The Chengdu Evening News has a large circulation in the province, so naturally, many people saw the verdict.
Take Song Shao, a student at Chengdu No. 9 High School, for example.
Wen Ying was no longer the timid girl she once was, and Song Shao was happy for her, feeling he had supported the right person.
When Wen Ying won first prize in the New Concept Composition Contest, Song Shao was thrilled for her. Not everyone excels at academics, and Wen Ying’s participation in the contest was her playing to her strengths—pretty impressive!
He never expected Wen Ying to publish a novel and become a bestselling author.
Song Shao read a variety of books, and with Youth Idol’s massive popularity, he naturally checked it out.
Before knowing it was Wen Ying’s work, he thought the book was good—its main theme was positive, focusing on young people’s struggles without any sensational gimmicks.
Once he learned Wen Ying wrote it, he liked it even more.
Wen Ying was amazing!
Her experience with school bullying didn’t hold her back; her former timidity had turned into courage. This girl was something else.
Song Shao was quite excited about Wen Ying’s future.
What other surprises would she bring?
Thanks to his good reputation in junior high, Song Shao received several calls that night, all seeking confirmation.
The Chengdu Evening News said “Reverse Fish” was Wen Ying, a student at the provincial key school. Was it really their old classmate?
“It’s her,” Song Shao confirmed to everyone who asked.
Some classmates were shocked. Wen Ying had been unremarkable in junior high, fading into the background after the diary incident, relegated to being a lackey in Yue Shanni’s clique. When Fang Hui claimed in the QQ group that Wen Ying was relentless, forcing Yue Shanni’s expulsion, many didn’t believe it.
—How could Wen Ying be that capable?
Now they knew—she was far more capable than Fang Hui suggested.
Educational resources in their small city lagged behind the provincial capital, and few made it to top high schools. The most impressive they knew was their old class monitor, Song Shao.
Learning that Wen Ying had become a bestselling author stunned these classmates.
For teenagers, publishing a short article in a magazine was already a big deal. Winning first prize in the New Concept contest and publishing a novel felt like something from another world. Even with Song Shao’s confirmation, it seemed unreal.
Wen Ying, once invisible, had suddenly become someone they couldn’t compare to.
The junior high class QQ group buzzed all night, messages nonstop. Wen Ying’s avatar stayed grey, either offline or ignoring the group. Classmates wanted to message her privately but realized they hadn’t added her as a friend.
Awkward—Wen Ying was now a famous author. Would she even add them?
The class teacher and subject teachers were surprised and delighted. A bestselling author from their class was a source of pride in a school where boasting about billionaire alumni was less impressive.
The teachers confirmed the news with Song Shao, all happy for Wen Ying, but none claimed credit.
—Writing talent can’t be taught.
Only Fang Hui, once part of Yue Shanni’s clique that treated Wen Ying as a lackey and cash machine, posted sour comments in the group.
Fang Hui insisted the Chengdu Evening News got it wrong.
“You forgot—the paper said ‘Reverse Fish’ was a boy just days ago!”
“I know Wen Ying better than you all. How could she write a novel? If she’s a bestselling author, I’d be a Super Girl champion! Even if the paper’s right, there’s probably another Wen Ying at the provincial key school!”
The lively group chat went cold.
Fang Hui was smug until Song Shao had enough.
“Fang Hui, don’t be a frog in a well. Just because you can’t do something doesn’t mean others can’t. Look in the mirror—jealousy makes you ugly.”
Song Shao’s words were like a divine anchor. Fang Hui stopped posting, and soon, she left the group!
The group admin privately asked Song Shao if they should invite Fang Hui back. Song Shao suggested letting her cool off.
“She left, and pulling her back would make her think she’s right.”
The class monitor made sense!
Besides, the admins now felt Wen Ying’s feelings mattered more than Fang Hui’s.
Wen Ying was probably offline, but what if she saw the chat and got upset enough to leave?
Keeping Wen Ying in the group was far more valuable than Fang Hui.
These students weren’t too calculating yet; they didn’t want to exploit Wen Ying. Having a bestselling author as a classmate was just something to brag about.
…
Song Shao wasn’t the only one fielding calls.
That night, September 1, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong’s phones never stopped ringing.
A few days earlier, Wen Dongrong had been showing off Youth Idol everywhere, only to be scolded by Chen Ru, who feared alerting Du Li. His boasting had only just begun.
The couple—one in a government office, the other in a bank—had many friends in their small hometown. Word of Wen Ying’s novel had been quietly spreading in their circles, but without confirmation, some dismissed it.
Today, with Wen Ying’s pen name exposed by the Chengdu Evening News, their social circles exploded, like firecrackers tossed into a fishpond!
Their phones worked overtime, never resting. Chen Ru’s phone overheated from answering calls.
Every call asked about Wen Ying—whether she was really the author of Youth Idol.
Chen Ru kept her tone humble, but her chin lifted higher with each call.
Honestly, after raising Wen Ying for over a decade, this was a first for Chen Ru.
Wen Ying wasn’t particularly dull, but her grades were above average at best, with no notable hobbies or talents. Other girls sang or danced, shining at school events, but Wen Ying never did.
Chen Ru used to scoff at such “hobbies.” What good were they unless professional? A waste of time!
Better to do more practice tests or memorize texts.
She cared more about Wen Ying excelling at family gatherings than school performances, hoping for a top university and a good job—where life’s true victories lay. But now, Chen Ru understood parents who invested heavily in their kids’ talents.
After all, exam scores couldn’t be flaunted daily, but this was a brilliance far greater!
Many students from their hometown got into top schools, including kids of Chen Ru’s friends.
—But a bestselling author? Only Wen Ying.
