Chapter 403

It was also at this moment.

A distinct sense of hunger struck without warning.

Natsume Chikage was a bit dazed.

After all, it had only been a little over half an hour since he finished his midnight snack.

Hungry so soon?

He thought about it and realized it was perhaps because his body had consumed a massive amount of energy during the Physique boost process just now?

That must be it.

But this also meant that as his Physique strengthened, his body's basal metabolic rate would likely get higher and higher, and his demand for energy would also grow.

Yet, he was currently quite strapped for cash.

Rent had just been paid, and he only had 22,000 yen left.

He had also planned to set aside 10,000 yen for his sister to cover living expenses and grocery shopping for the coming period.

Calculating this way, he only had about 10,000 yen at his own disposal.

But it shouldn't be much of a problem.

As long as he won the match in two days, he would receive a 40,000 yen prize.

At that time, he could go to the supermarket and buy more high-energy Snickers or compressed biscuits as emergency rations, to replenish whenever he was hungry.

As for his three meals, he would also have to let his sister increase the portions appropriately, ensuring he could eat his fill every time.

In this way, expenses would inevitably increase.

Sure enough, he still had to find a way to make more money...

He wondered how the progress was going on the publisher's side.

Natsume Chikage planned to send a message to Editor Gao Qiaochun before going to sleep to ask about the situation.

At this moment.

Natsume Chikage didn't think any further, changed into clean pajamas, dried his hair, and opened the bathroom door.

It was also at this moment.

Natsume Ruri looked up at the wall clock and noticed that her brother had spent nearly twice as long in the shower today as usual.

Her little face flushed slightly, and as if recording some important data, she quietly wrote down today's date and duration neatly on a page of her open notebook.

"Ruri, what are you writing?"

"N-nothing!!"

Natsume Ruri looked startled, her face instantly turning bright red; she hurriedly closed the notebook and looked up at her brother, who had just walked out of the bathroom with his hair still damp.

The moment her gaze touched Natsume Chikage's face, she was visibly stunned, and then her eyes slowly widened.

She couldn't help but lean in, stretch out her small hands, gently cup Natsume Chikage's cheeks from both sides, examine him carefully, and murmur:

"Brother!"

Natsume Chikage glanced at her:

"What is it?"

Natsume Ruri didn't speak; she still stared blankly, and as if confirming something, she gently shook his face again:

"Brother!!"

Natsume Chikage was left between laughter and tears by her actions:

"What on earth is wrong?"

Natsume Ruri finally came back to her senses completely, a light of surprise bursting in her eyes:

"Brother—after you exercised, Ruri feels like you're getting more and more... spirited, and better and better looking!"

"Are you really not using skincare products?"

Natsume Chikage gently pulled away his sister's hands and laughed helplessly:

"Where would your brother have extra money to buy those things?"

Natsume Ruri pouted, her fingers unconsciously twirling a lock of her hair, muttering softly:

"How come brother's skin is getting better and better... It seems Ruri has to insist on exercising every day too..."

Natsume Chikage laughed and encouraged her:

"Exercising more is a good thing; it helps with growing taller and is good for your body."

He had originally wanted to say: Look at your classmate Jia He Ling Xiao, how well she's developed; you should learn from her too.

But the words were swallowed back before they reached his lips.

If he really said that, his sister would probably be so embarrassed she'd get angry and ignore him all night.

Natsume Ruri listened, still muttering somewhat unwillingly:

"... Oh, I know."

Natsume Chikage turned and walked to the small refrigerator, took out milk, poured it into a mug, put it in the microwave to heat, and simultaneously urged:

"Go take your vitamins and calcium tablets; drink the milk and go to sleep early, you still have school tomorrow."

Natsume Ruri nodded, a smile returning to her face:

"Mm-hmm, brother should rest early too."

Late at night.

Natsume Chikage turned off the room light.

Natsume Ruri in her bed rubbed her sleepy eyes, wrapped herself in the quilt, and soon her breathing became steady and long; she had clearly entered dreamland.

Listening to his sister's defenseless, sound sleep, Natsume Chikage couldn't help but envy her ability to fall asleep in seconds.

After all... he himself didn't fall asleep that easily; he really couldn't sleep without tossing and turning for a while.

Natsume Chikage lay back on his own bed.

He skillfully took out his phone, the cold light of the screen illuminating his face.

He planned to see if there were any unread messages, and if not, he would write for a while before sleeping.

He gave a simple glance at LINE.

He discovered that Gao Qiaochun, Huang Mu Jie, Xiyuanji Qilai, Fujiwara Aoi, and Jinweitong had all sent messages.

Natsume Chikage had intended to contact Gao Qiaochun to ask about the publication progress, but he didn't expect the editor to have sent a message first.

【Gao Qiaochun: Teacher Natsume, good evening, are you there?】

【Natsume Chikage: I'm here, Editor Gao, is there any new progress regarding the publication?】

The message was replied to almost instantly.

【Gao Qiaochun: Yes, first let me synchronize with you on the progress of "The Devotion of Suspect X".

Our editorial department originally planned to perform routine polishing and corrections on the manuscript, but after reading it, we found that your manuscript's completion is extremely high, requiring almost no modifications.

Therefore, we have skipped the editing stage and directly started negotiating the first print run with the cooperating printing factory.

Currently, we are stuck on the cover design stage; our internal art team has provided several proposals and would like to ask you to make the final decision.】

Soon.

The chat window popped up with previews of five cover designs.

Natsume Chikage looked at them carefully; the styles each had their own focus, and he quickly selected one with a calm tone and a suspenseful composition.

【Natsume Chikage: Let's go with the third one; I feel its atmosphere best fits the core of the story.】

【Gao Qiaochun: Understood! After the cover is confirmed, we will perform a small trial print in the next few days to check the actual color, paper, and binding effects of the finished book. If you are interested, Teacher, we can mail a trial copy to you for your review, and you can also provide your valuable feedback.】

【Natsume Chikage: Okay, no problem. Should it be mailed to my home?】

【Gao Qiaochun: If it's convenient for you, I would like to deliver it in person. After all, there are some details regarding follow-up promotion and the number of first prints that would be clearer if discussed in person.】

【Natsume Chikage: OK, then when the trial copy is ready, please contact me anytime, and we'll set a time.】

【Gao Qiaochun: Okay, then I won't disturb you further today. It's getting late, please rest early too, good night, Teacher Natsume.】

【Natsume Chikage: Good night, Mr. Gao.】

Natsume Chikage put down his phone, feeling slightly surprised.

He didn't expect the publication process to move so quickly.

But this was undoubtedly a good thing.

The faster the printing, the sooner the books would hit the shelves.

The sooner they hit the shelves, the sooner sales could begin.

Naturally, the manuscript fee would reach his hands that much faster.