Chapter 146: The Interest Binding of

Second, after this talk show on TV Tokyo aired, it indeed caused quite a stir.

Moreover, because the program was suddenly cut off, it left many people with wild imaginations.

Amidst various speculations, many newspapers began further reporting, and the content of these reports was wide-ranging.

Some were about internal factional struggles within Mantan Publishing, some were about the resistance Asano Aiko put up due to workplace bullying, and others were about Mantan Publishing trying to smear her.

However, Mantan Publishing reacted quickly, spending a fortune on several pages of advertisements, focusing on portraying the relationship between Akiwara Yuto and Asano Aiko as a romantic one.

It must be said that this strategy was quite effective, causing many members of the public to believe it was true.

After all, no matter how one looked at it, for Asano Aiko to say such things on a television program as an employee of Mantan Publishing was undoubtedly "career suicide."

If it were a romantic relationship, there would be a reason to explain it.

Furthermore, in the literary world, there are many precedents of editors and writers dating.

But if that were the case, the credibility of what Asano Aiko said would be open to question.

Therefore, many people began to doubt the truthfulness of Asano Aiko's words and further questioned whether Akiwara Yuto had truly suffered those unfair treatments.

Chiyoda Ward, Akiwara Yuto's home.

Akiwara Yuto and Asano Aiko were kneeling on the tatami in the living room, looking at the reports of their affair in the newspaper, silent for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Akiwara, I didn't expect Mantan Publishing to come up with this content."

Asano Aiko lowered her head, feeling somewhat dejected.

In her original plan, she intended to reveal the true facts by disrupting Mantan Publishing's television interview plan.

But she did not expect Mantan Publishing to "slander" her and Akiwara Yuto as being boyfriend and girlfriend.

In this way, the effect of the television interview would undoubtedly be greatly reduced.

Seeing her dejected, Akiwara Yuto smiled and patted her shoulder.

"Asano, you have already done a lot for me."

His words were sincere.

Whether from when he debuted or after he suffered the blacklisting, Asano Aiko had been constantly helping him.

Looking at himself, not only did he implicate her in being transferred to the Proofreading Department, but he also caused her to lose her job now.

If nothing unexpected happens, because of this temporary "betrayal," no major company will dare to hire her in the future.

Akiwara Yuto coughed, stood up, and bowed deeply to the confused Asano Aiko, "I have always troubled you."

Asano Aiko also stood up, waving her hands in a panic, "Akiwara, don't be like this, I didn't really help with anything."

After bowing for a full minute, Akiwara Yuto straightened up and responded with a smile: "No, to me, what you have done is already enough."

He looked at Asano Aiko and said: "Wait for me here, I have something for you."

Immediately after, he left the living room and walked up the stairs to the third floor.

Asano Aiko was a bit confused, but she still sat obediently on the tatami.

Five minutes later, Akiwara Yuto returned to the living room with a document bag and handed it to Asano Aiko.

"Asano, this contract was drafted by people from a law firm I found. Please take a look. If there is anything you are dissatisfied with, point it out to me, and I will modify it immediately."

Up to this point, Asano Aiko had already submitted her resignation to Mantan Publishing.

Although it would take some time to complete the entire resignation process, Asano no longer had a job, which also meant she had no source of income...

To return the favor, Akiwara Yuto naturally could not let Asano Aiko continue like this.

After all, she was the one who said the words, "I'll leave my future to you."

On the other side, Asano Aiko took the document bag, subconsciously glanced at Akiwara Yuto, and then opened it to take out the contract inside, reading it carefully.

"Party B hires Party A as a copyright agent. During the contract period, Party A shall have full authority to represent Party B in commercial or non-commercial activities such as work publication, copyright transactions, and film and television rights, as well as activities related to Party B's public image. Party B shall pay Party A remuneration for this..."

"Regarding labor costs, Party A's monthly salary is set at 600, 00 yen, with an annual income of no less than 7. million yen; other remuneration includes 10% of work royalties and 10% of copyright operation fees..."

Akiwara Yuto watched Asano Aiko's expression and felt relieved.

In terms of income, Asano Aiko previously earned about 5 million yen a year in the Proofreading Department at Mantan Publishing. But besides this income, she also enjoyed some special benefits that a large company could provide.

Since she has now left Mantan Publishing to struggle alongside him, these invisible benefits have undoubtedly disappeared.

All he could do was compensate as much as possible in terms of treatment, so a salary of 7. million yen per year was decided after much consideration.

Besides that, the 10% fee for royalties, although the number looks very low.

But in reality, it is already more than the 8% he gave to Anjiu Bookstore.

For example, if 30, 00 copies of a book are sold and the external retail price is 2, 00 yen, then Asano Aiko can directly receive 7. million yen through the royalty share.

This number looks like he has given up a lot of profit, but for Akiwara Yuto himself, if he decides to continue on the literary path, he inevitably needs an "assistant."

Or rather, he needs a partner who can weather the storm with him.

Not to mention Asano Aiko's kindness to him, her series of actions alone have already proven that Asano is the only candidate for this partner.

After a full 15 minutes, Asano Aiko finished reading the entire contract and put it down.

Akiwara Yuto nodded and handed over the pen placed on the table, "If there are no problems, you can sign and stamp it directly."

But to his surprise, Asano Aiko shook her head, "Akiwara, I cannot accept this contract."

"Why?" Akiwara Yuto was a bit puzzled for a moment.

"Sorry, the profit share you gave me is too much." Asano Aiko shook her head.

Her goal was to hope that she could create a "best-selling" work with Akiwara Yuto, not to use this as an opportunity to profit for herself.

In the nearly four years she has been in the publishing industry, she has never heard of a 10% royalty and copyright share.

This number is too high...

Akiwara Yuto thought for a while, then changed it to 8%. But Asano Aiko still did not approve, believing that the royalty and copyright profit sharing should be cancelled.

Akiwara Yuto was speechless for a moment.

It was the first time he discovered that there were people who didn't want money when it was offered.

But to tell the truth, the reason he was willing to give these shares also had a very important point: to bind Asano Aiko's interests to his own.

Only in this way could he feel more at ease.

While the two were pushing back and forth, a phone rang.

Akiwara Yuto had no choice but to give up arguing with Asano Aiko, stood up, walked to the entrance, and picked up the receiver.

"Hello, I am Akiwara Yuto, who is this?"

From the other side of the receiver came a heavy male voice.

"Hello, Teacher Akiwara, I am Kihara Kento from the Public Relations Bureau of Mantan Publishing. I hope to talk to you about this matter."

Hearing what he said next, Akiwara Yuto's heart couldn't help but sink...