Lin Yu had indeed read plenty of novels in his past life.
But most of them were male-oriented web novels.
When it came to works by female authors, his understanding was superficial at best—he had barely skimmed the surface.
He originally thought his knowledge would be more than enough to bluff his way through tutoring a newbie.
But now…
It seemed woefully inadequate!
Instead of teaching Tang Yimian a lesson, he was the one getting schooled?
Was his shallow understanding about to be completely overturned by her innate talent for web novels?
No way!
Had all those novels been for nothing? Would his mission end in failure?
Besides, he was a "Chosen One" with a system!
This tiny apartment was a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
Every seemingly ordinary girl here possessed bizarre and unique talents.
In the system, these extraordinary abilities had a collective name…
Skills!
And as long as it was a skill…
He could [use their techniques and powers to prove his supremacy]!
[Ghost Hand Talisman]—activate!
With a mere thought, Lin Yu unleashed the Ghost Hand Talisman on Tang Yimian…
[Ding!]
[The Nullification Art was triggered. Ghost Hand Talisman automatically dispelled.]
Lin Yu: "!!!"
Seriously?!
She can nullify talismans too?!
What kind of broken skill is this?!
Who’s the real protagonist here?!
This is ridiculous!
What kind of toxic plot hole is this? Couldn’t the system at least patch this bug?!
Can’t fight her, can’t steal from her!
That leaves only one path to obtain her skill, huh?
Tang Yimian noticed Lin Yu’s shifting expression.
Thinking she must have said something wrong during their discussion, she nervously rambled,
"Teacher Lin, I don’t have much experience. I just picked up some terms from novels. If I made any mistakes, please correct me directly. I can handle criticism—no matter how harsh..."
She launched into another long-winded monologue.
Lin Yu cut her off again:
"Let me ask you—roughly how many web novels have you read?"
Tang Yimian answered immediately:
"Counting only full-length web novels, 863 in total."
Lin Yu nodded, then couldn’t help but laugh.
When you’re speechless, sometimes laughter is the only response.
Not "a few hundred," not "over 800."
No, it was a precise 863!
She probably even revisits them, takes notes on memorable lines, writes reflections…
A reading count measured in hundreds of millions of words.
If Lin Yu dug any deeper, wouldn’t he be exposed instantly?
No choice now.
Time to pull out his trump card—exploiting her one weakness: lack of confidence!
He had to leverage his "teacher" status to the fullest, deploying the classic corporate tactic of superiors dealing with overqualified newcomers.
First move:
When unsure, speak vaguely and let subordinates interpret your intentions.
"Good. With that reading foundation, you can certainly try writing web novels."
"Let’s get to the main point…"
"First, what’s the most crucial step in writing a female-oriented novel?"
(Scratch scratch scratch…)
"Naturally, it’s identifying that key step, then using your reading experience and imagination to solve it!"
(Scratch scratch scratch… Huh?)
Tang Yimian: "!!!"
As she took notes, a strange sense of déjà vu hit her.
It felt like… she wasn’t sitting beside Lin Yu, but the school principal instead!
The sheer authority left her dazed.
Yet, she couldn’t find fault—it even sounded profound.
Successful people probably talk like this, right?
Seeing her stunned, Lin Yu asked, "Do you understand? I kept it straightforward."
Tang Yimian stammered, "Y-yes… very straightforward."
Admitting confusion now would make her seem incompetent.
A web novel expert’s words clearly weren’t meant to be easily grasped.
If she could understand effortlessly, wouldn’t she be an expert too?
She needed to work harder!
Second move:
Delegate tasks you don’t understand to those who do, then take credit for their work.
"Take your novel as an example. What was your primary focus when you started?"
Tang Yimian nibbled her pen. "The core premise—I wanted to write about a woman reborn as a CEO’s wife."
Lin Yu: "Plenty of novels use that trope. What makes yours stand out?"
Tang Yimian: "My unique twists—like how the heroine’s personality clashes with her new environment… (detailed explanation)"
Lin Yu listened, leaning on the table.
He nodded, then clicked his tongue.
"About 60% correct. I’ll elaborate—write this down."
Tang Yimian’s eyes sparkled as she switched to stenographer mode.
"How to write a successful novel?"
"First, the story itself is the soul of the work."
(Scratch scratch scratch…)
"Second, conflict and tension are essential. Master tropes, foreshadowing, and hooks to elevate mundane plots."
(Scratch scratch scratch…)
"Third, if your skill allows, emphasize character depth. Distinctive personas are the best bonus."
(Scratch scratch scratch…)
"Lastly, don’t obsess over market trends. Your story is a unique treasure—have confidence!"
Tang Yimian: "!!!"
This was brilliant.
She truly lacked self-assurance.
Despite writing so much, she’d never dared to publish.
Who knew…
Today, in this very apartment, she’d meet her guiding mentor.
[Ding!]
[A masterclass performance! Such professional guidance moved even the Elder of the Transmission Hall!]
[Reward: 20 Spirit Stones.]
Lin Yu: "Was that clear enough?"
Tang Yimian: "Extremely clear! Absolutely!"
Lin Yu: "Did you learn something?"
Tang Yimian: "So much! Thank you, Teacher Lin."
Lin Yu’s inner thoughts:
Good, good.
Progress is smooth.
Thankfully, his senior’s talent carried him.
The essentials he summarized from her ramblings were indeed the keys to a hit novel!
But this wasn’t enough yet.
These were just abstract concepts—no practical application.
Now…
Time for the ultimate workplace manipulation tactic.
The final trump card, known as—
The Art of Baffling Reinterpretation!
…
(Second chapter today. More to come—stay tuned and show your support!)
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
