Chapter 96: Bookmark Writing

Anjiu Bookstore, second-floor office.

"Teacher Akiwara, please sign your name on this batch of bookmarks as well."

Satake Maki, wearing a white dress, smiled and handed a large box to Akiwara Yuto. Inside this box was a pile of wooden bookmarks.

Akiwara Yuto sighed, could only take the box, and began to take out the bookmarks inside, signing his name on them one by one.

After the last meeting, although he had persuaded Anjiu Jin Gangyi not to use a giveaway method, a few days later, Anjiu Jin Gangyi proposed a new plan: to have Akiwara Yuto write 10,000 bookmarks to be tucked into the books as gifts for readers.

Because the production cost of bookmarks was low, and with a cooperative factory lined up, the total cost was less than 200,000 yen. So Akiwara Yuto had no reason to refute and could only be forced to agree.

In order to finish this work before the release, he had to come to Anjiu Bookstore every morning this week and work for most of the day.

But then again, he really didn't have anything else to do right now.

Satake Maki watched Akiwara Yuto's work for a while, then smiled and said: "Teacher Akiwara, what do you want to eat for lunch?"

"Just help me go to the convenience store and buy a yakisoba bread," Akiwara Yuto replied bluntly.

During this period, because Anjiu Jin Gangyi was busy organizing the trial reading session, he had arranged this editor Satake to assist him, responsible for liaison and other work.

"Eh, eating these every day, won't it be too unhealthy?" Satake Maki said kindly.

"This is fine," Akiwara Yuto waved his hand in response.

Actually, he lied. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to eat convenience store bento or bread either. But thinking about it carefully, besides 20 years of experience with instant noodles, his ability to cook other dishes was close to zero, let alone making a bento for himself.

"Then..." Satake Maki tapped her chin with her finger, turned around, and said casually: "Teacher Akiwara, starting tomorrow, would you like to try the bento I make?"

Hearing this, Akiwara Yuto's signing hand paused, "That, wouldn't be very appropriate, would it?"

Satake Maki laughed, "It's no problem. President Anjiu said to take good care of teacher Akiwara's daily life. For the sake of subsequent promotion work, please work hard, teacher Akiwara!"

"Subsequent promotion work?"

"For example, increasing the number of signed bookmarks, touring autograph sessions, media liaison," Satake Maki paused, then smiled and said: "Teacher Akiwara, you've really worked hard!"

Akiwara Yuto's mouth twitched. This editor Satake was truly a capable subordinate of President Anjiu. It seemed she wanted him to put in good effort later, which was why she offered to make him a bento.

However, the better the sales, the more he would earn, so he might as well accept the other party's good intentions.

"Editor Satake, then I'll trouble you. I will pay for the material costs separately. Also, add more meat to the bento." Akiwara Yuto didn't look up, saying this while signing.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Asano Aiko. Back at Mantanshe, he could go and mooch bento every day.

Just then, footsteps came from the stairs, followed by the office door being pushed open, and a male voice came in, "Satake-chan, I also want the bento you make, can you give me one?"

Akiwara Yuto looked up and saw it was Xidao Youhui, responsible for sales and promotion. The other party was wearing work clothes and a baseball cap.

Satake Maki put her hands together and smiled, "Sorry, Xidao, taking good care of teacher Akiwara is President Anjiu's task for me. And if I make too many bentos, I won't have time during work hours."

"What's this, so stingy." Xidao Youhui said this verbally, but his expression didn't show the slightest unhappiness. He just walked in, took a document, and greeted Akiwara Yuto before leaving.

Akiwara Yuto nodded and continued to write his signature. Today's task was 1,200 signed bookmarks, so he still had to hurry.

Satake Maki didn't disturb him, walked out the door, and gently closed the main door, preparing to head to the convenience store to buy bread.

But on her face, a faint smile appeared.

Very good, the preliminary plan is successful.

At 8:00 PM that day, Asano Aiko finished her day's work and returned home.

After being transferred to the Proofreading Force, her work content began to become completely different from before.

For a manuscript, an editor's proofreading work is to judge whether the manuscript has market value and literary value, but a proofreader's main task is to find textual errors and factual mistakes in the book.

After being transferred here, her work became much more boring, but the work pressure was also much smaller. After all, the duty of all proofreaders is to carefully read their own manuscripts, and they basically don't need to deal with colleagues much.

Often, she wouldn't say a few words throughout the day.

She opened the door, took off her shoes at the entrance, and said: "I'm home."

Hearing her daughter's voice, Lady Asano walked out with a smile, "Aiko, wash your hands and have dinner."

Asano Aiko nodded, washed her hands, sat at the dining table, and together with her mother, put their hands together and said "Itadakimasu," then began to eat dinner.

Halfway through the meal, Lady Asano coughed and asked: "Aiko, is work going smoothly recently?"

She was a bit worried. As a mother, she had taken care of her daughter for so many years and knew her habits like the back of her hand. In her view, after Asano Aiko changed departments, although she didn't say anything, she must find it very hard to accept in her heart.

After all, Asano Aiko had said that her dream was to be able to create a book that sold a million copies, allowing readers who bought the book to experience the joy of reading.

Asano Aiko took a bite of rice and shook her head, "Mom, don't worry, work has been quite relaxed recently."

She smiled and said: "Look, haven't I been coming home to eat with you recently? Of course, if Dad could come home earlier, that would be even better."

Lady Asano also smiled and nodded, placing a shrimp roll into Asano Aiko's bowl, and asked as if she didn't care: "Have you been in contact with Akiwara-kun recently?"

Asano Aiko shook her head. After receiving that letter last time, she understood Akiwara Yuto's determination to advance and retreat together.

But in her view, she could only be a burden to Akiwara Yuto.

Without her shackles, Akiwara Yuto could obtain good resources whether he went to other publishers or continued to stay at Mantanshe Headquarters.

Lady Asano sighed; she couldn't quite guess her daughter's current thoughts and could only say: "Aiko-chan, sometimes, don't guess others with your own thoughts. Between people, sometimes you need to be honest."

Hearing this, Asano Aiko directly placed her bowl and chopsticks on the table, said "I'm full," and returned to her room under Lady Asano's helpless gaze.

She sat on the bed, hugging her knees, looking at the night outside the window, and silently recited: "Honest?"

Even if I am honest about my thoughts, what can I do to help him now? ===== CHAPTER 97 =====