Chapter 97: A Person Without Dreams
The tea was changed five times in succession, the leaves steeped until mushy, forcing Zhao Yuyan to change the tea leaves several times. But Chen Xi kept drinking, never stopping. She had a habit: once immersed in a working state, she loved to drink something, often uncontrollably.
The tea was changed several times, and Zhao Yuyan felt quite helpless. In her memory, the last time Chen Xi drank tea like this was when she first wanted to sign her as an author under her banner.
Chen Xi and Yu Linna talked for quite a long time. Starting from their initial conversation at home, then moving to Zhao Yuyan’s place, they talked non-stop. Chen Xi enjoyed it immensely, wanting to talk more after finishing. It had been a long time since someone could pique her interest like this.
Indeed, Yu Linna might have many shortcomings in certain aspects. When dealing with commercial stories, there were some loopholes, and they weren’t attractive enough, too heavy. But it had to be said, this girl possessed a unique imagination.
She might really be a treasure misplaced.
“Sister Chen, I see you’ve worked hard talking. Take a break, I’ll make you some coffee.”
“Thank you, Teacher Kongqi.”
Chen Xi also realized she had been talking for quite a long time. Once she encountered something she was interested in, she couldn’t stop. Unknowingly, two hours had passed.
Her throat was also a bit dry. She had indeed talked a lot and should rest.
Chen Xi cleared her throat, planning to go out for some fresh air. Although Yu Linna didn’t bring her too many surprises, she did bring her an unexpected gain, making her feel she would have a different harvest this year. It was just that, asking her to enter the novelist profession now seemed a bit demanding.
After all, there were less than two weeks until the Newcomer Grand Prize. It was too late for her to prepare a manuscript; it was unlikely.
It was just a pity to waste such a good seedling. With her talent, even if she couldn’t get first place, she could at least secure a publication slot. Of course, she only dared to think this way. Yu Linna, without practical experience, how much strength she actually had was still hard to say.
The blame lay with her for not discovering this child’s talent earlier. If she had cultivated her sooner, perhaps there would still be a chance.
“Your name is Linna, right? You’re quite talented. Sister Chen rarely talks so much about work matters with people.”
Zhao Yuyan took the initiative to chat with this girl after Chen Xi left.
In her eyes, this little blonde sister not only had a good appearance but also a boundless imagination, a talented girl.
Of course, Yu Linna herself hadn’t noticed this point.
“Not really talented. I just read a lot… How could someone like me possibly have talent?”
She gave a wry smile.
Having experienced so many things, she didn’t think she still possessed something like talent. Talent belonged to Nangong Ying, belonged to Fang Jianing, belonged to Ye Zhiyun, not to her.
She still had self-awareness.
“Don’t say that. Some things, you just haven’t discovered them yourself.”
Zhao Yuyan smiled and said these words in the capacity of a senior.
Although she, this newcomer author, wasn’t qualified to say these things, she was, after all, someone who had been discovered. Before being discovered, she never thought she could actually do so outstandingly.
Becoming a novelist is a dream in many people’s hearts. But not everyone can become one.
Many people yearn for the upper echelons, yearn for higher and farther places, yearn for the peak of overnight fame. Becoming a novelist is definitely not as fast as becoming famous as an actor.
Novelists are always the group creating silently behind the scenes. They are always lonely. Except for a few works that are truly excellent, most novelists are very unfamiliar in the eyes of passersby.
“Linna, have you ever thought about realizing your own dream?”
Dream, what a beautiful word.
Countless people strive for their dreams, shedding blood and tears. Behind this beautiful word lies countless hardships. Some people lose themselves for their dreams, even betraying their close friends and family for their dreams. While some people always adhere to themselves for their dreams, never abandoning them.
“Dream? I had one. I once had one.”
Yu Linna gave a wry smile.
It wasn’t that she never had a dream, just that she no longer dared to walk forward.
Before, she wanted to fly higher and farther, just because she wanted to walk alongside Nangong Ying, wanted to walk with her, follow her footsteps. But Nangong Ying didn’t take her along, so she was ruthlessly abandoned.
She once thought that if she could become famous, she might have the chance to find her relatives in this world. She had no one to rely on; wanting to find her roots through this method was understandable.
But the idea was beautiful, yet reality was cruel.
She had already given up this boring idea.
“Then why don’t you continue walking forward?”
“I don’t dare to walk anymore. If one day you find your path covered with sharp knife fragments, would you continue walking?”
She was scared, dared not walk anymore.
The pain of being betrayed by her best friend, she didn’t want to experience it again.
Trusting someone again was useless; what she got in return was still unforgettable pain. You completely trust her, yet she ruthlessly hurts you. You obey her every whim, yet she cruelly abandons you.
At that time, Yu Linna even thought about suicide, thought about leaving this world. It was Ye Zhiyun who forcefully kept her, forcefully made her live, until today.
“You will change your mind, I believe. Because you’re like me; we’re the same kind of people.”
Zhao Yuyan smiled.
People in this circle all had dreams, wanting to fly higher and farther.
Zhao Yuyan also hoped her name could be remembered by people, passed down by word of mouth.
“Miss Yu, I have something I want to tell you.”
Chen Xi had stayed outside for quite a while before returning from the balcony. The previous fatigue on her face was gone, replaced by more spirit, and that sparkle in her eyes.
“Have you ever thought about becoming a novelist? Have you ever thought about writing down the stories in your heart for others to see?”
She spoke the words that would influence Yu Linna’s entire life.
This was the first time Yu Linna heard someone say this to her, and also the words that changed her life.
All along, Yu Linna really hadn’t thought about becoming a novelist, never thought about it. In the past, she always drifted with the current. Hearing Nangong Ying say she wanted to participate in the singing competition, she followed along. Nangong Ying chose to be an actress, so she also became an actress. Until being betrayed, she completely left the entertainment industry.
But novelist and actress are completely different concepts.
Being a novelist meant not having that much exposure, willingly being a diligent creator behind the scenes.
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“Then do you want to, take up this profession?”
“No, absolutely not.”
Yu Linna wouldn’t change her mind. No matter how Chen Xi persuaded her, she remained unmoved.
She had long lost her dream; how could she possibly chase dreams anymore? That was impossible. Novelist or whatever, it was still too far from her. Currently, she had no intention of becoming a novelist.
Chen Xi spent the entire afternoon lobbying, constantly brainwashing her, but it was useless; Yu Linna remained completely unmoved.
Finally, Chen Xi had no choice but to obediently send her home. Heaven always played cruel jokes on her. She thought she had found a treasure, but this treasure didn’t want to shine at all.
If Yu Linna were really placed in the right position, she could definitely emit her own light. It was just that all along, she hadn’t chosen the right position. Chen Xi believed her judgment was correct; Yu Linna had the potential to become the second Teacher Kongqi.
The blame lay with her for not recognizing Yu Linna from the beginning.
After Yu Linna returned home, she also carefully considered Chen Xi’s proposal, but she still firmly believed she was right. She would not become a novelist, absolutely impossible.
Asking her to become a novelist was absolutely impossible.
Speaking of Ye Zhiyun, since she went out to discuss business for several days without returning home, she finally planned to make a trip back. Although in the past she would also be too busy with various jobs to have time to go home, ever since Yu Linna moved in, she had always insisted on returning home every day, just to eat a hot meal.
It could be said that this was the longest business trip she had taken since Yu Linna moved in.
Leaving home for just a few days, yet she felt like several months had passed. She somewhat missed the food at home. Yu Linna’s cooking was always delicious. She would always adjust according to her taste. She knew Ye Zhiyun liked vegetarian food, so she always bought more vegetables when grocery shopping.
But actually, she really hoped Yu Linna could buy more meat dishes. They had known each other for so long; didn’t she know her taste? Yu Linna taking care of her like this only made her feel awkward.
If only Yu Linna could open her heart to her one day, how wonderful that would be. But this wish was still a bit too extravagant.
“Miss Ye, what’s wrong? You seem absent-minded.”
“…It’s nothing. Just thought about something for a moment. Please continue.”
Only then did Ye Zhiyun realize she had spaced out. She gathered her thoughts, putting herself back at the negotiation table. The appearance of the obese middle-aged uncle in front of her was really unflattering, but because of his status, Ye Zhiyun had to give him some face.
“You just said you wanted to buy the copyright of the works under our banner. I want to know how Miss Ye plans to use this copyright, how to maximize the value of the copyright in your hands.”
“First, my buying this copyright wasn’t on a whim. In today’s film industry, there’s no shortage of commercial films, but animated films that truly achieve box office success are few and far between, and they still need national subsidies. I want to invest in an animated movie myself, as a producer, to maximize this investment.”
Investing in an animated movie was something Ye Zhiyun had always wanted to do. But due to limited ability, she hadn’t been able to realize it. But now that the movie she invested in made some money, she wanted to try fully managing a movie, maximizing the movie’s value.
Therefore, buying a copyright was very important.
Especially works that were easy to adapt and had some popularity.
“But Miss Ye, your conditions are not sufficient for us to sell the copyright to you. You know, adapting film and television works always carries great risks.”
Ye Zhiyun frowned tightly, thinking about what other bargaining chips she could use.
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