Lin Yuan naturally didn't grasp Gu Xi's inner thoughts. Shortly after he left, his phone buzzed with a call from an unfamiliar number.
Following the usual protocol, he disconnected.
The caller tried again.
It didn't seem like a nuisance call, so Lin Yuan paused, deciding not to hang up this time, and answered, "Who's calling?"
"Hello!" the voice on the other end, "Is this Teacher Chu Kuang?"
"Yes, speaking."
"Hello, Teacher Chu Kuang, I'm Wei Long, the chief editor at Tribal Literature..." The caller introduced himself with evident pride.
Lin Yuan gulped.
Wei Long was oblivious to the significance of his name: "Our Tribal Literature is planning a short story event soon. We're inviting thirty short story writers to compete on the same stage, and you're one of our invitees."
"Not interested."
Lin Yuan intended to continue collaborating with "Fun Reading".
He considered the 200,000 yuan manuscript fee from Yinlan Library to be substantial. Although the Tribal Literature platform was convenient, it offered no such fee.
"Don't rush to decline."
The caller hastily interjected, "All participating writers will receive a 100,000 yuan reward. Additionally, if your work ranks in the top three, there will be additional bonuses: 200,000 yuan for second place and 100,000 yuan for third."
Bonuses?
Lin Yuan felt a pang of temptation.
The third-place prize, combined with the 100,000 yuan for being invited, seemed comparable to what Yinlan Library offered. If he secured second or even first place, the bonuses would be even greater!
Though it wasn't a guaranteed income...
Lin Yuan believed his stories had the quality to make it into the top three. After all, they were already acclaimed works.
There's potential.
Noticing Lin Yuan's silence, the caller sensed his interest and raised his voice, "Rest assured, our Tribal Literature won't influence the competition's results. The top three will be determined solely by our readers!"
"What are the rules?"
Lin Yuan was considering participation.
Wei Long, the editor-in-chief, explained, "The rules are simple. We don't restrict themes but limit the word count to 10,000 words. Since it's a short story competition, online readers won't have the patience for lengthy pieces. I'd recommend not exceeding 5,000 words..."
He paused.
Then continued, "Once we receive the manuscripts, Tribal Literature will promote them officially. Our platform's reach is wider than traditional print magazines..."
Lin Yuan pondered.
Tribal Literature did indeed have a broad readership due to its platform nature. They could convert a significant number of users into readers.
"Not hiding anything from you."
Wei Long smiled, "Initially, we planned to pay writers directly to participate. However, considering this event might become a long-term fixture resembling the music industry's seasonal charts, we opted for this format instead. So, what's your decision?"
"I'll consider it."
Lin Yuan replied, though he already had an idea in mind.
The caller seemed to anticipate this and said, "Alright, I'll add you as a friend on this number and send you my email. If you decide to submit your manuscript, please ensure it reaches us by the end of the month. Selections will commence at the start of next month."
"Alright."
Lin Yuan ended the call.
In fact, "Fun Reading" had also invited Lin Yuan to contribute.
Due to the success of "Maggie's Gift," the magazine's sales surged, prompting them to seek a long-term collaboration with Lin Yuan.
However, the Tribal Literature event seemed more lucrative.
Lin Yuan didn't feel particularly attached to Yinlan Library. After all, he signed works with the library, not with individuals. He had the freedom to choose his publishing platform. Choosing Tribal Literature this time was a purely literary decision.
Over the Chinese New Year, Lin Yuan had written five short stories in one go, utilizing his sister's good luck. Two had already been used, leaving three to choose from.
This will do.
There's no need to overthink the choice.
The remaining three stories were all of good quality. Whatever the outcome, it would depend on the readers' tastes.
However, Lin Yuan's task wasn't just to select one of the stories. He also needed to adapt the novel's backdrop to suit a specific era of Blue Star.
Since the system had provided five original stories...
Lin Yuan had adapted "Maggie's Gift" himself, altering aspects such as currency and setting to fit the narrative.
In contrast...
"Artificial Beauty," Lin Yuan's first release, lacked a clear era background and required fewer changes, making it the easiest to write.
The system's explanation was:
For more complex adaptations, the system could assist, but with "Maggie's Gift" spanning several thousand words, Lin Yuan needed to handle it himself.
Lin Yuan had no objections.
With over 10 billion brain cells, adapting a few thousand words of content wasn't too taxing and allowed for a sense of involvement.
As it turned out...
Though he wasn't sure how many brain cells he'd expended, Lin Yuan returned to his dorm that evening and updated the story's background using his computer. It took less than two hours, including research.
This is acceptable.
After updating the novel, Lin Yuan decided to wait a few days before sending it to Wei Long's email.
Sending it on the same day would reveal that he had a ready manuscript.
As Lin Yuan prepared for bed...
In another apartment, Gu Xi anxiously awaited a friend's call at her desk.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
She quickly answered, "What's the news?"
"Miss Gu, it took some time, but I got it for you. You owe me a big meal."
"I'll treat!"
"You're not heartless. The person you asked about is Lin Yuan, a sophomore studying composition."
"Anything else?"
"Lin Yuan keeps to himself. He's said to have some health issues, but his classmates speak highly of him, describing him as personable and never one to cause trouble. That's all I've got. Anything else you need?"
Gu Xi: ""
If someone who's never had a problem with classmates clashes with me, how unbearable am I?
"Oh, and..."
Her friend asked, "Why the sudden interest in Lin Yuan? Isn't it beneath Miss Gu's notice?"
"I'm not interested in his health..."
Gu Xi sighed, "You wouldn't understand. Can you give me some advice on how to impress someone?"