210: I don't know if you can hold on.

Inside the conference room, although Xu Zhengqing had already left, his phrase "well-deserved" still echoed in the air.

Xue Hongchuan, Chairman of the Writers Association, was the first to break the silence.

He reached out and pressed the score sheet, which was stamped with a searing red "SSS" grade, heavily onto the table.

The paper made a dull thud as it hit the table.

"Since even Old Xu acknowledges this blade, we have no reason to continue acting as a self-deceiving fig leaf."

Xue Hongchuan's gaze was like a torch as it swept across the crowd of professors with complex expressions.

"This year's 'Fu Zhi Yao' is no longer just a competition. It should become the inaugural year of transformation for the Huaxia literary world."

His words settled the matter once and for all.

The conservative professors, who had been agonizing over the work being "cold, harsh, and non-compliant," looked at each other in silence.

Ultimately, under the dual will of that literary giant and the supreme helmsman, they all fell silent.

In the corner, Gu Changfeng felt a tingling sensation down his back.

Looking at the glaring grade on the screen, a storm of emotions surged within him.

He knew Lin Que was a freak of nature, but he hadn't expected the kid to, by himself...

...forcibly drag these old scholars, who had been stubborn for decades, out of their ivory towers.

"Chairman Zhou."

Xue Hongchuan turned to look at Zhou Wenyuan.

"Prepare tomorrow night's award ceremony according to the highest standards."

"Not only should we invite the media, but we should also invite all the long-established big names in the literary world."

"This new fire—we must help it burn bright enough."

Zhou Wenyuan nodded in agreement, but then his expression turned troubled, and his tone became somewhat hesitant:

"Chairman Xue, the invitation list is fine, but the Moyun Award winner, 'Jian Shen', sent a reply declining the invitation."

"Declined?"

Xue Hongchuan's brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't get angry.

"Yes, he only sent a recorded message."

Zhou Wenyuan explained.

"Teacher Jian Shen's exact words were to leave the spotlight for the young people."

A series of soft sighs echoed through the conference room.

Hearing this, Xue Hongchuan showed no displeasure at being rejected; instead, a deep sense of respect appeared in his eyes.

"To be at the center of attention yet remain so indifferent to fame and fortune."

Xue Hongchuan sighed with admiration.

"This temperament is just like Old Xu's back in the day. To be able to endure such loneliness in this impetuous era... this Jian Shen truly possesses the air of an ancient gentleman."

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

In their hearts, the Jian Shen they had never met...

...took on an increasingly tall and imposing image, as if he were a peerless master hidden in the bustling city, looking coldly upon the world.

"By the way, Old Zhou, Jian Shen... he's from Su Province, right?"

Xue Hongchuan suddenly changed the subject.

Zhou Wenyuan quickly replied, "Oh, yes."

"Has the location for our Writers Association's field trip in August been decided?"

Zhou Wenyuan reacted quickly, immediately swallowing the plan originally set for Xiang Province and changing his words:

"It is. The preliminary plan is set for Su Province."

Xue Hongchuan nodded and looked at Gu Changfeng with a kindly smile:

"Old Gu, when the time comes, we old bones from the Writers Association will have to drop by your place for a cup of tea."

"Teacher Jian Shen's indifference to fame is his level of enlightenment, but we can't fail to show our appreciation."

"When the time comes, we'll pay him a visit in person."

*Clack.*

The lid of the purple clay teapot in Gu Changfeng's hand wobbled; he almost lost his grip.

The top leader of the National Writers Association leading a massive group to Su Province to see an author he himself had never even met?

A layer of fine sweat instantly broke out on his forehead, and he could only force himself to agree:

"Don't worry, Chairman Xue. Su Province... will be ready to welcome you with open arms."

...Wenjin Pavilion Hotel.

It had been half an hour since the finalist notifications for the award ceremony were sent out.

The once quiet corridor was now filled with various complex emotions.

Some ran through the hallway clutching their phones, letting out suppressed cheers, while others stayed behind closed doors, the sound of low sobbing faintly audible.

*Knock, knock, knock!*

Lin Que was leaning against the headboard, scrolling through secondary creations of the human world is like a prison on Note Short Video, when the door was pounded on with a deafening noise.

Opening the door, Chen Jiahao rushed in like a whirlwind.

He grabbed Lin Que's shoulders tightly, his eyes wide and round.

"Master Que! Did you get a call from the Fu Zhi Yao officials? Tell me quickly, did you get it?!"

Lin Que, dizzy from the shaking, shook his head.

Chen Jiahao's round face instantly fell.

His previously excited expression looked like a frost-bitten eggplant as he slumped onto the sofa.

"It's over... It really crashed and burned."

Chen Jiahao scratched his bird's-nest hair, his eyes filled with regret.

"I told you, that topic was too insane. Even a god would have to grind for seventy-two hours. You only took twenty-eight hours... Sigh!"

He looked up at Lin Que, his eyes unexpectedly filled with a "pitying" tenderness.

"Master Que, don't take it too hard."

"I barely made the cut after grinding out over thirty thousand words until I felt like I'd lost a layer of skin. You only used twenty-eight hours... This topic was a trap to begin with. Those old-fogy judges value meticulous polishing the most. You moved too fast; it's only natural they couldn't keep up."

Chen Jiahao went into overthinking mode and even started comforting Lin Que in turn:

"Sigh, geniuses are always lonely."

"Look at that Jian Shen. Weren't they also criticized when The Miracles of the Namiya General Store came out?"

"Don't do anything rash. I'll treat you to roast duck later, and we'll start over from scratch!"

Lin Que looked at this chubby fellow's sincere gaze, his lips twitching.

Before he could explain, the phone on the table suddenly vibrated violently.

*Buzz— Buzz—*

On the screen, a landline number starting with 010 was exceptionally prominent.

The room fell silent instantly.

Chen Jiahao held his breath, even more nervous than Lin Que, his eyes glued to the screen.

"A call?! Answer it! Quickly, answer it!"

Lin Que answered the call and pressed the speakerphone button.

"Hello, is this Student Lin Que?"

A female staff member's voice came through the receiver. Her tone was extremely professional, yet it held a hint of politeness that others might not have noticed.

"It's me."

"Student Lin, congratulations on achieving excellent results in this 'Fu Zhi Yao' final."

The other party paused.

"We officially invite you to attend the award ceremony held tomorrow night in the grand auditorium of Qingbei University."

Lin Que raised an eyebrow.

"What rank?"

"The rankings are being kept confidential for now, Student Lin."

The staff member chuckled.

"However, before I hang up, I have a specific instruction for you."

"Many important leaders will be present tomorrow night, and there will be a full live broadcast by the National Television Station."

"Please make sure to dress appropriately—ideally, a bit more... glamorous."

"Understood. Thank you for the call."

The call ended.

Chen Jiahao stood frozen, his mouth open wide enough to fit a duck egg.

"This... this isn't right."

Chen Jiahao scratched his head, looking suspicious.

"When I got the call, that lady couldn't wait to finish in a second, just telling me to be on time and not be late."

"How come for you, you have to be 'glamorous'?"

He looked at Lin Que, his eyes full of confusion.

Lin Que casually tossed his phone aside, his tone nonchalant:

"Probably because the commotion from my early submission was too big, and the officials want me to come out and clarify things, maybe pick up a participation prize along the way?"

"Telling me to dress decently is probably because they're afraid my image will affect the competition's brand."

Chen Jiahao stared blankly for a long while, his brows furrowed tightly as if he were undergoing an intense brainstorming session.

After a long time, he slapped his thigh and showed an expression of sudden realization, mixed with a bit of solemnity:

"I get it! Master Que, the officials are protecting you!"

"Think about it. There's a storm of criticism online right now, saying your mental state is worrying and that you're disrespecting the competition."

"The officials want you to dress glamorously and go on TV..."

...to have you appear publicly as a guest or a controversial contestant..."

...to show off your mental state and shut everyone up!"

The more Chen Jiahao spoke, the more he felt he was right, and his eyes even reddened:

"To calm public opinion, they're even giving you a participation prize. The officials have really put a lot of thought into this... Master Que, you must hold on tomorrow!"

Looking at Chen Jiahao's display of immense loyalty, Lin Que gazed thoughtfully out the window.

I can hold on,

I just don't know if you can...