342: Chapter 342 Teaching Myself - Bonus Chapter of <Defying Adversity>

Lin Que's "Hello, President Wang" floated softly through the conference room.

Wang De'an's hand, which was holding a teacup, stopped in mid-air.

He looked at the tall, poised youth before him, whose expression held not a trace of unease, and the admiration in his eyes overflowed without reservation.

"Student Lin, we meet again."

He stepped toward Lin Que, not putting on any airs of a publishing industry tycoon.

Instead, he proactively extended his right hand and shook Lin Que's hand firmly.

"I sent someone specifically to the scene to keep an eye on that signing event in Magic City last weekend."

"To be honest, before I went, I was wondering if arranging such a high-profile clash for a newcomer would be a bit too cruel."

Wang De'an's voice was resonant, every word carrying weight.

He released his hand and looked directly at Lin Que.

"Fortunately, not only did you avoid being swept away by the current, but you even carved out a path for yourself! This is nothing short of a miracle in the history of Chinese publishing!"

Beside him, Principal Jiang Changfeng and Fei Yuncheng nodded with smiles.

Wang De'an didn't stop; he turned to look at Chairman Lv Songran sitting at the head of the table.

"Chairman Lv, the Writers Association has truly unearthed a priceless treasure this time."

Wang De'an pointed at Lin Que and continued.

"I read Student Lin's book 'folding beijing' twice overnight."

"The cruel analysis of class stratification and the precise portrayal of the living conditions of the lower-class laborers within it..."

"That literary prowess, where commercial potential and depth coexist, combined with the seasoned maturity and tenacity he displayed in a desperate situation."

Wang De'an looked back at Lin Que, giving his conclusion in an extremely certain tone.

"This seventeen-year-old youth will surely have a place in the future Chinese Literary World!"

The conference room was silent for two seconds.

Then, Director Huo Yan took the lead in applauding, and the crisp sound of clapping immediately drew the others' accompaniment.

Several powerful figures looked at Lin Que with increasingly fervent eyes.

Facing this extremely high praise that would be enough to make any peer lose their way, Lin Que maintained a posture of listening patiently throughout.

He didn't show any panic from being overwhelmed by favor, nor did he pretend to be profound by declining.

After the applause died down, Lin Que bowed slightly.

"Thank you for the undeserved praise, President Wang."

"To have reached today, I cannot do without the guidance and support of my teachers, my school, and the seniors of Jiangcheng."

"Without this soil, my words would not have made it out of Jiangcheng."

Chairman Lv Songran took a sip of tea, the satisfaction on his face impossible to hide.

Lin Que shifted his gaze, looking directly at Wang De'an.

"However, for President Wang to come to Jiangcheng No. 1 High School in the midst of a busy schedule, surely it isn't just to congratulate me in person?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the conference room quietly changed.

Wang De'an was stunned for half a second, then burst into a hearty laugh.

He pointed a finger at Lin Que, increasingly admiring the youth's extraordinary insight.

"Good lad, this straightforwardness of cutting straight to the heart of the matter is exactly the same as back then."

Wang De'an put his hands behind his back, his gaze filled with reminiscence.

"I remember when 'The Miracles of the Namiya General Store' was first released, you went on stage as a student representative to speak."

"I was sitting in the audience watching you then, sharply rebutting the tricky questions from unscrupulous media."

"I told my colleagues at the time that this kid would be extraordinary in the future."

"Later, I kept an eye on your movements until the news of 'Fu Zhi Yao Competition' came out."

"I knew my intuition hadn't been wrong."

Wang De'an stopped smiling, his expression becoming extremely solemn.

"Since Student Lin has put it that way, I won't beat around the bush."

Wang De'an walked to the long mahogany table, supporting himself with both hands on the tabletop.

"Student Lin Que, I'm here today on behalf of Xinchao Publishing House to formally invite you to sign an exclusive long-term author contract with our house."

These words were like a heavy bomb.

Standing behind Lin Que, Principal Jiang Changfeng and Fei Yuncheng's breathing hitched simultaneously.

Xinchao Publishing House's status in the industry was currently at its peak; many established writers were breaking their heads trying to sign with them.

Now, this president had actually personally come to the school to offer an olive branch of an exclusive long-term contract to a high school student who hadn't even graduated.

Chairman Lv Songran, Director Huo Yan, and the others sitting at the head table appeared very calm.

They smiled and nodded slightly.

Clearly, these city leaders had already heard about Xinchao Publishing House's grand talent-scouting operation and were happy to see it happen.

After all, having a local Jiangcheng writer sign with a top-tier publishing house was beneficial in every way for local cultural development.

Seeing that Lin Que did not immediately express his stance.

Wang De'an immediately stood up straight and began to lay out New Tide's foundation.

"Student Lin might still be somewhat unfamiliar with the current publishing market."

Wang De'an's tone carried absolute confidence.

"Today's Xinchao Publishing House is no longer the small Jiangcheng magazine office it once was."

"Because with the phenomenal masterpiece support of our honorary resident writer 'Jian Shen', New Tide is now firmly the leader of the Su Province publishing industry."

"Needless to mention the top domestic promotion channels and the most hardcore physical distribution network,"

"Even in the operation of overseas copyrights, New Tide has the ability to be top-tier in the industry."

Wang De'an paused, observing Lin Que's reaction.

"As long as you, Student Lin, agree to sign."

Wang De'an held up one finger and threw out the first sky-high bargaining chip.

"New Tide guarantees you that every one of your future works will enjoy S-level initial print runs."

"Not only that, we will pour a top-tier promotion matrix into you."

"And I also intend to build you and Jian Shen into the twin stars of Xinchao Publishing House and even the entire Chinese Literary World, where the old and new shine together!"

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Fei Yuncheng subconsciously sat up straight and quickly exchanged a startled look with Principal Jiang Changfeng beside him.

Directly promising top-tier promotion and wanting to create 'twin stars'—this treatment was incredibly rare even in the entire literary world.

Two accompanying clerks from the city bureau beside them couldn't help but whisper:

"Giving such generous terms to a newcomer, New Tide is putting all their bets on him."

Hearing the amazement of those around him, Wang De'an was very satisfied with the effect.

Looking at Lin Que, who remained silent throughout, he decided to throw out his final and what he considered the most lethal trump card.

He walked to Lin Que's side and lowered his voice, just enough for everyone in the conference room to hear clearly.

"Student Lin, I know you write Sci-fi Realism. This genre has great potential but is also extremely difficult to master."

Wang De'an's tone was full of temptation.

"As long as you sign this contract, the house is willing to use its personal relationship with Jian Shen to help you secure an opportunity."

"At that time, one-on-one creative guidance is not out of the question."

Silence.

The conference room fell into a silence where a pin drop could be heard.

If the previous S-level promotion and twin star matrix were just a tilt in resources,

Then the promise of 'letting Jian Shen personally guide you' was simply a trump card.

That was a genius writer who swept various charts with four books.

Principal Jiang Changfeng's hands on his knees clenched unconsciously, desperately suppressing the urge to agree on behalf of his student.

Although Director Huo Yan and Chairman Lv Songran's expressions didn't change, their fingers holding the teacups stalled in mid-air.

They knew all too well Jian Shen's status in the current literary world; that New Tide could offer such a condition showed the depth of their sincerity.

Everyone's eyes were like spotlights on Lin Que.

They were envious, shocked, and expectant of the moment this youth would shed tears of excitement and nod in agreement.

Standing in the center of the crowd, Lin Que's heart was currently experiencing an unprecedented tsunami.

If he weren't himself, no one would have any reason to refuse this invitation.

But...

Lin Que bit his molars hard to prevent himself from losing his composure in this solemn setting.

He quickly lowered his eyelids, using an expression of contemplation to suppress his urge to laugh.

Recalling his past life, he had written hundreds of scripts of all sizes and considered himself to have seen enough absurd plotlines.

But no protagonist had ever needed to, under the gaze of a room full of powerful figures,

seriously consider how to tactfully decline the absurdity of 'teaching oneself.'

At this moment, Lin Que's brain was spinning rapidly.

Facing the room full of eager gazes and this century-level invitation.

If he agreed, the 'guidance' part would be a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

If he refused, not only New Tide, but also every official figure present who was happy to see it happen would be embarrassed.

He had to use a brilliant rhetoric that could both protect his identity and show the pride of a man of letters to resolve the current situation.

Three seconds later.

Lin Que raised his head, and the expression on his face had returned to a steady composure.

...