Chapter 506

[Gao Gao Qiaochun: Convenient! Very convenient! Where are you now, Teacher Xia? Do you need me to pick you up?]

The reply speed was astonishing, and the tone was so enthusiastic it could almost spill through the screen.

[Xia Xia Xia Mujun: No need to trouble you to make a special trip. I am already on the train and should arrive at Shibuya Station soon. Also, my novel manuscript hasn't been printed yet, so I might need to go to a nearby convenience store to print it first, which will take a little more time to get to the publishing house.]

[Gao Gao Qiaochun: No, no, no! Teacher Xia, please don't go to a convenience store to print! That's too wasteful, and it's not convenient!]

[Gao Gao Qiaochun: You can just come directly to the publishing house! We have professional printers and paper here. You can use them as soon as you arrive; it's convenient and fast!]

[Xia Xia Xia Mujun: I see... Alright then, I won't stand on ceremony. See you at the publishing house later.]

[Gao Gao Qiaochun: Yes, yes, yes! Okay, okay! I'll be waiting for you at the office! Awaiting your arrival at any time!]

Midnight Publishing House.

Editorial Department, Group 2.

Gao Gao Qiaochun put down his phone, his face filled with uncontrollable excitement and a rosy glow.

He had spent almost the entire day waiting for news from Teacher Xia.

Not only him, but his direct supervisor, and even the editor-in-chief of the literary department, showed great surprise and anticipation upon learning that the talented Teacher Xia had completed a new work just as "The Devotion of Suspect X" was released.

The editor-in-chief even privately instructed him to receive Teacher Xia well and try his best to keep this new work at Midnight Publishing House.

Thinking of Xia Xia Xia Mujun's imminent arrival, Gao Gao Qiaochun had specifically pushed back several appointments with authors who were scheduled to come in today.

At this moment, he could no longer sit still.

He quickly tidied up his slightly messy desk.

He picked up his briefcase and was about to walk out.

He wanted to go to the subway station exit early to wait!

That would show more sincerity!

This Teacher Xia is now his "big performance," his "big benefactor," and a key figure who might bring a turning point in his editorial career!

He must hold onto him as carefully as if he were a national treasure!

However, he had just stood up.

At the workstation next to him, that trainee editor, Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi, who always had excellent performance and was shrewd, keenly noticed his movements.

Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi's eyes flashed, and he immediately understood something.

He also quickly began to tidy up the things on his desk.

Then, he walked quickly to Gao Gao Qiaochun's side with a perfectly appropriate smile on his face.

"Senior Gao," he said, his tone respectful, "Are you... going to pick up Teacher Xia now, right?"

Gao Gao Qiaochun paused and looked at him with some surprise.

"Hmm? Xin Yuan-kun, how did you know?"

Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi smiled embarrassedly and explained:

"I heard you mention before that Teacher Xia might bring a new work over these few days."

"And today happens to be the release day of Teacher Xia's 'The Devotion of Suspect X'."

He glanced at the excitement that hadn't faded from Gao Gao Qiaochun's face.

"Seeing you so happy and looking like you're about to go out, I guessed that you were most likely going to pick up Teacher Xia and then take the opportunity to go to the bookstore to check the sales situation."

"My work at hand is almost finished for today."

Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi paused, his tone more sincere.

"If you don't mind... could you let me go with you, Senior?"

"I have always admired your vision, Senior, and I also want to learn from you about communicating with store managers and clerks at bookstores to understand sales dynamics."

"Of course, if it's inconvenient regarding Teacher Xia's new work, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Gao Gao Qiaochun looked at this junior's sincere face, remembering that last time, when deciding whether to share the performance risk of "The Devotion of Suspect X," Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi was the only one in the entire office who took the initiative to stand up and be willing to share it with him.

Gao Gao Qiaochun had always kept this friendship and vision in his heart.

In addition, as a co-editor of "The Devotion of Suspect X," Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi certainly had reason and qualification to participate in the preliminary reception, even if his share was small.

A smile appeared on Gao Gao Qiaochun's face.

"Of course you can, Xin Yuan-kun."

"It just so happens we can chat on the way. Teacher Xia's new work might also need your help to look at and offer suggestions."

Hearing this, a flash of joy crossed Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi's eyes, and he nodded quickly.

"Thank you, Senior! I will definitely do my best!"

Just as the two were about to leave the editorial department together.

At a workstation not far away, diagonally opposite.

The veteran editor, Yoshida Tomohito, saw everything.

His face was gloomy, the corners of his mouth turned down, and his eyes were full of unconcealed disdain and annoyance.

Hmph... two idiots!

He sneered in his heart.

In his view, Gao Gao Qiaochun, the good-natured person who always had the lowest performance and only knew how to nod and bow, had just had a stroke of luck and somehow managed to fool a talented new author.

And Xin Xin Yuanxiangzhi was a slippery person who was good at seeing which way the wind blew and clinging to power.

However, although that book "The Devotion of Suspect X" was released today.

The real sales data wouldn't be known until the evening or even tomorrow, when the statistics from various bookstores were summarized.

And books that editors all looked favorably upon eventually meeting a cold reception in the market, or even failing silently—the editorial department had seen plenty of such things.

This is "acclaimed but not popular"!

It is a typical manifestation of the author's artistic pursuit being seriously out of touch with the public's reading taste.

So don't talk about the vision of the group leaders; even the editor-in-chief might not necessarily understand the public trend.

So even a great author favored by editors can still flop!

Such things are common in publishing houses.

And such a book might get some good reviews in a small circle, but it is absolutely impossible to become a bestseller, let alone make big money.

Especially since, in order to sign Xia Xia Xia Mujun, Midnight Publishing House offered quite generous conditions, including a royalty share of up to 40%!

This is already close to the treatment of some famous great authors!

This share ratio also means that if the book's sales don't reach a considerable base, the publishing house might even lose money!

Once money is lost... someone will definitely have to take responsibility.

As for who, does that even need to be said?

It must be that loser Gao Gao Qiaochun!

At that time, this guy will definitely be cold-shouldered or reprimanded by his superiors or even the editor-in-chief due to his misjudgment and high publishing conditions.

Then, let's see if this guy can still laugh!

Yoshida Tomohito seemed to have already seen the pathetic image of Gao Gao Qiaochun kneeling in the conference room, sweating profusely and apologizing constantly to the editor-in-chief and his superiors.

At the same time, he also transferred that deep disgust to Xia Xia Xia Mujun.

If it weren't for this kid who suddenly appeared, inexplicably choosing Gao Gao Qiaochun as his editor, and writing that book "The Devotion of Suspect X" that looked decent...

How could he have been met with dissatisfaction and cold-shouldering from everyone at the last editorial meeting for trying to trick other editors into giving up co-editing?

Now, his situation in the office has become a bit awkward.

The editors who used to revolve around him now look at him with a hint of imperceptible distance and scrutiny.

It's all their fault!!

However... as long as the sales of Xia Xia Xia Mujun's book flop...

As long as the facts prove that my judgment at the time was correct—that this book was not worth everyone sharing the risk... everyone will be my "good friends" again, just like before.

A cold and expectant light rekindled in Yoshida Tomohito's eyes.

Then, these fence-sitting guys will naturally understand who is the one with real vision who can lead everyone to avoid risks.

By then, I will still be the most important and popular veteran editor in this editorial department!

And Gao Gao Qiaochun and Xia Xia Xia Mujun...

One will be marginalized due to serious mistakes and might even lose his job.

The other will be labeled "no market value" by the publishing house due to the commercial failure of his work, and from then on, his works will definitely be evaluated more strictly.

The share ratio might even be directly lowered, making him return to the share that an ordinary new author should have.

Thinking of this, Yoshida Tomohito's mood improved.