1994: I Became a Literary Master in America

Chapter 23 Robert's Visit

Ashish felt much better after venting his frustrations.

"I have to go to work this afternoon, so I won't take you home."

Jeffrey, you're a good person... Thank you for listening to me. I have a blind date with my cousin tonight...

"Didn't you just break up with your boyfriend?"

Xu Shengjie was deeply shocked.

"But life has to go on. My dad, my mom, my brother and sister, and all my relatives are waiting for news from me. So, I will work hard, and I will find a woman who is willing to marry me."

"(⊙o⊙)...Then I wish you success soon."

"Thanks!"

Ashish drove off in a taxi.

He walked away resolutely, without looking back, as if he were chasing after his future happiness!

……

It's not far from the East Village to East Broadway.

Feeling a bit full, Xu Shengjie decided to walk home to digest his food and process Ashish's views on "sincerity."

It's still very impressive!

This shameless argument is probably only possible among Indians.

That inexplicable confidence, that thought process that is incomprehensible to people, or rather, to Chinese people, is truly astonishing.

But you have to admit one thing: Indians in America are doing better than Chinese.

Perhaps it is precisely because of their shameless way of thinking that they easily gain the favor of bosses.

While Chinese people are indeed more intelligent than Indians, they are too concerned about their image… so they can only toil away in companies, letting these Indians reap the rewards. Furthermore, they truly stick together! No matter how successful a company is, if it hires even one Indian executive, just wait a few years and you'll find that the company has become an Indian company.

Sometimes, you really have to admit defeat!

"Jeffrey, someone's looking for you."

As Xu Shengjie entered the apartment lobby, the building manager called out to him.

Who is it?

"I don't know, he left a business card."

Xu Shengjie took the business card from the administrator, which had a name written on it: Robert Adams Gottlieb.

Besides that, there's a phone number and a fax number.

That name sounds familiar, Robert Gottlieb…

Xu Shengjie returned to his room and suddenly remembered who this Robert Gottlieb was.

A legendary figure in the American publishing industry!

I bought his autobiography, "The Faith of Reading," in my past life!

He seems to have passed away in 23, and he remained active in the American publishing industry.

It seems that Bill Laugh, the current US president, is the one who published and distributed his autobiography.

A very energetic guy!

but……

Xu Shengjie scratched his head, walked to the telephone, picked it up, and dialed the number on the business card.

"This is Robert."

An elderly voice came from the phone.

Xu Shengjie suddenly felt a little nervous, so he took a deep breath and said, "I am Jeffrey Xu. Are you Mr. Robert Adams Gottlieb? I just got home and picked up the business card you left with the administrator."

"Oh, Buffy, the author of Buffy the Vampire Hunter, right?"

How do you know about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"?

"Haha, I saw the manuscript of your book in Elaine's office a couple of days ago, and I found it very interesting, so I wanted to talk to you about it."

Oh, and I have some bad news: Elaine doesn't seem to be very interested in your novel.

"Forehead……

This is indeed bad news!

Xu Shengjie's eyes flashed, but he immediately said, "However, I think getting your contact information is the best news."

"You know me?"

"I have read the works you recommended in The New Yorker."

Furthermore, Catch-22 is one of my favorite works.

"Hmm, it seems you're a seasoned literature enthusiast."

Kid, I'd like to have a chat with you, if you have time...

"Of course, I'm at your service at any time."

"Okay, I'll contact you then. Is this your home phone number?"

"Yes!"

Xu Shengjie hung up the phone, then suddenly pumped his fist excitedly and shouted, "Robert, I've read your autobiography!"

This is a person who loves reading and considers reading an integral part of life.

At the same time, he enjoys communicating with authors he admires, and if you catch his eye, he will do his best to help you.

In comparison, it doesn't matter that Elaine didn't like "Buffy".

Although Xu Shengjie still felt a little uncomfortable, he thought about it: when Rowling's *Harry Potter* was first published, it was rejected by countless publishers. If she hadn't later gained the favor of Christopher Little, the work would probably have been stillborn. And Rowling herself would have remained an unknown English teacher.

It's all fate!

Xu Shengjie suddenly became excited, so he sat down at the typewriter and began typing furiously.

Inspiration flowed like a spring, and he became immersed in the story of "Canal Street Metro Station".

Joshua: "I don't like taking the bus; I'd rather take a taxi."

Uncle Atu: "You're wrong. If you want to take a ride, take the bus. Buses have routes and destinations."

There are no taxis, and I'll get lost if I drive around.

……

Knock knock knock!

Someone knocked on the door.

Xu Shengjie raised his head, his gaze somewhat vacant.

He was a little annoyed.

It's so annoying to have your train of thought interrupted when you're writing smoothly.

He stood up, walked over, opened the door, and angrily shouted, "Who is it?!"

An old man stood outside the door.

He was wearing a light gray suit, which was somewhat wrinkled.

"Did I come at the wrong time?"

"Who are you……"

Xu Shengjie recognized the old man's identity at a glance.

In his past life, that headshot of his was used as the cover of his autobiography, leaving a deep impression on Xu Shengjie.

"Robert Gottlieb, we spoke on the phone two hours ago."

"Ah, Mr. Gottlieb, please come in."

"I'm so sorry for the sudden visit. I was on Broadway when I answered your call, so I just happened to come over."

"It's my pleasure, please come in!"

What opinions could Xu Shengjie possibly have?

He quickly stepped aside and invited Robert into the room.

"What would you like to drink? Coffee? Tea? Or a beverage?"

I don't have any good coffee here, but the tea is excellent—authentic Longjing green tea, and it's even this year's pre-Qingming new tea.

"Ha, no need to be so polite, then let's have some tea."

"Please have a seat!"

Xu Shengjie went into the kitchen and took out two glasses from the cupboard.

Then boil water and take the tea leaves out of the refrigerator.

"Wait a moment, I'll boil the water."

"It's okay."

Robert sat down at the worktable and glanced around the living room.

On the workbench were a typewriter, a word processor, a printer, several notebooks, and papers scattered haphazardly.

In addition, there are some other books.

It's a bit old; you can tell it's been frequently looked at.

At this moment, Xu Shengjie was boiling water in the kitchen when he casually picked up a piece of printing paper that had been left on the table.

This is the outline and character list for "Phone Booth".

In addition, there are several storyboard images, showing a young man standing in a phone booth, with a food delivery worker outside the phone booth.

On another sheet of paper was a sniper rifle by the window.

His eyes flashed, and with the eye of an editor of thirty years, he immediately saw the deeper meaning of the story.

This is a good story!

However, it's just an outline and storyboard.

There was also a stack of manuscripts next to it, titled "Buffy the Vampire Hunter".

Just as he was about to pick it up, Xu Shengjie came out of the kitchen carrying two cups of tea and said with a smile, "Mr. Robert, have some tea."

"Um, thank you!"

Robert then placed the manuscript on the table.

"Is this your new book?"

"Yes, it's just an idea; I haven't started writing it yet."

I've been busy with another project lately.

"Buffett?"

"No, Buffett has already finished writing it."

Robert took a sip of tea and said, "I saw your manuscript for 'Buffett' on Elaine's desk."

I find it very interesting!

"Yes, this is a campus fantasy novel."

"A campus fantasy? That's an interesting way to put it."

Robert was taken aback for a moment, but then he quickly understood the concept.

"It seems like you have a very large concept in mind, doesn't it?"

"Yes, I want to create a vampire universe... Buffy is just the beginning of this universe."

"A vampire universe?"

"Yes, I've read Anne Rice's 'Interview with the Vampire,' and I heard it's been adapted into a movie that will be released this year. In 92, Francis Ford Coppola's 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' sparked my strong interest in vampires, and I've been researching these stories for the past two years, reading many books and generating a lot of ideas."

I was wondering, do vampires really exist in the world we live in?

By the way, I absolutely love Brad from *Tomb of Dracula*!

"Brad from Marvel Comics?"

"yes!"

Xu Shengjie spoke eloquently about the origins of "Buffy" and the framework of the vampire universe.

This was in 1994, before the concept of the Marvel Cinematic Universe existed, so for Robert, it was undoubtedly an extremely interesting and novel idea.

"So, in your vampire universe, there will be other characters? Maybe even a vampire protagonist?"

"Yes!"

"A very interesting idea... Haha, this is definitely a young person's world. Talking with you like this makes me feel old."

Robert said, pointing to the storyboard of "Phone Booth" on the table.

Do you like movies?

"Of course, I have a dream: to become the best independent film director in New York."

There was a hint of expectation in Robert's eyes.

He suddenly said, "Jeffrey, you're not quite the Chinese person I've always imagined."

"Didn't you grow a goatee or a braid?"

Mr. Robert, you should know very well that the Chinese people stood up the moment 1950, when China single-handedly fought against the seventeen-nation coalition. The so-called Mandarin is nothing more than a stereotype reinforced by some people.

You're a long-time Stars and Stripes enthusiast, and you've lived in New York for so many years, so you should be quite familiar with Chinatown.

Do you think we Chinese living in America are that damned kind of people?

……