The following morning, at the Jinling Olympic Sports Center.

The huge stadium was converted into a temporary examination room.

Thousands of tables and chairs were neatly arranged, creating a spectacular scene resembling a military formation.

Sunlight streamed through the glass of the dome, illuminating the fine dust particles floating in the air.

Lin Que sat in the 12th row by the window.

This is a fantastic location.

It was neither in the most conspicuous first row, nor in a corner that would easily be forgotten by the proctor.

To the left is a huge floor-to-ceiling window, and to the right...

Lin Que looked up and glanced at the camera flashing a red dot diagonally above him.

That's camera position number 3.

He checked it in the backend system last night.

This camera position offers the best view as it switches between wide shots and close-ups.

This is also one of the areas that Gu Changfeng is most likely to pay attention to.

At this moment, in the monitoring room of the Provincial Writers Association,

Gu Changfeng was probably staring at the screen, searching for so-called "good seedlings".

Lin Que took a black ballpoint pen out of his pencil case and twirled it twice on his fingertip.

A sense of absurd dislocation arose spontaneously.

He was being monitored, and the person "monitoring" him was himself.

He could even imagine Gu Changfeng's expression at that moment.

—Holding a teacup, pointing at the screen, and perhaps even exclaiming:

"Professor Jian Shen, what do you think of the overall demeanor of this year's test takers?"

And the account of "Teacher Jian Shen",

It was currently running on Lin Que's computer, which he had left in his hotel room.

It displays an online status, remaining silent as a Buddha.

"The exam has begun. Please begin answering the questions."

A emotionless electronic voice came from the radio.

The rustling sound of the tumbling wheels instantly echoed throughout the stadium, like a flock of birds flapping their wings at the same time.

Lin Que opened the exam paper.

Sure enough, the essay topic consisted of only two words: "Waiting".

Below is a small print introduction:

Some people are waiting for a bus that will never come, while others are waiting for a letter that will never be sent.

Waiting is a gap in time, and also a prelude to hope.

Please write an essay on the topic of "Waiting," in any style except poetry, with a minimum of 800 words.

It's very artistic and very "soothing".

Lin Que did not rush to put pen to paper.

He unscrewed the mineral water bottle and took a sip.

My gaze passed over the back of the person in the front row who was writing furiously, and landed on Zhao Zichen, who was diagonally in front of me.

Zhao Zichen sat up straight and, without even thinking for long, began to list the outline on the draft paper.

Lin Que withdrew his gaze.

Hopefully, what I said last night will make this guy see the light.

Looking at Zhang Ya next to me, her brows were furrowed, and she was biting her pen.

They seem to be struggling to choose which touching story template to select.

Lin Que glanced at the camera again.

If Gu Changfeng were looking at this place right now, what would he see?

A student lost in thought? A struggling student who seems completely lost?

Lin Que's lips curled up slightly.

If you're going to put on an act, then go all the way.

Instead of immediately going into battle mode like the others, he lay on the table.

He pulled his school uniform jacket over his head and struck a classic "I'm sleeping" pose.

...

Provincial Writers Association Monitoring Room.

Gu Changfeng held the purple clay teapot in his hands, his gaze sweeping across the huge television wall.

Dozens of split-screen displays constantly switch between each exam room, showing the real-time situation in each exam room.

"This year's students got right to the topic very quickly."

The education bureau leader standing next to him said with a smile.

“Look at that, only five minutes and he’s already written half a page.”

Gu Changfeng nodded, his expression gentle:

"Their basic skills are quite solid. However, writing fast is not necessarily a good thing."

The topic of 'waiting' may seem simple, but it actually requires time and reflection.

Writing too hastily can easily lead to superficiality.

At this moment, Secretary Jiang Min pointed to a corner of screen number 3:

"Chairman, look at that student."

Gu Changfeng looked in the direction of the finger.

In the picture, a boy wearing a blue and white school uniform is lying on the table.

His head was covered by his clothes, and he remained motionless.

The surrounding candidates were all racing against time.

He, however, seemed perfectly at ease, as if he were at home.

"Is she... asleep?"

The education department leader frowned.

"Which school are you from? Sleeping during such a serious competition?"

Gu Changfeng narrowed his eyes and stared at the figure for a few seconds.

"Move camera position 3 closer."

Zoom in on the image.

The boy was twirling a black pen on the exposed half of his wrist.

Although he was lying face down, the pen spun rapidly between his fingers, like a black flower.

"He's not asleep."

Gu Changfeng smiled.

"He's thinking."

"Does thinking require covering your head?"

"Perhaps he felt that this way of thinking was more inspiring."

Gu Changfeng took a sip of tea.

"That's interesting. If Professor Jian Shen saw this, he'd probably find it amusing too. Jiang Min, check this candidate's information."

Jiang Min operated the tablet for a few moments and quickly retrieved the information.

Lin Que, a second-year high school student at Jiangcheng No.1 High School.

The previous entry in the preliminary round was "A Reply to Heaven".

That's the kid who wrote, "The money's in the card, the love's in the wind."

"oh?"