Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 449, "Sharing the Stage with Ashes," is airing.

A week later.

Thanks to the promotion by Huizhou TV, this special interview program was officially broadcast on Huizhou TV at 9:05 pm on Saturday.

Before the broadcast, at Jiang Xiaoshuang's request, Cao Sheng also wrote a separate chapter in his work to preview the interview, inviting interested viewers to tune in.

That evening, after finishing a chapter of his manuscript, Cao Sheng realized it was almost 9 o'clock. Remembering the interview, he got up, went to the living room on the second floor, turned on the TV, and searched for Huizhou TV.

He doesn't usually watch TV, so this TV is basically never turned on.

The show hadn't started yet.

He suddenly received a call from Jiang Xiaoshuang.

"Hey? Are you writing a script? Do you remember the episode where I interviewed you? It's airing tonight, right? It's almost time. Do you want to turn on the TV and see the edited version?"

Commercials were playing on TV, and Cao Sheng had deliberately turned the volume down to the lowest setting. Hearing Jiang Xiaoshuang's words, he smiled and pressed the volume buttons on the remote control a dozen times.

The TV volume gradually increased.

"No gifts this Chinese New Year, except for Brain Gold..."

The sound of the television reached Cao Sheng and Jiang Xiaoshuang's ears. Cao Sheng turned the volume down a bit and asked, "Can you hear that? The television is on."

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "Hehe, I heard that. I suspect you're implying that I should give you Brain Gold for Chinese New Year this year."

Cao Sheng smiled and said, "You're too suspicious!"

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "Hehe, okay! By the way, are you watching TV alone right now? Do you want me to come and keep you company?"

Cao Sheng thought for a moment, "It's so late, it's probably inconvenient for you to take a taxi, right? Let's forget about it!"

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "It's okay, I have a taxi driver's number, I can call and call a car to come over. It's settled then, I'll be right there!"

After saying that, she hung up the phone before Cao Sheng could refuse.

Cao Sheng: "???"

Come on then!

Cao Sheng put down his phone, picked up his teacup, and watched the endless TV commercials while sipping his tea.

Many advertisements evoke memories of his life before his rebirth.

Because many of the advertisements were ones he had seen countless times before his rebirth.

In the original timeline, the reason he gradually lost the habit of watching TV was twofold: firstly, after he got a computer, he could find whatever he wanted to watch on it; and secondly, there were too many commercials on TV.

Sometimes they can play different commercials for half an hour.

When there were no computers, he had no choice; now that there are computers, he naturally stays away from the television.

A few minutes later.

— "Sharing the Stage with Gray" has officially premiered.

Yes, Huizhou TV named this special interview program "On Stage with Gray".

The "ash" naturally refers to a speck of gray in the Central Plains.

Cao Sheng watched the show with a smile, his expression unchanging. He had no expectations for this episode. He could recall how he had answered every question Jiang Xiaoshuang asked on stage.

At the same time, many viewers across the country watched intently.

Due to the limited influence of Huizhou TV, the proportion of viewers nationwide who watched this program was not large, but the total number was still considerable.

In a small restaurant in Beijing that was still open.

Zhao Tiedan, who had just finished get off work, walked into the restaurant, ordered a dish of minced pork and eggplant, poured himself a free cup of barley tea, and was waiting for the food to be served.

Above the bar counter in the small restaurant, in the corner, there was an iron rack with a television playing on it.

On the television, a program called "Sharing the Stage with Ash" from Huizhou TV was playing. The proprietress, who was in her thirties, sat at a dining table, looking up at the program with curiosity.

Yes, she specifically searched for this episode.

While waiting for the food to be served, Zhao Tiedan's attention was involuntarily drawn to the interview playing on the television.

It wasn't just because the proprietress was watching the show, nor was it just because he and the proprietress were the only people in the front of the small restaurant at that moment, but also because the show's host, Jiang Xiaoshuang, was quite pretty, had a fresh and natural hosting style, and a very pleasant voice.

"I know that the recent rumors have made many people wonder what my relationship with Mr. Cao really is. Actually, we are just good friends."

On television, Jiang Xiaoshuang said these words to the camera.

Then, the camera panned across Cao Sheng's smiling face, and then across the audience, where a male audience member raised his right hand high.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaoshuang gave a self-deprecating smile and pointed at the male audience member, "My dear audience member, do you have anything to say?"

The male audience member stood up, and a staff member jogged over to hand him a microphone.

Male audience member: "Hello host, you said you and him are just good friends, isn't that a bit far-fetched? If you're just good friends, would you go on a date on New Year's Eve? If you're just good friends, would you hold hands and walk on the street at night? Can you explain these questions?"

Many other audience members smiled and watched Jiang Xiaoshuang on stage with great interest. The camera also turned to Jiang Xiaoshuang and Cao Sheng at the appropriate time.

The restaurant owner and Zhao Tiedan were both attracted.

I also became interested.

How will this beautiful female host answer these questions from the audience?
Can you answer that?

Jiang Xiaoshuang gave a helpless smile and turned to look at Cao Sheng, "Old classmate, aren't you going to say anything? Are you just going to watch me fight this battle alone?"

Cao Sheng was very relaxed on stage. Upon hearing this, he even adjusted his posture to make himself more comfortable on the sofa.

He picked up the microphone, smiled, and said, "If that's what you're saying, then I'll close my eyes?"

"Ha ha……"

The audience burst into laughter.

The restaurant owner and Zhao Tiedan burst out laughing.

In an era where television programs are generally quite serious, Cao Sheng's witty remarks are very effective.

Jiang Xiaoshuang rolled her eyes at Cao Sheng, then couldn't help but chuckle.

She turned her helpless gaze to the male audience member who had asked the question, "Okay! My friend, I'll answer your question."

On New Year's Eve, I was on duty at the station and couldn't go home to reunite with my family or have a home-cooked New Year's Eve dinner. Cao Sheng and I are alumni and good friends. When I called him to wish him a Happy New Year, he casually asked me what I was having for New Year's Eve dinner. I told him I wasn't home and didn't have any. Perhaps out of sympathy, before it got dark and before our cafeteria opened, I suddenly received a call from him. He said his family hadn't finished their New Year's Eve dinner and had some leftovers, asking if I didn't mind and if I wanted some.

At this point, she smiled and, facing the curious eyes of the audience, continued, "I knew he was rich, and his New Year's Eve dinner would definitely be lavish, so why would I complain about his leftovers? I readily agreed." A murmur of laughter rippled through the audience.

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "But I'm not his family, nor his girlfriend, so I can't go to his house for dinner on New Year's Eve. But he is indeed rich; he owns a villa in Huizhou, and he invited me to eat at his villa..."

Jiang Xiaoshuang was very eloquent, and her explanations were met with bursts of laughter from the audience.

"That night, he brought me a bottle of expensive red wine, saying that we should have some wine on New Year's Eve. I saw that the wine was beautifully packaged and tasted good, so I couldn't resist and had a few more glasses..."

"After dinner, he told me to leave, saying that even though I was his good friend, I couldn't stay overnight at his villa..."

"I thought I was alright, not drunk, so I agreed to leave. But because he had been drinking, he said it wasn't safe to drive after drinking, so he suggested walking me to the main road to get a taxi..."

"Having very little experience with drinking, I didn't expect that while I was fine indoors, the night wind would hit me hard, making me dizzy and unsteady on my feet. Of course, I didn't want to fall flat on my face in the street, so I tried to grab something. I saw him walking steadily, like a moving telephone pole, so I reached out to help him. Little did I know that someone would take a picture of me like that..."

At this moment, Cao Sheng, who was sitting not far away, spoke up: "You're wrong!"

This immediately drew the attention of everyone present, including Jiang Xiaoshuang.

Cao Sheng: "First of all, the utility pole won't move. Secondly, you're not reaching out to help me, you're reaching out to me to help you."

"Ha ha……"

The audience burst into laughter.

In a small restaurant in Beijing.

The proprietress and Zhao Tiedan were amused once again.

At this moment, the minced meat and eggplant dish that Zhao Tiedan had ordered was served.

Zhao Tiedan got up and ladled out a bowl of rice. He ate the rice and vegetables with this dish while continuing to watch TV.

On television, Jiang Xiaoshuang, having already explained the relationship between the two, picked up her cue cards, glanced at them, cleared her throat twice, and said, "Old classmate, it seems we've already wasted a lot of time. Shall we hurry up and get into the interview? Shall we start with a question-and-answer format?"

Cao Sheng looked at her, smiled, and nodded. "Okay."

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "My first question is, many people online say that your net worth has exceeded 100 million yuan. Is that true?"

Cao Sheng paused for a moment, smiled, and nodded. "It's true."

A gasp rippled through the audience.

Jiang Xiaoshuang exclaimed and pressed on, "So, my second question is, did you earn over 90% of this money yourself by writing novels and screenplays? The internet says you come from a rural area and your parents are farmers, is that true?"

At that moment, tens of thousands of viewers across the country were watching television, waiting for Cao Sheng's answer.

Cao Sheng's expression seemed somewhat helpless. "This isn't just one problem, it's two."

Jiang Xiaoshuang smiled. "Yes, you're right. Can you answer these two questions?"

Cao Sheng: "Okay! Let me answer the second question first! It's true that my parents are farmers. Now, to answer your first question, my whole family has always been frugal since I was a child. Before I went to university, my family was not a 'ten-thousand-yuan household'. So, I think that 99% of my current wealth is earned by myself. As for whether it's all from my writing? That's hard to say, because I've also made some investments with the royalties I earned. That's all."

In a small restaurant in Beijing.

Zhao Tiedan, who has been working for more than three years, suddenly found the minced meat and eggplant in his mouth no longer delicious after hearing this.

His family background was similar to Cao Sheng's.

Before he went to university, his family was not a household with ten thousand yuan.

His first degree was slightly higher than Cao Sheng's; he earned an undergraduate degree.

But what about now?
Cao Sheng is already worth over 100 million yuan, while Zhao Tiedan...?
I work overtime until 8 or even 10 pm every day, and I only earn a few thousand yuan a month. I only dare to order one dish for each meal, and I live in a dark and gloomy basement.

……

Huizhou.

Huang Qingya sat in a friend's living room, staring at Cao Sheng and Jiang Xiaoshuang on TV, her brows furrowed, remaining silent.

Her friend contacted her on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, after the New Year, and handed her the keys to the apartment, asking her to look after it. Her friend was going to work in Shanghai this year, and the apartment would be vacant, but she didn't want to rent it out.

So, Huang Qingya was sitting here alone watching TV at this moment.

She and Cao Sheng have broken up. She wants to watch this interview program tonight, but it's inconvenient for her to watch it at home in front of her family.

After listening to Jiang Xiaoshuang's explanation of her relationship with Cao Sheng on TV, Huang Qingya was skeptical of Jiang Xiaoshuang's statement.

Because she had long ago realized that Jiang Xiaoshuang had feelings for Cao Sheng.

Because it was a television program, she knew that since Jiang Xiaoshuang was talking about this topic on the show, she would definitely try to clear her name and would not admit to having a romantic relationship with Cao Sheng unless Cao Sheng had already agreed to be with Jiang Xiaoshuang.

The program was still ongoing at this point.

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "Next question, Cao Sheng! As far as I know, you only have half a semester left in university. I think many friends here and watching on TV are curious about what you will choose after graduation. Will you find a job? Or write full-time? Or become your own boss? What kind of business will you start?"

This question has once again piqued the interest of many viewers.

Especially Cao Sheng's fellow writers.

Many writers have thought about their future.

Is it full-time writing?
Or should I find a job, work during the day, and write at night?
Or perhaps do some small business or do part-time writing?
and many more.

At this time, they had the opportunity to hear Cao Sheng's plans for the future, which should be of reference value to these writers.

In addition, we can judge how much energy Cao Sheng will devote to writing in the future by looking at his plans for the future.

If Cao Sheng continues to write full-time, he will likely remain the number one online writer for many more years.

Conversely, the quality and update speed of his works will likely decline.

This is good news for some writers who aspire to surpass Cao Sheng.

……

Cao Sheng: "I'll probably write full-time!"

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "Why? You've already written so many works, over ten million words, right? Aren't you tired of writing so many words?"

Cao Sheng chuckled self-deprecatingly, "It shouldn't be ten million yet. I've probably written around eight million words in the past few years! I'm definitely a little tired, but does being tired at work mean I have to change careers? If so, then all the workers in the country or even the world would have to change careers, right? Because who doesn't feel that their job is tiring? Does anyone?"

Jiang Xiaoshuang nodded, and the camera panned across the audience, where many audience members were also nodding.

Jiang Xiaoshuang: "Okay! Let's move on to the next question. Do you think your peak writing period has passed? If not, when do you think your peak period will arrive, and how long will it last?"

(End of this chapter)