Chapter 60 First, Fleece the Judges

Slipping out among the dispersing crowd of students at No. 2 High School, Fang Xinghe went to treat himself to another lavish meal.

Chen Danya hosted the gathering, accompanied by Li Qigang, Zhao Changtian, and Chen Sihe, as they chatted freely and animatedly about everything under the sun.

The conversation naturally centered around the recent controversy. Its aftershocks had not yet fully dissipated, and everyone was still brimming with enthusiasm for the topic.

"It is simply wonderful that you were able to maintain your composure!"

Everyone showered him with praise for his initiative in silencing himself.

"To step back at the very peak of your fame—truly impressive!"

"Sometimes I really want to pry open your brain and see what's inside. How can someone be so smart?"

"Not easy, truly not easy. So many people were cursing you by name, yet you ignored them, treating their words like hot air. You've truly mastered the Daoist art of self-cultivation..."

Fang Xinghe did not deliberately feign modesty. "Actually, I was angry too; it's just that they weren't worth arguing with. Educational topics do not make a good battlefield."

"Oh?" Chen Sihe was greatly intrigued. "Then what is a good battlefield?"

The question was asked casually, yet Fang Xinghe's reply was profound and worthy of deep reflection—

"When it's not on a grand scale, when it's specifically aimed at me, when there is no one else behind me, and when I am walking the road alone."

The room suddenly fell quiet.

How was that to be interpreted?

Everyone had a different understanding. When pressed further, Fang Xinghe merely smiled, waved his hand, and refused to say another word.

After the meal, Chen Danya once again drove Fang Xinghe back to his hotel.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?"

"I changed the ticket. I need to make a trip to the Imperial Capital."

"What is it this time?"

Chen Danya, highly sensitive, immediately sensed that something was up.

Fang Xinghe briefly outlined his "Strongest Voice of the Post-80s Generation" project to her.

"We will definitely need *New Concept* to help build momentum when the time comes, but the specific details aren't finalized yet. I just happen to go chat with Sister Yali about it. I didn't mention it to you earlier mostly because I wasn't sure of Han Han's attitude."

"Good grief, why are you always stirring up so much trouble?"

Chen Danya's head was spinning. She grabbed him and headed straight for a cafe on the corner.

"Come on, let's go over it right now and see how I can help."

Fang Xinghe had no choice and was dragged off by Aunt Chen to drink the very first cup of coffee of his life.

After chatting for about thirty minutes, Chen Danya realized that it was impossible to sort everything out today. This was a massive, highly systematic project that required multiple people to coordinate with one another.

"Forget it, go back and get some sleep. I'll pick you up for the airport tomorrow."

"Aunt Chen, you really don't need to go to all that tr—"

"Listen to me!"

It was the first time Fang Xinghe had ever experienced being interrupted like that, yet his heart was filled with warmth.

"Alright then, see you tomorrow."

The next day, Chen Danya and Fang Xinghe boarded the plane together. As soon as they stepped out of the airport, they hopped straight into Wang Yali's car.

"Good boy! Hurry up and tell me all about your plan in detail!"

Wang Yali was extremely excited. Unlike Chen Danya, she held the book publication numbers and magazine serial numbers in her hands, making her the core of the entire operation.

And so, Fang Xinghe started from the conceptual framework and explained all the way through to the projected profits.

"So, this is a combination punch?"

Wang Yali and Chen Danya finally understood completely. They looked at each other in shock, momentarily left speechless.

"Starting from the release of the *New Concept* essay collection to warm up for the 'Strongest Voice of the Post-80s Generation,' generating mutual buzz and topics with *Sprout*, then intentionally exposing a flaw on my uncle's side and waiting for the anti-scandal faction to detonate it, drawing all attention onto myself, and finally releasing the new book to fire the opening shot of the 'Post-80s' planning..."

"Little Fang, how on earth is your brain wired?"

Wang Yali's attitude was mostly a mixture of awe, admiration, and excitement, while Chen Danya tended to be more reproachful.

"Little Fang, you are indeed exceptionally brilliant, but you are far too fond of taking desperate risks! Why can't you take things slowly and build step by step?"

It wasn't a matter of how deep their affection was, but rather a difference in their fundamental personalities.

Fang Xinghe spread his hands, offering a rare, bitter smile.

"What else can I do? *The Damned Youth* is already included in the essay collection and will be released soon; the barbecue business can't be kept under wraps much longer, and my uncle's side cannot rely on high-pressure suppression forever. My new book itself is also of a type bound to generate massive controversy... I'm simply being driven to a frenzied extreme."

Of course Fang Xinghe knew how to play it safe when stability was called for, but on a macro level, he simply had no choice. This era was fundamentally unsuited for the survival of "organic traffic," yet without playing the traffic game, he could never accumulate Starlight Points.

A careful calculation of his resource deficits would reveal that relying solely on his works might not max out a single attribute even in five years.

How many five-year spans remained until the era of pan-entertainment traffic stratification?

If he didn't act wild, what else could he do?

"You child, why must you force yourself to this extent?"

Unable to fully understand him, Chen Danya's eyes actually turned red as she spoke... Good grief, what level of fan devotion was this?

Curious, Fang Xinghe refrained from checking, keeping his gratitude locked firmly in his heart.

Wang Yali, however, praised him lavishly. "How wonderful! Little Fang is only fourteen; if he doesn't live wildly now, when will he? Using an adult mindset to overthink every little thing is utterly boring. You should do exactly this—it's electrifying!"

"Go ahead and spoil him!"

Chen Danya shot her an indignant glare before immediately snapping back into professional mode.

"Alright, I'll go find the contact information from the list of winners and arrange for Li Qigang to take charge while I play a supporting role. It's best if you don't step forward personally; it's too easy to provoke resentment and rebellion from those kids."

Wang Yali chimed in, "I'm going to get the publication numbers and serial numbers ready for you right now! Besides, is it alright to use Yu Hua, Liu Zhenyun, and Shi Tiesheng as manuscript reviewers? All three of them are in the Imperial Capital right now, practically bored out of their minds. It's just the right time for them to contribute."

Fang Xinghe smiled wryly. "Don't be in such a rush, please. Things have to be done one step at a time. Let's see what those award-winning students have to say first."

"It'll thrill them to pieces!"

Wang Yali curled her lip, her feisty side flaring up.

"*New Concept* doesn't pay a single cent, yet now all they have to do is casually write an essay pouring out some adolescent sentiments and they'll get a hefty payout—anywhere from a thousand to tens of thousands. Only a fool would refuse."

Chen Danya was similarly optimistic, though she remained cautious. "Once the sales figures for the *New Concept* essay collection come out, they should be even more proactive. I estimate the collection will sell quite well. Combined with your fame, 'Strongest Voice of the Post-80s Generation' might just explode into a massive hit right out of the gate. By the way, have you ever considered running the magazine on a permanent basis?"

"Expanding the submission scope and operating it as a regular publication?"

Fang Xinghe smiled and nodded. "I've thought about it a little, but I definitely don't have the time or the leisure. If things turn out exceptionally well by then, I can transfer the majority of the shares to you two..."

"What kind of talk is that? How could we take your money?"

This time, the two women finally formed a united front, instantly scolding him in unison.

"Use it once and throw it away—wouldn't that be even more wasteful?"

"Even so, we can't take it!"

Fang Xinghe offered a brief reply and stopped trying to persuade them further.

This matter wasn't urgent; they could simply leave it to time.

The three of them busied themselves for an entire day, aligning every conceivable issue until "Strongest Voice of the Post-80s Generation" finally transformed from a rough draft into a highly feasible founding plan.

At first glance, it seemed like Fang Xinghe was spending his own money to pull his peers along.

In reality, however, there was no way they would lose.

The difference between baking a cake and dividing a cake lay right here: Fang Xinghe had baked a brand-new, large cake so that everyone could eat their fill, and no one needed to be sacrificed.

That included himself as well.

"Splendid, splendid! I've finally found my passion for striving again. Let's get to work!"

My goodness, Sister Wang was even more exuberant than Little Fang...

Still, the project was genuinely interesting and meaningful, especially the unorthodox methods Fang Xinghe had proposed, which made her feel a surge of excitement whenever she thought of them.

The next day, Chen Danya, who had just flown back to Shanghai, immediately brought good news: Li Qigang was willing to help, and that very day he had already locked down Sun Jiani, Xu Siyao, Xu Renjie, and Chen Wu.

Teacher Li personally called Fang Xinghe to boast, "How about that? If you want to get things done, you still need an old hand to step in!"

"Uh-huh, you're the sharpest!"

After offering a perfunctory compliment, Fang Xinghe suddenly felt puzzled. "How come they're all from Group B and Group C?"

Li Qigang replied with an air of supreme smugness, "That shows what you know! The students in Group A are already in college and have plenty of time—they're very easy to handle. On the contrary, Group B students face heavy academic pressure and might not be willing to write anymore. So I'm tackling the hard ones before the easy ones, working under pressure..."

"Impressive, impressive!"

Continuing his perfunctory praise, Fang Xinghe asked, "Then why is Ding Yan missing from Group B? Her literary style is my favorite."

"Uh... Ding Yan wasn't willing."

Li Qigang choked for a fraction of a second, his voice turning somewhat awkward.

"She's still a long way from the age where she can secure guaranteed admission, so she just wants to focus on her academics right now."

"Isn't she also from Shanghai like you guys? You can't drop the ball on this~~~"

While applying pressure, Fang Xinghe frantically painted a grand picture of the future: "Do your best! In a couple of years, if I make it big, whenever you guys hold a *New Concept* symposium, I'll go down there to hold down the fort for you."

Li Qigang laughed in exasperation. "When you need me, it's 'Teacher this' and 'Teacher that'; when you don't, you call me old Li and hang up on me. Do you have any conscience? I don't believe a word of your nonsense!"

Despite saying that, after hanging up the phone, he couldn't help but fantasize about that very day.

If that day truly came—with all past *New Concept* winners gathered together, shining brilliantly, featuring top writers, top directors, top professors, top entrepreneurs... they had originally walked in with their chins up, but upon the arrival of Sprout's guardian divine beast, they became humble, modest, and impeccably well-behaved.

One by one, they would take the stage to deliver their reflections: "The reason I am where I am today is entirely thanks to Teacher Li Qigang's cultivation and care, blah, blah, blah..."

How exhilarating would that be?

Heh heh, heh heh heh heh...

Old Li daydreamed for a while, his expression suddenly blazing with fierce momentum.

"No way! I really have to step up my game! The sooner I nail them down, the more time I'll have to ponder articles. Even though Little Fang is utterly detestable, the talents emerging from *New Concept* are my disciples too. Helping them out is completely reasonable and proper..."

Without Fang Xinghe needing to paint any more pictures, he had pumped himself full of motivation. He immediately turned around and dialed the next phone number.

To put it simply, with this kind of work ethic, what could possibly fail?