I'm not a literary giant

Chapter 250 Hot Spring Water Smooths and Cleanses the Skin

Cui Xianben was so drunk that he was seeing stars. When he heard Vice Chairman Liu's reasoning, he was startled and sat up straight.

A writer surnamed Yin chimed in, "Yes, I've heard that saying too."

Prince Xu turned his head: "Who told you that?"

"A friend told me that."

Everyone nodded in agreement, claiming that this view was widely circulated in Xihe literary circles and was even one of the mainstream opinions.

Prince Xu was so taken aback that he didn't know how to answer.

This conspiracy theory is of relatively poor quality, even among the dozen or so rumors circulating in the market. Yet, judging from the solemn attitude of everyone present, they seemed to genuinely believe it.

Lin Feng rubbed his face, inwardly cursing these people for being so pathetic. They were clearly just speculating, yet they had to fabricate a friend; their novel lacked originality and creativity, their imagination only running wild in this area.

He tapped the table and said, "I think I already emphasized this at the meeting. The Writers' Association has investigated this matter. As colleagues in the Writers' Association, we should trust him. This dinner is not an interrogation..."

Vice Chairman Liu Qingzhou interrupted him, saying, "Chairman, we absolutely believe that Comrade Wang Zixu can withstand the investigation, but as you can see, the investigation results have not been made public. Can't we ask him privately?"

Li Zhaolin said, "Yes, we believe Wang Zixu, otherwise we wouldn't have asked him this question face to face."

Lin Feng was indignant and was about to say something more, but Wang Zixu said, "Chairman Lin, forget it. This is also a chance for me to clarify myself to everyone."

Lin Feng pursed his lips, turned his head and gave Wang Zixu a deep look, signaling him to be careful with his words.

Lin Feng knew full well that while the people present might be lacking in ability to accomplish great things, they were more than capable of causing harm. If Wang Zixu said the wrong thing, it might be stamped with the "Xihe Literary News" and leaked out, making the conspiracy theory seem real.

Wang Zixu said, "What I disclosed to the public is basically the whole story. There was no powerful figure behind me instructing me to slander Shi Tonghe. He didn't want me to participate in the Fei Shi Literary Award, so the conflict occurred. That's all."

Liu Qingzhou said, "You see, this is why the rumors started. There are several unreasonable points in the process you described."

"What's unreasonable?"

Liu Qingzhou said, "If I may ask, you don't know any of the judges for the Fei Shi Literary Award, do you?"

"I don't know any of them."

"You don't have any connections with those leaders in the Provincial Writers Association, do you?"

"No."

Liu Qingzhou said, "Look, most of the judges of the Fei Shi Award are Shi Tonghe's students. If he didn't want you to win the award, he could have just said a word. Why would he have to talk to you in person?"

Prince Xu fell silent, and he began to seriously consider the question.

Liu Qingzhou added, "If I were Shi Tonghe, I wouldn't even meet you—not that I look down on people—you're just a fledgling author, not on his level at all, why would he need to meet you?"

After saying that, he crossed his arms high, pursed his lips, and leisurely observed Prince Xu's expression.

Li Zhaolin also spoke up, saying, "What Chairman Liu said was a bit harsh, but it also makes some sense."

“It’s not just a little bit of a point, it’s common sense,” the writer surnamed Yin continued. “If you don’t have someone backing you up, it’s very difficult for you to even see Shi Tonghe, let alone record him.”

Lin Feng clenched his fists under the table as he heard this.

Prince Xu came from humble beginnings and was unknown. How could he dare to stand up to Shi Tonghe? And he even won the argument, so it must not have been due to his own ability. There must have been someone backing him up.

What kind of logic is that? Utter bullshit!

Beneath the glittering surface of this principle lies the rotten logic of seniority.

No wonder Ms. Li Tingfang felt so relieved when she left the Writers' Association. The people in the Writers' Association were so unlike her.

After observing the situation at the table for a while, Cui Xian noticed that Wang Zixu was still silent and the tide was turning in one direction. So he stepped forward to make his presence known, humming in agreement and saying, "Yes, yes."

Ning Chunyan frowned helplessly and glanced at Cui Xian with her beautiful eyes.

Choi Hyun happened to catch that gaze, shrank back, and dared not speak.

Ning Chunyan picked up her glass and drank her beverage in silence.

She wanted to stand up for Wang Zixu, but at most she could only weakly protest a few times. After all, people were questioning Wang Zixu's abilities. Until he actually won the literary prize, anything he said would sound like bragging.

At this moment, Chen Qingluo, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke:

"I know who's behind Prince Xu now."

All eyes turned to her.

Ning Chunyan hadn't even put down her juice when she heard her say that, and she almost swallowed the glass.

My dear sister! It's one thing for you to act out of line at other times, but what kind of situation is this? Why did you have to go crazy at this crucial moment??
Liu Qingzhou seemed quite excited. Chen Qingluo was a heavyweight figure, and when a heavyweight figure made a heavyweight statement, it was something to look forward to. He quickly asked:

"who is it?"

“It was me,” Chen Qingluo said seriously. “I went with him that day. So I must be the one behind him.”

"..."

Everyone present leaned back in silence.

Cui Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked softly, "So, it's because you and Shi Tonghe don't get along..."

Chen Qingluo seemed not to have heard him and continued, "That day, Shi Tonghe originally did not intend to talk about serious matters with Wang Zixu. It was only after I said something to him that he decided to talk to Wang Zixu alone."

Even Prince Xu was unaware of this. He asked, "What did you say?"

“I told him, ‘Because of your obstruction, Wang Zixu is planning to abandon the book ‘Fire in the Stone.’ I suggest you talk to him, because if you prevent this book from being published, it will be recorded in literary history.’”

After she finished speaking, she fell silent. Liu Qingzhou asked unwillingly, "That's all?"

Cui Xian asked doubtfully, "Is that all?" Chen Qingluo nodded, "That's all."

Prince Xu raised his head, and many fragments of memories connected in his mind.

He also wondered why Shi Tonghe offered such generous terms in exchange for his withdrawal from the competition, since he hadn't asked for anything himself.

Shi Tonghe had told him that he didn't want the book "Fire in the Stone" to be buried, but he just thought it was a lie and didn't take it to heart.

But little did I know there was another story behind it all.

Chen Qingluo never mentioned this to him. Perhaps in Miss Luo's mind, Shi Tonghe's choice was his business and had nothing to do with Wang Zixu, so there was no need to bring it up with him.

Liu Qingzhou then asked, "What was Shi Tonghe's reaction?"

Chen Qingluo said, "He said on the phone, 'Okay, I'll talk to Wang Zixu.'"

"Is it really that simple?" Liu Qingzhou asked, tilting his head.

“It’s that simple.” Chen Qingluo said calmly, “He was also afraid of being recorded in literary history.”

Liu Qingzhou stammered, "Miss Chen, isn't what you said a bit too... too..."

He gestured with his hands to form a shape, as if trying to use it to symbolize the adjective he couldn't bring himself to say.

In fact, he didn't need to say it aloud; most of the people present would have understood what he meant.

"That's too childish," Li Zhaolin laughed. "Shi Tonghe has written books all his life, and I bet he never expected that he would be included in literary history because of something like this."

When Li Zhaolin laughed, the other members of the literary association present also laughed along.

Calling Chen Qingluo's words a threat seems a bit absurd; calling them a joke is culturally difficult to relate to.

Liu Qingzhou was a little annoyed: "Teacher Chen, we said we wanted to know the truth to refute unofficial histories, but you've given us something even more outlandish... This..."

The writer surnamed Yin also laughed and said, "It's no wonder we don't believe it. You said Shi Tonghe offended a newcomer like Gu Zao, and it's normal for him to be nervous watching Gu Zao win awards one after another. But you said he's afraid of Wang Zixu?"

"Haha, Teacher Chen really knows how to be humorous..."

The atmosphere at the table immediately became cheerful. Seeing that almost everyone was laughing, Choi Hyun finally felt relieved and joined in the laughter.

The crowd clearly didn't believe her, but Chen Qingluo didn't intend to explain anything. Because Miss Chen Qingluo didn't need to explain anything to anyone; she simply sat quietly and drank her juice.

At some point, An Younan answered a phone call. The volume gradually increased until it drowned out the voices of everyone at the table, clearly reaching their ears.
"...Yes, Teacher Gu Zao, Happy New Year too...Not at all...Congratulations on winning the Gu Xuan Salon Author of the Year award...I'm having dinner with Teacher Wang Zixu right now...Would you like to talk to him? Sure."

The voices of the crowd gradually faded until they were barely audible. An Younan put down her phone, pressed speakerphone, and said to Wang Zixu:
"Teacher Wang, Teacher Gu Zao wants to talk to you. She's the one who's been named the 'King of Reading Sprouts,' the Youth Daily's Person of the Year, the Gu Xuan Salon's Writer of the Year, and a leading figure among young writers..."

Wang Zixu interrupted her reciting the menu with a bit of embarrassment: "Alright, alright, I know him."

He answered the phone, and Gu Zao's voice came through: "Happy New Year, Teacher Wang Zixu. Congratulations on winning the Gu Xuan Salon's Most Charming Writer of the Year Award."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zixu became even more embarrassed and said, "This is just a small award. What deserves more congratulations is your 'Author of the Year' award."

“No, no, no,” the person on the other end of the phone denied repeatedly. “The ‘Author of the Year’ award is a minor one, given out every year, and it doesn’t mean much. But your award is different, you know? Your vote count has set a new record in the history of the Gu Xuan Salon.”

Prince Xu asked blankly, "Is that so?"

“Yes, more than 17 votes, the highest in history,” Gu Zao said. “I heard that Gu Xuan himself was very happy. You have injected fresh vitality into his salon.”

Prince Xu murmured, unsure how to respond, and managed to squeeze out, "...lucky."

He was able to maintain a resilient and high-spirited attitude when faced with accusations, doubts, and insults, and he responded to each one. However, he was at a loss when faced with praise.

Gu Zao's voice was light and cheerful: "I really admire your 'Fire in the Stone,' and I hope this book can become a hit. Whether it's good luck or the help of a benefactor, it doesn't matter. Don't be affected by the rumors and gossip. You must believe that 'Fire in the Stone' is a book that will definitely be recorded in literary history."

Wang Zixu didn't know whether Gu Zao's words were an unintentional coincidence or intentional; it seemed as if they were deliberately spoken for everyone at the table to hear. He wondered how many people would break out in a cold sweat after hearing them.

After saying goodbye and hanging up the phone, Wang Zixu handed the phone back to An Younan and whispered in her ear, "Did you do this on purpose?"

An Younan winked at him slyly: "It just so happens to be the right time."

Liu Qingzhou asked loudly, "Teacher Wang, was that really Gu Zao just now? You know Gu Zao?"

Li Zhaolin said, "How come you won the award at the Ancient Prose Salon, and we in the Writers' Association didn't even announce it? I only found out about it today!"

Suddenly, the banquet hall became noisy again, and the tone shifted, with everyone congratulating Prince Xu.

Just now, a certain writer used Gu Zao as an example to argue that Wang Zixu was not qualified. Now, it seems that he has completely forgotten about this and does not mention it at all. Instead, he praises Wang Zixu for being a man of hidden talent.

Wang Zixu's personality was outwardly tough but inwardly profound. The earlier attack by the crowd felt as familiar as coming home, but now their flattery was like a slow, simmering fire, extremely difficult to endure.

The banquet ended in a harmonious atmosphere. The members of the literary association enthusiastically set up a mahjong game, their shouts echoing in the corridor.

Wang Zixu was not good at this kind of thing and felt even more out of place, so he found an excuse to leave. He did not leave the villa—that would seem too deliberately antisocial. He wandered alone in the brightly lit main building for a while, and finally, following Lin Feng's earlier recommendation, headed towards the hot spring pavilion deep inside the villa.

The hot spring pavilion is separate from the main building and connected by a semi-enclosed corridor. The lighting here is deliberately dim and soft, reflecting off the polished wooden walls and floors, creating a calm and private atmosphere.

He bought swimming trunks as instructed at the front desk, and also received a wristband and a thick white bath towel. He went to the changing room to take off his clothes, changed into a slightly oversized blue bathrobe and non-slip slippers, pushed open the frosted door, and walked into the spacious hot spring area.

Upon entering, a damp, warm mist carrying a faint sulfurous smell greets you, with wisps of white steam flowing through the garden landscape. Hot spring pools of varying sizes are scattered according to the terrain, some hidden behind rugged artificial rocks, others half-embedded under pavilions, arranged in a pleasing and orderly fashion.

What's even more amazing is that there's no one else here except him, as if the water vapor has separated two worlds, keeping the more worldly world outside.

The prince chose a small hot spring pool behind an artificial hill. Without much thought, he immersed himself in the water. The warm spring water washed over his chest, and a thick warmth immediately enveloped him from all directions. He felt his muscles and bones loosen up and he felt much more relaxed, as if he had shed all his fatigue.

He let out a long breath. The room was empty, but his voice was muffled by the mist, which made him feel very safe. He closed his eyes, tilted his head back, leaned against the smooth pool wall, and slowly sank down.

He opened his eyes after an unknown amount of time, and the scene that greeted him almost made him slip into the pool.

An Younan was curled up on the edge of the pool, not far from his head, her small chin resting on her knees, curiously looking at him.

(End of this chapter)