25: I will definitely absorb positive energy.

Writers Association.

Chairman's Office.

"Bang!"

A precious purple clay teapot was smashed ruthlessly onto the ground, shattering into pieces.

Wang Shouyi's chest heaved violently.

His face turned from green to purple.

The hand pointing at the computer screen shook uncontrollably.

On the screen was the book review section of the human world is like a prison.

The top-voted comment:

[Hahaha, Wang Shouyi: I want to criticize you! Author: Received, I'll arrange a role for you right now. Wang Shouyi dies.]

"Too much! This is too much!"

In his entire life, when had he ever suffered such a great humiliation?

It wasn't that he hadn't been criticized before.

But never in such a playful and heart-piercing way!

That author named "Hell Dream Weaver" didn't even bother arguing with him.

Instead, they directly wrote him into the book, using the most absurd and humiliating method.

A public execution right in front of all the readers on the internet!

Vice Chairman Gu Songran stood to the side, at a loss, wanting to advise him but not daring to.

He watched as Wang Shouyi trembled with rage.

He glanced at the endless stream of "Professor He" memes on the screen (a chibi version of Wang Shouyi's avatar).

His Adam's apple bobbed as he forced down the urge to laugh.

This matter had blown up too much.

Chairman Wang wanted to make the other party a negative example, but ended up becoming the biggest joke himself.

Wang Shouyi's eyes were bloodshot as he clenched his fists tightly.

"Hell Dream Weaver...

I don't care who you are, I'm not done with you!"

...

Jiangcheng No. 1 High School.

Class 3, Grade 11.

"Hahaha! Brother Que! Quick, look at this!

Professor He is charging at a ghost while holding the 'Song of Righteousness', with the caption 'I'm going to feed!'

There's even a line of small text below: Knowledge can't change fate, but it can change how you die!"

Wu Di was twitching with laughter as he shoved his phone screen in front of Lin Que.

Lin Que glanced lazily.

On the phone, a stick figure had Wang Shouyi's head photoshopped onto it.

It was charging righteously at a dark shadow; the image was as comical as could be.

"Yeah, quite creative."

Lin Que commented.

"It's more than just creative!"

Wu Di lowered his voice, his face flushed with excitement.

"The whole internet is using this meme now!

That Wang Shouyi has suffered a total social death!

The Dream Weaver's move was brilliant! What do you call this? A scholar's revenge!"

Lin Que looked away and lay on the desk, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.

Shen Qingqiu stood at the back door of the classroom, taking everything in.

She had, of course, seen the chapter titled "ghosts do not read poetry"

and the overwhelming discussions online.

As a Chinese Language Teacher,

she understood the biting satire better than anyone.

On one hand, she had to admit,

this way of responding to controversy through the work itself

was truly clever, even possessing a sense of effortless artistry.

On the other hand, this blatant mockery of authority made her feel a sense of alarm.

This rebellious streak—how similar was it to the youth who questioned the sun in firefly?

She felt more and more that Lin Que was being deeply influenced by that book, the human world is like a prison.

He was like a giant sponge,

frantically absorbing those dark, rebellious thoughts,

and then using his talent to transform them into something even more destructive.

This thought filled her with deep concern.

Just then, the bell rang.

Just as Shen Qingqiu stepped onto the podium, the Dean of Students knocked on the door and poked his head in:

"Teacher Shen, Principal Jiang wants Lin Que to come to his office."

The eyes of the entire class instantly focused on Lin Que.

The Principal?

This matter had actually reached the Principal?

Wu Di's face turned pale as he nervously tugged at Lin Que's sleeve:

"Brother Que, it couldn't be that old man Wang Shouyi complained to the school, right?"

Lin Que patted his hand and stood up,

his face still wearing that calm, unruffled expression.

Under the worried gazes of his classmates, he leisurely walked out of the classroom.

...

Principal's Office.

Principal Jiang Changfeng, who was nearly sixty, was wearing reading glasses and scrutinizing the youth before him.

His expression was very gentle.

"Student Lin Que, come, have a seat."

He pointed to the sofa opposite him.

"I didn't call you here to criticize you; on the contrary, I want to praise you."

Principal Jiang spoke with a smile.

"I've read your piece, firefly, as well.

Professor Li Yuanchao even called me personally and was full of praise for you!

He said you are the most gifted student Jiangcheng No. 1 High School has produced in the last ten years!"

"This is an honor for our school.

Therefore, the school has decided to

award you a major merit and a scholarship of five thousand yuan."

Lin Que was a bit surprised, but he still nodded:

"Thank you, Principal."

"Eh, you earned it."

Principal Jiang waved his hand.

His tone shifted, becoming earnest and heartfelt.

"Student Lin Que, your talent is obvious to the school.

But precisely because of that, we must take responsibility for you and protect a good sprout like you."

He paused, his expression becoming a bit more serious.

"Recently, there's a novel online called... the human world is like a prison, you know about it?"

Lin Que's heart stirred, but his face showed a perfectly timed look of confusion:

"I've heard classmates mention it; it seems very popular."

"Yes, it is very popular."

Principal Jiang's brow furrowed.

"But its content is very bad!

I've heard reports from many teachers that after students read it, they become suspicious and distracted,

it even affects their normal studies and lives."

"Especially the most recently updated plot,

openly mocking scholars and promoting the idea that reading is useless—the influence is extremely negative!"

Principal Jiang tapped the table with a pained expression.

"Student Lin Que, it's a good thing that your thoughts are active and you have your own insights.

But you are still young, after all, and your ability to distinguish right from wrong is still relatively weak,

making it easy to be influenced by this kind of sensationalist spiritual opium."

"I today called you here to remind you.

Your talent should be used for the right path.

Works like firefly that can trigger controversy should be kept to a minimum.

In the future..."

Principal Jiang looked around until his eyes landed on the New Tide magazine on his desk.

"Yes!"

He quickly walked over, picked up the New Tide from the desk, and pushed it in front of Lin Que.

"In the future, you can be like this The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, warming people's hearts and bringing them hope."

"This is true literature, the kind of good thing that brings people strength!"

He looked at Lin Que, his eyes filled with the earnest expectations of an elder for a junior.

"You are a child with a bright future,

you must not be led astray by those messy things on the internet.

You should create more and absorb more positive energy, do you understand?"

Lin Que looked at the Principal's sincere face,

looked at the copy of New Tide in his hand,

and thought of his evaluation of the human world is like a prison just now.

A sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.

Suppressing his urge to laugh, he stood up and gave the Principal a solemn bow.

"Thank you, Principal, I understand."

His expression was more serious and earnest than ever before.

"From now on, I will definitely draw a clear line between myself and spiritual opium like the human world is like a prison.

I will take Jian Shen as my role model,

study hard, and make progress every day.

I will never let down the cultivation the school and teachers have provided me!"

...