595: Chapter 595 Senior Jiang Cheng

As soon as Wang De'an finished speaking, the dozen or so voice recorders in the hallway turned simultaneously toward the New Tide President.

Qin Zheng's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and Jiang Chengxun also looked up.

Wang De'an walked through the path cleared by security, his pace unhurried.

He was wearing a dark gray suit with the top button undone, holding a conference document in his hand.

Xu Lan followed behind him, clutching a laptop.

New Tide's legal consultant, carrying the agenda bag distributed by the conference office, stopped half a step behind Xu Lan.

Jiang Chengxun was the first to recognize the newcomer.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately displayed a restrained smile.

"President Wang."

"Is President Wang here in person to back up the junior from New Tide?" Qin Zheng asked with a smile.

"Oh, I have a meeting this afternoon." Wang De'an nodded with a smile. His gaze swept over the two men and landed on Lin Que.

"I just happened to hear it was lively over here, so I came to take a look."

After saying this, Wang De'an stood directly to the right of Lin Que.

As the positions of the three parties shifted, the reporters' lenses also split into two sides.

The surrounding reporters held up their recorders, holding their breath.

Everyone knew that in the last few years, New Tide was no longer the publishing house stuck in the middle of the industry.

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store earned it a reputation. the ferryman》 helped it break into the domestic market. And ordinary world》 truly brought it into the public eye.

Even more critically, the literature workshop led by Jian Shen had already sent its students into the Top Ten of the Kunpeng Youth Literature Award.

No one could underestimate New Tide's weight in youth literature.

Wang De'an looked at Lin Que, his tone casual, as if chatting.

"Little Lin is from our Jiangcheng."

He paused.

"That gentleman in Jiangcheng knew I was coming, and he even said that when a young person first shows their brilliance, those of us who have been through it should offer a little protection."

The reporters in the hallway looked at each other. This sentence contained too much information. A senior from Jiangcheng had given special instructions. Who else could it be?

Lin Que lowered his eyes and did not respond.

However, several reporters in the front row exchanged glances, and their recorders inched forward another half an inch.

Jiang Chengxun was silent for a moment.

His gaze lingered for half a second on the disciplinary notice on the wall, then he closed his business card case, his smile vanishing completely.

"President Wang is right."

Jiang Chengxun closed his business card case and put it back into his inner suit pocket.

"I came here today to extend an olive branch to Student Lin on behalf of Xinrong."

"As for the matter of cooperation, we can talk after the final results are out."

He looked at Lin Que.

"In any case, Xinrong's door is always open."

"Once you've thought it over, contact me anytime."

Lin Que nodded. Jiang Chengxun did not linger and left with his assistant.

Qin Zheng's hand, which had been gripping his cufflink, paused for a moment, and he pressed back the document bag in his assistant's hand.

Huanyu Publishing Group had just gone through the Kunpeng turmoil.

Shen Jiangping's matter was still hanging on the tail end of the trending searches.

If they left an impression of "Huanyu Publishing Group poaching people after the defense" today, it would do the group no good at all.

But he was still not quite reconciled.

"President Wang, competition in the market is always fair."

Qin Zheng adjusted his cuffs.

"Huanyu Publishing Group appreciates Student Lin's talent."

"If you are interested in cooperating in the future, Huanyu Publishing Group is willing to offer a sufficiently high standard."

Wang De'an smiled.

"President Qin, we can discuss business cooperation slowly."

"But today, there is media here, along with staff from the Writers Association, and there are also the final review disciplinary rules."

"The young man has just come out of the defense hall; he needs to catch his breath first."

Qin Zheng glanced at Lin Que.

"Student Lin, Huanyu Publishing Group's invitation remains valid for the long term."

After saying this, he left with his assistant.

The two publishing groups withdrew one after the other. The oppressive atmosphere in the hallway dissipated accordingly. The reporters, however, did not immediately chase after them.

That scene just now was enough for them to write a long article.

Xinrong handing out a business card. Huanyu Publishing Group bringing a framework. The New Tide President personally holding down the fort. Plus the name of Jian Shen.

Outside the defense hall today, it was already livelier than many awards ceremonies.

The female reporter at the front put away her recorder.

"Let's save the material first."

"Once the results are announced, the ceremony news is out, and the publishing trends are finalized, we'll do a complete feature."

Security pulled up the cordon again, guiding the media to a distance of three meters away.

Wang De'an tilted his head toward Lin Que, signaling him to follow.

"Let's go, let's find a quiet place to talk."

Lin Que followed. Chen Jiahao wanted to chase after them, but was stopped by Xu Changge raising his hand. Chen Jiahao looked at Lin Que's retreating figure, opened his mouth, but ultimately stopped.

Dan Yi leaned against the wall, his gaze following them until they turned the corner.

The east side of the Writers Association building was very quiet in the afternoon. A tree-lined path connected to the old office area, and two rows of plane trees had already turned yellow. The wind blew through the treetops, and a few leaves fell onto the stone path.

Wang De'an walked to a stone bench and stopped. Xu Lan and the legal consultant tacitly retreated to a distance.

Lin Que looked at Wang De'an.

"Sorry for the trouble, President Wang."

"President Jiang and President Qin are both seniors in the industry, and I understand their thoughts."

"It's just that the defense has just ended, and discussing cooperation is easily misinterpreted."

Wang De'an waved his hand.

"Why so polite?"

"They just came out of the defense hall and shoved contracts right in front of you; that wouldn't look appropriate to anyone."

"Besides, you're a good seedling from Jiangcheng."

"If I had really pretended not to see it, that gentleman would have found fault with me later."

He looked at Lin Que with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Lin Que did not respond to this.

Wang De'an didn't continue to ask, either. He changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, it's been a while since we met at your high school."

"I heard you went to Muchuan Town a while ago?"

"I stayed for a month," Lin Que said with a nod.

Wang De'an nodded.

"Rare indeed, to run off all by yourself to such a far and remote place."

"No wonder you were able to connect the timeline, spatial lines, and character behaviors so well during the defense."

"Many authors only bring back a few photos when they go on research trips."

"You brought back the entire town."

Lin Que smiled.

"I was only afraid I didn't bring back enough."

Wang De'an was silent for a moment. Then he asked.

"Little Lin, have you been in touch with your elder at home recently?"

Lin Que knew who he was asking about. He shook his head.

"Not recently."

Wang De'an sighed.

"Your elder has gone into seclusion very thoroughly."

"I sent several emails last month, wanting to ask about the arrangements for the subsequent workshop."

"In the end, I only received three words."

He paused.

"In seclusion."

Lin Que's fingertips paused slightly. Those three words were indeed his reply. At the time, Wang De'an had come to ask about the next phase of the course schedule, and he was busy wrapping up qin opera》. Wang De'an's emails were urgent. He didn't have time to beat around the bush, so he could only reply with one sentence: In seclusion.

Lin Que's expression remained as usual.

"Seniors have their own rhythm, after all."

Wang De'an smiled.

"The way you two speak is quite similar."

Lin Que took the initiative to change the subject.

"Is President Wang here in the capital for the Kunpeng defense?"

Lin Que proactively steered the conversation back to business.

Wang De'an put away his smile.

"I'm here to attend a consultation meeting."

"It's related to the Kunpeng awards ceremony."

Lin Que's eyes flickered.

"The results aren't out yet, and they're already deciding the plan for the ceremony?"

Wang De'an lifted the folder.

"Today's meeting is only discussing the ceremony's grade, venue, live broadcast, guests, and the youth literature forum."

"The popularity of this Kunpeng is too high."

"From the public reading to the end of the final defense, external attention has been rising steadily."

"The Writers Association is preparing to elevate the stage."

Lin Que looked at the folder in his hand.

"To what extent?"

"We'll decide in the afternoon meeting," Wang De'an said.

"Many departments are involved."

"The cultural system, publishing system, and media platforms all need to be coordinated in advance."

A plane tree leaf landed by the stone bench. Wang De'an looked down at it, then looked up again.

"If the meeting really decides to extend an invitation to the gentleman, I'm afraid it will be too late."

This question was asked very lightly.

Lin Que met his gaze.

"The senior's arrangements are not for a junior like me to speculate."

Wang De'an looked at him for a few seconds. Then he smiled.

"You and the gentleman both have quite the knack for keeping secrets."

He picked up the folder again.

"Fine, I won't ask."

He patted the folder and turned to walk toward the Writers Association building. After walking a few steps, he turned back.

"By the way, Little Lin."

Lin Que looked over.

There was an added layer of meaning in Wang De'an's smile.

"Guess why Chairman Xue specifically mentioned New Tide?"

He didn't wait for Lin Que to answer, waved his hand, and walked into the building's side door with Xu Lan and the legal consultant.