Lin Chuan laughed, “Old Wang, what do you mean by that? Your thoughts are quite dangerous.”
Old Wang also burst into roaring laughter, “If I didn’t know you so well, I’d think you were up to some fraud.”
“Go on, stop spreading rumors, you can’t just say things like that!” Lin Chuan jokingly scolded.
After exchanging a few words with Lin Chuan, Wang Zikai felt rejuvenated, and his mood greatly improved.
“Old Lin, if we both enter the anti-fraud writing contest, we’d definitely be The Two Heroes. When I adapt it and you publish it, how should we spend all that money?” Wang Zikai fantasized about a bright future.
“You think everyone else is a pushover?” Lin Chuan threw a wet blanket on Old Wang’s enthusiasm.
The online literature circle is far from a comfort zone.
It’s pretty competitive, too.
Especially for a nationwide anti-fraud writing contest with generous prizes, including the potential for film adaptations. Just the royalties from a film adaptation could be a significant sum.
If turned into a major IP, it could be worth tens of millions or even billions.
Of course.
Lin Chuan had never experienced any of this firsthand, only through hearsay.
But seeing the support for this anti-fraud contest, it seemed like all the big names were enthusiastic.
“Speaking of that, it reminds me of the original ‘The Two Heroes’,” Old Wang stroked his chin and pondered.
“What ‘The Two Heroes’?” Lin Chuan was taken aback.
“The ones who started out with you, Handon and Hongmei,” Old Wang said with a smile, “Handon just knocked off ‘King of Cheating’ and is now fully committed to the anti-fraud contest. An author with ten thousand subscriptions is indeed formidable!”
Fine works, major fine works, ten thousand subscriptions, Heavenly King, Influent Author, Platinum.
Over the 20-year history of Sailing Novel Website, there have only been a little over 1200 books with ten thousand subscriptions, which is why authors with that many are known as ‘little gods’.
Recalling the time when “Swindler” first came out alongside Handon, Lin Chuan said with a smile, “To shatter the darkness with a thunder strike!”
Old Wang spit out, “It’s not appropriate for you to say that now.”
“Then what should I say?” Lin Chuan was puzzled, “Thirty years in the east river and thirty years in the west river, don’t bully the poor anymore?”
“What if Handon bellows, ‘Don’t bully the poor with ten thousand subscriptions’?” Old Wang chuckled.
“Then I’ll just go ‘heh heh heh heh’.”
The refreshing breeze from the Anling River blew from night into day, from the riverside into the city. As the warm sun began to rise, it painted the eastern sky red. The morning mist gradually dispersed, revealing the full view of Anling.
The Little Landlady had arranged with the police to meet today at 9:30 AM at the Anling Police Station’s meeting room to discuss a cooperative matter.
So, Lin Chuan got up early.
“Director, how do I look in this outfit?” Downstairs from the rental property, the Little Landlady beamed with a smile.
Lin Chuan glanced up.
For this cooperative matter, the Little Landlady had “carefully dressed up in her Sunday best.”
She wore a white shirt underneath a casually chic blazer on top and a light gray long skirt that wrapped around her waist and fell just past her knees, revealing a small section of her fair legs. Paired with black leather shoes, she exuded the youthful vibe of a college student while still maintaining propriety.
“Not bad, you kind of look like a financial director,” Lin Chuan said with a laugh.
Pleased by the compliment, Zhang Xinxin’s smile brightened, “Director, why don’t you wear a suit to discuss business?”
Lin Chuan, still dressed in casual attire, replied with a smile, “A cultured inner self is naturally adorned, I focus on inner cultivation.”
“So full of twisted logic.”
Xinxin spat out.
Taking the route of bus 13, the two hailed a cab to the Anling Police Station.
They had agreed on the time, so the police station had arranged for someone to greet Lin Chuan and lead him to the meeting room.
And that person was Xia Qingqing.
Dressed in a dark cyan uniform, Xia Qingqing looked bold and valiant. When she saw Lin Chuan getting out of the cab, she revealed a smile, “Lin Chuan, over here.”
Lin Chuan smiled back, “Qingqing, how come it’s you receiving us?”
“Well, it’s because I know you,” Qingqing replied with a smile, then turned to look at the Little Landlady beside Lin Chuan, smiling politely, “Comrade Lin, who might this be?”
“Hello, police officer. I am Zhang Xinxin, the financial director of Studio 720,” Xinxin introduced herself with a twinkle in her eye.
“Hello.”
Xia Qingqing extended her hand, giving Xinxin a friendly handshake.
“Comrade Lin Chuan, I didn’t expect your studio to have a financial director, and such a beautiful one at that,” Xia Qingqing asked with interest.
“Uh, she’s also a founder of the studio.”
Lin Chuan scratched his head, feeling something off in the air, and quickly said, “Let’s head to the meeting room.”
“This way, please,” Xia Qingqing replied with a courteous smile.
As they walked, the Little Landlady murmured quietly to Lin Chuan, “Director, you seem to be quite familiar with this officer?”
Lin Chuan’s mouth twitched, “We know each other, we know each other.”
The Little Landlady pursed her lips and inwardly questioned, Director, do you just know this police officer?
Tsk!
A man’s mouth, a liar’s ghost!
One could tell at a glance that something was amiss!
Along the way, Xia Qingqing blinked and suddenly asked, “By the way, Writer Lin, did you enjoy the shrimp last night?”
“Ah?”
Lin Chuan forced a smile, “It was good... very good.”
“Is peeled shrimp tastier?” Xia Qingqing teased.
“Tasty, all tasty.”
Lin Chuan grimaced as two lines of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Seeing Lin Chuan like this, Xia Qingqing smiled satisfactorily and continued to lead Lin Chuan and Zhang Xinxin toward the meeting room.
For Lin Chuan, the walk from the entrance to the meeting room seemed exceptionally long.
Even longer than the riverside walk he took with Xia Qingqing the night before. The air seemed to carry a subtly different scent, although Lin Chuan couldn’t quite identify it.
This scene, why did it feel like a showdown from a novel?
Dammit, when I was single, I complained about not knowing any girls. Now that I’ve gotten to know a few, new troubles arise.
Alas...
Fortunately, just as they reached the floor of the meeting room, Lin Chuan saw a group of people waiting outside.
One of them was particularly prominent.
A man dressed in a white police uniform, middle-aged in appearance, with black hair flecked with grey, radiated vibrancy and energy.
Shh...
Lin Chuan had been in and out of the police station quite a few times recently, but this was his first time seeing the white shirt.
White shirts were generally reserved for the level of a police chief.
Lin Chuan started to wonder.
The chief himself coming out to meet me... This partnership must be pretty high-level.
Just then, Director Zhang Biao in his white shirt, came forward with a beaming smile and extended his hand, “I didn’t expect Comrade Lin to be so young, truly a case of a hero being a youth!”
Xia Qingqing timely introduced, “This is our police station’s Director Zhang.”
Lin Chuan shook hands with Zhang Biao: “Director Zhang, you’re too kind.”
“Haha...”
Zhang Biao’s face was affable with a warm smile, exhibiting no air of superiority: “Comrade Lin is being modest. You are a hero not only in Anling but throughout the whole Han River region. Come, let’s go to the conference room.”
“It’s just a small contribution, nothing worth mentioning,” Lin Chuan said, smiling.
“What a modest contribution, please follow me.”
Zhang Biao lead the way to the conference room with a grin.
“Lin, I hear you’re also a novelist,” Zhang Biao said, walking briskly and making small talk.
Lin Chuan nodded: “Yes, my main job is writing novels.”
“Not bad, not bad at all. You’re multitalented. Even an old man like me feels behind the times compared to you young folks,” Zhang Biao laughed. “Actually, I’ve been following your novels.”
Hmm?
Lin Chuan was momentarily taken aback, his expression subtly shifting.
Director Zhang, I hope you’re just a follower and not harboring any other ideas.
Otherwise, given your position, if you decided to take me away, it would be much harder for me to complain about injustice.
At that moment.
Dressed in the white shirt, Zhang Biao continued with a laugh: “Lin, I’ve been reading a few of your novels. Your grasp on crime themes is really spot on, especially ‘This Assassin Is Too Professional.’ The assassin’s skills are so professional that I began to suspect you’ve got a few cases under your belt.”
Lin Chuan’s mouth twitched.
Chief, are you making small talk or trying to trip me up?
After a thought, Lin Chuan defensively said: “Director Zhang, I actually write crime scenes from a special perspective to dissuade readers from going down the path of crime.”
Xia Qingqing, at his side, laughed and interjected: “Lin Chuan, actually, Director Zhang is one of your readers, he’s subscribed to several of your books.”
Subscribed?
Lin Chuan was slightly surprised, but then his ‘author’s instinct’ kicked in. He raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Thank you for the support, Director Zhang!”
A true fan indeed!
Zhang Biao chuckled, giving Lin Chuan a thumbs up: “‘This Assassin Is Too Professional,’ I’m still studying it. It’s quite impressive!”
Lin Chuan smiled and modestly said: “I’m simply doing my small part. The real impresarios are our comrades in the police.”
“Hahaha.”
Everyone laughed, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Throughout the walk, no one mentioned anything about hackers.
But everyone was well aware.
The seemingly very young man before them was the ‘God of Hackers’.
It was precisely for this reason that Anling Police decided to work with his studio.
Once in the conference room, both parties sat down opposite each other.
Zhang Xinxin, still a college student, was understandably nervous around someone with such a strong presence as the white-shirted chief, so she obediently sat down next to Lin Chuan.
Actually, Lin Chuan was somewhat nervous as well.
Who wouldn’t be nervous under normal circumstances?
However, Lin Chuan had experienced quite a lot in life, and though he did not exude an air of aged wisdom, he had honed a certain maturity of spirit. Plus, having successfully dealt with AW, he was able to meet Zhang Biao without feeling inferior or overawed.
Strength was the source of confidence.
In the conference room, both sides began discussing the partnership, with a strong intent to cooperate, so the talks proceeded smoothly.
The main agreement was for the 720 Studio to provide cyber security services to the Anling Police and necessary emergency technical support when needed.
Possibly because both parties feared a change of mind, a preliminary partnership agreement was swiftly signed.
As for the subsequent details, such as service fees, these would be further negotiated, principally with Zhang Xinxin liaising with the financial personnel of the police station.
Lin Chuan knew that the Anling Police had now firmly tied him to their ship.
Which was fine with him.
720 Studio would soon make a name for itself, with more internet cafés and companies seeking to partner with him.
“Comrade Lin, your studio isn’t very large yet, is it?” Zhang Biao inquired.
Lin Chuan nodded: “Right, it’s not very big.”
“Then there’s much room for growth. Anling is now looking to build a strong cyber security front, and we’re counting on top tech talents like you,” Zhang Biao said cheerfully.
“Thanks for the praise, Director Zhang,” Lin Chuan responded as his eyebrows lifted.
Lin Chuan grasped the implicit message in Chief Zhang Biao’s words.
That’s right, the studio was gaining recognition, but it was too small-scale with only him, Zhang Xinxin, and Li Qing, insufficient for partnerships with more companies.
It was time to expand.
More significant collaborations were in the making.
Zhang Biao waved his hand dismissively and chuckled, “Comrade Lin, you are now Han River’s premier ‘Red Hat,’ a top computer technician who can also conduct criminal investigations, and you are a novelist to boot. Such promise at a young age!”
He didn’t hide his admiration for Lin Chuan.
My goodness.
If Lin Chuan hadn’t come through in a dire situation, who knows if he, Zhang Biao, could still be so jovial now, or if he would even be wearing that white shirt.
“Comrade Lin Chuan is also skilled in anti-fraud,” Xia Qingqing added.
Anti-fraud?
Everyone was taken aback.
“Comrade Lin, you’re versed in anti-fraud too?” Curiosity flickered across Zhang Biao’s face as he turned to Lin Chuan.
Along the border area of Han River, Anling had its fair share of fraud cases.
Because of this, Zhang Biao had always been looking for ways to reduce, even eliminate, instances of fraud, though with little success.
Today, hearing that Lin Chuan was also knowledgeable in anti-fraud tactics, Zhang Biao’s interest was piqued.
Perhaps the young man had some fresh ideas?
“I only have a basic understanding,” Lin Chuan said modestly.

Comments

Loading...