Chapter 479

The signing was set up on the fifth floor of the downtown library.

Half an hour before the event, a long line had already formed outside the designated area.

Over twenty security personnel stood ready to maintain order.

A massive promotional display stood at the entrance, neatly showcasing Victoria Langley's latest novel Seven-Day Tales.

Beside it stood a life-sized poster featuring the book cover and chibi-style illustrations of the main characters.

"Oh my god! This many people?" A ponytailed girl gasped as soon as she stepped off the elevator.

Her boyfriend's eyes widened. "Holy crap!"

"It's just a book signing. Why's it packed like a concert?"

The girl was a seasoned fangirl with ever-changing celebrity obsessions. Last week, bored at home, she'd picked up a mystery novel her father left on the coffee table.

She'd only meant to kill time, but couldn't put it down.

Two all-nighters later, she'd binge-read Victoria Langley's entire bibliography.

Except for one slightly amateurish campus romance, the mystery-thrillers were absolute masterpieces.

Especially the decade-old titles—their bold themes and razor-sharp psychological insights left her stunned.

When she learned about the signing, she ditched her idol meet-and-greet without hesitation.

But outside the library, doubts crept in.

"We're already here," her boyfriend said, sealing her decision.

They'd planned to just peek and leave. Then—

"Where's my fan banner? Get it out!"

"You threw it in the trash downstairs!"

"Then go fish it out!"

"What about your idol?"

"Screw that! This vibe beats some D-list celeb event any day!"

With a resigned sigh, the boyfriend went dumpster diving.

He returned just as the signing began.

Banner held high, the girl dragged him toward the front—

Only to find rows of middle-aged readers in their forties and fifties.

"What... the hell?"