Chapter 108: The Literary Essence of China

On his first night in the capital, Zhang Chu slept exceptionally soundly, showing no signs of insomnia.

Early morning sunlight filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a gentle glow upon his face. This lazy soul turned over, brushing the sunlight aside, only to be disturbed by the persistent ringing of his phone.

“I shouldn’t have set this alarm yesterday!” Zhang Chu mumbled with narrowed eyes. Barefoot, he shuffled to the table and silenced the alarm. It was only a little past eight in the morning, yet the city of Yanjing was already bustling with life.

Today’s only appointment was to attend the “Book Fragrance China” exhibition. The Suspense Literature Summit was merely a modest segment within the grander event.

After a quick wash, Zhang Chu slipped into a shirt. No matter how you looked at it, he resembled a handsome young lad rather than the traditionally refined image of an author.

Beardless and somewhat unreliable, this young writer who had risen to fame early seemed to revel in the change—from a scruffy middle-aged man to a fresh-faced youth—it was quite the transformation.

At half past eight, a call came through from Gu Xinxue. “Zhang Chu, the driver and I are outside your hotel. You can come out now. The traffic looks like it’s going to be heavy today. We’re in a white Audi, license plate Beijing *****.”

“Got it, I see you!” Zhang Chu waved from the roadside and quickly made his way to the car. Without an entry pass, he would have to queue like any ordinary reader or visitor.

Gu Xinxue, not yet forty, was tall and lean with a scholarly air, fitting the literary type perfectly.

He was still a little amazed to see Zhang Chu in person—the young man about to enter university was actually one of his signed authors. Truly, heroes emerge in youth!

Though he had long known Zhang Chu was young, all their interactions had been online or over the phone, never face-to-face. Had he known Zhang Chu was such a youthful heartthrob, he might have shaped him into a handsome author idol.

“Editor Gu, what’s the agenda for today?” Zhang Chu asked, attending the event for the first time and unfamiliar with the schedule. As a newcomer, he didn’t need to speak—just quietly listen.

“In the morning, there’s a general meeting for suspense writers; in the afternoon, an exclusive interview with Southern Weekly; and tomorrow, the launch of ‘Psychological Crime’ followed by a forum on film adaptations of suspense works. You can’t really do it without an agent. Want me to introduce someone?”

Since Zhang Chu was still a student and focused on writing, he couldn’t manage everything else. Having an agent would mean he wouldn’t have to personally promote the film adaptation of “Psychological Crime”—the agent could handle the contacts.

From the back seat, Zhang Chu acknowledged his weakness. “If you know someone suitable, please introduce me. I’d like to talk first and see if our views align.”

One can’t fight alone—a fence needs three stakes!

“I’ll find time to introduce you then. By the way, are you comfortable living here?” Gu Xinxue suddenly remembered Zhang Chu was a soon-to-be university student just out of his family home, and asked with concern.

“It’s fine, no problems. I even went to record ‘One Station to the End’ all by myself. I’m heading to school in a couple of days.”

As they spoke, the International Exhibition Center appeared. Located near the North Third Ring Road, the glass-walled building stood tall in the morning light.

The words “Book Fragrance China” hung high above this large book fair, an event supported by the state—from the National Press and Publication Administration to the municipal government. Over 2,500 exhibitors from more than 90 countries and regions were present, showcasing over 300,000 newly published titles worldwide.

Though it was just past nine, the exhibition center was already crowded with visitors weaving through displays, as various national and corporate booths vied for attention.

Zhang Chu hung his temporary event pass around his neck and followed Gu Xinxue forward toward the independent booth of Nanhai Publishing Company.

“The event starts at ten. Want to look around by yourself? At 9:55, head over to Hall 8 next door for the Suspense Literature Summit.”

Gu Xinxue couldn’t be in touch only with Zhang Chu; he had to coordinate with others too. His special trip to pick up Zhang Chu from the hotel was because the boy appeared too young and they worried about his safety.

Now that Zhang Chu had arrived safely, Gu Xinxue would contact the rest, send out work passes, and urge the remaining authors to arrive promptly.

“I’ll go explore then.”

Zhang Chu knew the world wouldn’t revolve around him. The Nanhai Publishing booth was relatively small, featuring a variety of books. Suspense and detective novels made up only a minor portion—hardly the company’s main profit source.

Most visitors gathered around the popular book displays, where titles were sold at a 20% discount. It resembled a medium-sized bookstore, showcasing well-known works: classic world literature, contemporary bestsellers, Nobel laureates’ books, and novels with local flavor.

Zhang Chu wandered among the shelves, inhaling the scent of fresh ink and paper. The classification was clear, and every genre was represented, with bestsellers prominently placed.

Yet he noticed a flaw—there were very few new books on display. Even at the bestseller stands, the titles were mostly reprints from years ago, lacking innovation and trendiness.

Curious whether any of his own suspense novels were present, he slowly moved toward that section, eager to find out. Then he overheard quiet conversations from other visitors.

...

“Why are you buying so many books at once? Isn’t it tiring carrying them all?”

Zhou Li glanced at the stack in her boyfriend’s arms, clearly annoyed. It was finally the weekend, and yet he dragged her to this strange exhibition first thing in the morning. She’d rather be curled up watching dramas in bed.

Despite the scolding, Wei Huaming was delighted. “You can’t find this many detective novels in bookstores. I want to buy them all at once. I heard some authors are signing books today. I wonder if I’ll get to meet any.”

“Then carry them yourself later. I’m not helping with this heavy load.” Zhou Li couldn’t understand why her boyfriend was so passionate about suspense and detective novels. Even flipping through a few pages made her uneasy.

At that moment, Wei spotted a book on a nearby shelf and pleaded, “Lili, could you get that one for me?”

“Which one?”

Zhou Li replied impatiently. Spending money wasn’t the issue; it was the hassle. She had told him many times it was easier to buy books online, but Wei worried about quality and insisted on buying in person.

“It’s right next to the complete Sherlock Holmes collection—‘Detective Sherlock.’ Please get me a copy. Last time I looked at the bookstore, it was out of stock, so I had to read the electronic version.”

This popular booth was clever, placing fan works alongside original novels. The sales tactic worked well—anyone who stopped at the Sherlock Holmes collection would glance at “Detective Sherlock.”

“Since you’ve already read it, why buy another copy?”

Though Zhou Li said this, she still reached out and grabbed the book.

Zhang Chu pretended to browse nearby but was quietly counting buyers. In just ten minutes, four people had taken “Detective Sherlock” to the checkout. Though it was singled out as a target, the fan work unexpectedly boosted sales!

This fan creation sold even better than the original, partly because the Sherlock Holmes collection was so extensive and famous. Most detective novel enthusiasts had already read and collected it.