Ning Yuhuan used to take the bus there. Buses have fixed routes, stopping at each station. It takes an hour from Finance University to the destination, and it's not just generally uncomfortable taking the bus.

Xu Lin bikes a shared bicycle over, arriving in about half an hour.

Upon reaching the destination, the same guy who accompanied his girlfriend last time was there, though previously there were three guys, and now only two were left.

Xu Lin was a bit curious, so casually asked the girl, "Hey, where's your boyfriend?"

Last time, this guy even offered Xu Lin a cigarette, saying "Buddy, want a Leechun?"

So Xu Lin remembered him, even though Xu Lin doesn't smoke.

"He's busy with other things!"

"Oh!"

Xu Lin suddenly understood.

The girl looked at Ning Yuhuan and said to Xu Lin, "Hey, your girlfriend is super nice, not only pretty but also very kind!"

"Thanks for the compliment!"

Xu Lin smiled.

At two thirty in the afternoon, the assignment correcting started again.

Xu Lin was beside Ning Yuhuan, helping with the assignment corrections, and the pile was thick and substantial.

This time, Xu Lin specifically got a portable charger from the convenience store across the street to prevent his phone from running out of battery.

Xu Lin played games for a while, but found them tasteless.

Then he opened QQ.

The novel editor, Ranzhi, sent a message.

"Mr. Xu, 'My 26-year-old Miss Maybach' will start short video streaming at six sharp this afternoon. Let's see the effects then!"

"Your novel is explosive on our platform. The current new book results are already remarkable, and the short video streaming is very likely to take off!"

Xu Lin read for a while.

Curious: "What are the benefits of short video streaming?"

"Simply put, it's traffic drawing. Mr. Xu, you should also know it's the short video era – the traffic era. Whoever controls the traffic controls the future. Our online literature development is also keeping up with the times. Given the book's high quality, drawing traffic may let it take off. We previously had a book here that succeeded greatly with short video marketing, and that author became a big name. Your book's results are strong and has lots of buzz, so a short video promotion is likely to be very successful!"

"Then I understand."

It's the short video era now. Industries have become inseparable from the internet and the short video ecosystem.

In a traffic-is-king era, embracing traffic is equivalent to embracing the future. Besides, short videos have created too many legends.

"Mr. Xu, are you really not considering writing this book longer? With this level, it should indeed be longer!"

"I'm not interested in writing long; just want to make it around hundreds of thousands of words, that's enough."

"Alright then, Mr. Xu! Grin.jpg"

Ranzhi felt helpless.

The truly amazing authors can afford to be willful like this.

Ranzhi: "Mr. Xu, as an editor, I'm actually a fan of your book now. I really love it. Moreover, hundreds of us in our editorial department also very much love this book. I'd like to ask, on behalf of myself and them, does the female protagonist truly exist? Her portrayal feels so lifelike, almost as if she were right in front of us! Grin.jpg x3"

Mr. Xu: "Yes, she truly exists!"

Xu Lin opened his alternate account.

Only accepts daily payments.

Asura and Shifang had sent quite a few messages.

Both had worked on a manuscript, just the one Xu Lin asked them to write last night.

Asura: "Boss, please have a look! Feel free to criticize me!"

Are you a masochist? Why invite criticism?

Xu Lin glanced over.

Shifang: "Boss, please give some guidance. I will study diligently whatever the boss suggests!"

Xu Lin opened the manuscripts one by one.

Soon, Xu Lin finished reading them; he reads quickly and can tell the level at a glance.

Actually, whether Asura or Shifang, Xu Lin found their writing lacking, though their sincerity was evident.

The word count was substantial, with each manuscript over twenty thousand words, and Asura's had the most, with over twenty-five thousand, nearing thirty thousand words.

From last night to now, in just over ten hours, reaching this length is impressive.

Moreover, the plot wasn't padding; it contained substantial content.

Comprehensively speaking, both treated it very seriously, not merely throwing together a bunch of words.

Xu Lin thinks attitude is important. When I speak, you must listen and act on it; this point is crucial. Listening without acting is the same as not listening.

Xu Lin does this for better earning prospects and also, for them to achieve growth and broader futures.

It's a win-win situation.

Asura's manuscript features a story set in a classroom where protagonist Xu Lin, foe Liu Longsheng, and neutral parties Xie Zhengrong and Hu Donghai are forced into a dangerous game resembling Russian roulette; losing means dying. He also added a few characters, including the clown who sets up the game and some passerbys joining Xu Lin and friends. The story begins with someone failing the game and getting shot, immediately creating a strong sense of crisis.

The ability to create a crisis and make it feel intense is a skill too, like reading some chilling horror novels where you feel there's invisible presence in your room; it's the author's prowess.

Overall, Asura has skills, with quite seasoned writing.

Shifang's manuscript is set in a mansion, involving more characters besides the four given by Xu Lin. With over twenty thousand words, he crafted a concise story featuring multiple layers of twists and turns, feeling even more outrageous than "Thunderstorm", yet the writing was undeniably strong. Layered twists do require profound writing skill.

Although two or three thousand words in online fiction seem few, easy to read in minutes, this amount has formed a complete story. Many traditional martial arts novels in the past were only about tens of thousands of words, hand-written manuscripts, requiring years. In contrast, typing on computers allows easy editing while handwriting demands cumbersome revisions, wasting who knows how much paper.

"If I set the bar too high, they wouldn't be able to write."

Xu Lin was not quite satisfied with the manuscripts, initially considering passing on them, but after thinking, his level is equivalent to a PhD while Asura and Shifang's are like elementary or middle school students. If expectations were set too high, these two wouldn't manage.

Middle schoolers don't learn advanced mathematics either!

"Maybe just add a little requirement!"

Xu Lin sent Shifang: "Intensify the conflict some more, give that feeling of imminent table-flipping without actually flipping yet, as if complete eruption is seconds away."

Sent Asura: "Strengthen the sense of crisis further, make the conflict more intense."

These instructions are somewhat vague, but people of varying skill levels see different things.

As the saying goes, the top-class needs no teaching, the middle-class picks up with hints, while the bottom-class fails to understand even with guidance.

The hierarchy mentioned here refers to one's perceptiveness.

Asura: "Got it! I'll modify it right away!"

Shifang: "Thanks for the guidance, boss. I'll get busy now!"

The two switched to private chat immediately.

Shifang: "Did you get a message from the boss?"

Shifang shared Xu Lin's message with Asura.

Asura: "I got one too, my message is this..."

Shifang: "What does the boss mean? Does it mean we're good?"

Asura: "I feel we're good, at least the boss didn't outright reject us. But we need to fix this requirement of his!"

Shifang: "I think so too, we'll finish it by tonight!"

Asura: "Let's charge ahead!"

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