Chapter 28

The phone call hadn't ended when a knock came at the door.

Lin Han held the phone in one hand and turned the doorknob with the other, opening the security door. Chen Jiaxuan, dressed in a beige sweater and gray tight pants, looked very mature and graceful. Her outfit was simple and fashionable, yet also had a gentle and intellectual side. A long scarf in the same color as her sweater hung loosely around her neck, adding warmth and making her look younger, exuding the elegance of a light-mature woman.

To put it bluntly, this big agent Chen Jiaxuan was no less impressive than the female stars under her management.

"It's getting colder outside; it's warmer in a room with heating."

Chen Jiaxuan didn't hesitate at all, quickly untying her scarf and throwing her expensive handbag directly onto the sofa. She then ran to the radiator and started blowing on it.

Lin Han closed the door and frowned, asking, "I haven't seen you around for the past two days. Is there some trouble again?"

"I went on a business trip to Hunan. I didn't plan to go, but I let Xiao Wanzi accompany Zhao Liang to the recording. However, there was a problem with the script, and Zhao Liang refused to record. I had to rush over to clean up the mess. These days, it's not easy to be an agent!"

Chen Jiaxuan leaned back on the sofa without any pretense, using her hand to massage her neck. She then smelled the aroma of braised beef coming from the kitchen, making her mouth water.

Lin Han then remembered that he had something in the pot. The braised beef was to reward himself, while the chicken breast was for his fitness routine.

"Have you eaten yet? I have some extra. Do you want to eat?"

"Is this an invitation? Although I had a bread roll on the plane, I'm still a bit hungry. This smell is so appetizing. How did you make it?"

Picking up the packaging bag from the kitchen counter, Lin Han waved it at Chen Jiaxuan, "See? The market now has all the seasonings ready for you. You just need to put the meat in the pot."

As Lin Han busied himself in the kitchen, Chen Jiaxuan suddenly felt that this scene was very warm and cozy, like being at home. Under the light, Lin Han's silhouette seemed to soften.

She didn't want to break the atmosphere, but her rationality told her not to get lost in it. She struggled to speak, "You said you had some good news for me. What is it? Tell me."

"I've been thinking about a new book today and have already written the introduction. Since we haven't eaten yet, you can take a look first. I plan to serialize and publish this book at the same time. By the time it reaches the third or fourth issue, it will be available for sale in bookstores."

Chen Jiaxuan was not a science fiction enthusiast. After seeing so many things in the entertainment industry, no novel seemed as exciting as real life. However, for Lin Han's science fiction journey, she forced herself to learn about it.

Sitting in front of the computer, she looked at the document, "I, Robot," in both Chinese and English. Chen Jiaxuan was stunned; she never expected Lin Han's ambition to be so great, aiming for an English version.

But she didn't rush to ask questions. Instead, she read the introduction carefully, almost word by word, even noting the position of a misspelled word, acting as a free proofreader.

After a while, Lin Han poked his head out of the kitchen, "Have you finished? What do you think? Give me some feedback!"

"I think it's pretty good, but I'm not a science fiction expert. From an outsider's perspective, the first three laws seem quite impressive, but this doesn't seem like a bestseller. At least to me, although I'm curious about the stories of the robots, the appeal isn't strong enough."

Lin Han nodded. The sales of this novel might not be particularly high, but its significance and future status were irreplaceable. There were many popular science fiction books, but only one could lay the foundation for robotics.

"Alright, let's eat and talk. You haven't told me your good news yet."

Chen Jiaxuan smiled and patted her chest, causing the grandeur under her sweater to tremble. "Haven't you been in a financial deficit recently? To prevent you from using your credit card, I found a magazine for you these past two days. They are interested in reprinting your 'Rural Teacher' novel. The reprinting fee will be yours, and I won't take a commission for any income below 100,000 yuan."

This was truly a timely rain. For a magazine to want to reprint the novel so quickly, before its reputation had fully developed, it was clear that Chen Jiaxuan had helped.

He was worried about the financial crisis, but now he had immediate income. He felt a great relief, at least he didn't have to rush to hand over "I, Robot" to the magazine. He would first register it with the copyright office.

"Don't get too excited yet. My friend just started writing the recommendation today. They need the editor's approval before it can be published. As for the price, it's much higher than 'Science Fiction World.' They pay 1,000 yuan per thousand words, and 'Novel Selection' is a big and established magazine."

Chen Jiaxuan, who was used to seeing millions in endorsements and film fees, found the 1,000 yuan per thousand words very exciting. The pre-tax income was only 20,000 yuan, not enough to buy a bag, but the joy of helping Lin Han was particularly strong.

"Novel Selection'? This magazine is no joke. If it can be published there, even for free, it would be worth it." Lin Han was so excited that he even put down his chopsticks. He didn't know how Chen Jiaxuan managed it, but even before it was confirmed, it was already a shock.

Chen Jiaxuan didn't worry about gaining weight. She picked up a piece of braised beef and savored it in her mouth. It was tender and not greasy, just as good as the dishes in restaurants.

But she couldn't understand Lin Han's expression and asked curiously, "Isn't it just 'Novel Selection'? The highest circulation is only 5 million copies, and now it averages only 8th or 9th place each month, with 2 million copies being good."

"Sister Jiaxuan, the strength of 'Novel Selection' isn't in its sales, but in its status. Do you know? It is the only national-level large literary selection magazine supervised by the Chinese Writers Association. Many excellent works start here and become known to more readers and the public, seen as a barometer and trendsetter of contemporary Chinese literature!"

"I'm dizzy, so impressive! I thought it was just an ordinary magazine. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known." Chen Jiaxuan was enlightened. She had only been in the cultural field for a short time and had only looked at a magazine's sales, not its deeper status and influence.

Lin Han picked up the pineapple beer on the table and said to Chen Jiaxuan, "Sister Jiaxuan, you really have your ways. To quietly accomplish such a big thing, if it really happens, I'm afraid even mosquitoes will envy me."

"Mosquitoes, who?"

"Li Wenyuan, the author of 'Beyond the Solar System.' You must have met him on the set."

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