Chapter 193
Jian Li: "That's all?"
Kong Fei hummed.
Although Jian Li thought Kong Fei's behavior was a bit strange, she didn't think much about it.
"Not next week."
Thinking of her relationship with Aunt Lin Hui, Jian Li explained considerately, "I have a book signing event next week, so I won't be free for both days."
"Is that so?" Kong Fei suppressed his frustration and said, "Then I'll look for you next time there's an event?"
Although Jian Li was not very interested in this kind of hometown gathering, she said, "It depends on the situation."
Kong Fei returned to the dormitory in a depressed mood.
Seeing him like this, his roommates knew that he probably didn't get any good news this time.
"Why? I'm not going?"
Kong Fei lowered his head and said sadly: "No, it just happened that she has something to do next week."
His roommate looked at him sympathetically: "Then...will you go next time?"
Kong Fei put away the stool: "Go."
His mother is right, if you like it, you should express it.
If it doesn’t work this time, try next time!
****
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the book signing.
Jiang Rou arranged the venue early. Zhili's first book signing event was held in a relatively large bookstore in the Third Ring Road. This bookstore was located near a shopping mall and was several times larger than the Xinhua Bookstore.
Originally Jiang Rou was worried whether the negotiation could go smoothly, after all, Jian Li hadn't released any new works in two years.
Although the previous two works received good responses, the author has not released new works for a long time, and market evaluation will also take into account the window period.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Jiang Rou talked about the book signing with several potential bookstores, they couldn't wait to grab Zhili's first book signing opportunity.
Several bookstore owners called Jiang Rou and tied up her phone. They all said that as long as Zhili was willing to go, they could provide the venue and travel expenses, and would not let the author go in vain.
Seeing the price getting higher and higher, Jiang Rou was stunned.
The editor-in-chief was delighted but soon understood the meaning.
"You have to become famous early. Look at Pear, it became famous early and its works have sold well in recent years. If it were some new and emerging authors in the past two years, their fame would have been hyped up."
Print media is declining, and those who didn’t become famous early on are sighing with regret. Some publishing houses have started to sell gimmicks to attract new authors.
These days, people love nothing more than “beautiful writer”, “Ivy League graduate”, and “genius boy and girl”.
In other words, Zhili didn't post her Kyoto University education. If she had, the popularity would have been even higher.
"Bookstores know best whose books are selling well. I have always been a mystery, but the sales of my works are stable enough. If we release the news that I will be signing books, readers will definitely buy them."
Mei Hua started to hype up the news three months ago. Jian Li did an interview and the magazine was split into two issues.
However, these two interviews without any works have made the sales of "Charm" which had been sluggish for more than ten months show a beautiful inflection point on paper.
Jiang Rou negotiated with the largest local bookstore, and the other party happily went back to start making posters.
There is still a month before the book signing, but there are already a dozen large posters hung outside the bookstore.
【Mysterious manga artist Giri's first book signing】
After this advertisement was released, many readers rushed to the forum to ask whether the pear was real.
Jian Li replied on the BBS: "Yes."
Everyone was instantly delighted.
【Ahhhh, Zhili wants to sign autographs! 】
[I'm in Shanghai... Can someone bring me a copy? ]
[Great! I can finally meet Tadashi in person! ]
The young readers happily set off firecrackers.
It's just that the pear is too mysterious.
Once a person becomes mysterious, there will often be all kinds of speculation.
Some people say that Jianli was trapped in love and committed suicide after drawing two comics, so she has never appeared. [Jianli: ...]
This rumor was the most widespread. Every now and then, when someone was obsessed with Zhili's comics, a classmate would tell her mysteriously, "Did you know? Zhili has passed away!"
This kind of campus rumor is just like saying that Dr. Agasa is the mastermind behind "Detective Conan". It has no source, but it has inexplicably spread among all middle school and elementary school students.
Another rumor is that Pear is not pretty enough, so she doesn't want to appear in public.
Many parents are the ones who believe in this. Every time they see their children obsessed with comics, parents who don't understand always say something.
"What good can you achieve by painting this kind of thing?"
"You don't even dare to show your face, it must be very ugly!"
It's not surprising that some people say this, because many works at that time, whether literary or comic, would have the author's portrait printed on the cover.
If the author is a female, many of them will be given a resounding title by the publishing house.
In such a big environment, the mystery of Zhili seems out of place.
The last rumor is that Jiri is actually an elementary school student who was caught by her parents while drawing comics and is now not allowed to draw.
Most of Jiang Rou's colleagues still tend to believe the last rumor.
This news caused many partners to come to Jiang Rou to inquire, asking if Zhili was really a minor? Could she tell her parents that since she was so talented, wouldn't it be better for her to become a genius comics girl than to go to school with all the hardship?
Jiang Rou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was true that Zhili was a minor, but she was definitely not an elementary school student.
In the past few years, there have been many people asking for information. In addition to those magazines that tried to poach Zhili through crooked means, there were also those who tried every means to contact Zhili to negotiate copyright.
Although Jianli was a little skeptical about her popularity after her return, many magazines and insiders still gave high praise to the value of the name Jianli.
Because of this, this signing event was so grand.
The organizer's invitation was very formal, and they also invited a stylist and a makeup artist. The host also picked two of them. The on-site decoration used the self-painted cover of Zhili's first work, and the pink color filled the entire hall.
The book signing will be on two days, Saturday and Sunday.
Jian Li went to rehearsal on Friday night and saw that the venue, which could accommodate hundreds of people, felt a little empty.
What if there aren't many people coming to such a big place?
Jiang Rou accompanied her through the process, and the two hosts saw Jian Li being hesitant and comforted her.
"It's okay. The bookstore will make sure there won't be any crowds."
Jian Li laughed dryly. "You still want to squeeze in?" Her BBS said that only about 100 to 200 people could come.
Forget it, I’m here now.
Jian Li perked up and answered questions from the host.
The process of this book signing event is "entry - opening by the host - sharing session - question and answer session - group photo taking - book signing session".
Jian Li was very cooperative, and after the rehearsal the female host even asked her for an autograph.
"I want an autograph now, who knows if I can get one in the next two days?"
The male host also smiled and lined up behind him: "My sister is your fan."
After signing her name, Jian Li handed the signature to the other party with both hands: "It's my honor."
Friday passed peacefully.
On Saturday, Jian Li was woken up by Jiang Rou at six in the morning. The makeup artist came early to do her makeup. For the first time, Jian Li's palms were sweating due to nervousness.
After putting on makeup, Jian Li went to the preparation room that had been arranged in advance to wait.
The noise outside was gradually getting louder, but Jian Li couldn't see it, so she could only guess the number of people present today based on the decibel level.
Well, that should be ok, right?
Jian Li thinks that if not many people come on the first day of the autograph session, she will sign more slowly...which is also a good opportunity for her to communicate more with her fans.
Following the enthusiastic words of the host in front, "Please let the pear come out."
Jian Li was led out of the preparation room.
When she appeared from the side of the stage, Jian Li was stunned for a moment.
People, people, people...
All people!
The shopping mall consists of three floors, and the bookstore occupies several hundred square meters on the second floor, but wherever Jian Li looks, there are people.
Some were obviously people who were watching the excitement, but who would tell her?
How come there are so many people in the large hall of the bookstore!
Not to mention the people in the queue, there were also many people clinging to the isolation tape and shouting her name.
Jian Li walked onto the stage dazed and the host asked her to sit down.
"Welcome, Zhili. Next we will proceed to the interview session. Don't raise your hands yet. We will ask questions after the interview."
Jian Li finally understood why some people were keen on becoming stars. Apart from the financial income, it was more about standing under the spotlight and being watched by so many people, which really gave them a feeling of being the "highlight of their life".
Jian Li answered questions according to the content of yesterday's rehearsal and waited for the Q&A session. In addition to readers, there were also reporters. However, Jian Li still mostly pointed to readers.
The confessions from readers came unexpectedly.
"Jiri, I really like "Star Bamboo Legend". I even learned to draw my own comics when I was in high school..."
"Is it my turn? I'm so excited! I like you, Jiri! I love every one of your works!"
“Excuse me, do you have any new works coming up?”
Jian Li picked up the microphone and said, "My new work, "Scarlet Legend", will be serialized in "Charm". "
The first phase of the new work has been submitted. This time, Jian Li chose the unit painting method.
The story unfolds through a little girl who has superpowers and can travel through time and space. There are many stories about the artifacts themselves, historical stories, and explorations from another perspective. The story is a combination of fiction and reality. Some of the artifacts are from the museum, and many are Jian Li's personal understanding based on what she has learned.
After Jian Li finished speaking, there were a few more cheers from the audience.
"Very good!"
Jian Li looked at those obviously young readers, and her heart was filled with a great sense of accomplishment.
In this life, there is already something to prove that she has been here.
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