ROBEPTQ chapter 1

After entering the verification code on the webpage, Bai Sijun hesitated to click the “Confirm” button.

For everyone transitioning from campus to society, the most painful thing is not losing summer and winter vacations, nor is it the gradual distance from former friends. Instead, it’s realizing, day after day in the monotonous routine, that you are just an ordinary person.

The Earth won’t stop rotating for anyone, and history won’t cease its forward momentum. In the vast desert, everyone is nothing more than an inconspicuous grain of sand.

Bai Sijun was no exception.

Graduating from a second-tier university with a degree in an obscure major, due to his love for reading, he found a job as an assistant editor at a private publishing company, where he had been for four years.

In these four years, his job consisted of miscellaneous tasks. He was even more familiar with the company than the chief editor, at least knowing how much coffee powder was left in the tea room and how much A4 paper was left in the printer.

However, all of this was about to end as long as he passed the exam.

Bai Sijun closed his eyes, took a deep breath, reassuring himself that if he didn’t pass this year, he could try again next year. Grades were just fleeting, and with persistence and effort, nothing was impossible.

The mouse emitted a crisp clicking sound, and the next second, the page refreshed, displaying the numerical representation of the results. Bai Sijun stared at the screen for a long while before being belatedly overwhelmed by joy—he had actually passed the exam.

Excitedly clenching his fists, Bai Sijun then picked up his phone, wanting to share the good news with his girlfriend, Xia Ai.

Opening WeChat, scrolling past a dozen work groups, and a few familiar editors, when he finally found Xia Ai’s chat box, he realized that the last time they spoke was a week ago.

Joy and excitement left Bai Sijun with little room for thought. He quickly sent a message: “I passed the intermediate publishing professional exam.”

Xia Ai replied promptly: “Congratulations.”

Bai Sijun’s joy didn’t stop; he wanted to explain more to Xia Ai. Passing this exam qualified him to become a responsible editor. However, before he could finish typing, Xia Ai’s second message came in: “I’m getting married.”

His fingers paused on the keys. Bai Sijun was somewhat dazed. He didn’t remember promising Xia Ai that they would get married if he passed this exam. Moreover, considering their current relationship, it didn’t seem like they were ready for marriage.

Doubt turned into a question mark as he sent a message: “to whom?”

Xia Ai replied without beating around the bush: “The family introduced someone else, we’ve known each other for two months, and we’re getting married.”

It felt like falling from heaven to hell.

Bai Sijun pulled up the contacts, contemplating calling to question, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to press that number. Instead, he returned to WeChat and asked: “Why?”

Xia Ai: “When was our last date?”

Bai Sijun hesitated. Honestly, he didn’t remember. Xia Ai was introduced to him by his family, and he didn’t object. Xia Ai thought he was a good match, so they started dating. Half a year had passed, and the frequency of their dates had gone from once a week to… seemingly not once a month anymore.

Xia Ai: “Besides talking about work, when have you looked for me?”

Xia Ai: “I’m not your confidante, not someone you use to relieve stress.”

Xia Ai: “My best friend is right, good looks won’t put food on the table.”

Bai Sijun stared at the phone screen blankly for a while before typing the two words, “I’m sorry.” However, when he pressed “send,” she had already blocked him.

Bai Sijun threw his phone on the table, feeling weak as he slumped back into his office chair.

More distressing than the heartbreak was how he would explain things to his family when he went home for the Chinese New Year.

Bai Sijun’s family ran a grain and oil store in a small city. He didn’t understand the family business, but since the year before, they had acquired a car, and last year, they bought a new house. Considering his sister, brother-in-law, and their well-off lifestyle, the family’s conditions were generally good.

Precisely because of this, the most pressing matter at home was Bai Sijun’s personal issues.

Originally, he had agreed with his family to bring Xia Ai home this year for the New Year. However, it seemed that what awaited him was a tormenting new year.

Bai Sijun’s seat was near the aisle, with people passing by frequently. Perhaps because of the sharp contrast between his current listless state and his usual energetic appearance, Zhao Lin, passing by, curiously approached and asked, “What’s wrong, Xiao Bai? Didn’t pass the exam?”

Zhao Lin was a senior editor in the company, thirty-five years old, with an adorable son. Since returning to work after maternity leave, she had been in charge of children’s book projects and had worked with Bai Sijun a few times.

“I passed, Zhao Jie,” Bai Sijun sat up straight and replied.

“If you passed, you should be happy,” Zhao Lin lightly patted his shoulder twice. “After the New Year, the chief editor should promote you.”

He still had to survive the New Year, though. Bai Sijun sighed inwardly.

The days before the Chinese New Year passed quickly. Every January seemed to have a low profile, and by the time people came to their senses, almost a sixth of the new year had already gone by.

The reactions of the women at home were just as Bai Sijun expected. The issue of his relationship was brought up at every meal. Although his brother-in-law felt sorry for him and spoke up for him a few times, he ultimately dared not say more under the siege of his wife and mother-in-law, and could only look at Bai Sijun with sympathetic eyes.

Barely making it to the fifth day of the lunar new year, Bai Sijun’s mother saw photos of Xia Ai’s wedding shared by Xia Ai’s mother on WeChat. Immediately, she scolded Bai Sijun severely.

Honestly, Bai Sijun didn’t want to get married at all. After working for four years, he had only saved a few thousand yuan. Even if his family promised to help with the down payment for a new house, he didn’t believe he had the ability to repay a mortgage.

Moreover, with progress in his work, entering a new stage in his career, he didn’t want to be tied down by matters of love and marriage.

But explaining these things to his mother and sister proved difficult. After realizing he was just an ordinary person, Bai Sijun also understood that the authority in a family is entirely based on economic capability.

Bai Sijun eagerly awaited the end of the vacation. Coincidentally, two days before it ended, he received a message from the chief editor: “Come back, there’s a book for you to handle. Good luck!”

Immediately, Bai Sijun jumped up from the sofa and started packing his bags. He didn’t want to stay at home any longer. Amid his mother’s complaints, he canceled the train ticket and booked the nearest flight.

By this time, there were already signs in the work group. A senior editor had been kicked out by the chief editor.

In a smaller group without the chief and deputy editors, that senior editor hadn’t left the group yet. She explained that she was resigning because she was planning for pregnancy and also complained a lot about work.

In these four years of work, Bai Sijun had seen quite a few people resign, and the content of their complaints was mostly similar. However, in the words and lines of this senior editor, Bai Sijun caught a key piece of information—Mei Yuchen had no one responsible for him.

Moreover, judging by the atmosphere in the small group, no one was willing to take on the extremely difficult writer.

Suddenly, Bai Sijun had a bad feeling. After a day and a night of anxiety, on the first day of the new year, the chief editor called him into that transparent office and said with a smile, “In these four years with the company, your hard work is evident to everyone. You’ve obtained the intermediate title, and it’s time to take on more important responsibilities. Now, there’s a very important author. His next book is highly anticipated. If you can handle his book, it will be very beneficial for your career…”

Bai Sijun returned to his seat feeling drained. The enthusiasm he had for work had been eroded by that name.

The chief editor actually handed Mei Yuchen, this hot potato, to him.

Thinking about it, none of the experienced editors were willing to be Mei Yuchen’s editor. Bai Sijun, who had just been promoted to a regular editor, naturally became the best candidate—or the easiest target.

If it were three years ago, Bai Sijun believed that any editor would fight to be Mei Yuchen’s editor. This genius writer had produced countless brilliant mystery works since his debut at the age of nineteen. Three years ago, at the age of twenty-nine, he even won the Starwood Award, the highest achievement in the mystery genre, becoming the first writer under thirty to receive this honor in history.

However, since then, Mei Yuchen has not produced any new works. The outside world believed he was refining a more outstanding piece, but only the publishing company that signed his next work knew that his next work hadn’t even started.

This publishing company was Hongtu Culture, Bai Sijun’s employer.

Sighing, Bai Sijun checked with the former colleague who had resigned about the handover.

Bai Sijun: What’s the progress on Mei Yuchen’s book? Can you tell me?

Former senior colleague: He hasn’t written a word, where would there be progress?

Bai Sijun frowned slightly. He thought, three years have passed; it can’t be possible that he hasn’t written a single word, right?

The former senior colleague continued to reply, “He’s either traveling or has broken hands and feet, or his computer got waterlogged, or his house collapsed, and so on. He doesn’t respond to any messages. Out of ten calls, nine times it’s switched off. The only time he answered, he made up various ridiculous reasons to fool you. What do you expect him to write?”

Bai Sijun: But I checked the contract, and he’s already two years overdue.

Former senior Colleague: Have you ever seen any writer submit their work on time?

…True.

Former Senior Colleague: The only advice I can give you is, when there’s a new person in the company, just pass this big shot on to them.

Bai Sijun: Thank you, senior.

Bai Sijun didn’t want to just drag this out. At least, he hadn’t made any effort yet, and he didn’t want to give up so early.

He had read all of Mei Yuchen’s works and knew he was a talented writer. Whether as a fan or an editor, he hoped Mei Yuchen’s next work would be released soon.

Apart from that, there was one more crucial point.

Mei Yuchen was the first author he took over after being promoted. If he couldn’t handle the first job given, how would he face the next one?