Chapter 243
But some were determined to see what was so captivating.
Since it was available online, they placed orders directly.
And then—
[I never read fiction, but I stayed up all night finishing this!]
[Read it under the covers at midnight, shivering in fear.]
[My mom thought I was having a medical emergency and almost called an ambulance.]
[Couldn't stop reading it in one go. Went looking for the author's other works... and nearly scared myself to death.]
[Is it really that scary? Now I have to check it out!]
[Trust me, you'll never look at tofu pudding the same way again.]
[Why?]
[The answer is in the book.]
Two days later, "ChubbyReader" posted again.
This time, there was no photo of his father, just a picture of the "Seven Days" cover.
The caption: Suddenly realizing the older generation's taste in books is actually pretty good.
Riding this wave of popularity, "Seven Days" successfully broke into the younger reader market.
And then, the younger readers...
Were completely hooked!
In less than two weeks, fan clubs, forums, and support sites sprang up everywhere.
Older readers sighed with emotion—their treasured author could no longer stay hidden!
It was then that fans of "Seven Days" suddenly realized something.
Where was the author?
The book was so popular, yet there was no news about the author at all?
With other books, if there was even a hint of popularity, the author would quickly claim it to gain followers.
"Seven Days" had been trending so many times, but the author remained silent, almost like she had disappeared?
Isabella truly had no idea.
She had long left the internet behind.
She didn't use social media and used a basic old-fashioned phone.
It wasn't that she couldn't use modern technology.
She simply preferred this slower pace of life, reminiscent of "the old days."
She didn't want to be influenced by online noise.
She only wanted to focus on writing the stories she loved.
So, she had proactively cut off most external connections.
Whether it was slander and abuse, or applause and praise, she blocked it all out.
...
Sophia listened, immediately pulling out her phone to search for the book title: Seven Days...
Good grief, information was everywhere.
There were reader recommendations, critic reviews, and, of course, criticisms and comparisons.
But one thing was undeniable—
"Seven Days" was truly a hit, a massive smash hit!
"Mom, you're amazing! I knew you could do it."
David snatched the phone, scrolling down a few pages. "Heh... they're all praising you!"
"My wife is a famous author now. Does that mean I'll become famous too?"
"Um..." Sophia scratched her head. "Dad, you're already kind of famous."
"Huh?"
"It's just... your reputation might not be that great..."
David: "??"
The ultimate villain in "Seven Days" was a seemingly ordinary physics teacher, based on David.
"!"
...
As the book's popularity grew, so did readers' curiosity about the author.
Stone decided to strike while the iron was hot.
He arranged a book signing for Isabella at the Kinokuniya Books in Kyoto.
The moment the announcement was made, hype instantly skyrocketed.
In less than two hours, over ten thousand people had registered, stunning the entire marketing team.
Stone wasn't surprised at all. "In the age of traffic,it is just the surface. Content is king."
The signing was scheduled for three days later.
It worked out perfectly, as David and Isabella could travel north with Sophia.
The next morning, a light drizzle fell.
Sophia hailed a cab.