Chapter 302: Fading Reality

Chu Ge, who unintentionally resorted to the demonic sword, was also feeling somewhat uneasy. He suddenly felt like he had turned into some sort of antagonist, and as a result, his interaction with the publishing house lost it’s fire.

“Hello, I’m Chu Ge.”

“Hello, Teacher Chu. There might be a little misunderstanding in this matter…”

Chu Ge knew there wasn’t much of a misunderstanding, but he decided to give them a way out, saying, “Hmm… So, are we going to find a solution for this? In any case, I don’t accept these changes. If it’s troublesome, let’s just stop the distribution.”

The other party hurriedly responded, “We can’t stop.”

Chu Ge asked, “Why not? Are there any legal factors?”

“Well, there aren’t any legal issues,” the other party hesitated for a moment and then said, “It’s due to commercial reasons.”

Chu Ge understood. They weren’t afraid of the fandom; they were bowing to financial pressures.

Originally, publishing houses were meant to make money, not to promote culture.

Initially, they felt the need to improve the literary quality to avoid appearing cheap. However, when they realized the incredible appeal this particular book had and how much commercial value it held, they were reluctant to halt it.

Chu Ge sighed and didn’t express further opinions, merely saying, “I think the first print run shouldn’t be too large, right? I only saw this one set at my local bookstore, so perhaps just a few thousand copies in total? If you withdraw it and reprint, the loss shouldn’t be significant, right?”

“Yes, the first print run was only 5,000 copies. The loss… well, it’s a bit.” The other party still said, “No worries, it was our mistake, and we’ll take responsibility.”

Chu Ge continued, “So, let’s print it according to the original text. If you need to make any changes, I’ll only accept combining short sentences into longer paragraphs. I know our paragraph breaks might not be conventional, but it’s because of the different reading medium. On the app, readers find long blocks of text tiring, so we divide them into more paragraphs. In the physical book, if it should be combined, then combine it. Don’t assume the author doesn’t understand. As for other changes, not a single word can be altered, even if it was a typo.”

“…”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, we’ll follow your instructions, Teacher.”

If they wanted to make money, they would have to listen to the teacher. In fact, Chu Ge’s attitude was much better than what they had expected. They had thought he would shower them with angry words, but he was surprisingly straightforward.

Chu Ge sighed once again and said, “Once you’ve printed them, send me a set of sample books. I remember that was the rule in the past. It’s strange that even this is no longer observed.”

The other party responded apologetically, “We will make sure to do that next time.”

Chu Ge shook his head and said, “I’ll post another Weibo to explain, and let’s leave it at that…”

The matter was resolved much faster than expected. He had initially thought it might drag on for a long time, possibly even involving lawsuits and such. But it was over in an instant after the demonic sword was drawn. Chu Ge couldn’t help feeling a bit uncertain. No wonder Qiu Wuji had called it a demonic sword; it made even him anxious.

So he quickly posted a new Weibo: “I’ve communicated with the publishing house, and the work will be reprinted according to the original text. Thank you all for your concern.”

He hoped this would appease the situation.

In any case, the key issue had been resolved, but the excitement of having his work published through traditional means had dissipated, leaving him rather indifferent.

Suddenly, his phone rang, and when he picked it up, it was an unfamiliar call. Chu Ge listened for a moment, and the other person said, “Little Chu, this is Chen Bozhong from the Writers Association.”

Chu Ge had to think for a moment to remember that Chen Bozhong was the Vice Chairman of the Writers Association, the official one, not the online writers’ association. He hadn’t participated in the Writers Association’s activities for a long time, and had almost forgotten about it. The name also had a somewhat humorous homophonic meaning…

“Chairman Chen, no need to be so formal. How can I assist you?”

“I heard you had a dispute with the publishing house? They contacted me about it,” Chen Bozhong said. “It’s about the issue of altering your work. Many of us have been through similar situations. While it’s infuriating, life goes on. Publishing is still a good thing… How about we set up a meeting with the publishing house one day and discuss it together?”

“Oh, we’ve already reached an agreement, no issues now. Thanks for your concern, Chairman Chen.”

“So quickly?” Chen Bozhong sounded surprised. “I heard it had become quite a big issue?”

“Well… it was a bit unexpected, a little surprising, but it’s all settled now, nothing major.”

“That’s good. Young people shouldn’t be too hasty. Getting along with others is key to getting things done,” Chen Bozhong sighed. “Local authors are publishing works, but no one is reporting it to us. It’s not professional.”

“Oh, hahaha, I didn’t even know myself. It was quite sudden; it’s not anyone else’s fault.”

“Alright… there’s a national project for supported literary works coming up soon. Little Chu, take a look and see if you’d like to submit something.”

Chu Ge was somewhat interested. “What is it? Are there any specific requirements?”

“First, the theme is the tremendous changes in rural areas in the new era, portraying the new atmosphere of rural revitalization and the new achievements in agricultural modernization… Second, the revival of the nation…”

Chu Ge listened with a slightly sweaty forehead and instantly dropped the idea he had in mind. “Chairman Chen, let’s not bother with this. It’s not my forte. I write Wuxia stories, like Jin Yong. Can we write about the revitalization of a fictional village?”

Chen Bozhong replied, “That’s fine. If it doesn’t work this time, there’s always the next. With your writing skills and a broad reader base, you could write more stories about your hometown. It’s a form of promoting your hometown. You can even write short stories.”

“Hometown? Nanjiang?”

“…Our city isn’t called Nanjiang.”

“But I can only write about Nanjiang.”

Chen Bozhong: “???”

Chu Ge smiled. “Alright, Chairman Chen, I’m grateful for your attention to the younger generation and your passion for our hometown. If there’s a chance, I’ll do my best.”

Chen Bozhong suddenly asked, “Your way of speaking, have you worked in the system?”

“No, I’ve worked in state-owned enterprises, so it’s similar.”

Chen Bozhong remained silent for a moment and then said, “Alright, let’s talk about this later.”

Chu Ge wasn’t sure if Chen Bozhong wanted to nurture him to take on some responsibilities within the Writers Association, but he didn’t want to dwell on it.

Previously, he had viewed traditional publishing as a way to turn fiction into reality. However, after the changes at the publishing house and the phone call from the Writers Association, he had a deep sense that these were two distinct worlds, or even two different eras.

A deep rift of mutual incomprehension separated them.

Chu Ge leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Since Qiu Wuji had arrived, his life had gradually become more fantastical. With the ability to enter the fictional world, the tangible aspects of reality were fading, leaving behind only some mundane routines. Today, he had suddenly encountered a typical reality intersection, and it felt a bit unusual.

Scenes from the past, like blind dates, farewells, and school reunions, seemed distant. Even earlier phases of life, such as studying and working, felt like a dream.

In the future, he might be dealing with even less conventional things. In retrospect, today’s experience was not bad. It could be considered one of the rare memories in his work and life.

Outside the door, Qiu Wuji tentatively peeked in.

Chu Ge quickly noticed and chuckled, “I didn’t even realize when you left.”

Qiu Wuji walked in with her hands behind her back. “While you are talking to someone on QQ, why should I stand by?”

Chu Ge saw her hidden hands and knew something was up. He smiled and asked, “What are you here for?”

Qiu Wuji asked with some anticipation, “Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes. But strangely, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic now,” Chu Ge replied.

Qiu Wuji finally revealed the book she had behind her back, “Even though you were upset, I still bought it.”

Chu Ge questioned, “We’re about to reprint it. Buying this single copy is like using it as a doorstop, isn’t it?”

Qiu Wuji sighed, “You, once you get caught up in things, you forget the original purpose of having a physical book.”

Chu Ge suddenly realized that he had initially sought a physical book to use as a possible link to the mirrored world. At the very least, it was a research avenue.

However, these recent events had completely wiped that from his mind.

Qiu Wuji handed him the book, saying, “Well, take a look. Since the plot hasn’t been changed, the mirrored world within the book should still be our world. Give it a try.”

Chu Ge chuckled, “You’re a truly diligent assistant.”

“That’s right,” Qiu Wuji replied. “The boss can be impulsive, but the assistant has to remember everything.”

“Have you heard that saying about assistants? ‘Assist with work when there’s something to do, and when there’s nothing…'”

Before he could finish, a little foot came kicking his way.

Chu Ge swiftly spun around, avoiding the kick, and then he hugged Qiu Wuji’s waist. “Come on, let’s read the book together.”