Chapter 262: Chapter 189: Could the Little Landlady Really Be a Genius? (Make-up) _2
Lin Chuan laughed, looking at Yu Keke, "President Yu's proficiency in Chinese is very high, already enough to write a novel."
"I grew up in the country from a young age," Yu Keke said with a candid smile.
Lin Chuan suddenly realized, "No wonder, my understanding of novels is not very deep, but after hitting the streets for quite a while and reading quite a few books, I should be able to talk theory pretty well."
"Director Lin is being modest."
Yu Keke said with a smile, "Actually, I've already written the opening 20,000 words for a male-oriented urban genre. I'm taking the opportunity today to ask you to have a look."
Lin Chuan raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, "You've already written it?"
Yu Keke nodded, "Yes, shall I send it to you now?"
"Sure," Lin Chuan nodded.
The two added each other as friends, and Yu Keke sent the 20,000-word opening to Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan rarely let readers see his drafts; he always felt his own level wasn't enough.
Only his good brother Old Wang had ever seen them.
Now, a partner and reader, Yu Keke, had asked Lin Chuan for some advice. Both emotionally and rationally, in terms of public and private interests, Lin Chuan had no reason to refuse.
So he decided to take a look.
The 20,000 words were fluidly written, penned with skill, and they roughly described an aspiring young man developing new drugs.
"How is it?"
Yu Keke leaned forward with an expectant look, waiting for the mentor's critique, without the airs of a general manager.
"It's very professional, but the story is a bit weak," Lin Chuan mused for a moment before giving his honest opinion.
Lin Chuan had originally thought that Yu Keke might just be writing casually to satisfy a reader's dream of writing.
—The authors' writing is too crappy, let me show off a little!
But unexpectedly, the general manager of Anzhou Pharmaceutical had written with such earnestness and careful craftsmanship visible between the lines; it was clear she took it seriously.
The only minor flaw was the storytelling.
"Storytelling?" Yu Keke revealed a hint of confusion on her face. Indeed, this was a blind spot in her knowledge.
In recent days, she had postponed a lot of her work. Each night, she would devote herself entirely to the novel, and it took quite an effort to write those 20,000 words—killing plenty of brain cells in the process.
"Yes."
Lin Chuan nodded and explained, "The professional aspect is strong, which will let your readers learn more about your profession. Storytelling, on the other hand, adds to the enjoyment of reading. Just having professionalism without storytelling makes it a bit like a paper or report."
Yu Keke nodded, half understanding, "So you're saying, I should add some character conflicts and clashes?"
"You catch on quick," said Lin Chuan, raising an eyebrow.
This reader seemed to have some real talent.
Yu Keke beamed with joy at the praise, looking at Lin Chuan with some admiration, "Teacher Lin is a great teacher. Should I add some obstacles he encounters while developing new drugs?"
"Right," Lin Chuan nodded.
The Little Landlady listening to the side also felt as if she was catching on.
However, from constant exposure and deep conversation, she too had come to read quite a bit of web fiction.
In her mind, she attempted to construct a story of her own.
The Little Landlady wrote down the word 'Drugs' in her notebook.
Then, glancing at Lin Chuan, she added the word 'Fake' in front of 'Drugs'.
She enjoyed reading crime stories by Lin Chuan.
Selling fake drugs fit right into her reading genre.
—The prison-themed genre.
On the other side, Lin Chuan mentioned to Yu Keke, "Considering the direction of your story, it's obviously story-oriented, not a 'short, fast, straight-to-the-point' type of brainstorming routine story. Thus, you'll also need a 'theme'."
"Theme, could Director Lin elaborate?" Yu Keke earnestly sought advice.
Lin Chuan then explained to Yu Keke what a 'theme' entailed.
The Little Landlady listened attentively, murmuring to herself that her novel would need a theme too.
She looked at Lin Chuan.
The current Lin Chuan, spirited and vibrant, was a far cry from his dispirited self when hitting rock bottom.
The Little Landlady seriously pondered for a while.
One of the reasons, apart from her own nourishment, was a crucial factor.
—Money.
The Little Landlady thoroughly agreed with this rationale and turned her gaze to the words 'Fake Drugs' in her notebook.
Selling fake drugs was utterly unconscionable, the deed of scum; clearly, this theme wouldn't work.
She needed to write a theme that involved selling fake drugs but didn't portray the seller as scum.
The Little Landlady scribbled circles in her notebook, scratching her head, and finally wrote down a sentence:
In this world, there is only one sickness: poverty.
She suddenly had an epiphany.
A story outline about selling fake medicine was rapidly forming in her mind.
"I need to write it with more expertise, so the protagonist's occupation for now will be... openly selling miracle oil, secretly selling fake medicine. For the fake medicine, I can consult Sister Keke, and for the punishment for selling fake drugs, I can ask Sister Qianqian, hee hee hee..." Little Landlady Zhang Xinxin thought delightedly to herself.
She wanted to quietly write a novel that would astonish Lin Chuan.
"What should the title be?" Little Landlady slightly lifted her head, pursing her lips.
Suddenly, inspiration struck, and she wrote down five big characters in her notebook: "I Am Not the Medicine God."
Afterward, she closed the notebook contentedly, picked an auspicious day, and began writing.
If Lin Chuan saw the contents of her notes, he would certainly be astounded.
—If this story were really written, it would surely be a criminal-themed masterpiece of human nature!
—The student surpasses the master!
—Could Little Landlady actually be a genius!?
On the other side.
Yu Keke, listening to Lin Chuan's explanation, was also nodding in satisfaction.
Clearly, the two people in the audience, Yu Keke and Zhang Xinxin, both benefited greatly.
"Thanks for the advice, Writer Lin. I feel my book is going to be very strong." Yu Keke's eyes almost sparkled with stars, satisfying the vanity within Lin Chuan's heart.
Lin Chuan smiled, "You are, after all, a professional in this field."
"When I have time, I must treat you and Xinxin to a meal." Yu Keke giggled, "Xinxin, do you agree?"
"Of course, I agree."
Regaining her senses, Little Landlady showed a smile. Yu Keke was always considerate of her feelings, making her feel relaxed and comfortable.
"Thank you for today, Xinxin and Director Lin."
Yu Keke tactfully chose to end the conversation of their first meeting.
Lin Chuan and Little Landlady escorted her to the door and watched her drive away.
"Xinxin, what were you writing in that notebook just now?" Back in the Chairman's office, Lin Chuan asked curiously.
Hugging the notebook tightly, Little Landlady tilted her head and laughed, "It's a secret, I can't tell you yet."
"My Xinxin also has little secrets now."
Lin Chuan tapped Little Landlady's nose, teasing her in a playful and mature tone.
Only.
Lin Chuan wasn't much older than the recently graduated college student Zhang Xinxin.
"Of course," Zhang Xinxin wrinkled her nose with a playful laugh, "By the way, Chairman, Keke seemed really considerate of my feelings. Can I ask her more about drugs?"
"Asking about drugs isn't illegal, of course you can," Lin Chuan laughed.
"That's great."
Little Landlady smiled knowingly.
"But don't let her lure you away," Lin Chuan cautioned.
"Ah, lure away?"
In the Chairman's office, Little Landlady sat on Lin Chuan's lap, her hands on his neck, pouting, "I'm not a lesbian."
Lin Chuan chuckled, "Whether or not you're a lesbian, I would know. What I mean is, she's quite attentive to you, every move seems like she's trying to gain your favor."
"Are you saying that Keke wants to lure me away?"
After speaking, Little Landlady Zhang Xinxin felt the word 'lure away' was not quite right and somewhat disrespectful towards Yu Keke.
Lin Chuan smiled and explained, "That's not what I mean. It's probably just her way of dealing with things. It's also part of the personal charm that allows her to be the general manager of Anzhou Pharmaceutical. She might inadvertently attract you."
"So, you're worried that Keke will lure me away?" Little Landlady moved closer to Lin Chuan, blinking her eyes.
"Could she lure you away?"
Lin Chuan wrapped his arms tighter around Little Landlady.
With a pursed smile, Little Landlady straddled Lin Chuan's legs, "I'm still waiting for your rent."
"You were begging for mercy this morning."
Lin Chuan flicked Little Landlady's nose, laughing.
With a resigned expression and a blush on her face, Little Landlady teased, "When I'm recovered, I'll make you beg for mercy!"
Lin Chuan laughed, "I'll be waiting."
That night, Little Landlady and Lin Chuan signed a ceasefire agreement, with both of them striving for success in their careers.
Little Landlady quietly conceived her "I Am Not the Medicine God."
And, she was also looking into 'the channels for trafficking fake drugs.'
Lin Chuan, on the other hand, sent "Black Ice" to editor Youyou, preparing to move on to overseas operations for translation and to get ready for release abroad.