Resigning as judge?
Chen Ru was surprised.
This was hardly something she expected to hear from Wu Chunqin!
If Chen Ru was strong-willed, Wu Chunqin could definitely be described as tough and resilient — few women were as determined as Wu Chunqin, who after being assigned to a factory, self-studied her way up to a university position. Before that, Wu Chunqin had rejected countless matchmakers trying to set her up. From being popular at first to eventually being called a weird old maid, friends’ advice and family misunderstanding did not stop her from pursuing her goals.
Once Wu Chunqin felt she had achieved a bit, love naturally came along. She married Professor Shen from the same university.
If Wu Chunqin were still in the factory, no one would have introduced her to Professor Shen. But once she was at the university, no introductions were needed — she and Professor Shen just hit it off.
Of course, Wu Chunqin’s original goal wasn’t just to find an outstanding husband; her marriage to Professor Shen was more like a bonus reward after improving herself.
Chen Ru knew Wu Chunqin’s struggles inside and out, so she was shocked by Wu Chunqin’s answer.
“I thought—”
“You thought I’d advise you to let Wen Ying keep struggling?”
On the other end of the phone, Wu Chunqin sighed.
“Wen Ying is different from us. To be realistic, we’re ordinary people — even now I’m just someone living a slightly better life, limited by my abilities, I could never achieve much academically, which is why I left the university. It was a helpless choice. I never accepted fate easily, but I had to clearly know my limits… Wen Ying is different. She’s a gifted child. We don’t even know how high her ceiling is!”
Wu Chunqin, who succeeded through hard work, was actually talking about “talent” with Chen Ru.
Because at the university, Wu Chunqin had met too many big shots!
She had once thought she only got into a junior college because she hadn’t studied hard enough and her intelligence wasn’t less than others’.
But that was not true.
True high IQ people have excellent memory and comprehension; they don’t need to study late into the night. Even if they don’t attend top universities, they wouldn’t end up only in junior college.
Wu Chunqin once thought getting into university was a comeback. After meeting those top people, she re-evaluated herself.
Academic degrees can improve, but she really wasn’t cut out for research.
It’s not that improving education is useless. Years of study changed Wu Chunqin completely, but everyone has their strengths — why fight hard in areas you’re bad at? Wu Chunqin realized she had no future in academia and decisively changed paths.
Wen Ying was different.
The New Concept Essay Contest receives tens of thousands of entries every year. Wen Ying stood out, entered the semifinals, and won first prize. That’s talent.
There are countless publishers nationwide, and many books come out annually. Young Idol outsold works from the same period. That’s talent!
Wu Chunqin fully recognised Wen Ying’s literary talent.
Unlike ordinary people, Wen Ying was a literary prodigy.
Does talent mean no effort is needed?
No.
Talents must work even harder!
Talents are not in the same race as ordinary people — their opponents are other talents.
Talents need not only effort but careful nurturing. Before reaching the peak, many external factors can cause a talented person to falter.
That would be such a pity.
In Chen Ru’s silence, Wu Chunqin shared her thoughts:
“When I said ‘resign as judge,’ I don’t mean Wen Ying should admit defeat but rather retreat temporarily to advance later. Wen Ying has already set an example; then I can find people to defend her. This contest has attracted too much attention — even more than the New Concept Essay Contest. With such high attention and pressure, can Wen Ying handle it alone?”
Of course, having a talented child is wonderful.
But mental and physical health are more important than talent!
Wu Chunqin didn’t want to see a prodigy’s premature end, nor did she want to see her old classmate’s daughter suffer from public opinion violence.
Wen Ying was still young. She could afford to retreat now — this retreat was to gather strength for a more stunning comeback. If Wen Ying’s novels after Young Idol continued to sell well, those critics who chased and insulted her would be utterly defeated. Achievement is the best weapon of rebuttal.
Wu Chunqin wanted to save Wen Ying from the eye of the storm and secure more time for her growth!
This suggestion only came because Wu Chunqin considered Chen Ru a true friend.
Chen Ru was not ungrateful. After a long silence, her voice was uncertain:
“Wen Ying might not agree to resign…”
Everyone else worried for Wen Ying, but Wen Ying herself wasn’t worried.
She went to school as usual, reviewed manuscripts at the magazine after school, and was chauffeured home every night by the magazine. The treatment as a judge was not inferior at all!
It seemed she wasn’t affected much.
It was like the critics who insulted “The Fish Against the Current” had nothing to do with Wen Ying… Chen Ru was troubled, “Who is she really like? Is she truly not angry, or is she bottling it up so we can’t see?”
No matter which, Wen Ying’s behaviour was abnormal.
Now it was Wu Chunqin’s turn to be surprised.
“So, her emotions are actually quite stable?”
Wu Chunqin had thought Wen Ying had already collapsed under pressure, which was why Chen Ru asked for help.
But Wen Ying hadn’t!
Wu Chunqin immediately changed her tune:
“Then don’t resign. I underestimated your daughter. If such a young girl can hold on, what are we adults surrendering for?”
— Sister, that’s not what you said before, you said to retreat in order to advance.
But Wu Chunqin had already abandoned the “retreat to advance” plan. To reassure Chen Ru, she promised to find more literary critics to support Wen Ying.
“There will be people willing to back Wen Ying. Like a debate, if only one side exists, it’s no fun!”
This was easy to understand.
If public opinion was all praise for Wen Ying, critics insulting her would attract attention.
The opposite is true: when everyone insults Wen Ying, if someone can rebut those critics logically and support Wen Ying firmly, that also attracts attention!
Wu Chunqin’s job was to use her husband Professor Shen’s connections to find influential critics!
“Chunqin, thank you, really thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Wu Chunqin laughed on the phone:
“Honestly, besides our friendship, I also really like Wen Ying. I liked her the first time we met — there’s an indescribable sense of closeness.”
Chen Ru chatted a bit more before hanging up.
With Wu Chunqin’s promise to help, Chen Ru was less anxious. Among the three family members, Wen Ying was originally calm, Chen Ru had backup, and only Wen Dongrong was completely unaware — a powder keg ready to explode.
Wen Dongrong wanted to scold someone but had to maintain his image at the new workplace.
Old nemesis Old Li had gone silent recently, even ignoring Wen Dongrong’s calls, afraid of becoming Wen’s scapegoat.
— Sigh, Old Li has become slippery, no fun anymore!
In this tense atmosphere, Xie Qian returned from Modu.
It turned out Wen Ying’s calmness was partly because she didn’t have time to be angry at the senior writer — Xie Qian suddenly went to Modu, and Wen Ying was worried!
She didn’t know what dirty tricks Xie Jinghu was planning against Xie Qian. Compared to Xie Qian’s safety, being insulted a few times was nothing — no flesh was lost. Seeing Young Idol being reprinted again, selling well, and making good money, Wen Ying could even eat two more bowls happily despite the insults.
When she saw Xie Qian in class, her heart was still uneasy.
“Is everything okay over in Modu?”
Xie Qian looked a little tired. Wen Ying shook her head.
“Really okay? You’re not lying to me, right? We promised to tell each other everything…”
“No problem.”
Xie Qian was brief, but Wen Ying heard some hoarseness in his voice.
“Is your throat sore?”
Xie Qian nodded slightly.
“Do you have a cold?”
It didn’t seem so.
No nasal tone, no abnormal complexion.
“Talking too much.”
His voice was hoarse, like a clear mountain spring suddenly drying up. Wen Ying imagined Xie Qian spending so much time dealing with business in Modu that his voice became hoarse, so she quickly told him to stop talking to protect his throat.
During lunch break, Wen Ying dutifully bought throat lozenges for Xie Qian.
Opening the pack, the throat lozenges smelled sweet but medicinal — a weird smell that reminded Xie Qian of the snacks Wen Ying had forced him to eat before, all equally foul-tasting.
Under Wen Ying’s expectant gaze, Xie Qian turned his head away, his whole body screaming resistance:
“I feel much better.”
“No, you’re not better. Your voice is still hoarse!”
Xie Qian turned to look at Wen Ying, seeming surprised.
He was used to her doing whatever he said, but now she didn’t understand his refusal?
Wen Ying suddenly realised: Xie Qian hated taking medicine!
Of course, no one likes taking medicine, but it was rare for Xie Qian to show dislike so openly. Wen Ying was stunned.
After all, Xie Qian always showed himself as smart and mature; this childish behaviour was a bit surprising…
Xie Qian caught Wen Ying’s expression. Before she could expose the truth, he disdainfully threw a throat lozenge into his mouth.
It really tasted awful!
Xie Qian kept his mouth tightly shut, trying hard to ignore the taste.
After enduring the strange taste, a cool sensation flowed down his dry throat, and his symptoms eased.
Still, Xie Qian would never touch the remaining lozenges!
Li Mengjiao came over, upset:
“I want to post on my blog, but Teacher Yuan won’t let me update. It’s my blog. Do I not even have the freedom to publish articles?”
Li Mengjiao had been under contract with Yuan Fenghui for a long time. Usually, whatever Yuan Fenghui said, Li Mengjiao did. One liked to worry about the artist; the other didn’t want to worry about anything. Together they were a perfect match!
So in all their cooperation, Li Mengjiao had never contradicted Yuan Fenghui — except this time.
Wen Ying was being criticised by critics, and Li Mengjiao was anxious!
After all, she was a popular star. Li Mengjiao’s influence was considerable. A star promoting a book on a variety show could boost Young Idol’s sales. If she publicly supported Wen Ying, it would have a strong effect.
But Yuan Fenghui disagreed.
Li Mengjiao was angry and upset. If she did nothing, was she even worthy to be Wen Ying’s friend?!
