359: Master Zhuang was furious: Whose work is this? What gives it the right to replace 'Life's Bitter Journey'?

Master Zhuang himself was indeed still unaware of this matter.

After all, in his perception, it was a foregone conclusion that his own work, 'the bitter journey of life', would make it onto this 'annual famous works list'.

The only suspense was whether there was a chance to make it onto the 'decade famous works list'.

Therefore, when the day for the release of the famous works list arrived, he did not feel any nervousness.

Master Zhuang even, in order to show his composure, did not prepare to look at the list at all, just waiting for formal congratulations from others.

However, what gradually made Master Zhuang feel somewhat puzzled was that time flew by until it was past ten in the morning, and both his mobile phone and landline were surprisingly quiet.

Compared to the lively scene yesterday, it was simply worlds apart.

"What is going on? Could it be that these people are all sleeping in? That shouldn't be; today is the day the 'annual famous works list' is released, and people in the circle should be paying close attention. How is it that no one has come to congratulate me yet?"

Master Zhuang also felt that something was amiss.

However, thinking that since he had decided to remain calm from the start, rushing off to check the list now would seem a bit anticlimactic.

Although no one else knew about this, a gentleman must be cautious when alone!

Thinking this way, Zhuang Qiu decided to wait a little longer, at least until noon.

If no one had congratulated him by that time, he would go and see what exactly was going on!

"However, could it be that those who intended to congratulate me already did so yesterday, and that's why it's so quiet now? That's actually quite possible!"

In his boredom, Zhuang Qiu couldn't help but let his mind wander.

Time passed bit by bit.

Watching as the clock on the wall gradually approached twelve noon, Master Zhuang, whose phone still had no activity, couldn't help but feel a bit anxious at this moment.

"What exactly is going on? Could it be that the release time of the 'annual famous works list' was changed? Otherwise, why is there not even a whisper of news? No, I have to go and see!"

This time, Master Zhuang finally could not hold back anymore.

However, before he could even stand up, his phone rang at that moment.

He looked down and found it was a call from his good friend Zhou Wenhao.

Zhuang Qiu took a deep breath, waited for the phone to ring for several seconds, and then clicked the answer button. Zhou Wenhao's voice quickly came from the other side:

"Old Zhuang, I am very sorry to hear this news, but it's okay. The 'annual famous works list' after all only represents one aspect and cannot represent everything. I personally believe that your 'the bitter journey of life' is still much better than that kid's 'to live'..."

Hearing these words, Master Zhuang was stunned.

What on earth is all this? That kid? 'to live'?

Could it be... An astonishing thought rose in Master Zhuang's mind, and his expression changed instantly.

He hurriedly asked: "Old Zhou, what exactly are you talking about? Has this year's 'annual famous works list' been released yet?"

Zhou Wenhao on the other end clearly heard Zhuang Qiu's surprise and, somewhat coming back to his senses, said:

"What? Old Zhuang, you actually don't know yet? Sigh, how should I put this? You should hurry up and check that 'annual famous works list'. Something big has happened! But before you look, let me warn you to prepare yourself mentally. By the way, is there anyone else with you? Hello, hello, Old Zhuang, why did you hang up..."

Zhuang Qiu already had an ominous premonition, and in a daze, he had hung up the phone.

However, he soon used his phone to search for information related to the 'annual famous works list'.

The next moment, the details of the list appeared before him:

'History Category... Economics Category... Realistic Category...'

Looking through them one by one, until he reached the very last one, Zhuang Qiu still could not see his 'the bitter journey of life'.

In an instant, he felt his blood pressure rise.

"What is going on? This is impossible. Wasn't it said that my 'the bitter journey of life' making the list was a certainty? How is it gone? 'to live'? Right, the 'to live' that Zhou Wenhao mentioned..."

Associating it with the phone call just now, Zhuang Qiu fixed his gaze on the realistic work 'to live'.

After a little thought, he also knew that the one that had replaced his 'the bitter journey of life' must be this 'to live'.

"Whose work is this? By what right did it replace my 'the bitter journey of life'?"

Zhuang Qiu's mind was filled with confusion and resentment.

And now, he finally understood why, for an entire morning, no one had called to congratulate him on making the list.

With his name not on the list, how could others come to congratulate him?

It was only because Zhou Wenhao had a special relationship with him that he had called to offer comfort, and all of this stemmed from this 'to live' right before his eyes.

Without any hesitation, Zhuang Qiu clicked on the link for 'to live'.

He wanted to see exactly where this work was better than his 'the bitter journey of life' to be able to replace it as if it had dropped from the sky, and besides...

Which Literary Master in the circle was so despicable that, without Master Zhuang knowing anything about it, they had quietly stolen his home?

This kind of behavior was practically the act of an enemy. Everyone mixed in the literary circle, seeing each other constantly; was it really okay to do this?

The 'annual famous works list' is released every year; why did they have to crowd in to participate at the same time?

Especially when I, Zhuang Qiu, had already made such a big fanfare, couldn't they have discussed it privately first?

For example, I make the list this year, you make it next year; wouldn't that be better for everyone?

Now that it has turned into this situation, it is truly too embarrassing!

Zhuang Qiu was incredibly depressed, but he still had to pull himself together and read the main text of 'to live'.

At first, he just curled his lip, thinking that the other person's work was nothing special.

But as the plot unfolded bit by bit, drops of sweat began to emerge on Zhuang Qiu's forehead:

"Who in the circle could have this kind of ability? That's impossible. As far as I know, people in the circle who write realistic works shouldn't have this level of skill, right? Where on earth did this person with the pen name 'Lu Xu' pop out from? Could it be a veteran master? Or someone who returned from overseas? Or perhaps a genius of the new generation?"

Various guesses emerged one after another, making Zhuang Qiu's mind feel like mush.

But he also had to admit that the quality of the other person's 'to live' was indeed higher than his 'the bitter journey of life'.

Especially since both were in the same category and had the same subject matter, it was understandable that 'the bitter journey of life' had been pushed down.

But the other person's quiet behavior was quite lacking in class!

He, Zhuang Qiu, was not an unknown junior in the circle; he was considered a master-level figure. How could a Literary Master be lightly insulted?

"Right, Old Zhou might know something; at the time he even said something about 'that kid'. I'll ask him first!"

Master Zhuang finally came back to his senses, picked up his phone, and dialed Zhou Wenhao's number again.

However, the following conversation left him completely dumbfounded!