Chapter 1424: Outline
Zhang Heng handed the outline printed from the computer to Hemingway.
“Is this the novel you plan to write?”After reading the outline, Hemingway handed it to Fitzgerald. After the latter finished reading it, he passed it to the next person, the outline returned to Zhang Heng’s hands.
Then Zhang Heng asked, “What do you think?”
“A very interesting story,”Agatha said, “I quite like it, especially the last twist. It’s full of drama. This will be a very popular novel. No matter what era it is, I believe it will be popular with readers. People will break down bookstores for it.”
“I don’t plan to sell it. I want to put it on the internet for as many people as possible to read for free.”
“What is the Internet?”
“The internet is like a giant grocery market that everyone in the world can easily reach,”Zhang Heng explained.
“It sounds cool, but, uh… it would be even better if writers could earn money from it to support themselves,”Dickens said.
“In my era, there are indeed some writers who can support themselves through online writing,”the fantasy bestselling female writer said.
At this time, fitzgerald also said, “Your outline is great, but how do you plan to solve the relationship problem?”
“We have provided you with several solutions, but it seems that you don’t like them,”Hemingway added, “Of course, to be fair, these solutions are indeed not perfect. Emotions are like the soul of a story. Without it, your story will never be complete.”
“I have already figured out how to get back my feelings.”Zhang Heng paused. “At least, in the creation of this novel.”
“Then you will get a great story,”Fitzgerald said.
“A magnificent epic of adventurers.”Asimov also pushed up his glasses.
“An unprecedented best-selling novel,”the fantasy bestseller sighed.
“This is all thanks to your help. If it weren’t for you teaching me how to write and guiding me through the maze, I wouldn’t have been able to do this alone.”Zhang Heng put away the outline and thanked the authors.
Then, he went to room 515 alone and knocked on the door three times. Then, he inserted a copper key into the lock and twisted it gently.
He had done this many times, so he was very familiar with it. After entering the living room, Zhang Heng didn’t stop. He pushed open the door to the study.
For the first time ever, Lovecraft didn’t help others rewrite or write on his own. He placed the old typewriter on the bookshelf beside him, on the table, there was a small bottle of red wine and two glasses.
The bottle of wine from Lovecraft’s grandfather had already been drunk by the two of them. This bottle was a gift from Zhang Heng three days ago.
Lovecraft poured the red wine into the glass, just like when they first met. However, today he was wearing a suit that he had not taken out for a long time, so he looked a little more energetic.
After Zhang Heng brought the outline to him, Lovecroft put on his glasses and started reading eagerly. After a long while, he put down the manuscript paper in his hand. He hadn’t even gone to drink his glass of wine yet.., but at that moment, he felt like he had just finished a bottle of wine and heaved a long sigh of satisfaction.
“You don’t mind if I use the settings that you made before to write the story?”Zhang Heng asked, surprised.
“Of course not. I really like having writers to help me improve and fill my world. In fact, many of the pen pals that I’ve written to before have used this setting to write a story,”Lovecraft shrugged.
“What about the ending? Can you accept the ending?”Zhang Heng asked. “After all, the ending of the story that I’ve created is different from the ones that you’ve written before.”
“Before I met you, I would have felt that this was indeed a little against my usual aesthetic standards. Because the stories I created, no matter how much the main character resists, they will eventually be shrouded in greater despair. And you, on the other hand, were the first person to write a story after that. Even though you borrowed my system, in reality, you were telling a story about a person who was shrouded in despair and knew that he could not escape. How he used all his strength to fight against Fate!”
Lovecraft seemed to be thinking about how to express himself more accurately. After a moment, he continued, “It’s like… All the hope in my novel is to welcome the final despair, while all the despair in your novel is to prepare for the final glimmer of hope. This is indeed different from my writing style, but this doesn’t stop me from liking your story. I don’t know why, but maybe it’s because hope and despair are two sides of the same coin. Just like light and darkness, without either side, the world can not truly become real.”
“To be honest,”Lovecraft said as he looked into Zhang Heng’s eyes, “I feel like your new story has helped me fill in the last hole in my story. For that, I should propose a toast to you,”Lovecraft said as he raised the glass in his hand.
Zhang Heng also raised his own glass. “To the fear of the unknown.”
“To the unyielding courage of mankind,”Lovecraft said in a low voice as he downed the glass of red wine in his hand.
Fifteen minutes later, Zhang Heng walked out of Room 515 with the outline.
At this point, he had already completed most of his plans. There was only one thing left, and that was the emotion he lacked.
After Zhang Heng bid farewell to Hemingway, Lovecraft, and the others, he finally found The Hobbit housekeeper.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”The Hobbit housekeeper asked politely as she put down the vase in her hand.
Her racial talent allowed her to be silent no matter where she went or what she did. In fact, she had been in the hall the whole time, but few of the passing writers could find her.
“Yes, I want to meet someone,”Zhang Heng said.
“Who?”The Hobbit housekeeper asked, “I will try my best to meet your request, but other than the writers in the manor and the service staff, I can’t help you bring the people outside in.”
“But there is one person who can,”Zhang Heng said straightforwardly, not keeping her in suspense, “I want to see the Butler, kanser, who received me before I came to this manor. He is also one of the attendants. You should be able to help me find him, right?”
“You want to see him?”The Hobbit housekeeper was a little surprised.
“That’s right,”Zhang Heng said, “In 20,000 Leagues under the sea, Kanser accompanied the main character, Professor Aronas, for the entire journey. Therefore, I guess my relationship with Kanser should not be limited to the first time we met.”