Please inform them.

Dear readers, thank you for your companionship and support during this time.

However, yesterday I suddenly received a notice from the editor—a most unfortunate message: the theme of this book is too weak, and it’s not suitable to continue writing. Even if I were to force myself to persist, it would only be a waste of my time and energy, yielding no reward.

Indeed, from the very beginning, this has been a solitary book, different from any other novel on Blackstone. Perhaps you have already sensed it. Who, truly, is the protagonist of this story? After reading for so long, you still cannot tell—is this author a novice?

No, I am not a novice. I simply wanted to write a novel centered on the story itself, not on any one protagonist. In my work, every character possesses a soul. Such a novel is like the tales of the Three Kingdoms; in every reader’s heart, there exists a different main character. Some favor Zhuge Liang, others Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu... or Zhao Zilong of Changshan...

Each is a protagonist; the story cannot do without any one of them.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of readers cannot accept such a novel. Among the three names on my fans leaderboard, there is one—“Winter, the Loneliness of Four Seasons.” When I wrote about Han Xue and Xu Lang’s playful banter, this reader replied: “I want to see Zhou Yirong and Han Xue together.”

Why is that? Because, in his or her eyes, Zhou Yirong is the protagonist, and the protagonist should be with the liveliest, most lovable female character who appears most often. That day, I stared at this comment for a long time. Zhou Yirong may be the main character, but Xu Lang has never been a mere supporting role!

In today’s online literature, most readers—including myself—cannot accept seeing our favorite character hurt or unable to attain the best outcome. Yet in my novel, each character is a protagonist, and inevitably, one of them is bound to suffer from time to time. In effect, this means hurting the supporters behind each protagonist—all of you, my dear readers.

And so, fewer and fewer follow the story. After all, we read novels for enjoyment, but if the experience becomes uncomfortable or unsatisfying, why continue to read?

I am sorry... I apologize to the three readers on the fans leaderboard, to those who cast golden diamonds for me every day, and to the remaining twenty-some readers who still follow the story.

Still, life goes on, and the writing must continue. I am currently discussing this book with the editor, requesting to change the title and to delete and republish the content.

In the re-released version, there will be only one male protagonist and, likewise, only one female lead. I will return in no less than two days and no more than five. If you, if any of you, are still willing to support me, I hope you will stay.

Thank you!

With a bow,

Wen Daoming

Night of September 26, 2018