Chapter 61

[PS: Thank you for the support from Deception 1~~ Each volume name of this novel is a book title, so the second book by Tong Yan is called "Gentle Sword Thunderous Anger." I'm not very good at naming, so what do you think? Feel free to share your opinions~]

Song Xiancheng did not overly pursue Dong Mian. After all, he was not reading the magazine during class time. However, the magazine was still unreasonably confiscated, and he left Dong Mian with the words, "If he wants it, he can come and get it himself." This "he" was naturally Tong Yan.

Recently, Tong Yan had really become a sensation at school. A talented high school student published a short science fiction story of over 20,000 words in a magazine, which further fueled the craze for calling people "Mao Xing Ren" (Cat People) and "Wang Xing Ren" (Dog People). He also earned nearly 2,000 yuan in royalties and even paid taxes, which further elevated his already significant fame. Many teachers from other grades were discussing this student, not to mention the admiration of the students. He was beginning to show signs of becoming a literary idol.

As Tong Yan's homeroom teacher, Song Xiancheng couldn't possibly be unaware of this, and he was even one of the first to know. Although Tong Yan had taken many leaves of absence recently, and their interactions were frequent, Tong Yan never explained the matter to him, and Old Song didn't ask. However, as more and more colleagues and even school leaders began to verify the truth or inquire about what Tong Yan had written, Old Song started to feel that he should read Tong Yan's work. So today, while Tong Yan was visiting his mother who was about to undergo surgery, he rummaged through his drawer without success and then successfully found the magazine "Grand Entertainment · Fiction" from Dong Mian.

Because almost everyone in Class 2 had read and handled the magazine, it was no longer as fresh and bright as it once was. The corners were curled, and some pages were even damaged. After class, Old Song took it back to his office and read it carefully.

Although Song Xiancheng had a wide range of reading interests, it was his first time hearing about "Grand Entertainment · Fiction" because it was a new magazine. Just by looking at the titles of the works on the cover and the table of contents, he felt that the magazine's positioning was similar to the large online novels that Director Niu had confiscated. Especially the pen name "Xuehong," which was a target of strict prevention by middle school teachers. Many of the novels confiscated by Director Niu were written by him, and his "Punk Series" novels were widely circulated among middle school students, rivaling another author, Liudao's "XXX."

When Song Xiancheng saw "Xuehong's" work prominently featured in the magazine, he initially thought the magazine was unreliable. However, he still read through the story "Mao Xing Ren VS Wang Xing Ren," which was supposedly written by Tong Yan. To his relief, Tong Yan did not disappoint. It was a story full of love, without any vulgar or evil elements. After reading it once, he was still unsatisfied and read it again.

Finally, Song Xiancheng called his friend who worked at the Xinhua Bookstore in the city, "Old Jiang, do you have a magazine called 'Grand Entertainment · Fiction'?"

"Oh, it's not distributed at the city level, but it's available in the provincial capital. Sure, can you get me a copy... I saw that one of my students has an article in it, and I want to buy it for my collection... Sure, thanks, I'll treat you to a meal sometime."

At the same time, Tong Yan had already started a network meeting with Watermelon. Since he had come, it meant he was ready to face the situation rather than avoid it.

Tong Yan: Sister Watermelon, I'm really sorry for making you worry these past few days.

Watermelon: Your cousin told me everything. I understand, but you just stopped updating without a word, and that's not acceptable.

Tong Yan: I didn't know how to face the readers or you. I felt I didn't deserve your support, but I really couldn't continue writing.

Watermelon: It's not just because of your mother, right?

Tong Yan: Yes, I think there are also significant problems with my writing. I thought I had a complete grasp of the story before I started, but once I began, I realized I hadn't done enough preparation. As a result, the story has become uncontrollable, and it's getting harder and harder to write.

Watermelon: I read your latest chapters, and they felt like they were being squeezed out, very awkward.

Tong Yan: Yes, exactly. I couldn't come up with good plots, so I pieced together a chapter bit by bit. I didn't want to be perfunctory, but I couldn't write any better.

Watermelon: So are you planning to end this book?

Tong Yan was silent for a moment.

Tong Yan: Sister Watermelon, can you tell me, if I continue writing, what kind of income can I expect?

Watermelon: If it gets a strong recommendation, your novel's collection count will definitely exceed 10,000. Initially, you might get around 1,000 average subscriptions per chapter. Later, it could increase or decrease, but let's assume 1,000. If you update 3,000 words per day, your monthly income would be around 1,000 yuan.

Tong Yan: Can I have a chance to become a top writer with a monthly income of over 10,000 yuan?

Watermelon: The possibility is slim. First, your update speed determines that your novel won't become a huge hit. In today's online literature, update volume is increasingly important. Second, your novel has many strengths but also many obvious flaws. As an online novel, it lacks many of the elements and plot points that online readers seek. This is your first time writing an online novel, and you're lacking in this area.

Watermelon: Lastly, and most importantly, this is a science fiction novel. Science fiction is a niche genre in online literature. Even "The Legend of the Little Soldier," which became famous in the online literature world, still faced challenges and was considered one of the three most overrated books. After all, the reader base for science fiction is much smaller compared to fantasy, xianxia, or urban novels. So, writing science fiction means you are unlikely to become one of the top earners in the industry.

Watermelon didn't hold back in her analysis, and Tong Yan thought for a moment before responding.

Tong Yan: The story "Fated Enemy" I wrote was eventually discovered by my classmates, and even students from other classes know about it. Now, people look at me differently, with a sense of admiration and reverence. You know, I really enjoy that look. I like being respected and noticed as a writer. However, if being a writer can only provide this much and not make my life comfortable and worry-free, I need to think carefully.

Tong Yan: I can't be selfish and live only for myself. I have to live for my parents too. I like being a writer, but I also have to consider their dignity. Before I can confidently become a dignified writer, I must be cautious about writing.

Watermelon: So, are you going to abandon "The Wild History of the Little Soldier"?

Tong Yan's fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time before he finally typed out a few words: Abandon it...