The shopkeeper's suggestion was valuable; she needed to be more secretive.
The existing method of submission might no longer be safe enough; although finding a clever child to run errands was convenient, if done too many times, it was hard to guarantee that no one would notice a pattern.
"I need a more complex process... perhaps I can find different children and have the handovers at different times and locations? Or use the complex environment and the coming and going of people in the Dock Area as cover?" Lovia began to conceive a new "safety process."
In addition, some adjustments were needed in the content.
"Continuing to write about subjects like 'synthesizing deities' or 'twin deities' is indeed too risky."
Although based on the previous situation, everyone seemed to like this type of article, and the Lord of Geo might not necessarily hold it against a small author like her (probably), this kind of "fictionalized account" involving the adepti, especially the Lord of Geo, was most likely to attract unnecessary trouble.
"Perhaps... I can develop some safer subjects?" Lovia pondered, "For example, a shipping story about the Lord of Geo and Guizhong? There are many records about the Lord of Geo and Guizhong; I'll just write it a tiny bit more ambiguously, and they definitely won't come looking for trouble."
"Speaking of shipping stories, the sequel for the Second Miss and the Little Daoist Priest hasn't been published yet... let's just scrap that; anyway, it won't be published, I'll just keep it to read secretly myself?"
"Next time I have a chance, I'll try a new safe submission process! Writing this will definitely be fine too!"
"And Yelan and Shenhe, Ningguang and Beidou, Ganyu and Keqing..."
"Change the names and then directly apply the character designs; that will definitely be fine!"
"After all, what evidence do you have to prove 'Wang Xiaomei' is Ganyu? That 'Master Ke' is Keqing? That 'Tianqian Star · Ning Qianyi' is Tianquan Star · Ningguang?"
It's just a coincidence!
Hee hee!
These inspirations made Lovia's heart stir; as a Melusine who loved creating (causing trouble), she had plenty of passion and "experience" for writing this.
Moreover, the topic of romance was harmless and appealed to both refined and popular tastes, making it unlikely to touch official red lines; plus, with the name-changing trope, nothing could possibly go wrong!
Of course, it was also impossible to completely abandon the signature style of "Lovia"; that was the core of her appeal to readers.
But she could appropriately lower its concentration in new works, mixing truth and falsehood to make it harder for people to catch her.
As for restoring the style... wait until the storm has passed, then we'll see!
"Yes, that's it." Lovia nodded, having a preliminary plan in mind, "On one hand, upgrade the'safe submission process,' and on the other hand, adjust the creative direction to appear with a gentler face. Neither completely disappearing nor continuing to high-profilely test the dangerous edge."
Lovia read Shopkeeper Sun's letter carefully once more, and after confirming no information was missed, she still cautiously burned it, the ashes falling into a small ceramic dish on the table, which she then threw into the sea.
Danger did exist, but it wasn't a dead end. She had known what she would face when she took this step; now it was just a prediction coming true.
Instead of being passively afraid, it was better to actively deal with it.
Lovia took a deep breath, suppressed her unease, and spread out a sheet of manuscript paper.
She worked hard to imitate a slightly weathered and mature writing style that had seen through the world, matching the feeling the pen name "Mr. Lovia" gave people.
[To the esteemed Mr. Sun Sanyu:]
I have received your letter and am deeply grateful for your kind regard. It is my honor that my humble work could catch your eye.
Your praise is too much; I truly do not deserve it.
I appreciate your kind intentions. If there are new works in the future, I will still choose your bookstore first. Regarding the cooperation, it can remain as usual.
Lovia, Respectfully.]
After finishing, Lovia checked it carefully and felt the tone was quite appropriate. She carefully folded the stationery, put it into a new envelope, and wrote "To the Sanyu Bookstore Owner, personal opening."
"I'll just send it along next time I submit a manuscript." She put the reply in the small box specifically for storing manuscripts and letters.
"The writing style issue... Hey! Can't I just change my pen name?"
"I'll rewrite that reply in a bit and then mention it to the Bookstore Owner..."
"For writing unofficial history, I'll use the pen name 'Fictional Historian'; for writing romance, I'll be 'Hanabi'! For writing serious stories and the sequels to the previous series, the pen name will remain 'Lovia'!"
Excellent, excellent!
Having handled this matter, Lovia finally relaxed completely.
She walked to the window and looked at the lights of the thousands of homes lighting up one by one in Liyue Harbor; her heart was not filled with much panic.
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