Chapter 4

On July 10th, Wei Jin's novel had already been serialized for ten installments.

In the morning, Ceng Li received a call from Lin Xue; at 2:00 PM, she would meet with Wei Jin, bringing the latest offer and sincerity from the *Beijing Evening News*.

After finishing lunch, Wei Jin was leaning leisurely against the hospital bed, enjoying the fruit being fed to him by Li Jie.

After spending nearly half a month together, although they had not yet confessed their feelings to each other, their actual mode of interaction was no different from that of an ordinary couple.

Today, Ceng Li was wearing a beige sleeveless long dress, her long, beautiful hair casually gathered behind her head; with her light makeup, elegant features, and fair skin, it would not be an exaggeration to say she was a university student.

Wei Jin looked at the beauty before him with a smile, occasionally sucking on the finger that Li Jie used to feed him, which drew a burst of playful scolding.

"It seems I've come at a bad time?"

A teasing voice came from outside the door.

Wei Jin looked up and saw a young woman with a petite figure, wearing a professional woman's suit, with capable, shoulder-length short hair and the face of a girl next door.

"No, you've come at just the right time."

As a veteran netizen, Wei Jin's speed at picking up memes was top-tier, and people in this era had not yet been bombarded by short videos of Li Xunhuan holding beauties in both arms.

The woman was stunned upon hearing this, and then her eyes darted back and forth between Wei Jin and Ceng Li.

Finally, her gaze settled on the half-eaten Apple in Ceng Li's hand, and an inexplicable smile rose on her face.

There was a trace of panic on Ceng Li's face, as if she had been caught in a puppy-love affair.

"Wei Jin, this is Lin Xue; your novel owes a lot to her help."

Casually putting the Apple aside, she smoothed the hair on her forehead and turned to Lin Xue, saying, "Xiao Xue, this is the author of *Sword Snow Stride*, Wei Jin."

"Hello, Sister Lin, I am Wei Jin. I have heard Li Jie mention you many times, and I must thank you for your help this time."

Wei Jin said with a sincere expression: In fact, Wei Jin really had to thank her; not every author's submission could make it onto an editor-in-chief's desk.

Don't you see how many struggling authors in the post-web-novel era have worked hard to write hundreds of thousands of words only to be unable to sign a contract? "Hello, Wei Jin, I am Lin Xue. There's no need for thanks; I only played the role of a referrer, it's still because you write well yourself."

Lin Xue changed the subject, "By the way, I came here this time mainly to talk to you about our future cooperation."

"Mm, go ahead."

"It's like this: currently, the market response to *Sword Snow Stride* is quite good. Our editor-in-chief's intention is to increase the serialization volume. Do you have any issues with that on your end?"

"At the moment, my maximum daily serialization volume is about 10,000 words. After I am discharged from the hospital and get a computer, my speed should be much faster."

"That's fine, there's no need to be faster. After all, the space in the newspaper is limited. We plan to serialize 8,000 words per issue; just stick to that speed. Also, how about a payment of 200 per thousand words?"

"Happy to cooperate!"

Wei Jin readily agreed to the newspaper's proposal.

After finishing the business, Lin Xue seemed to change into a different person, becoming curious about the relationship between Wei Jin and Ceng Li, chattering away with endless questions.

How could Ceng Li bring herself to tell her best friend that she had been captured by a boy seven years her junior? She just laughed it off, intending to bypass the topic.

But Lin Xue did not fall for it, and quietly asked in Ceng Li's ear:

"Li Zi, be honest, has your heart been stirred?"

"What are you talking about? He's only a freshman, what are you thinking?"

"Isn't it? When I just walked in..."

"Oh, isn't this accident caused by me? I have to take care of him."

"Is that so? I just feel like something is not quite right."

Lin Xue did not pursue it further and took an envelope out of her handbag and handed it to Wei Jin.

"This is the previous payment; I'll head back to the newspaper office first."

Ceng Li walked Lin Xue to the hallway and, after sharing some intimate words, slowly returned to the hospital room, picking up the envelope on the bedside table to count it.

"Why is it only a little over two thousand? I see you writing so many words every day."

Ceng Li felt a bit sorry for Wei Jin; she had watched him write it word by word.

"Li Jie, you don't understand this industry. For someone without fame like me, it's already quite good to have my submissions published. Besides, the response to the serialization is good now, isn't that why the pay increased?"

Wei Jin could feel Ceng Li's concern. "Based on the current pay rate, I can earn about 10,000 a week, which is already quite good."

"I see, that's not bad. What do you plan to do now that you're making money?"

Ceng Li was concerned about Wei Jin's plans, perhaps to keep him from spending money recklessly.

"After I get discharged, I plan to buy a mobile phone first, then rent a place, and then get a computer. You know I write every day; my wrists really can't take it anymore."

Wei Jin laid out his plans completely.

"Do you have enough money to buy so many things? Also, why are you renting a place?"

"By the time I'm discharged, the money will be just about enough. As for renting, it's mainly for convenience. Besides, school hasn't started yet, right? If I don't rent a place, am I supposed to live at your house? Li Jie, you wouldn't want to eat me, would you?"

Wei Jin was habitually teasing Ceng Li.

"That's right, you look so tender and delicate, I'll have to eat you up."

Ceng Li said with a grin. Having spent nearly half a month with Wei Jin, the saying "one who stays near vermilion gets stained red" held true, and Li Jie had also started learning how to tease her little brother.

"Li Jie, I'll wash up clean tonight; I'll cooperate however you want to eat me."

Wei Jin looked expectant; when it came to being shameless, Wei Jin considered himself undefeated.

"Pah, you really are..."

Ceng Li was choked by Wei Jin's bold words and didn't know what to say for a moment, so she could only change the subject.

"If you're renting, it's best to be closer to the school. I'll go look for an agent in a couple of days to finalize the housing matter."

Wei Jin wanted to slap himself; why did he bring up renting? Wouldn't it be better to stay in the same room with Li Jie?

Just as he was about to say something to hasten his cohabitation life with the great beauty, Wei Xingbang called to inform him that the matter regarding his uncle had been handled and he was preparing to fly over tomorrow to take care of Wei Jin.

Unfortunately, Wei Jin really couldn't bear to give up the days of having his sister warm his bed, so he could only tearfully reject the arrival of fatherly love.

After much persuasion, he finally managed to convince Old Wei, and Wei Jin let out a long sigh of relief. Turning his head, he saw Ceng Li's ambiguous expression and couldn't help but explain:

"Cough, you don't know, my dad snores really loudly, I won't be able to sleep well at night."

(Manuscript Fees and Doubts)

"Guess whether I believe you? Sleep by yourself tonight."

Ceng Li had seen right through Wei Jin; they had agreed on just cuddling at night, but every day he would find new tricks to break through her bottom line. If this kept up, this little rascal would surely eat her clean.

"Really, Li Jie, you have to believe me. My sleep has been much better lately, and my overall recovery has sped up. Didn't the doctor say the same thing?"

Speaking of this, Wei Jin himself froze. Ever since Li Jie started accompanying him at night, his sleep had indeed improved, and he felt his body was full of strength.

Most importantly, the memories in his mind were becoming clearer and clearer; when he was typing, it was as if he were assisted by a god.

Seeing Wei Jin suddenly freeze and stop talking, Ceng Li thought her request to sleep in separate beds had made him unhappy.

"Then you are not allowed to mess around at night."

"Mm, Li Jie, can't you trust me? In the pugilistic world, they call me the Little Gentleman of Honesty and Integrity."

"Forget it, if I believe a single word of yours, I lose. By the way, why is your pen name Eighteen Scholars?"

"Didn't you feel it during the night?"

"."

Following this, for a consecutive week, the doubts in Wei Jin's heart grew heavier.

Although a month of hospitalization had been agreed upon, after examinations, his recovery progress after just over half a month had reached the effect of a normal person's recovery over more than a month.

Furthermore, besides his memory getting better and better, Wei Jin's physical stamina was also becoming stronger. After failing to find an answer despite much thought, Wei Jin could only pin his hopes on "Amour."

On July 18, Wei Jin was officially discharged from the hospital, and their wonderful cohabitation life in the hospital came to an end.

The doctor also marveled at the young man's powerful recovery ability and urged him to return for regular check-ups.

After calling his dad, Wei Jin carried his luggage and, with 13,000 yuan in manuscript fees in his pocket, got into Ceng Li's car.

Reminding her to drive carefully along the way, the two of them laughed and joked as they headed to view the three properties found by the agency.

A newbie author, writing for Amour, kneeling and begging all you readers for recommendations and follow-up reads.

(End of this chapter)