FAN FAIR: Guo Jingming (second left) attends a promotion event with other Tiny Times stars in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, on July 6 (CFP)

Nevertheless, Tiny Times novels have sold over 6.7 million copies, most read by teenagers. Undoubtedly, Guo's supporters would spare no effort in protecting their idol.

Zhou's comments have been widely attacked by tens of thousands of fans. "You are insulting our young people," one Weibo user said. Guo has also involved himself in the argument, refuting Zhou's claims by saying "You are what you criticize about in the film."

Writer or businessman?

Along with his film, Guo has become the subject of much controversy. In 1983, born into a modest family in southwest China's Sichuan Province, he won first place during the New Concept Writing Contest, a national event for high school students, in 2001 and 2002 consecutively. This made his name a sensation on campuses across the country. Since then, Guo has been a full-time writer.

However, his identity is complex. In the eyes of readers, Guo is a model for success. To critics in favor of serious literature, he resembles a smart businessman.

Guo has established himself in the publishing sector with his i5land magazine series, ZUI novels and comics, and has signed and promoted dozens of young writers and cartoonists since 2006. In particular, he topped a Chinese writers' fortune list in 2011 with earnings of 24.5 million yuan ($4 million).

Meanwhile, his current lifestyle is as luxurious as those in his novels. Guo lives in a villa and wears designer clothes. In response to criticism, he said "I made my dream come true. Everyone can do the same."

Needless to say, Guo and his company have tapped into the rapidly evolving youth market. The success of Tiny Times is largely due to current demographic changes among Chinese cinema-goers.

According to the latest statistics from the China Film Distribution and Exhibition Association, the average age of moviegoers in the country has dropped from 25.7 in 2009 to 21.2 in 2012.

The huge number of young fans has played an important role in fuelling Tiny Times. Ignoring the critics, millions of Guo's fans have swarmed into cinemas in robust defense of their idol. An Internet questionnaire suggests that 46 percent of audience members who have seen Tiny Times chose it because they liked the original novels, while 35 percent are supporters of Guo, and the remaining 19 percent, fans of popular stars in the film.

Based on its success, Tiny Times 2 will be released in August, four months earlier than originally planned.

Despite their huge impact, the cultural value of Guo's books remains small. Most of his works cater to the tastes of teenage readers, whom he believes dream of great careers, awesome friends and handsome boyfriends, similar to Lin in the movie.

"No one stays young, but there will always be young people," Guo writes.

Email us at: baishi@bjreview.com