Chapter 12

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Some people, in order to become famous, are willing to expose their bedroom photos or create scandals, but they can't even get a news report, not even a ripple in the media.

But there are others who can make the media go crazy with just a small matter. Lin Han, for example, shot up the popularity charts after posting a Weibo to help someone, but it was all due to the backlash.

The next morning, Lin Han, who had just finished his run, stood outside the newsstand at the entrance of the residential area. He originally wanted to buy the latest magazine, but he saw his name on a tabloid instead.

Although it wasn't the cover of the gossip magazine, appearing in the front page of the "Daily Entertainment Express" in text form was a place that many minor celebrities couldn't buy with money.

"Lin Han makes a comeback, tens of thousands of netizens sign a petition to kick him out of the entertainment industry. How did the once-famous sci-fi director fall so low? Details on page three."

Other newspapers like "Star Factory," "Celebrity," and "Variety News" also mentioned the incident of Lin Han's Weibo being attacked, all mocking him.

Standing outside the newsstand, Lin Han stopped flipping through the papers under the owner's murderous gaze. He felt that if he continued, the owner would definitely attack him, so he said, "Boss, can you get me the latest issue of 'Science Fiction World'?"

The next issue of "Science Fiction World" would feature his novel, and just thinking about it was exciting. After paying the owner, he left, planning to go back, take a shower, and discuss the next steps with Chen Jiaxuan.

Actually, the news of Lin Han being attacked was no longer a big deal; it was just him re-emerging after a long period of silence. By tomorrow, no one would care who Lin Han was.

...

But this news made the editors of "Science Fiction World" feel like they had a hot potato in their hands. The editorial department even held a small meeting to discuss the matter.

Tan Lin threw the stack of newspapers on the table, plopped down in the front chair, and said, "We have a problem now. Do you believe that Lin Han wrote this novel?"

"To be honest, I'm quite shocked. 'The Rural Teacher' is so profound, and its structure is excellent. It doesn't seem like something a fool could write. If he can write sci-fi novels, how could he be called a book destroyer?"

"Could this be ghostwritten?"

"Frankly, I don't believe Lin Han wrote this article. Without enough experience and writing skills, it's impossible to write something like 'The Rural Teacher.' He hasn't been a rural teacher, so how could he depict the meaning of the teaching profession, or use knowledge to change fate, or tell the story of the passing of human civilization? This is definitely not a simple novel."

"The story is very touching, and it extends into a deeper understanding of human nature in reality. Even if readers don't understand the scientific descriptions, it doesn't affect the plot. It's a very interesting book, and a great introduction to sci-fi that really tests writing skills."

"But have you thought about it? How could someone capable of writing such a high-level novel ghostwrite for others? This is the top sci-fi novel in the country. Who would willingly give up everything and let someone else take the credit?"

The editors discussed this back and forth. They couldn't associate the author of "The Rural Teacher" with the notorious director Lin Han; they were from completely different worlds.

Chen Chuhé, who had discovered the novel, still wanted to protect Lin Han's work, so he said, "Actually, we can communicate with Lin Han and see if we can publish it under a pen name. It would be a shame to miss out on such a good book."

Wang Yifan nodded vigorously, but as an intern, he had no right to speak. His mentor was indeed impressive. If the others didn't want Lin Han to publish the novel, they could use a pen name instead.

In the literary world, using a pen name is quite common. People generally don't investigate who is behind the pen name unless they become extremely famous.

Tan Lin stroked his chin and agreed, "This method isn't bad. If Lin Han agrees, we can publish it under his pen name. What do you think?"

"But what if it turns out he plagiarized or ghostwrote? Wouldn't our magazine suffer?" A bespectacled editor spoke up. He and Chen Chuhé were competitors, both vying for the deputy editor position.

"The Rural Teacher" was a high-quality novel discovered by Chen Chuhé's team. If it won an award at the Galaxy Awards, it would be a significant boost for his career, so he couldn't let the novel be published.

Chen Chuhé glanced at Zhang Yan, who always opposed him, and said, "We've already confirmed that this novel is original, not plagiarized, and not a translation. Lin Han might be a fool in the film industry, but he could be a genius in the sci-fi novel world."

"Can you prove he didn't ghostwrite it?" Zhang Yan said calmly, knowing that Lin Han's bad reputation would make most people think the same. His concern for the magazine was just a pretense to undermine Chen Chuhé.

"Can you prove he did?" Wang Yifan suddenly spoke up, "Even the police use the presumption of innocence. Why should we condemn Lin Han without evidence?"

Everyone's attention turned to the young and impulsive intern. Normally, interns should just take notes, but this one dared to argue with senior editors.

Chen Chuhé knew his young apprentice hadn't been tainted by the workplace yet. He quickly took over the conversation to ease the pressure on Wang Yifan, "This is my opinion. Unless we can prove he ghostwrote it, such a good article should be published. Don't you think the development of sci-fi novels has reached a bottleneck? We need to explore new content, and a sci-fi novel tied to reality is very rare. There's no reason to let it slip away."

The situation was now at a stalemate, with Chen Chuhé and Zhang Yan in a heated debate. This was no longer just about publishing; it was a battle of wills.

The astute observers around them could see the exceptional quality of "The Rural Teacher." If the novel was published, Chen Chuhé would gain the upper hand, which Zhang Yan couldn't allow.

Tan Lin, of course, understood the dynamics between the two. He didn't point it out, as he was the one with the final say. No matter how much they argued, they were still his subordinates.

So he looked at Wang Yifan and said, "You, call Lin Han and discuss what pen name he wants to use. We'll publish it under a pen name. Even if it is ghostwritten, the bad reputation will be Lin Han's, not ours."

"Sure, I'll do it right away!"

Wang Yifan closed his notebook excitedly, eagerly waiting for the meeting to end.

Zhang Yan, having failed to achieve his goal, glared at Chen Chuhé and his apprentice, a plan forming in his mind.

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