Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 415 Such a future is both terrifying and sweet!

"Haven't you received his new novel yet?"

"…I just checked my mailbox, and there is indeed nothing."

"So, did the guardhouse receive any 'suspicious' letters?"

"I just asked Lao Liu this morning, and he didn't have any. They were just some ordinary letters."

"What about the fax?"

"No more. The noise from our fax machine, when a document is transmitted, half the building can hear it."

“This shouldn’t be the case… This shouldn’t be the case…”

Xiao Jianguo sat back in his chair dejectedly, muttering to himself.

In front of him was Zhu Yanling, who had been promoted to deputy editor-in-chief of Huacheng Publishing House. She comforted him, "President, don't be too anxious. Zhang Chao has written three short stories in a row, and the subject of each is different. I'm afraid with his creative energy, he needs to take a good rest for a while."

Xiao Jianguo shook his head and said, "Although Painted Skin was published in the September issue of October, it was reported in early August that Zhang Chao went to their place for a discussion. This means that October received Painted Skin at the latest by the end of July.

Didn't you notice that Zhang Chao's submission interval this time was about 2 months? Now it has been 2 months since he submitted his work to October. Could it be that he hasn't written a single short story?
This is not like his style. He has always been a quick shooter! Back then, "Young Like You" was a long novel, how long did it take to submit the manuscript?"

Zhu Yanling didn't know what to say when she heard this. In this round of submissions, Zhang Chao had "visited" the four major literary magazines, Harvest, Contemporary, and October, but Huacheng, the one with which he had the closest relationship, never received Zhang Chao's manuscripts.

For the first time, it can be said that Zhang Chao was just trying to try something new.

The second time, it can be said that Zhang Chao was creating an impact.

the third time……

Xiao Jianguo finally became a little anxious and could no longer find any reasons to convince himself.

Zhang Chao, what do you mean? In your eyes, Huacheng is no longer considered the top pure literature journal in China, right?

Especially when he thought of the "honeymoon period" between Zhang Chao and Huacheng Society when he just became famous, Xiao Jianguo couldn't help feeling a sour taste in his heart.

Thinking back to the time when we signed the bet, did the book signing, and traveled to Dongguan... I crossed out the last item - how has Huacheng Society let you down?
Zhu Yanling hesitated for a moment and said, "Maybe he...will submit it to People's Literature..."

Xiao Jianguo waved his hand and said, "Impossible, he and People's Literature are not compatible!"

Zhu Yanling didn't dare to ask Xiao Jianguo why he said this, but she still volunteered, "How about I contact Zhang Chao again?"

Xiao Jianguo thought about it, and finally made up his mind and said, "Don't call. It's harder to call Zhang Chao now than the Japanese devils! So, you can go on a business trip and go directly to Yanjing, and then make an appointment with him when you get there.

I don't believe he doesn't care about the past relationship and can avoid meeting you even when you are at the door."

Zhu Yanling said: "Okay, I'll give you the work and we'll leave tomorrow!"

Xiao Jianguo nodded tiredly, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and seemed to want to put this troublesome matter behind him for the time being.

Zhu Yanling looked at Xiao Jianguo, who was about to retire, with both understanding and sympathy. She quietly left the editor-in-chief's office and gently closed the door.

Xiao Jianguo was anxious to get Zhang Chao's new novel, not because he was jealous of the sales of hundreds of thousands of copies of "Harvest", but because whichever magazine Zhang Chao submitted his new work to would mean recognition of that magazine.

He represents not only sales, but also millions of young readers who have placed great trust in him.

Especially after the publication of his three recent novels and his speech at the Nanjing Internet Conference, Zhang Chao, who was already very popular, has become even more popular, and even many young people who originally paid no attention to literature and were at the bottom of society have begun to pay attention to him.

In addition, there have been rumors in the industry that Zhang Chao's fourth novel will be published in "Huacheng", and some colleagues even started to inquire about the news in advance, which made Xiao Jianguo even more uneasy.

He couldn't even imagine how people would laugh at "Flower City" if he couldn't win Zhang Chao's fourth short story.

……

Just when Zhu Yanling and Xiao Jianguo were extremely anxious, the editorial office of "Youth" magazine was filled with joy, and someone was reading a stack of manuscripts with great interest.

This time, Zhang Chao did not keep the editors of "Youth" waiting too long.

Just three or four days after arriving at the Siheyuan, Ma Boyong received an email titled “The Man in the Shell”.

Without looking at the sender, Ma Boyong knew that this must be Zhang Chao's submission - borrowing the title of a world-famous short story is one of the main characteristics of Zhang Chao's creation this time.

"The Man in the Shell", also known as "The Man in the Shell", is a famous work by the world's short story master Chekhov. It has also been included in China's high school Chinese textbooks.

In this novel, Chekhov created a character called Belikov, who is eccentric, timid, afraid of change, and wants to be a "law-abiding citizen" of the current system.

Belikov's worldview is that he is afraid of chaos and changing everything that exists. He controls everyone, not by violence or other means, but by mentally suppressing everyone, making them "suffocated." He is a defender of the Tsarist autocracy, but also a victim.

"Belikov" was once a synonym for people who defended the old things, opposed change, and hindered social development.

"Zhang Chao is planning to write an antique?" Ma Boyong's curiosity was aroused and he couldn't wait to read it.

After a long while, Ma Boyong finally turned his gaze away from the computer screen. There was a hint of confusion and surprise in his eyes.

He printed out the manuscript according to the number of editors and distributed copies to everyone personally.

When everyone opened the manuscript, they were immediately attracted by the brand new "future life" in the novel——

【Luo Zhi sat in a corner of the restaurant that he had already checked out, tapping his fingers on the table, his eyes drifting to the entrance from time to time. The pointer had already passed the agreed time by five minutes, but he told himself that this was normal. The emotional UP host "Candy Girl" said that girls are always a little late, which is part of the etiquette of dating. He deliberately chose a seat by the window, and the light gently sprinkled on the white tablecloth, reflecting the simple silver tableware and the small lily vase.

This restaurant is called "Whisper". It was the first restaurant recommended by the system after searching "Dating/High-end/Quiet/Stylish" on "Xiaozhong Dianping". The rating is 4.8, and the average price is 298 yuan. The lighting in the environment pictures is dim and elegant, and the food is exquisitely presented. He clicked on the details page and saw labels such as "Best for confession" and "Must-have for first date", which made him feel relieved.

While waiting, Luo Zhi unlocked his phone, scrolled through Weibo, and refreshed the page. A post titled "Why ladies are the best companions for highly educated men" popped up, with a picture of a girl with long flowing hair and a white pleated skirt holding a book in her hand. There were more than 6,000 likes, and the comments were all "You're right" and "I like quiet girls like this." He clicked on the full post and quickly read it.

"…Highly educated men are generally rational and introverted, and need a partner who can listen quietly and be considerate…"

"...a lady's gentleness can balance the tension and pressure in the workplace..."

"...An intelligent girl can understand your work without interfering too much..."

Luo Zhi clicked the "like" button unconsciously. Such content gave him an inexplicable sense of identity. This sense of identity gave him a sense of certainty and made him believe that he was on the right path.

My phone vibrated. Micro Video pushed a new message: A must-see for programmers! A must-have guide for first dates.

He clicked on it and saw a man talking to the camera: "...Remember, the first date should not be too cheap or too expensive. It should show your taste without showing off your financial resources. Restaurants with a price range of 288 to 500 yuan are most suitable..."

Luo Zhi looked at the pre-ordered menu on the table and was secretly satisfied.

"…in a conversation, you should keep 60% listening, 30% responding, and 10% guiding. This way, the other person will feel valued without appearing boring…"

He has watched similar videos countless times, so he is sure that this time, this restaurant, and this location are the best for this blind date. Luo Zhi repeatedly rehearsed the words in the video in his mind, and even unconsciously took out the tissue in his pocket, folded it into a small triangle according to the instructions in the video, and put it back. "Details determine success or failure," he said silently in his heart. 】

After reading this, everyone was a little surprised. The "Luo Zhi" created by Zhang Chao was obviously an intellectual elite. Judging from the description in the novel, his income would probably not be low.

But his lifestyle, why... is it a little weird?
His every choice, every action, and even every thought seemed to be guided by the content recommended by the mobile phone software.

"Doesn't he have any ideas of his own?"

This is everyone's puzzlement. Everyone has read "The Man in the Shell". Belikov grew up and received education in the Tsarist system. Because of his personality, his information source was extremely single, so it was not surprising that he was put into a "shell".

But Luo Zhi is different. He has received a good education and can access a variety of information through the Internet. Why is the information surrounding him so monotonous?

"Is it because of the 'recommendation'?" Someone hesitated and expressed his opinion.

"recommend?"

"When I was chatting with the IT department, they said that search engines and shopping platforms are all doing this. For example, if you search for 'how to avoid insomnia' this time, the next time you open the browser, you will be recommended various sleep aids, such as sleeping pills, pillows, and Melatonin..."

"No... It doesn't seem like Luo Zhi is facing a search recommendation."

"Stop chatting and continue watching—"

[Suddenly, a WeChat message popped up on the phone screen: "I'll be there soon. Sorry to have kept you waiting."

The information came from Liu Ying. Her profile picture was a photo of herself, with delicate, elegant eyebrows and long, straight black hair. Even if it was only the size of a finger on the screen, it was enough to make Luo Zhi's heart beat faster.

Liu Ying is a white-collar worker who likes reading and speaks softly. In her WeChat Moments, she is described as a "model lady". Even her Moments have a literary atmosphere - close-ups of sunsets, coffee, and books, with occasional short reflections.

Luo Zhi replied: "It's okay, take your time." Then he couldn't help but click on Liu Ying's circle of friends. The latest one was posted yesterday, with a picture of a coffee cup and a new book by Haruki Murakami, and the text: "Every time we meet, it's a reunion after a long separation."

He chewed over this sentence in his mind again and again, finding it both profound and elegant.

Luo Zhi put down his phone and adjusted the collar of his dark blue shirt, which he had spent a week choosing on "Yipin". The label was "a must-have for elite dates". He recalled the advice he had written down when he watched "How to Impress a Girl on a First Date" last night: "Be confident but not conceited, be gentlemanly but not greasy, have something to talk about but don't chatter."

He raised his head and looked around. There was a square pillar in the center of the restaurant, with screens hanging high on all four sides, showing the restaurant's dishes.

Luo Zhi's gaze stayed on the screen for less than a second before the person introducing the dishes in the video seamlessly switched from a vibrant young girl to an intellectual, elegant young woman with long black hair.

Even though Luo Zhi knew that this was because his screen had scanned his pupils and knew his preferences, he still couldn't help but continue reading...】

Seeing this, Lan Ting put the manuscript on the table and said with lingering fear: "I'm a little scared..."

The female editor next to her leaned over, looked at Lan Ting, then looked at the manuscript, and asked in confusion, "What are you afraid of?"

Lan Ting pointed to the plot of "screen scanning pupils" and said: "This is - too scary. Just imagine, if in the future, something as private as your aesthetic preferences can be obtained by merchants on the Internet, and then they will continue to 'cater to your tastes', and you will only see what you like and want to see..."

The female editor shuddered at the words, but she couldn't fully describe the feeling.

Mobile phones are private property and can only push your favorite content every day; but the screens in restaurants are public property and can actually show you the content you want to see based on the pupil data scanned instantly.

Extending from this, every screen in the future world - electronic billboards at bus stations, electronic advertising screens in shopping malls and supermarkets, advertising screens on subways, buses and taxis...

As long as your eyes linger on it for a moment, it will automatically start to "serve" you - it's chilling to think about it.

"That's why this article is called "The Man in the Case"!" another editor exclaimed.

"In Chekhov's original work, the ideological shell was forced into Belikov by Tsarist Russia through its system and violence; in the United States after World War II, it was through providing rich cultural products that exceeded people's needs and even exceeded people's imagination, allowing people to choose a shell to hide in.

But in Zhang Chao's vision, the condoms we will wear in the future will be knitted by ourselves stitch by stitch, and the color, pattern, and size will just perfectly capture the weakest, laziest, and most compromising part of our hearts.

This condom fits so well, who would be willing to take it off? Such a future is so scary and sweet! "

Shuang Xuetao's voice came from the door, his face was gloomy, as if he had been hit hard by Zhang Chao's novel.

The future Zhang Chao envisioned was ten times worse than he had expected.

"Don't be so pessimistic. Hurry up and read it. The first option is here." Ma Boyong urged.

So everyone continued to look down.

There was nothing special about Luo Zhi and Liu Ying's date, and it ended quickly. Luo Zhi went home by himself, and the novel began to take an interesting turn here -

On the way home, Luo Zhi kept reviewing tonight's date. Everything went as he expected - they talked about literature, movies, and coffee, and Liu Ying's opinions just met the characteristics of those "ideal partners of highly educated men": intellectual but not aggressive, opinionated but not strong, and occasional silence seemed natural and elegant.

Luo Zhi even calculated in his mind according to the "relationship progress timeline" he saw on the Internet: after two more dates, he should be able to hold her hand.

When the subway arrived at the station, Luo Zhi walked out of the car, took out his phone and browsed the push notification he had just received: "Three key steps after a date to make her never forget you." He walked and read, and unknowingly arrived at the neighborhood where he lived.

In the elevator, Luo Zhi was considering whether to send Liu Ying a text message saying, "I'm home, thank you for your time tonight." He had seen it somewhere before, and it seemed thoughtful without being overly enthusiastic. Just as he was thinking about the wording, the elevator door opened.

The sound in the corridor interrupted his thoughts. A short-haired girl was busy shuttling between a pile of cardboard boxes. She was wearing a loose T-shirt and denim shorts, revealing a pair of slender legs. There were all kinds of sundries scattered on the ground - a few comic books, a pink desk lamp, a pile of clothes, and a few plastic bags that looked like they were filled with snacks.

Luo Zhi then noticed that the vacant room 1702 finally had a new resident. He frowned slightly and quickened his pace towards his room 1703. Normally, this kind of high-end apartment should be inhabited by quiet and well-educated people, like him, or literary intellectuals like Liu Ying. This new neighbor looked like a frivolous college graduate who was not very content.

"Hey! Hello!" The girl suddenly looked up and saw Luo Zhi, and smiled brightly, "Do you live next door? I just moved here. My name is Zhou Yingying, but you can just call me Yingying!"

Luo Zhi nodded and reluctantly responded with a polite but distant smile: "Hello." After that, he quickly took out the key and prepared to open the door.

"Excuse me for bothering you," the girl - Yingying - walked over quickly, "Can I trouble you to help me? I have a box that is really too heavy to move..."

Luo Zhi stopped opening the door and looked back. Yingying pointed to a huge cardboard box at the end of the corridor, with a label saying "Caution Fragile" on it. Her short hair looked a little messy, and there was a layer of fine beads of sweat on her forehead, obviously she had been busy for a while.

"I need to put it on top of the closet, but it's too high to reach, and the movers have left long ago..." There was a hint of pleading in her voice, but at the same time it was full of energy. It didn't sound like she was asking for help at all, but rather like she was inviting Luo Zhi to join in an adventure.

Luo Zhi hesitated. On the one hand, he had just experienced a perfect date, and his mind was still reminiscing about Liu Ying's elegant manners. On the other hand, he was indeed a little tired and just wanted to go home, take a shower, and then lie on the bed to continue reading those strategies on how to develop after the date.

More importantly, this Yingying - from her messy short hair to her dusty canvas shoes - was far from the "ideal woman" image he had given her. There was no delicate makeup, no elegant dress, and even her way of speaking was too direct and enthusiastic.

Luo Zhi stood at the door of his house, holding the key in his hand, his eyes moving back and forth between his door and Yingying. 】

At the end are the options:

[Option 1: Luo Zhi decided to help. Although this new neighbor did not meet his "aesthetic standards", basic neighborly mutual assistance was still necessary.

Option 2: Luo Zhi declined. He said he was very tired after working overtime, suggested Yingying ask the property management for help tomorrow, and then quickly went into his room and closed the door. 】

"What's there to choose? Of course I'll help her!"

(End of this chapter)