Chapter 59 This Is Not His Level

"Surrender? The novel written by Li Ye is actually titled *Surrender*?"

".........."

Upon learning that the novel written by Li Ye was named *Surrender*, Lu Jingyao did not speak for the entire evening, which greatly annoyed her younger brother, Lu Zixue. He accused her of "growing wings, developing a big temper, and forgetting her own family."

However, after the "royalties incident," Lu Jingyao was no longer the same person she used to be. She was no longer willing to wrong herself just to cater to others, and in response to her brother's sideways glances, she simply pretended not to see them.

Tossing and turning all night without getting much sleep, Lu Jingyao got up before dawn, quietly slipped out of the house, and set off on foot toward the county town all by herself.

A thirty-li journey took three whole hours, and by eight o'clock in the morning, Lu Jingyao arrived at the Qingshui County Xinhua Bookstore.

She took off her scarf, rubbed her numb, frost-bitten face, and asked the clerk behind the counter, "Excuse me, do you have *Surrender* here?"

The clerk sat behind the counter with a blank expression and replied impatiently, "No, we don't. People come asking all day long, aren't you annoyed yet?"

Lu Jingyao had not slept all night and had walked for three hours, only to be met with such service. Anger instantly flared up in her chest.

It was true that clerks in this era could be arrogant, but weren't college students entitled to some respect as well?

"Who comes asking all day long? What kind of attitude is that? Is the 'Serve the People' banner hanging on your wall just for show? Who do you think you're pulling a long face for?"

"Hey, how are you talking to me? Who are you calling a long face?"

"Pulling a long face" was a northern regional dialect. The native local young clerk did not understand it and assumed it was an insult. She immediately stood up and started shouting back at Lu Jingyao.

This shouting match quickly drew out the bookstore's management. It was already the end of the twelfth lunar month, and the streets were filled with people rushing to the bustling markets to buy New Year goods. If this wasn't settled immediately, it would soon draw a crowd, and that would be truly humiliating!

"Hey, hey, hey, stop shouting! Xiao Hu, watch your attitude. Young lady, calm down too. What is going on here?"

The clerk was just about to retort, but Lu Jingyao spoke first, "Comrade manager, you be the judge. I came here early in the morning to buy a book, and I asked her politely if they had *Surrender*, but she started snapping at me right off the bat..."

The clerk hurriedly defended herself, "That's not how it was, Uncle Lao Wu, she was swearing..."

"Alright, alright, I'll handle this. Xiao Hu, go to the back and help organize everyone's New Year goods."

Uncle Lao Wu shooed the pouting clerk to the back room, then turned to Lu Jingyao to explain, "The child doesn't know any better. Many people have been coming in to ask for this book *Surrender* these past few days, but we simply don't have it here. Her tone might have been a bit sharp, so please don't take it to heart."

Since the man was speaking so politely, Lu Jingyao naturally could not stay angry. She softened her tone and asked, "Are there really that many people coming to buy *Surrender*?"

"Quite a few," Uncle Lao Wu said. "Most of them are students and teachers from No. 1 High School and No. 2 High School, as well as people from the grain supply system. But we genuinely don't have it here. Even the municipal Xinhua Bookstore doesn't have much..."

"Not even in the city? Why?"

Lu Jingyao was astonished. Although she had deduced from Liu Muhany's obsession with reading that the book *Surrender* must be "somewhat interesting," it was truly bizarre if even the municipal Xinhua Bookstore was out of stock.

Uncle Lao Wu explained, "Because this book was just printed and released at the end of the year, with a first edition of one hundred thousand copies. But the market reaction has been completely abnormal; it almost sold out completely even in the provincial capital. There were hardly any copies left to allocate to city-level bookstores, let alone a small county town like ours. Why don't you try going to the provincial capital to take a look?"

"Is it really that popular?"

Lu Jingyao muttered to herself as she walked out of the county Xinhua Bookstore.

Outside the county Xinhua Bookstore was a long street, with the east side leading to County No. 2 High School and the west side leading to the bus station.

Lu Jingyao pondered for a long time, then gritted her teeth and walked toward the bus station.

She was going to the provincial capital to see what kind of magic *Surrender* possessed that could seduce so many people into "neglecting their proper pursuits."

The bus fare from Qingshui County to the provincial capital was forty-five cents, enough to buy a catty of fatty pork with skin for the round trip. Normally, Lu Jingyao would never bear to spend such money no matter what, but today she simply could not hold back.

She could not suppress the burning fire of restlessness in her heart.

*How could Li Ye publish a novel? How could he possibly earn thousands of yuan in royalties?*

*His novel... and it's sold out everywhere? How is that even possible?*

Lu Jingyao was someone who had also submitted manuscripts before, so she naturally understood what printing one hundred thousand copies in a single run meant.

*A famous writer?*

*Him?*

...

In the northern winter, the sun set very early.

The last bus from the provincial capital to Qingshui County rolled into the bus station amidst the setting sun.

Passengers on the bus scrambled to disembark, hurrying away in all directions with rapid footsteps.

Transportation in the county town was limited; nine out of ten townships had no bus service, and everyone had to rush home before the evening glow faded.

The conductor, who had been jolted around all day, took out a broom to clean the trash inside the carriage, only to discover that one young girl had not gotten off yet. She was holding a book and reading it with rapt attention!

*Hey, the bus has arrived. Are you planning to stay the night here?*

*Ah?*

Startled awake, Lu Jingyao raised her eyes, realized she had reached Qingshui County, and scurried off the bus in a flurry.

However, the moment she stepped off the bus, her legs felt weak, and she actually took a tumble.

*Hey, hey, hey, are you alright?*

The sharp-tongued but soft-hearted conductor quickly got off the bus and helped Lu Jingyao up.

*I'm fine, my legs just fell asleep.*

Lu Jingyao smiled awkwardly, wobbled out of the station, and headed straight for a nearby noodle shop.

She had left home before dawn this morning, heading straight to the provincial capital without eating breakfast.

After arriving in the provincial capital, she ran through several bookstores only to find they were all out of stock, until one shop mentioned that the final batch of *Surrender* for the year would arrive at noon.

Lu Jingyao had been determined to buy *Surrender* today, so she waited all the way until one o'clock in the afternoon.

It turned out to be quite ridiculous—buying a book actually required standing in line.

And as if waiting in line wasn't enough, people were cutting in and pulling strings through the back door! It took her over an hour of agonizing hassle just to secure a copy.

Then Lu Jingyao hurriedly caught a bus back, and it was only on the vehicle that she finally had time to open *Surrender*.

And then, before she knew it, she had arrived at her destination.

By this time, she finally felt a profound sense of hunger.

Fortunately, when school broke up for the winter vacation, the academy had distributed a few catties of national grain coupons to each student so they could go home and celebrate the New Year. Otherwise, it would have been quite troublesome for Lu Jingyao to even afford a bowl of noodles at this hour.

After a hot bowl of scallion noodles went down her stomach, Lu Jingyao slowly regained her strength.

She stroked the copy of *Surrender* in her hands, slowly shaking her head after a long while.

*This is not his level. There is something fishy about this!*

Lu Jingyao knew Li Ye's literary foundation all too well. Back when they used to discuss poetry and prose together with Xia Yue and the others, Li Ye was merely there to make up the numbers.

Now, looking at the various stylistic refinements and plot descriptions within *Surrender*, Lu Jingyao would never believe Li Ye wrote it, even if it killed her.

*We've only been separated for half a year, has he somehow turned into a completely different person?*

At this thought, it felt as though three little kittens had crawled into Lu Jingyao's heart, scratching at her with twelve claws and leaving her utterly restless.

She desperately wanted to go straight to Li Ye and ask him what on earth was going on.

But then she remembered Li Ye's words in his previous letter—"Let's not meet again in the future"—and she lacked the thick-skinned shamelessness to do so.

Suddenly, Lu Jingyao thought of Wen Leyu.

She had promised Teacher Ke that she would look after Wen Leyu, and since Wen Leyu had been attending classes at County No. 2 High School all this time, she certainly must know some of the inside story.

Instantly filled with energy, Lu Jingyao strode quickly toward County No. 2 High School.

Upon entering the school grounds, she discovered that there were still students inside the classrooms.

As she walked past, she happened to bump right into Xia Yue, who was just lifting her head.

"Lu Jingyao? Is that really you?"

Xia Yue cried out in pleasant surprise, then ran over excitedly.

"Hey? Xia Yue, haven't your classes broken up for vacation yet?"

Lu Jingyao grabbed Xia Yue's hands, equally astonished and delighted.

The two had been close friends before, and meeting again after more than half a year apart filled them both with immense joy.

In those days, hugging upon meeting wasn't quite the fashion; holding hands and stamping one's feet was the correct posture to express joy.

Xia Yue and Lu Jingyao weren't the only ones excited. Within just a few minutes, all the students from the repeating classes who remained at the school gathered around.

A college student! A real, living college student!

Having successfully逆袭 (made a comeback) to be admitted to the Beijing Foreign Studies University, Lu Jingyao was the pride of County No. 2 High School. She was a living legend among these repeating students and a pillar of faith that sustained them in continuing their repeat studies.

Seventy or eighty repeating students crammed into the corridor, staring at Lu Jingyao as if she were a major celebrity. This feeling instantly swept away every trace of insecurity in Lu Jingyao's heart.

She, Lu Jingyao, was outstanding. She was the role model for County No. 2 High School, as well as for all high school students in Qingshui County, and she had every right to be proud.

And when Dean Tang Feiyu also rushed over upon hearing the news, shaking Lu Jingyao's hand and warmly exchanging pleasantries, the pride in Lu Jingyao's heart reached its absolute peak.

"Welcome back to your alma mater to offer guidance! You are the pride of our County No. 2 High School. Tomorrow, we are going to organize a lecture, and we'd like you to share your experiences with everyone to boost their morale."

Lu Jingyao generously agreed. Her poise and demeanor in dealing with people had already completely transformed from what it was as a high school student half a year ago.

She was now a true "adult."

Once the teachers had left, Lu Jingyao finally had the chance to ask Xia Yue, "How come I don't see Wen Leyu? Isn't she in the same class as you?"

Xia Yue's smile faltered slightly as she said, "She spends all her time with Li Ye nowadays and doesn't even talk to the rest of us."

"With Li Ye?" Lu Jingyao asked in astonishment. "Why would she be together with Li Ye?"

Xia Yue replied, "I'm not entirely clear about the details, but when Li Ye was writing his novel, Wen Leyu gave him a lot of help."

At the time, Wen Leyu had only been responsible for proofreading and copying manuscripts, but looking back now, it all took on a different flavor to Xia Yue and the others.

Lu Jingyao's mind instantly connected the dots: Wen Leyu... and Teacher Ke.

The doubts in her heart suddenly became crystal clear.

Watching the changing expressions on Lu Jingyao's face, Xia Yue bit her lip and whispered in a low voice, "Jingyao, you have no idea. Li Ye set up a study room outside the school, burning a charcoal stove twenty-four hours a day and cooking braised pork with Chinese cabbage every single meal. He lured quite a few female classmates over there. Hu Mai, Han Xia, Jiang Xiaoyan... they've all been charmed away by him."

A wave of terror surged through Lu Jingyao's heart, and a fierce sense of "righteous indignation" welled up within her.

"Where is Wen Leyu? Xia Yue, go call her back right now!"