Chapter 32: A String of Insults

After the mama-san brought this person over, she bowed and left. The latter walked up and greeted them with a very familiar expression.

"Akiwara-san, how does it feel to be famous?"

Akiwara Yuto was a bit confused. He didn't remember knowing this person, so he subconsciously sized him up.

This person's appearance was a bit plain, with a pair of extra-small eyes, but his gaze looked very sharp. His height was average, about 1.7 meters, and he had a relatively thin build. However, his economic status should be quite good; not only was he wearing a famous watch, but even his suit was handmade.

At this moment, Imamura Yuto seemed to recognize the other party, stood up directly, bowed, and said politely: "Kadowaki-senpai, good evening."

Akiwara Yuto was a bit surprised. They had just been discussing his work, and now he had actually met the person himself. He immediately reacted and also stood up to bow in greeting—although he and the other party were both contracted writers for *New Novel*, the other party was, after all, a senior who had been writing for many years.

Seeing that his movement to stand up was slow, Kadowaki Yuzhen seemed a bit "dissatisfied," snorted lightly, and said in a contemptuous tone: "Akiwara-san seems to have an opinion about me?!"

Akiwara Yuto heard the ill intent in the other party's tone and subconsciously frowned. Just as he was about to reply, Imamura Yuto, who was on the side, immediately came up to smooth things over: "Kadowaki-senpai, please forgive us. Akiwara-san and I had a bit to drink today and didn't recognize you just now."

Kadowaki Yuzhen narrowed his eyes, stared tightly at Akiwara Yuto, and said in a condescending tone: "Then, as a senior, Akiwara-san should also be very well-versed in etiquette, right?"

Akiwara Yuto felt a bit impatient in his heart, feeling that he had encountered a lunatic who kept talking about seniors and juniors. Just as he was about to retort, Imamura Yuto secretly tugged at his sleeve.

He was confused about Imamura Yuto's intention, but the latter took the initiative to smile at Kadowaki Yuzhen and said: "Kadowaki-senpai, Akiwara-san is of course very well-versed in etiquette."

After saying this, Imamura Yuto signaled his female companion to get a glass and then continued to say to Kadowaki Yuzhen: "Kadowaki-senpai, since we met here by chance, why don't we sit down and have a drink together?"

He wanted to ease the atmosphere, but Kadowaki Yuzhen didn't intend to appreciate it, his expression remaining arrogant: "No need for a drink. Akiwara-san, I came to find you this time because I have something to discuss."

Akiwara Yuto felt that he couldn't play dumb anymore, but he didn't want to ruin Imamura Yuto's good intentions, so he responded politely: "Kadowaki-senpai, may I ask what advice you have for me?"

Kadowaki Yuzhen's attitude seemed to improve a little, but his tone remained serious: "Please tell your editor to give up the cover position."

Akiwara Yuto was stunned. He hadn't expected the other party to make such an unreasonable request; it was as unreasonable as pointing at someone while driving and saying this road belonged to him.

Imamura Yuto reacted immediately. He also saw that this Kadowaki-sensei was here to pick a fight, so he tried to smooth things over again: "Kadowaki-senpai, we are here to drink tonight, let's not talk about work..."

Kadowaki Yuzhen glanced at him and said in an impolite tone: "Imamura-san, or should I say Imamura-sensei, this is an internal matter of our *New Novel* editorial department, please do not interfere."

Seeing Imamura Yuto speechless, Kadowaki Yuzhen continued to say to Akiwara Yuto: "Akiwara-san, since you know the rules of seniors and juniors, as a newcomer, you should be a bit more honest and not always think about things you shouldn't have."

He didn't mince words when he said this. Today, editor Song Kang had informed him that the cover position for the next few issues would be given to Akiwara Yuto's work, because the other party's article had driven a sharp rise in the magazine's sales.

He had questioned it at the time: why should he give way to a greenhorn? How many years had he debuted, and how much contribution had he made to *New Novel*? As a result, he finally had a serialized work that could receive key support from the editorial department, only to end up in this situation.

He just looked at Akiwara Yuto like this, took a cigarette case out of his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep breath, and exhaled a layer of smoke like gauze.

Akiwara Yuto felt that the smoke exhaled by the other party was almost blowing onto his face, and he felt increasingly unhappy.

But what he understood even less was the other party's shameless request.

As a writer, shouldn't one use the pen in one's hand to win everything one deserves?

But this Kadowaki Yuzhen was trying to rely on his status as a senior to make others give up their interests. What was this? Was he brain-damaged?

Whether it was the cover or the promotion, it was the result of his own and Asano Aiko's joint efforts, not something that could be obtained so easily.

Thinking from another angle, if he were to give up the cover, how would he face Asano Aiko, whom he was trying to repay?

He instantly made up his mind, let go of his concerns about the other party, and said directly with a smile: "Kadowaki-senpai, may I ask if you have heard a proverb?"

Kadowaki Yuzhen looked confused: "What proverb?"

"An incompetent dog only knows how to bark."

Kadowaki Yuzhen couldn't save face. He hadn't expected Akiwara Yuto to be so ignorant of current affairs, even insulting him, a senior.

His tone became even sharper, and he said angrily: "Akiwara-san, please don't ruin yourself. If you apologize now, I might still..."

"I will not apologize!" Akiwara Yuto interrupted him directly and said sternly: "Kadowaki-sensei, as a writer, you don't think about how to improve your writing and design articles that readers appreciate more, but instead you spend all day on these crooked paths! Let me tell you, this cover position is something Asano Aiko and I fought for together, and I won't give even a fraction of it to trash like you!"

His voice became even colder: "To be honest, compared to the male lead in your work, you look like a clown right now, only knowing how to bare your fangs and brandish your claws to intimidate others, which is disgusting to death! I think for your next serial, you can arrange for yourself to be the murderer; it might be much more interesting than what you are writing now!"

After saying what he wanted to say, he greeted Imamura Yuto, who was dumbfounded on the side, and turned to leave. Because his voice was relatively loud, many guests around heard it, and the mama-san in the distance even rushed over.

Kadowaki Yuzhen's face turned blue and red, just like a monkey's butt; one could tell at a glance that he was furious. He wanted to curse loudly, but he held it back.

There were many people related to the publishing house in this club, and if he made a scene, rumors would surely spread quickly.

He stared at Akiwara Yuto's departing back, his expression becoming ferocious, and he lowered his voice.

"You rude guy, sooner or later I will make you regret this!"