Chapter 108

“Survivorship bias.”

Fujiwara Aoi suddenly realized:

“Yes, yes, yes, that’s it!”

Saionji Nanase nodded with a smile.

“Although I didn’t expect the truth about the cherry blossom tree legend to be like this...”

“But in any case, the first topic of our Collection Force is successfully completed.”

“The great contributors this time are Natsume-kun and Fujiwara-san.”

“If it weren’t for you finding Teacher Otsuka and asking about these past events, we might have been busy for a long time in vain.”

Fujiwara Aoi laughed shyly and embarrassedly:

“It’s not that exaggerated.”

“But on the way to find the history teacher, I really almost wanted to give up.”

“He... is really elusive, too hard to find.”

Natsume Chikage smiled helplessly.

“I feel the same way.”

Saionji Nanase remembered the appearance of the two running to the library to ask people with sweat on their heads, and couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing.

At this time, she suddenly thought of something and asked:

“By the way, is everyone free tomorrow?”

“Should we organize the materials collected this time in the clubroom, or... go out for a walk?”

Fujiwara Aoi’s wheat-colored cheeks flushed slightly.

Tomorrow is the “date” preparation day with Natsume-kun in the plan, how could she come to club activities!

She coughed twice and said shyly:

“I... have to work tomorrow. Let’s do it next time.”

Natsume Chikage also nodded.

“Me too.”

Yukimura Suzune still didn’t look up.

“I have arrangements too.”

Saionji Nanase’s small mouth pouted slightly, somewhat disappointed.

“Alright...”

Afterward, the four ended the first official club activity of the Collection Force in idle chat.

Shibuya.

The glass curtain wall of the high-rise office building reflected the slanting afternoon sun.

Elevator lobby.

Natsume Chikage looked down at the manuscript in the brown kraft paper document bag in his hand, his heart aching slightly.

Printing this 150,000-word novel really cost him a considerable expense.

Ding—

The elevator door slid to both sides.

Coming into view was the huge, well-designed logo of “Midnight Publishing House”.

Natsume Chikage took the document bag and walked to the front desk.

“Hello, may I ask...” The female clerk at the front desk looked up, and the moment she saw Natsume Chikage, her eyes clearly brightened, and her tone became more enthusiastic, “Is there anything I can do for you?!”

Natsume Chikage spoke calmly.

“Hello, I am Natsume Chikage, I have an appointment, I’m here to submit a manuscript today.”

“Okay! May I ask which editor you have an appointment with?”

“Mr. Takahashi Jun.”

“Understood. I have notified Editor Takahashi for you, please sit in the reception area over there for a moment, he will be here soon.”

“Thank you.”

In the meeting room.

Novel editor Takahashi Jun was sitting opposite an author wearing glasses.

He had been reviewing the suspense mystery novel manuscript the other party brought for nearly two hours.

However, no matter from which angle he examined it, this work could only be described as “mediocre”.

In the era of paper media decades ago, it might still have had a place.

But in the current era of information explosion and scarce reader patience, such a suspense story lacking grip is hard to stir up any splash.

Today’s readers have extremely picky tastes; if the plot isn’t sharp enough or the hooks aren’t sharp enough, the chance of even being glanced at is minimal.

Not to mention those masterpieces with ingenious conception, interlocking, and reversals that make one’s scalp tingle; those are the ones that can truly explode across the internet!

And this manuscript in front of him... he flipped through it repeatedly, finding no highlights worth praising.

Let it pass?

I’m afraid he would be called to the editor-in-chief’s office to be scolded in the next second.

Takahashi Jun’s personality was already gentle and cowardly; knowing the manuscript had absolutely no chance of passing, he could only squeeze out the most tactful wording possible.

“Your novel... the plot is solid, and it’s clear you put in the effort. But the overall style might not... match our publishing house’s recent submission direction.”

The man with glasses understood the subtext instantly.

He pushed his glasses hard, and his volume rose sharply.

“Brilliant reversals! Perfect closed loop! You actually dare to reject my excellent novel?!”

He was so excited that his fingers were trembling slightly.

“My plot setting is crushing level on the market!”

“Even other publishing houses would be fighting to sign this book!”

“An editor like you actually refuses? You’re simply blind!”

“No wonder you’ve been a small editor for so many years, you don’t even have the most basic appreciation!”

Takahashi Jun was overwhelmed by this head-on scolding, could only force a forced smile, and opened his mouth dumbly, but couldn’t make a decent sound.

Seeing him silent, the man with glasses became even more arrogant, his scolding becoming sharper and harsher, causing other editors and authors talking in the meeting room to look over.

Until he was dry-mouthed from scolding, he grabbed the manuscript back and slammed the door and left.

“If this place doesn’t keep me, there’s a place for me elsewhere!”

“Wait for my book to become a hit, you idiot, just wait to regret it until your intestines turn green!!!”

Takahashi Jun looked at the back that disappeared behind the door, let out a long, silent sigh, his lips moved a few times, and he muttered habitually: “Slow... walk slowly...”

At this time, the intern editor at the next table, Arakaki Shoji, had just finished a smooth interview.

He successfully signed an author with great potential, neatly put the contract documents into his leather briefcase, and stood up to send the other party to the door considerately.

Turning back, he happened to see Takahashi Jun’s appearance of being scolded and still saying “walk slowly” with a low voice.

Arakaki couldn’t help but step forward, lowering his voice and complaining:

“Senior Takahashi! You’re an editor! How can you be scolded like this by an author without refuting a word?”

“The manuscript was rejected, if it were me, I would definitely have retorted! How can you take this kind of cowardly anger!”

Takahashi Jun scratched his somewhat sparse hairline and squeezed out a bitter smile.

“Haha... just, just being said a few words, it’s no big deal.”

His submissive and peace-loving appearance made Arakaki Shoji, who had just graduated from university and was full of blood, shake his head repeatedly, but there was nothing he could do.

Arakaki remembered that he had an appointment at the Western restaurant downstairs later, the author was a high school student named Yamaguchi Hakuta—considered his distant cousin.

The level of the previous few submissions was indeed average, but after his pointing and combing, today’s manuscript should be readable.

When it is signed and submitted to the editorial department, the publishing process should be able to start.

Being relatives, he had done his best to help to this point.

Arakaki Shoji picked up the suit jacket and briefcase on the back of the chair and said goodbye:

“Senior Takahashi, you have an appointment later too, right? Then I’ll go first.”