Chapter 386: Full-Time Editor
Having made up her mind to write a new book, Yu Linna immediately started working on the setting. And so, dorm 383 soon saw the familiar Yu Linna again, the Yu Linna who would be typing at her computer desk whenever she had free time. She was like she had been when she had just started university, always working tirelessly, her mind filled with who knows what, always able to write wonderful things.
Because Xiao Yanhan was also serializing a manga, and had to balance her classes and homework every day, she had naturally lived a busy life just like Yu Linna. Fang Jiangning was a little better off, but not by much. She had to go to the site to commentate on professional competitions every week, and used her other time to stream and make videos, which was also quite difficult. All at once, the three of them in the dorm had become busy people.
Lan Ranyan seemed to be quite relaxed, but she wasn’t idle either. She was doing her homework every day, and also studying professional-related knowledge online by herself. It was said that she was also planning to participate in a national professional competition, and she looked full of energy.
When Su Ziyan and Bai Ya came to dorm 383 to visit, they saw that the three of them were all busy with their own things. Everyone had their own ideas, and no one was playing. Influenced by their atmosphere, Bai Ya and Su Ziyan suddenly felt that they seemed to be just messing around.
“Zi-Shion-sensei, are you busy?”
Su Ziyan timidly went up and touched the working Yu Linna. Yu Linna had no choice but to stop for a moment and push her manuscript to the side.
“Is something the matter?”
“Eh… this, Shion-sensei, can you give me an autograph?”
“That’s no problem. You just have to say so.”
“Um, I’ve already told my classmates before that you are Shion-sensei.”
“It’s fine if you’ve said it. I don’t need to hide it now.”
“No, the other party didn’t believe me at all.”
“…I understand.”
After signing her name and giving it to Su Ziyan, Yu Linna continued to draw her manuscript. She was about to finish the character design, and at that time, when the novel’s manuscript was finished, the illustrations could also be handed in together. Su Ziyan looked at the character design of the female protagonist and couldn’t help but be attracted.
That was a very cute girl, with her hair in a ponytail, wearing a hanfu, a Tang knife at her waist, a cold expression on her face, killing without blinking, as bloodthirsty as a demon. Such a cute girl was actually a great demon who killed like flies. There was a kind of contrasting moe in it. Su Ziyan liked it very much.
“Is this the female protagonist?”
“Mmm, to be precise, it’s the female protagonist before her amnesia, the chief assassin, Jing Xiaoye.”
“What kind of story are you planning to write?”
“It’s a secret. If you want to know, buy three copies to support me when the book is released.”
Yu Linna said jokingly.
Su Ziyan actually took it seriously. She decided that on the day of the release, she would definitely buy three copies to support her. Not only was she her classmate, but she was also the idol she had once been a fan of. For her idol, she had to repay her no matter what.
But come to think of it, she was also quite a failure. She had never thought that Shion-sensei was actually her classmate. She had even treated her as a little sister and had even fed her a lot of snacks. Thinking about it now, she really wanted to kill herself.
But now it was different. She had to support this Shion-sensei!
“It would be great if it could be successful.”
Yu Linna murmured to herself.
Ever since Ballad of the Enchantress had ended, she had almost no work to show for. Zixuan and the Paper Airplane had continued to be serialized with a tenacious attitude, but this work could not accompany her for a lifetime. There would be a day when it would end.
If she did not create a new field, she could only be eliminated. She was very clear on this point.
…
On the weekend, Xiao Yanhan went to the studio to draw her manga and was not in the dorm. Fang Jiangning was going to commentate on a competition and was also not there. Yu Linna wanted to find a different place to write her manuscript and had also gone home. Lan Ranyan had no choice but to stay in the dorm, bored, thinking that maybe she should just go to the dorm next door to find someone to play with.
Returning to her long-abandoned home, Yu Linna cleaned up a bit and then continued to write her manuscript. She had already drawn the character designs. She would draw the illustrations after she had finished writing the manuscript. Now she had to start writing the first chapter of the manuscript.
“Alright, it’s time to get to work.”
After a long time, Yu Linna was working in her own room, writing familiar Chinese, continuously inputting Chinese characters on the computer screen. Before, when she was in Japan, she had been writing a script in Japanese every day, revising it again and again. It had almost gotten to the point where she wanted to vomit at the sight of Japanese, but it was also thanks to this that her Japanese had improved a lot. Now that she was looking at the familiar Chinese again, she felt as if she had returned to the days when she had first started writing novels.
Her fingers danced on the keyboard. In the room, there was only a light rhythm, and the sound of tapping.
At about noon, Chen Xi came over. She came in, looked at her work state, and then simply looked at her character designs, pondering in her heart how big the market for this theme was.
“Sister Chen, have some tea. My new story, what do you think?”
Yu Linna served Chen Xi tea and snacks, and at the same time asked about her novel. Because her novel had just started, and the drawings were only character designs, Chen Xi couldn’t see much from them.
But from her experience as an editor, she didn’t think this theme could be a hit.
“As an editor, I don’t think a theme about a female assassin will be loved by the audience, nor do I think a story about a girl with amnesia can be attractive.”
“That’s true…”
Yu Linna was a little disappointed, but there was nothing to be done about it. To rashly give up the love stories and family stories she was best at, and to write a theme that no one had ever written before, it was only natural not to be optimistic about it.
But she couldn’t just give up like this. During those days in Japan, she had gained a lot, and had recognized her own strength and shortcomings. If she didn’t make a change, she would be eliminated by this era.
“But,” Chen Xi changed the subject.
“From my personal standpoint, I hope your work can be successful. After all, you’ve also worked very hard.”
She had always wanted to say this, and today she had finally said it.
Chen Xi’s and Yu Linna’s acquaintance could be said to be very unexpected. It was just an accidental meeting. At that time, it was the first time Yu Linna had participated in the national singer competition and had lost. Chen Xi had very kindly introduced her to be an extra, giving her a temporary income. After that, she had signed with Wenqing, become a writer under them, and become a novelist, which was also all sorts of accidents.
But Chen Xi had always taken good care of her, giving her almost all the good things. Even for Ballad of the Enchantress, she had tried hard to fight for a chance for her, which was how she had won the championship of the Wenqing New Talent Award. Including the spot for this trip to the Japan exchange meeting, it was also Chen Xi who had fought for it for her. If it weren’t for going to Japan, Yu Linna would still be lost now.
“Sister Chen, thank you.”
“If you want to thank me, then write the book a little better and let the sales go up. I’m very much looking forward to your return, in a brand new attitude.”
Yes, a brand new attitude.
The former Shion-sensei was very strong and amazing. She had once surpassed Air-sensei, and her popularity was even higher than the Qidian author, Lan Shao’s great god. Although she hadn’t sat in the position of Wenqing’s number one author for very long before she had fallen, the people who were at that time would not forget that there was such a person, who was clearly a writer but whose popularity was ridiculously high, whose heat was higher than that of the popular celebrities, and none of the authors of the same period could beat her. The most mysterious thing was that she had never shown her face, and no one knew what her real name was.
That was the Shion-sensei who had once been thought to be able to become the first supreme god author of Wenqing. How glamorous she was at that time. It was just a pity that she had later fallen.
Now, Shion-sensei wanted to come back, in a brand new attitude.
“It’s also quite late. You haven’t had lunch yet, right? I’ll cook you a meal. What do you want to eat?”
“Eh? Sister Chen, that’s not necessary.”
“It’s fine. You can focus on writing your novel. I’ll make lunch. I just said, if you want to thank me, then write the novel well.”
“…Thank you, Sister Chen.”
Yu Linna couldn’t help but be a little moved.
She had lived alone for so many years, and almost no one had ever cooked for her. She had been a dependent since she was little, living a life of wandering. In the end, there was no one who was willing to adopt her, and she was no longer willing to be a dependent. Since then, she had always cooked for herself, found ways to make money by herself, and thought about how to survive by herself.
To be taken care of like this, almost never. She was a little moved.
Chen Xi had been working hard on her own for so many years and had long since developed good skills. Cooking was naturally not a problem. To let Shion-sensei write the best novel, as her editor, she had to provide her with the best rear support.
“Sister Chen, it smells so fragrant.”
“Hurry up and eat. After you’re done, go and write your manuscript. I’ll stay here and take care of you before evening. I see you’ve also mopped the floor, so I’ll help you pull the weeds in the yard.”
“Sister Chen, you’re being too polite…”
“This is an editor’s duty, Shion-sensei. Please don’t mind.”
Yu Linna thought to herself, Even for an editor, this is a bit too much. Normally, would an editor take care of an author so wholeheartedly? Almost impossible, right?
Yu Linna was starting to understand the feeling that Zhao Yuyan had had when she was an author under her, when she had been locked in a hotel to write her manuscript because she was procrastinating, and her phone had also been confiscated. Chen Xi was really very strict, but at the same time, she was also a very good editor.
…
After eating, Yu Linna made a video call to Ye Zhiyun and chatted with her.
“Nana? You’re actually looking for me at noon? So rare. Have you eaten?”
“I’ve already eaten. Sister Chen… my editor cooked me a meal. I’m going to write my manuscript in a bit.”
“Then you must be very tired… don’t let that person surnamed Chen be so nosy. That’s all. You can get back to your work.”
“Okay.”
Hanging up the phone, Yu Linna smiled happily.
Chen Xi was clearing the dishes, looking at her with a thoughtful expression as she had a video call with Miss Ye.
“When did you start dating?”
“Huh? This… half a month ago.”
“Is that so? Congratulations. Please work hard on your work.”
“Okay.”
Chen Xi couldn’t help but show a faint smile. This feeling was like raising a daughter. Really, she wasn’t even married yet. How could she be like an old mother? Speaking of which, it had been a long time since she had gone home. Why not take the next vacation to go home for a trip? She missed her mom’s cooking a little.
“Sister Chen, I’m going to work. Don’t disturb me. I’ll come out for dinner.”
“Write it well.”
Chen Xi only gave her one request, and then she went to wash the dishes. If she could help Shion-sensei, that would naturally be the best. Chen Xi thought so.
