The personal blogs of the “Tianjiao Four” were doing well, with frequent interactions.
But posting identical content simultaneously was unprecedented, even for *The Princess’s New Clothes* finale or *Galaxy and You*’s launch. Their first joint ad was reserved for the writing contest.
Yuan Fenghui wanted to test its impact.
Gossip about the entertainment industry showed no real effect.
Something unrelated to showbiz would reveal true influence.
In later terms, this was a star’s “brand endorsement power”!
“The Tianjiao Spark Cup writing contest is about to start?”
“What’s that?”
“Read carefully, upstairs. Xiaoyu explained clearly—it’s a creative writing contest sponsored by Tianjiao Media, co-hosted by *Spark* magazine and Chengdu Literary Publishing House!”
Wen Ying’s blog didn’t have the most followers.
But among the four, her fans were the most literary.
Her followers included readers, gossip-hungry netizens, fellow writers, and *The Princess’s New Clothes* viewers—exactly the target audience for the contest.
“What’s this *Spark* magazine? Never heard of it.”
It was understandable but unfamiliar.
On closer look, *Spark* wouldn’t launch until November 15, with contest entry forms included in the issue… similar to the New Concept Composition Contest?
*Spark* magazine was unfamiliar to many.
But Chengdu Literary Publishing House? Wen Ying’s readers knew it well—*Teen Idol* was published by them.
“After Xiaoyu’s lawsuit with *Aige*, she hasn’t published any short stories. She shares fun daily life on her blog, but I want more stories from her. Since *Spark* is co-hosting this contest with Chengdu Publishing, will Xiaoyu publish in it?”
Plenty of onlookers, but career fans cared about Wen Ying’s work.
No new short stories for a while, and *Teen Idol* had been reread countless times. Readers craved fresh content.
When Wen Ying advertised the contest on her blog, career fans saw hope for new work from “Upstream Fish.”
Life felt promising, and energized career fans flocked to Li Mengjiao and others’ blogs for more contest details.
Li Mengjiao’s blog was flooded with concern for her.
The contest was important, but “Jiaojiao, rest well! You looked thinner at the *Galaxy and You* launch!”
“Though I can’t write, I’ll get my best friend to join!”
“Seconded, I’ll make my boyfriend enter!”
“I’ll sign up my daughter!”
Not one could compete themselves—all were signing up others. Li Mengjiao’s fans, in a way, matched her vibe perfectly.
Wen Ying’s career fans wandered to Yun Chen’s blog, where comments were even quirkier.
“Writing an 800-word essay takes me two hours, but for Brother, I’ll join this contest!”
“Same, for Brother, I’m in!”
“Will Brother be a judge?”
“Will Brother watch our contest?”
, Pfft, struggling with an 800-word essay for two hours, and you’re entering to burden the judges?
Switching to Zhang Yangning’s blog, comments were more normal.
Her original music was niche, with fewer but loyal fans.
Literature and music fans overlapped somewhat, and some expressed interest in the contest. But there were discordant voices, saying Zhang Yangning, after acting in a drama and now promoting a contest, wasn’t a pure musician anymore, claiming she’d changed and threatening to unfollow.
That kind of “liking” was too shallow.
Wen Ying’s career fans scoffed.
If Zhang Yangning didn’t act or promote, she’d starve. Original music was a tough path!
After circling back to Wen Ying’s blog, career fans voiced concerns.
Despite Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen’s star power, their fans were unreliable. The contest’s success depended on their support!
Wen Ying’s readers were ready to buy *Spark* magazine.
With these devoted career fans, Yuan Fenghui didn’t need to advertise elsewhere—they spread the word themselves.
In 2005, besides Tianya Forum’s relevant sections, “Under the Banyan Tree” was a literary hub.
Founded in 1997, this original works site was sold to global media giant Bertelsmann for $10 million in 2002. That year, it began large-scale publishing collaborations, producing many bestselling youth literature books. Even writers not discovered by Banyan Tree were active there, past or present.
If Tianya Forum was a millennial gossip memory, Banyan Tree was a cherished spot for literary netizens, alongside *Sprout* and the New Concept Composition Contest, inseparable from “post-80s writers” and “youth literature”!
Thanks to her defamation lawsuit, Wen Ying had a following on Tianya.
But on Banyan Tree… someone shared the Tianjiao Spark Cup news, and it wasn’t as well-received as expected.
Banyan Tree’s literati felt superior to ordinary netizens, dismissing a “shoddy” contest.
“Upstream Fish” was still one of them, but tying Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen, idol drama stars, to the contest made it seem low-class.
Literature was serious.
Literature was sacred.
Literature wasn’t for showboating!
Due to the promotion’s pacing, the four’s blog posts hadn’t mentioned prize money, reader voting, or Wen Ying judging, yet the celebrity connection already turned some off.
Seeing this on Banyan Tree felt like a vulgar invasion!
Career fans, sharing with good intentions, were scolded and vented their grievances on Wen Ying’s blog.
After school, Wen Ying saw the comments, followed their links to Banyan Tree, and her eyes twitched.
The loudest were nobodies. Truly notable authors stayed quiet.
They wouldn’t badmouth the organiser, whether participating or not.
These people didn’t consider that an organiser pulling in big stars was either loaded or well-connected. Unknown authors, instead of seizing the chance to network, looked down and ranted—deserving their obscurity!
Sharing contest news on Banyan Tree was a vulgar invasion?
, Sorry, once tonight’s promo airs, they’ll see vulgarity everywhere!
