Chapter 254

"However, what truly made me make up my mind is not just the work itself, but the potential you, Xia Mu-jun, have shown."

"Therefore, I am willing to break the company's precedent for you."

"I will personally approve a 40% royalty split for you, a new author who has yet to have any works published!"

He paused slightly, letting the impact of this number fully release, and then continued clearly:

"I must state that without any market sales record, no matter which publishing house in Japan you go to, there will absolutely not be a second one that will offer such conditions to a pure newcomer."

"In fact, I can give you a choice: you can go to Xinjishe first to ask for a price and negotiate."

"After getting their final conditions, if you still think our Midnight Publishing House is more suitable, you can come back and sign at any time."

"Because I have full confidence that the highest conditions they can offer will absolutely not exceed the 40% I am giving you right now."

The two section chiefs were shocked!

You know, the editor-in-chief was really not wrong.

He really hadn't set such a precedent for any new author!

You know this is 40%, a height that many authors struggle their whole lives to reach.

Xia Muqihui reached it easily just after entering the industry?

Beiyuan Cangjie leaned forward slightly, looking at Xia Muqihui like a torch:

"So, Xia Mu-jun, what is your choice now?"

Xia Muqihui was calm on the surface, but his heart was filled with huge surprise.

His original goal was only 30%, he didn't expect to reach 40% in one go!

This is simply an unexpected joy!

As for going to Xinjishe?

Forget it.

This time, being able to get such favorable conditions was largely due to a coincidence, a special result produced after the fierce competition between the two editorial sections and the personal intervention of the editor-in-chief.

Being greedy and rashly challenging industry giants might not necessarily lead to better results, and could even be counterproductive.

Stopping while ahead is the best policy.

Xia Muqihui met Beiyuan Cangjie's gaze and nodded calmly and affirmatively:

"I can accept this condition."

A trace of imperceptible relaxation flashed in Beiyuan Cangjie's eyes, and he reached out his hand again:

"Happy cooperation, Teacher Xia Mu."

"Happy cooperation, Editor-in-Chief Beiyuan."

Xia Muqihui shook hands firmly.

Seeing Xia Muqihui finally choose to stay at Midnight Publishing House, the editors present, regardless of which section they belonged to, secretly breathed a sigh of relief—at least, this treasure didn't flow to an outside publishing house.

But immediately after, an unresolved question surfaced again.

Which editorial section does Xia Muqihui belong to?

Editor-in-Chief Beiyuan Cangjie naturally knew this.

He looked around at everyone, his voice not high, but carrying the authority of a final word:

"How you two sections 'competed' in private, I didn't see, and can treat it as if I don't know."

"But since the matter is now in front of me, it must be done according to the rules."

"Xia Mu-jun's editor in charge is still the second section, Gao Qiaochun, who first contacted him and completed the manuscript review process."

"This point—"

His gaze swept slowly over Huang Mu Jie and Yu Tian Caihua:

"Who agrees? Who opposes?"

Huang Mu Jie and Yu Tian Caihua of the first section felt suffocated, as if seeing a gold mine slipping away from their eyes, but under the majesty of the editor-in-chief, they could only remain silent to show no objection.

Gongcheng Heyu, Gao Qiaochun, and Xinyuan Xiangzhi of the second section were ecstatic in their hearts.

But on second thought, this was their author to begin with, so there didn't seem to be anything worth "ecstatic" about, but the sense of relief from losing and regaining, and the dust settling, still made them excited.

"Since no one opposes, then it's settled!"

Beiyuan Cangjie looked at Gao Qiaochun, his tone turning serious:

"Editor Gao Qiaochun, from now on, you are fully responsible for the docking work with Teacher Xia Mu."

"If any major omissions occur, the consequences... you should understand."

The editor-in-chief knew in his heart that although Gao Qiaochun's personality was weak and he often suffered grievances in the company, his work attitude was extremely serious, his execution was strong, and he was even more meticulous and reliable than some section chiefs in many administrative tasks.

More importantly, in terms of book distribution and communication with bookstores, Gao Qiaochun had some unique little tricks and patience, often able to fight for more shelf opportunities.

Anyway, the contract was signed.

Giving the subsequent matters to Gao Qiaochun to handle was instead the most appropriate and reassuring arrangement.

Gao Qiaochun felt the trust and heavy responsibility in the editor-in-chief's gaze, took a deep breath, and in his usual timidness, rarely revealed a sense of determination:

"Yes! I will definitely go all out and live up to the trust!"

The contract was signed, Xia Muqihui put away his copy, and intended to get up and say goodbye—he had a shogi match at noon.

Gao Qiaochun hurriedly called him, scratched his face a bit embarrassedly, and issued an invitation:

"Teacher Xia Mu... that, I wonder if you are free at noon, shall we have lunch together?"

"I would like to take this opportunity to explain to you in detail the specific processes after signing, such as manuscript revision, cover design, and the schedule of the promotional plan."

"In addition, the final confirmation of the pen name also needs to be finalized with you..."

Xia Muqihui was already strapped for cash, so of course, it was no problem to have a free meal.

"Hmm."

At this moment, Aragaki Shoji, who was to the side, also hurried over, a warm smile on his face:

"Senior Gao Qiaochun, please be sure to let me join too!"

"I also want to take this opportunity to learn from the senior how to communicate and collaborate with excellent authors like Teacher Xia Mu!"

He said it grandiosely, but his heart was more of a strong interest in Xia Muqihui himself.

So young, yet the work is so astonishing, and the person himself is so dazzling.

If he didn't find an excuse to get to know him, he was afraid it would be hard to have a chance to contact him in the future.

Yu Tian Caihua was not to be outdone, walking over with a smile:

"Are you going to have lunch?"

"It just so happens I'm hungry too."

"Senior Gao Qiaochun, you don't mind one more person, right?"

Looking at Yu Tian Caihua's seemingly sweet but actually hidden "murderous" smile, Gao Qiaochun's scalp felt numb, and he hurriedly nodded:

"Of, of course I don't mind! Everyone together, it's lively..."

The news that Xia Muqihui obtained a 40% super-high royalty as a newcomer, triggered a fierce competition between the two section chiefs, and was finally decided by the editor-in-chief himself, spread rapidly within Midnight Publishing House like it had grown wings.

After all, the situation where author competition escalated to the point of needing the editor-in-chief to come forward to mediate, and the editor-in-chief not hesitating to break the precedent to offer "exceptional" conditions, was also rare in the company's history.

All of this revolved around that high school student author named Xia Muqihui.

Especially the other members of the second editorial section, when they learned that the manuscript Gao Qiaochun didn't hesitate to kneel and beg everyone to review last night was actually "The Devotion of Suspect X" that triggered this storm, their intestines turned green with regret.

Thinking of the pain of missing out on the huge bonus because they foolishly believed in Yoshida Tomohito's incitement, the icy gazes and invisible isolation cast by colleagues toward Yoshida Tomohito carried an undisguised resentment and estrangement.

Yoshida Tomohito clearly felt the cold gazes and invisible isolation cast by surrounding colleagues, his face turning blue and white.

Embarrassment, annoyance, jealousy... all kinds of emotions surged in his heart, finally turning into a deeper, more poisonous resentment toward Gao Qiaochun. ===== CHAPTER 255 =====