You were asked to write a political intrigue drama, but you wrote "Da Ming 1566".

Parallel universe, on Earth.

"All departments are in position!"

"The host is adjusting his attire, microphone, and in-ear monitors, while the judges are entering and taking their seats one after another."

"The main live streaming line has entered the final debugging stage, and the camera equipment has been thoroughly checked to ensure it is working properly."

"The countdown to the opening ceremony begins—three, two…"

"Let's begin!"

At this moment, the chief director backstage at CCTV's Studio One is methodically coordinating various matters.

Hundreds of staff members simultaneously entered a busy yet orderly work mode, tense yet well-organized. Only when the two program hosts took to the stage one after the other to deliver their opening remarks did the director finally relax a little.

He took off his headphones, handed over the on-site command to the assistant director, picked up his thermos and took a sip of tea. Suddenly remembering something, he asked, "Are there any problems with the contestants? What about the kid who fainted earlier? Has the ambulance arrived? Is he definitely going to forfeit the competition?"

The staff member in charge of coordinating the contestants, who was standing respectfully to the side, immediately responded: "Director, don't worry. He just suffered a bit of heatstroke on his way to the studio. He didn't want to give up his qualification for the competition, and he has recovered now. He won't miss the opportunity to go on stage."

The director breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Don't push yourself. This live broadcast is a huge undertaking; the higher-ups are taking it very seriously. There are at least several million viewers online right now, so we absolutely cannot afford any mistakes." "Understood!"

Meanwhile, in the backstage restroom, Chen Yu washed his face with cold water, which made him a little more awake.

Looking up at himself in the mirror, his fairly handsome face made him smile wryly—how did he end up in another version of himself in a parallel world after waking up from a nap? Transmigration is fine, but this version of himself in a parallel world is anything but simple.

He studied film and television literature at the Kyoto Academy of Dramatic Arts, and most graduates go on to work as screenwriters. He was among the top students in his department and an outstanding graduate. Right after graduation, he participated in the triennial "Creator Competition" without hesitation.

This competition is a household name in China, with extremely high standards and great significance. Its influence and popularity are in no way inferior to the Spring Festival Gala.

The purpose of the [Creator Competition], as its name suggests, is to inject vitality into China's declining film and television industry. It aims to support and revitalize traditional cultural themes with depth and breadth, select and cultivate top-tier young and middle-aged screenwriters, and contribute to future cultural export. Held every three years, the competition has only been held twice so far, yet it has already produced numerous excellent works and achieved remarkable results—not only cultivating many well-known screenwriters, but also, in just six years, giving rise to several critically acclaimed and wildly popular domestic dramas and films, averaging over nine points on Douban.

In a parallel world, I, after several rounds of arduous selection, finally stood out from tens of thousands of contestants.

Today is the quarterfinals, and every contestant is no ordinary person—some are well-known online novelists, some are established screenwriters from overseas, and some are traditional literary writers, all with considerable talent. This puts a lot of pressure on Chen Yu, after all, in his previous life, he was just an ordinary film and television enthusiast.

He had read many scripts, but he had never actually written one.

Standing on such a stage all of a sudden, it would be a lie to say I wasn't nervous.

Even though they were newcomers, who would want to slink away in front of a full audience?

Fortunately, in this life, Chen Yu is a well-known writer in the online literature circle, with solid writing skills.

Chen Yu also fully inherited his memory and writing skills, which put his mind at ease—at least he could write something and avoid embarrassing himself on the spot.

……

As he stared blankly at himself in the mirror, the door was gently pushed open. The staff member in charge of coordinating the contestants poked his head in and nodded to Chen Yu, indicating, "Ready to go on stage."

"Are you alright? Can your body handle the competition?" the other person asked with concern. "If you really can't..." Before they could finish, they were already making a move to call for medical help. Chen Yu quickly waved his hand to interrupt, his tone sincere: "I'm really fine! Director, this is a screenwriting competition held only once every three years. If you give up your qualification, you'll have to wait another three years!"

"Time waits for no one. This opportunity is too important for me. I have a reason to give it my all!" His eyes were burning with determination.

The assistant director was moved by this determination, sighed, and nodded in agreement: "Okay, go ahead."

The staff led him to his studio, explaining as they walked: "The room is spacious, and although the furnishings are simple, they are exquisite."

Inside, there's a reclining sofa chair with a laptop in front of it; a large blackboard hangs on the side wall for jotting down ideas; another wall has a large projection screen that can project the laptop screen in real time—ensuring the judges and audience can see clearly, and the contestants can also check the details themselves. A live-streaming camera with no blind spots is also mounted in the corner, recording the entire process.

After Chen Yu sat down in front of the computer, the staff reported into the microphone: "Contestant number eight has entered the creation room. All contestants are ready. The live broadcast will begin in 15 minutes."

……

Inside the CCTV lobby, host Xiao Sa is giving a passionate opening speech: "Welcome to the 2026 China Media Group Creator Competition!"

"The sixteen young screenwriters who emerged victorious after rounds of selection represent the nation's top talent!"

"This is the most prestigious and influential creative competition in China's film and television industry, and the best stage for emerging screenwriters to showcase their talents!"

"Today, the round of 16 to the quarterfinals officially begins!"

The camera panned across the judges' panel, and Xiao Sa introduced them one by one: "In the final stage, let's get to know our judges—first, the renowned screenwriter Shu Ping, whose representative works include classics like 'Let the Bullets Fly' and 'Devils on the Doorstep'; next, director Zhang Yimou, the creator of 'Raise the Red Lantern' and 'To Live'; then, national first-class actor Chen Daoming; screenwriter Sun Haohui of the 'Qin Empire' series; and Jiang Qitao, whose representative works include 'Emperor Wu of Han,' 'Bright Sword,' and 'The Road to Awakening'—the audience may be a little unfamiliar with his name, but he has always been low-key and pragmatic, while his works are household names!"

"In addition, there is a professional judging panel composed of two hundred well-known domestic screenwriters and directors who will score and comment on the contestants' real-time creation process, helping them stand out!"

……