Chapter 159: So Many Things, Always Urgent

Chapter 159: So Many Things, Always Urgent

Chapter 159: So Many Things, Always Urgent

This unexpected face-to-face encounter made Prince Xu feel dizzy for a moment, and he felt the blood rushing to his face.

Unexpectedly, Chen Qingluo's face at the door was also red. The two looked at each other. Time froze for a full ten seconds before Wang Zixu woke up from his dream.

"Ah, it's you."

"Hmm." Chen Qingluo said in a very small voice through her nose, "Let me in. A good dog doesn't block the road."

Wang Zixu suddenly went back to ten years ago and found himself in that bustling classroom, with his legs spread apart, like a flood dam, blocking the distance between the two tables.

"A good dog doesn't block the road, let me in!"

At that time, Chen Qingluo said the same thing.

He will then say, you are so awesome, you jumped over my head.

So Chen Qingluo said, "I'm not Liu Xiang, how can I jump over there? Come on, lower your head and I'll step over you."

The world was turned upside down, time went backwards, and Wang Zixu returned to the gray magazine office, standing in front of Chen Qingluo, unable to utter a word.

If he were still young, he could say teasing words to her without shame, but now that he is thirty years old, it seems too childish to say such words.

He moved away clumsily, and Chen Qingluo walked past him proudly.

Wang Zixu held out the manuscript in his hand: "Your new work?"

"Ah."

Chen Qingluo took the manuscript, smoothed her skirt, and sat down at the editor-in-chief's desk, her back straight as hell.

"It's very well written." Wang Zixu scratched his face a little embarrassedly, "I haven't noticed it yet. Your writing style is so easy to recognize. Logically, I should be able to tell it at a glance."

Chen Qingluo looked at him and said, "How many of my books have you read to recognize my writing style?"

“I’ve seen them all.”

"Ok?"

"I've read everything you've published," Wang Zixu said. "There may be some short stories that were published somewhere I didn't know about. I've read all the novels and short story collections that were published as long as they were published as books."

Chen Qingluo pursed her lips and wanted to smile: "Well, thank you for the expense. Why didn't you tell me earlier? If you had told me earlier, I would have sent you a signed book."

Wang Zixu said: "Earlier, I didn't know you still remembered me."

He regretted it after he finished speaking. Chen Qingluo stopped talking, and he stopped talking too.

For both of them, this is a topic that cannot be touched upon.

Chen Qingluo cleared her throat in a rather dramatic way, as if to hide her embarrassment. After a while, she asked, "I seem to have heard that there is such a thing, but I'm not sure - you recently wrote a new work, are you going to enter it in a competition?"

Wang Zixu nodded: "Yes, I plan to enter it for the Feishi Literature Award."

"Oh, this award didn't exist when I became famous, so I don't have much impression of it."

Wang Zixu: “…”

Chen Qingluo glanced at him: "I am a little interested, can you show me the manuscript?"

Wang Zixu said, "The manuscripts are too many and too heavy. I didn't bring any paper copies. Will you come tomorrow? If you do, I'll bring them to you."

"No, but you brought the electronic version, right?"

"Oh, I brought it."

"Give it to me." Chen Qingluo stretched out her hand and showed him her lovely palm lines.

Wang Zixu sent the manuscript via email, and Chen Qingluo downloaded it and started reading without saying a word. Wang Zixu immediately broke into a sweat.

He thought Chen Qingluo was just being polite when she said she wanted to see it, but he didn't expect her to act so swiftly and decisively and execute him immediately. This made him feel a little painful, as if he was being publicly executed.

Chen Qingluo's eyes swept across the room, reading very seriously. Only the sound of birds could be heard in the room, but no human voices.

Wang Zixu sat there in a daze. He suddenly felt very happy. Then he suddenly thought that this seemed to be the first time in his life that he and Chen Qingluo were alone in a space.

He savored this peaceful moment for a while. There was a noise at the door and Ning Chunyan pushed it open. The first thing she saw was him. She said, "Wow, you're here so early again." Then she saw Chen Qingluo and said even louder, "Wow! You're here too!"

Ning Chunyan came over, stood beside Chen Qingluo like a little bird, and asked softly, "Whose manuscript are you reading?"

Chen Qingluo naturally said nothing, and Wang Zixu kindly answered for her: "Read my manuscript."

"She's reading your Chinese version of One Hundred Years of Solitude?"

"Ah."

"Oh, oh, have you handed your manuscript to the editor of Ancient City? Why haven't you heard from him in such a long time?"

Ning Chunyan's unintentional words triggered Wang Zixu's worries: "I handed it in, but they kept telling me that it was still under review, or they told me to wait for news. Sigh."

Wang Zixu sighed, and Ning Chunyan also became anxious. He frowned and said, "Oh no, could this really be a trap set by Shi Tonghe?"

Wang Zixu shook his head. "I thought so at first, but I later checked with the editor Hao who was in contact with me. He is really a well-known editor. He patted his chest and guaranteed that it would be published. Shi Tonghe specifically mobilized his connections just to mess with me. Is he crazy? Wouldn't he be laughed at if it gets out?"

Ning Chunyan said: "I also know Mr. Hao, he is indeed very famous. However, this is the truth, but..."

Wang Zixu added, "Besides, what's the point of him holding my manuscript? The industry rule is that you can't submit the same manuscript to more than one publication within a month. If he doesn't reply, I will submit it to another publication. I have the right to do so."

Ning Chunyan said, "But if a month really passes, your Feishi deadline will be approaching, and time will be very tight."

"Of course, this is just the worst-case scenario. I can't really wait for a month."

Ning Chunyan frowned and thought for a while, then counted on his fingers and said, "But this doesn't make sense. Look, Shi Tonghe made the announcement. If he really wanted to recommend it, why would Ancient City take so long to make it happen without giving a definite answer?"

Wang Zixu raised his head and thought, indeed. Anyway, he couldn't figure out what they wanted to do.

Ning Chunyan slapped his thigh and said, "Oh no! Could it be that they got your manuscript and wanted to plagiarize it?"

"How dare they!" Chen Qingluo, who had been reading a book seriously, suddenly spoke up. "Copyright is so strict now. If they dare to plagiarize, we will go to court and ruin their reputation."

Wang Zixu said: "I have three versions of my manuscript, all sealed and mailed to myself. There are also email exchanges with timestamps. If they want to plagiarize, I have enough evidence."

Ning Chunyan felt a little relieved: "I didn't expect you still have some sense of self-protection."

"Defenses can not do without."

Chen Qingluo finally broke free from the computer screen and said to them with a frown:

"I've finished reading the first part. This quality is more than enough for "Ancient City". It's impossible that there's no response for so long. There must be some off-site factors that are holding them up." Ning Chunyan looked at Chen Qingluo, feeling a sense of admiration.

Whenever there is such an occasion, Chen Qingluo can always give her opinions with certainty, and her opinions are always based on the quality of the literature itself, which is very convincing.

Chen Qingluo said to Wang Zixu in a commanding tone: "Tell me in detail what happened when you met Hao Bian. What did you say, what was his expression, tell me every detail carefully."

Wang Zixu thought for a while and then began to speak.

If he was asked to do anything else, he really couldn't do it. The only thing he had was a good memory, so he told the story in detail about what happened that day.

He first started by talking about how editor Hao was late, and how he ordered the dishes (Chen Qingluo curled her lips in disdain, thinking that this foodie might as well die of overeating), and then talked about how he spoke after reading his own manuscript.

At this point, Chen Qingluo frowned: "He said 'Are you still worried about publishing?' Are you sure he used a rhetorical question?"

Wang Zixu said: "Yes, what's wrong?"

Chen Qingluo said: "Isn't this still uncertain?"

Wang Zixu said: "I asked him whether it could be published, and he said, 'Since Chairman Shi recommended it, are you still worried about publishing it?' From the context, it seems that he has guaranteed it."

Chen Qingluo sighed, as if she disliked his naivety:
"In the future, if you encounter a similar situation, whenever the other party responds to you with a rhetorical question, a hint, or an indirect response, you must ask him what the answer is. You must force him to make a statement to guarantee it, otherwise it will not count."

Wang Zixu was stunned: "Is it that serious?"

"It's really that serious," Chen Qingluo shook her head and sighed, "This is all my own fault, and the lesson I learned through blood and tears. Forget it, I won't say more."

Wang Zixu really wanted to ask her what happened, but it was not the right time, so he kept his mouth shut.

"In short, this doesn't guarantee that you can publish it. At least this point is doubtful. Please continue."

Wang Zixu talked about the content of their conversation again. Chen Qingluo frowned again and said, "From this point of view, the situation of Ancient City is getting worse and worse."

Wang Zixu asked: "Why do you think so?"

"He said that they generally don't accept submissions now, they only commission articles," Chen Qingluo said, "This is an unhealthy behavior of the magazine!"

"why?"

"Literary magazines need to establish a flesh-and-blood connection between editors and readers, and have emotional communication. Submissions from authors are also a form of communication. They don't read submissions, saying that the quality of submissions is too low. On the one hand, it is also because the manuscripts they publish do not touch their readers, and a two-way circulation is not established. They cut off the connection with readers in this way, and all the manuscripts are commissioned. How can it operate healthily?"

Wang Zixu nodded: "But they have a lot of commissions, so maybe the space is really tight."

Chen Qingluo still shook her head: "The shortage of space is not a reason to ignore submissions. Moreover, all submissions are commissioned. In the short term, the quality of the articles is high, but in the long run, the readership will shrink more and more, and finally the readers will put it aside and isolate themselves."

After saying that, Chen Qingluo stared at Wang Zixu and said, "Literature that no one appreciates is pathetic. Literature only has vitality if people like to read it."

Wang Zixu sat deeper in his chair: "Now, should I call Mr. Hao again to ask? Or should I confront him?"

Chen Qingluo took out her cell phone: "Let me ask."

Ning Chunyan was a little worried: "Would you mind joining in?"

"It's okay. I came to ask. I have experience dealing with them."

Chen Qingluo already had Hao Bian’s phone number, and after she dialed it, the person on the other end picked up the call quickly.

"Hello, um, it's me. Hello, hello... I heard that your son's birthday is coming up, so I called to say hello. What? Your son's birthday half a year ago? What? You gave birth to a daughter instead of a son? Oh, it seems I made a mistake... Oh, it's okay. Committed article? I don't have the manuscript on hand yet..."

Wang Zixu and Ning Chunyan were listening silently at the side. When they heard this, they both covered their faces at the same time.

Just when they thought Chen Qingluo was about to fail, she suddenly changed the subject:
"By the way, I want to ask about an acquaintance of mine. I heard that he recently submitted a manuscript to you. Um, I want to know how his manuscript went?"

At this point, Chen Qingluo quietly put down her phone and turned on the speakerphone. Hao Bian's voice came from the other end of the phone:

"Which friend of yours?"

Chen Qingluo said, "Well, not a friend, but just someone I know. I heard that his manuscript was highly praised in the small circle, but I can't see it no matter what, so I wanted to ask you."

Editor Hao's voice sounded somewhat alert: "We have a lot of manuscripts recently. What are they called?"

"Wang Zixu."

"Oh, him." Hao Bian said in a surprised voice on the other end of the phone, "So you know him? Isn't he a newly-minted author? Is he worthy of your concern?"

Chen Qingluo said: "It has nothing to do with his qualifications. Many people I know have praised his manuscript. So I became a little curious."

Editor Hao said: "We are still reviewing that manuscript."

Chen Qingluo asked, "It's still under review? I heard that Teacher Shi Tonghe has recommended it. Why is it taking so long?"

Editor Hao asked, "Who told your teacher Shi Tonghe that he recommended it?"

Chen Qingluo looked at the two of them and said, "He said it himself."

Editor Hao sighed, "It's a complicated matter. This manuscript was indeed recommended by Professor Shi Tonghe, but after I got the manuscript, he said that this manuscript must be strictly reviewed, regardless of his personal feelings. The more detailed the review, the better. So it's not easy to publish the manuscript now."

Chen Qingluo frowned tightly, "Review? The manuscript needs to be published before the end of Feishi. You should give me a definite answer whether it will be approved or not, otherwise it will delay things."

Hao Bian's voice became suspicious: "Teacher Chen, could it be that Prince Xu asked you to find out?"

Chen Qingluo sat up straight: "Editor Hao, I think you should communicate more with the author and point out what needs to be changed. Ask him to make the changes quickly. If it is delayed for a long time, it will affect the rhythm of others."

Hao Bian's voice became cold and hard: "Teacher Chen, I don't know if Wang Zixu asked you to ask this, but no matter it's him or you, I have to say that we have our own work process."

Chen Qingluo said: "But your work process is also to help authors write better works!"

Editor Hao simply said, "Teacher Chen, if that's the case, then we can only reject the manuscript."

Wang Zixu and Ning Chunyan stared at her nervously.

Chen Qingluo hesitated for a moment and said, "Editor Hao, if you want to reject the manuscript, you need to give me a reasonable reason, right?"

Editor Hao said: "Many people in our editorial department have read and reviewed Wang Zixu's article. It is very long and many people have not finished reading it. Let me tell you our feedback.

"Our feedback is that this article did not win over all of us and caused a lot of controversy. Some people said it was good, while others disagreed."

The prince was humbly nervous.

Chen Qingluo looked very unconvinced: "What about your own judgment?"

"My judgment is that it has not yet reached the standard for long-form publication," said Hao. "It would be very difficult to publish it."

Chen Qingluo was anxious: "Can you read a book?"

(End of this chapter)