed by reporters. He thought today's reporters were here again to ask about his feelings regarding his work selling over one million copies and similar questions.

Until the counselor, Lu Xiangwei, suddenly came to the classroom, waved him out, and led him downstairs in front of those reporters.

Hearing the reporters' questions shouted out all at once, Cao Sheng finally realized something seemed to be wrong.

From the meaning in the reporters' words, it seemed recently quite a few writers and professors had been attacking him.

Cao Sheng was a bit stunned.

He had always felt he was harmless to humans and beasts; apart from typing words, his only hobbies in life were good food, beautiful women, and fishing.

But since his rebirth, Huang Qingya was the only woman he had had up to now.

Was that too much?

Liking good food wasn't too much, was it?

Liking fishing, was that really too much?

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

Cao Sheng's anger kept rising in his heart.

At that moment, several teachers helped maintain order at the scene, and the reporters gradually quieted down.

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

This reporter asked: "Hello, Zhongyuan Yidianhui! I am a reporter from the Yangtse Evening Post. What are your feelings regarding the famous writer Gongyang Buyu questioning that your writing is too plain and lacks aesthetic beauty? Do you have anything you want to say?"

Having finished speaking, he thrust the microphone toward Cao Sheng's mouth.

Cao Sheng frowned, "Famous writer?"

The reporter nodded, "Yes! The famous writer Gongyang Buyu said your writing is too plain and lacks aesthetic beauty, and also criticized the attitude toward life reflected in your work as very unpositive! What are your feelings? Do you want to say something?"

Cao Sheng shook his head, "I'm sorry, I have never heard of anyone named Gongyang Buyu, so I don't quite believe you when you say he is a famous writer, because in my impression, famous writers are all very well-mannered and all very caring toward young writers; they would not criticize me like this. Please be realistic and do not casually bestow the title of 'famous writer' on someone; this will damage the public's perception of the term 'famous writer'! Thank you!"

Cao Sheng appeared very polite, but the words he spoke were not polite at all, giving the senior writer not an ounce of face.

The reporters grew excited.

When it was another reporter's turn to ask a question, this female reporter, her face flushed with excitement, asked at great speed: "Cao Sheng! The famous writer Huang Shuren said you are shameless, that you do not study knowledge properly in university, yet you live with an air hostess, and even turned this into a novel; it is simply a sign of declining social morals. Regarding this, what do you have to say?"

Cao Sheng frowned again. "Who? What Tree Man?"

The female reporter: "Huang Shuren!"

Cao Sheng curled his lip. "In my mind, the only Tree Man worthy of the title 'famous writer' is Zhou Shuren. I've never heard of any other Huang Shuren or Bai Shuren. So, I want to repeat what I just said: do not casually bestow the title 'famous writer' on anyone. Tree Man, please recognize Zhou Shuren and beware of fakes! Thank you!"

The reporters on site grew even more excited.

One by one, they raised their hands high, eager to be the next to ask a question.

The third reporter to ask: "Cao Sheng! The famous professor Mr. Li Mubai says your work sells vulgarity and makes dirty money to the less-educated public. What do you have to say about this?"

Just as everyone thought Cao Sheng would again question this professor's identity and tell everyone not to casually bestow the title "famous professor"...

Cao Sheng fell silent for a moment, then said, "I want to quote a famous saying: If the masses like it but he doesn't, who does he think he is?"

Before he finished speaking, 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.

He was clearly reminding Cao Sheng not to speak recklessly.

In contrast to Lu Xiangwei, the reporters on site were each extremely excited.

Soon, the fourth reporter asked: "Cao Sheng! The part-time writing professor Wang Gongjue says your work is less serious than the works of many writers who carefully choose their topics and pour their hearts and souls into creation. He says your work's massive popularity will cause bad money to drive out good. Furthermore, he says that for someone so young to have such fame and wealth is not a good thing for you personally; he fears you cannot handle it and is very worried you will truly go live with a flight attendant. What do you have to say to Professor Wang?"

Cao Sheng: "..."

After a moment of silence, Cao Sheng asked, "Is this Professor Wang trying to say that becoming famous, making money, and living with a flight attendant are things he should do? Can he handle it?"

The scene instantly went quiet, then erupted in loud laughter.

Lu Xiangwei, standing nearby, closed his eyes, raised a hand, and slapped his forehead. The other teachers also looked helpless, each wearing a bitter smile.

When the laughter in the scene subsided slightly, Cao Sheng said again, "Additionally, I want to say the people's eyes are sharp. If what he writes is truly good money, then his sales should be higher than my work, not the other way around. As for whether I, having money and fame now, can handle it?"

At this, he paused, smiled, and said, "I enjoy the blessings and bear the calamities. Since he is older, he should care more about his own blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids! Meddle less in matters that do not concern him. Thank you!"