Chapter 107

Page Fifty-Six Book Signing Event – Flag Raising Ceremony (Additional Update)

At half past one in the afternoon, Wǔ Jiàng personally came over to notify us that she would be conducting a signing event for an hour starting in half an hour.

Her expression was quite excited. Although she had been struggling and troubled before, as a novelist, she still looked forward to the book signing event where she could meet her readers up close, didn’t she?

By this time, Miss Marika’s signing had already ended, and the Magic Girl Workshop gradually became less busy. After all, by this point, not many new tourists were entering the venue, so there were fewer and fewer people inside.

Lǐn Huā did not take off her cosplay outfit but instead dragged Xiao Yao, also dressed as a magical girl, to queue up happily.

In my opinion, there was no need to queue up; Wǔ Jiàng could just sign them privately later. However, Lǐn Huā insisted, “Kǎi-Jian, you simply don’t understand! The key is the sense of participation!”

Indeed, she still didn’t understand.

I naturally did not follow them to queue up but hid in the back of the publishing booth, watching covertly with Xiǎo Yèdié.

Incidentally, this short person climbed on two stools to see through the crowd to catch a glimpse of Gongyong Xiaojī.

One should say that this best-selling author embroiled in public opinion was truly remarkable.

As other booths gradually emptied out, the Lilim Publishing House booth became crowded instead. Despite clearing the central mountain of books, the large area of more than a hundred square meters appeared very congested.

“There are more people here than I imagined.”

Xiǎo Yèdié smiled in response to me, “What are you surprised about, young man? This number is normal. Although the publishing house has been heavily promoting it, they haven’t faked the sales figures, have they?”

Her eyes also revealed excitement and joy, after all, Gongyong Xiaojī was the author she was responsible for. Seeing the growth of the author… No, this person was probably happy about their performance bonus, right?

“Moreover, most of the readers attending the signing event are young women…”

The bustling crowd consisted mainly of young ladies. I felt a bit regretful for not joining the queue.

“We are a publisher of female-oriented novels. If you’re envious, why don’t you write novels too, young man?”

“I? Count me out. If I wrote a 300,000-word novel and only got less than 200 reads, I’d be embarrassed to the core.”

“What are you talking about? We publish offline!”

There was no stage at the publishing booth; a table was placed against the wall. Wǔ Jiàng held a pen and sat there like a student waiting for the teacher to distribute test papers.

In front of her were hundreds of loyal readers holding copies of “Dream Fragrance,” waiting for the staff to allow them to proceed.

At exactly two o’clock in the afternoon, Gongyong Xiaojī’s signing event officially began.

“Xiaojī teacher just ran over and told me that she won’t self-destruct this afternoon and will strive to maintain her current good image.”

Standing on the stool, Xiǎo Yèdié supported herself with her left hand on my shoulder, her right hand held horizontally in front of her forehead, looking out into the distance, and casually talked to me.

“Young man, you’re really my lucky star. The boss just gave out bonuses, shall we go for a drink tonight? I’ll treat you, as a thank you~”

“In fact, it was others who convinced her. I didn’t do much.”

“Then invite everyone else along, I’ll treat them too.”

I glanced at this “sister” who needed to stand on a stool, and replied, “I’m 17 and can’t drink alcohol, and you don’t look old enough to drink either. Wouldn’t the shop staff kick us out?”

She slapped the back of my head and laughed heartily.

“Hahaha, how could that be? I’m already 29, no problem!”

Then her smile froze and gradually darkened.

… A woman’s age is the deepest taboo. Although she herself mentioned her age, there was ample reason to silence me.

“Young man, did you hear anything?”

“Oh! I didn’t hear anything about an unmarried 29-year-old!”

“You added some prefixes yourself?! It’s over, young man, you know too much already. There’s no saving you now!”

No, please save me!

She tightened her grip on my shoulder, making it hard to break free. Her long hair whipped fiercely, like a razor ready to cut my head.

“Sister, you look like you’re only 19! So young and beautiful, I love you so much!”

My will to survive was still strong.

“Forget it, forget it. Considering your understanding, I’ll let you off. As a trade, you have to accompany me drinking tonight, okay?”

The survivor heaved a sigh of relief.

“So I can’t drink. How about going for some barbecue tonight instead?”

“That works too. Anyway, the barbecue restaurant also has alcohol.”

This person looks like a pseudo-loli but is actually a heavy drinker.

“I want to invite a few friends, will you treat them too?”

“No problem! No problem!” She first patted her chest confidently and then cautiously asked, “How many?”

I calculated on my fingers. Wǔ Jiàng and I definitely had to go, Lei Miao-miao and Tián Qiàn also had to come along, plus Lǐn Huā and Xiǎo Yáo, Miss Marika and Xiǎo Yèdié are friends and would surely come too. Ideally, Fēiyuè Jie could join too… Wū Qínglán, hmm, let’s forget it.

“Maybe seven or eight people?”

“You’re trying to bankrupt me!”

The planned signing event was only supposed to last an hour, so each person’s time was limited. Wǔ Jiàng’s signing speed was fast, yet there were still readers requesting things like “I want to hug Teacher Gongyong Xiaojī!” or “I want to take a group photo with Teacher Gongyong Xiaojī!”

Of course, these requests were only from female readers. Male readers wanting to hug would be escorted away by staff and scorned by other female readers.

Girls have no resistance to cute things, and Wǔ Jiàng, being soft and adorable, was bound to be highly popular.

Being cute means you can get away with anything.

Why not persuade Wǔ Jiàng to live as a girl from now on?

However, this matter couldn’t be rushed. As long as he wanted to continue activities under the identity of Gongyong Xiaojī, there would surely be transformation needs in the future. After prolonged and subtle influence, discussing this issue with him wouldn’t be too late.

It’s uncertain if Wǔ Jiàng could serve as an indicator. Though losing both parents is tragic, her life with her sister seems quite fulfilling compared to others.

As for this month’s target, Lǐn Huā is already a sure thing.

Moreover, through Lǐn Huā, we can gather information about Old Fēng’s situation, achieving a double win.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore.”

The deity assessment was as easy as drinking water.

Lǐn Huā and Xiǎo Yáo, who queued up early, took positions relatively close to the front. After Xiǎo Yáo received the signature, she silently walked over, followed by Lǐn Huā, who hugged Wǔ Jiàng for several group photos…

I leaned towards Xiǎo Yáo’s ear and whispered.

“Did you tell her that he’s Fēng Wǔ?”

“No.”

Xiǎo Yáo shook her head, thankfully this person wouldn’t say unnecessary words.

Looking at Lǐn Huā rubbing cheeks with Wǔ Jiàng on stage, I thought of Fēng Wǔ’s original appearance and felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Then don’t mention it…”

I supported my forehead.

If Lǐn Huā knew that she was rubbing cheeks with a disheveled, depressed young man, she would surely go crazy, which would be detrimental to her mental health.

Overall, the signing event went smoothly. None of the trolls who were expected to cause trouble showed up. Those who had been attacking Gongyong Xiaojī online, the publishing house, and the reader community, even those who threatened to bring wreaths to the publishing house, did not appear.

Just as Thundery Meow-Meow said, keyboard warriors dared not come to the scene to cause trouble.

At this moment, all the idle gossip online dissipated on its own.

Posts such as [Frontline Report! Gongyong Xiaojī’s true form is an incredibly cute beauty!] ([Attached Image]), [Answering questions fluently, it must be the teacher], [Confirmed by sight, it’s the one I love], and [Sister is mine!] appeared.

3:24 PM.

The originally scheduled one-hour signing event stretched for another half-hour until Wǔ Jiàng raised her hand in surrender, saying her hand hurt and she couldn’t sign any longer.

The venue closed at 4 PM, and by then, there weren’t many tourists left. Even Miss Marika and Wū Qínglán were bored and wandered over to the publishing booth, indicating that the Magic Girl Workshop indeed had very few visitors.

It was so quiet. With no tourists at all the booths, it was a stark contrast to the signing event.

“So it turns out that you have the skill level of a commercial illustrator.”

Through Wǔ Jiàng’s introduction, Xiǎo Yèdié held the sketchbook Xiǎo Yáo brought and flipped through it, nodding in appreciation, seemingly quite satisfied.

Miss Marika, who leaned forward, seemed to receive an even greater shock. She gasped, her mouth agape, and even her usually composed demeanor seemed to collapse.

“She’s the type with exceptionally solid basic skills. Xiao Yao… no, Teacher Yan Yao! Please teach me your painting techniques!” She even called her teacher.

Xiǎo Yèdié was surprised by Miss Marika’s reaction and asked, “Huh? Is she better than Marika?”

“I started painting in college, and my basic skills are pretty bad… But Xiao Yao’s brushwork shows clear signs of being honed since childhood, something I can’t match. I can only rely on experience to make up for the gap in basic skills.”

“No, your figures have a strong sense of motion, appearing almost lifelike. This is something I, who only paints static scenes, cannot express. I also wish to learn from you.”

Miss Marika clenched her fist and encouraged herself, “We mustn’t slack off. I’m also a knight who must work hard!” (I also need to work hard!)

“You two shouldn’t just flatter each other commercially. Xiao Yao, come join our club as a manga artist! Your skills can perfectly fill the gap in Marika’s abilities.”

With such solid basic skills, as the commander of the Magic Girl Workshop, Wū Qínglán couldn’t help but be interested.

“Hey? Isn’t this child supposed to join our publishing house as an illustrator? Why are you poaching her?”

Xiǎo Yèdié snatched Xiao Yao back and protected her behind her.

“She wants to draw illustrations for novels that have already been published, doesn’t she? You can’t fulfill her wishes, can you?”

“Gongyong Xiaojī still has another novel coming out!”

Both were eager to recruit talent, and thus, they started arguing. Indeed, capable prodigies are always in high demand wherever they go.

Although Xiǎo Yèdié is only 1.6 meters tall, Wū Qínglán has a hunched back, so when they argue, they fit each other’s eye perfectly…

Before anyone could react.

Xiǎo Yèdié’s long hair transformed into a fierce wind, stabbing Wū Qínglán’s eye, causing her to immediately cover her face and roll like Neymar.

Is her hair really alive? Is she an alien spy?

I was about to say something to mediate when a strange noise came from above.

The End