I am not a literary giant

Chapter 124 Eighteen-Year-Old's Journey

The young woman was wearing a light green sleeveless shirt and denim shorts. She wore no makeup or jewelry. Her hair was long and straight, and her eyes were bright and focused, not on the world around her, but on her own inner world, as if she were contemplating something. As she approached, Prince felt a dull ache in his chest.

Ning Chunyan watched Prince Xu's flustered state with amusement, thinking it was wonderful that she hadn't told him beforehand. Seeing someone like an ant on a hot pan isn't something you see every day.

Chen Qingluo only noticed someone in the passenger seat when she walked to the front of the car. She looked inward and finally began to look outward, and then she found Wang Zixu sitting in the car. She stood there blankly and rubbed her eyes.

Ning Chunyan rolled down the car window on Wang Zixu's side: "What are you standing there for? Get in the car!"

She didn't tell Wang Zixu that Chen Qingluo was about to arrive on the train, nor did she tell Chen Qingluo that another Wang Zixu would be spawning on the train. So, Wang Zixu wasn't the only ant on the hot pan.

Chen Qingluo lowered her head, took quick small steps to the back seat, opened the car door, stood and thought for a few seconds, then closed the door again. She went to the passenger door and opened it as if opening a chicken coop before slaughtering a chicken.

"come out."

The prince slumped in his seat, staring blankly at Chen Qingluo's fair neck.

Ning Chunyan asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I want to sit in the passenger seat."

Wang Zixu got out of the car without saying a word, watched Chen Qingluo get into the car, helped her close the door, and then sat down in the back seat on his own.

Ning Chunyan watched the two of them silently, almost as if they were in tacit agreement, and said, "Why did you kick him out? You can just sit in the back seat."

Chen Qingluo looked straight ahead: "I want to sit in the passenger seat."

Ning Chunyan said, "You don't chat with me, but I'd like to chat with him to relieve my boredom."

Chen Qingluo reiterated her stance: "I want to sit in the passenger seat."

Ning Chunyan said, "By the way, let me introduce you. This person is the author of 'The Road Ahead Is Safe.' Don't you really like this work? You even argued strongly for it. The person you rushed to the back seat just now is the author you presented the award to yesterday. You two must have known each other for a long time, right? Today you finally met in person."

Chen Qingluo closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then said:

"I want to sit in the passenger seat."

"Nobody talks about this anymore, thank you."

Ning Chunyan was quite surprised by Chen Qingluo's complete lack of persuasion. She had previously stood up for Prince Xu many times, offering advice and doing her best. Given her personality, it would be reasonable for her to try and extort a meal from him today, but she remained completely unmoved.

Ning Chunyan turned to look at Wang Zixu again: "Let me introduce you too. This willful, headstrong, self-centered, and self-centered young lady is Chen Qingluo. The reason your manuscript was shortlisted was because of her idea. She even presented you with the award yesterday. How did you feel when you saw her today?"

The prince said weakly, "Let her sit in the passenger seat."

"Alright, that's enough. Let her sit in the passenger seat. Sit, sit, sit. That's enough."

Ning Chunyan started the car. After driving for a while, the three people inside were unusually silent, with only the sound of the engine audible.

Just as Ning Chunyan felt the atmosphere was becoming increasingly strange, Chen Qingluo spoke up:

"The article 'The Road Ahead Is Safe' is alright, but it is a bit conservative in terms of structure and the technique is very traditional. It is only because other parts are polished well that it can be barely considered alright."

Ning Chunyan looked embarrassed: "Qingluo, the author is sitting right behind us. Isn't it a bit strange for you to discuss this with me like this?"

Chen Qingluo remained unmoved, as if she hadn't heard her words, and continued, "So I'm very puzzled, hasn't that author ever read any modern novelists? Hasn't he read Kafka or Faulkner?"

Ning Chunyan was speechless. She said, "Wang Zixu, did you hear that? Teacher Chen Qingluo said you haven't read Kafka and Faulkner. Have you read them?"

Wang Zixu said, "I've read it. Of course I've read it. Actually, I initially considered writing it in a more trendy style. I tried writing a version, and after a friend read it, she said she couldn't understand it. Considering the nature of the competition and the readers' tastes, I was afraid the manuscript wouldn't be approved, so I changed it to the current version, with a more traditional narrative style. But that's why it's become longer."

Ning Chunyan turned to Chen Qingluo and said, "Yes. That's what the author himself said."

Chen Qingluo gave a cool "humph" and said, "If that author thinks that way, it's not entirely wrong. Yu Hua was considered an avant-garde writer when he wrote 'Going Out into the World at Eighteen,' but his later works weren't avant-garde at all, yet each one was more famous than 'Going Out into the World at Eighteen.' But that author should be careful not to go too far; too many distractions can affect his writing."

Ning Chunyan said to Wang Zixu, "Did you hear that? Teacher Chen Qingluo's teachings."

Wang Zixu said, "I think I might be too insecure. I've been trying and haven't gotten any results, so I'm getting more and more distracted and frustrated. Of course, this isn't self-pity. Please thank Teacher Chen Qingluo for me; I will remember that."

Ning Chunyan said to him, "Why don't you just thank her directly? She's sitting right here, isn't she?"

Chen Qingluo then said to Ning Chunyan, "I think it's true that everything is difficult at the beginning. He has received some honors for his short story this time, and I heard that it was published in 'Yangtze River.' He can try writing a novel next. Only writing a novel can establish an author's status."

Ning Chunyan wanted to grab her head with both hands: "No, why do you all have to make me relay messages? You guys talk to each other!"

The two of them were clearly sitting in the same car, yet they were both talking to her. If it weren't for the fact that there's no such thing as blocking or muting in real life, she would have thought they couldn't see each other.

She originally thought that only Wang Zixu had autism, but she never expected that Chen Qingluo would also be so autistic.

She almost doubted whether the two of them were actually 30 years old. Their childish behavior of sending messages across the distance made them seem as immature as if they had just turned eighteen.

Wang Zixu said, "I plan to write a long novel next."

He neither answered Ning Chunyan nor seemed to be speaking to Chen Qingluo; rather, he seemed to be talking to himself. Chen Qingluo also remained silent, and the air in the car fell into an eerie silence once more.

After a long pause, Chen Qingluo cleared her throat, looked straight ahead, and said in a tone that fluctuated: "At least, you have to publish a work of more than 15 words to officially step into the threshold of creation."

She was like a patient who, after a series of rehabilitation exercises, was finally able to walk slowly on her own, cautiously inching forward while holding onto the wall. She was trying to establish a direct dialogue with Wang Zixu.

Wang Zixu was equally nervous; he could hardly believe that he could speak directly with Chen Qingluo after 12 years. Because of the long time that had passed, he was unsure of their positions and unable to gauge the appropriate level of intimacy in their conversation. His rehabilitation exercises were also incomplete.

Ning Chunyan was the only innocent person on the bus. She gave up on relaying messages to the two of them; let them chat as they pleased. She started a new topic: "By the way, Wang Zixu, you won first place in the Xihe Literary Competition yesterday. Did your wife go to see it? I didn't see her."

As soon as she said this, Ning Chunyan felt a sudden drop in temperature on her right side. Wang Zixu said, "She didn't go."

"Your wife didn't see you receive the award? Oh dear, that was a moment of glory in front of the entire city. It's such a shame she missed it!"

Wang Zixu said, "It's alright. I called her and told her, but she's not familiar with the literary world and is quite distant from literature. She just knows it exists and that's enough for her; she doesn't really care about these things."

Ning Chunyan said, "How could I not care? You must not have properly explained the value of this first prize to your wife."

Wang Zixu said blankly, "I didn't really explain much. But she was very excited after I told her there was a 100,000 yuan reward."

Ning Chunyan felt a chill run down her spine after hearing this. She thought of the money Wang Zixu had lent her and assumed that since Wang Zixu's wife valued the bonus so much, their family must not be well-off. She asked:

"Hey, did you discuss lending me 800,000 with your wife? How about I return it to you?"

Wang Zixu said, "Don't worry, my family has plenty of savings. Bank interest rates aren't good right now, and there's no way to invest. I don't know what to do with so much money sitting around. Even if I don't lend it to you, I'll just buy some random financial products. Don't worry."

After operating for a period of time, Wang Zixu made a fortune from the royalties of his articles and novels.

Besides the 80 yuan he lent to Ning Chunyan, he now has nearly 30 yuan in savings. That's more than enough; if he regularly sends it to his wife as royalties, it will last him a very long time.

If he doesn't lend the money to Ning Chunyan, and this sum of money sits in the account, he doesn't know how he'll explain it if his wife finds out.

Ning Chunyan was still somewhat worried: "But I don't have much confidence in the profitability of my magazine."

Wang Zixu said, "You have to try it to know. If you lose too much, just quit in time. With your income, you shouldn't be unable to pay back the money."

Ning Chunyan said, "Of course. I have to pay you back no matter what."

"No need to rush. I'm glad I could help."

Ning Chunyan sincerely said, "You are a good person."

"Thank you. You're a good person too."

Chen Qingluo coughed several times, her voice dry, and asked, "Did that guy... lend you money?"

"Why did it become 'that guy'? That's Prince Xu, my good brother."

Chen Qinglu rolled her eyes at the car roof: "A guy who thinks money makes him a brother."

"If you become the editor-in-chief of our magazine, you'll still be one of my best friends."

"Not rare."

Ning Chunyan turned to Wang Zixu and said, "Fortunately, Xihe TV should be rebroadcasting yesterday's awards ceremony. You were on the local news, so your wife will definitely see it."

Chen Qingluo said, "Yeah, I can see a lot of people are being sarcastic about him."

"What?"

Chen Qingluo took out her phone: "Didn't you see the news comments? It was posted on a public WeChat account. There are a bunch of people making sarcastic remarks."

"Yeah?"

Wang Zixu silently took out his phone, opened Xihe's official WeChat account, and sure enough, saw the news about yesterday's literary awards ceremony.

Upon opening the comments, I found that it wasn't as bad as Chen Qingluo had described; most of the comments were just meaningless "good," "like," and "support."

Besides these, there were also discussions about yesterday's lively scene, blessings for the future development of Xihe, and debates about who was prettier, Chen Qingluo or Ning Chunyan.

As for sarcastic comments about winning the award and claiming that the award was predetermined, they do exist, but they are few in number and easily recognizable as comments from other people who submitted but were not selected.

Wang Zixu looked up at Chen Qingluo. Under the cover of the chair back, he could only see a very limited side profile. Her hair was hanging down at her temples, and her hair was so straight that it looked as if it had been measured with a ruler. Her ears were slightly red and she was very petite and delicate.

I couldn't see her expression.

She actually went out of her way to read such news and care about such comments. Chen Qingluo, who had seemed so distant before, suddenly felt grounded in his heart.

Soon the car arrived at the Plaza Hotel. The three got out of the car and went upstairs. Along the way, they saw many people from all walks of life in Xihe, who all turned their heads to look at the trio.

The literary gathering had just ended, and the three of them gained a great deal of exposure. The two talented women of "Xihe Twin Jewels" need no introduction, and Wang Zixu has also become a celebrity by riding this wave of popularity, with many people starting to recognize his face.

The sight of the three of them walking together at the Plaza Hotel was a rare and beautiful spectacle. Many people, especially Wang Zixu, cast envious glances at him.

He was originally penniless, but just because he won first prize, he was able to be surrounded by two beautiful women, which is truly enviable.

Upon entering Professor Zhong Junmin's room, both Professor Zhong and Zhao Peilin had already packed their luggage. The three greeted each other respectfully, and Zhao Peilin, quite surprised, pulled Wang Zixu aside.

"Junior brother, I asked you to bring a beauty, and you brought the Twin Beauties of Xihe. Aren't you overestimating your senior brother a bit?"

Wang Zixu said, "I didn't bring them here, they brought me here."

"Wow, that's awesome. I wish I were you, to have such a romantic encounter."

"Was this a romantic encounter? I just happened to be going the same way as them. Aren't you overestimating me?"

"Spending all your time with the Twin Beauties of Xihe, how could you not have a romantic encounter?"

Before Wang Zixu could figure out the logical relationship, Professor Zhong called him over.

"Last night, I discussed your novel with many other people, as well as other entries in the competition," Chung Chun-min said. "Among these people were judges, senior members of the Writers' Association, and some other celebrities from various fields."

After a pause, he continued, "I've noticed that everyone has different opinions, all sorts of opinions, but the consensus is that your work is a level above all the other works except for the one that won second prize."

After saying that, he concluded, "It is indeed a rare and excellent work."

Prince Xu lowered his head and said a few words of humility.

Chung Chun-min added, "However, you must not be arrogant or complacent. I have seen many people who achieved early success but then declined due to excessive arrogance and became just another ordinary person. I hope you will not follow in their footsteps."

Ning Chunyan said, "Professor Zhong, you don't understand him. How could Wang Zixu be complacent? He's incredibly withdrawn. On the way here today, he did a lot of self-criticism. He believes anything anyone criticizes him for, whether it's right or wrong."

Chen Qingluo crossed her arms and stared at the wall. She was the one criticizing Wang Zixu, but she pretended it had nothing to do with her.

Chung Chun-min said, "Of course, don't shut yourself off. Nanjing University is full of hidden talents, and your current achievements would place you among those 'talents.' What I mean by reminding you is to avoid arrogance and impatience, otherwise your mindset will easily become problematic."

Zhao Peilin added seriously, "Professor Zhong means that because you've just begun to show your talent, the next period is one of continuous improvement. You need to polish your work and quickly produce more substantial pieces to solidify your position in the literary world. So, mindset is very important. Is that right, Professor Zhong?"

Professor Zhong brushed him aside: "Don't misunderstand me. Writing for the sake of status, fame, or fortune is a low-level approach. Always remember that literature should convey moral principles. Of course, what Zhao Peilin said also makes sense in a worldly sense, and you can listen to and believe both sides."

(End of this chapter)