Shang Yechu opened the study door, only then realizing that filming for "Half of the Sky" had already wrapped. She was no longer on set, but at home.
Sheng Wenzhi, standing behind her, sounded somewhat confused: "You're the one who wants to buy the copyright to my book, not the other way around."
Okay, okay, okay. Business novice advises himself. Treat him as a difficult author, not some familiar mosquito or bug. Happiness Commercial Street is slated for demolition at the end of the year.
Shang Yechu strolled back to her seat, offering her most polite business smile: "Could I take a look at the manuscript for 'The Rules General Store'?"
Sheng Wenzhi pointed to Shang Yechu's phone: "Do you know the 'Otherworld Corridor' forum?"
Shang Yechu had never even heard of such a thing, but she was very proactive: "I don't know. I'll register now, and you can post your novel there?"
“It’s too late to register now.” Sheng Wenzhi took out his phone. “You have to answer 100 questions first, then write a thriller novel of more than 1,000 words or a thriller novel or movie review of more than 3,000 words. Only after the administrator’s manual review can you join.”
Registering for a forum was even more complicated than the interview for Qingping Entertainment. Shang Yechu couldn't possibly write a thriller. She glanced at Sheng Wenzhi's phone.
Sheng Wenzhi tapped his phone a few times and handed it to Shang Yechu: "Use mine."
The screen displayed the forum homepage of "Heart Ghost". Heart Ghost had posted a total of three posts on this forum. Two completed short stories and novellas, "Room 404" and "The Substitute List"; and one ongoing novel, "The Rules General Store"—currently, only its author and Shang Yechu know that it has been abandoned.
Shang Yechu didn't rush to read the novel; instead, she browsed the forum first. It was a sparsely populated forum with only a little over seven thousand registered users. The posts on the homepage were mostly related to horror novels, horror movies, and horror puzzle games. It seemed to be a gathering place for a very niche group of horror culture enthusiasts.
Shang Ye first clicked into "The Rules General Store" and skimmed through several chapters, but couldn't understand what Sheng Wenzhi had written.
Haste makes waste, so Shang Yechu had no choice but to reread from the beginning. Only after slowing down her reading pace did Shang Yechu realize that this was a novel leaning towards psychological horror, focusing on the damp atmosphere of the general store, environmental descriptions, and hints about the rules. The plot progressed slowly, yet it sent chills down her spine with each reading.
Shang Yechu slowly devoured a few chapters, feeling an increasing unease running down her spine with each reading. It was broad daylight, yet a chilling wind seemed to blow overhead, making her feel deeply uncomfortable. The sense of despair grew stronger and stronger, weighing heavily on her heart.
When Shang Yechu saw the part where the protagonist "I" lifted the quilt covering the freezer, she was startled and subconsciously turned off her phone.
"Scared?" Sheng Wenzhi casually tugged at the bread crust. "Actually, there was no need. After I finished writing the part where the blanket is lifted, I abandoned the story. There's nothing after that."
Shang Yechu wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve, the cold, numb discomfort still lingering. She began to suspect that Sheng Wenzhi might have some psychological issues; otherwise, how could he write something so…so…
Shang Yechu thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a suitable word. To put it bluntly, it was "a novel that is meaningless except for making people feel scared and uncomfortable."
While reading, Shang Yechu did not enjoy any pleasure whatsoever; instead, she felt only discomfort, like a thorn in her back or a fishbone stuck in her throat.
The sky outside the window had darkened considerably. Shang Yechu glanced at the time and realized she had been reading for a full three hours. Sheng Wenzhi had hollowed out the large bread in his hand, leaving only a thin crust and a thick layer of butter.
Sheng Wenzhi did nothing for the past three hours but just stood there eating bread?
“No,” Sheng Wenzhi corrected (Shang Yechu then realized he had asked the question), “I’ve been observing your expression while you’re reading this book. Judging from your face, I think I’ve done a pretty good job.”
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