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Chapter 34: The Interview
"Then I'll head out now, Teacher." Gu Lu picked up White Deer Plain and left the teacher's office.
Having obtained the "rose" from the book, he now needed to hear someone recount a line similar to those in the novel to trigger its synthesis.
Gu Lu was intimately familiar with The Little Prince. He had even used two of its quotes as his social media signatures at different points in his life:
"Perhaps there are five thousand roses in the world just like you, but you are my one and only rose." That signature had come during a phase when he nearly became a love-struck fool.
"All adults were once children—though few remember it." This one had been after a rejection letter for a failed book deal.
His current situation was far better than Edogawa Ranpo’s back then because, at least, Gu Lu knew exactly what he needed to do. With this thought, he returned to the classroom deep in contemplation.
When Gu Lu entered the classroom holding the rose, it was as if he’d tossed a can of cat food into a room full of cats—the reaction was instantaneous.
It wasn’t unusual for high school students to get worked up over the slightest hint of romance between boys and girls. And here was Gu Lu walking in with an actual rose.
Some eyes darted toward Zhao Juan.
Others glanced at Gu Lu, then quickly shifted their gaze to Zhao Juan.
Nothing was said, yet everything seemed implied.
"Why does it feel like the classroom is noisier today? Is something going on?" Gu Lu looked up, about to ask, only to realize that everyone was staring directly at him.
Oh no. I’ve become the spectacle! Gu Lu wasn’t clueless—he immediately understood what was happening.
He wanted to say something, but the bell rang just then.
Hmm... On second thought, maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing. After all, he preferred older women and didn’t want any complications with younger ones. Now he had the perfect excuse to avoid awkward situations.
Though straight, Gu Lu wasn’t oblivious; he could sense Zhao Juan might have developed feelings for him. But instead of outright rejecting her by saying, “Don’t fall for me—it won’t end well,” this indirect approach worked too.
"Who gave you that rose?" Zhou Lin asked curiously, already speculating wildly. "Was it Chen Xue? You two have been hanging out together recently."
Gu Lu paused, reflecting momentarily. Had he been as eager to pair people up randomly in his past life?
"If I told you Mr. Li gave me the flower, would you believe me?" Gu Lu countered.
Zhou Lin shot him a look that screamed, You think I’m stupid?
"Fine, don’t tell me," she muttered, returning to memorizing English vocabulary.
Her phonetic annotations weren’t great, so she’d scribbled little notes next to each word in her textbook:
[pity: regret; compassion (read as '特地')
total: sum; collection (read as '偷哆')
...]
The Chinese characters in parentheses represented how Zhou Lin pronounced the words. Honestly, aside from her stellar grades, her behavior was eerily similar to that of a struggling student.
Gu Lu turned his attention away, still pondering how to prompt someone to quote lines from The Little Prince. After all, triggering it would truly put him on the map—and who could blame him for being so determined?
A gentle summer breeze wafted through the room, puffing up the shapeless school uniforms worn by the students.
For some, the baggy uniforms added no style. For others, they somehow managed to look good regardless...
---
Time: 2 PM, prime naptime.
Location: Shanghai.
Characters: Director Jian and others.
"How far is the address listed in Gu Lu's email from Chongqing No. 37 Middle School?" Director Jian asked.
Zhou, the chief editor of Young Literature, was baffled. While he knew Gu Lu was only 15—a fact that surprised him given the maturity of his writing—he didn’t see why the director himself was asking.
As the leading original children’s literature magazine in China, they received submissions from many talented young authors. For instance, the author of the recent hit story Flying Eagle Blades was only 16.
"I’m not sure offhand—I’ll need to verify," Zhou replied. Jian simply stared at him expectantly.
Realizing the urgency, Zhou didn’t dawdle. He called the editorial department’s front desk, which handled contracts mailed in from across the country. Within minutes, they located the sender’s address.
Plugging both locations into a mapping website, they found the distance between the sender’s address and No. 37 Middle School was barely two kilometers.
"I knew it..." Jian murmured. How likely was it for two writers with the same name, age, and city to exist?
"What’s special about No. 37 Middle School?" Zhou asked.
"The highest-scored essay in the preliminary round of this year’s Ye Shengtao Cup came from a third-year student at No. 37 Middle School—Gu Lu," Jian explained. Though he reviewed countless manuscripts, Gu Lu’s name stood out vividly.
"!" Zhou didn’t speak, but his expression conveyed sheer astonishment.
"A student who can submit to magazines and excel in writing competitions—remarkable," Jian praised.
"Can Gu Lu win first prize in the Ye Shengtao Cup?" Zhou wondered aloud.
"The top award is 'First Prize Plus Top Ten Young Writers Nationwide,'" Jian corrected. "If he maintains his initial submission level, the odds are one hundred percent."
One hundred percent? Zhou was stunned. He knew Jian wasn’t one to exaggerate—what kind of masterpiece had this student written to earn such praise?
"In that case, we should reach out to Gu Lu for contributions," Zhou suggested immediately, thinking of boosting sales.
After all, rival publications like Little Stream Children’s Edition, Story King, and Young Readers were nipping at their heels. Having a "star student writer" could significantly boost circulation.
"I’ll personally invite him during the finals," Jian declared.
With that, Jian began silently praying for the young writer he’d never met. The finals had better deliver.
The Resounding Shadow had left a lasting impression on Jian, and its benefits for Gu Lu were far from over.
---
"Gu Lu, Young Pioneer Newspaper wants to interview you." During break time, Mr. Li approached Gu Lu with the news.
Young Pioneer Newspaper?
This monthly publication, run by the Communist Youth League of Chongqing, targeted children. Gu Lu remembered it vividly. In Chongqing, every elementary school subscribed to it without fail. Parents paid without question—it wasn’t optional.
What stuck in Gu Lu’s memory most were the games printed on the last page: spot-the-difference puzzles or hidden object challenges. Back in elementary school, he and his classmates always flipped straight to the final page upon receiving each issue.
"An interview? For me?" Gu Lu asked, bewildered.
"Few schools in Chongqing participate in the Ye Shengtao Cup, so winners usually come from Sichuan Province. The last winner from Chongqing was two years ago—a second prize from Yucai Middle School," Mr. Li explained, pride evident in his voice. His student succeeding brought him immense joy.
"You’re the first from Chongqing to win a provincial first prize in the Ye Shengtao Cup, so naturally, they want to feature you," Mr. Li continued.
The first? Gu Lu felt skeptical at first but then realized it wasn’t far-fetched. Compared to educational powerhouses like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, Southwest China lagged significantly.
Doesn’t that make me pretty impressive? Gu Lu thought, excitement quickly giving way to nervousness. This would be his first-ever media interview—official state media, no less.
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