Chapter 70

"What did Mr. Xia want to see me about?"

"Two things. First, I plan to submit a novel to Wangwen Bookhouse, and I hope Miss Yanfei can help me handle the contract matters."

"That's simple enough."

"Second, my shop is planning to add a special delivery service, and I need stable suppliers for bamboo and reeds. I'm not familiar with this area, and Miss Yanfei has extensive connections—could you provide some advice?"

"That's also simple. I know several merchants in that business with good reputations. I can introduce them to you."

"Thank you very much, Miss Yanfei. I'll also need your help with the subsequent contracts, and of course, I'll pay the proper fees."

"No problem."

"I'll treat Miss Yanfei to juice another time."

"Looking forward to it!"

They climbed the stairs to Wangwen Bookhouse, exchanged a few words with Ji Fang, then went to the neighboring Liyue Publishing House.

It was an office-like room with several desks piled high with books, where editors sat working diligently at their stations.

Ji Fang knocked on the door and said, "Mei, there's an author here with a submission."

One of the women wearing glasses looked up and asked, "May I ask who it is?"

Ji Fang pointed to Xia Zhi and said, "This is Mr. Xia."

"Did you bring your manuscript?"

"Yes, I did."

"I'll need to review the quality of the writing before deciding whether to accept it."

"Of course."

Xia Zhi handed over the manuscript.

"Please, both of you have a seat and wait a moment."

"Alright."

Mei sat at her desk and opened the manuscript, her eyes immediately brightening.

"This opening is quite different from Liyue's current popular writing style—quite innovative."

"Celestial power? Could this be a cultivation novel?"

"The fiancée coming to break off the engagement... this scene creates such an atmosphere..."

"A ring, the soul of an immortal..."

At first, Mei would mumble evaluations to herself, but as she gradually became immersed in the plot, she grew quiet.

Xia Zhi sat patiently waiting.

Seeing this, Yanfei became curious about the manuscript.

After about ten minutes, Mei quickly finished reading the entire manuscript and looked up with a somewhat lingering interest, saying, "Mr. Xia, your manuscript is very well written."

"Thank you for your approval."

"This is an entirely new writing style. It might create a new literary school in Liyue. I think it has great potential, and our publishing house would be very willing to work with you."

"I would also be very willing to work with your company."

"Then, let's discuss the contract details."

"Certainly. Due to health reasons, I've authorized Miss Yanfei to handle this for me. You can discuss it with her."

Yanfei stood up and walked over, wearing a smiling expression: "Editor Mei, hello."

Mei, who naturally knew this famous lawyer, felt her eye twitch slightly beneath her glasses.

Really? It's just a novel—was it necessary to hire this lawyer?

Her fees are so expensive, a month's worth of royalties probably wouldn't even cover it!

Well, the publishing house won't be getting any advantages this time.

These newcomers are really something else...

Mei took out a standard contract.

Yanfei read it carefully and raised concerns about parts she found unreasonable.

The two negotiated for a while before finally reaching an agreement.

Mei revised the contract and said to him, "Mr. Xia, shall we sign the contract now?"

Xia Zhi nodded and walked over to pick up the pen. "Yes."

"Please sign your name here, along with your pen name."

"Pen name..."

"Haven't you thought of one yet?"

"No worries, I've decided now."

As he spoke, Xia Zhi wrote down a rather long line of characters.

Yanfei curiously glanced at the pen name he had chosen.

"Rainy Night... With Sword... Without Umbrella? What a strange pen name."

"Does Miss Yanfei find it strange?"

"Yes, it feels quite long, like an Inazuman naming style, though the imagery is very Liyue."

"Editor Mei, is this sufficient?"

"Yes, the contract is in duplicate. Please keep your copy safe."

"When will this book go on sale?"

"It should be ready by the end of next month. You can leave your address, and once the books are printed, our publishing house can send you an advance copy."

"That would be good, thank you for the trouble."

After signing the contract, Xia Zhi and Yanfei took their leave.

Walking out of the publishing house, Yanfei looked at him curiously and asked, "Mr. Xia, who wrote that manuscript?"

"I did."

"..."

"Really, I wrote it."

"..."

"Well, actually, I have a friend who likes to write. Before I came to Liyue, he gave me his manuscript, hoping more people could read it."

"I see."

Yanfei nodded in sudden understanding.

"Editor Mei was quite firm in the negotiations. She seems to think highly of the manuscript, feeling that even small concessions could lead to significant future losses."

"If Miss Yanfei is interested, why not buy a copy from Wangwen Bookhouse when it's released next month?"

"Sure, I hope it will be as surprising as Rainbow Ade."

"You won't be disappointed."

"Now then, shall I take you to meet those merchants?"

The two walked down the stairs chatting and laughing, coming out onto the streets of Feiyun Slope.

At that moment, Yanfei seemed to sense something and suddenly turned to look behind her.

There stood a tall woman with an otherworldly presence and white hair.

Xia Zhi noticed Yanfei suddenly stop and turn around, finding it strange.

"Miss Yanfei, what's wrong?"

"There's a woman staring at us—no, staring at you."

"At me?"

Xia Zhi turned around, but within his twenty-meter detection range, he couldn't see the woman Yanfei mentioned.

"Do you know her, Miss Yanfei?"

"No, but she gives me a familiar feeling, somewhat like an adeptus."

"An adeptus?"

"She's walking toward you."

"?"

After a moment, the strange woman entered Xia Zhi's detection range.

She was a beautiful woman as pure as a snow lotus on an ice mountain, with snow-white hair tied into a long braid with a red cord, at the center of which hung a Cryo Vision. She wore a black and white Daoist robe, also bound with red cords, and while the clothing wasn't revealing, it somehow appeared quite alluring on her.

Her gaze was cold, her expression calm as she walked straight toward him, as if she saw only him.

At this moment, Xia Zhi's "eyes" also saw only her.

After all, the golden progress bar above her was truly eye-catching.

She walked up to Xia Zhi, looked at him, and said in a cool voice, "I've found you."

"?"

"Come with me. I'll take care of you from now on."

"!"

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