Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 201 The whole world is waiting for this day (Second update)

(I really don’t want to release Mr. Fang, the big boss, so early... But since he’s been released, I’ll try to make it more exciting... But he’s really hard to beat...)
"Have you heard that Zhang Chao's graduation defense will be broadcast live in two days? That's so exciting!"

Outside the Baicheng campus gate of Xiamen University, the highest institution of learning in Fuhai Province, there is a beautiful beach with gusts of sea breeze, blue sky and clear water. It is a great place for Xiamen University students and XM citizens to relax.

It is already June and the weather is quite hot, so college students like to come here for a walk after class.

Lan Ting and a female classmate were walking barefoot in the fine sand, carrying shoes. The female classmate was curiously sharing with Lan Ting the hottest news in the university circle.

Lan Ting nodded, but didn't respond. This made the female classmate a little anxious, and she said, "Aren't you Zhang Chao's high school classmate? Why don't you ask him for the inside story? Is it necessary to make such a big deal about a graduation thesis defense?"

Lan Ting said in an ambiguous tone: "We only send text messages during the holidays. He is a very busy man now and can't stay at home for two days during the New Year...Besides, Zhang Chao must be very confident about the live broadcast, and the performance will definitely be exciting!"

The louder he spoke, the more he spoke, and it was obvious that he had full confidence in Zhang Chao.

The female classmate "tsk tsk" twice and said, "Everyone says you are Zhang Chao's little fan girl, but you still refuse to admit it. If you let Zhang Chao stand here, he wouldn't dare to say such confidently! Hey, when the time comes, should our literature club organize a group to watch it?"

Lan Ting blushed and paused before saying, "That's right. When has Zhang Chao ever lost face in front of the media? As for watching the live broadcast, I'm not the president. You can ask Xi Zhenglin."

The female classmate laughed and said, "As long as you bring it up, how can Senior Brother Xi disagree? Besides, he will step down next semester. Who else will be the candidate for the new president then, besides you?"

Lan Ting was unhappy when she heard that, and said with a straight face: "Xi Zhenglin is Xi Zhenglin, and I am me. There are many talented people in our Gulang Club, so I have to be the president. If you say that again, I won't copy my notes for you."

The female classmate immediately became anxious upon hearing this, and hurriedly hugged Lan Ting and said coquettishly: "Good Lanlan, I am wrong, okay..."

Lan Ting was laughing and joking with her female classmates, but she felt a little uneasy. Although she had confidence in Zhang Chao, there were too many uncontrollable factors in the live broadcast format. What if Zhang Chao was not in a good condition that day?

After returning to the dormitory, Lan Ting took out her cell phone, opened the address book, and flipped to the number that always made her feel complicated. After thinking for a while, she gritted her teeth and sent a short text message:

【I believe in you, keep going! :-)】

The reply came quickly:

[Thank you. Please rest assured, I will definitely take the high ground! ^_^]

Seeing that he still had a relaxed tone, Lan Ting finally felt relieved. She stared at the text message for a long time before pressing the lock button on her phone.

But soon, Lan Ting turned on her phone again and dialed another familiar number -

"Hello, Shiyu. Have you heard that Zhang Chao's graduation defense will be broadcast live?... Well, you are in Yenching, I think we can..." Naturally, the live broadcast of Zhang Chao's graduation defense affected more than just Lan Ting. It also caused even greater controversy and discussion in the Chinese departments of Nanjing University and Fudan University.

"Is this Zhang Chao forcing you to abdicate?" A student in Wang Binbin's class at Nanjing University's Chinese Department speculated, "He probably thinks that if he keeps broadcasting, you won't dare to ask difficult questions?"

Professor Wang Binbin had just finished teaching a class on "Contemporary Literature" and there was still some time left for free communication with students. A student happened to ask him about his upcoming visit to Yan University to give a graduation defense for Zhang Chao. Before he could answer, another student answered first.

After hearing their classmates' guesses, the students couldn't help but make a noise. One student asked, "Teacher Wang, what tricky questions did you prepare for Zhang Chao?"

Wang Binbin said: "I think that as long as it is within the scope of human knowledge, there are no 'tricky' questions, only insufficiently prepared test takers. I did not make any special preparations when I went to Yanda this time. In fact, I also hope that Zhang Chao can perform well. After all, I praised his novels two years ago!" (See Chapter 30)
Another classmate praised him sarcastically: "You are so magnanimous and don't hold grudges!" Wang Binbin was also not able to stay out of the "Zhang Bai dispute" last time. Although his speech was relatively neutral, the comment section of his blog was flooded with comments by netizens.

Wang Binbin's face turned red, but he had always been a teacher and friend to his students, so he didn't care. He just said gently: "I don't know about Fudan University, but at least I didn't go there to embarrass Zhang Chao. Since Zhang Chao chose this method, he must want to show his style. Being too mediocre is not what he wants.

I think this live broadcast is very meaningful, because it allows everyone to see how Zhang Chao, as a young writer, is academically accomplished. If he performs well, we learn from him; if he performs poorly, we take heed.

So you all have to watch this live broadcast. I will apply to the department head to get a classroom specifically for it and use a projector to broadcast it. Anyone who wants to watch it can come!"

Cheers suddenly broke out in the classroom!
The same cheers also came from the office of a video website called "PPStream". After unremitting efforts, they got the exclusive right to live broadcast Zhang Chao's defense! (Who still remembers PPS?)
The year 2005 is known as the first year of video websites. Unlike Youku and Tudou, which focus on video on demand, PPS uses p2p technology and takes the live broadcast route.

However, the newly started PPS is short of media resources and can only attract users by aggregating content from domestic and foreign TV stations through "rebroadcasting", which naturally poses great risks in terms of copyright.

The exclusive right to live broadcast Zhang Chao's defense meeting is undoubtedly an opportunity to achieve rapid expansion. Zhang Chao's topicality and traffic physique have long been beyond proof.

After the cheers, CEO Xu Weifeng ordered: "Hong Yu, you lead people to start testing the live broadcast equipment, and make sure to present the best picture effect;

Lei Liang, our current servers may not be enough by then, and it will be too late to buy more. Let’s rent some from Amazon right away…

The advertising team must also keep up, taking advantage of every opportunity, but not affecting the viewing experience...Everyone works hard, whether our PPS can break through the circle in one fell swoop depends on the success of this live broadcast! "

Traditional media were certainly not absent. Whether it was the China Youth Daily and Reading Newspaper, which had a good relationship with Zhang Chao, or the Southern Metropolis Daily and New Yanjing News, with which they had an "average" relationship, they all published the news that Zhang Chao would be conducting a live defense.

The media responsible for the live broadcast was CCTV10, which focuses on science and education. For Zhang Chao, this channel broke the precedent of never broadcasting live.

The entire university circle, the literary world, and even the media world have never paid so much attention to the graduation of such a student!

Amid everyone's anticipation, June 2006, 6, Zhang Chao's defense day, arrived quietly.

(There is more in the evening.)
(End of this chapter)