She locked herself in her room, refusing to eat or drink, and didn’t want to talk to her parents.

Just then, her phone vibrated continuously, showing Lu Guifan’s number.

“Hello, Class Monitor…” Jian Sha let out a helpless breath.

“Sha Sha, although Ruotang hasn’t mentioned it, I guess if we want to deal with Zhang Chun, we need to fan the flames a bit more.”

“Burn it! You say how to burn it, and I’ll burn it. If I don’t burn others, I’ll be burned to death!”

“Okay, listen to me…”

After hanging up the phone, a mysterious guest arrived at Jian Sha’s house, and Jian Sha’s parents warmly welcomed them.

After an unknown period of conversation, when the guest left, Jian Sha’s door was knocked on again.

“You spend all your time not studying properly, writing all this messy stuff. Your parents haven’t blamed you, what else do you want?”

“You have no social experience. If you pay the lawyer’s fees and still lose the case, you’ll have nothing left!”

“You can write novels again in the future. Why do you insist on fighting now?”

Every word stabbed at Jian Sha’s heart, piling up one after another. This was the chasm between her and her parents.

Jian Sha couldn’t bear it anymore. She opened the door and screamed at her parents, “Are you done or not?! It’s clearly the liar and the plagiarizing screenwriter who are wrong! Why does it become my fault when it comes to you?!”

After saying that, Jian Sha turned and opened her window, stepping onto the desk to climb out. Just as she stepped over, her parents immediately rushed over, grabbing her left and right.

“Sha Sha, let’s talk properly—”

“Didn’t I talk properly with you? Did you listen?”

Jian Sha was crying hysterically. “My novel is my thoughts, my dignity, my confidence, and you think these aren’t big deals! Then why are you holding onto me?!”

It was only on the second floor, and falling would land her in the community green belt, but Jian Sha’s heartbreaking accusations were loud enough for passersby to hear.

Their family lived in a high-end residential area, and both parents were middle-level managers in state-owned enterprises. Some of the people passing by were even their colleagues. Losing face, they pulled her back into the window.

But sympathetic neighbors passing by had already called the police, and some even, not wanting to miss out on the excitement, informed the press.

Not long after, reporters arrived, holding cameras outside the window while listening to Jian Sha’s tearful condemnation of Wang Hui and Zhang Chun colluding to scam her manuscript.

Initially, Jian Sha was just reciting the lines she had prepared.

But as she spoke, her emotions surged, and her appeal grew stronger. Even the reporters’ eyes moistened, thinking, wouldn’t this make big news?

Zhang Chun, this industry tumor, if not removed soon, should he be left to reincarnate?

Upon receiving the news, Jiang Ruotang immediately rushed to Jian Sha’s home. The moment the door opened, he expected a heavy atmosphere, but unexpectedly, Jian Sha’s parents seemed very calm!

“Oh, you must be Jian Sha’s good friend, Jiang Ruotang, right?”

Jiang Ruotang nodded blankly.

“Come in, come in quickly! Were you scared by the news? Sha Sha’s fine!”

Jiang Ruotang once again wondered if Jian Sha on the windowsill was fake news.

Jian Sha’s parents’ attitude… why did it feel like they were secretly happy but trying to act serious?

He sat in the living room, and Jian Sha’s mother poured him water and placed some snacks on the table, as if Jiang Ruotang was a guest visiting for the New Year.

“Where’s Jian Sha?” Jiang Ruotang asked.

“She’s fine… it’s just that we put too much pressure on her and didn’t consider things from her perspective.”

Huh? What’s going on? Didn’t they say Jian Sha’s parents forced her to accept 50,000 yuan to settle the matter?

“Sigh… we thought that by providing for her education and getting her into a good university… we were doing what was best for her…” Jian Sha’s father sighed.

“Her own parents siding with the infringer, even thinking that she caused all the trouble, this kind of ‘victim blaming’ can cause lifelong harm, even affecting her college entrance exam…”

Jiang Ruotang was stunned, “Did… did something happen? Because of the reporter’s interview? Or was Jian Sha… too impulsive and it struck you hard?”

“Your mother came. Attorney Hong invited her. She specifically explained copyright knowledge to us.”

Jiang Ruotang’s eyes almost popped out. “My mom? That… Huanyu Film and Television’s audit director?”

Jian Sha’s parents nodded, “Yes, we saw your mother at the parent-teacher meeting. She left before the reporters came, so don’t worry, she won’t be in the news report!”

“Then what… did she say?”

“First, the movie that plagiarized Sha Sha’s work, the investment is said to be over a hundred million. So conservatively estimated, Sha Sha’s original novel’s film adaptation rights alone should be worth hundreds of thousands of yuan. Isn’t 50,000 yuan just a bluff?”

“Yes, that’s just a bluff!” Jiang Ruotang nodded.

“General Manager Zhao also said that besides the movie, there’s also the TV series, and in the future, online drama rights to be broadcast on platforms like Yunfeng Video and Qilin Video. Since it’s a fantasy suspense genre, there’s also the possibility of adapting it into a game. In addition, there are rights to publish physical books and even overseas distribution. The series Sha Sha wrote is a series, and as long as she wants to write, she can keep writing four, five, six, seven, eight… Its value isn’t just 500,000.”

Jiang Ruotang nodded. Approaching it from a value perspective was indeed Zhao Yunshu’s line of thinking.

“Now, video streaming platforms are developing rapidly, and their demand for copyrights is greater than that of TV stations. So, Jian Sha’s work, by the time she graduates from university, could be worth five million or even tens of millions.”

Jian Sha’s father took a deep breath: “Although we don’t dare to dream of such things, we were indeed too arbitrary about Jian Sha’s creation.”

Jiang Ruotang chuckled softly, “Uncle and Auntie, you were so determined to make Jian Sha give up her rights protection because that screenwriter Zhang Chun found someone to ‘reason with and move’ you, right? If they couldn’t solve Jian Sha, they would solve her parents first, using the college entrance exam as a threat, making her parents the heaviest stone pressing down on her.”

Jian Sha’s mother blurted out, “General Manager Zhao said the same thing…”

Jiang Ruotang smiled, “Our family is very familiar with Zhang Chun’s methods. Did he tell you that you have no power or influence in the industry, and if Jian Sha insists on making a big fuss and causes losses to this film project, with hundreds of millions invested, the investors alone will definitely make Jian Sha and your entire family go bankrupt?”

Jian Sha’s parents nodded, “How did you guess that?”

Jiang Ruotang chuckled inwardly. It wasn’t like he hadn’t heard of Zhang Chun’s style in his previous life.

Didn’t he just rely on deceiving young people without connections or backing, making them give up their rights, to firmly sit on the throne of Huanyu Entertainment’s top screenwriter?

Furthermore, Jian Sha’s parents were simply not interested in or knowledgeable about the film and television industry, only knowing that these filmmakers were rich and powerful.

Fortunately, Attorney Hong found Zhao Yunshu. Firstly, Zhao Yunshu was from the film and television industry, and as an investor, her status was much higher than that of a mere screenwriter. For Jian Sha’s parents, her opinion was truly professional.

On the other hand, Zhao Yunshu was a mother, and she was an equal to Jian Sha’s parents. What she said as a parent was far more effective than the desperate attempts of their few students to change Jian Sha’s parents’ minds.

“General Manager Zhao said, our Sha Sha isn’t some big shot. What kind of impact can she have on the movie’s reputation? It’s not as damaging as internet trolls complaining about a bad movie or anti-fans of actors. But why did Zhang Chun ask a lawyer to contact us? Because he knows that he and Wang Hui colluded to scam Jian Sha’s manuscript and infringe on her copyright, and they can’t win this case,” Jian Sha’s father said.

Jiang Ruotang nodded, truly delighted that Jian Sha’s parents could agree with her.

“No matter how experienced a lawyer is, they must respect evidence and facts. First, Wang Hui, to avoid bearing all the blame, will definitely point to Zhang Chun as the mastermind. There will be no shortage of remittance records and chat records from Wang Hui’s side. This isn’t the first time they’ve colluded to scam authors. Second, Jian Sha has copyright evidence. If Jian Sha defends her rights after the movie is released, Zhang Chun might have to pay more, including for reputational damage. Furthermore, the police also have a recording of Zhang Chun admitting to acquiring the manuscript through Wang Hui, which is also evidence of infringement. The police can apply to investigate Zhang Chun and his studio. He’s more anxious to resolve this matter than you are.”

Jian Sha’s parents also nodded, “Yes, so when the reporters came, we cooperated with Sha Sha in putting on this act… We didn’t expect Sha Sha to act so well, or perhaps the child finally found an opportunity to give us a good scolding.”

Jiang Ruotang almost choked on his own saliva.

All of this was actually done with Jian Sha’s parents’ cooperation?

Jian Sha’s mother said very seriously, “We will never let Jian Sha work for others’ benefit. If we give up this time, we might have to watch the people who plagiarize Jian Sha make a fortune and live gloriously. Our daughter holds a good hand, and she must not settle for peace and lose everything. If she can protect her copyright, after defending her rights, she will gain public respect and recognition. After graduating from university, Jian Sha can even develop into a screenwriter. This IP is the stepping stone for her career. So, what we are giving up is not a novel, but Jian Sha’s future.”

Jiang Ruotang exhaled. Zhao Yunshu’s brainwashing was truly successful. After all, in the parents’ group, she was an image of an independent and successful woman, so her persuasiveness was undeniable.

Just then, Jian Sha’s father’s phone rang. It was Zhang Chun’s lawyer calling.

It seemed that the news of Jian Sha almost jumping out the window had reached Zhang Chun, and he was nervous about a public opinion crisis.

“That fast?” Jian Sha’s father looked at Jiang Ruotang.

Jiang Ruotang remained calm: “Uncle Jian, answer it. Let’s see what tricks that garbage screenwriter wants to pull.”

Zhang Chun, hearing about Jian Sha’s impulsive behavior a few hours ago, also sympathized with the little girl. So, Zhang Chun’s side could offer Jian Sha 100,000 yuan in compensation, as long as Jian Sha agreed to sign a supplementary contract, completely transferring the copyright. This way, everyone would be happy, a win-win.

Jian Sha’s father asked the other party to bring the supplementary contract for review. Less than half an hour later, it wasn’t the lawyer who came, but Zhang Chun’s assistant.

Jian Sha finally came out of her room, and her parents handed her the contract.

She flipped through it, then looked at the assistant and said coldly, “So, not only do I not get credit, but I also have to finish writing the rest of the story and give it to Zhang Chun?”

“No way? Really?” Dad Jian took the contract and flipped through it repeatedly. After seeing the content clearly, he also became furious.

The assistant sighed, “Little sister, you have to understand, this novel has no value in your hands; no other company will buy it. Moreover, after a lawsuit, its value will plummet, and no company will even touch it. Nobody wants to get into trouble.”

Jian Sha took a breath, she looked at the assistant: “Since it has no value, why did Teacher Zhang go to such lengths to find Wang Hui to get my manuscript?”

The assistant froze for a moment, probably still searching for an excuse in his mind.

“Assistant, that’s enough. I don’t see any sincerity from your screenwriter. He still refuses to credit my daughter, and his intention to monopolize my daughter’s hard work is as clear as day. Let the police and lawyers handle this matter.”

Dad Jian stood up to see them out, opening the front door.

The assistant finally got nervous, “I can go back and discuss the credit with Teacher Zhang… We…”

“Get out—leech!” Dad Jian snapped coldly.

Mom Jian also shouted, “If you can’t write, then don’t write! Is there a sense of accomplishment in stealing other people’s work?”

The assistant tried to knock on the door again, but unexpectedly, the neighbors opened their doors and some even took out their phones to photograph him.

“Look! That’s the person Zhang Chun sent!”

“I heard he’s a huge plagiarist, and he even comes to threaten the victim, shameless!”

“He’s acting lawless because he has capital backing him, right!”

The assistant covered his face with his briefcase, feeling a sense of déjà vu, as if he was about to be pelted with rotten eggs.

After exiting the elevator, he stumbled badly on the stairs, then got up and limped out of the community, thinking to himself—their plagiarism cult leader Zhang Chun had really met his match this time!

Jiang Ruotang, who had been waiting in Jian Sha’s room, pushed open the door and leaned against the wall, looking at Jian Sha with a smile. “Looks like your whole family is united against the enemy.”

Jian Sha gave Jiang Ruotang a wide smile.

At this moment, the trending topic #ZhangChunPlagiarizedOriginalAuthorJumpedFromBuilding# had already appeared on Weibo.

Zhang Chun had many rivals. When his trending topic went down, his rivals bought trending topics, creating a lively back and forth on Weibo.

Jiang Ruotang curved his lips. The big fire he wanted had arrived. Not only would Zhang Chun be burned to a crisp, but Lin Chengdong would definitely be caught in the flames too.

At this moment, only the two of them remained in Jian Sha’s room.

Jiang Ruotang looked at her and whispered, “I thought you’d fight your parents to the bitter end.”

Jian Sha smiled, “It’s all thanks to Class Monitor reminding Attorney Hong.”

“Lu Guifan? What did he remind Attorney Hong about?” Jiang Ruotang was very surprised.

“He reminded Attorney Hong to invite Auntie Zhao as a persuader. Class Monitor said that Auntie Zhao has a lot of prestige in the parents’ group.”

Jiang Ruotang exhaled. Indeed… Lu Guifan knew that Attorney Hong and Zhao Yunshu were best friends.

Jiang Ruotang narrowed his eyes and asked again, “But who called the reporters?”

“Class Monitor, of course…” Jian Sha tilted her head and glanced at Jiang Ruotang.