Chapter 37

Provincial capital, Dahe Publishing House.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu Dahe arrived at the office on time, first brewed a cup of tea for himself, comfortably moistened his throat, and then picked up the latest newspaper to read.

Spending half a morning drinking tea and reading newspapers was Lu Dahe's unshakable habit, and many people secretly had many complaints about this.

But Lu Dahe never cared about these idle gossip. He was now one person below and above everyone else, so did he need to care about the idle talk of those below?

Moreover, Lu Dahe believed that studying newspapers was his most important work.

In an era of changing situations, the seemingly inconspicuous words in the newspaper could be the thunder before the rain. A group of deaf and blind people couldn't hear or see, which was just right for him, Lu Dahe.

"Bang bang bang~"

The annoying knocking sound disturbed Lu Dahe, who was reading the newspaper.

Lu Dahe frowned, raised his head, and looked at the wall clock.

It was only nine-ten. Which blind guy was coming to make trouble? Didn't he know that he, Lu Dahe, didn't like to be disturbed at this time?

As for the president of the publishing house, who was the only one who could disturb Lu Dahe at will, he would never come to knock on the door. A single internal phone call, and Lu Dahe would have to run over to serve him.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a young man wearing glasses walked in.

Lu Dahe glanced at the person, drank some tea, and continued to read the newspaper with relish, as if he hadn't seen that there was one more person in the office.

The young man was very constrained, blushing and holding back for several seconds before saying: "Hello, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu, I came to ask about the novel *Lurking* and how it should be handled next."

Lu Dahe raised his eyelids, looked at the young man from above the newspaper, and said slowly: "How to handle it, the agency will decide after research. Why is the young man in such a hurry?

In our line of work, you must not be in a hurry. You must strictly check for the vast number of readers..."

The young man stood there, listening to Lu Dahe's teachings for a full three minutes, before taking advantage of the time he was drinking water to interject: "But Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu, we received the submission several days ago. We should at least give them a reply, right?"

Lu Dahe put down the newspaper and stared coldly at the young man: "Geng Zhi, how many years have you been in the agency?"

The young man named Geng Zhi was stunned for a moment and said: "Three years, Editor-in-Chief."

Lu Dahe raised his volume and scolded: "Then do you think you are qualified to instruct me on how to work now?"

Geng Zhi was a bit flustered and said: "No, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu, I didn't mean that..."

"Enough," Lu Dahe waved his hand seriously, as if driving away a fly: "Go out! Do your own job well, don't interfere with other colleagues, and don't violate discipline by contacting the author privately."

"........."

Geng Zhi, with a belly full of anger, walked out of the Editor-in-Chief's office. He really didn't understand what he had done wrong to offend this immediate superior.

Last week, the publishing house received a novel submission, which fell into the hands of Geng Zhi, the responsible editor.

The responsible editor was the editor responsible for directly connecting with the author, reading submissions every day to determine if they had publishing value, and then reporting to the above to decide the final fate of the submission.

After Geng Zhi opened this submission titled *Lurking*, he was immediately amazed and gave it the highest rating.

And it wasn't just Geng Zhi who gave it the highest rating; after colleagues read it, they also gave it unanimous praise.

But unexpectedly, after this manuscript was handed in, there was strangely no news.

Several steady colleagues said that this novel's subject matter was too sensitive. Although it was very good and outstanding, it might not be allowed to be published.

But *Lurking* was really too outstanding. How could Geng Zhi, who hadn't had any achievements for a long time, be willing to give up?

Today he really couldn't hold back, so he entered the Deputy Editor-in-Chief's office at an inappropriate time and was scolded.

Geng Zhi sat down at his desk, dazed for a long time without recovering.

"Sigh, Xiao Geng, Xiao Geng?"

The big sister opposite Geng Zhi suddenly called out to Geng Zhi in a low voice.

Geng Zhi woke up and hurriedly said: "Sister Xu, what's wrong?"

Sister Xu said mysteriously: "Did you go to Deputy Editor-in-Chief Lu to ask about *Lurking*?"

Geng Zhi said strangely: "Yeah! Sister Xu, how did you know?"

"I knew it as soon as I saw your look," Sister Xu said mysteriously: "Listen to big sister, give up!"

"What? Give up?" Geng Zhi said anxiously: "Sister Xu, you've also read that novel. If we give up, it's too much of a pity."

"Keep your voice down," Sister Xu looked around before saying to Geng Zhi: "It's asking you to give up, not the agency."

Geng Zhi was a bit silly and asked puzzledly: "Sister Xu, what do you mean? Can you be clearer?"

Sister Xu pointed to the next room and lowered her voice: "According to reliable sources, Xiao Feng next door has already contacted that Seven-Inch Blade."

"What?"

"Why?"

Geng Zhi stood up abruptly, looking at Sister Xu in disbelief. The fire he had been holding in his stomach suddenly erupted from his mouth, nose, and seven orifices.

"Why? Why don't you know, Xiao Geng?

Just because Xiao Feng is a college student, just because Xiao Feng is handsome, the Editor-in-Chief's daughter... Sigh, Xiao Geng, where are you going..."

Before Sister Xu finished speaking, Geng Zhi rushed to the next office in anger.

A man in black sitting in the corner put down his teacup and complained to Sister Xu: "Old Xu, don't stir up trouble! It won't look good for everyone if a joke is made."

Sister Xu glanced at him and said: "Humph, then why didn't you stop Xiao Geng? Besides, that Feng Bo is always acting all high and mighty; I don't believe you can stand it?"

The man in black laughed: "Ha, I'm almost retired, what else can I not stand?"

Sister Xu looked at him with disdain: "Pfft, you are the most cunning in the whole office."

Geng Zhi rushed into the next office, alarming the three colleagues inside.

Two of the colleagues immediately lowered their heads, pretending they didn't see Geng Zhi.

But Feng, who was sitting in the middle, looked at Geng Zhi with his eyelids raised and said coldly: "Something up?"

Geng Zhi didn't beat around the bush and asked directly: "You contacted that Seven-Inch Blade?"

Feng Bo said unhappily: "You should go ask the Editor-in-Chief this question, instead of coming to ask me."

Geng Zhi said angrily: "I just want to ask you, do you understand the rules? It was clearly my manuscript, why do you have to rob it?"

The rules Geng Zhi spoke of were actually some potential rules in the agency. Whoever received the manuscript first was theirs. Even if it was arranged from above, you should refuse.

But Feng Bo obviously didn't care about any rules. Everything in the bowl was food, and whoever opened their mouth first ate first.

"If you have the ability, go ask the Editor-in-Chief; if you don't, get out..."

"Say that again if you have the ability?"

"I'll say it eight times if..."

"Ding ling ling~"

Just as the two were about to make a scene, the office phone rang.

Feng Bo grabbed the phone first, adjusted his tone, and said kindly: "Hello, Dahe Publishing House."

"Yes, I am Feng Bo... Seven-Inch Blade? You are Li Ye, right?"

Geng Zhi was anxious and reached out to grab the phone from Feng Bo.

But Feng Bo looked at Geng Zhi sternly and made a "shh" gesture.

Geng Zhi gritted his teeth and forcibly stopped his movement.

Internal conflicts shouldn't be laughed at by outsiders.

Feng Bo smiled triumphantly and said to the phone: "Yes, our opinion is that you bring the remaining manuscript over, and after our analysis and research, we will make a decision on whether to publish it."

"Why? Don't you know what's wrong with your own manuscript? You bring the full manuscript over, and we will send professional editors to help you correct it..."

"You don't have time to come over? Why don't you have time to come over?"

Unknowingly, Feng Bo's tone had changed from the initial kindness and affinity to being overbearing.

"What did you say? You want to prepare for the exam, prepare for what exam... you are really a high school student?"

Feng Bo's voice rose instantly, and the last sentence was almost shouted.

And at the Qingshui County post office on the other end of the phone, Li Ye was also very speechless.

【Didn't they say editors in this era are very enthusiastic and warm?】

【Didn't they say editors in this era are very righteous and open?】

【But listening to the voice on the other side, this person isn't young either! Why is he so old-fashioned, and his shelf is quite high?】 Chapter 38: But I Have Already Refused!