Chapter 9

Returning from science fiction movies to science fiction novels, if you can call it that, Lin Han is happy to do so. If he were a popular director, he probably wouldn't know how to make a film. Now, writing novels is so much better?

  After making an appointment to drink together next time, the two bid farewell at the coffee shop because Li Wenyuan had a book signing event at the Zhongguancun Bookstore and had to go there first. After all, there is heavy traffic in Yanjing City.

  Carrying two books, Lin Han strolled slowly to the subway entrance, looking forward to the day when he would have his own science fiction novel published and have readers come for book signings. He believed that day would not be too far away.

  Little did he know that a storm was quietly brewing in the editorial department of "Science Fiction World".

  ...

  After intern Wang Yifan obtained Lin Han's identification card information, he was preparing to report it to the finance department when he saw the name and photo. He became uneasy.

  He took a few deep breaths and then pulled his mentor, Chen Chuhe, over. "Mentor, look, the author of 'Rural Teacher' is also named Lin Han. Is it the Lin Han who turned 'Escape from the Solar System' into a bad movie?"

  Chen Chuhe gasped for breath. He had been so focused on the quality of this science fiction novel that he never thought it would be the work of the notorious "director" Lin Han.

  He quickly opened a search engine and entered Lin Han's name. The search results displayed various negative news.

  "How to ruin a novel, Lin Han will show you!"

  "The shame of the science fiction world, ******** Lin Han get out of the entertainment industry"

  "Counting the ruined novels, starting with 'Escape from the Solar System'"

  "Lin Han exposed to be drinking all day, suffered collective boycott by science fiction authors!"

  "Interview with the Huaxia Film Academy, Lin Han's name removed from the director department!"

  "One person destroys a film company, no one but Lin Han"

  Among the many news headlines, Chen Chuhe finally found a photo of Lin Han doing promotion before the movie was released. He carefully compared the ID photo with the promotional photo and was stunned.

  This excellent novel like "Rural Teacher" was actually written by the notorious director Lin Han? Could it be ghostwritten?

  "This is him. Why can't this person stay quiet and come to us for a contribution? This is bad. Should we publish it or not?"

  Wang Yifan thought he had struck gold, but now it had turned into a hot potato. Something just didn't feel right. If they were to publish Lin Han's manuscript, what if readers collectively boycotted "Science Fiction World"?

  After thinking for a while, Chen Chuhe said to Wang Yifan, "Don't take the information to the finance department for now. I'll go talk to the editor-in-chief and see what he thinks. This is no longer something we can decide."

  Nodding obediently, Wang Yifan felt that the world was cruel. He had finally found a good article, but it turned out to be written by Lin Han, like smearing **** on a cake.

  He was also a fan of "Escape from the Solar System" novel. He had been looking forward to the movie for a long time, but the pre-release screenings, media previews, and limited screenings all had terrible reviews, scaring him away from going to the cinema. After the movie was available for download online, he watched it for less than twenty minutes before angrily deleting the video. It completely overturned the entire novel.

  The person who ruined science fiction novels was now trying to write science fiction novels himself. Could there be anything more ironic?

  As for Chen Chuhe, he knocked on the door of the editor-in-chief's office and heard a voice say, "Come in." So, he nervously opened the door, walked in, and sat opposite the editor-in-chief's desk.

  "Boss Tan, we just discovered something very important and wanted to report it to you."

  Tan, who was busy communicating with the advertising department, glanced at Chen Chuhe and asked, "What's the matter? Tell me."

  Chen Chuhe organized his words slightly and quickly explained what had just happened. "The author of 'Rural Teacher' is Lin Han, the Lin Han that the entire science fiction world hates."

  "He can actually write novels? Are you kidding me? Who doesn't know that Lin Han is a fool who randomly changes and edits novels. 'Rural Teacher' is obviously a masterpiece. Did he hire a ghostwriter?"

  Tan Ming was also shocked by this news. When he read "Rural Teacher" before, he even thought this novel could win the Galaxy Award's golden prize. But now that he knew the author's identity, he wanted to reject the submission. This manuscript was an extremely difficult presence.

  "Boss, whether it's ghostwritten or not, we don't know for sure. But what do we do now? If we publish it, I think the news and public opinion will bury us. Those science fiction authors will also hold grudges against us."

  "But we can't just leave such a good novel unpublished, right? If he publishes it online, it would be a huge blow to our professionalism. This person has really given us a problem!"

  ...

  The editorial department of "Science Fiction Magazine" continued to be in a headache, while Lin Han had just returned home. He received a message from Li Wenyuan on QQ, "I've added you to the science fiction novel group. Please agree and say hello to everyone. I quietly added you while I was at the book signing event."

  Looking at the flashing prompt, "Li Wenyuan invites you to join the Galaxy Nebula Group, Agree/Reject," Lin Han hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to disappoint others' goodwill, so he clicked "Agree" and entered the Galaxy Nebula Group.

  "Hello, everyone. Welcome newcomer Lin Han. I'm sure everyone has heard of his name, and now Lin Han has also started writing science fiction novels. If anyone has any good ideas, you can communicate in the group and spark some thought-provoking discussions!"

  As one of the administrators, Li Wenyuan was the first to post this message, introducing Lin Han to everyone.

  There were more than eighty people in the Nebula Group, each one a leading figure in the science fiction world. The minimum requirement for joining the group was to have published one's own novel, and entry had to be recommended by someone.

  Most of the novelists were otaku, and the number of online users was surprisingly high, with more than thirty people. The previously lively chat suddenly went silent, as Lin Han had actually joined the headquarters of science fiction writers?

  "What the hell, is it really that Lin Han? He actually dares to join the group and have us suffer like this."

  "Mosquito, have you lost your mind? He turned your novel into that kind of crap, and you're still speaking well of him. When will you stop being so generous!"

  "Lin Han? Is it the Lin Han we know? He actually writes novels. It can't be kindergarten-level science fiction, right?"

  "Hahaha, it's probably just that. That guy ruined the film industry, and now he's here to ruin our novels."

  "Hush, he has already joined the group. Don't be like this."

  "Seeing is believing. Lin Han, you turned Mosquito's 'Escape from the Solar System' into that crappy mess and now you dare to come here, pretending to be a cultured person. Go back and start over."

  "Yes, just now I was negotiating the movie adaptation of my novel with a film production company and was about to sign a contract. But look at what you did. The moment they saw the movie, they immediately broke off the deal, not buying it anymore! No film production company dares to invest in science fiction films now. It's all because of you!"

  Li Wenyuan, who was at the book signing event, didn't expect these science fiction authors to hold such grudges. He quickly explained for Lin Han in the group, "Everyone misunderstood Lin Han. The bad movie was not his fault alone. Moreover, he does not have such a huge influence to affect all of you. You must have your own strength, and if the copyright isn't sold, it's not Lin Han's fault."

  His words were rough but reasonable. What he said was correct. Lin Han had at most made a bad film. He didn't have such an exaggerated influence. These authors were just venting their own frustrations onto Lin Han and looking for an excuse.