In October in Tianjin, the plane trees began to turn yellow, and the fallen leaves swirled on the asphalt road in the concession. Ji Chen stood in front of the window of the newspaper editorial office. He looked through the foggy glass window and watched Zheng Wanqing walk across the road. She was wearing a light camel-colored Western suit today, and the hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps. She was holding a few books wrapped in brown paper in her hands.
"Knock knock knock" - three soft knocks were heard on the office door, the rhythm as clear as the sound of a typewriter.
"Are you here to deliver the manuscript so early?" Ji Chen took the package she handed over, and a faint scent of jasmine wafted out from between the pages.
Zheng Wanqing tucked a strand of hair that was messed up by the autumn wind behind her ear. The hair shone with a chestnut luster in the sun: "I'm afraid it will delay the typesetting of this issue."
At this time, Zhu Yinlin walked in with a stack of proofs. She had fashionable celluloid hairpins pinned on her newly curled hair, which jingled with her brisk steps.
"Cousin, the printing factory is urging us to submit the final draft." Her voice was eight octaves higher than usual. Ji Chen noticed that his cousin had specially changed to a new lipstick today. The rose-colored lipstick made her look particularly bright.
Since Zheng Wanqing came to the editorial department last month, this usually lazy girl has become unusually hardworking, as if she were wound up.
"Sister Wanqing, you're here too. I was just about to ask you something," Zhu Yinlin approached the desk and pointed at the column she was in charge of. "I always feel like the ending of this article 'The View on Marriage in the New Era' is missing something..."
When Zheng Wanqing took the manuscript, their hands accidentally touched. Zhu Yinlin's nails were painted with bright red nail polish, while Zheng Wanqing's nails were trimmed and rounded, with only a healthy pink color. The pen drew an elegant arc in Zheng Wanqing's hand: "Why not add an example? Just like the new double sister coffee shop in the concession, the two women shopkeepers..."
"Oh my god!" Zhu Yinlin suddenly exclaimed, and the hairpin on her curly hair flashed with light as she moved. "This idea is so wonderful!"
"I'm going to work first." Zheng Wanqing nodded slightly, and the hem of her camel-colored skirt drew a gentle arc when she turned around.
After the figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor, Zhu Yinlin took out an exquisite lacquered wooden lunch box from her handbag and placed it on Ji Chen's desk: "By the way, cousin. Mom asked me to bring you some sweet osmanthus cake." When she opened the lid, Ji Chen noticed that there was a scratch on her newly done nails.
Ji Chen picked up a piece of pastry and found that the shape was crooked, obviously the work of a novice.
At the topic selection meeting in the afternoon, Zhu Yinlin was particularly active. She kept fiddling with her newly bought gold-plated fountain pen and suggested opening a "peep show" column: "We can start by serializing the translation of excerpts from "Gone with the Wind," she gestured excitedly, the jade bracelet on her wrist making a crisp sound when it hit the table, "The heroine Scarlett's unyielding spirit is now so cute for the ladies to watch!"
Zheng Wanqing's voice flowed like a spring: "In fact, there are also local themes. For example, Nankai Girls' High School recently staged the drama "Nora"..." Her fingers gently tapped the meeting record book.
Wang Yuren from the advertising department frowned upon hearing this. He subconsciously adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, narrowing his eyes behind the lenses, revealing a trace of worry: "Isn't this too radical? The last time Awakening published such an article, it was almost closed down." After saying that, he cast his gaze at Liu Shizheng, whose eyes were dark, and asked with a hint of inquiry: "Editor Liu, what do you think?"
Liu Shizheng pondered for a moment, tapping his fingers on the table: "...At present, it is indeed not suitable." He paused, and then continued, "Now, let's discuss the topic of the next issue of the literary supplement, 'Literary Creation of Women in the Republic of China'. You will submit a specific plan at the meeting tomorrow."
After the meeting, Zhu Yinlin hurriedly chased after him in her newly bought high heels, tapping her heels on the floor in a rapid and crisp rhythm: "Cousin, there will be a cocktail party at the French Consulate next Sunday..."
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