Chapter 80

Whether it was Lu Yichou, Wei Wuzhi, or the entire Qianhong editorial department, the book *The White Horse Whinnies in the West Wind* held an extraordinary significance for them. From a certain perspective, they had personally witnessed the birth of this book. On the grassland, although no one had explicitly said it, everyone could guess that Gu Yongsheng had already started writing at that time. In their eyes, the catalyst for this book was undoubtedly this trip to the grassland.

Thinking about the fact that when Gu Yongsheng started writing this book, they were with him, having meals and conversations, gave them a sense of personal involvement and honor. By around four in the afternoon, the editors had finished reading the novel. Unlike any previous manuscript review, this time, no one exchanged opinions after finishing the book, and no one in the group chat mentioned anything about the book. Even the usually active editors who often organized meals remained strangely silent.

At this moment, Lu Yichou timely said, "Everyone, take an hour for lunch. When you come back, we can chat about it together."

The editors stood up one by one, their eyes still fixed on the last few lines of the screen, their expressions complex, some shaking their heads with a sigh, others frowning deeply, and then they locked their screens with a heavy heart. They still formed groups as usual, but today, everyone was noticeably quiet. Even those who usually liked to talk were uncharacteristically silent, their faces still clouded with melancholy. When they occasionally met their companions' eyes, they would give a bitter smile, as if still trapped in some inescapable state.

...

"A long time ago, I realized that reading a very moving novel in one go is not advisable. After entering the publishing industry, I thought I had read tens of thousands of books and had become emotionally hardened, never to be moved by any novel again. But Gu Shao's *The White Horse Whinnies in the West Wind* left me stunned for several minutes. Even now, thinking about it, I still feel a sense of melancholy."

Lu Yichou and Wei Wuzhi were sitting in the smoking area, smoking and discussing Gu Yongsheng's new book, deeply moved.

"What impresses me most is that he truly delivered on his promise. Writing about love, such an article may not be a masterpiece, but it is undoubtedly the work of a master. Regardless of Xiao Gu's original intention, the universal truths presented in the article are undeniable."

"Writing about love," Lu Yichou continued, "the inability to attain love, ultimately reflects the helplessness people face in all matters. When I was a child, my dream was to be a football player, but due to my physical condition and family circumstances, I ended up as a bookseller, far removed from football."

Wei Wuzhi smiled, "When I was a child, I wanted to be a pork seller because that way, I would have pork to eat every day. My family was poor, and our meals lacked oil and salt, so now, our family's cooking must be more flavorful."

Lu Yichou took a puff of his cigarette, slowly exhaled a cloud of white smoke, and after a moment of thought, said, "In three days, the magazine will be on the market. I can't wait to see everyone's reactions. I wonder how people will answer the question Gu Yongsheng has posed."

"If the person you deeply love deeply loves someone else, what can you do?" Wei Wuzhi softly recited, then shook his head with a smile, "Such a simple sentence, as if it has always existed somewhere, waiting for someone to uncover it. It left me speechless, and it reminded me of my English teacher in college. Most of the boys in our class had a crush on her. If I had read this sentence back then, I might have cried."

Hearing the word "cry," Lu Yichou turned to look at Yi Shui'an's office, and Wei Wuzhi suddenly realized something, whispering, "She hasn't come out yet?"

Lu Yichou shook his head, "On the way from the airport to the grassland hotel, they talked the whole way. Later, during the night they spent on the grassland, they were neighbors and talked for a long time. This Li Wenxiu, at least fifty percent, is her shadow. Otherwise, Gu Shao wouldn't have sent the manuscript to her first and added that note, 'Don't be offended.'"

"Xiao Gu asked this question on her behalf, which will likely stump all the heartbroken people in the world. It's a bit unkind, isn't it?"

"Art itself is about doing this. Given her nature, reading this book will actually be beneficial to her."

"Using someone else's cup to pour out one's own sorrows, Xiao Gu's story is enough to express his feelings."

"Before, when we talked about her new book, she had a similar intention, trying to convey some insights from this experience. I didn't expect Xiao Gu to beat her to it, and in such a beautiful way."

"Given this question, whatever she writes afterward will pale in comparison. I don't think Shui'an will go in that direction."

"I'm curious what she will say to him."

"Actually, I'm also curious what I should say to Xiao Gu. It's been many years since I've had this mindset, and I really want to ask what he's thinking."

...

Around five o'clock, the editors returned from lunch, and Lu Yichou and Wei Wuzhi also went back to their offices. Wei Wuzhi was the first to mention in the group chat, "Everyone, what are your thoughts after reading *The White Horse Whinnies in the West Wind*? Feel free to share your feelings."

It was clear that the entire group was stunned for a moment, and then Kuang Heng was the first to respond, "I felt that while reading this story, I was just a reader, and all the three major rules and eight points of attention for editors were completely forgotten. After the story ended, when I silently reviewed the text in my mind, I couldn't help but feel like crying. I have nothing more to say about this book."

"This is not a pure martial arts novel, but rather a love story that subtly reflects certain life philosophies. I won't pretend to elaborate further. When I read the last sentence, I was completely defeated," Tang Nan replied.

"After finishing it, I felt something blocking my heart, with many things I wanted to say but didn't know how to express. It's a very uncomfortable feeling, and I can't analyze this book theoretically in a short time."

...

The silence before lunch finally erupted at this moment. Everyone was sharing their feelings, and almost no one was paying attention to what others were saying.

A novel that can build a story has this power: once the reader sincerely enters the text, they will inevitably be emotionally stirred, whether positively or negatively. Those who refuse to enter the novel due to some prejudice will ultimately have meaningless and powerless comments.

As editors, one of the most basic qualities is not to choose books based on personal taste but to have a broad perspective, reading books of all genres. In so-called work reading, they would instinctively set up various frameworks and theories when encountering an article or a novel.

When to lay the groundwork, when to set up the plot, when to create small conflicts, when to reach the climax, when to transition, and when to connect. And so on.

In terms of story and plot, they would analyze based on certain common tropes: the male protagonist falling off a cliff must have a miraculous encounter; a seemingly ordinary old man who suddenly appears must be a master; a tyrannical and arrogant rich kid will inevitably be humiliated; a cold-eyed woman who views all men as pigs and dogs will inevitably be conquered...

These theories, while seemingly rigid and cold, are not all dead rules. The key lies in the author's layout and storytelling.

"A single *The White Horse Whinnies in the West Wind* has made our Qianhong editors collectively lose their composure. If Gu Yongsheng knew about this, he would be extremely pleased," Lu Yichou joked, seeing the unprecedented collective collapse of the editors.

"Now we just have to wait for the magazine to hit the market and see how readers react. Previously, Lu Yichou told us that this time, the promotion should either be purely positive or focus on insights. Given everyone's state, I think each person will have many insights to write about," the head of the PR department, Hong, chimed in.

"The main reason is that the background and timing of this story are too coincidental. A long trip, a mere five days, is simply breathtaking."

Mentioning the background and timing, the editors who knew certain inside information immediately thought of Yi Shui'an, who had been silent all along. Her office door remained closed, and she didn't come out for lunch. When someone went to call her, she only replied in her usual tone, "You go ahead." Even Lu Yichou didn't know what she was thinking.

Because the group rarely had such a topic of interest, fifteen minutes after work, everyone was still unaware. At this moment, Yi Shui'an's door suddenly opened, and everyone turned to see Editor-in-Chief Yi, suddenly realizing it was already after work hours.

Yi Shui'an seemed unchanged, still calm and composed, bidding everyone a gentle farewell and reminding them that they could go home to cook.

Lu Yichou reminded everyone in the group chat not to forget to write book reviews and then urged them to go home.

...

It only took Yi Shui'an ten minutes to walk from the company to her home. Usually, she would stay for half an hour after work, and sometimes even longer if there was an important project. However, today, she left first, even though everyone else extended their working hours.

Back home, she sat quietly in the wicker chair by the window for a while, then got up to cook. Like writing and working, Yi Shui'an devoted all her attention to every task, her focus so intense that it made others feel ashamed. Even when signing the contract with her former company, Qianhong, she meticulously went through every clause, which was a testament to her thoroughness in other areas.

Now, while cooking, it felt as if she had been in the kitchen for a hundred years, and nothing else could distract her. She washed the vegetables carefully, cut them with precision, and cooked them meticulously. It seemed she wasn't cooking but crafting a piece of art. She wasn't a chef but a craftsman.

Everyone who knew the details of Yi Shui'an's breakup was guessing how she would react after reading Gu Yongsheng's story, but no one expected that she hadn't finished the entire story at the company. When she read about Ma Jiajun, disguised as Ji Lao, being killed by his master, Walazi, she closed the book and did other things.

Whether due to her keen sense of the story or her understanding of Gu Yongsheng, after reading all the previous chapters, she intuitively felt that Gu Yongsheng would reveal the theme in the last chapter. Ji Lao's words before his death had already touched her, and she knew that if she continued reading, she might lose control of her emotions. So she stopped in time, leaving the last chapter unread.

Anyone who knew Yi Shui'an well knew that she appeared calm and composed on the surface but was actually very sensitive and emotional. However, because she had read many profound works and experienced many things, her heart was strong enough that her fragile nerves were rarely stirred.

An hour later, it was completely dark outside, and the streetlights were gradually turning on. The elderly people who had been walking their dogs after dinner had returned home.

From a distance, the neighborhood, illuminated by the lights of thousands of homes, looked harmonious and peaceful. At this moment, a cry came from one of the houses.

...

In early November, the famous and popular female writer Yi Shui'an sat on her sofa, facing the computer screen, and had a good cry.

Three days later, the *Great Jianghu* magazine was released on schedule! (To be continued. Please search for Piaowen Academy for faster updates and better reading experience!)

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