1994: I Became a Literary Master in America

Chapter 91 Rumors

"Jeffrey, I've finished reading your new book, *The Matrix*!"

After Kate finished speaking about the important matter, her gaze became intense.

"What on earth is going on in your head? How could you write something like this, this, this..."

She was at a loss for words.

"In any case, I must take responsibility for this book."

Xu Shengjie couldn't help but laugh. "Kate, you're my editor, so this book is naturally your responsibility."

"I mean..."

Kate opened her mouth, then suddenly smiled.

She waved her hand and said, "You know what? Danielle is really annoyed because of the Buffett thing."

"I've been wondering about this for a while now. Wasn't it supposed to be published in November? Why did Jason suddenly change his mind?"

"Her agent, Elaine, demanded an advance payment of $800,000 from the publisher."

"what?"

Danielle's editor even approached her specifically to discuss reducing the advance payment, but she refused. She felt that an advance payment of 800,000 was appropriate for her status. After all, she was a bestselling author and also had her pride.

Other bestselling authors can get large advance payments, so why can't he?

And so she angered Jason… and Elaine’s aggressive tactics led Jason to decide to postpone publication.

Elaine?

Xu Shengjie paused for a moment, then asked, "Is it Ms. Elaine Coster?"

"Yes!"

Xu Shengjie couldn't help but laugh.

Kate looked puzzled and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"That's right. Actually, after Buffett was finished, my first choice was to hire Elaine Coster as the manager."

"what?"

"She's the queen of commercial fiction."

"Then how did it become Robert?"

Kate asked gossipily.

Who would have thought I'd get to eat melon seeds?

"Robert said that it seemed Ms. Elaine didn't like my book. Robert happened to visit her and accidentally discovered my manuscript. After Ms. Elaine decided not to be my manager, Robert came to me."

"I see!"

Kate smiled.

"Elaine wasn't like this before. I heard Toni (Toni Morrison) say that she was very friendly to authors when she first started out. But ever since she made Danielle famous, I don't know if she was influenced by Danielle... well, maybe Danielle was influenced by her, anyway, the two of them have become increasingly difficult to communicate with!"

"Jeffrey, you are a very talented writer."

You have unparalleled creativity… As your editor, you may not like what I'm about to say, but I have to: please maintain a humble heart in your creative process. Once you lose your reverence for literature, you will have nothing.

I feel that Kate is a really nice person.

Of course, this is also related to Xu Shengjie's time travel.

It has a strong "fatherly" feel to it, but it's not unacceptable.

Anyway, it's not like what Li Yiyun said in the interview, that Kate is unreasonable.

"I will!"

"By the way, what's this?"

She noticed the stack of manuscript papers next to Xu Shengjie.

"My new work!"

"New work?"

Kate stared wide-eyed at Xu Shengjie, and said in an incredulous tone, "This is your fifth film?"

"Yes, a much larger and more complex setting than The Matrix."

"Am I okay?"

"certainly!"

Xu Shengjie laughed and said, "This is a horror novel. I specifically purchased the perpetual rights to 'The Five Laws of Zombies' from Universal and director George Romero. This is the first one. Robert has already received the original manuscript. This is a copy, which includes thirty illustrations I drew... If I hadn't been so busy lately, it probably would have been finished long ago."

Kate probably doesn't know the word "Versailles".

But to be honest, she kind of wanted to beat up Xu Shengjie.

After flipping through a few pages of the manuscript, she was drawn to the terrifying atmosphere created by the words in the book. Coupled with the eerie illustrations, she even felt a chill run down her spine.

"Jeffrey, please give me this book as well."

"Langdon, can you eat?"

"Phone Booth, The Matrix, and this book, The Survivor, are probably not going to happen this year."

But next year... I will directly request from Jason the maximum resources and materials from Random House for the entire year!

"You'd better discuss this with Robert first."

Robert is Xu Shengjie's manager. He has already handed over "Phone Booth" and "The Matrix" to Random House. So, will "Resident Evil" be published by Random House? Xu Shengjie can't guarantee that! In this regard, Robert is probably more experienced.

"I'll go visit Robert right now!"

Kate was getting restless.

She got up to leave, but as she was leaving, she held onto the stack of manuscripts, reluctant to let go.

"Jeffrey..."

"You can take it, but this is a copy. Please read it and then give it to Robert."

"OK!"

After Kate finished speaking, she left excitedly.

……

The completion of "Resident Evil: Survivors" also greatly reduced Xu Shengjie's pressure.

The production crew is still running smoothly, and the crew members and Xu Shengjie are becoming more and more in sync and in sync.

At the end of August, $150,000 from ABC was deposited into the studio's account.

This also further improved the studio's financial situation.

The (revocable) trust fund has entered the final approval process, and Jessica reports that it could begin operations by mid-September at the latest. Don't assume Americans are highly efficient; the efficiency of their government departments is, to put it mildly, questionable.

Xu Shengjie, however, was not in a hurry.

Take it one step at a time, and don't lose your rhythm.

That day, he called Diane and expressed his willingness to take on the script adaptation of "Buffy".

Diane was very happy and made an appointment with Xu Shengjie to meet next week to discuss the specifics.

"JJ is practically becoming your personal manager."

That day, Xu Shengjie invited Theron out for dinner.

She's been working out really hard lately, and after Ms. Mai Baochan examined her knees and gave her some advice on how to manage them, she's been eating mostly bland, watery, and green foods lately...

But it also made her very hungry.

Charlize Theron keeps in touch with Xu Shengjie every day.

I've complained to him more than once that my mouth is practically tasteless.

So he decided to give Theron a taste of sex, and with the ABC adaptation fee in hand, he took Theron and Norton to the brothel on Canal Street.

Well, Norton came along incidentally.

The main reason is that Norton happened to be there when Xu Shengjie contacted Theron, and he heard everything clearly.

Charlize even regretted that she shouldn't have used speakerphone when answering the phone.

"How so?"

"She complained that charging you only five percent was too low, and that she had been dealing with your matter recently."

It sounds like a complaint, but it's actually Harris showing off.

Having such a reliable artist is a blessing for Harris.

"Jeffrey!"

"Um?"

There's something I want to remind you of.

Recently, my agent has heard some unfriendly rumors about you.

"what?"

"It came from Los Angeles, but it's only circulating internally right now and hasn't spread yet."

You know, I'm currently signed with CTI (Creative Talent Agency). It's not a huge company, but they have a lot of connections in Los Angeles. My agent said Richard Gere has made some unfriendly comments about you privately… You know, he's riding high right now, so you'd better be prepared.”

"What did he say?"

"My agent isn't entirely sure what exactly was said."

However, he advised me to end our cooperation.

Xu Shengjie was taken aback, looked at Norton with an inquiring expression.

Theron frowned and said softly, "Edward, you're not thinking of changing your mind too, are you?"

"How is that possible!"

Edward laughed and said, "With such a good script, and Jeffrey so confident and talented, how could I possibly pass up such an opportunity to work with a future Hollywood director? So, I terminated my contract with CTI ahead of schedule."

"what?"

Xu Shengjie and Theron were both taken aback.

"Don't worry, Courteney has put me in touch with Brian Swardstrom, an incredibly capable agent. He'll be in New York next month, and there's a high chance I'll sign a new agency contract with him."

Courtney?

It must be Courteney Love.

After graduating from university, Edward gave up the job opportunity his father offered him and went to Los Angeles to work in a band.

Maybe it's because they love music!

But after spending some time with Edward Norton, Xu Shengjie felt that this guy was most likely involved with Courteney…

In 1992, Courteney Love disbanded her band and married Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana. Xu Shengjie and Theron spoke privately and believed that Edward returned to New York after experiencing emotional trauma.

Looking at it now, Xu Shengjie feels that he and Courtney are probably still entangled.

However, Xu Shengjie must admit that he was a little touched!

Bro, with you supporting me so much, I feel it's absolutely necessary for me to get Fight Club out of production sooner, and you're the only one who can do it...

Although this film will be Edward's masterpiece in the future.

But what Xu Shengjie gave was different from what others gave.

It looks like the days ahead will be a bit tough!

……