Chapter 238: Can you let me go home

Looking at Takahashi Jun who was kneeling on the ground and blocking the way, Yoshida Tomohito let out a cold sneer from his nasal cavity:

"'The Devotion of Suspect X'? Just hearing this book title, it has a loser's look!"

"Besides, just based on your 'unique' vision before, it's really hard to convince people."

"Anyway, I won't look at it, whoever wants to look, look."

He said, lifting his foot to walk around Takahashi Jun, but stopped again as if remembering something, turning back to urge:

"Oh right, even if others are blind and think it can pass, and this book really gets signed, you must never count this book's 'joint performance' as part of mine."

"I don't want to be like the previous two times, because of someone's 'vision', and have to apologize in a low voice everywhere, causing a lot of trouble."

"This mosquito-leg-like performance, whoever wants to touch it, touch it, anyway, I, Yoshida Tomohito, don't, need, it."

Other editors heard this and remembered the two unpleasant experiences, and no one wanted to be implicated again and bear the bookstore owner's anger.

They echoed in a low voice, one by one turning sideways, quickly walking around Takahashi Jun who was still kneeling on the ground holding the manuscript, and left the editorial room in a hurry.

At Midnight Publishing House, besides the core personal performance commission, editors' salaries indeed had a small part coming from the group's "joint performance"—that is, a small amount was allocated from the group's total performance and divided equally among every member.

This money wasn't much, like chicken ribs, but it also meant sharing honor and disgrace with the group, needing to bear part of the joint responsibility for colleagues' failures.

Looking at the cold backs of his colleagues leaving one after another, Takahashi Jun felt his last bit of strength being drained.

A huge sense of despair drowned him, his guilt toward his family and his broken promise to Natsume Chikage turning into hot tears.

He couldn't hold on anymore, his forehead pressing against the cold floor, making suppressed and broken sobs.

When the last sound of footsteps faded, the editorial room returned to silence.

In the huge room, only three people remained—Takahashi Jun who was still kneeling and crying, the leader Miyagi Kazuu who had been watching the changes, and the apprentice editor Niigaki Shoji who had never left.

Niigaki Shoji stepped forward quickly, forcefully helping Takahashi Jun up, his voice sincere and powerful:

"Takahashi-senior, please stand up! Since the day I entered the industry, I have never doubted your vision!"

"You might not remember... many years ago, I was also an ignorant newcomer author who submitted a manuscript to you."

"Although my manuscript was ultimately rejected by you, the few sentences you wrote in your reply letter to me then—'Your story core has power, but it hasn't found the form most suitable for it yet. Please continue writing, and please continue reading, your vision will become unique in the tempering.'—until today, they are still deeply inspiring me!"

"It can be said that if it weren't for your encouragement and guidance then, I wouldn't have embarked on this path of being an editor, let alone standing here!"

"So, please must let me read this 'The Devotion of Suspect X'!"

Takahashi Jun heard this, his teary eyes full of unbelievable gratitude, his lips trembling:

"Th, thank you... Niigaki-kun..."

At this time, the leader Miyagi Kazuu, who had been sitting as steady as a mountain, knocked on the table with his knuckles and said lightly:

"Niigaki-kun, go make a copy of the manuscript for me."

Takahashi Jun raised his head abruptly, looking at the leader in surprise.

In his long, gray career, besides harsh criticism and disappointed sighs, this leader had almost never given him any other expression.

At this moment, the leader actually took the initiative to ask to see the manuscript?

"Leader... you are... why?" He asked stammeringly.

Miyagi Kazuu frowned, his sharp gaze looking straight at him:

"Do you know why your performance has been at the bottom for these few years, but I have never transferred or dismissed you?"

Takahashi Jun's face turned pale, shaking his head blankly.

"I... don't know."

"Because I have never doubted your 'intuition' for picking stories."

Miyagi Kazuu's voice wasn't high, but every word was clear.

"I know even better that those two failed works that made you and the whole group lose face and caused losses were simply Yoshida Tomohito's own quota being full, and he used flowery words to deceive you, instigating you to strongly recommend them to everyone."

Takahashi Jun was completely stunned, as if hit by a lightning bolt.

The leader... actually knew the truth all along?

Niigaki Shoji beside him also showed an astonished expression, asking the confusion in his heart for Takahashi Jun:

"Since the leader knew the truth, why never come forward to clarify for Takahashi-senior?"

Miyagi Kazuu snorted coldly, his tone stern:

"Clarify? A person who doesn't even dare to defend himself, only knowing how to accept everything, why expect others to stand up for him?"

"Opportunities are always earned by yourself, not given by others! Today, if it weren't for you, Takahashi Jun, having the courage for the first time to risk everything to fight for it, I wouldn't even have the interest to look at this manuscript!"

"Even if a pie falls from the sky, if you don't reach out to catch it, it will only hit someone else's head. If you don't understand this truth, you deserve to be a tail-ender for a lifetime!"

These words were like a heavy hammer, knocking on Takahashi Jun's heart.

He fell into a long trance, chewing on every word.

Niigaki Shoji was also deeply moved, falling into deep thought.

Miyagi Kazuu checked his watch and restored his official tone.

"My time is limited, go copy the manuscript quickly." ===== CHAPTER 239 =====