180: The center position in the principal's office

The third-floor administrative area.

Normally, the roars of the Dean of Students scolding rule-breaking students would echo here, and even the sound-activated lights in the hallway stayed on year-round.

Today, however, it was abnormally quiet; the sound-activated lights were all off.

The door to the principal's office at the end of the hallway was tightly shut, and even the blinds, which were usually left ajar, were drawn tight.

Lin Que had just turned the corner of the stairs when his footsteps faltered.

Fei Yuncheng, the Dean of Students who usually patrolled the campus with his hands behind his back and a voice louder than the PA system,

was currently standing at the principal's office door like a dutiful bellboy.

His face, which was always set in a stern scowl, now bore a look of extreme caution.

Seeing Lin Que approach, Fei Yuncheng didn't scold him for his slouching posture as he usually would.

Instead, as if seeing a savior, he hurried over to meet him.

"Lin Que, you're finally here."

Fei Yuncheng lowered his voice, his tone carrying an unprecedented urgency:

"Get in quickly, the leaders are waiting."

Lin Que raised an eyebrow but didn't ask questions. He walked to the door and called out:

"Reporting."

"Enter! Come in quickly!"

Principal Jiang's voice came from inside.

Lin Que pushed the door open and entered.

The room was filled with the fragrance of tea.

The originally spacious principal's office now felt a bit crowded.

Principal Jiang wasn't sitting in the large executive chair that symbolized his authority; instead, he sat with a forced smile at the very end of the side sofa.

Sitting in the primary seat was a fresh face.

Beside the primary seat, Chairman Gu was still fiddling with his purple clay teapot.

Seeing Lin Que enter, a sharp light flashed in his usually squinted eyes, and he waved with a smile:

"Little Lin, come, sit over here."

Besides Gu Changfeng, three strangers were also sitting on the sofa.

Although they weren't in uniform, the way they leaned casually against the sofa

carried a sense of relaxation born from years of giving orders, making the small office feel somewhat cramped.

Lin Que's expression remained calm, showing neither the shrinking fear of a high schooler meeting big leaders nor the arrogance of someone who found fame young.

He walked to the coffee table and gave a proper bow:

"Hello, leaders. I am Lin Que."

"Hello, Chairman Gu!"

Gu Changfeng nodded with a smile.

Principal Jiang hurriedly stood up and quickly introduced them:

"Lin Que, let me introduce you. This is Director Huo Yan from our Municipal Education Bureau, and this is Director Hu Wenbin, whom you met at the New Year's Eve gala. This is..."

Principal Jiang Changfeng pointed toward the elegant middle-aged man in a white shirt sitting in the primary seat,

his voice reflexively rising in pitch:

"This is Director Li Gaoyu of the Provincial Department of Education. And this is Secretary Yu."

Secretary Yu stood up of his own accord and gave a slight nod.

Lin Que's heart stirred slightly.

Good grief.

The Chairman of the Provincial Writers Association, the top leader of the Provincial Department, and the first and second-in-command of the Municipal Bureau.

If this room full of people were to stomp their feet, let alone Jiangcheng No. 1 High School, the entire educational world of Su Province would tremble.

"Hello, Director Li. Hello, Director Huo. Hello, Director Hu."

Lin Que greeted them again, his etiquette so perfect that no fault could be found.

Li Gaoyu set down his teacup and leaned forward.

His gaze wasn't sharp, but he sized Lin Que up from head to toe.

A few seconds later, a smile suddenly broke across Li Gaoyu's serious face,

and he turned to Gu Changfeng beside him and said:

"Old Gu, you weren't exaggerating this time.

This is what they call a young hero. The boy is handsome and full of spirit; no wonder he could write an article that shook the capital."

"A wenqu star descended to earth, hahaha."

Director Hu Wenbin chimed in with a laugh.

"I heard his performance about life and death at the New Year's Gala and thought this kid had potential. I didn't expect him to be this good."

The atmosphere in the room relaxed slightly.

Facing the "excessive praise" from this room of heavyweights, Lin Que didn't show any sign of being overwhelmed or fearful.

He scratched his head, a perfectly timed look of bashfulness appearing on his face, though his tone carried a hint of youthful playfulness:

"Director Li, you overpraise me.

I'm no wenqu star. The reason I look full of spirit is purely because I was startled by the PA system just now."

As soon as he said this, the room went silent for a second.

Then, with a "boom," a burst of hearty laughter erupted.

Li Gaoyu pointed at Lin Que, his shoulders shaking with laughter:

"Good! Interesting! Not stage-frightened, and humorous too.

There aren't many students these days as relaxed as you."

The originally tense administrative pressure was instantly dissolved by this one joke.

After the laughter, Gu Changfeng fiddled with his purple clay teapot and got down to business.

"Little Lin, calling you here with such a grand lineup today is actually for one thing."

Gu Changfeng's smile faded, and his gaze became somewhat deep:

"Our Su Province only produced one premium selection this time—you. The higher-ups take this very seriously. They're afraid you're under too much pressure, and also..."

He paused, glanced at Li Gaoyu, and his tone became meaningful:

"Afraid that you'll be dazzled by the outside world, especially over in Beijing."

Lin Que's mind was as clear as a mirror.

Afraid of pressure? They were clearly afraid of him being poached.

The title of "Double Premium" was too loud; Su Province was determined to keep him under their wing this time.

"We are here to safeguard you."

Director Huo Yan of the Municipal Education Bureau was a resolute career woman. She took over the conversation and got straight to the point:

"Lin Que, after research and deliberation by the Provincial Department and the Municipal Bureau, it has been decided that from today until the end of the finals, you will have 'absolute freedom' at school."

"What does that mean?"

Huo Yan held up a finger.

"Focus entirely on preparing for the finals."

She glanced at Principal Jiang Changfeng:

"If you feel the school environment is too noisy and affects your creative inspiration, the city has reserved an Expert Building for you at the Cadre Sanatorium by East Lake.

The environment there is quiet, with dedicated staff to handle your daily life. You can go there to focus on your exam prep in seclusion."

Principal Jiang Changfeng clicked his tongue in amazement as he listened.

The East Lake Sanatorium? That was a place for ministerial-level leaders to recuperate!

Letting a high school student move in to prepare for an exam?

This treatment was practically raising Lin Que like a national treasure panda.

Everyone looked at Lin Que, waiting for him to show an expression of wild joy.

After all, for any high school student tortured by the 'sea of practice problems' tactic, this was a godsend.

However, Lin Que was only slightly stunned before he shook his head.

"I truly thank all the leaders for your concern."

Lin Que's voice was very sincere.

"But regarding this sanatorium, can I choose not to go?"

"Oh?"

Li Gaoyu was somewhat surprised.

"Is it because you're afraid the environment will be too unfamiliar?"

"Not at all."

Lin Que smiled, his gaze sweeping over the old camphor tree outside the window:

"The sanatorium is too quiet—so quiet it makes one feel uneasy.

Writing requires a bit of human presence."

He pointed to the noisy playground outside the window:

"This kind of everyday bustle is the root of my writing."

The leaders in the room exchanged glances, their eyes filled with admiration.

What is a high state of mind?

This is it!

Not coveting comfort, not detaching from life—this child's character was more stable than those writers who had been famous for a long time!

"Good! Well said!"

Li Gaoyu slapped the armrest of the sofa heavily and stood up:

"Just for those words, I have high hopes for you on this trip to Beijing!"

He walked over to Lin Que and reached out to pat his shoulder.

His palm was strong, carrying a silent implication.

"Student Lin, you must do well on the exam."

Li Gaoyu lowered his voice, speaking at a volume only the two of them could hear:

"This 'Qinglan Project' is not simple. It's not just a training camp; it's a 'political background check' for entering the nation's core cultural circle.

Whether you can get that admission ticket depends on your performance in the finals."

Lin Que's finger, resting against the seam of his trousers, twitched slightly.

Political background check?

It seemed the waters behind this 'Qinglan Project' were deeper than he had imagined.

"Understood."

...