Chapter 118: Don't Worry

Wednesday, Chiyoda Ward, Akiwara Yuto's house.

Akiwara Yuto suddenly received a call from President Anjiu Jin Gangyi while eating breakfast.

The other party informed him on the phone that the connections had been made and that they would contact a book reviewer from a local newspaper next week and pay a visit. If there were no accidents, there would be news soon.

Akiwara Yuto felt excited upon hearing this news.

As long as there was exposure, "Suspect X" would inevitably enter the readers' sight as soon as possible and start brewing for the second and third reprints. Once it reached that step, it would definitely sell an amazing number.

Instead of struggling step by step like now, not even being sure of selling 100,000 copies a year.

However, come to think of it, if he could have one or two decent award titles in his hands, placed on the book's bellyband, it might sell even better.

Akiwara Yuto was just putting down the receiver to think about the problem when the phone rang again.

He picked up the receiver and said, "Hello, I am Akiwara Yuto."

A female voice came from the other side, "Akiwara, I am Asano. Are you free tonight? There is a very important thing I want to tell you."

Akiwara Yuto was a bit surprised. Since the end of the Mantanshe Literary Award, he hadn't been able to contact the other party, and even the letters he sent had fallen into the sea……

Akiwara Yuto was stunned and reacted quickly, "Asano, I am free tonight. Did something happen?"

From Asano Aiko's tone, he could hear a sense of urgency, which made him a bit concerned.

In Akiwara Yuto's impression, Asano Aiko should be a woman who was calm and gentle in everything she did.

"Around 6:30 tonight, I will pay a visit," Asano Aiko said seriously, "There are some problems at Mantanshe related to you."

"Related to me?" Akiwara Yuto couldn't help but frown.

He had already jumped out of Mantanshe to develop; what else could be related to him?

And they weren't even the same publishing house; what could the other party do to him?

He wanted to ask a few more questions, but heard Asano Aiko say "See you tonight," followed by the sound of the phone being hung up.

Akiwara Yuto shook his head and put down the receiver.

He went upstairs, sat cross-legged on the tatami, and began to think.

What exactly was it?

……

While Akiwara Yuto was frowning and thinking, Satake Maki was wearing an apron, humming a little tune, and making a bento in the kitchen leisurely.

She put the prepared rice into the bento box and put tomatoes and green vegetables on it. Then, in the bento compartment next to it, she put in sliced small sausages and a portion of char siu.

Although Akiwara-sensei hoped that the bento could have more meat, she still believed that an excellent bento should fully maintain a balance of meat and vegetables.

At this time, Mrs. Satake walked over and said curiously, "Oh my, oh my, no work today? Come to think of it, who is this bento for, Maki-chan."

After saying this, she blinked at her daughter.

Satake Maki looked at her mother, who was teasing her, very calmly and replied, "Mom, this is work arranged by the president."

She didn't lie. According to President Anjiu Jin Gangyi's arrangement, she was responsible for taking good care of Akiwara Yuto's daily life and doing liaison matters.

So after learning that Akiwara Yuto often ate instant noodles in the evening, she had a plan, which was to try her best to use her spare time to take good care of the other party's diet.

Hearing this explanation, Mrs. Satake was suspicious instead. When did making a bento become work?

Satake Maki looked at the egg gradually forming in the frying pan and showed a satisfied smile.

Very good, at 7 PM, she would ride her motorcycle to Akiwara-sensei's house and deliver the bento.

She hoped to see the expression of him being taken by surprise!

……

The sky gradually darkened, and it was soon 6:30 PM.

Akiwara Yuto was sitting on the tatami, organizing the clothes he needed to prepare for another signing event the day after tomorrow.

Immediately after, he heard the "ding-a-ling" doorbell.

Akiwara Yuto stood up, walked along the stairs to the entrance downstairs, and opened the door.

Standing at the door was Asano Aiko, whom he hadn't seen for a few months.

Asano Aiko was wearing professional attire. Seeing Akiwara Yuto, her mouth opened slightly, but she didn't say anything.

Akiwara Yuto quickly understood her awkward psychology. After all, the two hadn't been in contact for so long, so it was normal to be awkward and estranged.

Thinking of this, Akiwara Yuto smiled and said in a gentle voice, "Long time no see, Asano. Come in first."

Then he reached out to invite her into the room.

Asano Aiko nodded, took off her shoes at the entrance, and followed Akiwara Yuto to the living room upstairs.

She looked around and found that everything was unchanged, sighing secretly in her heart.

During the time she served as Akiwara Yuto's responsible editor, she almost came once or twice a week, sometimes to take manuscripts, sometimes to help clean up, sometimes just to chat……

But after that change happened, she never came again.

As a member of Mantanshe, she had always felt guilty, thinking she had let Akiwara Yuto down.

But she didn't expect that today……

Forget it, after all, there were some things she thought she must let Akiwara Yuto know.

Akiwara Yuto signaled Asano Aiko to sit down, then went to the kitchen to pour two cups of tea and placed them on the coffee table in the living room, "Asano, you said you had something very important to tell me. What is it?"

Asano Aiko came back to her senses and replied, "Akiwara, I heard a rumor like this today……"

After saying this, she told him everything that happened today.

As she described it, Akiwara Yuto's brows furrowed, and he fell into deep thought.

The intention of this rumor was undoubtedly to splash black water on himself, but who had the most motivation? Takei Kohei? Kihara Daigo?

Besides the two of them, he couldn't think of anyone else. Sure enough, he must take revenge if he had the chance!

However, come to think of it, the effect of this rumor was probably limited……

Thinking of this, Akiwara Yuto relaxed instead and comforted Asano Aiko, who was still worried on the side, "Asano, I have decided not to cooperate with 'New Novel' anymore, so it won't have much impact on me."

Asano Aiko was still a bit worried, "Akiwara, if you go to other large publishing houses in the future, the other party might also formulate more harsh contracts because of this rumor."

Akiwara Yuto waved his hand. He was cooperating very happily with President Anjiu Bookstore now and had no reason to jump to other large publishing houses for the time being.

And the longer the time, the more his works sold, and the greater his reputation would be. By then, even if other large publishing houses wanted to invite him, they might have to pay a high price, so there was no need to worry so much.

Akiwara Yuto looked up at the clock and found it was almost 7 o'clock, so he took the initiative to suggest, "Asano, have you eaten tonight? If not, would you like to go to a nearby family restaurant with me? Their pork cutlet rice tastes pretty good."

Asano Aiko hesitated but still agreed. She still wanted to persuade Akiwara Yuto.

Just as the two stood up to go downstairs, the doorbell rang again.

Akiwara Yuto was a bit puzzled. Who would come at this time? ===== CHAPTER 119 =====