Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 98 Showing off one’s edge
Cao Sheng knew about the sales exceeding one million on the first day when the news was first reported.

Wang Jing told him this via email.

That night, Huang Qingya happily brought some braised dishes to celebrate for him. She also learned the news so quickly.

Cao Sheng was naturally happy that the sales volume exceeded one million.

But the media hype that continued for more than half a month made him a little tired of coping.

Because of the media hype, it directly affected everyone around him.

Especially after the start of the new semester, you may be stopped and asked for autographs at any time on your way to school, to the cafeteria, or even to the toilet.

It's okay to be stopped on the way to school or to the cafeteria.

Can you imagine him holding his urine and rushing to the toilet, but being stopped or even pulled away by someone, who keeps talking about how much he likes his novel and insists on getting his autograph before letting him go?
What frustrated him the most was that most of the time, several people tried to stop him together.

He said he needed to go to the toilet, and the person who stopped him said, "No hurry! There's no hurry to go to the toilet! Please sign for us first!"

Of course they are not in a hurry, but the one who is in a hurry is Cao Sheng!

But he couldn't get angry because the people who stopped him claimed to be fans of his books, and some of them were beautiful women.

That’s all.

Their classmates and teachers also joined in the fun.

They said that he was already the top new writer and his signature was worth collecting. Not only did they want him to sign, but they also had to write something like: "To my dear teacher Wang", "To my good friend XXX", "I wish classmate XXX good health and good luck in love", etc.

The school also joined in the fun and even ostentatiously hung several banners at the school gate and on campus.

Each banner read: "Warm congratulations to our student Cao Sheng for selling over one million copies of his work "Living with the Air Hostess"!"

In addition, for more than a week, students from other classes came to the door and window of their classroom every day and pointed at him.

He could faintly hear some of what they were saying.

"Look! That guy is Zhongyuan Yidianhui, his real name is Cao Sheng!"

"Wow! So handsome?"

"Is this the most talented person in our school? He doesn't look anything special to me!"

"This guy has the same last name as Cao Cao. I heard that many junior and senior schoolmates pursued him, but he rejected them all. I suspect he also likes married women!"

"That's him! That's him! The guy who pretends to be serious and doesn't even look at us is Cao Sheng!"

……

More than a dozen media outlets also came.

Today this media outlet comes to secretly take photos of him in class, tomorrow that media outlet comes to interview him in person, and the day after tomorrow another media outlet comes to interview his classmates, teachers, and former roommates.

Fortunately, he has a good relationship with his teachers, classmates and roommates, and no one has revealed any negative information about him yet.

After more than half a month, just when Cao Sheng thought that this wave of popularity was about to pass, one morning, he was sitting in the classroom and Song Chao next to him suddenly touched his arm. Cao Sheng turned around and looked, "What's going on?"

Song Chao pointed out the window and whispered, "Look outside the window, there are so many people holding microphones, cameras, and video cameras. They must be reporters, right? I think they are here to see you. Do you believe it?"

Cao Sheng looked in the direction of his pointed mouth.

Sure enough, I saw a group of twenty or thirty people who looked like reporters gathered in the square on the first floor outside the window.

Security guards had already gone over to inquire about the situation, but the reporters showed no signs of leaving.

Cao Sheng also saw several people who looked like teachers coming forward to ask questions.

There was still no sign of those reporters dispersing.

He faintly heard them mention "Zhongyuan", "stewardess", "cohabitation", "professor" and so on.

Cao Sheng was a little overwhelmed.

He is just a nerd who likes to write. He actually resists being frequently interviewed by reporters. He thought that these reporters today were here to interview him about how he felt about his work having sold over a million copies.

Until the counselor Lu Xiangwei suddenly came to the classroom, waved him out, and brought him to the reporters downstairs.

Listening to the questions raised by the reporters, Cao Sheng realized that something was wrong. From what the reporters said, it seemed that many writers and professors had criticized him recently.

Cao Sheng was a little confused.

He always thought that he was harmless, and apart from writing, his only hobbies were food, beautiful women and fishing.

But after his rebirth, Huang Qingya is the only woman he has with him.

Is this too much?

It’s not too much to like delicious food, right?

Is it too much to like fishing?

I didn't hook these writers and professors, why are they criticizing me? Do they really think I'm a young man who is easy to bully?
Cao Sheng's anger continued to rise.

At this time, several teachers helped maintain order at the scene, and the reporters gradually quieted down.

Lu Xiangwei pointed at a reporter who raised his hand.

The reporter asked: "Hello, Zhongyuan Yidianhui! I am a reporter from the Yangtze Evening News. May I ask how you feel about the famous writer Gongyang Buyu questioning that your writing is too plain and lacks the beauty of words? What do you want to say?"

After saying that, he put the microphone to Cao Sheng's mouth.

Cao Sheng frowned, "Famous writer?"

The reporter nodded, "Yes! The famous writer Gong Yang Bu Yu said that your writing is too plain and lacks aesthetics. He also criticized your works for reflecting a negative attitude towards life! How do you feel about this? Do you want to say anything?"

Cao Sheng shook his head. "I'm sorry, I've never heard of Gong Yang Bu Yu, so I don't really believe you when you say he's a famous writer. In my impression, famous writers are all very qualified and care about young writers. They would never criticize me like that. Please seek truth from facts and don't just label someone a 'famous writer'. This will damage the public's perception of the title 'famous writer'! Thank you!"

Cao Sheng seemed very polite, but what he said was not polite at all, and he simply did not give his predecessor any face at all.

The reporters got excited.

When it was another reporter's turn to ask questions, the female reporter blushed with excitement and asked very quickly: "Cao Sheng! The famous writer Huang Shuren said that you are shameless. You didn't study hard in college, but lived with a flight attendant and even wrote a novel about it. It's really a sign of moral decline. What do you want to say about this?"

Cao Sheng frowned again, "Who? What tree man?"

Female reporter: "Huang Shuren!"

Cao Sheng curled his lips, "In my mind, the only Shuren who can be called a famous writer is Zhou Shuren. I have never heard of other names like Huang Shuren or Bai Shuren. So, I want to repeat what I said just now. Don't give anyone the title of 'famous writer' casually. Shuren, please recognize Zhou Shuren and beware of counterfeits! Thank you!"

The reporters at the scene became even more excited.

Everyone raised their hands high, eager to take their turn to ask questions.

The third reporter asked: "Cao Sheng! The famous professor Mr. Li Mubai said that your works are selling vulgarity and making dirty money to the masses with low cultural level. What do you want to say about this?"

Just when everyone thought that Cao Sheng was going to question the professor's identity again and tell everyone not to give anyone the title of "famous professor" casually.

Cao Sheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to quote a famous saying: If the people like him, but he doesn't like him, who does he think he is?"

Before he finished speaking, the counselor Lu Xiangwei beside him quietly kicked Cao Sheng's foot. When Cao Sheng looked over, Lu Xiangwei frowned and shook his head slightly at him.

It was obviously a reminder to Cao Sheng not to talk nonsense.

In contrast to Lu Xiangwei, the reporters at the scene were all extremely excited.

Soon, the fourth reporter asked, "Cao Sheng! Professor Wang Gongjie, who is a part-time writer, said that your works are not as good as those of many writers who carefully selected topics and worked hard to create them. Your works are so popular that it will cause the phenomenon of bad money driving out good money. He also said that you are so young and have such a great reputation and money, which is not a good thing for you personally. He is afraid that you can't grasp it and is very worried that you will really live with the flight attendant. Do you have anything to say to Professor Wang about this?"

Cao Sheng: “…”

After a moment of silence, Cao Sheng asked, "Does Professor Wang mean to let him do things like becoming famous, making money, and living with a flight attendant? Can he handle it?"

The scene suddenly became quiet, and then there was a burst of laughter.

Lu Xiangwei on the side closed his eyes and raised his hand to pat his forehead. The other teachers were also helpless and each of them had a bitter smile on their face.

When the laughter died down, Cao Sheng continued, "In addition, I want to say that the public has sharp eyes. If what he wrote is really good, then the sales volume should be higher than mine, not the other way around. As for me now that I have money and fame, can I grasp it?"

At this point, he paused and smiled, "I will enjoy the good times and bear the bad times. Since he is old, he should pay more attention to his blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids! Don't meddle in things that have nothing to do with him. Thank you!"

(End of this chapter)