Chapter 177: Author vs. Author
Luo Nan was frustrated. She had joined Qidian hoping for a fresh start, a platform to elevate her career, to surpass Zhao Yuyan in both fame and fortune.
But she had lost to a Wenqing newcomer in their head-to-head sales battle.
Qidian had always dominated newcomer competitions; this year was an anomaly.
Luo Nan, writing under the pen name Canwu, was a rising star at Qidian, a priority author, believing this platform would allow her to surpass Zhao Yuyan, earning higher royalties and greater recognition, a source of pride for her family.
“Come on, Luo Nan, don’t be discouraged. Losing to my junior isn’t a shame. She’s my successor.”
“Successor my ass! You’re still active! You’ve only been in the industry for a year; you’re already thinking about retiring?”
“Hey, my dream is to write a single book that can support me for life, earn enough money to never work again, so I can play games all day.”
“So unambitious.”
It seemed Zhao Yuyan had become even lazier since moving out, a stark contrast to her previously diligent, if not academically inclined, self.
Her family had initially opposed her writing career, suspecting she had joined a pyramid scheme when she received her first royalty check, their skepticism fading only after she used the money to buy a new apartment. Now, they fully supported her.
After all, how could they object to a career that generated such a high income?
“Yuyan, your mother talks about you all the time. You should visit them more often.”
“Mmm-hmm, I know.”
“Don’t brush me off.”
This girl, having become a novelist, moving out, was like a wild horse, unrestrained, her freedom intoxicating.
She hadn’t visited her family since the New Year, meaning she only went home every three or four months.
“Yuyan, I lost to Wenqing this time, but I’ll win next time.”
“Mmm, good luck with that.”
It was good to see her competitive spirit rekindled. A little setback was good for someone as proud as Luo Nan, Zhao Yuyan thought.
“Yuyan, I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“I want to meet this Shion, the one who defeated me. They’re your junior, right? I want to meet them.”
She had learned from Zhao Yuyan that Shion was a girl, younger than both of them, and she was curious about this rival who had surpassed her in sales.
“She’ll be back soon. You’ll meet her then.”
Zhao Yuyan, unfazed, opened a mobile game, using it to pass the time.
“Stop playing games! Talk to me!”
Luo Nan tried to grab her phone.
Meanwhile, Yu Linna, having parted ways with Tang Yumeng, walked home. Though living alone, she still cooked her own meals. Having lived on instant noodles and leftovers during her years of poverty, her greatest desire had been a warm, home-cooked meal. Now, with the means, she indulged herself, especially when it came to food.
Though busy, she still found time to check Weibo, monitoring the online discussions about Shion, her name trending, even overshadowing celebrities.
The revelation of Shion’s age had caused another wave of excitement, sending her name trending again.
Since then, her popularity had gradually subsided, though she remained among the top three most popular Wenqing authors on Weibo, a remarkable achievement for a newcomer.
It was a sign that the era of quality content was coming, the superficial trends of the past fading.
“I want to read Ballad of the Enchantress!”
“Hey, you promised to lend it to me! You can’t go back on your word!”
“It’s so good! I want to read it again!”
On her way home, Yu Linna saw two middle school girls fighting over her novel, their argument continuing as they walked down the street. She watched them, amused.
She hadn’t expected her novel to be popular with girls, perhaps one of the reasons for its unexpected success, surpassing even Qidian’s newcomer. And she had achieved this without any marketing gimmicks, no idol author persona.
Her rival, Canwu, was Qidian’s beautiful idol author, her popularity and commercial value far exceeding Yu Linna’s. Yet, Yu Linna had won.
She smiled. Her life had changed drastically in just a few months. She had been eighty million yuan in debt, a penniless girl with nothing to her name. Now, she was a successful novelist, a millionaire, her income steadily increasing.
“This novel is mine… Ouch! Sorry, miss!”
Lost in thought, Yu Linna was startled by a boy who bumped into her while fighting over her novel with his friend. He quickly apologized, the book in his hand clearly Ballad of the Enchantress.
She hadn’t expected children to be reading her novel. Did they even understand the complexities of love?
She watched them run off, amused.
But the wider her readership, the better, a sign that her work was resonating with a diverse audience.
She had to work harder…
Keep striving…
Reach for greater heights.
Until one day, her name would be known throughout the country, her fame surpassing even Nangong Ying.
That was her current dream.
And of course, she would repay Ye Zhiyun, whose kindness she would never forget.
As the sun began to set, Yu Linna watched the twilight sky, a sense of peace settling over her. After years of wandering, she had finally found stability, a place to call home, food on the table, her basic needs met.
Even without parents, without family, even if she had been abandoned by the world, she had her novels.
Carrying her groceries, she returned to her apartment, just as Zhao Yuyan’s door opened, revealing not just Zhao Yuyan, but another girl, a girl with short, boyish hair and delicate features.
Yu Linna didn’t recognize her at first, though she felt a flicker of familiarity.
“Little Linna, you’re back! Are you free? I want you to meet a friend of mine.”
“?”
Yu Linna looked at Luo Nan, her delicate features, her competitive gaze… it felt… familiar…
“Ah, Canwu-sensei?”
She suddenly remembered seeing her picture in a magazine.
Luo Nan, pen name Canwu, author of Space Castle and Searching for Home, was Qidian’s rising star, a popular sci-fi writer, an idol for many male readers.
“You’re Shion-sensei?”
Recognized, Luo Nan also realized who Yu Linna was: Zhao Yuyan’s neighbor, a girl, younger than Zhao Yuyan… it had to be Shion.
“Hello, I’m Yu Linna, pen name Shion. I currently have one published novel.”
Yu Linna greeted her politely.
“Hello, I’m Luo Nan. You’re much more approachable than I imagined.”
Luo Nan, looking at her, her initial surprise giving way to curiosity, couldn’t believe this girl, who looked like a middle schooler, perhaps even an elementary school student, was her rival, the one who had defeated her in their sales battle.
Luo Nan’s novel had sold just over sixty thousand copies, while Yu Linna’s had sold almost seventy thousand. Though the difference wasn’t significant, Luo Nan had still lost, lost to a girl who hadn’t resorted to any marketing gimmicks, no idol author persona, simply relying on the quality of her work.
And she was younger than Luo Nan.
It was frustrating.
At Zhao Yuyan’s invitation, Yu Linna entered her apartment, sitting with the Qidian author, her rival, chatting and drinking tea. They exchanged pleasantries, their initial interaction polite and cordial.
Then, the conversation shifted to their careers.
“Shion-sensei, you won this time, but I won’t lose next time. I’ll definitely win.”
“Good luck with that.”
Why did everyone keep saying that to her? First Tang Yulong, now Luo Nan… did they all consider her their rival? She didn’t think she was that special.
“Shion-sensei, I hope you’ll take me seriously, consider me a true rival.”
A rival?
Yu Linna didn’t understand the significance of such a label.
But whatever.
“Yes, let’s both do our best.”
She had learned to be diplomatic, to speak in polite, noncommittal phrases, a skill she hadn’t possessed before. And worse, she had become… calculating.
It was a sign of growing up.
“You seem a bit dismissive…”
“No, I’m being serious.”
Luo Nan wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Their conversation remained awkward, filled with meaningless small talk, until Yu Linna, needing to prepare dinner, excused herself, politely inviting them to join her, an offer Luo Nan declined. They weren’t that close, after all.
“Your junior… she doesn’t seem to like me.”
“…You’re imagining things.”
“I don’t think so.”
Luo Nan glared at her, and Zhao Yuyan, unable to argue, simply shrugged, deciding not to reveal the truth. She, too, had sensed Yu Linna’s subtle dislike.
And Yu Linna?
It wasn’t that she disliked Luo Nan, just that she wasn’t interested in a closer relationship. Luo Nan was from Qidian, her rival company, her gaze often filled with envy, and Yu Linna wasn’t comfortable sharing personal details with a stranger. She didn’t trust people easily.
