https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-239-The-Outline-is-All-in-My-Head/13547478/
Chapter 240: Missing Deadlines is Normal
Chapter 240: Missing Deadlines is Normal
“Cut!”
The head director’s shout brought instant relief to Oscar, who had no idea how to keep the scene rolling. If they hadn’t called a break, he might have started ranting about plot holes himself.
The scene shifted directly to the voting phase.
Xiao Tan asked, “Wait, what happened during that time?”
Feng Bu Jue replied, “Oh… that part? They’ll splice in post-credits interviews with the contestants—basically, other writers’ and my own critiques of that outline. Then Oscar will record a separate monologue to make the live broadcast flow better.”
“Is it because your monologue had too many plot holes, so you need time to polish the voiceover?” Judge Bao interjected.
“Something like that,” Feng Bu Jue shrugged. “Oh, right—Director Fei mentioned a problem to me back then…”
………
“Units, take a break. Camera crew, adjust equipment. We’ll resume in ten minutes,” the head director calmly instructed through his headset mic, then raised his arm in a signal. “Bu Jue, come here for a second.”
Feng Bu Jue walked down from the contestant area to Director Feiran. “Director Fei, are you about to announce my disqualification for bad sportsmanship?” he asked, grinning like a kid on Christmas.
“In my opinion? You’re definitely staying today,” Feiran replied flatly.
“That’s not what we agreed!” Feng Bu Jue protested.
“Who told you to steal the spotlight? You think acting like a clown will get you eliminated?” Feiran said. “The proper way to get cut is to be as boring as possible.”
“So what now?” Feng Bu Jue asked.
“…You really don’t want to come back next episode?” Feiran pressed.
“Absolutely not.” Feng Bu Jue answered firmly.
“Fine. During the final round’s overall index calculation, I’ll quietly manipulate the numbers for you,” Feiran offered. “But…”
“I get it…”
“What do you get?”
“Rule one: Don’t talk about number manipulation. Rule two: Don’t talk about number manipulation.” Feng Bu Jue’s face turned dead serious, emphasizing each word. “Rule three… Don’T Talk About Number Manipulation!”
Feiran pushed his glasses up. “Do I look like someone who ten points loves Fight Club references?”
“You absolutely do,” Feng Bu Jue shot back.
Feiran nodded. “Well then. Since we’re on the same page, I trust you’ll keep this under wraps.”
“Of course.”
“Oh, one more thing,” Feiran added.
“Go ahead.”
“My gut says ratings will be great this episode. Your rebellious antics will probably even earn you a fanbase,” Feiran said. “So expect a resurrection round invitation before this season ends in late June.”
“Huh?” Feng Bu Jue groaned. “This much hassle?”
“The resurrection round’s top seven spots go to online votes. All eliminated contestants are eligible. The voting’s public, so if you’re chosen, I can’t help you dodge it.”
“Just issue a statement like… ‘Contestant Bu Jue is ill and cannot attend the resurrection round. We’ve invited the eighth-place write-in candidate instead.’”
“You think this is skipping school?” Feiran frowned. “‘Ill’? Seriously?”
“Not convincing enough? How about syphilis?”
“You missed my point entirely…”
“Schubert got it at 25! I’m just following tradition—”
“Mr. Feng, have some dignity!”
………
“So… does this mean you’ll have to attend the resurrection round in two months?” Xiao Tan asked.
“Depends on this episode’s reception,” Feng Bu Jue replied. “If I don’t crack the top seven in early June’s online vote… hehehe…”
“This is the first time I’ve seen someone cackle about losing,” Judge Bao muttered.
“If it comes to that… Judge Bao, help me hire some internet trolls to smear my reputation during voting—”
“Hold on.” Judge Bao cut him off. “Why would I help you find ghostwriters? Where am I supposed to get them?”
“You work in government—don’t play innocent!”
“I don’t know what fantasy version of the government you live in, but I—”
“Never mind, forget it,” Feng Bu Jue interrupted. “Let’s watch the replay first. We’ll deal with the rest later.”
Meanwhile, the second round’s Divine Stroke voting results appeared on screen.
Feng Bu Jue’s sky-high story ranked second this round, shocking the audience. Qishui took first. Last place, surprisingly, was Mo Buxiang. The first contestant always had the disadvantage—her story, while decent, lacked punch. After the other six writers unveiled their outlines, viewers’ memories of hers faded, leaving her with minimal primary votes.
Oscar had calmed himself during the break and now resumed hosting smoothly. “After two intense rounds, we finally reach the ultimate third showdown!” He paused for effect. “Each contestant’s first two rounds contribute 30% to their overall index, while this final round carries 40%. So everyone still has a chance to rise to first place… or fall into elimination.”
“But before our final showdown,” Oscar’s tone lightened, “let’s take a breather.” He pulled out pre-prepared cards from his suit pocket. “These three Q&A cards were selected by our three chief editors from the I’m a Writer online message board. They come from our loyal viewer friends.” His gaze swept the contestant area as the camera panned across the seven writers. “No scoring here—just a casual chat!” He raised the cards to eye level.
Facing the camera, Oscar teased, “Same question, different writers—what answers will they give? Find out after the break!”
The scene cut back to Oscar reading aloud. “First question: Esteemed writers, a rookie here serializing a common urban novel online seeks help. One of his characters suffers from middle school syndrome—he’s stealing too much spotlight and feels redundant. The author wants to kill him off but can’t think of a plausible plot. P.S. It’s a realistic urban story, no supernatural elements.”
Oscar added, “This viewer-writer’s hit a creative block and needs our seven gods’ help!”
After wasting another minute with filler talk, Oscar said, “Xuantian Zong, shall we start with you?”
Xuantian Zong leaned into the mic, thoughtful. “I’d say… have him trip and fall onto the subway tracks when the train arrives.”
“Brutal!” Oscar gasped as laughter erupted from the spectator stands. Xuantian Zong chuckled too.
“Or maybe get hit by a car crossing the street?” Oscar suggested. “Does middle school syndrome deserve a tragic end?”
“Not quite,” Xuantian Zong clarified. “Imagine him roleplaying both hero and monster in a subway platform monster-fighting game—jumping around, acting out both parts…”
“Poor guy!” Oscar interrupted, triggering another wave of laughter. “Now he sounds even more pathetic!”
“Let’s hear Ping’s answer instead,” Oscar moved to Bashan Ping’s console. “What’s your take, Brother Ping?”
"Ah... pretending to be a sea monster in the swimming pool and accidentally drowning", Bashan Ping replied.
Oscar didn't comment, instead turning to the camera with a playful expression while the on-site director egged the audience into laughter.
"Why does it feel like these two death scenarios don't showcase the character's middle school syndrome, but instead make him seem like he's stuck in early middle school?" Oscar continued joking. This was finally his chance to freely roast the concept.
"Alright, let's hear Cai Gua's answer to this question." Oscar approached Shucai Guaguo.
The other man had clearly prepared his response, speaking into the microphone: "Wearing a homemade superhero costume and jumping off a skyscraper."
"Like the opening scene of Kick-Ass?" Oscar asked.
Shucai Guaguo chuckled. "Exactly, something like that."
Oscar nodded, seemingly finding this answer too straightforward to elaborate on. He immediately moved to Mo Buxiang's workstation. "Mo Mo, what's your take?"
"Having a heart attack at an anime convention?" Mo Buxiang responded with an uncertain tone.
"Are you equating middle school syndrome with otaku culture here?" Oscar questioned.
"What's the difference?" Mo Buxiang shot back with a puzzled expression.
Oscar licked his lips, feigning speechlessness as the audience erupted in laughter.
"Fine, what's Young Master Chang's answer?" Oscar continued.
"I followed a comic's plot to cook a dish, then died at home from food poisoning", Wo Yao Shangchang answered.
"Hey... that's not about the cooking method, right? It's because you bought toxic ingredients from the start?" Oscar launched another round of teasing.
Next came Qishui's response: "Hmm... no supernatural elements, right... then... choking to death while eating?"
"Are you asking me?" Since Qishui used a purely questioning tone, Oscar seized the opportunity to deflect, "It wasn't me who killed him."
He'd been thoroughly enjoying this roast session, but his mood darkened as he approached Feng Bu Jue.
Oscar forced a smile. "Bu Jue, what's your answer?"
Feng Bu Jue calmly replied, "Driving down a mountain road at over 100 kilometers per hour, taking a U-turn, and during the turn, driving the tires into a roadside drainage ditch..."
Oscar blinked twice before realizing what this meant, "So he died then?"
"Did you expect him to suddenly perform a tornado spin with his car?"
The audience burst into laughter. Oscar managed only a dry chuckle, "Alright, let's move to the second question..."
He picked up the second card, reading, "If you ever have a day with no inspiration and have to miss updates, how would you explain it to readers?"
"Oh, this is a sharp question", Oscar said. "And it's so vague, could this be the editor-in-chief secretly adding his own problems?"
He'd meant it as a joke, but the head director's voice came through his earpiece, "Don't say unnecessary things."
Oscar's lips twitched as he forced a laugh, "Haha, just kidding." He quickly turned to Xuantian Zong, "Sharp questions need quick answers to get the truth. Xuantian, what's your response?"
Xuantian Zong answered seriously, "I'd just tell the truth."
The writers' answers to this question were all relatively smooth, though their expressions remained sincere.
Bashan Ping's answer was, "I'd post a single chapter explaining I have personal matters and need a day off."
Shucai Guaguo's answer came with confidence, "I've never missed updates."
"I only write physical books, always meet deadlines, and have no experience with missing updates", Mo Buxiang's answer was equally consistent.
"I write short stories online, usually finishing the entire book before posting. I'm also my own editor, so there are no manuscript issues", Wo Yao Shangchang explained.
After questioning these few, Oscar approached Qishui, "Qishui, what's your answer?"
"Well... I've never missed updates either. When I publish, pre-written chapters can last three to four months. By the time the first batch is used up, I've already written the ending", Qishui admitted without evasion, "But if I ever had to miss updates due to writer's block... I'd probably tell the truth too."
With a heavy heart, Oscar approached the final contestant, his voice trembling slightly, "Bu Jue... what would you say?"
Feng Bu Jue answered with four calm words, "Going on a research trip."
"Huh?" This was the collective reaction of the other six writers. The next second, their expressions all changed as they thought the same thing: Is this really going to work?
Oscar forced a smile, "Well... it's actually a reasonable explanation." His grin became awkward as he mentally ranted: Research trip my foot! You're a detective novelist! Are you going to a crime scene for research? Or planning to create some cases? You've probably been on the Public Security Bureau's secret blacklist for ages!
"Heh... hehe... Now, let's see today's final question." Oscar decided it was best to end this segment quickly. Under the stage's artificial lighting, he raised the third question card and faced the camera, "Now... what's the one phrase you say to your editor most often?"
At this point, it was commercial break time. Following the director's cue, Oscar recited the standard advertising transition.
After the commercial break, the contestants began answering one by one.
Xuantian Zong's answer was, "Hello." He explained, "I say it every time we communicate." This was a slippery but clever response.
Bashan Ping was more experienced, replying, "Thank you."
Oscar teased, "Cai Gua, you're not going to say 'goodbye' to me, are you?"
Shucai Guaguo smiled, "Thank you for your trouble."
"Alright... it seems online writers' communication with editors is something people from this dimension can't comprehend", Oscar joked. "The next few have only published physical books. I wonder what answers they'll give?"
"Hmm... the phrase I use most with editors..." Mo Buxiang tilted her head thoughtfully, "Please criticize without holding back."
Oscar finally found an answer worth exploring, immediately asking, "Why?"
"Because whenever I submit my work, my editor always says it's great. They're always too polite with their critiques", Mo Buxiang explained.
"Oh..." Oscar said, turning to Wo Yao Shangchang, "Young Master Chang, do you feel the same? As an editor yourself, do you hesitate to critique such a beautiful lady?"
Wo Yao Shangchang laughed, "I'm an editor for a sports magazine. The people who submit to me are all athletes and tomboys."
The audience roared with laughter. Oscar joined in, "Alright then... when you're a writer, what's the phrase you use most with your editor?"
"It should be... asking them not to be too polite", Wo Yao Shangchang said. "My online editor is younger than me, yet he always calls me 'Teacher' and asks for my guidance."
"Young Master Chang works in sports, that's why his aura is different", Oscar flattered before turning to Qishui, "Qishui, what's your answer?"
"Thank you for your hard work", Qishui replied, immediately adding, "Because my novels contain many rare characters, I spent a lot of time researching before writing. Proofreading is quite troublesome."
"Alright... it seems this question's answers are just a collection of everyday phrases", Oscar said. Reluctantly, he returned to Feng Bu Jue's side, "Bu Jue, I'm sure your answer will once again broaden our horizons." He'd practically stated his sarcasm outright.
Feng Bu Jue smirked, his expression unshaken like a dead pig facing boiling water, "Don't be impulsive, put the knife down. Let's talk calmly. Just give me a few more days, really, just a few days."
(End of Chapter)
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