Chapter 222: Gongzi Shuiming
The author conference at Fusa Pavilion was way more lively and exaggerated than Young Master Sang had imagined.
Rather than a conference, it was more like a massive comic convention.
From far away, before even reaching the main hall of Fusa Pavilion, Sang Zhe had already seen a ton of cosplayers dressed as characters from manga and novels, surrounded by a swarm of excited fans.
All along the way, colorful decorations adorned the path, and fans of various works held up banners promoting their creations or handing out free merchandise.
Every now and then, a few internet celebrity fairies, riding the wave of popularity, would stroll by dressed in revealing and enchanting outfits, embodying the most seductive characters and drawing cheers from their live streams.
The enthusiastic fans had surrounded the main hall of Fusa Pavilion, turning it into a virtual fortress.
With great effort, Sang Zhe finally managed to squish his way in with Hua Jianglian through the VIP green passage for authors.
Once inside, it was a complete melee of bodies, everyone pushing and shoving.
The author conference was split across three floors. The first floor’s hall was filled with the signature works of Fusa Pavilion, each occupying their own booth, with the more popular ones featuring larger spaces.
Most authors were present, signing their works and selling related merchandise right in front of their booths.
The second floor was the actual banquet hall where the conference would officially start. After the activities on the first floor wrapped up, the authors would all gather on the second floor for lunch.
The third floor hosted tea parties for some of the hottest best-selling authors. It was said that Bai Ming would only make a fleeting appearance up there to give a brief speech.
Sang Zhe figured Bai Ming wanted to let Hua Jianglian have some fun first before addressing serious matters on the third floor.
As for Hua Jianglian, ever since entering the pavilion, she had reverted back to her puppy-like behavior.
Every time Sang Zhe turned around even for a moment, she would vanish, and after a lengthy search, he’d find her in front of some booth, starry-eyed and drooling over the latest manga.
“Sang Zhe! Look! It’s the entire original series of ‘Young Master’s Beloved Little Concubine’!”
Hua Jianglian was shaking Sang Zhe’s arm furiously, her face glowing as she held up the comic book. “The previous editions went out of print ages ago! I’ve only ever seen them online!”
“I want to buy this to cherish forever!”
“Okay, okay, okay…”
Sang Zhe sighed helplessly and dug out some money.
So expensive… Why do they think they can charge a hundred spirit stones for just a few comic books?
Every time this happened, Sang Zhe couldn’t help but marvel at Bai Ming’s keen eye for profit.
Money in the two-dimensional world really flows like water.
It was practically highway robbery!
But seeing Hua Jianglian hug the manga tightly, her skirt fluttering as she skipped along, her cute, flushed face glowing with happiness made Sang Zhe’s heartache lessen.
Oh well.
As long as his beloved sect leader was happy.
It’s just a bit of pocket change. Sometimes one can’t be too stingy; money earned is meant to be spent.
“And look at this bookmark! And this figurine… Oh! An extra colored page of the male and female leads kissing! I have to buy it!”
Sang Zhe: “…”
He kind of wanted to take back what he said earlier.
——
——
Because Hua Jianglian was a hardcore otaku.
She’d basically read all the popular girl-oriented manga novels from Fusa Pavilion.
So browsing through the booths took ages, with her meticulously selecting items at each one.
After an hour, Sang Zhe’s arms were practically bursting with bags, struggling to hold them all.
“Ah!”
As Hua Jianglian hummed a tune searching for her next target, her gaze suddenly locked onto a booth that set off unprecedented excitement in her eyes.
“Uh… waaaah!”
She yanked on Sang Zhe, bouncing and gesturing, unable to string together any coherent words due to her excitement.
Sang Zhe followed her gaze.
—Gongzi Shuiming’s Special Exhibit.
He knew who Gongzi Shuiming was—she was Hua Jianglian’s favorite author and the number one bestselling female author at Fusa Pavilion.
The earlier title, ‘Young Master’s Beloved Little Concubine,’ was drawn by her.
And currently, there was a long line in front of the booth, where a gentle-looking woman was seated, signing for her readers.
“Waaaaah!”
Hua Jianglian’s face turned bright red as tears welled up in her eyes, looking at Sang Zhe.
Though the words wouldn’t come out, Sang Zhe instantly understood her meaning.
“I know, you want me to wait with you in line for an autograph, right?”
Looking at the long winding queue, Sang Zhe let out a deep sigh.
……
After waiting for a solid half-hour.
Hua Jianglian was still starry-eyed, filled with excitement.
Sang Zhe was slowly losing his sanity.
This torturous wait was enough to send half his soul flying into the two-dimensional world.
Finally, when it was their turn, Hua Jianglian dashed forward eagerly:
“Um! Lady… Lady Shuiming!”
“I-I’m your fan—wuu!”
She appeared so flustered she nearly bit her tongue; one moment her face was adorably flushed, the next, tears brimmed in her eyes, looking always like the epitome of cuteness.
Sang Zhe couldn’t help but smile awkwardly and ruffled the little lady’s head, about to speak on her behalf.
But suddenly, he heard a soft, light female voice in front of them.
“It’s okay, take your time.”
“You’re my fan, right? Thank you for liking my work~”
Finally getting a chance to seriously look at the young woman in front of him, Sang Zhe saw she was about the same age, with a neat and fresh ear-length bob that seemed out of place in this long-haired, fantasy cultivation world. Her porcelain skin and soft, supple lips made it hard not to take a second glance.
Her long eyelashes fluttered, eyes sparkling and bright, framed by a pair of very intellectual gold-rimmed glasses.
With a curvy figure clad in what looked like an OL-style shirt that seemed to struggle with its buttons, she gave off a vibe of ‘about to burst out.’
Underneath her short skirt, her long, delicate legs wrapped in black stockings drew a strange comparison in his mind to that of an OL or teacher from a manga.
…Somehow both alluring and serious.
Especially combined with her soft voice, making her seem very approachable and likable.
Hua Jianglian finally found her voice, her flushed face even redder, nervously fiddling with her fingers. “Um, I, I’ve liked your work for so long, I’ve read all of your works.”
“So, please, please give me an autograph…”
She suddenly looked down, thrusting her comic forward.
Looking at the nervous girl beside him who could barely speak, Sang Zhe found it hard to explain to anyone that this was the infamous sect leader of the Demon Cultivators.
“Sure!”
Gongzi Shuiming smiled gently, kindly accepting the comic to sign.
Once she returned the signed comic to Hua Jianglian, she looked like she had just received a national treasure, her face shining as if sunlight had burst forth.
“Um! I-I still have a lot to say to you, I—”
“Hey, hurry up, don’t dawdle!” Someone impatient from behind chimed in.
Hua Jianglian’s nerves spiked, and the more anxious she became, the less she could speak, her little face turning an even deeper shade of red as her eyes blinked rapidly as if about to cry.
Sang Zhe could only helplessly turn back to the person behind them, saying, “Sorry, my little sister’s a bit nervous. I appreciate your patience—”
“Don’t be anxious.”
Suddenly, to everyone’s surprise, including the onlookers behind them.
Gongzi Shuiming stood up and gently took Hua Jianglian’s hand.
Under Hua Jianglian’s dazed, rosy face, Gongzi Shuiming slipped something into her palm.
“When we’re done… you can slowly tell me everything you want to say.”
She flashed a mysterious smile.
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