r18novel Chapter 39, "Canal Street Subway Station," is complete.
Chapter 39, "Canal Street Subway Station," is complete.
Epstein?
This name sounds familiar.
The one on the island?
I don't think so!
Presumably sensing Xu Shengjie's doubts, Robert simply began to introduce the man.
Jason Epstein, a legendary editor, publisher, and innovator in the American publishing industry, spearheaded the paperback revolution and founded The New York Review of Books and The American Library. He is currently the director of Random House, responsible for compiling the Classics series.
In short, he is a great power!
In the publishing world, he holds a higher position than Robert.
However, Xu Shengjie didn't really feel anything, since this person was a bit far away from him.
As long as it's not the one on the island, it'll be fine!
"He's a big shot!"
"That's one way to understand it."
"Would he be interested in 'Buffy'? Robert, to be honest, I admit my vampire universe is very creative, but if it's going to attract the attention of such a big shot... 'Buffy' probably isn't quite up to par."
On the other end of the phone, Gottlieb took a sip of coffee and couldn't help but laugh.
He was even more satisfied with Xu Shengjie!
This is a very clear-headed child who doesn't become arrogant just because he wrote a work.
"Child, I'm glad you have such a clear understanding."
His voice was very kind as he said, "Your performance on the 15th was outstanding. Jason happened to be at the arena that day too."
Later, he chatted with English and Spike and the others, and you came up in passing.
Everyone has a good impression of you. Then, when he was chatting with me yesterday, he brought up this matter. I briefly mentioned your idea of a "vampire universe" to him, and then talked about the two stories, "Canal Street" and "Telephone Booth".
Jason was very interested and took the manuscript of "Buffett".
It will be quick, so we just need to be patient… Jason taking over means that both Doubleday and Random House will be paying attention to this book. Therefore, the process will be faster than we expect, so you'd better be prepared.”
"Robert, this is the best news I've heard all day, thank you!"
"Alright, I won't disturb your creative process any longer. I wish you all the best in your writing."
After ending the phone call with Robert, Xu Shengjie couldn't help but clench his fist and swing it forcefully.
Everything is moving in a positive direction!
A reliable literary agent is just like that.
If Xu Shengjie were to submit his work himself, it might take several months, or even half a year, to get a response. But literary agents can use their qualifications, connections, and influence to expedite the process and make it much shorter.
Of course, we also have to thank James Huang.
If it weren't for his ticket, Xu Shengjie wouldn't have had the opportunity to access Madison Square Garden, let alone get to know English and Spike.
It should be said that it was English and his companion who accelerated Jason's decision-making process.
Great, then keep it up!
……
Xu Shengjie sat down at the typewriter again, and inspiration struck.
Atubo ultimately chose to leave quietly, while Joshua watched him go...
After typing the word 'END', Xu Shengjie sat at his worktable, looking lost and dejected.
Although this novel is not particularly long, it contains a great deal of his effort and brings him immense satisfaction.
After checking it once, I entered it into a word processor and then printed it.
After finishing everything, Xu Shengjie curled up on a single sofa in the corner, holding a storyboard, and continued to ponder the story of "Phone Booth".
However, my previously smooth train of thought has become somewhat blocked.
Julie's fiery red short hair would occasionally pop into his mind.
Xu Shengjie placed the storyboard on the small table next to the sofa, went into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of chilled Corona, and took a big gulp.
He found a brand new storyboard on the worktable and curled up on the sofa again.
He used a paintbrush to draw the image in his mind on the manuscript paper.
However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that it is essentially modeled after Angelina Jolie.
She ran, she kept running, she was still running...
Xu Shengjie drew more than a dozen shots, all of which were images of Julie running.
So, should it be called "Run Julie"?
Xu Shengjie wrote a line of scribbled words on the storyboard.
Then he got up and went back to his worktable, where he familiarized himself with the story outline, synopsis, and character introductions in his notebook.
Before I knew it, it was dark.
The door was unlocked with a key, and Julie walked in carrying a bag of fast food.
Xu Shengjie was unaware and continued working at his worktable.
Julie didn't disturb him. Instead, she took the fast food into the kitchen, put the container in the microwave to heat it up, and then came out.
She walked up behind Xu Shengjie and saw him writing storyboards.
"Darling, is that me?"
Looking at the characters in the storyboard, she couldn't help but ask a question.
Xu Shengjie turned his head and glanced at her.
"Yes!"
"So, you've been working on storyboards at home all day?"
"No, I finished 'Canal Street' and originally planned to write 'Telephone Booth' first, but my inspiration suddenly stopped. My mind kept replaying that story about you. So I wrote an outline, and then inspiration kept coming. It's like I already have a complete story in my mind, as well as a complete shooting plan and scheme."
"Julie, run!"
Julie couldn't help but laugh when she saw the name.
"You're so lazy, just using my name as the main character? I'll charge you."
As she spoke, she picked up a few sheets of paper from the table, then nestled into the sofa and began to read them with great interest.
Xu Shengjie ignored her and continued drawing the storyboard, his thoughts becoming clearer.
"Jeffrey, this story is somewhat similar to Groundhog Day last year?"
"Uh, they're different!"
Xu Shengjie turned his head and explained, "To be precise, this story is about different choices in three parallel universes."
Each run, due to small changes in decisions, produces different results, somewhat like the butterfly effect.
"The butterfly effect?"
"Yes, this is a chaotic phenomenon. A butterfly flapping its wings in South America might trigger a tornado in Texas. The development of anything involves both constants and variables. The trajectory of things in the process of development follows certain patterns, but there are also unpredictable 'variables' that can sometimes have the opposite effect. A tiny change can influence the development of things..."
Julie was stunned!
She stared at Xu Shengjie, mouth agape, and suddenly asked, "Jeffrey, are you really a failed candidate?"
Xu Shengjie smiled slightly, "Of course, but as you know, Chinese people love to read."
I just read a few more books than others in my spare time between fighting and killing time, so I know a little more.
This X is perfectly natural.
Julie's eyes shone with unparalleled adoration.
"Jeffrey, you're amazing!"
"Thanks!"
Xu Shengjie turned around calmly and continued working.
Just then, the phone rang.
Xu Shengjie got up, walked over, and picked up the phone.
"Jeff, come watch the game, South Korea vs. Spain, we're at the bar on Duoye Street."
The eldest brother and the others are here too…
Senior Brother?
Xu Shengjie was stunned for a moment, then immediately remembered who it was.
Master Wu's son, Woodward.
Master Wu is a famous martial arts master in Chinatown and a direct disciple of Choy Li Fut Kung Fu.
In the 60s, he founded the Choy Li Fut Kung Fu School in Chinatown, and later established a Kung Fu school, inviting martial arts masters such as Zheng Manqing (Yang-style Tai Chi), Mei Yi (Wing Chun), and Yu Zhiwei (Hung Kuen) to serve as instructors and teach Kung Fu to the children of Chinatown.
Master Wu's full name is Wu Xuanzhuo. He is proficient in Cai Li Fo, Cross Fist, and Plum Blossom Spear.
In the 1980s, he was the head security coach for the Chinatown Dragon Boat Race, and he used his "silk-winding strength" to resolve many conflicts.
At its peak, it had more than a thousand disciples.
However, there were only twelve direct disciples. Among them, Woodward was the eldest brother, while Xu Shengjie formally became Master Wu's last disciple in 85. Later, Xu Shengjie's reputation as Master Wu's last disciple played a significant role in his ability to dominate Chinatown.
In the 90s, Master Wu semi-retired and no longer concerned himself with matters of the underworld.
He handed over the boxing gym and kung fu school to his senior brother, Woodward, while he himself became a landlord on Bowery Street, spending his days drinking tea, chatting, and singing opera with a group of old people in the teahouse. It was for this reason that he became very familiar with Zhou Caiqin and others.
Xu Shengjie might not care if others called him.
What's the point of watching the South Korean team's matches? It's not like it's the 2002 World Cup.
But if his senior brother is also there, then he has to go over there.
So he got up, tidied himself up, and said to Julie, "Julie, would you be interested in learning about Chinatown's nightlife?"
"What kind of nightlife?"
"I went to the bar to watch the game; my senior brother and the others were there."
"Great! I've been wanting to experience Chinatown at night for a long time. I've heard it's very lively."
However, my classmate mentioned before that the streets here get very chaotic at night... so I didn't tell you about it yesterday.
"What a load of crap, the nightlife here is fantastic."
As Xu Shengjie spoke, he got up, went inside, and changed his clothes.
Black T-shirt, faded jeans, and sneakers.
Angelina Jolie, on the other hand, wore hot pants and a short T-shirt, with a jacket on top, which accentuated her slender figure and made her look exceptionally sexy.
The two went out and ran into Ashish returning from work.
Ah San winked at him, and Xu Shengjie couldn't ignore him, so he greeted him and hurriedly left with Julie, leaving Ashish watching Julie's graceful figure, swallowing hard, his eyes full of envy.
His father called today and asked him when he's getting married.
However, most women in New York are short-sighted and simply cannot see his good qualities.
Ashish felt a sense of loss, as he preferred to sleep with that Chinese man rather than even glance at him.
……
"That guy is drooling."
As they entered the elevator, Julie said with a smile.
"Baby, this means you're so hot, so hot that it makes people jealous of me."
However, it's best not to talk to him; that guy's brain circuits...
Xu Shengjie briefly explained Ashish's requirements for choosing a partner to Julie, and Julie was immediately shocked.
"He's so confident!"
"Yes, I think so too."
The two then rode their motorcycle straight to Duoye Street.
The bars on Duoye Street are quite lively tonight.
It was only seven o'clock, and all the bars were already open for business.
Xu Shengjie parked his motorcycle in front of a bar called "Liwan".
Two young men with dyed yellow hair came up to him, smiling and saying, "Brother Jie, long time no see."
"Get lost! Didn't we just see each other last week?"
Xu Shengjie laughed and cursed, tossed the car keys to a blond-haired guy, and led Julie by the hand towards the bar.
"Brother Jie, you're awesome!"
The blond-haired boy started making a fuss behind their backs.
Xu Shengjie didn't turn his head; with his back to them, he raised his middle finger.
"What are they saying?"
"They're saying you're pretty."
"Really? How do you say that in Chinese... Really?"
"Zheng, to say you are beautiful, is 'zhengdian'. You can use this phrase anywhere. If you want to compliment someone's beauty, you can use 'zheng'; if you think something is delicious, you can also use 'zhengdian'; if you think a piece of clothing is beautiful, you can also use 'zhengdian' to praise it."
"What if I want to swear..."
"You can call him NewBee!"