Chapter 66: A long-overdue solo chapter to say some embarrassing things

Yesterday, I discovered that this book could no longer be found on the second round of recommendations, and after repeatedly confirming it, I cautiously went to ask the editor.

I was terrified that I had made a mistake, so I asked many people, and only after they also couldn't see it did I go to him.

Then the editor told me that Qidian now has a new algorithm for recommendations, and the operations team said my performance wasn't good enough, so they eliminated me.

From the second round to the third round, the promotion failed.

It was very sudden, without the slightest warning.

A second ago, I was still passionately typing away, preparing today's update, planning to get a good night's sleep early to recover my health.

The next second, I suddenly received a notice of critical illness.

To be honest... I don't understand.

This book of mine is currently in the top ten of new Xianxia books and has also entered the top one hundred of the overall new book list; when everything was developing for the better, how could it not even pass the second round?

I personally believe there is no problem.

Looking at the follow-read numbers, this book has only been on two recommendations, but the follow-read is now stable at four or five hundred, which is much better than my last book.

Based on past experience, it could at least be stable until after the third round of Xianxia recommendations; the fourth round is hard to say.

I was already very content.

So I continued to work hard, hoping to let more people see it, hoping not to let everyone down.

Twenty-one days since publishing, I have updated 6,500 words daily without missing a single day, even when I traveled out of town.

I didn't go out to do the things one should do on a trip; instead, I huddled in the hotel writing from night until day, and only after I finished did I hurriedly take a quick look at a museum before leaving.

I am not reconciled to this.

But now Qidian just has a new algorithm.

It is roughly three points:

Conversion, retention, and follow-read.

1. Conversion: People who click because of the recommendation.

2. Retention: People who click in and see the tenth chapter.

3. Follow-read: The number of effective paying users one day after the latest chapter is updated.

Among these three points, my follow-read is sufficient, and my retention also meets the standard.

The only problem is that the conversion rate is not high enough, so they eliminated me.

This new algorithm has been out for less than a month, with no notification, and no one understands it.

I personally believe this book is much better than the last one, and I am very happy writing it myself.

I am very happy.

Dreaming dreams of the future, wanting to use the pen in my hand to create a better life.

But now the dream has awakened.

I was slapped hard in the face, kicked off the bed, and fell face-down on the ground.

Bloodied and bruised.

This book is beyond saving.

I was like a walking corpse all last night, not understanding why such a thing could happen.

Last night was late, and I was worried my emotions would be too extreme, so I chose to think about it this morning.

I slept at two and got up around six, sitting on the bed thinking repeatedly.

Now there are roughly three paths before me.

1. Cut the book.

Clean and simple, end it all, become a "eunuch," and then prepare a new book to fight again.

2. Wait for the next recommendation.

There is no recommendation this week; I have to wait at least 11 days for the next week's second-round revival match, and the outcome might not even lead to the third round.

3. Go live on the first of next month.

I am already at 130,000 words, and going live on the first of next month will mean about 150,000 to 160,000 words, which is just about enough for the minimum level to go live.

This method is also the fastest way to get money and will determine the future life or death of this book.

After repeated thinking, I think I might choose to go live next month.

I don't want to cut the book; I am not convinced, and I am not willing to be a "eunuch."

And waiting for recommendations is just too painful; I can't gamble anymore...

If I go live on the first of next month, regardless of how many first-subscriptions I get, I want to see what level the average subscription can reach after a month of updates.

With over four hundred follow-reads now, how many first-subscriptions can I get?

I don't know, and I don't dare to think.

My mood right now is really very low, and it's hard to say anything heroic.

I am a person, a living, breathing person.

This book is an attempt of mine, a small indulgence for myself.

I resigned.

Some readers might know that I also said at the end of my last book that I resigned from my previous company and am now unemployed at home.

During this time when my future is uncertain, I want to try writing to see if I can make a living from it.

I just don't want to go far away from my family to work abroad; I don't like that kind of life.

But the drudgery before me makes it impossible for me to stop and properly enjoy life.

I can only move forward.

Forward.

Forward again.

And now, I have likely already failed.

I can only struggle one last time.

After this book goes live, I will do my best to update for a month, see if the average subscription count can secure a recommendation, and see if I can defy Heaven and change my fate.

If I can, this book can continue to be written.

If I cannot, then I can only speed up the ending; it might be a million words, or it might be less.

I am not who I was when I had a job; I can no longer sustain writing in isolation.

Therefore, I say these are some shameful, disheartening words.

Even though my Heart is unwilling to give up.

I am still unwilling to bow my head and admit defeat without trying.

I am just stubborn and do not want to turn back.

Here, I earnestly implore everyone who sees this to contribute a first subscription on the first of next month; it is truly very important for this book and for me.

If you think this book is good but want to stockpile chapters before reading, please be sure to turn on automatic subscription; only then will it not affect the average subscription count, otherwise this book will surely die.

I have been writing books for about two years now.

One book completed at 1.1 million words, one book completed at 1.5 million words; both met with premature ends, but in the end, I forced myself to finish telling the stories even without money.

Perhaps I really lack the talent to make a living at this, but I have truly worked very hard.

I have integrity, and I have diligence.

But it seems I really have no luck; every time I encounter a new situation, every time I am just a little bit short...

Really just a little bit.

Time and again I lift my head, time and again I am struck down.

I want to cry, but I cannot.

Because the sorrow and indignation in my Heart are hard to calm.

Tossing and turning, I thought of a poem I used to like.

"Wild Song" by Li He of the Tang Dynasty

Crow-feathered arrows and mulberry bows, I look up to Heaven and shoot down the wild goose carrying a reed.

In hempen clothes and a black cloak, I charge against the north wind, singing in the fields late in the day with wine.

A man may be bent by poverty, but his Heart is not poor; I resent the Lord of Heaven for the inequality of withering and flourishing.

The cold wind turns again into the Willow of spring, and soon every branch will be veiled in mist.

I hope I can truly survive the harsh winter and wait for the spring after the wind and snow.

I will consider changing the book title in a few days; it might be a new title with a feel like "Fox Says, Why Would Father Harm You?", "I Beg You, Be a Human!", or "This Fox Immortal Is Too Unhuman".

For these next few days, I will change to daily updates of 4,000 words, and keep the rest as a buffer for the day it goes live; after it goes live, I will resume daily updates of 6,000 or even 8,000 words.

If the first subscription data is decent, I want to try updating 10,000 words a day for a month to see if I can save it.

This is my final effort.

Finally, I thank you all once again for your partiality.

Thank you for accompanying me to this point, and I hope you can continue to walk with me.

Please give me some more support.

Thank you.

(End of chapter)