Chapter 183: One point of communication
Chapter 183: A Telepathic Connection
"Oh, I'm here as an attendee." Wang Zixu stood up frankly.
The female teacher pushed up her glasses and nodded: "Oh oh..."
Although she nodded, she didn't quite understand what she heard.
Attending? Didn't he seem very popular with the editors? These literary editors were not the kind of hospitable people who would call on friends in the market. They would try their best to win over famous authors or sponsors - how could he just be an attendee?
Those who attended the meeting had no chance to speak. They came here to listen in and learn about the latest trends in the literary world, but in fact they were just trying to show their support. Usually only media reporters or tabloid editors would sit here. Who would come to listen in? Are they bored?
But Wang Zixu strode to the back row with his head held high as if refreshed, and was about to find an inconspicuous place to hide, but was called over by Ji Shaofei and Fang Hanlin.
"If it weren't for "Get" publishing "Stone Fire", I would have come to attend this seminar. I don't know much about you, a new author. May I ask, Mr. Wang, where did you achieve success before? Where is your main battlefield for publication?"
"I can't really be called a rookie. I can't really be called a rookie. I'm just an ordinary author who's still struggling with the manuscript review process." Wang Zixu has been dealing with writers for a long time, and now he's quite modest, and he can say a lot of nice words.
Fang Hanlin took Wang Zixu aside to ask about his well-being, and Wang Zixu modestly and carefully told them about his situation. Fang Hanlin listened with a smile, and seemed to be more and more satisfied with this author.
Ji Shaofei had no time to interrupt, and after a long period of anxiety, he finally found an opportunity and asked:
"Teacher Wang Zixu, I just heard Teacher Chen Qingluo say that your work was first recommended to Hao Chengliang by Teacher Shi Tonghe. Is that true?"
Hao Chengliang was annoyed by Ji Shaofei's questions before, so he specially found a seat two rows away from them. When he heard Ji Shaofei ask this question, he immediately stood up and found a seat farther away.
If you don't listen, you won't be bothered.
Wang Zixu was silent for a while before he said, "That's true."
"Ah? Then why…"
"Shi Tonghe probably hasn't read my work," said Wang Zixu.
Fang Hanlin and Ji Shaofei exchanged a glance and said, "No wonder he didn't react when I mentioned Fire in the Stone to him before."
Ji Shaofei asked: "Then why did he recommend it?"
Wang Zixu didn't know how to answer for a moment. He certainly couldn't tell Shi Tonghe that he didn't like him.
He had no evidence that Shi Tonghe disliked him. If he said so, he would be accused of judging others by his own mean character; but if he said nothing, he would find it hard to swallow this.
At this moment, Ning Chunyan finally got rid of the entanglement, walked over, and placed her delicate hand on Wang Zixu's shoulder:
"Teacher Fang and Teacher Ji, what are you talking about with our Wang Zixu?"
"'Our family'?" Ji Shaofei raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, don't you know? Wang Zixu is the editor of our magazine New Appreciation."
Ji Shaofei thought he had been stuffed with a mouthful of melon again, and patted his chest and said, "Oh, so that's how it is."
Fang Hanlin smiled and said, "No wonder Xin Shang magazine has been doing so well recently. Our editor also said that Xin Shang has a unique vision in selecting articles. It turns out that not only are there two talented women, Chen and Ning, in charge, but there is also a new talent in charge."
Ning Chunyan said sternly: "You can ask him to write an article, but don't think about poaching him!"
Fang Hanlin smiled and said, "We editors are born knowing how to help others achieve their goals and not take away what others love. We were just talking to him about how Fire in the Stone had such a rough journey, being rejected twice in a row before it was finally published in Get. We are very confused..."
Hearing this, Ning Chunyan deliberately sighed heavily and said, "It would offend people if I tell you about it!"
Fang Hanlin's ears twitched - this is not a figure of speech, Wang Zixu really saw his left ear twitching - he said: "Who did I offend? How could I offend anyone?"
Ji Shaofei glanced at Hao Chengliang and said, "Editors are not afraid of offending people. There are many cases of manuscript rejection, so there is no psychological burden."
Ning Chunyan looked up at the sky and sighed: "In China today, no matter what you do, you will offend people. If you make money, people will scold you. If you become famous, people will scold you. Even if you donate money, people will scold you. How much more so if you publish a magazine?"
After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and said, "That day, Teacher Shi Tonghe organized a party, and I also went to participate. At the banquet, Master Shi forced me to drink, and Wang Zixu wanted to help me block it..."
"Forget it, forget it, stop talking." Wang Zixu stopped her in time, "This has nothing to do with my manuscript being rejected."
Ning Chunyan said: "But..."
"No buts. I don't believe that Teacher Shi Tonghe would have a problem with me because of this matter, and would use some means to prevent the manuscript from being published... This is just groundless speculation, no need to speak it out."
Ning Chunyan seemed to have compromised, and said a little disappointedly: "Okay, if you don't let me say it, then I won't say it."
Fang Hanlin and Ji Shaofei looked at each other. Oh! Got it!
It turned out that it was because Wang Zixu blocked the drinking at the banquet and irritated Shi Tonghe, which led to the manuscripts being rejected one after another!
Ning Chunyan said, "It's getting late. I'll take my seat now."
The prince waved his hand: "Go ahead."
Before she turned and left, she closed one eye and glanced at Wang Zixu coquettishly, which was very sweet.
The two of them cooperated perfectly this time. After knowing each other for so long, they finally managed to get a tacit understanding.
A teacher came over and said to Fang Hanlin, "Teacher Fang, it's almost time to take a seat."
Fang Hanlin turned around and looked at Wang Zixu: "Let's go?"
"No, you go ahead. I was invited to attend." The prince waved his hand.
"You're attending?" Fang Hanlin was a little surprised.
Wang Zixu smiled: "After all, I am unknown and have no right to speak."
Fang Hanlin frowned, understood, and suddenly felt a little angry: "Forget it, then I will chat with you downstairs."
Before, he was a little skeptical whether what Ning Chunyan said was true. Now it seems that Shi Shuqiu and Wang Zixu are both authors from Nanjing University, but they only invited him to attend as an observer. What does this mean?
Although it cannot be said to be wrong, it always makes people feel uncomfortable.
It seems there is a contradiction.
Shi Shuqiu had entered the room a long time ago and had been observing from the side for a long time. When he heard Fang Hanlin say that he was sitting downstairs, he broke out in a cold sweat and went over to say:
"Teacher Fang, please go up and sit down. You will be speaking later. Wouldn't it be too chaotic if you sit down here?"
Fang Hanlin looked at him: "You are..."
"Shi Shuqiu." Wang Zixu pointed at him.
"Oh, you are Shi Shuqiu. You should arrange your own seats for your own seminar. Haha." Fang Hanlin said kindly, but the content of his speech made Shi Shuqiu break out in a hot sweat again. Mixed with the cold sweat from before, he felt very uncomfortable.
Wang Zixu said at the side: "Teacher Fang, you should go up and sit. If you don't go up, they will be confused and have to come and ask questions, which is very troublesome."
Fang Hanlin patted his arm and said, "Has anyone asked you why you are sitting down there?"
"That won't happen. I should have sat down there."
Shi Shuqiu was overwhelmed. He turned to look at Wang Zixu and said, "Wang, Wang brother, how about you also go up and sit down, and give a speech and comment on my work later?"
The teacher at the side said: "That won't work, there's no room."
The prince waved his hands and just smiled.
Fang Hanlin didn't really want to sit downstairs, he just wanted to take this opportunity to test the situation and see how Shi Shuqiu would react. After everyone persuaded him a few more times, he said hello to Wang Zixu, left his contact information, and went to sit upstairs.
Shi Shuqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and looked at Wang Zixu deeply, his worries were still there, and he felt even more like a thorn in his back.
……
Two hours later.
The meeting has adjourned.
Fang Hanlin and Ji Shaofei hurried out of the door. After walking a long way, Ji Shaofei burst out laughing: "Shi Tonghe's calculations went wrong!"
"Well, everyone's evaluation is not as high as expected."
Ji Shaofei blinked and said, "Teacher Fang, what do you think about Wang Zixu's incident?"
Fang Hanlin pointed his finger into the air: "There's definitely something wrong here!"
"Yes!" Ji Shaofei clapped his hands. "I didn't expect that they have such a big conflict. Shi Tonghe is also a famous veteran, but he actually competed with a junior like this. I really... didn't expect it!"
(End of this chapter)