"Zhu Shi, we've got a problem."
In the editorial department of Suspense World, Editor-in-Chief Wei Heping sat with a deep frown.
Although the latest issue of Suspense World had seen a massive increase of over 80.000 copies sold, pushing weekly sales past 270.000, a remarkable achievement, Wei Heping remained visibly displeased after seeing the numbers from another magazine.
"After Zhang Yun joined Suspense World, the sales of other magazines all plummeted. Some barely sold over a thousand copies in a week, basically on the verge of collapse. But one magazine, instead of sinking, has gone up against the current. Its weekly sales have surged past 70.000."
Holding the latest weekly sales report, Wei Heping turned to Deputy Editor Zhu Shi.
"You're talking about Midnight Talk?"
"Zhu Shi, how did you know?"
"What's so surprising? A few days ago, when we failed to recruit that Fanchen guy, I already saw this coming."
Zhu Shi sighed softly, a wave of unease stirring in his heart. This Fanchen really was freakishly talented. Even though he'd braced himself, he hadn't expected that, despite Zhang Yun unleashing his new masterpiece, Fanchen's 'Strange Tales' would still rise in popularity against the tide.
"Yeah, Zhu Shi, you're right. That Fanchen is a rare talent. It would've been great if we could've brought him over to our side."
"I can try talking to him again."
"No need."
Wei Heping waved his hand. "There's no time."
Then, he opened the website and navigated to the Supernatural Community forum.
"Look, his work is already getting a lot of recommendations from people in the Supernatural Community. I don't think it'll be long before his 'Strange Tales' becomes a direct rival to Zhang Yun's 'When Evil Spirits Rule'. In fact, I have a gut feeling 'Strange Tales' might even surpass it."
"Indeed," Zhu Shi nodded. "Seems like we're not the only ones with a discerning eye. To genuine readers, the value within the 'Strange Tales' series is clear; that's why they're recommending it on the forum. It makes perfect sense."
"So, there's no need to say more. If we let Fanchen continue serializing in Midnight Talk for a few more issues, even if they don't catch up to Suspense World right away, that magazine will still become a serious competitor to us. Zhu Shi, let's stick to our usual playbook. If we can't use a talent, then they're no talent at all. Since Fanchen refuses to join Suspense World, we'll make sure that the pen name disappears. Contact the Ghostwriter Studio, tell them we have a new job for them."
"I…"
Zhu Shi gave a bitter smile. He hadn't expected Suspense World to resort to such underhanded tactics again.
As someone with half a writer's soul, he was deeply against these suppression tactics.
But after working at the magazine long enough, he'd become desensitized to such methods.
Without tactics like this, how could one magazine compete with others?
Relying on "recruiting" genius-level writers? What a joke.
Even the most brilliant writer will eventually run dry.
Sanyue had already burned out, and in the future, even Zhang Yun could hit that wall.
Besides, in this day and age, a little talent and a few decent stories amount to nothing.
It's always been magazines that make writing geniuses famous, not the other way around.
Even this partnership with Zhang Yun, Zhu Shi believed, was nothing more than a short-term arrangement.
Once the timing was right, Zhang Yun would either be kicked to the curb or bound to their side indefinitely. That was all.
"Alright, I'll contact them."
Though he felt some inner resistance, Zhu Shi still nodded.
The longer he worked in this industry, the less he valued the writing itself; less and less did he care about literary merit. To him, even the best work, the best prose, would go unnoticed without the right packaging and promotion.
And perhaps it was precisely this kind of thinking that had kept him stagnant on his literary path for the past ten years.
Of course, he wasn't alone; this mindset was shared by Wei Heping, by the higher-ups of Suspense World, and by the investors behind the magazine.
Works, literature, art… to them, were nothing more than commodities.
At best, high-end commodities are dressed up in refined packaging.
…
Back on the Supernatural Community forum, it was still Zhang Yun, still Suspense World, and still 'When Evil Spirits Rule' that dominated the conversation.
However, thanks to the steady recommendations by hardcore fans of 'Strange Tales', that series finally broke through the noise and caught readers' attention.
Many book lovers and casual readers, upon entering the forum, started noticing threads recommending 'Strange Tales'.
As a result, more and more readers became fans of the series.
But just then,
At the peak of praise for 'Strange Tales', when the consensus seemed overwhelmingly positive, the tone of the forum suddenly shifted. A storm broke out across the board.
In just a few minutes, more than a dozen threads appeared, all viciously trashing 'Strange Tales'.
"'Strange Tales'? What even is that? Can someone tell me what those two words even mean?"
"Who the hell is Fanchen? Never heard of him. What kind of stuff did he write before this?"
"Calling 'Strange Tales' a classic? You people must've lost your minds. Since when can we just throw the word "classic" around like it's nothing?"
"Dude, they're not just calling it a classic, they're calling it a once-in-a-generation masterpiece."
"Let me be fair here. I don't know Fanchen, I've got no beef with him, and I don't want to throw shade. But after reading 'Strange Tales', I nearly pissed myself, from fear? No. From disappointment. There's zero horror in this so-called supernatural story. I finished it in two minutes and had no idea what I just read. Maybe it's telling some kind of story, but honestly, calling this a classic is a joke. I'm shocked it even made it into a magazine. Did Fanchen bribe an editor or something? Otherwise, how did such trash get published?"
"Finally, someone speaks the truth. I read 'Strange Tales' too; it was garbage. And people are calling it a classic? Disgusting. I stayed quiet before just to see how far those shills would go. But I can't anymore. I want to ask Fanchen directly: Do you even know how to write a supernatural story? Are you seriously calling this "supernatural"? Do you think we're preschoolers?"
"I'll chime in too. I only read 'Strange Tales' because I was duped by the hype in this forum. Thought it was some legendary piece. Turns out, it was all melodramatic nonsense, and the prose was so plain. It felt like a fairy tale written for kindergarteners. How the hell is that a supernatural story?"
"Wow, this really opened my eyes. If 'Strange Tales' counts as supernatural fiction, and if something like this can get published, I'm thrilled, because it means my kid's writing is on par with Fanchen's. Tell me, folks, do you think my son has what it takes to be an author?"
The Supernatural Community might be a virtual forum.
But even if it's online, it reflects the real-world supernatural fiction scene.
If a certain work becomes labeled by the entire community as trash, as worthless, then that sentiment will inevitably bleed into reality.
'Strange Tales' had just begun to show promise, only to be slammed down hard.
Those unaware of the truth might just be enjoying the drama.
But those who knew what was really happening… could only watch with deep regret.
Another classic work, silenced before it could shine.
Another genius-level author, like a shooting star, brief and brilliant, only to vanish.
But is that really how it ends?
In the shadows, a quiet voice whispered: No.
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