Chapter 132
Chapter 132
“Is your hand okay?” Feng Bu Jue asked.
“Huh? Of course it’s fine. Even if it wasn’t, it’d only be my game character that’s hurt, right?” Xiao Tan replied. “Feng Bu Jue, did you call just to ask this? I’m still on duty.”
It was afternoon the next day, and Feng Bu Jue was chatting with Xiao Tan over the phone from home.
“Ah… of course not. I just asked casually,” Feng Bu Jue quickly shifted to the main topic. “So here’s the thing—I left home today to meet my editor about a collaboration unrelated to writing.”
“What kind of collaboration?”
“The day after tomorrow, Saturday this week. I need to go to the TV station to record a program. The transportation there’s inconvenient. You should be off work that day—wanna be my driver?”
“Eh?” Xiao Tan first sounded stunned, then exclaimed loudly, “Eh?!”
“What’s wrong?” Feng Bu Jue’s tone remained calm. “Did you space out and eat a bacteria culture dish again?”
“At last, you’re going on TV, Feng Bu Jue! Are you about to become famous?” Xiao Tan asked excitedly.
“No.”
“Ah~ Finally, you can lie back and earn money without lifting a finger!”
“You make it sound like I’m switching careers… My point is, you’ll finally live off royalties like those big-name authors, instead of stressing over writing every month!”
“That’s exactly why I said ‘No,’” Feng Bu Jue replied. “Nothing will change. You’re overthinking.”
Unfazed by Feng Bu Jue’s denial, Xiao Tan pressed on: “By the way! What program is it?”
“I’m a Writer.” He replied flatly.
“Huh? I know that! I’m asking which show you’re appearing in!”
“I’m a Writer.” Feng Bu Jue repeated.
“Huh?” Xiao Tan seemed momentarily short-circuited.
“Sigh…” Feng Bu Jue exhaled deeply. “The show’s called I’m a Writer. It’s a contestant elimination-style variety show.”
“Oh? Who else is participating besides you?” Xiao Tan asked.
“No idea, and I don’t care,” Feng Bu Jue said.
Xiao Tan burst into laughter, pounding his desk: “Hahaha… Feng Bu Jue, your overbearing aura’s real!”
“The other contestants’ info is confidential,” Feng Bu Jue explained. “And even if I cared, it wouldn’t matter. I personally hope to get eliminated in the first round, so I can leave immediately.”
“Don’t say that! It’s a rare chance to be on TV…”
“I’m not fond of appearing in crowded places. Leaving too many video records isn’t my wish…” Feng Bu Jue sighed. “I’m only doing it for the appearance fee—it’s quite high.”
“Did you tell Judge Bao?” Xiao Tan asked.
“No. You’ll just call him yourself anyway, so you can tell him,” Feng Bu Jue paused, then added, “But just mention it to Judge Bao. Don’t spread it around.”
“How~could~I~!” Xiao Tan raised his voice defensively.
“Remember when my first book came out? Even the fruit shop owner five streets away knew about it,” Feng Bu Jue said dryly.
“Haha… Well…”
“Anyway, it’s settled. Saturday noon, drive me there. After that, you’re free. I don’t know how late we’ll record, but I’ll head back myself. My traffic card still has funds,” Feng Bu Jue concluded.
“Can I watch the live recording?” Xiao Tan asked.
“No.”
“Really…”
“No.”
“Fine,” Xiao Tan sighed in disappointment. “When will the show air?”
“Don’t know.”
“Forget it, I’ll check online myself.”
“Keep working. We’ll talk tonight,” Feng Bu Jue said listlessly from start to finish.
“Alright, goodbye.”
“See you.”
After hanging up, Feng Bu Jue sighed again: “Hmm… Only hope this kid knows when to stop.”
Two hours later…
A knock came at the door.
Feng Bu Jue called out, “Coming!” as he headed to the entrance. But before he reached the door, the visitor unlocked it and stepped in.
“I mean… Auntie Liu… If you weren’t waiting for me to open the door, why bother knocking?” Feng Bu Jue asked.
Standing at the doorway was landlady Auntie Liu. “You young folks have privacy, right? What if there’s a girl inside? What if you’re doing something shady? So I knocked first. When you answered, I knew it was safe to enter.”
“Your logic contradicts itself and’s asking for misunderstanding…”
“Spare me the philosophy,” she eyed him up and down. “I heard… you’re going to film a movie?”
The first word in Feng Bu Jue’s mind was “Ugh!” But he merely sighed, replying, “Who told you?”
“At the market from Auntie Wang,” Auntie Liu launched into a monologue. “Eh, I’ll say, Xiao Feng, my granddaughter’s ten. She’s got natural acting talent…”
Feng Bu Jue almost wanted to knock his head against the doorframe.
“Auntie Liu… First, I’m just recording a TV station variety show. A few hours’ work. When it airs, it’ll be edited into a few ten-minute segments. My scenes might only total a few minutes,” he paused, then continued. “Second… even if I were making a movie, I couldn’t arrange her role. You’d need the producer…”
“Eh? Is that so?” Auntie Liu blinked in confusion. “But the neighborhood security guard described it so vividly—he said you’re self-written, self-directed, self-acted…” From her tone, it seemed multiple people had exaggerated the rumor.
“Alright, alright… You’re worrying over nothing…” Feng Bu Jue waved frantically. “Rumors! Pure rumors! I’m not cut out for that field. No interest in showbiz—I’m just joining a variety show. Similar to a quiz show!”
“Oh…” Auntie Liu nodded. “Eh? Xiao Feng, when does your show air?”
“What for?”
“What’s wrong? A rare chance for someone we know to appear on TV! Can’t an old lady watch?”
“Fine…” Feng Bu Jue conceded helplessly. “I’ll record Saturday. Afterward, I’ll ask the production team. Don’t worry—I’ll deliver this month’s rent, the cat-related debt, and the broadcast details to you together in a few days. That’ll cover everything, right?”
“Deal! Auntie’ll wait for your news…”
“Alright… Take care on your way out…” Feng Bu Jue half-pushed, half-ushered her out, closing the door. Leaning against it, he exhaled. “This rumor’s spreading and mutating faster than expected… In 48 hours, someone’ll probably believe I’m flying abroad for an Oscar.”
Shaking his head, he returned to his room, locked all three locks—including the chain lock—on the door, then lay in his Gaming Pod.
(End of Chapter)
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