The author of the highest controversial fantasy novel, 'Otherwordly', was currently busy preparing lunch for himself. His latest novel that was just recently completed, took five and a half years to finish, due to the high demand of what he likes to call, 'recurral Vacation', which his editor call 'procrastination'. But that's neither here nor there. All he cares about is that he had finally finished his most favoured novel. And all his readers can enjoy the uniqueness of it along with him.
Jiàng xiàng shén was officially in a good mood. If he could he would place his hands on his hips and laugh out loud three times towards the heaven. But that was just his thinking. And if someone were to see the stone-faced, indifferent and ice-cold Jiàng xiàng shén, doing something like that, they would think he had lost his mind and shipped him off to the nearest mental hospital.
Jiàng xiàng shén sat down and began eating. He was in the middle of his meal when his door was flung open and a man in his early 30's came bargin in, looking like he lost his soul.
Jiàng xiàng shén paused, but then continued eating in a graceful and elegant manner. His face still expressionless.
The man that interrupted his meal, his editor, Daì Fò Yú, stared at Jiàng xiàng shén with an aggrieved expression.
"Jiàng shén-shèng1, don't you see me on the verge of death, are you just going to ignore my pleas?"
"...you didn't make any pleas so there's none to ignore", Jiàng xiàng shén replied monotonus, continuing his meal.
Daì Fò Yú sat at the table opposite him, waiting for Jiàng xiàng shén to finish his meal. He knew that until Jiàng xiàng shén finished eating, he'd ignore everyone and everything around him. Daì Fò Yú always thought this a bad habit, but there was no way to break him out if it, so he just let him be.
After fifteen minutes, Jiàng xiàng shén finished eating and put aside his dishes. He stared at his editor Daì Fò Yú, waiting for the man to continue so he could hurry up and leave and Jiàng xiàng Shén could finally get some sleep.
After finishing his novel this morning, he's been reviewing the comments section left by fans and updating his other novel 'The Supreme Underlord'. After experiencing the ending of his prized book 'Otherwordly', fans were threatening his livelihood if he should follow the same path as 'Otherwordly' in 'The Supreme Underlord'. It was amusing to Jiàng xiàng shén. Because no matter how much fans yelled and shouted at the ending of the book, they never say they hated it. And his readers seemed to increase. He was begining to wonder if these readers were all masochist to have a love-hate relationship like that.
"Sigh- Jiàng Shén-shèng, the editor-in-chief is asking if you can't change the ending of 'Otherwordly'. Yes it is popular despite how it turned out, but the popularity of it could skyrocket if you create an ending that pleases the masses", Daì Fò Yú begged tiredly. He had dark eye-bags under his eyes and seemed to have aged a few years overnight.
"The ending remains. I don't write novels that please the masses"
Daì Fò Yú sighed. He understood what Jiàng Shén was saying. He(Jiàng xiàng Shén) was never the type to write for others. Before they recruited him, and when they approached him, that was made extremely clear. It was even a clause in his(JXS) contract with the company. And despite this fact, Jiàng xiàng Shén's books always attracted publicity and a lot of readers. Daì Fò Yú knew that if the company continued to press this issue with Jiàng Shén, he might just annull the contract with them.
And if he did that....Daì Fò Yú can practically imagine himself going back to his stressful days of hunting good novel writers for less pay.
He shook his mind viciously. Too,too scary! This làoshi2 has to eat too! He glanced at Jiàng Shén. His indifferent and coldfaced expression really made it hard for this poor editior to know what he's thinking.
"Okay I get it. This book is staying how it is no matter what. I'll try talking to the chief again"
"Hmm"
Daì Fò Yú waited a few more seconds, and seeing that he wasn't going to get another response, he graciously took his leave. His face depressed and back bent as if he had the fate of a thousand worlds on his shoulders.
Jiàng Shén simply glanced at him, then packed his dirty dishes and placed them in the sink, deciding to wash them tomorrow morning.
Despite his impression of seemingly indifferentness towards his editors' stuggles, he actually cared quite a bit. His editor (who is his childhood friend but could be regarded as his older brother) has been with him ever since his parents died when he was six years old. No relatives stepped up to take care of him and it was Daí Fò Yú who was 10 years older who did. Fast forward another 14 years and he still took care of Jiàng xiàng Shén as if he was a six year old kid.
Jiàng Shén sighed in melancholy and laid in his too big bed. He actually would've liked to listened to Fò Yú and change the novel liked he wished. But the thing is that he couldn't. Not only would it not be the original, but he kept having this intuition that he shouldn't. That each novel created was a masterpiece that shouldn't be altered. He doesn't know why he thinks so. Blame it on his narcissitic view, but that's how he felt.
Jiàng Shén sighed again, snuggling down in the sheets. He was actually really tired. And this tiredness was not like a 'stayed up late to finish a novel, now I want to sleep for 3 days and 3 nights' tired. It was more like a bone deep tiredness. A tiredness that was seeping from his soul, dragging his entire being into the dark comfort of sleep.
Jiàng xiàng Shén slowly closed his eyes, releasing a deep sigh of fatigue and relaxing to the embrace of deep sleep. Completely oblivious to the quick flash of bright light that enveloped his entire room in gold, emitting from his body in three quick successions, then disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Shèng-
2. Làoshi-