"Stop acting so high and mighty!"

"That’s enough already!"

The crowd of rat-men could only fume helplessly.

"Hm?"

Luo Xiaolu felt an inexplicable surge of pressure on her hand. She froze for a moment, brows slightly furrowed.

Strange.

Then, years of delinquent-girl instinct kicked in—her grip tightened just a little.

Crack—

A sickening crunch of bone.

Huh?

She glanced down. Somehow, her hand had crushed Xiong Er’s into a mangled lump.

She looked up. Xiong Er’s face twitched violently, eyes wide with shock.

Luo Xiaolu knew that expression. Yeah—the look of getting beaten by your own ally, then forced to watch them set off firecrackers beside your wife while filming it to send you later.

Holy crap! She’d accidentally crushed the General Manager of the Penguin Group’s hand!

She released him instantly, offering an apologetic smile. Mortified but graceful, she bowed deeply to the audience.

Leaving Xiong Er standing there, wearing a mask of agony, utterly bewildered.

His limp hand contorted his face in pain—tears threatening to spill.

*Recalling Luo Xiaolu’s utterly innocent, harmless expression just seconds ago…*

How could a little girl have such monstrous strength?!

Was she truly an untouchable celestial maiden?!

The audience below had no clue. They only saw the two release hands after the "lemon" segment and erupted into applause.

"Next, please welcome Teacher Zhoushuren for a few words," the host announced.

Another wave of cheers swelled.

Alone onstage, Luo Xiaolu took the mic, cleared her throat, and tested it.

"Hm......"

Whoa?!

A voice blending gentle maturity with soft elegance, yet perfectly fused with youthful purity—sending shivers down spines. Goosebumps erupted everywhere.

If Teacher Zhoushuren’s looks shattered expectations, this voice was downright god-tier!

Men fell silent; women wept.

How could such perfection exist?! Did Nüwa dismantle the heavens to craft her?!

Thunderous applause followed.

Luo Xiaolu: "?????"

"I haven’t even said anything yet!"

Composing herself, she smiled. "Thank you to Penguin Chinese Network, NB Publishing, CCAV, Fengyun Society..."

Her smile faltered. Something felt off. She frowned, cut herself short, and added flatly, "...and others."

Huh??

Xiong Er froze. These were all the companies and media present! She was supposed to list every single one—she skipped them?!

"Thanks to everyone’s support, my work *Your Lie in July* partnered with a giant like Penguin Group..."

After brief pleasantries: "Next, I’m thrilled to introduce my new work—*The Garden of Words*. Still a pure love story. Please keep supporting me. Readers are my family!"

Silence. Then chaos.

Promoting a new book at a joint corporate signing—without naming the platform?!

Who dares?!

She hijacked every company’s media coverage—zero ad cost! No author ever pulled this!

Like announcing at your wedding: "Join me tomorrow for my baby shower with another woman—please bring red envelopes!"

A betrayal, right in their faces.

You’ve got guts.

Even Green Leaf gaped, glancing desperately at VP Wang Yu—

Wang Yu was just as stunned.

"Is this even possible?!"

But the popcorn-munching crowd quickly erupted:

"Sister Zhoushuren’s dropping a new work?!"

"What about *July*? I’m loyal to Lavender!"

"Sister, don’t you trust us?!"

"I believe it! Waaah… another tearjerker. Stocking tissues now."

"Ugh, new book’s coming and I’m still single!"

Excitement drowned corporate outrage.

The ceremony ended. Luo Xiaolu stepped offstage, waving gently.

The celestial maiden returned to the heavens.

......

"Miss Zhoushuren! Thoughts on today’s ceremony?"

Swarmed by reporters the moment she exited:

"It was fine. Just… too many cameras," she replied.

"Exactly! So rude!" a male reporter chimed in—while frantically snapping photos.

*(That’s YOU, dude!!)*

"Miss Zhoushuren! Rumor says the copyright fee jumped from 500k to 1M due to your demand. True? Are you… money-driven?"

The crowd hushed. Cameras leaned in.

*True! Of course I care about money! Write for love? What nonsense! More cash = better, duh!*

...But saying that would make her explode—splattering blood everywhere.

"Actually," Luo Xiaolu said earnestly, "I’ve never touched money. I have no interest. I only asked for a higher fee because this work—my child—is worth more. As its author, I wish to reveal its true value to you all."

"Ooh!"

"So well said, Miss Zhoushuren!"

"Incredible, Teacher!"

"Not for fame or fortune—a true artist!"

Facing the cameras, she spoke with solemn grace:

"We creators must honor our original hearts! Deliver only our best to bring you joy. Many, blinded by money, pad stories with fluff, chase new projects mid-series—a desecration of art! We must strive to be noble, pure, moral, free from vulgarity, and beneficial to the people!"

"Bravo!!"

Cheers erupted. Tears streamed. Notebooks flipped open, pens scribbling furiously.