The Novelist Forced to Become Famous

Chapter 16

Kangmu City knew that Jianjing did not like socializing, so he reassured her: "My mom won't mind, she's giving you a chance, if you don't like it, she won't ask you again next time."

Jianjing thought about it and said, "Actually it's quite fun."

"Hmm?"

"Didn't Mr. Qin say his wife is opening an art museum this weekend and invited everyone to attend?"

"What about it, do you want to go?"

"No, I just think it's funny that he's selling the 'loving husband' image while having an affair."

Kangmu City was surprised: "Having an affair?"

"There was a dyed brown long hair stuck in his shirt collar, and a thread hooked on his cufflinks, black and white. Of all the women here today wearing formal dresses, the threads would be very noticeable if they snagged, except for..." Jianjing's gaze went through the crowd and landed on Guo Chief Editor, who was dressing smartly and capable.

She was wearing a houndstooth suit with a jacket draped over her shoulders. Underneath was a fitted pencil skirt suit. There were some black roots showing in her golden brown hair.

It was obvious that Mr. Qin's affair was with Guo Chief Editor.

"Don't learn from her." Kangmu City had seen too much of this and was not surprised. He taught Jianjing, "If a married man implies something to you, give him a slap."

"It has nothing to do with me." Jianjing was totally unaffected.

But she forgot that while the gentleman was heartless, the mistress was willing.

Jianjing had just come out of the bathroom and happened to run into Guo Chief Editor.

She greeted Jianjing affectionately, "Oh, let me tell you something. You know Mr. Qin, the one who runs the art collection company. He's opening his new museum this weekend, you should go take a look too."

Jianjing did not want to get too close with her, and was about to politely decline as soon as she opened her mouth.

But Guo Chief Editor was quicker and said in a low voice, "Mr. Qin has invited... the minister's wife. Mr. Kang will definitely have to make an appearance. You should go with him and get to know people."

There were two Mr. Kangs at Golden Crow, but Kang's mother was usually called Chairwoman Kang, and Kangmu City was called "the boss". She was clearly referring to the latter.

Jianjing was originally not very interested, but hearing her say this, she didn't immediately refuse: "I'll go if I have time."

"It's settled then." Guo Chief Editor's attitude was very eager.

Jianjing vaguely agreed and barely managed to get away. After turning a corner into the hallway, she bumped into Wu Writer again.

He was in the hotel atrium near a fake rockery, cuddling and groping a young girl.

The girl was trying hard to break free, rejecting him very politely, "I'm sorry Teacher Wu, I have something to do. Teacher Wu, please don't do this."

"You wanted to ask me about the seminar right? I haven't thought it through yet." Wu Writer said nonchalantly, "I'm very busy, I can't always make time for events..."

Jianjing raised an eyebrow, took out her phone, and snap.

The camera shutter sound was loud and startled Wu Writer.

"What are you doing?" He stared at her phone, "Taking random photos, delete it."

Jianjing slid her screen casually, "This is a public place, am I bothering you by taking a selfie?"

Wu Writer scolded, "Stop blabbering, delete it." While speaking, he reached to grab it from her.

Jianjing neither dodged nor avoided: "Teacher Wu, if you keep this up, I'll scream assault."

"A little girl threatening me?" Wu Writer sneered coldly, "You can hardly protect yourself, yet want to stand up for others?"

Jianjing was extremely calm: "Try me."

Wu Writer's expression wavered. After a long while, he didn't forcibly snatch her phone. He said, "If you're thinking of posting it online, I advise you to give up early. What good will a single photo do? If you try to swindle and fail, don't blame me for not warning you."

"Don't worry." Jianjing had no intention of really posting it. Blackmail material was most intimidating when kept in hand. Once posted online, it was like revealing your hand in poker, leaving things to the opponent's response afterwards.

One photo wouldn't do much, at most earning Wu Writer some scolding, not shaking his foundation at all.

"Hmph." Wu Writer gave a cold snort, no longer in the mood to "guide" the young girl, and left with a flick of his sleeve.

At this time, the young girl who had been harassed hesitated, then came over and said, "Teacher Jian."

"Yes?" Jianjing looked at her. The details she saw emerged one by one: the dress was a size too big, still had fold lines, the brand logo of a fast fashion brand was visible on the back of her neck, her shoes didn't fit her feet properly, the back of her heels had bandages, clearly not used to coming to such occasions.

Added to her young and tender face, she was most likely a fresh graduate, sent by her company to run errands.

"I'm Xiao He from the event company." The girl unconsciously picked at her fingers, "I just want to thank you so much for just now, but can you please delete the photos you took earlier?"

Jianjing asked, "Why?"

Xiao He said bitterly, "I'm the person from the company responsible for liaising with Teacher Wu. If the photos aren't deleted, he definitely won't agree to collaborate."

"So?" Jianjing asked.

Xiao He was taken aback for a moment, looked up at her, and stammered, "I thought you were helping me out."

"That's right, but what good will deleting the photos do?" Jianjing retorted, "You were harassed, you should tell your supervisor, if he doesn't help you, tell the boss, and if the boss wants you to bear with it, just resign directly."

Xiao He pursed her lips: "Teacher Jian, please do me a favor, it wasn't easy for me to find a job."

Jianjing knitted her brows: "I didn't catch your face in the photo."

"My leaders promised our client that Teacher Wu would participate in the event. If I mess this up..." Xiao He shook her head without finishing her sentence, "Please."

Jianjing looked at her steadily for a moment, then said, "No."

"Why?" Xiao He looked up at her in confusion, the dry disposable contact lenses reflecting the image of the woman before her.

She was a few years younger than herself, with snow white skin and long flaxen curls draped softly over her shoulders. Her light gray cocktail dress was studded with crystals, like a Disney princess dress.

She had helped her, so why was she making things difficult for her?

"No reason." Jianjing said, "You've already offended Teacher Wu, think carefully if you want to offend me too."

Xiao He was immediately tongue-tied.

"I can send you a copy of the photo for you to threaten him or tell your supervisor." Jianjing waved her phone, "Deleting it? No way."

Having said that, she walked straight to the fake rockery in the atrium, right where Wu Writer had stood earlier, held up her phone at a 45 degree angle, and made a heart with her hand.

Snap, snap, snap.

She picked the best looking one, opened Weibo, and uploaded it.

Jianjing V:

Happy birthday @Golden Crow Publishing

Took so many photos, picked the best looking one [spinning circle.JPG]

Soon, many comments popped up below.

Superfan A: The disappeared has returned, if you don't post again, the rumors will continue to her seventh day memorial

Superfan B: Let me just say, when will Demon Doctor 2 come out?

Comment C: Was the hospital visit really an accident not a suicide attempt?

Superfan D: @C your mom's dead

Superfan Little Fire: Teacher Jingjing is so pretty, Teacher Jingjing is even prettier now. Seeing Teacher Jingjing, my waist doesn't hurt, my legs don't ache, and I can run up five flights of stairs without getting tired! If Teacher Jingjing replies to me, my cold will get better immediately too!!

Jianjing gave a small hiss, this fan called Little Fire was laying it on thick with the flattery, it gave her goosebumps.

She rubbed her arms, and with an attitude of cherishing her fans, silently replied with one sentence.

- "Drink more hot water."

Then the other party immediately replied with an emoji: [Cat cute.JPG]

The cat was cute, Jianjing stole this emoji.

*

The second half of the celebration event was uninteresting. Kang's mother talked about past achievements and future ambitions, all superficial. Then awards were given out to the publishing house's employees, and a three-tier big cake with the number 32 in edible wax candles was cut.

After eating the cake, people gradually left the venue.

Kangmu Cheng was very proactive, he picked Jian Jing up so he had to properly send her back too.

On the ride back, he asked her, "What was the meaning behind that photo? You never post stuff like this before."

"To piss off someone." Jianjing told him about her encounter with Wu Writer, "He's always putting on the senior facade to bother me, it's annoying as hell."

Kangmu Cheng shook his head: "The photo is useless."

Wu Writer became famous twenty years ago. His reputation, seniority, status were all established. Small annoyances like this were neither painful nor itchy, and couldn't do anything to him. On the contrary, he had extensive connections, it was easy for him to make trouble for Jianjing.

"Don't post it, a cornered dog will jump the wall, you'll also get into trouble." He warned.

"He thinks of himself as a precious vase, he doesn't dare clash hard with me." But Jianjing had her own ideas, "I'm just returning the favor, I won't post it."

Kangmu Cheng felt moved again.

A couple years ago if this happened, she would've only bottled it up alone, and might not even tell him if asked. But today, she not only retorted, but even obtained blackmail material.

He was suddenly curious: "Why didn't you delete the photo?"

"Did you think I would agree to her request?"

Kangmu Cheng nodded. This matter surprised him even more than her taking the photo. Jianjing may write extensively about human nature and morality in her stories, but she was just a pure simpleton in real life.

Previously a young author came to ask if they could hold a joint book signing event, since it was her first time she was afraid she might not do well, and hoped the senior could give some pointers.

Then Jianjing really came to ask him...

"It's evidence, evidence is very important." Maybe due to the after effects of her previous mission, Jianjing had a strong sense of protecting evidence. "I'll keep it confidential, but I won't destroy it."

Kangmu Cheng: "Oh."

Her: "Hmm?"

"Are you planning to write about police next?" He said, "You've grasped the mentality very accurately."

Jianjing was surprised: "Boss Kang, are you being sarcastic?"

"Why not?" He raised a brow.

Oddly, Jianjing suddenly felt like laughing, and indeed couldn't help laughing out loud: "A bit unexpected."

"What, in your mind, am I just a serious old geezer?" Kangmu Cheng raised his hand and gently patted her head, "That's going overboard."

"No no." Jianjing held in her laugh, "Our Boss Kang is handsome and debonair, young and promising, a billionaire, and the undisputed fifth rich husband material––ah, this term is outdated now, should say CEO tycoon."

Kangmu Cheng gave a soft snort: "Boring."

Her: "What's not boring?"

He said: "Clear your schedule this weekend, we'll go to Mr. Qin's museum opening."

He didn't give a reason, but Jianjing had extremely high trust in him and immediately agreed: "Okay."

"None of my business?"

“This doesn’t concern me.”

Looking back later, Jian Jing realized she had said similar words twice.

Both were huge mistakes.

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