Chapter 121: Why Is Failure So Mean?
He said it was to plagiarize novels, but Yu Wei mainly wanted to give back to the readers. He wouldn’t engage in literature, after all, in this era, it’s already hard to produce the so-called literary giants…
The era of physical books has long passed. Short videos, social media, and other instant content dominate the mainstream. In this environment, forget becoming a literary master—even a literary master in the world would be dumbfounded.
In the traffic era, the playing style of traditional literature has been eliminated. There are hardly any newspapers or magazines for serialization, and bookstores mostly sell practical books.
Bestsellers? Are they half as bestselling as my “Five Years of College Entrance Exams and Three Years of Simulations,” bro?
The explosion of any literary work is driven by era factors. In this market, writing traditional literature is definitely not a wise move.
So why does Yu Wei want to do this? Because he doesn’t want to waste it. He has something others don’t. No matter how the thing is, bringing it out is always better than not…
Whether it’s useful or not, swap it out first. Why not swap if you can?
Senior Chen Ping rose in the 1980s. Domestically, due to the butterfly effect, pulling one hair moves the whole body. As his influence grew, Blue Star completely embarked on another branch a few years later.
He can’t change the waves of the era or rational thinking, but he changed many random things, like the birth of life and bursts of inspiration.
At least entertainment works eighty years later are usable by Yu Wei. If you don’t write, it’s a waste not to write.
[Bind Novel: “Why Does the Star Care About Ratings?” “Why Does the Failure Care About Data?”]
After writing the book title on the alternate account “Twin Sunflowers,” Yu Wei successfully bound the second book.
Qi Luo An’s idea is pretty good. She might really be talent-type. The book title format is the same as Yu Wei’s—perfectionists rejoice…
“So what to write for the first book? Do you have any ideas?”
For plagiarist-type works, the first work can generally be arranged to appear in the first three chapters, so at least let the readers know the protagonist’s general direction.
The subsequent plot will definitely revolve around the first work. You have to ask about this thing, otherwise Qi Luo An won’t know how to write later.
Probably in Yu Wei’s style, the plagiarized novels are also his own ideas. It’s unknown if he can really write the thing out.
“The first book…”
This really stumped Yu Wei. In the entertainment novels he’s read, the protagonist usually plagiarizes “Zhu Xian” for the first book.
But he can’t plagiarize it. Something with too much length has no time to write. Otherwise, with more works later, he’d be exhausted to death.
Qi Luo An’s novel is just his work output point. Those Earth works definitely still need Yu Wei to write himself.
Yu Wei has no intention of hiding. Writing novels doesn’t steal or rob, no need to use a vest, hiding and covering is too tiring.
What era is it to still use a vest to write books?
Many works actually can’t be written now, either because the length is too long or they simply can’t pass review. Times are different now; not everything can be written out.
Better to write some moderately lengthed physical bestsellers. Web novels are each longer than the last.
“Write suspense.”
Choosing suspense for the first book, Yu Wei has his own considerations. After all, he has written suspense; the script for “Sound Mixer” has some suspense elements.
Although not much involved, everyone already knows he has this ability, so writing a suspense novel later won’t be too abrupt.
Secondly, suspense novels still have a market. Throw out new mysteries and twists, and readers can maintain high interest. No matter how the era changes, human curiosity and desire to solve puzzles won’t disappear.
At worst, suspense is easy to adapt into film and television drama.
“Suspense?”
Qi Luo An was stunned, not expecting Yu Wei to try this genre, but thinking about it, it made sense. “Sound Mixer” has similar elements.
Moreover, compared to other literary works, suspense needs brain holes and tight logic most. It’s not surprising that Yu Wei can write such works.
If he directly produced a period novel, describing the life scenes of that time in minute detail, that would be ridiculous…
Novels that require wild imagination are easier to explain. After all, brain holes can’t be predicted, but reality can be measured.
“So, do you have an idea?”
It’s okay if the novel isn’t written yet, but specific book title and story outline are needed, otherwise the plagiarist plot can’t develop.
Plagiarizing songs or movies without content is one thing, but plagiarizing novels without plot—even passersby can’t hype it…
“I do. Let’s write a story about a failure author, which matches your book title perfectly.”
“Hm?”
Qi Luo An didn’t expect Yu Wei to have already thought of it, and the genre fits perfectly with being about authors.
So coincidental? The suspense story he thought of matches the opening of her new book?
It can’t be that he just came up with the plot based on the new book a few minutes ago, right? Thinking up a suspense novel in minutes would be too ridiculous.
“Tell me more.”
Yu Wei remembered the general plot, so he simply told Qi Luo An about it. The story is set in Sakura, revolving around two authors.
What he wants to tell is Keigo Higashino’s “Malice,” a 1996 book that naturally doesn’t exist after the worldline changes.
“The story is set in Sakura?”
Qi Luo An hesitated slightly, then quickly rationalized it logically. For suspense murder genres, it’s inevitable to involve local security and legal issues.
If written with a domestic background, going a bit overboard easily hits red lines and gets overinterpreted as smearing something.
But setting the story in another country solves the problem. Sakura people can stab each other however they want.
Is this also within Yu Wei’s expectations?
While Qi Luo An was marveling at his meticulous thinking, Yu Wei had already started telling the story.
Yenoyaguchi Shu and Higashi Kunihiko are neighbors and classmates. After growing up, Higashi becomes a bestselling author, while Yenoyaguchi is a mediocre language teacher.
Although Higashi introduces him to an editor to fulfill his writer dream, this old failure Yenoyaguchi’s heart is already burned through by jealousy.
On the eve of Higashi’s move to Canada, he is murdered. The detective locks onto Higashi’s friend Yenoyaguchi as the killer via on-site cigarette butts and other evidence, but Yenoyaguchi remains silent on the motive.
As the investigation deepens, police discover Yenoyaguchi faked the “forced shadow writer” image. He lied about having an affair with Higashi’s late wife and being coerced by Higashi to ghostwrite, to cover the real motive.
The truth is revealed: out of jealousy for Higashi’s talent and success, Yenoyaguchi meticulously planned the murder and framed him for plagiarism and abusing his wife, intending to utterly destroy his reputation.
His motive is simply “Anyway, I just don’t like him”…
“Holy crap, how is the failure so evil?”
Qi Luo An was a bit scared by this story, not jump-scare frightened, but the kind that terrifies upon deep thought.
Higashi never did anything wrong. His excellence and kindness are all original sins in Yenoyaguchi’s eyes.
Unlike traditional suspense novels’ “benefit-driven” motives, or revenge and grudges, in Yu Wei’s story, the killer’s purpose for evil is pure malice.
They say if you don’t do guilty things, you won’t fear ghost knocks. This is like being haunted by evil ghosts—who hasn’t provoked anyone, yet the other stabs you because they don’t like your looks…
Baseless malice is even hard to guard against. Thinking deeply, it really makes one’s scalp tingle, since many accidents in life really don’t have that many twists and turns.
“That’s slandering us. We failures aren’t that bad; it’s just a novel.”
In a sense, “Malice” isn’t even a mystery novel. It’s never about letting readers guess the killer from start to finish.
“Malice” is like an onion. Readers know the whole event; it peels layer by layer, and each time readers know: the killer is absolutely Yenoyaguchi Shu.
But the shock of each layer peeled, the impact on the heart, and the reflection after reading the whole book—that’s Keigo Higashino’s purpose.
Rather than the suspense being exquisitely brilliant, it’s the deconstruction of human nature that’s spot on.
At least Yu Wei was shocked by the final ending, even feeling a slight sense of insecurity.
“Not that bad?”
Qi Luo An asked thoughtfully: “But I heard web novel authors report others’ books. When seeing others do well, they say it’s luck or brushed data…”
“Outrageous!”
Is this something to say?
It can only be said that social jealousy is widespread, just as “Malice” emphasizes: “Negative emotions start subtle, but end surging like wildfire.”
Ordinary people’s jealousy does exist, but usually doesn’t go as extreme as in the novel.
Without perfect timing, location, and people, writing this “Malice” now definitely won’t explode like on Earth, but it’s still worth reading.
Plus Yu Wei’s built-in topicality, this book should have no problem blowing up.
“Alright, send me the character names later. You spoke too fast; I didn’t remember…”
Qi Luo An was even a bit eager to write. Yu Wei’s “Malice” story is very good, with many twists and thoughts on human nature. It will surely have a big response.
By then, her “Why Does the Failure Care About Data?” will also bring Yu Wei’s work into the public vision in advance.
This story is too perfect for her novel’s opening. The rise of a failure novel author needs a work centered on authors as the clue.
Who knows how Yu Wei’s brain is wired? He actually came up with a novel about a failure…
After hanging up, Qi Luo An rushed excitedly to continue writing the opening. She has little creation experience, but after hearing the story, she really has some urge to express.
A bunch of small fry authors dare to jealousy our Wei Yu—write a book to viciously satirize you!
Qi Luo An is fully immersed writing this book. After taking over the account, she found many haters in the private messages accusing Yu Wei.
Those people didn’t know it was Yu Wei’s alternate account back then, including many web novel authors saying he disrupted the market.
Bringing in all new users—how is that disrupting the market?
She was actually very angry seeing those words, but for Yu Wei’s sake, she couldn’t really curse back, so this book was inspired.
A bunch of small fry authors dare to jealousy our Yu Wei—write a book to viciously satirize you!
“This child might become Hokage.”
Yu Wei didn’t expect Qi Luo An to take it so seriously. From the momentum, she seems ready to become a glorious failure…
He casually sent the alternate account’s login and password, letting Qi Luo An write as she sees fit, open the book whenever she wants.
Since she’s the work output point, give her this degree of freedom. As long as he stuffs in the works he wants, she can write the rest however, just don’t get banned.
Yu Wei already foresaw the grand occasion in the comment section after Qi Luo An opens the book.
“Godlike author, makes up works in entertainment novel, dies from poison!”
By then, he’ll definitely reply “History” in the comment section to get revenge…
If our roles were swapped, I’d show you what cruelty is.
