The editor-in-chief, Wang De'an, is a middle-aged man nearing fifty, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and possessing a refined and scholarly demeanor.
He was reviewing the proofs for the next issue when he was startled by Xu Lan's loud and boisterous manner.
"Xiao Xu? What's wrong? Is something urgent?"
Wang De'an adjusted his glasses, looking at his young subordinate with some displeasure.
"No, editor-in-chief, look at this!"
Xu Lan placed the computer on his desk and opened the document for "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store".
The tone was hurried.
"This article is...it's amazing!"
"oh?"
Wang De'an became interested.
Xu Lan was recruited by him personally.
He knew that this young girl had very high standards, and ordinary manuscripts would not even meet her approval.
Someone who can excite her like this must be extraordinary.
"The Miracles of the Namiya General Store? Profound insight?"
Wang De'an looked at the title and pen name and pondered for a moment.
"Never heard of this author, is she a newcomer?"
"It should be."
Wang De'an nodded, slowly picked up his teacup, and began to review the document.
Xu Lan stood nervously to the side, not daring to even breathe.
Wang De'an looked at it very slowly and carefully.
His expression changed from calm at first to a slight frown.
Then his gaze became focused, and finally, completely solemn.
Xu Lan's heart was in turmoil, following his changing expressions.
It took a full hour before Wang De'an finally raised his head.
He wasn't as excited as Xu Lan.
Instead, he exhaled a long, long breath.
Then, in an extremely serious tone, he said something to Xu Lan that left her completely baffled.
"Xiao Xu, have you noticed? This article... has a huge problem!"
Xu Lan's heart skipped a beat.
"Editor-in-chief, is there any sensitive content, or is it suspected of plagiarism?"
Wang De'an shook his head, his eyes fixed sharply on the screen.
"The problem with it is that it's too well written."
He pointed to the screen and analyzed it to Xu Lan:
"Look at its narrative rhythm, it's calm, precise, and there's not a single wasted word."
Look at its structure; it uses letters to connect several independent yet related stories, with time and space interwoven seamlessly.
Look at its emotional control; it clearly tells the warmest and most healing stories.
But the writing carries a sense of world-weariness and compassion born from keen insight into the ways of the world.
"This kind of writing skill, this kind of conception, this kind of insight into human nature..."
This is definitely not something a newbie could write!
Xu Lan was stunned by the editor-in-chief's analysis.
She only thought it was beautiful and touching, but she didn't think about it that deeply.
"Editor-in-chief, do you mean... this 'Jianshen' is an alias used by some famous person?"
Xu Lan guessed.
"Very likely!"
Wang De'an's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"In the domestic literary scene, to have mastered structure to this extent while still maintaining this warm and tender touch..."
After thinking it over and over, I realized there's only one person.
Could it be... Su Mubai, the old man who has been away from writing for almost ten years?
The more he talked, the more likely it seemed.
"Whether it's him or not, this is an opportunity for 'New Tide'!"
Wang De'an slammed his hand heavily on the table.
"Xiao Xu, contact Jian Shen immediately! Remember, use the highest level of protocol! To show our sincerity!"
"Tell him the maximum pay! We'll give this piece of work our full support!"
"Also, try to find out his true identity!"
"clear!"
Xu Lan accepted the order and left with light steps.
She opened the backend, found the email address, and excitedly began typing.
Dear Professor Jian Shen: Hello! I am Xu Lan, an editor at *New Tide* magazine.
...
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