"Oh, right, Mr. Fanchen, I was wondering if you might have some time recently?"
"I do have time. Why?"
"The editors-in-chief of Youth Daily and Youth Literary Arts, along with several education experts, were hoping to visit you together…"
Before Sun Zaian could finish, Huang Yifan sent a message straight back. "Sorry, no time."
Sure enough, the aftershocks of 'The Way of Great Learning' hadn't faded yet.
Not only had his status jumped several levels, but it had also drawn in a whole crowd of scholars and experts.
With Huang Yifan's current situation, he really didn't have time to meet anyone.
If he actually showed up and they started pushing some "once-in-a-century prodigy" narrative again, it would just bring him endless trouble.
Besides, Huang Yifan knew very well that writing something like 'The Way of Great Learning' wasn't something a "youthful genius" label could reasonably explain. Even if it could, it would still invite endless doubts and criticism. Because of that, he became even more convinced that he needed to devote more time to studying, especially the great classical works.
He hoped that one day, he, Huang Yifan, could appear before the public openly and honorably as a true grandmaster.
Then, even if people questioned him, he would be able to crush all rumors with real strength.
"Mr. Fanchen, please don't misunderstand. I know you're indifferent to fame and fortune. We simply want to pay a visit and exchange some literary insights, nothing more."
"Editor Sun, I really don't have time. And lately, I've been busy leveling up."
"Leveling up? Leveling up what?"
"Weren't we just talking about that?"
"Ah… Mr. Fanchen, you mean your writer rank."
Sun Zaian was on the verge of tears. After a moment, he added, "Mr. Fanchen, wanting to level up is wonderful. In that case, you could write more articles for Youth Daily. I can also get in touch with people at the Huaguo Writers' Association. I believe it won't take long for your writer rank to reach five stars, or even six."
"Five stars, six stars, that's a bit low."
Huang Yifan shook his head.
"True, with your talent, five or six stars is indeed low. But this pen name of yours is new. Why don't you tell us what pen name you used before? The association can combine the scores from your old and new pen names."
"Let's forget it. I'll just level up slowly."
"Mr. Fanchen, won't you reconsider?"
"No need. Let's meet after I reach ten stars."
"Ah, ten stars."
...
"Huaguo Hundred Schools of Thought."
Ever since deciding to seriously study the great classical works, Huang Yifan took advantage of the summer vacation to visit the school library once again.
Fortunately, Tieshikou Middle School's library didn't close during summer break. And since many students were on vacation, the library was actually livelier than usual.
That day, Huang Yifan found a book on Huaxia's Hundred Schools of Thought in the Tieshikou library.
This book was different from the Hundred Schools of Thought recorded in his previous life. In his past life, there were Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, the School of Diplomacy, and so on. This world had them too. But the figures weren't Confucius, Mencius, Mozi, or Zhuangzi. Instead, they were Zhuzi, Chengzi, Zengzi, Shenzi, Wenzi, Gongsunzi, Zouzi, and others.
Although the philosophers of this world couldn't compare to those of his previous life, and hadn't reached the level of sages like Confucius, Laozi, or Mencius, Huaguo's civilization still spanned thousands of years. The classic works left behind by these thinkers were just as brilliant.
That earlier act of showing off had been a bit over the top, but since he'd already committed to it, he had to see it through. If he wanted to keep it up, then besides studying the classics of the Hundred Schools from his previous life, he also needed to understand the Hundred Schools of this world. No, not just understand them, but study them to a certain depth. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll never be defeated.
"Huh, Huang Yifan, you're at the library too."
Just as he was reading intently, a voice suddenly came from beside him.
Turning around, he saw a girl with a ponytail walking up to him.
"Zhang Huiping, what are you doing here too? Oh, right, when did you start tying your hair up?"
"My mom keeps nagging me, saying I looked like a fake boy before, so I tied it up."
"Oh."
Huang Yifan nodded. "It looks nice."
"What did you say?"
"Uh, I mean, I came to browse around the library today. Didn't expect so many people here. Looks like I'll have to come every day from now on and pretend to be cultured."
"Pretend. Keep pretending."
"I've always been acting in character. Where's the pretending? Oh, right, what about you?"
"Me? I didn't do well on the high school entrance exam. Didn't get into No. 1 High, only got into No. 2. So I came to catch up on my studies."
"Ah, No. 2 High."
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Seems like… seems like I'm also going to No. 2."
"Really? Then we'll be classmates again."
Zhang Huiping stuck out her tongue and said cutely.
"Yeah, looks like it."
Huang Yifan nodded. "Good thing Jiang Weiwei isn't at No. 2."
"Alright, this book's too thick, I haven't finished it. I'm going to take it home to read."
"Mm, I'm about to head out too. Are you coming again tomorrow?"
"Not sure. Depends on whether I finish this book. But basically, I'll be coming often this summer."
"That's good. I'll come too. I'll try to read properly and become a female PhD."
"Don't do that. Female PhDs have a hard time getting married."
"I don't believe that."
"Alright, you'll find out later."
After joking around with Zhang Huiping for a bit, Huang Yifan left the library.
...
[July 25, 2015, AD.
Weather: Sunny.
Mood: Very good.
I didn't expect that after graduation, I'd meet Huang Yifan again in the library.
It feels really nice.
You're still that great talent who keeps pretending and pretending.
And I'm still that shy, timid girl.
But I've grown up too.
I'm not that shy anymore. When I saw you, I even took the initiative to greet you, didn't I?
You said that maybe in the future I could become a female PhD.
A female PhD. I'd never thought about that before.
But now, I think becoming a female PhD is actually pretty good.
At least, when I become a female PhD and meet you again, I won't be that shy anymore, and I'll be qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with you.
Huang Yifan, do you think I'm silly, or stupid, for having thoughts like this?
But no matter what, silly or stupid, I will become a female PhD.
I only hope that on the day I become a female PhD, you'll still appear in my world.]
This is just a little girl's diary.
Most of what's in the diary isn't anything important.
But this page, for a certain girl, pointed the way toward her future.
A blade of grass will always grow up.
And starlight has always been there.
When it grows into a towering tree, perhaps that starlight will bloom for her alone.
==========
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