# Nine months in the sun #
Ding Mo, a popular Chinese social media personality, has stirred up controversy after making public statements about Jiu Yue Hei's work. In one of her posts, Ding Mo accused Jiu Yue Hei of copying ideas from other authors and criticized her for allegedly plagiarizing the storyline and characters of another novelist's book.
16 July 2023
Jiu Yue Hei has responded to these accusations by asserting that she did not plagiarize and had never read the original work in question. She also stated that her novel, My Human Smoke and Fire, was inspired by real-life experiences, but that the characters and plot were completely original.
The drama adaptation of Jiu Yue Hei's novel has been a source of controversy as well. Ding Mo took to social media to criticize the depiction of the main character, Meng Yanxian, which bears similarities to another popular novel. She accused Jiu Yue Hei of stealing the character from someone else and using it in her own work without permission or credit.
In response, Jiu Yue Hei defended herself by saying that she had never read Meng Yanxian's original story, nor did she copy any elements from other authors. She also accused Ding Mo of having a double standard, as the latter has been known to borrow ideas and concepts from others in her own work.
The controversy surrounding Jiu Yue Hei's novel highlights the issue of originality and authenticity in China's rapidly growing online literature scene. It also raises questions about the impact of social media influencers on the industry, as they often have a significant influence over their followers' reading choices.