Chapter 33: The Top Scholar Writing Novels? (Bonus Chapter Added After 100 Recommendation Votes)
“Look, Lin Yi tagged you.” Although Tong Liya didn’t usually follow online chatter, Chen Meng kept a close eye on it, especially since Tong Liya was currently in the eye of the storm.
“Really? Let me see.” Tong Liya leaned in toward Chen Meng and took her phone.
Chen Meng had not been mistaken.
Lin Yi had indeed tagged her and even took the time to explain the whole situation.
Reading Lin Yi’s post, Tong Liya logged into WeChat and messaged him directly.
Tong Liya’s little sweetheart: Lin Yi, are you feeling better from your cold?
After a short while, Lin Yi replied.
Wind Has Risen (Lin Yi): Much better, thanks to your 999 cold medicine.
Tong Liya’s little sweetheart: No need to thank me, as long as you’re better, I’m relieved. Lin Yi, did you just clarify our relationship on Weibo?
Wind Has Risen: Yes, it’s not good to let people misunderstand. Sorry about that, I didn’t expect them to be so impulsive — they even invaded your Weibo.
After sending the message, Lin Yi browsed Tong Liya’s Weibo and, just as he had guessed, the comments were vile.
While scrolling, he casually followed Tong Liya’s account.
Tong Liya’s little sweetheart: I should be the one apologizing for dragging you into this.
Wind Has Risen: Ah, someone’s just stirring things up.
Lin Yi seriously went through the accounts of those who had come online with their entire families in tow and found an interesting pattern — they were mostly marketing accounts.
One or two fools, either because they hadn’t switched accounts or sent messages to the wrong person, insulted Tong Liya and then came back to insult him too.
Would anyone believe there were no troublemakers among them?
No one knew if those behind the scenes were targeting him or Tong Liya.
Tong Liya’s little sweetheart: This kind of thing is normal, but I want to make it clear it wasn’t me. I had no intention of riding your coattails. ^O^
Wind Has Risen: I know. ^O^
…
During their chat, Tong Liya burst into laughter at times, kicking her legs playfully.
Chen Meng, standing beside them, was utterly speechless. Was this still the lady she knew?
A complete lunatic!
“Goose, goose, goose!” Tong Liya laughed until tears streamed down, playfully pounding Chen Meng with her little fists.
“What’s so funny?” Chen Meng’s eyes darkened, frowning as she stared at the madwoman before her.
“Xiao Meng, imagine a girl shopping who spots a handsome guy and is instantly smitten. She wants to ask for his WeChat but is too nervous. So she clutches her mom and says, ‘Mom, I’m so nervous, I’m scared.’ Do you know what her mom said?”
“What did she say?” Chen Meng clicked her tongue, unimpressed. Her mom would either encourage her to ask or tell her to check herself out in a mirror.
“Her mom calmly said, ‘If you have your eyes set on him, it means he’s destined for this misfortune. What do you have to be afraid of? The one who should be afraid is him.’ Ha! Destined misfortune!”
“What?” Chen Meng was momentarily stunned, but when it sank in, she laughed heartily, clutching her stomach. No mother would be so cruel to her own daughter.
---
When a boy meets her, he’s doomed to this misfortune!
Hahaha!
This poor guy is so unlucky!
“Ha ha… goose, goose, goose…”
“Ha ha… goose, goose…”
The eerie sound of their laughter echoed through the room.
Lin Yi put down his phone, a faint smile curling at his lips. He stretched leisurely and gazed out the window.
After half a day of rest, his cold was much improved; his nose no longer running as much.
He dialed room service and casually ordered a set meal, then sat down to relax.
He didn’t want to get too involved in the online drama. He had already explained himself — whether they believed it was their own business.
He couldn’t very well lay out the evidence to prove that he and Tong Liya were not secretly meeting!
He simply didn’t have the time.
Nor did he need to curry favor with them.
The hotel service was quick; soon the meal arrived.
The food looked appetizing, heavy on meat and light on vegetables.
Lin Yi paid no mind to the taste and devoured the food ravenously.
Burp!
After a big belch, he put down his chopsticks, satisfied.
Knock, knock, knock!
“Lin Yi, have you eaten yet?”
Opening the door, Lin Yi found Tong Liya standing outside.
“Just finished,” Lin Yi leaned on the doorframe, smiling.
“Alright then. I was going to invite you to eat with me, but since you’ve eaten, I’ll head off first.”
“Okay.” Lin Yi nodded and watched Tong Liya walk away.
At Qidian Chinese Network.
After signing the contract for "Republic of Shadows" and with Lin Yi’s steady updates, the editor arranged a trial promotion.
"Republic of Shadows" gained exposure and quickly appeared before readers.
“Is ‘Republic of Shadows’ about secret warfare? Hey, the author’s name sounds familiar! Lin Yi, Lin Yi, I think I’ve seen him somewhere.”
“That’s right, isn’t he this year’s top scorer in Xiang Province’s college entrance exam?”
Lin Dazhi suddenly realized, then frowned. Could this author be a fake, pretending to be someone else to ride on their fame?
Lin Yi’s songs were so popular, why bother writing novels? Even appearing on variety shows casually would earn him hundreds of thousands.
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Lin Dazhi, agitated and indignant, nodded firmly — he despised people like this above all!
Without further ado, Lin Dazhi transformed into a crusader of justice, brandishing his keyboard, shouting as he launched an attack:
“I will never side with evil!”
“The most disgusting author on Qidian! Hands down! This skillful fame-riding makes me want to shout, ‘Bro, 666!’”
Lin Dazhi’s comment quickly drew a wave of agreement.
“Exactly! And Qidian does nothing! This blatant fame-riding disgusts me. What kind of good novel can such an author write?”
“+1.”
“Resist!”
“Stand firm!”
…
A flood of comments thrust "Republic of Shadows" into the center of controversy.
Some authors watching gleefully rejoiced — rivals are foes, and Qidian only has so many resources and recommendation slots. If you get recommended, I won’t. By the time it’s my turn, the book might already be launched. What a nuisance.
The uproar naturally caught the attention of Qidian’s staff.
“What’s going on here?” Cookie found the editor.
The editor looked bewildered, looking at Cookie with a wronged expression: “What’s going on? How should I know? You didn’t tell me, how would I know?”
“Go check out ‘Republic of Shadows’ yourself.” Cookie shot him a sharp look, clearly annoyed. The situation was huge, and he still had no clue! →_→
The editor immediately went to Qidian and checked the comments on "Republic of Shadows," then looked at the author’s profile backstage. Everything seemed legitimate — the author’s surname was indeed Lin, and his given name was Yi!
Stop.
The editor leaned closer to the computer, eyes fixed on the author’s profile picture and address, pupils widening instantly!
He had discovered something!
What had happened?
The ID photo matched exactly with the media reports.
The address was identical to that of this year’s top scorer in Xiang Province — Xiang Province, Fulin City, Haiyuan City, XX.
Damn, this novel was really written by Lin Yi, the top scorer!
“Cookie, come take a look! I’ve found something big!” the editor said excitedly.
“What big thing? Stay calm no matter what happens! Calm!” Cookie’s face darkened as he left his desk and approached, patting the editor’s shoulder with a teaching tone.
“Look at the person on the screen — he is the author of ‘Republic of Shadows’!”
“Damn, Lin Yi!”