九九影院

In his cramped rental, Lin Chuan’s fingers paused on the keyboard, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he replied, “Youyou, now you’re teasing me!”

Youyou: “Also?”

Lin Chuan scratched his head: “That’s not important. What’s important is you’re making fun of a flop of a writer.”

Youyou looked at the message Lin Chuan had sent and smiled slightly, her slender and fair fingers dancing like playing the piano: “It’s not teasing. Plus, you’re not a flop anymore.”

Teasing?

Lin Chuan smiled and replied, “The royalty payment hasn’t hit my account yet, so what am I if not a flop?”

“Would a flop warrant a personal manuscript review by the chief editor?” Youyou replied.

Chief editor’s personal review?

Lin Chuan was startled: “Youyou, you’ve been promoted to chief editor? Congratulations!”

“I’m lucky not to have been fired yet, let alone be chief editor,” Youyou replied with a wry smile in her message, “It’s Sailing Novel’s chief editor Mingyue who, after hearing you want to start a new book, wants to review your manuscript with me.”

In Sailing Novel, there are three editorial ranks: responsible editor, chief editor, and editor-in-chief.

Each level has different authorities.

For instance, to feature a ‘Chief Editor Recommended’ major promotional spot in Sailing Novel, one needs the chief editor’s review and approval.

Additionally, chief editors have the privilege to recommend ‘Influent Authors’ as well as voting rights in decisions.

All these privileges are beyond what responsible editor Youyou has.

When Lin Chuan heard it was chief editor Mingyue, his heart skipped a beat, and his fingers withdrew from the worn-out keyboard.

Having written on Sailing Novel Website for so long, he had often heard of chief editor Mingyue’s big reputation.

Chief editor Mingyue had groomed numerous influent authors and was notoriously strict in the circle. His rejection rate for newbies and flops was the highest in Sailing Novel, with very few manuscripts getting through.

But almost every author whose work he approved started with a gem.

Now, for chief editor Mingyue to personally review Lin Chuan’s manuscript was an enormous recognition for Lin Chuan.

At the same time, it also put a lot of pressure on him.

Lin Chuan took a deep breath, placed his hands back on the balding keyboard, and replied to Youyou, “Could you ask Mingyue to go easy on his criticism?”

In the writer’s community, Mingyue’s “scathing quotes” were still making the rounds.

[With your skills, it’d be a waste not to be screwing in bolts!]

[Throw some rice on your keyboard, and the chickens pecking at it would write better than you!]

[After reading your opener, my dog started barking beside me, saying it fancies a bite!]

[…]

Every time Lin Chuan saw these, he couldn’t help but put himself in their shoes, shuddering at the thought.

So cruel!

So real!

Seeing Lin Chuan’s message, Youyou couldn’t help but laugh: “You don’t have to be so nervous. After reading your ‘Swindler’, Mingyue also suggested you write ‘Swindler II’. But since he knows you’re not into swindler-themed novels anymore, he’s really curious about what your new book will be about. No other meaning.”

Lin Chuan breathed a sigh of relief.

When he was studying, he feared teachers showcasing his essays in class for public critique.

Now, as a novelist, every time he sent the opening chapter to the editor, he felt the same anxiety, dreading the editor might say: What on earth did you write?

“Youyou, let me organize the opening chapter document a bit. Just a moment,” Lin Chuan steadied himself.

Youyou: “Nodding.jpg.”

Lin Chuan had long finished preparing the opening chapter document, but now, he wanted to review it a few more times himself.

Because, the reviewers included not just Youyou but also Mingyue.

And he might really get a scolding.

Lin Chuan opened the Word document and reviewed the opening of ‘This Assassin Is Too Professional’ over and over again. After being certain there were no issues, he sent the 20,000-word opener to Youyou.

Youyou: “Received.jpg.”

Lin Chuan leaned back, resting his entire body on the chair, waiting for the manuscript review comments.

The chair was a common wooden one, not one of those gaming chairs that can “rita,” nor an ergonomic chair—it was quite uncomfortable to sit on and somewhat constricted his back.

Sitting in this chair felt very much like the interrogation chairs designated for criminal suspects.

If he turned off the computer and placed a small wooden board in front of him, Lin Chuan would have wondered if he was in an interrogation room.

He did not like this feeling.

Lin Chuan thought that after he received his manuscript fee next month, he definitely needed to get a gaming chair.

…

At the Sailing Novel Website office building, in the break room.

Youyou and Mingyue sat across from each other at a table with two cups of coffee on it, emanating a rich and fragrant aroma, tinged with a slight bitterness.

Mingyue, the female editor-in-chief of Sailing Novel, was about thirty years old.

She was dressed in a black suit, with her hair tied in a high ponytail at the top of her head, her face free of excess makeup but exuding a confident and capable temperament.

Mingyue took a sip of coffee and began to speak.

“Youyou, your ‘Mr. Lin’ seems to have some potential for development. You should follow up more with him, and it should improve your performance.”

Youyou nodded with a smile, “Indeed, his ‘Swindler’ has gathered too much momentum. Without even getting any promotion from the website, it managed to climb to the top of the Heroes List, which was completely beyond my expectations.”

Mingyue also smiled, “It’s not just you who didn’t expect it, the chief editor didn’t expect it either. By the way, there’s another piece of news related to this. Do you know?”

“Related news?” Youyou blinked.

“Handon has switched his book,” Mingyue said with a laugh.

Youyou was immediately taken aback.

Handon, a ten-thousand subscription author from Sailing Novel, was one of the ‘The Two Heroes’ in the Heroes List competition, with his work “King of Cheating” starting the same period as Lin Chuan.

Now, he had switched books?

“Because of ‘Swindler’?” Youyou asked curiously.

Mingyue nodded, “According to his editor, after reading ‘Swindler,’ he lost the courage to continue writing his ‘King of Cheating.’”

Youyou’s delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly, “I’ve read some of his ‘King of Cheating’ as well, it was written quite well, but… it ran into Lin Chuan.”

“Mr. Lin’s name is Lin Chuan?” Mingyue inquired.

Youyou nodded slightly.

Mingyue laughed, “Then this kid Lin Chuan has been too ruthless!”

Youyou immediately laughed, defending her author, “Lin Chuan is the underdog.”

If there hadn’t been a crackdown on gambling, Youyou would have claimed that Lin Chuan suffered from poor timing.

Lin Chuan, a reversal of fates!

“So quick to protect your author,” Mingyue chuckled, “By the way, has Lin Chuan sent over the beginning of the story?”

Ding-dong–

Youyou’s QQ received a message.

Lin Chuan: “File/This Assassin Is Too Professional.docx.”

Youyou smiled and lifted her phone, “Guess he heard your call. He just sent over the beginning. I’ll forward it to you.”

The editor-in-chief, Mingyue, set down her coffee and picked up her phone.

Ding, file received.

“I want to see, with ‘Swindler’ so hot right now, he could have written ‘Swindler II.’ Instead, he chooses an assassin? What’s his confidence?”

Mingyue and Youyou, with curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of judgment, opened Lin Chuan’s “This Assassin Is Too Professional” beginning.

‘I am an assassin.’

‘Some call me the King of the Night, others the Reaper of Mankind.’