115 Silent Rage
(A/N: Get it? Because this chapter is about angry bookworms, and you have to be quiet in a library?)
(ha...)
(...)
(I should stop doing this to myself...)
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[...Everybody wants to dip their toes into the literary world, just so they can boast a more impressive resume, without considering whether they truly have the skill or passion for it, however, for some, their downfall is more amusing than their original novel.
Now, I won't name anyone explicitly, as this is simply a problem in the industry, but many of you will know which celebrity spurred this on. To them, I'll say this; The literary world is not a drive-through you can pass through whenever you like. Whatever you do, you must be a professional.
I am looking forward to the fallout that occurs due to one person's hubris.]
This was a lengthy post that ended up in the "TMY Novel" section of trending, due to the number of reactions mentioning TMY by name.
Though the post itself mentioned no names, to anyone with half a brain, it was obvious who the post was speaking of.
The author of this post, easily identifiable from the ID, was a verified account named "Zhang Xuanyi."
In larger circles, not many would recognize Zhang Xuanyi's name, and upon hearing it, others would just be puzzled. However, within the realm of contemporary Chinese youth literature, there were those who knew him.
Zhang Xuanyi was an author with three works to his name. In the realm of physical youth literature in China, he was considered a rising star, although he hadn't achieved notable sales or achievements yet. Nevertheless, he had potential and a dedicated fan base among the new generation of readers.
Surprisingly, Zhang Xuanyi voiced his thoughts on TMY's recent event.
As the post carried a trending hashtag, it quickly transcended Zhang Xuanyi's modest fan base and gained astonishing traction.
"Yess!! Finally, someone said it!"
"Even though I haven't read your books, I have to give props for courage here. TMY is not known for being forgiving..."
"Who's this clown trying to hitch a ride on the hype train? Risking your career on a chance like this? Is this supposed to be entertaining?"
"This is a bit far. TMY's writing skills have yet to be tested, and with the help of a secondary author, they should be able to cover any flaws."
"Honestly, musicians should stick to music, and authors should stick to writing. Why is this hard?"
"How to get famous/infamous quick: Step 1, Insult TMY online. Step 2, Wait."
"Never heard of you before. Even though TMY might appear young, she's a legitimate B-tier celebrity and a world-class top 100 DJ. If you're trying to hitch a ride on her fame, at least show some class."
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After the post went viral, not everyone was questioning TMY's abilities. In fact, a significant portion of the audience stood up for her. This was an entirely different sight from a month ago when her fanbase was struggling to stand up against The Rex's. Even the data analysts chimed in, presenting well-founded speculations on TMY's writing and defending her. Meanwhile, some criticized Zhang Xuanyi's approach as unseemly.
The discussions quickly divided into two camps, and an intense war of words erupted beneath the post.
One faction sided with TMY, speaking in her defence, believing that if she dared to write, she must have her reasons, and judgment should wait until her work was revealed.
This group mainly consisted of TMY's fans and others who supported her.
Of course, the other faction was different. It consisted of literary enthusiasts, novel enthusiasts, and Zhang Xuanyi's fans who wholeheartedly agreed with his words. They believed that TMY was nothing more than someone seeking attention, trying to add another feather to her cap in terms of "riding the wave."
While those supporting TMY outnumbered this group, it wasn't by a wide margin. A surprising amount of people didn't think Zhang Xuanyi was riding on TMY's popularity, and on the contrary, admired his candid attitude.
However, TMY's fans quickly fired back at this claim. They cited examples of the previous "brave truth-teller" who ended up in jail for spreading false rumours.
In any case, no matter what, these two factions were locked in a fierce battle, neither giving an inch. This intense debate only fueled the already scorching heat and escalated the discussions to new heights.
Then, after a day passed, Zhang Xuanyi posted a new update amid the storm on Weibo.
Zhang Xuanyi: [Regarding the accusations of me seeking attention and doubts from certain netizens, I must say that this is utterly baseless. I am not seeking anyone's attention, nor am I riding on anyone's popularity. I merely spoke my truth because there was no need to do otherwise. Let me double down; if TMY's so-called novel really does sell well, I'll eat my keyboard.]
Furthermore, in the closing words of the post, he added an "@" symbol and this time directly mentioned TMY.
Now, this changed everything. With the "@" mention, the whole situation took on a different complexion.
Without the "@" mention, this could be seen as mere criticism or questioning. However, with a direct mention, it no longer implied anything and was a direct call-out.
Instantly, the attention of many who had been following this incident was captured. Soon after, it exploded with reactions.
People rushed to leave comments under TMY's Weibo post, moving beyond just discussing Zhang Xuanyi's original post.
Meanwhile, the post, which was the starting point of the entire event, officially skyrocketed on the trending charts, gaining unprecedented traction.
However, those who were eager to see a response from TMY and those who wished for some spectacle were left disappointed, as TMY had no reaction whatsoever.
Not even a response, not to mention a new update. It was as if nothing had happened at all.
But late in the evening, TMY's Weibo finally featured a new update.
It wasn't in response to Zhang Xuanyi's post, nor did it offer any explanations. Instead, it was a concise message of just a few dozen words.
TMY: [New Webnovel releasing in 7 days, published by Tangrenyi Culture, using their new app releasing soon. Updated weekly, titled "Dragon Clan I: Dawn of Fire!" Step into the world of the Cassell painting!]
It wasn't a response or a statement about any event; it was a teaser for the widely discussed new book!
It was as if she was telling everyone, "Yes, I am indeed writing a novel!"
Soon, the title "Dragon Clan I: Dawn of Fire" occupied a prominent place on Weibo's trending list, and the news spread far and wide.
"She's actually going to write a novel? Is she not joking?"
"The title is so intriguing. Dragon Clan? Is it about dragons?"
"Wow, it's being published under Tangrenyi Culture! Although they may not be as popular as they once were, they are still a well-established publisher! Surprising choice."
"Arent they releasing their new app in 7 days too? They've been really quiet about it."
"Who knows, maybe it might be something special?"
"But why isn't TMY responding? Zhang Xuanyi is raising serious doubts; she should clarify or say something."
"I'll get it when it's out. Let's see what this novel that supposedly relates to electronic music is all about."
"But, what is a "Webnovel" anyway?"
