Chapter 75

Luo Yang was very clear that *Living with a Flight Attendant* would not have a sudden breakthrough in the short term. Although the new work had an excellent start, it still had a long way to go to reach the level of widespread online discussion like *First Intimate Contact* and *Those Years We Chased Together*.

Luo Yang was not in a hurry, updating *Wushuang* at his own leisurely pace. On Weibo, he had Amber post *Living with a Flight Attendant* regularly.

Life at Tiandu University was fulfilling. Early morning runs, attending classes on time, Luo Yang enjoyed this unhurried pace. A relaxed yet fulfilling life was comfortable, but after more than a week, Luo Yang suddenly received a call from his mother.

"Luo Yang, didn't I ask you to visit your Uncle Er when you have time? Why haven't you gone to catch up with him yet?" His mother's voice carried a hint of mild rebuke over the phone.

Only then did Luo Yang remember that he had promised his mother to visit Uncle Er, but he had forgotten amidst the recent busy schedule.

"I'll go this afternoon!" Luo Yang quickly replied.

It did seem inappropriate not to visit Uncle Er, who worked in Tiandu, while he was studying there. Besides, it was a weekend today, so he might as well make the trip.

"If I hadn't reminded you, you would have forgotten, right?" His mother said, sounding a bit upset.

"How could I forget? I remember everything you say." Luo Yang replied with a playful grin.

"Alright, then go visit your Uncle Er this afternoon. Don't forget, he's been... well, just go see him." His mother reminded him again.

"Got it."

Luo Yang readily agreed. He vaguely remembered his mother mentioning that Uncle Er worked as an editor at a small publishing house. The address was not far from the university, about a thirty-minute taxi ride away.

...

Since he had promised his mother, he had to follow through.

After lunch at the cafeteria, Luo Yang hailed a taxi at the school gate and headed to the publishing house where Uncle Er worked. Thirty minutes later, the taxi stopped at the entrance of a small alley.

"Uncle Er's publishing house is quite out of the way." Luo Yang looked at the somewhat dilapidated alley and shook his head helplessly.

Walking down the narrow alley, Luo Yang searched for the publishing house's sign. It wasn't until he reached the end of the alley that he saw a worn-out sign with the crooked words: *Hero Magazine*.

"The name sounds pretty impressive, but in this environment..." Luo Yang shook his head. As the only cultured person in the Luo family besides himself, it seemed that his Uncle Er was not doing well.

The so-called publishing house was not even in a proper office building but in this remote alley, with no reception area, just a red-painted door that was starting to peel, looking quite shabby.

As Luo Yang approached the door, he heard a scolding voice from inside: "Luo Dashan, what's wrong with you? How dare you publish such trash in our magazine? Look at the sales, our *Hero Magazine* only sold 131 copies last month!"

Luo Yang, who was about to knock, was taken aback.

Luo Dashan, that must be his Uncle Er's name.

No wonder his mother kept asking him to visit Uncle Er; it seemed Uncle Er was really struggling. It's no surprise, working in such a dilapidated publishing house.

At that moment, Uncle Er's voice came from inside: "Editor-in-Chief, it's not entirely my fault. You know the situation at our publishing house; we don't have any professional writers submitting to us. I'm just picking the best from a bunch of mediocre works..."

The man, presumably the editor-in-chief, sounded dejected: "This can't go on. If we keep this up, our publishing house will have to close..."

Luo Yang decided not to listen any further and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." A voice came from inside.

Luo Yang pushed the door open and entered a room of about 40 square meters, with about seven or eight small desks. A group of editors were buried in their work, and Uncle Er, Luo Dashan, was sitting at a small desk, head down, looking dejected.

"Who are you looking for?" A man in a suit looked at Luo Yang.

Luo Yang looked up; this man must be the editor-in-chief who had just scolded Uncle Er.

Unlike the usual confident and spirited editor-in-chiefs, this one's suit was full of wrinkles, and he looked quite exhausted.

Without answering, Luo Yang looked at Luo Dashan and called out, "Uncle."

Luo Dashan, hearing the familiar voice, was slightly taken aback. He looked up and immediately stood up, surprised: "Luo Yang, you... why are you here?"

Luo Yang smiled and said, "I knew you were in Tiandu, and today is my day off, so I thought I'd come and see you."

"Ah, it's Dashan's nephew. Dashan, you're free for the day, go spend some time with your nephew." The editor-in-chief managed a smile.

Luo Yang didn't have much of a good impression of this editor, but this statement immediately improved his opinion. At least the editor-in-chief was reasonable and had probably been frustrated by the magazine's poor sales.

Luo Dashan nodded, grateful for the editor's leniency, and led Luo Yang out of the publishing house, stopping at a corner. He looked at Luo Yang with a bitter smile: "You must have heard something just now..."

Luo Yang nodded.

Luo Dashan's smile turned more bitter, and he said helplessly, "Uncle's situation is indeed not very good. I should have come to see you at Tiandu University earlier, but I felt embarrassed to visit such a prestigious university. I didn't expect you to come to me... You're doing well, very successful, you're the pride of our Luo family."

His words were incoherent, clearly showing that Luo Dashan's inner state was not calm.

Luo Yang spoke seriously, "Uncle, don't say that. I know you graduated from Tiandu University as a top student."

Luo Yang was telling the truth. Luo Dashan had indeed graduated from Tiandu University, but after graduating from the top university in the country, he had turned down numerous high-paying job offers and, under family pressure, resolutely became an editor at a publishing house, striving to realize his literary dreams.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Luo Dashan had chosen the wrong path.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Come, it's been a long time since we've seen each other. Uncle will take you out for a meal, have some drinks, and have a good time." Luo Dashan waved his hand, looking quite generous.

But Luo Yang shook his head and didn't move.

"What's wrong?" Luo Dashan asked, puzzled.

"Actually, I came today for another reason..."

"What is it?"

"To submit a manuscript." Luo Yang said, emphasizing each word.

(Thank you to all the readers for your support. There are too many of you, and the system has hidden your names, so I can't thank you individually, but I will deeply remember your support... Also, the protagonist is finally about to enter the physical publishing world. Please give me a wave of recommendations.)

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