Chapter 209: Chapter 209 The Manuscript in Gu Yajing’s Hands Chapter 209: Chapter 209 The Manuscript in Gu Yajing’s Hands “I am Gu Qiaoqiao, Director Yu, hello,” she said.
“No need to be so formal, please, have a seat,” Director Yu greeted warmly.
This was a slightly chubby middle-aged man with glasses and a constantly smiling face.
He wasn’t very tall, but he was very kind.
Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t act coy and sat down straightforwardly, stating her purpose.
Director Yu calculated the time and figured that, if there hadn’t been any delays, the letter should have arrived at least half a month ago.
And the submissions from half a month ago had already been reviewed.
Currently, only submissions from the past three days were being reviewed.
Moreover, they were in desperate need of manuscripts.
It was unlikely that anything had been held back.
Director Yu made a phone call to the security guard to check the manuscripts received in the past twenty days.
Then, he started chatting with Gu Qiaoqiao.
After learning the general content of what Gu Tianfeng had written, Director Yu’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
The theme was very novel.
If the writing and the plot were handled well, it might be worth a look.
Suddenly, a phone call came from outside, telling Director Yu that a letter had been received from Northern Qingshui County Shitou Town Middle School seventeen days ago.
Director Yu frowned. Seventeen days ago, he hadn’t received any submissions from that place, which meant it must have been so poorly written that it was rejected at the first stage.
Director Yu was rather conflicted.
This was someone Luo Fan personally asked him to take care of, so he had to respect Luo Fan’s request.
But if it was too poorly written, he wouldn’t be able to justify it to the readers.
He had to be responsible for the readers.
Thus, Director Yu felt quite troubled.
Gu Qiaoqiao had heard the content of the phone call and knew that it had arrived seventeen days ago, but Director Yu did not know.
This could only mean that there was a problem with one of the editors.
Perhaps, the book did not suit the editor’s taste.
Gu Qiaoqiao smiled at Director Yu and said, “Director Yu, don’t trouble yourself. Just have someone bring that manuscript here. Let’s take another look, and if it’s still not up to standard, I’ll gladly take it back with no issues…”
Director Yu liked Gu Qiaoqiao’s suggestion and visibly relaxed.
He then called the editor responsible for submissions from the north to bring over the manuscript.
However, the editor said they had never received any manuscripts from that area.
Director Yu felt embarrassed; failing at the review stage was a matter of the manuscript’s quality, but losing the manuscript was a problem on the magazine’s part.
Director Yu called the editor he had spoken with earlier, asking her to immediately check where the manuscript had gone.
Gu Qiaoqiao remained silent.
However, she felt fortunate that there was another copy at home; otherwise, had her father written tens of thousands of words in vain?
At the same time, she was curious: where could a manuscript that had been received by the security guard have gone?
Director Yu and Gu Qiaoqiao chatted off and on, but he was actually quite annoyed inside.
After such a long time, how could it still not be found?
As he was growing anxious, the sound of high heels approached from outside, and a woman in her thirties entered the office.
Director Yu didn’t wait for her to speak and eagerly asked, “Xiao Wang, did you find it?”
Xiao Wang nodded, glanced at Gu Qiaoqiao, but hesitated.
Director Yu knew that things were tough now and, somewhat displeased, said, “Speak up. What exactly happened?”
“The manuscript was indeed received, but now it’s in Deputy Director Gu’s hands.”
“Why is it in her hands?” Director Yu’s expression turned stern immediately.
He and Deputy Director Gu each managed different aspects; he oversaw the manuscripts, while she handled personnel and logistics.
She had never seen her look at a manuscript before. What the heck is she doing with the author’s manuscript?
Gu Qiaoqiao’s heart skipped a beat.
Now, she instinctively felt wary about anyone with the surname Gu.
Xiao Wang said uncomfortably, “She’s the director. She asked to see a manuscript. How could I refuse her?”
“What else did she look at?”
Director Yu furrowed his brow, “You can go back first.”
Xiao Wang glanced at Gu Qiaoqiao and then quickly left.
But he felt a bit of schadenfreude that the haughty woman might be in trouble this time.
She didn’t have the expertise yet she recklessly interfered, and now she had upset Director Yu.
Director Yu calmed his emotions and then called Deputy Director Gu.
Gu Qiaoqiao couldn’t hear what the other party was saying, but she could tell that Director Yu’s face was getting darker and darker. Finally, from between clenched teeth, Director Yu squeezed out a few words, “Please ask Deputy Director Gu to search thoroughly, ensure it is found, and then bring it to my office.”
After speaking, he hung up the phone with a click.
Gu Qiaoqiao smiled, “Director Yu, I apologize for bothering you.”
“It’s no bother. The manuscript is with Deputy Director Gu, it will be brought over soon,” said Director Yu with a strained expression.
It was a weak explanation. He couldn’t smooth things over.
Saying that the Deputy Director loved talent and took the initiative to review the manuscript, but why only this one and for as long as seventeen days?
And he was completely unaware of it.
Regardless of the quality of the manuscript, this wasn’t within her jurisdiction.
Thus, Director Yu could only wait for Deputy Director Gu to deliver the manuscript.
Meanwhile, Gu Yajing, annoyed, was staring at the manuscript placed inside a large leather envelope.
Her older brother had called a while ago, instructing her to intercept an email from Stone Town Middle School.
After she intercepted it and opened it, she found it was really well written, simply irresistible.
Even though she wasn’t versed in this field, she knew that if it were published, it would definitely make a sensation.
Especially now when there is a severe shortage of manuscripts.
But her elder brother had spoken: no matter the quality, this manuscript must be held back.
Though she didn’t know the exact reason, her brother’s words, just like their grandmother’s, were absolutely to be followed.
But what should she do now?
Director Yu specifically asked for this manuscript.
Having no choice, she had to call her brother, but unfortunately, she couldn’t reach him.
Gu Yajing reluctantly, holding the envelope fiercely, walked toward Director Yu’s office.
Only upon arrival did she realize there was another person in the room.
It was a young girl wearing a white blouse and capri pants, with a ponytail, looking refreshing and beautiful, radiating a compelling youthful aura.
Gu Yajing was taken aback.
She wondered if this could be the owner of the manuscript?
Director Yu calmly received the manuscript and looked at the address; indeed, it came from the Northern Stone Town Middle School.
He placed the manuscript on the table, wishing to ask something but instead said sternly, “You can go back first. I will need to talk to you later.”
Gu Yajing also realized the matter wasn’t so simple. If no one came looking, it might be fine, but what if the owner of the manuscript came? It would be hard to explain.
She turned around, her sharp gaze falling on the girl who had already stood up.
A hint of scorn flashed in her eyes, and then, lifting her head slightly, she walked past Gu Qiaoqiao with an air of arrogance.