[ps: To be honest, the next three chapters are a bit drawn out with a lot of theoretical content. Please subscribe cautiously!]
The brother-in-law was still parking, and the excited younger sister was about to barge in with her older sister. Qin Li’s staff quickly stopped them and asked if they had received an invitation, and if they could present it for registration.
"We don't have an invitation, but my brother-in-law does! We'll go in first, and I'll have my brother-in-law show you the invitation later!" the younger sister said nonchalantly.
"We apologize profusely, but due to limited space, each invitation is for one person only and is non-transferable. Family and friends cannot be admitted!" the staff member explained.
"Ah!" The younger sister was clearly very dejected upon hearing this. She then said to her sister, "Sis, I told you brother-in-law's invitation wouldn't be much use. Anyway, we're not that interested in science fiction novels; novels aren't as good as movies. Let's go out and watch a movie instead. Let that annoying brother-in-law go to his meeting alone!"
The older sister said nothing, but the staff members and some of the audience members nearby who overheard this were quite displeased. The staff members were better off; out of professionalism, they didn't dare say much. A spectator standing nearby immediately chimed in, "What do you young girls know about science fiction? Those mushy, lovey-dovey things on TV lack the depth of our science fiction novels!"
"Exactly, young ladies, it's best to watch your words. Also, those TV dramas you speak of, combined, don't even hold a candle to the thought-provoking nature of a single novel by Da Liu!"
"Our science fiction novels are actually the works that most test the depth of human thought and knowledge in this world. An excellent science fiction novel not only needs good writing and a humanistic spirit, but more importantly, it must possess an extremely profound understanding and knowledge of technological development, and be able to write a work that can withstand scrutiny and is technically commendable."
"Just like the imaginary things that appeared in the works of Jules Verne, the greatest science fiction writer, are now realized in the real world, and without a single deviation. This is great science fiction. You can dislike our science fiction, but you can't say our science fiction is inferior to any movie!"
The few people around were probably already very dissatisfied with the current state of science fiction, so they all stepped forward to retort.
However, the young girl was not intimidated by these readers. Instead, her eyes darted, and she retorted unceremoniously, "Since this is an event to select science fiction awards, please tell me, can a work that has won both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award be called a great science fiction work?"
"Naturally, it would be considered so!" everyone replied without hesitation. The Hugo Award and the Nebula Award are the two most prestigious awards in the field of science fiction literature. Winning both awards undoubtedly makes a work a classic of science fiction.
"Alright then, suppose I write a novel where humans in the future, entering the space age and possessing devices such as wormhole travel, superluminal navigation, and warp drives, engage in warfare using all sorts of cold weapons and fighting with their bare bodies. And in this universe, the most valuable thing is not technology, but a type of psychotropic drug that induces delusions in humans, making them believe they have acquired superpowers."
"And the core of the entire novel's story is a chosen savior of destiny!"
"Do you think such a novel can represent the future development of the world, and that the space age it describes is how the future universe will look? Can this be considered a classic science fiction work?"
"Impossible! How could such a work win both the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award? You must be talking nonsense!" the surrounding enthusiasts said with dissatisfaction.
"Uh… this young lady isn't lying. There is indeed such a work, and it is hailed as the greatest science fiction work of the 20th century: 'Dune'," a voice said with a wry smile. The crowd listened, stunned, then turned to see that the speaker was Xiong Li, her face etched with a wry smile.
"Dune?" For any science fiction enthusiast, this name was not unfamiliar. Before this, they had unhesitatingly admired this work, the first to win both the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award simultaneously, believing it to be an extremely great science fiction work.
But after the young lady's words today, they suddenly felt that this novel seemed to be less "science fiction."
"It seems you young lady does know some science fiction knowledge. Then why are you denigrating our science fiction novels!" someone said indignantly.
"No, I'm not interested in science fiction novels. I only know about Dune because I played that trash game back in the day… Although it's the progenitor of real-time strategy games, that game was truly awful!"
Hearing the young girl shift the topic back to games, the faces of these science fiction enthusiasts once again showed expressions of anger mixed with disappointment.
Seeing that the scene was about to devolve into another argument, and with more and more people gathering to watch, Qin Li's expression grew increasingly displeased. She felt that this year's Galaxy Awards might turn out to be the worst Galaxy Awards in history.
Just as the situation was becoming increasingly unmanageable, the brother-in-law, who had been parking, finally appeared. Like her sister, Qin Li also felt that this brother-in-law looked somewhat familiar, though she couldn't tell what kind of face was hidden beneath the sunglasses.
"Brother-in-law, they wouldn't let me in, so I was going to go shopping with Sister. You go in and have fun by yourself!" As soon as she saw her brother-in-law, the younger sister began to act spoiled, her voice making many present swoon.
"Why wouldn't they let you in?" the brother-in-law said with a slight smile. "I remember the invitation said you could bring someone."
"Impossible! The invitation clearly states one vote per person, so you can't bring anyone!" Qin Li remained silent, but the readers who had debated with the younger sister earlier immediately interjected with displeasure.
It wasn't easy for them to get this invitation. They had to be long-time subscribers of "Science Fiction World" for at least 10 consecutive years. Even with this condition, they still had to rely on luck to win a lottery for the qualification to enter the venue. In short, they had all obtained the invitations through great effort, so how could they allow others to be brought in!
"However, this is what my invitation says!" the brother-in-law said with a faint smile, then took out an invitation from his pocket and handed it to Qin Li. "Editor Qin, please take a look. If there's any problem with this invitation, then I'll take them both and leave."
"Hmm… this is…" Qin Li's expression changed instantly upon seeing the invitation. She naturally knew what kind of invitation this was, but she had sent out over a hundred such invitations, and only one had ever been returned.
What's more, when Qin Li held the invitation and saw the name written on it clearly.
"Are you really Huang…" Qin Li's mouth gaped. Before she could utter the name, the brother-in-law, wearing sunglasses, smiled and said, "Authentic."
Initially, Qin Li couldn't even think in that direction, so she hadn't recognized the brother-in-law's identity. But when she saw the name and compared it to her impression, even with the sunglasses, his identity became immediately clear.
So she quickly said, "Mr. Huang, I truly didn't expect you to come. I was actually…"
"Actually, I've always been a reader of Science Fiction World. I'm very happy to receive your invitation!" Huang He said with a smile.
"Yes, please come with me!" Qin Li hurriedly led Huang He and the two girls inside the hotel, leaving the readers at the entrance filled with anger. They all expressed that the magazine Science Fiction World was getting worse and worse, and after changing editors, it had become even more disgusting.
The emotions of the readers at the entrance were naturally of no concern to Huang He. He brought Leng Zhiwen and Leng Zhimeng into Qin Li's room… well, which was also the on-site command center for the entire Galaxy Awards organizing committee.
After leading Huang He into the command center, Qin Li still felt as if she were dreaming. Who would believe it if she told anyone that her Galaxy Awards had managed to invite China's richest man! Facing Huang He, she didn't know what to say.
But she couldn't say nothing, so throughout their conversation, Qin Li became hesitant and incoherent.
It was Huang, the boss, who then smiled and said, "I'm just here to be the award presenter. You don't need to overthink other issues; I simply have a great fondness for science fiction literature!"
"Yes!" Qin Li nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Um, there will be many reporters on site. Do you mind? If you do, I can ask them to leave."
"I've seen plenty of reporters in my life. Why would I ask them to leave? It's just a matter of answering a few questions, and I happen to have a lot to say!" Huang He said with a smile. Qin Li was overjoyed, then made an excuse to have her secretary entertain Huang He, while she, with a pounding heart, ran to the hallway and dialed a friend's number.
"Hello, Reporter Xu, it's me. Where are you now? Hurry and bring your people over!" Qin Li said urgently into the phone.
"Ahem, Editor Qin, please don't pressure me. I'd love to come and support you, but I've already told my director three times. He insists that the news about the child's head getting caught in the door is more important and wants me to take the interview team there. I can't help it!" the reporter said helplessly on the phone.
"I have a mysterious big shot here who will attend our awards ceremony!" Qin Li said quickly.
"Mysterious big shot? Sis, stop joking with me. I'm really busy!" Reporter Xu said.
"Reporter Xu, I'll say this: if you don't come today, I guarantee you'll regret it for the rest of your life. This is absolutely a figure you'll never have the chance to interview in your lifetime. Whether you come or not, I'm going to invite other reporters too!" With that, Qin Li quickly hung up. She still had at least twenty more reporters and media outlets to contact.