Dad, Please Try a Little Harder

Qian Quan spent roughly a night and half a day completing the story “A

Father’s Mountainous Love.” He then adopted the pseudonym “Secret” and submitted the manuscript, leaving it at that.

Next, he considered writing a lengthy fantasy tale on Source Chinese Web, perhaps in tandem with Ding Linlang.

He’d been mulling over the idea for a while but had been hesitant to pen it, fearing his words might fall short.

Now, with the confidence of a best-selling author, he was ready to give it a shot.

For a novel, the story was the flesh, but the writing style was the skeleton.

He’d also considered submitting a long-form piece to a publishing house, opting for the traditional publishing route. But the current publishing landscape, with its high barriers for newcomers, was at least ten times more challenging and complex than before.

Before e-reading overtook traditional books, the market was flooded with a variety of magazines, offering opportunities for budding authors of different styles to gain exposure and test the waters.

First, they serialized in magazines to build up their readership. The standout works were then compiled and published, a practice somewhat analogous to the free trials and premium periods seen in modern online literature.

These days, such magazines have largely fallen out of favor. More authors now chase after achieving 100,000+ readers on their public accounts, rather than a first print run of 30,000 copies.

The buzz around annual bestsellers seems like a relic of the last century.

The authors who once penned those phenomenally successful books? Apart from a select few who persisted, others pivoted to screenwriting or directing, adapted with the times to become influencers, ventured into online fiction which didn’t always resonate with their style, or dabbled in reality shows…

The so-called bestsellers of today, when it comes to fiction, are either time-honored classics or trendy IPs getting a boost from TV or film adaptations.

It had been ages since Qian Quan last read a work by a debut author.

This was the inexorable march of time, a tide that swept all before it, unstoppable.

Qian Quan never deluded himself into thinking he could turn back the tide, returning the publishing industry to its former glory.

Thus, entering the realm of online literature seemed the most efficient move, in line with current trends.

As for the concept of his new book, the rough idea centered around a mystical sect with the male lead being a crafty master, who loved challenging those well above his level. Due to his unparalleled combat skills within his rank, he had to seek higher-level challenges.

The female lead, the male protagonist’s childhood friend and fellow disciple was exceptionally powerful yet incredibly low-key. She typically laid low, practicing her skills within the sect, appearing ordinary to the outside world. But she secretly followed her senior, keeping a close eye on all his challenges. She protected him from the shadows and simultaneously grumbled about his recklessness.

Apart from her, the male lead also had a fiercely protective and headstrong female mentor, a sort of “old school gangster” figure.

She frequently led the elders of their sect to confront others, exuding the aura of being the only “Boss” in the world of cultivation.

Additionally, the cast might feature a demoness, a powerful empire’s princess, and other typical supporting female characters…

In essence, the character designs would loosely mirror Ding Linlang’s “Master s Love,” but the narrative would diverge significantly.

Those were his thoughts for now, the rest would take time to flesh out.

He also had a preliminary outline for the grand finale.

The protagonist, along with human cultivators, ventured into the Immortal Realm for a grand battle. Yet, his junior, engrossed in her deep meditation on Mount Kunlun, missed it.

Later, almost all of the human cultivators fell into the Immortal Realm, and the protagonist disappeared, leaving only the War Goddess Master to return. Refusing to believe that her senior had perished, the junior waited for him on Mount Kunlun.

For thirty thousand years, she neither ascended nor became immortal, all just waiting for her senior’s return.

Qian Quan registered an account on the Source Chinese Web as Stubborn.

In the afternoon, after finishing a day’s classes, Qian Quan and his three roommates took a taxi to Funing One for their appointment.

-How can we act like we frequent this kind of club when it’s our first time?” Guo Hongyi pondered aloud in the car.

“Walk in without blinking an eye and ask the receptionist, ‘Has Technician No.

8 come to work today?”‘ Shen Fei suggested.

“That sounds like a different kind of service,” Guo Hongyi remarked skeptically.

Shen Fei chuckled, “Then ask, ‘Is FeiFei in today?”‘

Nodding, Guo Hongyi then turned to Qian Quan, “Quan, do you think there’ll be trouble tonight?”

“Don’t worry; they’re not that foolish,” Qian Quan replied with a smile.

By 7:25 p.m., they reached Funing One.

Xu Congfeng and his group were already waiting in the private room. Upon meeting, both parties exchanged polite greetings. Soon after, all eyes from Xu Congfeng’s group were fixated on Qian Quan.

Especially a student from Azure Bay University’s basketball club, whose already complex emotions deepened upon realizing Qian Quan didn’t recognize him. The motive of tonight was to shake the other party’s confidence.

However, it felt like their confidence waned upon meeting Qian Quan.

Perhaps this was the effect of one’s reputation preceding them.

Once everyone was present, Xu Congfeng, being the host, said, “You guys pick some songs. I’ve already ordered the drinks, and the backup singers will be here shortly.”

“I’ll go for this song,” exclaimed the burly Guo Hongyi.

Xu Congfeng and the others kept a straight face, but he quickly typed a message in their group chat: “This feels so… outdated.”

“Could this possibly be hinting at something to us?

“Regardless, it still feels old-fashioned.”

Shen Fei moved to pick some songs.

Only Gao Yan sat quietly to the side.

“Gao Yan, go and pick a song!”

“I can’t sing,” Gao Yan replied with a smile.

Qian Quan didn’t press him. Instead, he went and picked two songs.

Before returning to his seat, the sound of the door opening caught their attention. Two tall, stunningly beautiful women dressed in long skirts walked in.

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately, like ripples forming on a previously calm water surface.

Honestly, it was Qian Quan’s first time in such a situation. He tried to act naturally, but the next scene caught him off guard.

He saw Gao Yan, his expression turning awkward, standing up and slightly bowing to one of the women, “Good evening, Miss Linlin.”

Everyone else was baffled.

“Gao Yan?” Guo Hongyi exclaimed with a puzzled look.

“She’s a senior from the Philosophy Club,” Gao Yan explained.

Upon hearing this, Qian Quan, Shen Fei, and Guo Hongyi all stood up in succession, bowing slightly, “Good evening, Miss Linlin.”

It was a gesture of respect.

The rest, including Xu Congfeng, were rendered speechless, their group chat momentarily forgotten.

The atmosphere became quite awkward.

“There’s no Miss Linlin here tonight. I’m Linlin, one of the backup singers for the evening,” she said professionally.

One of Xu Congfeng’s friends, trying to lighten the mood, commented, “Let’s consider this a union karaoke session with Miss Linlin’s juniors.”

Linlin nodded, “Why don’t you guys grab a drink? We’ll warm up the atmosphere with a couple of songs.”

Then, Linlin and another girl duetted a song.

The atmosphere became relaxed once again..