Chapter 487

In the front row were mainly people around her parents’ age.

“W–What’s going on here?” she stammered.

Her boyfriend, just as baffled, blurted out, “Why are all older folks here?”

That remark instantly stirred up a wave of discontent. “What’s wrong with older folks? You got a problem with us?”

He tried to clarify, “No, it’s just… Aren’t you a bit old to be fan club members?”

“We’re not here for some celebrity, we’re here for the books! What’s the issue with that?” one of them retorted.

“Exactly!” another chimed in.

He was dumbfounded. “Is Mindy’s readership really this diverse?”

“Hmph! We were Mindy fans a decade ago! We might have gotten married, raised kids, and been too busy with work to stay active online, but we always supported her books with our own money. Not like young folks who only focus on trending and boosting numbers!”

“Yeah, we’re not dead, just occupied!” another added.

The young woman looked around and saw that the crowd was indeed a mix of both older and younger fans.

Soon, the host took the stage, gave a brief introduction, and then invited Mindy up amid a round of applause.

“Wow!” someone gasped.

“Ms. Harrison is so beautiful!” another voice exclaimed.

“I never imagined the person who wrote those terrifying novels would be such a gorgeous lady. The contrast… is unbelievable!”

Mindy was wearing the black dress she had bought the day before, with a white chiffon sash tied at her waist. With every step, the sash swayed elegantly, enhancing her refined presence.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Mindy Harrison. I’m so happy to be here and meet you all today,” she said, smiling and waving to them.

Sincerity truly was a powerful tool. The room erupted into a thunderous round of applause.

Miranda stood amidst the crowd, watching her mother shine on stage. A proud smile spread across her face.

After the Q&A session, the much-anticipated book signing began.

The crowd surged forward, and Miranda got pushed along. She tried to step aside, but someone shoved her from behind, causing her to stumble forward.

Just as she was about to fall, a pair of hands reached out, grabbing her by the waist and steadying her.

“Thank–wait, Dr. Jefferson?” Miranda gasped, staring at the man in front of her. “What are you doing here?”

Paul cleared his throat, releasing his grip on her waist, though his fingers twitched slightly, as if reluctant to let go. Her waist, he noted, could easily be encircled by his hands.

He picked up a copy of Seven Days from the floor and dusted it off. The book clearly had been dropped during the commotion.

“Of course, I’m here for your mom’s book signing event,” he said nonchalantly.

“You read her books too?” Miranda asked, a bit surprised.

“Yes.”

She looked at him, her expression mixed with confusion and amusement. “If you wanted a signed copy, you could have just asked me to get it for you. No need to go through all this trouble.”

“It’s not the same,” he replied.

“How is it not–” Miranda began, but before she could finish, the crowd surged again. She was shoved forward, directly into Paul’s arms.

Her cheek ended up pressed against his warm chest, and for a moment, Miranda was utterly stunned. Paul’s entire body went rigid. At that instant, with Miranda in his arms, all he had to do was lift his hands a bit, and he could hold her close completely.

She could feel his steady heartbeat thumping against her ear and his warm breath gently rustling her hair. For a split second, her own breathing seemed to falter.

Realizing what was happening, Miranda tried to pull away. But just then, someone pushed her again, causing her to lean even closer into his chest.

“I’m so sorry, Dr. Jefferson, I…” Miranda stammered, “I didn’t mean to!”