Money Loving CEO's Detective Lover

AUTHOR'S NOTE FOR ALL THE HATE COMMENTORS: 

I AM SEEING A LOT OF HATE COMMENTS BECAUSE OF THE PLOTLINE. I KNOW YOU GUYS LOVE KANJI AS A CHARACTER AND ARE COMPLETELY SHOCKED BY HIS DEATH. IT'S OKAY TO GET ATTACHED TO A CHARACTER AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE SAD OVER IT. THAT'S FINE AND NORMAL. IT JUST SHOWS HOW YOU WERE AFFECTED BY A CHARACTER AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE CREATED SUCH A CHARACTER WHO MADE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE.

BUT THE READERS WHO ARE SENDING CONTINUOUS THREATS LIKE 'I'M GONNA DROP THIS BOOK' OR 'I'M HATING THIS PLOTLINE' 'THE AUTHOR ISN'T FAIR' ARE GOING TOO FAR. READERS COMPLAIN ABOUT GETTING THE SAME KINDS OF STORIES ON WEBNOVEL AND WHEN SOME OF US TRY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE GET THREATS AND OUR BOOKS GET DROPPED BECAUSE IT'S DEEMED AS 'NOT A GOOD BOOK' OR 'AUTHOR KILLED CHARACTER SO WE'RE BOYCOTTING'. 

FIRST OF ALL, THIS BOOK DEALS WITH DEATH. THE THEME IS DEATH. IF I DON'T KEEP THE QUALITY OF THE BOOK AND THE THEME CONSISTENT, THEN I'M JUST A BAD AUTHOR. I CAN'T COMPROMISE THE STORY I'VE BUILT SIMPLY FOR FAN SERVICE. KANJI WAS MEANT TO DIE FROM THE VERY MOMENT I CREATED HIM AND I KEPT HIS STORY CONSISTENT. NO MATTER WHAT I DID OR HOW I PLOTTED, HIS FATE KEPT ON GOING THAT WAY. 

HIS AND MINA'S STORY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SAD BUT I WAS GOING TO COMPLETE IT WITH A BEAUTIFUL DEPARTURE. I WANT TO GIVE IT A NICE CLOSURE WITH MANY PROMISES SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE ON PROPERLY WITHOUT ANY SADNESS OR REGRET.

UNFORTUNATELY, MOST READERS DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY BECAUSE 'LOVERS SHOULD BE TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.' THAT'S NOT THE BEAUTY OF THEIR JOURNEY AT ALL. IT DOESN'T GO WITH THEM NOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT. LOVERS DON'T HAVE TO END TOGETHER BUT THEY CAN HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CLOSURE WITH MANY PROMISES.

IF AFTER READING THIS, ANY OF YOU WANT TO DROP THE NOVEL, THAT'S OKAY WITH ME. I WON'T MIND AT ALL. IT'S YOUR MONEY AND FP. YOU GUYS DESERVE A BOOK WHICH WILL CATER TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND I RESPECT THAT. 

WHAT I WILL MIND IS THE CONSTANT HATE AND BASHING WHICH SOME OF THE READERS ARE SUBJECTING ME TO. BEHIND THESE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, IS A REAL PERSON WHO WORKED DAY AND NIGHT TO WRITE A GOOD STORY. MY STORY NEEDED A MAIN CHARACTER TO DIE FOR THE PLOT TO ADVANCE. OTHERWISE WHY DID I USE DEATH AS A THEME HERE? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF IT?

BEING SAD FOR A CHARACTER IS FINE BUT WHY TRY TO FORCE THE AUTHOR TO CHANGE THE STORY THROUGH THREATS? WHY SEND ME THREATS TO DROP THE BOOK WITHOUT EVEN READING THE WHOLE ARC TILL THE END? I WOULDN'T MIND IF THE JUDGEMENT WAS MADE AT THE END OF THE BOOK BUT IT'S NOT EVEN COMPLETE YET. WHO KNOW MAYBE THEIR SEPARATION WILL BE MUCH BETTER? OR MAKE SENSE? 

THINK OF THIS. IF I BRING KANJI BACK TO LIFE, WOULD YOU HONESTLY SAY THAT THE PLOT WENT WITH THE THEME? OR WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE STORY? I'VE CONTINUOSLY PORTRAYED DEATH AS A JOURNEY BEYOND LIFE. THAT AS LONG AS OUR LOVED ONES REMEMBER THE DEPARTED, THE SPIRITS WILL BE IN PEACE. 

SEEING ALL THE HATE AND DEMOTIVATING COMMENTS WERE DISHEARTENING TO ME. I COULD HAVE GIVEN A HALF BAKED CLICHE CEO NOVEL WITH LONG MISUNDERSTANDINGS, WHITE LOTUSES AND CHEAP PLOT.

BUT I DIDN'T. I WORKED HARD TO CREATE A WORLD WITH A FAMILY WHO WENT THROUGH A LOT BUT REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE, LIFE AND DEATH. THEY LOST PEOPLE BUT GAINED SOMETHING MORE VALUABLE THAN MONEY OR WEALTH: EMPATHY. THE DEATH OF A FRIEND ONLY MADE THIS FAMILY REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT THE END FOR KANJI. HE MIGHT DISAPPEAR BUT HE'LL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF KANJI'S JOURNEY.

IF I BRING KANJI BACK TO LIFE, DON'T YOU THINK I'LL BE INSULTING THE STORY I CREATED? WON'T IT BE A SLAP TO THE JOURNEY WE'VE ALL BEEN ON FOR THE PAST ONE YEAR? I CAN GO AHEAD AND GIVE IN TO THE THREATS TO BRING HIM BACK. BUT THEN I'LL BE SACRIFICING THE QUALITY FOR FAN SERVICE. 

WILL THAT BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

IF I STILL HAVE READERS AFTER THIS, I'LL BE GRATEFUL TO YOU ALL. I LOVE ALL MY READERS BUT EVEN I HAVE A LIMIT IN TOLERATING THE HATE I'M GETTING. 

I'LL MAKE A POINT TO MAKE ALL MY NEXT NOVELS A CLICHE PLOT WITH NO HEART. I CAN'T GUARANTEE THEY'LL BE GOOD, BUT AT LEAST READERS WON'T SEND ME ANY HATE FOR NOT CATERING TO THEIR NEEDS.

I'M SORRY FOR TRYING TO WRITE A GOOD AND UNIQUE STORY. I'VE LEARNT MY LESSON. 

.....

Jina was absentmindedly staring out of the window while the teacher rambled on and on. Her heart was no longer into her studies and she wanted to get out of there. But her parents forbade her from skipping school because they did not want her to get involved in whatever it is they were planning. Moreover, she was forced to wear more charms which the shaman had made for her in order to keep spirits away. The charms were so strong that even Yumi could not stay near her and was forced to stay back at home.

Is aunt alright? She wondered.

Turning back to her books, she doodled on it to kill time. The teacher was so engrossed in the lecture that she did not notice that Jina was barely paying any attention. The little girl kept on doodling idly, pressing her pencil hard against the paper. Her hand was working on its own as it sketched on and on.

A strange sensation engulfed Jina but it was coming from within her. She was drawing and drawing without a thought, her mind in a trance while her hand was sketching like a mad person.

"Jina…"

The teacher called out to her but Jina did not pay any attention. She continued to draw on the paper, her hand unwilling to stop. The students had now noticed what she was doing and whispered amongst themselves.

"Jina!"

The teacher exclaimed, making Jina come out of her trance.

"Huh?" she asked. "What…"

"What the hell are you drawing?" The teacher scolded her. Jina looked down and to her surprise, she sketched the picture of a faceless woman wearing a long kimono and she held a scythe in her hands.

"Eh?" Jina was utterly confused. Why did she draw that?

"Stop wasting time and pay attention in class!" the teacher snapped. 

"I…"

Jina gaped from the teacher to the drawing. What just happened? She could not recall drawing this at all! The last thing she remembered was that she was looking at the sky. Moreover, the drawing was too articulate and life-like. Her art was good but not this good. It was almost like a professionally drawn portrait and Jina had no recollection of drawing this.

The hell? She wondered.

"Now pay attention here!" the teacher barked at her. She tried to keep up with whatever the teacher was saying but her mind kept on drifting to the portrait. I should tell this to the old man, she decided. 

The bell rang, indicating the end of that period. Jina picked up her bag and slowly made her way towards the next class, avoiding everyone's gazes. Some of her friends wanted to talk to her but she politely turned them down, citing that she was feeling unwell. Taking a deep breath, she headed for the girl's washroom which was situated on the far east corner.

There was no one else in that dingy washroom at that time. There were only three stalls behind her and a series of sinks. The floor was completely dry and cleaned but the light above her was flickering. 

She turned on the tap and let the water run. Her eyes were drooping with sleep and she splashed her face with water.

A slow breeze was coming from somewhere but she did not notice much. The door to the washroom was beginning to move, slowly shutting the exit. Jina jumped in fright when the door slammed shut.

"Huh?" she frowned. Walking towards it, she tried to open the door but it was completely locked. But that was impossible. The door could only be locked from inside! 

Is it jammed? She wondered.

Jina slammed on the door. "Can anyone hear me?" she shouted. "I'm stuck here!"

She banged the door but her little palms were aching. "Help!" she screamed. "Someone!"

The little girl was so engrossed in trying to figure a way to get out that she did not notice a slim, shadowy figure standing behind her. The shadow's long hair was swaying around her, making the woman look more fearsome than any ghost. Her red lips were curled into an evil grin as she watched the child struggle to get out.

"Help!" Jina yelled.

"No one will help you unless I permit them to."

Jina's eyes widened in shock and she spun around to find a sultry looking woman. The woman was wearing a purple dress and her long hair was let loose. She wore high heels and slowly made her way towards Jina.

"Y-you're not a ghost!" Jina squeaked. "How did you get in?"

"How rude," the woman commented. "Shouldn't you greet your elders first?"

But Jina stood there, defying her. "Who are you?" the child demanded.

"Anna," the woman replied. "I'm sure you've heard of me."

Anna…

Jina's eyes widened in shock and she took out an amulet from her pocket. Holding it up, she used it as her defense.

"You're that woman who killed uncle Kanji!" she spat. "That demon's slave!"

"Willing partner," Anna corrected her and to Jina's shock, she grabbed the amulet from her hand and tossed it aside.

"Surprised?" Anna sneered. "Your parents and grandfather thought that I'm a spirit, huh?"

She let out a girly yet shrill laughter which made Jina's spine chill. The woman wore a smile but it was hiding her sinister nature. Jina's heart was pounding and she was backed up against the door. She was shaking in fear as the woman towered over her.

"I'm human," Anna revealed. "Or rather, a shamanic witch. I'm adept in spells and witchcraft which I use to communicate with demons. Unlike you Seers, we have to use enchantments to talk to the dead. The little camera footage at the police station was a mere illusion I had created to trick your parents into believing that I'm a spirit. These amulets and charms are useless against me…"

"I'll tell them!" Jina whispered.

"Go ahead," Anna challenged. "Tell them. But if you do that, then his blood will be on your hands."

She took out her cell phone and held it up for Jina to watch the video in it. Kanji's father was on screen with a blank expression. Jina watched as Jason raised his left hand and picked up a knife with his right. Without blinking, he was beginning to cut the nerve on his left wrist. Blood was flowing out of the wound, flooding the table in front of him red.

"Stop it!" Jina begged but Anna only laughed harder. 

"If you want to save him, then do as I say!" she hissed. "Otherwise, he'll be dead meat. Just like your uncle Kanji. And it'll all be your fault."

She grabbed Jina's face with one hand, snarling at the frightened little girl. 

"We'll meet soon," Anna promised. "And don't you dare say a word to your parents. I'll know if you do."

With that, she pushed Jina aside and disappeared in thin air. The door clicked open but Jina did not get up. She was too shocked to say anything, the fear in her heart rendering her unable to speak.

Help us...she begged. Someone. Anyone!