Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The room came into a deep silence.
Everyone seemed taken aback and were exchanging glances with each other.
Some female authors seemed worried, while some of them were looking on curiously.
The quiet environment was reserved for the main character in a quarrel.
Everyone stayed silent.
Xiang Wan sat on her seat and did not move.
Compared to the first time she met Du Landuo at the Capital during their training program, the latter seemed to have gained some weight. When she stared at Xiang Wan fiercely, even without Zi Tan beside her, she seemed to be able to emit an imperious aura.
Xiang Wan could not understand why Du Landuo behaved like this?
That look on her was enough to tell everyone that she was here for Xiang Wan.
Back when they were at the Capital for training, they had shared some disagreements with each other, but it was nothing more than that. Xiang Wan had already forgotten about this female author, who had become a web novelist earlier than her by a few years since she was too busy living her hectic but fulfilling life.
Well, she was kinda lazy as well.
Of course, she had a lot to do.
Although she would log into her author’s account and update her chapters, she seldom read other novels listed on the same website as her. Because of that, she ignored the gossip or rumors about other authors either. Du Landuo’s attitude towards her baffled Xiang Wan, for she didn’t recall any incident wherein she had ever offended her!
In that room, Xiang Wan knew that there must be other authors who did not like her.
However, with the internet as their medium, they could hide behind the screen and talk behind her back. But it would be another matter if one confronted her directly!
Well, one required courage to do that.
Generally, one wouldn’t confront another in this way without a good reason!
Fang Yuanyuan glanced at Xiang Wan with a worried gaze.
However, this was a company event, and she was taking on her role as an editor, not Xiang Wan’s cousin. It would be inappropriate for her to step out and support Xiang Wan. She could only exchange glances with her, asking her to ignore Du Landuo.
There were many people in the room. No matter what, one should not behave recklessly lest she might become the talk of the town!
People who were watching the scene with interest would certainly be greater in numbers than those who looked on with concern.
The best option for such situations would be to ignore Du Landuo.
Xiang Wan had never thought of behaving like a shrew in public just because of a not-so-nice remark!
Since Du Landuo did not mention her name, she simply treated it like she had swallowed a fly—disgusted.
Xiang Wan turned her head away slowly while she sat at her spot steadily as though she had not heard Du Landuo’s words.
She also ignored all the expectant gazes of those in the room…
Well, she was calm and poised.
Of course, all her calmness were attributed to the experiences she had…
Compared to the many web novelists who haven’t entered and experienced society, the things Xiang Wan experienced was enough for her to treat these people as children who had not seen the world…
She ignored them.
The tense atmosphere in the room persisted.
For at least half a minute, nobody talked. It was so quiet that it made one’s scalp felt numb.
Xiang Wan’s cool composure infuriated Du Landuo.
Together with two of her close author friends, Du Landuo walked directly towards Xiang Wan.
Prior to them coming to this room, she had already changed into her gown; she also had her hair and makeup done. With her rich, bright makeup and the long train of her gown, her aura was imposing and her expression was scarier compared to how it was earlier. She was clearly prepared…
Just when everyone thought nothing would happen, their hearts jumped again immediately.
Worried, nervous, anticipation; their expressions varied; it was interesting to watch.
While Xiang Wan observed the expressions of the ones inside the room, Du Landuo had stopped before her.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Du Landuo was straight and direct. Even her breathing blew toward her direction.
It was no longer appropriate to stay silent.
The corners of Xiang Wan’s lips turned upwards. She looked up and asked calmly.
“Are you talking to me?”
Du Landuo appeared even more agitated, for Xiang Wan’s relaxed and indolent attitude made her feel that her fist was as if landed on cotton.
“Xiang Gongzi, what’s the point of acting deaf and dumb?”
Xiang Wan simply shrugged. “My bad, I’ve never seen such a rude greeting before in my life! So I don’t know that you’re actually talking to me. What are you talking about again?”
“I’m here today to ask a favor of you… could you please stop your act and have some shame?”
Du Landuo snapped furiously at her. She had directly declared Xiang Wan guilty and stared down at her.
Xiang Wan couldn’t resist letting out a chuckle. “I don’t quite understand! Did I dig your family ancestral grave or throw your kid to the water? Will you please be more direct with me!?”
“Hurhur! Hurhurhur…”
Du Landuo folded her arms and glared at her coldly.
“You can really act. Didn’t you know what you’ve done?”
Xiang Wan raised her chin and changed to a more comfortable sitting position. She did not reply Du Landuo while totally looking like she was waiting for the latter to continue talking. In the first round of their battle of wits, she instantly took down Du Landuo’s exasperation.
When one was in an angry state, their level of intelligence would plummet.
Xiang Wan was also feeling angry inside, but she kept reminding herself that she shouldn’t flare up…
Subconsciously, Bai Muchuan’s image came into her mind, and she imitated his behavior by looking at Du Landuo with an extremely cold and arrogant look, as well as a disparaging smile.
As if she was saying, “you may start your performance now!”
That irked Du Landuo further, and she started to mock Xiang Wan.
“Why are you still pretending? Everyone in Wen Quan already knows about how you shamelessly asked your fans to get you ranked up and engage in this unscrupulous ranking battle… Not only that, you even used Second Young Master Mu’s name, so you could make yourself known. Frankly, I’ve been a web novelist with Wen Quan for so many years, but this is the first time I’ve seen something like this…”
“Then why aren’t you thanking me?” Xiang Wan did not explain but returned a question instead.
Du Landuo was startled for a moment while staring at her relaxed, smiling face. “Hah! Don’t you care about your face for once and have some shame?”
Xiang Wan responded cooly, “Excuse me… You’ve just said it. Since it’s my face, what has it got to do with you?”
She chose not to argue or deny anything.
There were some things that would not change no matter how much she denied or explained herself; it really boiled down to how the individual viewed the matter.
Those who believed in her would believe in her.
Those that didn’t like her, to begin with, would not be of much use even if she tried hard to explain her side.
Xiang Wan felt no need to explain to anyone about what actually happened. She looked away and saw Fang Yuanyuan’s smile then turned back for a glance at Du Landuo’s brooding face. She suddenly felt a little glad.
“You really don’t have to worry about that. If there’s nothing else, you should probably stop blocking the way; I need to get my makeup done!”
“As expected… you’re really shameless!” Du Landuo squeezed out those words while gritting her teeth.
After that, she took another step closer and stared at Xiang Wan as if she was looking at a murderer who killed her family.
Her bloodshot gaze perplexed Xiang Wan as she faced her.
Has this woman gone crazy? she thought.
She couldn’t win in an argument against me, so she’s thinking of using violence?
Xiang Wan was now wary toward her, but she only expected Du Landuo’s fake eyelashes to blink; she never expected to see them reddened, seemingly about to cry.
“You shamelessly asked your fans to get you ranked up and engaged in an unscrupulous ranking battle. You make use of Second Young Master Mu’s name to ride on his coattails. Well, sure, these are none of my business. At the very most, I’ll only scorn you for such behavior in my heart…”
Xiang Wan had a smirk on her face as she returned a question.
“You’re right. There are many people who share the same opinion as you, so who do you think you are? Why are you taking the lead by helping others do this to me?”
“Because—” Du Landuo emphasized and enunciated every word clearly. “You. Are. Too. Shameless!”
“…”
Xiang Wan lifted her eyelids.
“What are you trying to say? Can you at least use other words? How did you become an author when you keep using the same word over and over again!?”
“You—” Du Landuo pointed at Xiang Wan. “You seduced my boyfriend!”
“…”
What the?
Boyfriend?
That went beyond Xiang Wan’s expectations.
It dazed her for three seconds and regained her composure.
“Hur? A person like you can get a boyfriend too?”
Someone in the room suddenly let out a chuckle.
Obviously, it belonged to a chuckle that someone didn’t manage to hold. That enraged Du Landuo further.
She turned to look for the one who laughed, but she did not manage to do so. She suddenly snorted and took out something from her handbag.
“You refused to admit it, right?” She questioned Xiang Wan, “Do you dare to deny this thing is not yours?”
Xiang Wan immediately sprang up from her seat!
She looked at her in the eye…
No, to be exact, she was looking at the thing on Du Landuo’s hand.
She didn’t want to deny it at all!
This was not only something that belonged to her. It was also something she treasured a lot…
The osmanthus sachet.
It was a gift from Bai Muchuan, and she had treasured it as though it was a token of love from him. How could she deny that it was not hers?
Xiang Wan’s gaze turned chilly. “Why is this with you?”
“What do you think?” Hatred was written all over Du Landuo’s face. “Didn’t you give this to my boyfriend? Isn’t that evidence of you hooking up with him last night?”
Last night…
Xiang Wan suddenly seemed to understand something.
She was so irritated that her heart started thumping loudly, and she was gritting her teeth.
“Your boyfriend is Hu Bandao?”
Hu Bandao was also a rather famous author.
Those who were present in that room had heard of him before.
By stating his pen name so openly before everyone, it seemed as if she admitted that she really had something going on with him…
Suddenly, they heard low whispers while the onlookers started to discuss amongst themselves. Not only that, they were not sure when it happened, but there were now many people standing outside the room, looking at the drama unfolding before their eyes.
Fang Yuanyuan thought the situation did not bode well and wanted to stop the confrontation but halted when Xiang Wan sent a warning glare over.
“Well, now that I found the thing I’ve lost, it’s my turn to ask you questions!”
