Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 253 - 258: Living as a Character from the Book (5k)

Chapter 253: Chapter 258: Living as a Character from the Book (5k)

"The biggest difference between that Ancient Novel and ’I’m Too Rich,’ is that in the former, the protagonist announced his newfound wealth immediately after receiving part of his inheritance."

"It was only because the will required it that he did not need to spend that portion of the inheritance within a set time."

"In ’I’m Too Rich,’ however, because he feared Frank might take the inheritance using his status as a guardian, the protagonist Carl chose to conceal everything and secretly spent money like mad."

"In the first scene, Carl took his ex-girlfriend, the mixed-race daughter of a Black police officer, on a shopping spree then to a fancy restaurant, hoping to win her back."

"Of course, given the protagonist’s experience, that level of ’fancy’ was probably equivalent to moving from Bronx District to Brooklyn."

"Seeing the ex-girlfriend change her mind in the face of ’cash power,’ Carl, however, began dating a waitress at the restaurant, an underage girl who was an illegal worker."

"The readers, in the comments section, cheered enthusiastically."

"Monica, bet you didn’t see this coming? I’ve got my day too!"

"Trying so hard to keep you back then, and now you want to come back? Fuck, go meet God!"

"These folks really harbor some deep resentments towards their exes." Wang Jian sipped his coffee and silently took notes in his notebook.

"Considering the childhood friend trope, and the certainty of ditching this so-called ’ex-girlfriend,’ he targeted a German girl named Chris, who held a bit of a grudge against him."

"As for that immigrant waitress who initially looked down on the protagonist, but later fell in love with him, he’d have to seek her out more slowly."

"Wang, here’s the recording device." Tom shoved a small machine into Wang Jian’s jacket pocket.

"This guy is a veteran paparazzo," he pointed at a young man behind him and introduced.

"Don’t worry, Mr. Wang." The paparazzo stuffed a stack of US Dollar bills into his backpack, "My skills are trustworthy, whatever you do, I’ll capture it."

"The last photo I took of Julia Roberts, got published as street photography and no one doubted it."

Wang Jian nodded and looked at Tom, "What about security?"

"With 200,000 US Dollars, Black Water has agreed to provide security that will go unnoticed."

"From the moment you step out of the Flushing office building, you’re under their protection." Tom handed over a contract.

Wang Jian scanned the contract and then filed it away in a drawer.

He took a deep breath, mentally preparing to become the character in the book, and then briskly left the office.

...

In Bronx District, below a meeting building for a support group helping people kick alcohol addiction.

Blond girl Chris was looking around, waiting for her date.

She never really thought the Asian boy she bullied heavily during their childhood stay would actually ask her out.

Honestly, Chris bore no ill will towards Asians, it was just a way to please her foster parents in that environment.

Even so, if it weren’t for the long time since she’d interacted with the opposite sex, cobwebs forming thereabouts, she would still be embarrassed to date him.

"Chris, you can do it!" encouraged Jill, a friend from the support group.

"Chris, you better not come back tonight!" said a tall, thin woman.

"Bonnie, fuck you!" Chris flipped her off.

Er...

Wang Jian saw this scene, "Wasn’t it said that Chris’s alcohol addiction had eased and her mental health had significantly improved?"

He hesitated but then stepped out of his car.

"Hi, Chris, long time no see." Wang Jian approached the girl who was a few years senior to him.

"Wow, Wang, what have you done? You can afford a Cadillac?" Chris asked in surprise.

Hmm?

Wang Jian looked at her, stunned for a long time.

She really didn’t know?

Since the serialization of ’I’m Too Rich’ started, NBC had increased the intensity of coverage about him?

Now, his appearances on that channel were second only to a few celebrities.

Ordinary people might not recognize him, but those who had contact with him should immediately associate him.

"You... don’t watch TV?" Wang Jian voiced his query.

"Ha, you really are rich." Chris laughed, assessing Wang Jian, "In Bronx District, besides drug dealers, who can afford a TV?"

Doesn’t that mean he could ditch the billionaire identity to get closer to the character in the book?

Wang Jian thought for a moment before chuckling and shaking his head, "I’m just a driver, working for someone else."

"And that suit?" Chris asked.

"Err..." Wang Jian paused, "It’s a fake brand, very uncomfortable to wear."

He thought about it and, finding it too pretentious to wear an Armani suit to ’show off,’ laughed, "How about you come shopping with me for clothes?"

Wang Jian tried to look shy, "You know, my taste is a bit off, and I’m not good at dealing with girls."

"Ok!" Chris laughed and nodded, walking over to the Cadillac.

"The car’s unlocked." Wang Jian casually remarked, then prepared to get into the car.

"Um..." Chris chuckled awkwardly, "I’m afraid I might break it."

Wang Jian frowned and reluctantly made the most gentlemanly move of his life.

"Fasten your seatbelt," he instructed, then started the car.

"Where are we going? The thrift shop is on the left!" Chris exclaimed.

Thrift?

Wang Jian thought for a moment and decided he shouldn’t be too hard on himself, "I want to present myself to you in the best condition."

"Besides," he turned to Chris, "I want to buy you a set of clothes too."

Chris stole a glance at Wang Jian and thought he really did look handsome.

And unlike other men she had met, he seemed to be genuinely considerate towards women.

"Shoot, I forgot to shave my legs!" she internally screamed.

At that moment, with a "squeak," the car already stopped in front of a budget clothing megastore.

"Let’s go." Wang Jian opened the car door and got out.

Chris followed behind Wang Jian, starting to worry about the style of her underwear again.

"Hello, sir," the salesperson glanced at the car outside and then at Wang Jian dressed in Armani, immediately coming over.

Indeed, thinking it over, wearing this made it impossible to "put on airs and slap faces."

"A T-shirt and jeans," Wang Jian looked at Chris again.

The salesperson quickly fawned, "Miss, would you like a dress or pants?"

Um...

So enthusiastic?

Chris was a bit overwhelmed; she knew the service attitude at the Bronx District megastore was directly proportional to its prices.

"Dress," she thought about her legs, then quickly changed her mind, "or rather, skinny jeans."

"Alright." The salesperson smiled, then led the two to the most expensive section of the store.

"Why are they so nice to them, and nobody pays attention to us?" a Black girl spoke loudly.

"Come on," a Black boy muttered, "they came in a Cadillac."

"Ha, Wang." Chris whispered into Wang Jian’s ear, chuckling lightly, "They think you’re rich."

"Mm." Wang Jian smiled wryly and nodded, then picked up the clothes and went into the fitting room.

He first put on the jeans, placing the recording device in the pocket.

Then, Wang Jian took out his cellphone and texted Tom, "Find the scruffiest programmer and trade the Cadillac for a used car!"

When he stepped out of the fitting room, he saw Chris had already changed into her clothes as well.

"Wang, how do I look?" Chris turned her body slightly, showing off slowly.

"Mm, not bad," Wang Jian replied noncommittally, meanwhile scanning for any trace of paparazzi.

Suddenly, a tense thigh and a rounded object grew closer and closer.

What the heck?

I really just wanted to "buy, buy, buy," I truly have no other intentions towards you!

He hastened to say, "I think it’s very beautiful, why not buy a few more?"

"Indeed, he likes me." Chris glanced at her figure accentuated by the tight clothes, feeling a bit excited, "Old lady still has attraction."

But as much as the clothes were good, she couldn’t help but wonder if Wang Jian would think she was a gold-digger. She hesitated a little.

"Please bring a few more pieces of the same size," Wang Jian told the salesperson.

He had not only spotted that paparazzo but also heard a faint clicking of taking photos.

Um...

Chris thought about it and decided to go along with it.

"Well, worst case, I’ll just take good care of him tonight."

Afterward, she picked a few more pieces of clothing and continued to model them for Wang Jian.

However...

The tightness of those clothes made Wang Jian feel a dull pain in his chest and buttocks.

"Okay, how much?" Wang Jian pulled out his credit card.

"A total of 2000 US dollars, sir," the salesperson respectfully took the credit card.

Wang Jian nodded; it was roughly the salary of his three maids for two days.

But Chris couldn’t help but exclaim, "2000 dollars? For just these few clothes?"

"I’d rather not then!"

Come on, after spending so much time, taking so many photos? Not even shelling out 2000 dollars?

Probably even the bodyguards and paparazzi behind would secretly laugh at him, right?

Wang Jian imperiously waved his hand, "Wrap them all up."

Chris glanced at Wang Jian and then at the clothes in his hand.

Though he could certainly serve him well... $2000? Couldn’t have been so extraordinary as to fly out from the bed!

"Alright, let’s go." Wang Jian had already spotted a messy-haired programmer anxiously appearing at the store entrance.

Chris walked out of the store, feeling a bit dizzy, already thinking about learning some skills from his kung fu expert sisters.

"Ha," Wang Jian patted the programmer’s shoulder, "How come you’re here? Did the boss send you to pick up the car?"

"Pick up the car?" The programmer was momentarily stunned but promptly responded, "Yes, yes, I brought your car here."

Wang Jian followed the programmer’s pointing finger and furrowed his brows.

It was an old pickup truck?

Still... it might be slightly better than a brand new luxury Cadillac.

"Thank my boss for me!" Wang Jian gritted his teeth, exchanged car keys, and pulled Chris toward the pickup.

But as soon as they got in the car, Chris started sliding down slowly from the passenger seat.

"Damn, what are you doing?" Wang Jian, seeing the woman approaching between his legs, nearly let out a scream.

"Don’t all men like this?" Chris flirted with her blond hair, a matter-of-fact look on her face.

"Or, this?" Seeing Wang Jian seemed to refuse, she took off her shoes and stretched out her feet.

This...

Wang Jian looked at the 20-year-old blond girl, her face seemingly entitled, and suddenly felt a bit despicable.

"No need for that." Wang Jian shook his head, started the car, "Besides, how about I buy you a television?"

Chris crinkled her petite nose, looking wary, "Do you know Bonnie is back, trying to try something different?"

"Although we’re mother and daughter, I still must warn you, she’s crazy!"

Something different, mother and daughter?

Wang Jian braked abruptly, almost tipping the car over on the roadside.

"Come on!" he said exasperatedly, "What exactly are you thinking?"

"And, aren’t you an orphan? If you have a mother, why were you in foster care?"

After that, he learned Chris’s story.

Sort of like underage pregnancy, alcohol abuse, abandoning her daughter.

Because of the living environment, Chris had gone through similar experiences with her mother.

"So, I’ve stopped drinking." Chris showed Wang Jian her bracelet, "A whole one hundred and eighty days."

"Hmm," Wang Jian smiled briefly, "Then I’ll give you a TV as a gift for quitting alcohol."

"But the TV station is too expensive," Chris shook her head, "unless we go to the second-hand market."

Wang Jian thought for a moment and agreed, following Chris’s lead slowly toward the second-hand electronics market.

"Is this all you have?" he asked the owner, frowning, "The biggest is only 19 inches, don’t you have anything bigger?"

"There are bigger ones, but can you afford them?" a middle-aged Caucasian man scoffed.

Finally...

Wang Jian glanced at the paparazzi behind him, "Finally, I can show off and slap a face!"

"How much?" he asked calmly.

"$300, smuggled from Japan," the owner said mockingly, "A Sony 30-inch color TV."

Wang Jian calmly pulled out his credit card, "I’ll take it."

"Sorry, cash only," the owner said without even looking up. "I don’t want trouble from a stolen credit card."

Cash?

Wang Jian felt his pockets...

"Just wait for me!" He turned and headed back to the pickup truck.

"Poor guy," the owner muttered.

Chris, standing by and seeing everything unfold, looked a bit awkward.

Even more awkward for her was that the nearest bank to that location was a two-hour drive away.

"Shit! This isn’t slapping faces, it’s getting slapped!" Wang Jian thought about whether to get off and leave with Chris.

At that moment, he suddenly discovered an envelope in the car containing $5000 cash.

"Tom..." At that moment, Wang Jian almost teared up.

He acted calm as he walked back to the owner.

"$300, right?" He pulled out a thousand-dollar bill.

The boss glanced at the cash and then at the TV, quickly changing his expression.

"We have a 50-inch color TV here that only costs eight hundred US dollars!"

Wang Jian turned his body slightly to facilitate the paparazzi’s photography.

"Isn’t there a bigger one?"

"Uh," the boss stared at the cash, dumbfounded, "this is the best in the Bronx District."

"Imagine this, Miss, sitting in the living room with your boyfriend, watching this big TV, what a cozy thing it would be."

Wang Jian watched as Chris got lost in her fantasy, and with the photo taken, he gladly paid.

The boss thought he had pinpointed the issue, "Miss, your boyfriend really loves you indeed."

After paying the deposit and arranging the delivery, Wang Jian left with Chris in the car.

"Wang, I’m sorry." Chris said softly, "For whatever reason, I shouldn’t have treated you like that when we were kids."

But Wang Jian wasn’t in the mood to listen to her, his mind was filled with, "According to the book, next, we should go to a restaurant to slap some faces."

"Chris, how about we go have Italian food?" Wang Jian thought, based on the information collected by Tom.

This Italian restaurant had the worst service attitude.

"Hmm." Chris answered softly, her mind beginning to fantasize.

She finally found the right man, breaking the curse inherited from her mother.

Half an hour later, at an Italian restaurant.

"I want the best, most expensive dishes you have!" Wang Jian said loudly.

"Right away, sir," the waiter replied respectfully.

Damn, you have to mock me, or how will I slap faces?

Soon, several dishes were served.

Chris tasted one and frowned.

She really didn’t like the flavor of Italy.

"Let’s go." Wang Jian threw the cash on the table and got up a bit helplessly.

"Hmm? He cares so much about me, just from one taste?" Chris stared fixedly at Wang Jian.

"Let’s go to the next one," Wang Jian said.

"Okay." Chris had totally lost herself, closely following behind Wang Jian.

If anyone who knew her saw this, they would never believe that the bad girl could change so dramatically.

After visiting three more restaurants, Wang Jian still hadn’t found his target to slap faces.

"Wang, no need to look further," Chris said, her face flushed, "I’m actually very satisfied."

"One last place!" Wang Jian said through gritted teeth: "Let’s go to Brooklyn!"

The restaurant there supposedly had a waitress with an extremely bad attitude, marked prominently on the information provided by Tom.

"Brooklyn? Isn’t that a lot more expensive than the Bronx?" Chris’s eyes widened.

"Don’t worry about the money!" Wang Jian said through gritted teeth, "Just follow me."

Chris sat in the passenger seat, looking at Wang Jian’s profile, lost in a daze.

"Is he sparing no expense to find a restaurant that matches my taste?"

"Actually, just the fact that Wang cares so much about me, I’d be willing even if he had no money."

An hour later, they finally arrived at the last restaurant.

If this place didn’t work out, Tom would have to revisit all the restaurants they had experienced today!

Wang Jian, gritting his teeth, said, "I want the most expensive food you have here!"

"Yo yo yo, looks like we have a rich man here!" a black cashier said sarcastically.

"Caroline, do you think he’s from Manhattan?"

"Ha," a blonde girl emerged from the back, "People from Manhattan wouldn’t be so bored as to come to Brooklyn to act rich."

At that moment, Chris couldn’t tolerate anyone speaking ill of Wang Jian.

"Bitch, where are you from? Seem to know a lot about Manhattan?"

"Heh, definitely more than you guys," the blonde girl with hands on her hips said, "Everything on the menu combined is just a few hundred US dollars."

"The cheapest meal I’ve had in Manhattan costs 4000 US dollars."

She looked provocatively at Wang Jian, "Do you have 4000 US dollars?"

Damn, Wang Jian’s heart started to rejoice!

Tom, you finally did something right!

He calmly pulled out an envelope, throwing the money on the table, "Here’s 4000 US dollars."

"I invite everyone present to eat up this money."

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