Chapter 519

Kaga Reisa was also stunned by this huge number, covering her mouth with her small hands, her clear eyes filled with shock and sincere joy.

"This... this is too amazing!"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun watched his sister, who was so excited she was almost dancing, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

But he wasn't surprised either.

After all, they had been really poor for the past month or two.

Even if they calculated carefully every day, they were pessimistic about the future.

Now that there was finally a turning point, how could they not be happy?

He gently rubbed his sister’s hair, his tone carrying doting and a hint of realistic reminder:

"Although the calculation is correct."

"But in reality, we won't actually get that much."

"We still have to pay taxes."

"A large portion of the money above will have to be deducted for taxes first."

Upon hearing this.

Xia Mururi’s high spirits calmed down a little.

"Oh, right... there’s also taxes..."

She immediately picked up the phone on the table, unlocked it skillfully, and began to search for Japan’s tax policy regarding royalty income.

Her slender fingers slid quickly across the screen.

As she read deeper, her delicate brows slowly furrowed, and her small mouth pouted unconsciously.

"Hmm... Japan uses comprehensive taxation for royalties... the tax rate is progressive..."

She read the information she found in a low voice.

"Not only do we have to pay personal income tax... but we also have to pay an additional 10% resident tax... the two taxes superimposed together..."

She did a quick mental calculation, and then let out a wail.

"Ah—! Taxes are going to deduct so much!"

She turned the phone screen to Kaga Reisa with a mournful face.

"Reisa-chan, look! If we just calculate simply according to this superimposed tax rate, what we finally get is only over 9 million yen!"

"Over 5 million yen was deducted all at once!"

Kaga Reisa leaned over to look, and was also startled by the deduction amount:

"This... this is over 14 million, and it was deducted by almost a third all at once?!"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun laughed:

"What you calculated is just the roughest, most heavily taxed algorithm, only counting the superimposed tax rate."

"In fact, there are many items that can legally reduce taxes, such as the deduction of 'necessary expenses,' such as 'basic deductions,' and so on."

"But how to operate those specifically is relatively professional and cumbersome."

"When the time comes, we’ll probably have to hire professional outsourced tax personnel who know the ropes, just like the accountants in Dad’s old company, to help us handle it."

"They know the ins and outs, and should be able to help us save a lot of money that shouldn't be overpaid."

He looked at his sister, his tone gentle and firm.

"But no matter if what we actually get in the end is over 9 million, or a little more..."

"This is already a very large income that can completely change our lives."

"Contentment brings happiness."

Xia Mururi nodded vigorously after hearing her brother’s words, and a smile bloomed on her face again.

"Mm-hmm! Big Brother is right!"

"And, with so much money, Big Brother, you won't have to worry about your tuition for the next semester ever again!"

As she said this, the big stone in her heart finally landed completely.

Kaga Reisa also felt genuinely happy, a bright smile appearing on her face:

"This is really great."

In fact, she had always harbored a thought deep in her heart.

She always thought that if Big Brother Xia and Ruri really encountered an insurmountable predicament, such as not being able to scrape together tuition...

She would go home and beg her father and mother, asking them to please help.

It was just that she had never been able to say this idea out loud.

She was afraid that this would hurt the sensitive and proud self-esteem of Big Brother Xia and her good friend Ruri.

She intended to extend a helping hand quietly.

But now it seems...

She was worrying unnecessarily.

Big Brother Xia, even in such a seemingly desperate predicament, could rely on his own talent and hard work to complete incredible reversals time and time again.

Truly too amazing!

Xia Xia Xia Mujun suggested with a smile:

"Alright."

"We won the competition today and got 160,000 yen in prize money; the novel’s publication situation is also far beyond expectations, which can be considered a double blessing."

"It’s worth celebrating."

He looked at his sister, then at Kaga Reisa.

"Why don't we just go out to eat tonight?"

"Have a good meal, how about it?"

Xia Mururi immediately raised both hands in favor, her eyes curving into crescents:

"Mm! That’s great!"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun turned to Kaga Reisa again and extended an invitation:

"Kaga-san, you come along too."

Kaga Reisa felt a surge of joy in her heart upon hearing this, and nodded quickly:

"Mm! Thank you, Big Brother Xia!"

After the three of them enjoyed a sumptuous and pleasant dinner.

It was past eight in the evening when they returned to the new ten-mat home with satisfied moods.

In the living room, the TV was still on.

The program playing at the moment had already changed to a currently popular entertainment variety show hosted by comedians, and the lively canned laughter and exaggerated dialogue filled the entire space.

Beside the small table.

Xia Mururi was thinking that since her brother was so amazing and could earn money from royalties, she definitely could too!

So she sat close to Kaga Reisa, their heads very close together, chattering away about the follow-up plot of the shojo manga they hadn't finished watching just now.

From time to time, they would pick up pencils and try to copy a favorite character in their sketchbooks, or draw scenes they imagined.

Since the manuscript for "Snow Country" had been completed and delivered, and there were no new writing plans for the time being, Xia Xia Xia Mujun had a rare moment of leisure.

He picked up a pile of shojo manga that Yukimura Suzune, Saionji Nanase, Fujiwara Aoi, Tsukishima Rin, and others had given to his sister and Kaga Reisa from the table.

At first, he just held the attitude of flipping through them casually to pass the time.

In his heart, he still carried a slight prejudice that "shojo manga is probably just those melodramatic tropes."

However, as the pages turned one by one, he was unexpectedly attracted by the delicate emotional descriptions, vivid character portrayals, and the warm core about courage, friendship, and growth.

Before he knew it, he actually found it quite interesting, so he kept reading.

For a time, only the sound of the TV, the rustling of pencils across paper, and the occasional low-volume discussion and light laughter of the girls remained in the living room.

The atmosphere was peaceful and warm, as if time had become slow and soft.

However.

Right in the midst of this tranquility—

From the direction of the window near the balcony, a slightly impatient sound of something scratching against the glass suddenly came!

"Scratch... scratch-scratch..."

The sound was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun, whose five senses had become exceptionally sharp, turned his head almost immediately.