Chapter 263 A New Cooperation (Another 10,000-word update!)
Immediately, someone in the audience raised their hand.
The person asking the question was a girl.
"Hello, Lu Yanhe, I would like to ask, some people have said that the emergence of books like 'Jump Up' has squeezed out the space for more serious and literary magazines and themed books. What is your opinion on this statement?"
Wang Xiao immediately said, "Wow, that's a really sharp question."
Lu Yanhe waved his hand with a smile and said, "It's okay. Actually, it's not a matter of squeezing out or not squeezing out. Anyone who really understands the publishing industry knows that whether it's a magazine or a themed book, the problem we're facing now is that there aren't enough readers. There's no fertile ground for survival. And the fact that 'Jump Up' was able to sell over 100,000 copies of both the physical book and the e-book under these circumstances, even after the e-book had been free for three days, shows that this isn't something that can be achieved by simply taking over someone else's space."
"Actually, in making this book, I received far more encouragement than sarcasm and ridicule. Many seniors encouraged me to do a good job, to continue making this book, to make this type of book popular again in the market, and to get readers to pay attention to this type of book again," Lu Yanhe said. "Putting everything else aside, as a 19-year-old college student, and indeed as any student who wants to do something, I believe everyone would mainly offer encouragement, just like what I received. Whether it was ridicule or mockery, I didn't care much, because that's not the point. Those things can't give me more confidence to persist in what I want to do."
...
Chen Shiqiu said softly to Chen Ziyan, "Look, Yan He is in better spirits than I am."
Chen Ziyan said with a smile, "That's something he honed through countless battles. He couldn't answer all those sharp questions at first either."
"His response should reassure you, right?"
"This is nothing. These kinds of questions may seem sharp, but they're not actually that hard to answer. The worst ones are the stubborn and persistent ones."
“We at Zhenhua don’t have students like that.”
“That’s just your teachers’ perspective on their students,” Chen Ziyan said directly. “There’s no place without scumbags, it’s just a matter of how many there are. A beast in human clothing doesn’t stop being a beast just because he puts on a mask; he just has an extra layer of disguise.”
Chen Shiqiu was momentarily speechless.
Chen Ziyan glanced at him and suddenly realized that her words had been a bit too sharp and harsh. "I'm sorry."
Chen Shiqiu shook his head. "You're right."
“No, any teacher at Zhenhua has enough reason to be proud of their students. It’s my problem.” Chen Ziyan shook her head. “You have to forgive me. I can’t look at the world with optimism.”
“You’re optimistic enough,” Chen Shiqiu said. “If I were you, I couldn’t possibly do any better than you.”
Chen Ziyan and Chen Shiqiu's eyes met, silent and solemn.
-
The sharing session concluded successfully.
Lu Yanhe also breathed a sigh of relief.
Wang Xiao smiled at Lu Yanhe and said, "Everyone reacted very well today; the situation you were worried about did not occur."
"I was worrying unnecessarily."
Wang Xiao patted Lu Yanhe on the shoulder and said, "In the future, when the crew does promotions or other promotional activities, don't forget to contact us. Today is purely a sharing event, so there won't be a live broadcast. We also have a dedicated team that can do live broadcasts."
Lu Yanhe was both amused and exasperated, and said, "So, it means I'll have another free publicity channel from now on?"
"Why not?" Wang Xiao's face was full of "of course we can" expressions. "Our goal is to invite people who have achieved success and influence in their respective fields to have face-to-face exchanges with our students. Many times, the celebrities who come are also here with a publicity mission. We each get what we need, so it's not entirely pure, but it's still good, isn't it?"
"Yes, you're right."
Wang Xiao: "Moreover, many people would be willing to come to Zhenhua to hold exchange activities, right? After all, it's Zhenhua, they won't embarrass you, will they?"
"How could that be?"
The name Zhenhua is a golden brand that enjoys widespread recognition in Chinese-speaking regions.
If given the choice, no one would refuse to come to Zhenhua for an exchange program.
The same applies to the film and television industry.
Lu Yanhe realized that this was Wang Xiao returning the favor to him.
Lu Yanhe understood, thought for a moment, and said, "If possible, would it be alright if we invited all the main creators of 'The Golden Era' to have an exchange event before it airs?"
Wang Xiao immediately broke into a bright smile and said, "Yes, this is already in my plan."
"A plan?" Lu Yanhe asked in surprise, "What plan?"
“Including Liu Jiazhen and Mingyin, the authors of ‘Jump Up,’ aren’t they also authors who have received a lot of attention recently? I would also like to invite them to come.” Wang Xiao said, “As I said, anyone who has achieved success or has influence in any field is a candidate for our invitation.”
Lu Yanhe nodded. "Okay, I understand."
He said, "Then I'll go back first."
Wang Xiao nodded and said goodbye to Lu Yanhe.
Lu Yanhe stepped down from the stage and came to Chen Ziyan and Chen Shiqiu.
The college leaders smiled and encouraged him before leaving.
Chen Shiqiu saw them to the door.
Chen Ziyan took a bottle of vitamin drink out of her bag and said, "Want some?"
Lu Yanhe nodded and took it.
I'm thirsty.
During the exchange just now, they only prepared one bottle of water for him, which he had already finished and did not ask for any more.
With a smile in her eyes, Chen Ziyan said, "You're starting to have a bit of a star's air about you."
Lu Yanhe was flattered and asked, "Really?"
"Really." Chen Ziyan nodded.
Lu Yanhe felt a little embarrassed.
Chen Ziyan said, "Are you free tomorrow at noon? Let's have lunch together. I've found you a bodyguard who will also be your assistant. I've been looking for several months and finally found someone who is quite suitable. You can meet him, and if it's a good fit, you can sign the contract with him."
Lu Yanhe was pleasantly surprised upon hearing this.
"Hmm? Okay, what kind of person is it?"
“He’s a retired soldier who used to work as a private bodyguard. He’s very experienced and only thirty years old. I’ve met him a few times. He’s the quiet type, but after asking around, he seems like a reliable person. His only requirement is that he’s a bit expensive, with an annual salary of 250,000 yuan after tax,” Chen Ziyan said. “But he can also be your driver and assistant. When you’re not too busy with work, he can act as your entire support team. I think the price is acceptable.”
Lu Yanhe nodded.
Chen Ziyan said, "You have to pay for this yourself, so it's up to you to decide whether or not to use it."
Lu Yanhe thought to himself that if it weren't for the money he earned from "Jump Up," he wouldn't have any money to spend even if he wanted to.
As if she knew what Lu Yanhe was thinking, Chen Ziyan immediately said, "If 'Jump Up' hadn't sold so well, I would have signed a contract with him directly through the company and then appointed him as your bodyguard. But there's a drawback to that: you're not his boss, the company is. For you, I think this person has to be someone you can completely trust."
Lu Yanhe understood what Chen Ziyan meant.
Given the circumstances he's facing, he absolutely needs someone he can trust by his side; otherwise, who knows if he might become the next Zhou Ping'an?
"Then I'll head back," Chen Ziyan said. "Bye."
"Goodbye, Sister Ziyan."
Lu Yanhe escorted Chen Ziyan to the door, and Chen Ziyan asked him to stop.
"No need to see me off, my car is parked outside, I can walk there," Chen Ziyan said to Lu Yanhe. "Go back and rest."
Lu Yanhe nodded.
He watched Chen Ziyan leave, and just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly heard Liu Bige's voice behind him.
"Yan River".
Lu Yanhe turned his head, revealing a slightly surprised expression.
"Producer Liu."
He hadn't noticed that Liu Bige was also there.
"I asked Miao Yue to make the reservation for me." Liu Bige put his hands in his pockets. "The last time I saw you, I was thinking about when I could see you again. There's a movie I'd like to talk to you about."
Lu Yanhe looked at the other person in surprise.
"Movie?"
“Yes, it’s an independent film,” Liu Bige said. “I don’t know if you’re interested?”
Lu Yanhe asked, "Is there already a script?"
“Yes.” Liu Bige nodded. “However, I’m not the producer of this movie; it’s someone else’s. I just thought you were quite suitable.”
“I—” Lu Yanhe hesitated for two seconds and said, “Can I hear what the script is first? However, Producer Liu, I must say that my current situation is quite special. I spend most of my time in school and have almost no time to film.”
Liu Bige said, "Filming on the weekend should be okay, right?"
“Weekend… that’s fine, but is two days enough?” Lu Yanhe looked surprised.
"I'm not the main character, just a supporting role, in two scenes," Liu Bige said. "It might only take two weekends to film."
Lu Yanhe looked enlightened.
So that's how it is.
"You don't only act in leading roles, do you?" Liu Bige asked.
"No, of course not," Lu Yanhe said somewhat awkwardly. "It's just that you told me it was an independent film and came to me specifically to discuss it, making it seem like you were the main character."
“This role is quite important, so I’m taking it very seriously,” Liu Bige said. “The director of this film is a friend of mine, and he and I wrote the script together. The role he’s looking for is, simply put, a hypocritical madman.”
"Huh?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
“He likes the female lead to the point of obsession, but because he doesn’t get a response, he wants to destroy her,” Liu Bige said. “That’s the kind of character he is.”
Lu Yanhe was stunned. "You think this role is suitable for me? Do you think I'm some kind of paranoid madman?"
“No, quite the opposite, your image is very positive and sunny,” Liu Bige said. “But there were a few moments when you didn’t speak or smile, which made me feel that you could unleash this kind of obsessive madness.”
Lu Yanhe looked completely bewildered.
“Take a look at the script, what do you think?” Liu Bige asked.
Lu Yanhe asked, "Now?"
“Hmm,” Liu Bige said, “The script is currently under wraps, so I can only ask you to read it now and then take it back with me. I can’t give it to you directly.”
Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised, but still nodded. "Then where shall we look?"
Liu Bige said, "It's already 9:30. Are there any shops still open nearby?"
Lu Yanhe thought for a moment and said, "There's a 24-hour coffee shop on campus, how about we go there?"
Liu Bige nodded and said okay.
The coffee shop was quite crowded at this time of day.
Many students who need to work through the night to finish something choose to come here, since coffee and food are always available.
Although the movie script is not long, it still takes about an hour to read.
If you read slowly, it could even take two hours.
Lu Yanhe asked if they wanted to order some snacks. This place sells snacks like fries and fried chicken, which are very popular with students.
Liu Bige nodded and said, "I'll order."
Lu Yanhe picked up the script and turned to the first page.
-
The movie is called "Miss Ning". The movie opens with a heated argument between the female protagonist, Ning Yin, and her parents about which university she should attend.
Lu Yanhe only saw his own appearance when he was almost halfway through reading. Of course, he had actually appeared much earlier; in Ning Yin's conversation with the others, he was a boy who kept pestering her.
He appeared when Ning Yin was at her most vulnerable, offering her the most dignified assistance. At that moment, he seemed considerate, thoughtful, and polite, not at all like the obsessive and clingy person Ning Yin had described.
But soon, not long after, when Ning Yin was having dinner at a restaurant with a person in charge of a job she needed to win over, he happened to bump into her. After the man left, he politely went up to Ning Yin, greeted her, sat down, and asked her about her relationship with the man. However, he did not believe Ning Yin's explanation. The script notes here that his eyes began to look hurt and vulnerable.
Ning Yin reiterated that she didn't like him and couldn't accept him. At this moment, he began to act somewhat neurotically, asking her why. She became impatient, and her impatience further provoked him. He gradually revealed signs of madness—stubbornness, anger, disappointment—and finally, he suddenly picked up a knife from the table, attempting to stab Ning Yin.
Upon seeing this scene, a certain image from Lu Yanhe's memory suddenly resurfaced in his mind.
He was bewildered, shocked, and incredulous.
This scene in the script was surprisingly combined with a scene from his memory.
That chilling feeling of hysterical indifference returned to his body.
I read the rest of the script in a state of bewilderment.
This script is actually about a young girl who is constantly struggling with a chaotic life.
Liu Bige was looking for the man played by Lu Yanhe, who was an integral part of Ning Yin's chaotic life. Liu Bige was right; this was a man who seemed perfect in every way before he finally went mad.
Lu Yanhe tried to pull himself out of his memories and took a deep breath.
"How is it?" Liu Bige asked.
Lu Yanhe looked up and said, "This role is very challenging."
Liu Bige asked, "So, do you want to act in it?"
“I need to think about it.” Lu Yanhe was somewhat taken aback. “This character, the last thing he did—”
Lu Yanhe's words came to an abrupt end.
"What's wrong?" Liu Bige asked.
Lu Yanhe shook his head.
This is his own mental block.
Liu Bige said, "Although this film is an independent production and not made by a big company, it will be produced by French director Olivia and will be submitted to film festivals."
Lu Yanhe nodded, somewhat absentmindedly.
"Do you have any concerns? Is it because the character is a negative one? Although I haven't been back in China for long, I have indeed encountered many actors who are unwilling to play this kind of role." Liu Bige looked at Lu Yanhe. "If that's the case, you can just say so."
“Oh, sorry, no, I wasn’t thinking about that,” Lu Yanhe explained. “There are some things in the script that made me think about something, and I can’t concentrate right now. Can I go back first? I can’t calm down and seriously consider whether or not to act in this script right now.”
Liu Bige looked at him with some surprise, nodded, and said, "Okay, you have my contact information. Contact me when you've thought it through."
Lu Yanhe nodded. "Sorry, I'll be going now."
He got up and left.
Liu Bige watched his departing figure with a puzzled expression, not knowing what was wrong with Lu Yanhe.
What part of the script made him do that?
I feel a bit absent-minded.
-
Mao Jiayang and the others found it strange that Lu Yanhe had gone to bed early this morning.
Lu Yanhe usually doesn't go to bed at 11 p.m.
For modern college students, going to bed before 11 p.m. is simply unbelievable.
Xiao Jing, who did not attend today's exchange event, privately messaged Mao Jiayang and asked: Was the atmosphere bad today?
Mao Jiayang said: No, everything is fine.
Mao Jiayang said: Maybe I'm just tired.
Xiao Jing: That's really rare. He's usually the last one to go to bed.
...
Lu Yanhe wasn't actually asleep; he was just lying in bed thinking.
The scene of Yuan Yi stabbing Teacher Su Su with a knife flashed through his mind—horrifying, bloody, and even in his memory, it carried an unforgettable sharpness.
This matter has remained deep in Lu Yanhe's mind, like a haunting and terrifying scene that he can't shake off. It is also a mystery that Lu Yanhe has never been able to understand.
Even now, Lu Yanhe still can't understand why Yuan Yi could stand opposite Su Su after stabbing him in the body, looking down at him with a slight smile, and calmly say, "You said you would love me for a lifetime. You broke your promise. This is what you owe me."
If we draw a dividing line between Yuan Yi and Su Su, ignoring Su Su's perspective, the tone with which Yuan Yi said those words was almost like reciting a beloved poem in a clear voice on a rainy morning, facing the faint morning light.
-
The next morning, Lu Yanhe still got up at six o'clock and went out for a morning run.
Sweat poured down his face, and he gasped for breath, feeling as if he had returned to the human world.
There was a newsstand at the school gate—a very rare sight in those days.
Lu Yanhe saw the first episode of "Jump Up".
As he passed by, he asked, "Boss, is this book selling well?"
The shop owner nodded and said, "Not bad, I've sold almost a hundred copies already."
This is in Zhenhua, where there are many students, and it's the only newsstand nearby. It's quite remarkable that it can achieve such high sales figures.
Lu Yanhe thanked him and ran towards the school.
When I got back to the dormitory at seven o'clock, no one had gotten up yet.
He tiptoed around, washed up, and went to the classroom with his schoolbag on his back.
The script for "Miss Ning" resurfaced in his mind.
Only then could he examine the script through reflection.
This is a script full of metaphors, including the role he was cast in, a person who appears normal on the surface but has actually long since lost control and become paranoid, much like Ning Yin's life.
In the course on foreign literature, the professor mentioned that Western literature, especially modern literature, has shown a trend of focusing on the analysis of the human mind and life.
Lu Yanhe felt that "Miss Ning" was such a script. Of course, it was not dull; many of the dialogues, including the structure of the play, presented an artistic feel.
But what interested Lu Yanhe most about the script was the role that was offered to him.
He didn't quite understand the character's psychological drive, but he felt a natural curiosity and desire to explore.
At noon, Lu Yanhe went to the restaurant to meet Chen Ziyan and Zou Dong.
Zou Dong was the bodyguard that Chen Ziyan found for him.
Zou Dong looked like a very strong man, with a muscular build. He was wearing a shirt and a tie, and seemed to be taking this meeting with Lu Yanhe very seriously.
A brief introduction, small talk, and greetings.
Lu Yanhe called out to Dong Ge.
Indeed, as Chen Ziyan said, Zou Dong is a man of few words.
His face was almost devoid of smiles, a face as rigid as a rock.
But when he sat in the chair, his back was straight, and he had a reliable air about him, giving people a sense of integrity that could be trusted.
Lu Yanhe had a brief chat with Zou Dong, mainly asking about his attitude towards the job and the entertainment industry.
Zou Dong's answer was very simple, basically meaning that he only takes care of doing his job well and has no opinion or attitude towards other things.
Because many people harbor resentment towards the entertainment industry. Lu Yanhe understands this; compared to other industries, this industry is like a giant kaleidoscope, bizarre and glamorous, yet under high exposure, countless joys, sorrows, and the shadows of human nature are magnified.
But at least the people around him can't be like that. Chen Ziyan must have known about it, and he himself wanted to ask again, so he could learn more about Zou Dong.
"Is Dong-ge married?"
"We were married, but we're divorced."
"Hmm?" Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised.
Zou Dong said, "I have a son who is seven years old this year. He lives with his mother, and I live alone."
"I see." Lu Yanhe nodded.
Chen Ziyan added, "When necessary, Zou Dong can stay by your side 24 hours a day."
It seems that this was a very important condition for Chen Ziyan to choose Zou Dong.
Lu Yanhe nodded.
Chen Ziyan said with a smile, "You are very young and often travel between school and work. We'll have the company provide you with a car, and Zou Dong can take care of your transportation, logistics, and security."
Lu Yanhe nodded and nodded to Zou Dong, "Brother Dong, I'm counting on you from now on."
Zou Dong nodded solemnly in response.
-
After lunch, Lu Yanhe brought up the script that Liu Bige had shown him the night before to Chen Ziyan.
"Sister Ziyan, do you think I should accept this?"
Chen Ziyan pondered for a moment and said, "I haven't read the script yet, so I can't give any advice. What are your own thoughts?"
Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "I want to play this role; it's a role that I really want to play."
Chen Ziyan said, "Whether it's an art film or an independent film, it doesn't matter. With your image, acting in this kind of film will actually be a plus for you. A supporting role is fine, but it depends on who the lead is. But from your description, the only lead in this film is a woman, so it's okay if you play a supporting role in this film, just a special appearance. These objective issues don't exist. What I care about is what kind of team this film has. They said that French director Olivia will be the producer. If that's true, then if you want to act in it, we'll seriously push it forward. You can recommend Liu Bige to me, and I'll contact him."
"Okay." Lu Yanhe breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Chen Ziyan agreed with his opinion.
After all, now it's up to Chen Ziyan to decide which roles he takes. If Chen Ziyan doesn't agree to him acting, he can't act.
Chen Ziyan's phone rang at that moment.
She picked it up, glanced at it, and suddenly cursed.
"Sister Ziyan?"
Chen Ziyan looked up at Lu Yanhe again, shook her head, and said, "It's nothing. It was those idiots from 'Crossroads' who responded. They're deliberately trying to smear Minglan."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yanhe immediately asked, "What did they say?"
Chen Ziyan: "It's nothing more than the script being modified based on the actual filming situation. Minglan refused to accept the adjustment of her role, so she deliberately smeared the production team and then announced that she would pursue legal action against Minglan."
Lu Yanhe frowned and asked, "Will Minglan bear any legal responsibility for this?"
"It depends on how the lawsuit goes, but in fact, it is definitely in our favor. The 'Three Crossroads' may not actually file a lawsuit. They themselves know what they have done. If it really comes to that, the facts will not be in their favor."
Chen Ziyan's thinking was actually quite clear. After the initial anger upon seeing the news, she was already considering countermeasures.
And the countermeasures gradually took shape in her mind.
"I'm leaving now, you should go back to school."
Lu Yanhe nodded.
Zou Dong said, "I've driven, I'll take you home."
Lu Yanhe shook his head and said, "No need, it's very close to the school, it only takes me ten minutes to walk back."
Upon hearing this, Zou Dong nodded and said, "Then I'll take you to the school gate. From now on, wherever you go, as long as you leave the school, just look for me anytime."
Lu Yanhe nodded in surprise.
Zou Dong got into character faster than he had imagined.
-
Lu Yanhe went directly to the library at noon.
He checked the response to "The Crossroads" on his phone.
Although this response was posted only recently, it has already become a hot topic, with many people clicking on it immediately.
The response to "The Crossroads" appears to be a long and detailed article, but half of it is actually just complaining. For example, it mentions that there were communication problems with Wen Minglan from the beginning, that after Wen Minglan joined the crew, she demanded that the filming time not exceed eight hours a day, and that she was often late. It also mentions that Wen Minglan was not satisfied with the makeup and refused to make herself look ugly for the role, which caused filming to be delayed, and so on.
In short, in their description, Wen Minglan is a very difficult actress because she has an exceptionally powerful agent. Despite being a newcomer, she is arrogant and looks down on others.
Upon seeing this description, Lu Yanhe was speechless. No wonder Chen Ziyan became so angry after seeing it, unable to control her temper and even swearing.
Online opinions on this response are almost evenly divided.
Half of them felt a sudden realization, discovering that Wen Minglan was actually "this kind of person".
The other half doesn't believe what's said in "The Crossroads," after all, the fact that they waited so long to speak out makes them seem guilty. And the fact that they wrote such a response after so long, avoiding the main issues and blaming Wen Minglan, actually confirms what Wen Minglan said.
This is being discussed in the entertainment industry, online, and even in sociology courses.
Everyone has five minutes to express their opinion. The instructor of this course likes to involve students in the class, so he often asks everyone to discuss a social issue.
Regarding the Wen Minglan incident, she had previously asked everyone to write commentary articles, and today she asked everyone to give impromptu remarks.
She said, “I know that everyone is good at reading, and I have no doubt about everyone’s ability to read at their desks. But in university, everyone needs to learn to write and speak. These are two different forms, but they are both about learning one thing: clarifying your own thoughts, understanding the viewpoints and arguments you want to express, and then learning to express these in the simplest, most understandable, and most convincing way.”
Lu Yanhe was the first to be named.
“You work in the entertainment industry, so you should have the most experience with this. You go first.”
Lu Yanhe had no choice but to stand up, feeling somewhat embarrassed and confused, unsure of what to say.
Everyone in the classroom was looking at him, and being the focus of so many gazes created an invisible pressure.
Lu Yanhe thought for a moment and said, "I believe that everyone has their own standpoint and starting point when they speak and act. Trying to judge a person's right or wrong can easily lead to a cycle of contradiction between emotion and reason. What is wrong from my perspective may be right from someone else's perspective because the interests of both parties are not aligned. Therefore, at this time, we should look at what the two parties agreed upon and reached a consensus on. In the case of Wen Minglan and the 'Crossroads' production team, it is the performance agreement signed by both parties. The spirit of contract is an important factor in maintaining a multi-person project. In this matter, whoever is the main party who violated the spirit of contract should bear the responsibility."
"Does anyone want to object?" the teacher immediately asked the other students.
Someone raised their hand; it was a boy.
He said, "Contracts are certainly important, but in reality, we all know that if we only act according to contracts, many things will not be able to proceed due to changes in specific circumstances. Of course, I don't know exactly what happened between Wen Minglan and 'The Crossroads.' Now, each party has its own version of events. But suppose—before filming, the production team communicated with Wen Minglan about a second female lead role, but during the actual filming process, the director and screenwriter found that many of the second female lead's scenes would be more reasonable for the female lead. In that case, what should the production team do? Should they adhere to the spirit of the contract and continue filming despite the mistake, or should they make timely adjustments and steer the train back onto the right track?"
Sociology is an elective course, and students in this course come from various colleges.
Lu Yanhe didn't know the person who made the comment, but after listening to what he said, he fell into deep thought.
Because he realized that what this person said also made a lot of sense.
Perhaps because the two of them had expressed their opinions, after that, without the teacher calling on them, everyone stood up voluntarily to express their own views.
Lu Yanhe did not stand up again, but instead wrote down some points that inspired and gave him food for thought.
After class, Lu Yanhe packed up his books and prepared to go back to his dormitory.
The person who had just refuted his point of view called him over.
"Hey, Lu Yanhe."
Lu Yanhe looked over blankly.
"I'm Sui Jiang, from the School of Business Administration." The other person flashed a bright smile and asked, "I argued with you in class earlier, you're not angry, are you?"
Lu Yanhe waved his hand and said, "It's just a normal discussion, why would I get angry?"
"That's good," Sui Jiang said. "How about we add each other as friends? Maybe we can team up for the group assignments later."
Sociology courses later on involve social research projects and collaborative thesis writing, all of which are passed down from previous students.
Lu Yanhe nodded and took out his phone.
-
Only Zhou Mukai was in the dormitory.
On his computer screen was a girl, presumably his girlfriend, and the two were having a video call.
Lu Yanhe greeted Zhou Mukai, packed his books for the two afternoon classes into his bag, took out his laptop, put the bag aside, stretched, and turned it on.
Zhou Mukai immediately ended the video call.
"Have you finished your classes this morning?"
"Yes." Lu Yanhe nodded, then turned around and asked with a smile, "Was that your girlfriend just now?"
"Yes." Zhou Mukai nodded. "She's in Yuming."
Lu Yanhe was very surprised and asked, "You two... were high school classmates?"
"Mm." Zhou Mukai nodded.
"Wow, you two must be legends in your high school, a couple, one went to Zhenhua and the other to Yuming."
Zhou Mukai gave a sullen smirk and said, "It's alright, we're both first in our grade anyway."
"Hmm? Taking turns hosting?"
“I’m a humanities student, she’s a science student,” Zhou Mukai explained, then curled the corners of his mouth and muttered, “Lian Zhuang.”
Quiet people are often secretly passionate.
Lu Yanhe smiled.
"That's awesome."
Zhou Mukai glanced at him and suddenly asked, "Can I ask you something?"
"ah?"
"You and Chen Siqi are together now, right? Although you two seemed to have denied it before."
"Yes, it hasn't been made public yet," Lu Yanhe said.
To be precise, the two were not officially together; there was no confession or agreement. Instead, it was a tacit understanding between them.
Zhou Mukai nodded in understanding.
"The book you two made is quite interesting," Zhou Mukai said.
"Really? I thought you guys would find it not serious enough."
“If I were reading a serious book, I wouldn’t be reading ‘Jump Up’,” Zhou Mukai said. “I haven’t read a magazine in a long time. Although you call it a themed book now, it still looks like a magazine and there’s not much difference.”
Lu Yanhe nodded and said, "Because the initial idea was to make a magazine."
He logged into his email and received the second issue's manuscript, which Chen Siqi was preparing to publish.
The second issue includes Jia Long's creative notes, the fictional novel about confession by Li Zhibai, the first installment of the suspense novel from Liujia Town, short stories by Bai Yu, and several essays and notes received from the submission email address.
Lu Yanhe put on his headphones and carefully read through each article. The quality of the manuscripts was very high, including those received in the submission email addresses.
Chen Siqi said: These are all the drafts for the second issue. Huang Kairen's draft will have to wait for you.
Lu Yanhe agreed. He had contacted Huang Kairen last time, and Huang Kairen said he would try his best to finish the manuscript in the next few days and give it to him.
Chen Siqi added: It's okay if we can't wait any longer. I've already commissioned articles from more than a dozen popular writers. Many writers who used to contribute to the magazine have contacted us through various channels to collaborate, knowing that we want to continue. Of course, the more the merrier. At this stage, we are in dire need of articles.
Lu Yanhe: Kai Ren is probably very busy too, so his manuscript hasn't arrived yet. Let's wait a little longer. If we really can't wait any longer, we'll hold off on releasing his manuscript for now. Peng Zhixing and Liu Zhiyin both said they wanted to write articles for us. Zhixing is planning to do a column about his interview program, while Zhiyin wants to write about her trainee life and girl group experience overseas. Their manuscripts haven't arrived yet, so I'll ask them about it.
Chen Siqi: The second issue already has articles by Jia Long and Li Zhibai, plus one that you must publish, and one by Huang Kairen. The lineup of celebrities is enough, so there's no rush to publish it in the second issue.
Lu Yanhe agreed.
Chen Siqi: For the cover of the second issue, I invited a very famous cartoonist in China to draw it. It was very expensive, costing three thousand yuan.
Lu Yanhe: If you think it's worth it, then it's fine.
Chen Siqi: I think it's worth it. Although "Jump Up" is positioned as a series of books on the theme of literature and art, it is not just about literature. I want to invite all the important figures in the fields related to literature and art to come to our book and leave their footprints in this book. Moreover, the promotional value of him drawing the cover of "Jump Up" is far more than three thousand yuan.
Lu Yanhe: Who is it?
Chen Siqi: Jiang Yubai, author of "Child of Time and Space".
Upon hearing the name "Child of Time and Space," Lu Yanhe's face lit up with sudden realization.
Although he had never heard of Jiang Yubai, he knew about "Child of Time and Space," a very famous comic that was currently being adapted into a web series, which would occasionally trend on social media due to rumors about the lead actors.
Chen Siqi: It's thanks to the great momentum we made in the first issue that Teacher Jiang agreed to draw a cover for us.
Lu Yanhe: Wow, that's impressive. How did you come up with the idea of looking for him?
Chen Siqi: Because "Children of Time" is one of the most popular serialized comics in China right now.
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That afternoon, the "Jump Up" account posted a message: The cover of the second issue of "Jump Up" will be drawn by Jiang Yubai, the author of the comic "Child of Time and Space". Let's look forward to it together!
After Chen Siqi forwarded it herself, she also privately messaged Lu Yanhe to forward it.
Lu Yanhe quickly forwarded it.
As Chen Siqi had predicted, Jiang Yubai and the readers of "Children of Time and Space" were quite surprised and even curious whether Jiang Yubai was going to start a new serialization in "Jump Up".
The topic has definitely gained traction.
Lu Yanhe also took the opportunity to pay attention to Jiang Yubai.
That evening, Jiang Yubai followed him back and sent him a private message: Please give me your guidance.
Upon seeing the private message, Lu Yanhe proactively asked: "Teacher Jiang, may I add you as a friend?"
Jiang Yubai: Okay, okay.
The two then added each other as friends.
At this moment, Huang Kairen suddenly sent a message to Lu Yanhe: Yanhe, are you going to act in "Child of Time and Space"?
Lu Yanhe was somewhat taken aback when he saw the message and said: No, Brother Kairen, why do you say that?
Huang Kairen said: I heard someone say that you have collaborated with Jiang Yubai, the author of "Children of Time and Space". He admires you and recommended you to the film and television production company of "Children of Time and Space".
Lu Yanhe was very surprised and said: That person is making things up. I just added Teacher Jiang as a friend a second ago. It was just that Siqi asked him to draw the cover for the second issue of our "Jump Up". Speaking of this collaboration, Brother Kai Ren, when are you going to give me the manuscript you promised?
Huang Kairen: I was writing it when I heard this news, so I quickly came to ask you.
Lu Yanhe: Are you a fan of "Children of Time"?
Huang Kairen posted two "nodding vigorously" emojis.
He said: I expressed my willingness to act through my agent, but they didn't seem to think I was a good fit.
(End of this chapter)
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