Chapter 978 - 970: Big Shot Brother 3

Chapter 978: Chapter 970: Big Shot Brother 3

His temperament was very pure, only the pupils in his eyes were like a bright crescent moon in the night sky, that unintentional glimmer making people instinctively not dare to underestimate him.

He was holding a book in his hand; before the person arrived, his voice reached them first.

"Fourth Brother, I already said on the phone, I’m not selling the rights of this book to film. Why did you bother to come in person?"

Tiana heard this, her eyes flickered, and the heart that had already been pounding with excitement suddenly couldn’t calm down.

If she hadn’t heard wrong, then this young man had just called Aiden Shaw "Fourth Brother."

"You’re sure you won’t sell?"

He nodded, set the book he was holding down on the stone table, and moved his lips: "You should know, I never planned to let this book become a TV series. I don’t want the entertainers of the showbiz to lay a finger on it."

It was clear from his tone that he was the author of To My Most Beloved You, Fourteen.

Tiana watched him without letting anything show on her face.

Aiden Shaw arched a brow. "The sentiment is fine and all—but it depends on whether you’re willing to offend the people buying the film rights."

He flipped through the book, let out a contemptuous laugh. "What a joke. If I don’t agree, is someone going to put a knife to my neck?"

The ink-dark pupils in Aiden Shaw’s eyes overflowed with a hint of amusement. From May Sloane’s angle, that look even carried a faint touch of indulgence.

Could this boy in front of them be Tiana’s brother?

At that thought, her vision went black; she almost fainted.

Just what kind of divine existence was this Ford family?

And what kind of fate was it between Tiana and this group of brothers, that even when picking a script she’d end up choosing a book written by her own brother.

Aiden Shaw hadn’t seen Fourteen for a long time; his thin lips curved slightly as he teased him: "What if someone really does dare? Then you’d better be prepared to stand by what you just said."

Only then did Fourteen notice the woman beside him—sitting with elegant posture, her face hidden save for a pair of blazing red lips.

He’d already decided not to sell the rights and didn’t want to continue the topic, so he lowered his voice and asked, "This is your capable secretary Naomi Kirby, Miss Kirby, am I right?"

Aiden Shaw was just about to introduce her.

Tiana curved her lips into a smile, cutting in, "Yes. Hello."

May Sloane: "..."

What was Tiana trying to pull this time?

Aiden Shaw also calmly withdrew his gaze. "The sale of the film rights will be handled by her. If you have any questions, ask her."

Fourteen listened, already a little impatient. "Fourth Brother, we’ve been brothers for so many years. How did I never notice you were the type to force people into things?"

Aiden Shaw said, "Just talk it over. Maybe you’ll change your mind."

"Not interested."

May Sloane thought his features were handsome, that rakish air between his brows somewhat like Julian Ford, only with an extra layer of boyish cleanliness. Even though he kept refusing to sell the rights, he still somehow made it impossible for anyone to dislike him.

Tiana used a formulaic tone, sounding all official as she asked, "If you don’t sit down and talk, how do you know you’re not interested?"

He closed the book and looked at her. "You’re the secretary Fourth Brother trusts most, so you should know this book means a great deal to me."

"Is it based on a true story?"

Fourteen was a bit surprised. "You didn’t know? Fourth Brother never told you?"

"No, I didn’t know."

Fourteen’s handsome brows drew together. The fact that Fourth Brother hadn’t said anything beforehand gave him a faint sense of being offended. There was a slight displeasure in his voice. "Have you read the original novel?"

"I have."

"The Ashley Thorne in the book is my little sister who was separated from us for many years, and the Sid Ford in the book is our cousin—mine and Fourth Brother’s."

Tiana froze for a moment after hearing this, looking at him with something like disbelief.

So, he’d written his own relatives’ love story.

No wonder he refused to let anyone film it—having to watch two strangers on screen play them, he probably wouldn’t be able to accept it.

If it were her, she wouldn’t be able to accept it either.

"Ashley and Sid—how come I’ve never heard of them?"

Fourteen’s Adam’s apple bobbed once. A trace of sorrow rose in his lowered eyes, flickering away in an instant, but his voice was a few degrees colder and heavier than before. "Because the novel glossed things over. For my own selfish reasons."

"In reality..."

He seemed unwilling to bring it up, but right now, he had no choice but to say it. "Ashley did love Sid, but she also hated him for destroying my aunt’s family. Even if my uncle and aunt treated her poorly, they still raised her. In her eyes, Sid went too far."

"But my uncle killed Second Uncle and Second Aunt. To Sid, that’s something he can’t forgive. My sister understands and doesn’t blame him, but as someone of the Thorne family, she can’t pretend nothing happened and still be with him."

Hearing this, Tiana understood, and her chest tightened uncomfortably.

Because this was one of her absolute favorite novels. She’d never expected it to be adapted from a true story, and never imagined that the protagonists were actually their cousin and Fourteen’s own little sister.

What shocked her even more was that in reality, they hadn’t ended up together.

Fourteen went on, "I wrote this book using that backdrop only after getting their permission. The two of them were destined not to be together. Even now they still haven’t torn through that thin paper window. In Chapter 470 of the novel, where they lean on each other for survival and live as brother and sister—that’s the real ending in life."

On hearing that, Tiana understood why he was absolutely refusing to sell the film rights.

"You want Sid and Ashley to be together, which is why you created that beautiful ending—and why you want everyone to believe in love."

Fourteen nodded, dropped his gaze to the book in his hand, and fell silent for a while.

Tiana glanced at it. The cover read Youth March. It was his new book, and she hadn’t had time to read it yet.

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would’ve found it hard to believe that those love stories that cut so deep into the bone were written by a boy.

"I’m curious—have they read this book?"

Fourteen answered, "They probably have."

Tiana had originally been very keen to film this drama with Fourth Brother, and she was sure they could make it sweet and syrupy on screen. But in real life, those two were painfully awkward.

With the buzz around her and Aiden Shaw, it would inevitably blow up nationwide.

By then, it would impact them both, more or less.

Even if it was a great script, she didn’t want to force anyone. "If that’s the case, then we won’t buy it."

Fourteen was slightly stunned, apparently not expecting Naomi Kirby to drop the negotiation as soon as she heard the real story behind the novel.

Aiden Shaw turned his head to look at her. "Our cousin won’t mind. He and Ashley just need a catalyst. Maybe, with you playing the female lead, their feelings will change."

Fourteen frowned and spoke out on instinct, "You’re not Naomi Kirby."

It wasn’t a question; it was a statement.

Naomi, as Fourth Brother’s secretary, couldn’t possibly suddenly go act in a drama.

Tiana didn’t keep up the pretense any longer. She took off her hat first, then raised a pale hand and slipped off her sunglasses.

That face, breathtakingly beautiful to the point of being dangerous, was dazzling in the sunlight; her foxy eyes curved into two crescents.

Her lips lifted and the shallow dimple at the corner of her mouth appeared. Her smile was light. "Fourteen."

Fourteen shot to his feet, looking at her in disbelief. "Sixteen?"