Chapter 838

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

"This... this is too amazing!"

Natsume Chikage looked at his sister who was so excited she was almost dancing, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

But he wasn't surprised.

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 part of the money above will have to be deducted for taxes first."

Upon hearing this.

Natsume Ruri's high spirits calmed down a little.

"Oh right... there's also taxes..."

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

Her slender fingers slid quickly across the screen.

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

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

She whispered the information she found.

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

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

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

She cried with a sad face and turned the phone screen to Kaga Reisa.

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

"More than 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?!"

Natsume Chikage laughed:

"What you calculated is just the roughest, most tax-heavy 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 deduction,' and so on."

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

"At that time, we probably have to be like the accountants in Dad's old company, and specifically hire knowledgeable outsourced tax professionals to help handle it."

"They know the tricks inside, and should be able to help us save a lot of money that shouldn't be paid."

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."

Natsume Ruri listened to her brother's words, nodded vigorously, and a smile bloomed on her face again.

"Yeah, yeah! Brother is right!"

"And, with so much money, brother, you don't have to worry about your tuition for next semester anymore!"

She said, and the big stone in her heart finally fell to the ground completely.

Kaga Reisa was also sincerely happy, a bright smile appearing on her face:

"This is really great."

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

She always thought, if Natsume-brother and Ruri really encountered an insurmountable predicament, such as tuition really couldn't be gathered...

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

It's just that she never managed to say this idea out loud.

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

She intended to reach out quietly.

But now it seems...

She was worrying unnecessarily.

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

Really too amazing!

Natsume Chikage suggested with a smile:

"Alright."

"Won the tournament today, got 160,000 in prize money; the novel's publication situation also far exceeded expectations, which can be considered a double blessing."

"Worth celebrating."

He looked at his sister, and then at Kaga Reisa.

"How about we go out to eat tonight?"

"Have a good meal, how about it?"

Natsume Ruri immediately raised both hands in favor, her eyes curving into crescents:

"Yeah! That's great!"

Natsume Chikage turned to Kaga Reisa again and issued an invitation:

"Kaga-san, you come too."

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

"Yeah! Thank you, Natsume-brother!"

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

It was past eight o'clock in the evening when they returned to the ten-mat new home with satisfaction.

In the living room, the TV was still on.

The program playing at the moment had been 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.

Natsume Ruri was thinking that her brother was so amazing, and could earn money by royalties, she definitely could too!

So she sat next to Kaga Reisa, their heads very close, chattering and discussing the follow-up plot of the shoujo manga they hadn't finished reading just now.

From time to time, they would pick up pencils, try to copy a favorite character in the sketchbook, 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, Natsume Chikage had a rare moment of leisure.

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

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

His heart still carried a slight prejudice that "shoujo manga is probably just those dog-blood routines."

However, as the pages turned one by one, he was unexpectedly attracted by the delicate emotional depiction, vivid character shaping, and those warm cores about courage, friendship, and growth.

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

In the living room, there was only the sound of the TV, the rustling of pencils across the paper, and the occasional discussion and light laughter of the girls with lowered voices.

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

However.

Right in this tranquility—

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

"Scratch... scratch..."

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

Natsume Chikage, whose five senses had become exceptionally sharp, turned his head almost immediately. ===== CHAPTER 839 =====