Chapter 279: Wen Leyu: I Was Hasty

"Yeah, we won't sell—it's not a loss if we don't sell."

Wen Leyu nodded her little head, agreeing with Li Ye's opinion.

But Li Ye had lived with her for years—he could clearly see the "pain" and "hypocrisy" in her voice when she said that.

The girl fully supported Li Ye's opinion, not because she genuinely agreed with it herself.

So Li Ye smiled and said, "It's not that not selling means no loss—it's that if we have the money, we can earn it ourselves. Why give our treasure pot to someone else?"

"Treasure pot?"

Wen Leyu's big eyes blinked rapidly, sparkling with light.

She leaned closer to Li Ye, whispering like a spy on a secret rendezvous: "How much can we make? Dollars? This time, don't tell Mom yet."

Okay! Li Ye finally understood—no wonder Wen Leyu, who'd always treated money like dirt, was so pained this time. It was because of that last five-thousand-dollar mess.

Wen Leyu knew the five thousand dollars given to Professor Ke wouldn't make Li Ye lose out, but spending money for long-term returns felt nothing like keeping it in your own pocket.

And how much is this one?

Li Ye said twenty thousand dollars was already a loss—so this could easily be hundreds of thousands, even over a million dollars. She had to clutch the money tightly in her own hands—fireproof, theft-proof, mom-proof.

"She only wants to buy the translation rights; how much we'll actually earn is hard to say. Let me just tell you how much we can make altogether!"

"In the next one or two years, our book's earnings will be in the range of a few million to ten million dollars, but the revenue period will be very long—it could multiply by dozens of times!"

Li Ye had no intention of hiding the situation with *A Song of Ice and Fire* from Wen Leyu. Not only because of their current relationship, but because she and Professor Ke were the translators—they'd agreed from the start to split the profits one-third each, so she had the right to know.

After he finished speaking, Wen Leyu's little mouth opened into a wide "O."

Li Ye was astonished—he'd never realized how much potential Wen Leyu's clueless innocence held.

Wen Leyu froze for ten seconds, then suddenly asked: "How much did you just say? A few million to ten million dollars, right?"

Li Ye nodded: "Right. Just a few million to ten million in the next one or two years, because market response takes time to build, and later earnings will grow with advances in film and television technology."

Wen Leyu had no interest in Li Ye's explanations—she grabbed his arm and dashed off with her long little legs.

Li Ye teased with a grin: "Hey, where are you going? It hasn't even started selling yet! I can't give you the money now~"

But Wen Leyu declared firmly: "We can't stay at school today. Let's get out of here fast."

Li Ye let her pull his hand along: "This is our turf. Even if she wants to buy it, can she just come and steal it? Besides, at most she suspects I'm the author of *A Song of Ice and Fire*—what can she do if I deny it?"

Wen Leyu turned and glared at him: "You don't understand anything. If she came to steal it, that'd be easy. Listen to me—let's ignore her for a day first."

"Fine, fine, fine! I haven't rowed in ages—let's go row on Houhai! I just bought a few sun umbrellas on Hong Kong Island—they're great."

"Forget rowing! Come home with me—we need to talk to Mom about a strategy."

Li Ye chuckled: "Didn't you just say not to tell Professor Ke? Now you're thinking of your own mom?"

Wen Leyu kept walking without turning back, muttering: "Who else can we turn to when our heads aren't big enough?"

Wen Leyu didn't stop walking—she pulled Li Ye away, and in a flash, they were out of school and gone.

Only she and Li Ye would do this. If anyone else heard a foreign guest had arrived, they'd never dare be so careless—they wouldn't even have the guts.

Li Ye and Wen Leyu had run off, but the school debate team was now in chaos.

"Hey, wasn't Li Ye supposed to be back? Where'd he go?"

Wang Jiyuan from the TV station, accompanying Wu Jinyuan, entered the debate team's activity room—and was immediately annoyed.

A few days ago, they'd hosted this overseas friend from Lee's Hill, discussing TV drama imports, and mentioned *Wangxiang Gujun* being sold overseas to show that mainland works were already "blooming abroad."

Then Wu Jinyuan showed strong interest and asked whether to buy the film and TV rights to *Wangxiang Gujun*, or to co-produce it.

The huge success of *Shaolin Temple* had made mainland officials realize the business potential of co-produced films and TV dramas, leading to this visit to Jingda.

But that seven-inch blade from Jingda was outrageous—disorganized and undisciplined, returning days late, making the foreign guest wait so long.

Today, finally hearing Li Ye was back, they came over—only to find him gone again.

Facing Wang Jiyuan's irritation, the Jingda students looked at each other, all silent.

We're not even in the same system—why are you yelling at us?

Helplessly, the school teacher Cao Xiaoqiang stepped forward and asked: "Why aren't you students speaking? Where's that student Li Ye?"

Someone finally spoke up: "Teacher Cao, we don't know either! Li Ye was just here a moment ago! Maybe he went out with a girl?"

"."

Cao Xiaoqiang sighed and turned to Wang Jiyuan: "Director Wang, since we couldn't arrange a meeting today, maybe reschedule? After all, *Wangxiang Gujun* isn't even finished yet."

Wang Jiyuan, still angry, said: "Your school is really free and open—just because of a girl, you ignore foreign guests."

Cao Xiaoqiang paused, then felt annoyed too.

It was summer vacation—he was on duty, handling mail and reception—but he wasn't good at this kind of socializing.

He'd only contacted Director Wang to say Li Ye was back and to schedule a meeting—he hadn't even met Li Ye yet! And now Director Wang just showed up with the foreign guest—whose fault is it if you got shut out?

Before Cao Xiaoqiang could think of a reply, the foreign guest Wu Jinyuan stepped forward.

"Actually, this isn't the students' fault. My schedule was tight, so I caused some inconvenience. But today, I didn't come just for Li Ye—I heard the students are preparing for the National College Debate Championship, so I brought some gifts."

Wu Jinyuan's two assistants carried in many items and placed them one by one on the table.

There were Coca-Cola drinks, snacks, but the most eye-catching were dozens of videotapes and a VCR.

"These were urgently air-freighted from Lee's Hill—all recent debate championship recordings, plus a VCR. Consider them my donation to Jingda."

As proven, empty words could never match tangible benefits—once Wu Jinyuan displayed her gifts, the room instantly came alive.

"Videotapes? That's amazing! We've never seen what a real debate looks like—now we have a reference!"

"Teacher Cao, the Gujun Literature Society has a TV—could you lend it to us?"

"We'll have to wait until Director Xiao comes tomorrow. I don't have the key or the authority. Hehe."

"I should've donated a TV too," Wu Jinyuan smiled gently. "I didn't think it through today—I'll bring one tomorrow."

"Thank you so much!" Cao Xiaoqiang eagerly grabbed Wu Jinyuan's hand. "On behalf of Jingda, I thank you for your generosity—and on behalf of the students, for your kindness."

"It's nothing, nothing. We'll have many more opportunities to cooperate—there's plenty of time ahead."

Wu Jinyuan subtly withdrew her hand and walked over to chat with the debate team students.

"Actually, I was on the debate team myself back in school. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

"Then, Miss Wu, could you help us review our debate rules? These were decided jointly by several schools."

"Of course, of course. By the way, did Li Ye just leave?"

"Yes, yes! He was just by the window, but vanished in a blink. I'll go to his dorm tonight and make sure he's here waiting for you tomorrow."

"Oh, no problem. I have a few days—no rush."

Wu Jinyuan walked to the window and looked outside, unable to suppress a faint smile.

Avoidance meant guilt. In Hong Kong, Li Ye had left a deep impression on her.

Calm, detached, composed—but never guilty.

Calm, indifferent, composed. But not the least bit guilty.

When Professor Ke opened the door and came home, Li Ye was finishing the last dish in the kitchen.

Wen Leyu peeked toward the door, then pulled back and whispered to Li Ye: "You'd better say less later—watch my signals."

Li Ye nodded eagerly: "Yeah, yeah, I won't say anything—you talk."

"What are you two whispering about?"

Professor Ke walked into the kitchen and smiled: "What's going on today? Eight or nine dishes? Any celebration? Or guests coming?"

Wen Leyu beamed: "There's some good news, Mom. Let's go to the living room to talk."

The two of them sat on the sofa and chattered away.

Even the usually calm Professor Ke was finally stunned.

"How much did Li Ye say the earnings would be?"

"A few million! I think he's exaggerating when he says tens of millions."

"He wouldn't exaggerate—not about money. If he says ten million, it's definitely twenty million or more."

Professor Ke immediately corrected Wen Leyu's skepticism—she'd once asked Li Ye about *Wangxiang Gujun*'s overseas earnings potential, and back then, she'd thought he was too optimistic. But after receiving the report from Jingda, she realized he'd actually undersold it.

"So you only get one-third of that money, Mom! We already agreed—three-way split, one-third each."

Wen Leyu glanced at her mother's expression as she stated her condition.

Professor Ke laughed: "Oh? I get one-third? I'd forgotten! Lucky my good daughter reminded me—tell Li Ye to let me know when the money arrives."

Teacher Ke chuckled: "Oh, I still have a third left! I'd even forgotten! Lucky my good daughter reminded me—tell Li Ye to let me know once the money's arrived."

Wen Leyu suddenly felt she'd been hasty.

So much money!

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)