Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 382 New Book Preview
Did you go to my room to take care of me?
Cao Sheng narrowed his eyes, staring at the sentence in the text message, his mind racing. After a moment of silence, he replied: "How did you take care of me that night? Was there anyone else besides you?"

A few minutes later, Zhong Xintong replied: "Don't you remember? I remember you opened your eyes and looked at us twice. You really don't remember? My partner Asa was there too. Do you remember her?"

Cao Sheng knew that Asa was Cai Naoyan's nickname.

The main reason is that they were incredibly popular at their peak in the original timeline.

They could sing and act, holding concert after concert and starring in movie after movie. Coupled with their youthful and sweet image, they captivated countless teenagers and were definitely top female stars in the Chinese film and television industry at the time.

Those who are prettier than them either sing or act worse than them. Those who can surpass them in both singing and acting are either not as pretty or as young as them.

Therefore, Cao Sheng had some understanding of both of them, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

"What do you find me for?"

Cao Sheng sent this message.

He wanted to see what they really wanted.
She quickly replied: "It's nothing, Asa and I just wanted to invite you to dinner and make friends with you. I wonder if Mr. Cao would give us the chance?"

To make friends?

Cao Sheng's gaze lingered on the word "exchange" for a few seconds. After a moment, he replied, "Sorry! I'm already on my way to the airport and I'll be heading back to the mainland soon. If you have the chance to come to the mainland next time, I'll treat you, okay?"

This time, he waited quite a while before receiving her reply: "Oh, I see. Then I wish you a safe journey. If we have the opportunity to go to the mainland, we will definitely visit you in Huizhou. I hope to see you there."

Cao Sheng's gaze lingered on the phrase "Have a safe journey" for a few seconds longer.

He remembered someone saying that airplanes cannot fly with the wind during takeoff and landing, so you shouldn't wish people a safe journey.

At that moment, he wasn't sure if she was unaware of this information, or if she was just in a bad mood and saying it on purpose.
Considering that she is a newcomer and still very young, he chose to believe that she did it unintentionally.

"Okay, see you then."

After replying to the message, Cao Sheng put away his phone and turned to look at the scenery outside the car window.

Although his trip to Hong Kong was short, it left a deep impression on him.

Not only did he stay at Wang Zuxian's place for one night, but he also met a bunch of celebrities from the Hong Kong film and television industry at a party hosted by Yang Shoucheng. Of course, there were also the bloodstains left on his bed sheets when he woke up in the early hours of the morning.

At that moment, his biggest feeling was that the people in the Hong Kong film and television industry were so enthusiastic.

Moreover, many of them speak excellent Mandarin, so he had no trouble communicating with them.

It's completely unlike their heavy Hong Kong accent when they speak Mandarin in front of the media.

This reminded him of his childhood, when some villagers who had gone to work in big cities would speak to the villagers with the accents of those big cities, which the villagers privately described as "foreign accents."

Back then, villagers who had worked in big cities took pride in being able to speak with a foreign accent.

Later, when he grew up and occasionally met up with his old classmates, he noticed that those classmates who had returned from working in big cities liked to mix one or two English words into their Chinese when they spoke, and they were proud of it.

Looking back now, it's possible that Hong Kong celebrities liked to speak Mandarin with a distinct Hong Kong accent, perhaps to differentiate themselves from mainlanders, and they were also proud of it.

This gave Cao Sheng some insight.

I feel that these kinds of details can be reflected in my own work; people from big cities should speak differently from people from small towns.

Those who fawn over foreign things should also show it in their speech.

For example, his recently published book, "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts," can be used in this way.

Because the historical context of this new book is modern society.

……

at the same time.

In an apartment belonging to Yinghuang Film Company.

Asa, dressed in her pajamas, came out of the bathroom and saw Zhong Xintong sitting at the coffee table, frowning in thought. Asa smiled, walked over awkwardly, sat down next to Zhong Xintong, and asked softly, "Did he respond to you? What did he say? Did he agree to have dinner with us?"

Zhong Xintong turned to look at her, pursed her lips in slight annoyance, and sighed, "No! He said he's already on his way to the airport and will be returning to the mainland soon. He also said that he can treat us to a meal whenever we go to the mainland."

Asa was stunned.

After a long pause, he said with a wry smile, "We've just started out, and it's not easy for us to go to the mainland! We'll have to wait until we become famous before we'll have a chance to go there, right? Did he... did he say he'd promote us?"

Zhong Xintong shook her head, her expression complicated. "No! He even said he doesn't remember us being in his room that night. Do you believe him?"

Asa stared at her blankly, speechless for a long time.

After a long pause, he asked, "Did he...drink himself into oblivion that night? He clearly saw us, didn't he? And, and he initiated it, right?"

Zhong Xintong gave a wry smile, "Who knows? Anyway, he said he doesn't remember, and even asked if there was anyone else besides me that night?"

Asa: "???"

……

Feeling that he had been taken advantage of, Cao Sheng returned to Huizhou and acted as if nothing had happened. After resting for one night, he began to devote himself to writing "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" the next day.

As for the school curriculum?
They have basically finished their senior year courses. Every day in class, not only are the students not focused on their studies, but the teachers are also being perfunctory in their lectures.

Many teachers go off-topic while lecturing.

The counselor started by talking about things to pay attention to when applying for a job, and what the best response should be if the interviewer asks a certain question. The counselor even invited a professor from the tourism class to give them two lessons on public etiquette.

In class, the professor taught them what etiquette to pay attention to in interviews or the workplace, such as dress etiquette, social etiquette, etc., including what part of the other person's face to look at when face-to-face, who should extend their hand first when shaking hands, and how to shake hands properly, etc.

They even taught them several ways to tie a tie.

The school teaches them these things simply in the hope of increasing their chances of success in job interviews.

Just a few days after those two etiquette classes, the school held a job fair for senior students, inviting human resources recruiters from many companies across the country.

Even after that, every now and then, companies and organizations would still come to their school to recruit.

Cao Sheng's classmates were all focused on applying for jobs.

Cao Sheng, however, was indifferent to finding a job, and he didn't need to be.

Since the school teachers stopped teaching properly, he stopped going to class every day and gradually developed a habit of skipping classes every few days.

Nobody cared about him.

He spends most of his time writing in his dormitory or his parents' villa.

After returning from Hong Kong, he seemed to be possessed by Wang Chao from the book again, becoming taciturn and his temperament changed drastically. Occasionally, a murderous intent would flash in his eyes when he looked at people.

One day at noon, while he was eating in the school cafeteria, Tan Yu sat down opposite him with her tray. After greeting him, she asked in a low voice, "Did you go to Hong Kong a few days ago?"

Cao Sheng hummed in agreement.

She hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage and asked, "There are news reports online about you and Wang Zuxian..."

Just as he finished speaking, Cao Sheng looked up at her.

At that moment, she saw a fleeting murderous intent in his eyes.

So she quickly shut her mouth.

Why did you stop talking?

Cao Sheng asked casually.

Actually, he just found it strange that she stopped asking halfway through her question.
He himself was unaware that a murderous intent had flashed in the glance he had just given her.

He felt he had a pretty good temper, but recently, in order to write "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts", he consciously adjusted his mindset, smiling less and talking less. That was all; overall, he was very harmless.

but……

Tan Yu's face turned slightly pale, and she stammered, "N-nothing, I shouldn't have been so talkative. I'm sorry, I'll be more careful in the future. Please don't be angry."

Cao Sheng looked at her strangely, thinking she was a bit crazy. She hadn't even finished asking a question, so why was she apologizing?

You don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?

he asked.

Tan Yu quickly shook her head, "No, no! I probably just didn't sleep well last night. It's nothing, really nothing."

Cao Sheng nodded and continued eating his meal.

He felt that the girl was a bit timid, especially recently, she had become very hesitant and timid.

He didn't realize that it was his recent changes that frightened her.

……

end of June.

Beijing.

One evening, the Third Young Master received a sample book from Xinchang Publishing House.

His copycat novel, "The Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda," is updated very quickly, but it's not finished yet. He still manages to submit three volumes of the manuscript to Xinchang every month.

I also receive three sample copies every month.

That evening, after receiving the sample book, he returned to his residence, sat comfortably in front of his computer, and flipped through the beautifully printed sample book.

He feels a great sense of accomplishment every time he looks through a sample book like this.

but……

Today, as he was flipping through the pages, he came across a new book announcement at the end of one of the sample books.

He clearly didn't say he was going to release a new book, nor did he submit a new book to Xinchang, so how come there's a new book announcement here?
He was startled, his eyes widened, and he leaned closer to see what the new book announcement read: ("On December 1st, Zhongyuan Yidianhui's brand new masterpiece, *The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts*, will be officially released. Stay tuned!")
The author, Tang Jia San Shao, was stunned when he saw the preview for his new book.

Are you advertising in my sample copy? Promoting Zhongyuan Yidianhui's new book?
Don't you even need to ask for my opinion?

Is this how they advertise?
This isn't an advertisement for my new book, so why is it being promoted in my sample copy?

He felt uneasy, and at the same time, he was also a little curious about what this "Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" meant. What was Chinese martial arts? Was it some kind of secret magic? Was Cao Sheng going to write about magic in his new book?
Just then, he was almost finished writing his book "The Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda," and he wondered if he could follow suit and write a new book based on Cao Sheng's work.

(End of this chapter)