Yuan Feng Hui took Wen Ying and the other three back to her home.
Wen Ying was visiting Yuan Feng Hui’s home for the first time.
The residence of a strong woman was spacious, with very upscale decoration. The colour scheme and furniture resembled a high-end hotel rather than a home. Rustics like Editor Wan entered the living room and dared not breathe too heavily.
“Is being a celebrity agent so lucrative?”
Editor Wan muttered to himself.
Song Fo Xiang glanced at his friend, “What money? You are too vulgar!”
Song Fo Xiang plopped down on the living room sofa. The soft leather could be felt through his trousers, with just the right supportive filling. Oh, this sofa was really nice. He would ask Yuan Feng Hui what brand it was later. Once he earned money, he would buy a set too.
Talking about money was vulgar, but without money, nothing was possible. That was the reality of the world.
Wen Ying scanned the place with her eyes, quite curious, “Yuan Teacher, did you buy this house? This place should not be cheap.”
Yuan Feng Hui took out several bottles of water from the fridge, “What would I buy? I rent it. I will not stay long in Rong City, so no need to buy a house. Even for property investment, first-tier cities in the mainland are better choices than Rong City. Rong City is great for living, but not so much for striving. Whether it is Tian Jiao or myself, we will eventually leave. No need to acquire too many assets. Core assets are more valuable than a bunch of ordinary ones.”
Yuan Feng Hui seemed to be casually chatting, but the four heard it in four different ways.
Little Ni was originally from out of town. Due to work and her lover, she had developed some sense of belonging to Rong City. Now, Yuan Feng Hui said Rong City was only suitable for living, not striving. Little Ni could not help but reflect, had she chosen wrong?
No, she had not.
She and Yuan Teacher were not the same kind of people. Publishing did not pay as well as being a celebrity agent anyway. Work value could not be measured entirely by economic income!
Editor Wan was an old salted fish who never turned over. Holding Zou Wei Jun’s left-behind “Shh, Little Secrets” series allowed him to live comfortably. Typically, he lived without thinking of dangers ahead. Wanting to oust Bao Li Xin was not about career ambition, but simply disliking Bao Li Xin’s style, and incidentally helping his good friend vent some anger.
Tian Jiao and Yuan Feng Hui would leave Rong City sooner or later. For a second or two, Editor Wan thought of himself, at this age, where could he hop to? Better not to aim too high!
Song Fo Xiang was calm.
Investing in first-tier city properties had potential. Where did Yuan Feng Hui need to remind him? He already knew, but he had no money now.
Hmph, once he wrote a bestseller and earned money, he would buy a big house in a first-tier city too, with such comfortable sofas in it.
Only big houses and high-end sofas in first-tier cities were worthy of the overseas-returned Little Chan!
Only Wen Ying secretly sighed, Yuan Feng Hui did not take Bao Li Xin seriously at all. In the end, she still wanted to agent her brokerage contract.
Three cobblers could match one Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Ni, Zhuge Song, and Zhuge Wan huddled together again, whispering about big plans. Yuan Feng Hui’s home was absolutely safe, no fear of being reported.
Wen Ying had a premonition she would not withstand Yuan Feng Hui’s offensive.
From the time Wen Ying met Yuan Feng Hui, whatever the other wanted to do had never failed.
“Yuan Teacher, if my parents agree to sign, how much do I need to pay you?”
Mentioning money with acquaintances was a bit awkward.
But a little awkwardness now in exchange for not turning against each other later, thinking that way made it not awkward.
Wen Ying said she would pay Yuan Feng Hui, not Tian Jiao. Yuan Feng Hui’s eyes flashed, she really did not want to appear on screen as a celebrity, otherwise she would sign directly with Tian Jiao.
“I take 10% of your novel income, only signing brokerage rights for your next three books. If any book during the contract period does not reach 2 million copies in sales, I as the agent take no remuneration. Do you agree to such terms?”
If a book was priced at 30 yuan, Wen Ying could now get 15% royalties. With total sales of 2 million copies, her royalties would be pre-tax 9 million, and Yuan Feng Hui’s 10% cut would be 900,000.
If more than 2 million copies, Wen Ying herself had no confidence a book could sell three or four million copies!
Even if it sold 4 million copies, Yuan Feng Hui operating one book would take at most one or two million. Yuan Feng Hui had shares in Tian Jiao, agenting Li Meng Jiao and the others, she did not lack this one or two million in pay!
Was Yuan Feng Hui enjoying the sense of achievement at work, or using the three-book publishing agency as bait to hook Wen Ying into yielding more rights later?
Wen Ying did not know.
She only knew the physical book market’s glory would not last long!
Wen Ying always felt “Teen Idol” sales would be the highest among her future works. Now, Yuan Feng Hui casually said all three must break 2 million.
Wen Ying looked at Yuan Feng Hui with sympathy.
Yuan Feng Hui felt uncomfortable under this gaze, “Why are you looking at me like that? Do you doubt my ability or my character? We are signing a contract!”
“No, no, I believe…”
Wen Ying actually feared Yuan Feng Hui speaking too confidently.
If the three books later did not sell 2 million copies, Yuan Feng Hui getting no pay would mean working for free for Wen Ying. Wen Ying’s conscience would ache a little!
Of course, if Yuan Feng Hui could buck the declining trend in publishing, create bestsellers against the odds, Wen Ying as beneficiary would not refuse!
“From my personal standpoint, I agree. I 100% believe in Yuan Teacher’s ability, but you know, I must discuss this with my parents. Right, before we formally sign, Yuan Teacher, you can still back out, like this 2 million sales base clause, do you want to lower it a bit?”
Wen Ying smiled sweetly. Yuan Feng Hui could not help squinting, “Is this reverse psychology? No need to change, I am confident in achieving 2 million sales. If not, no cut for me. This is more beneficial to you. No matter how you look, you gain big time oh~”
Wen Ying, oh, she had advised already, her conscience need not ache.
Yuan Feng Hui, said 2 million sales, but did not say just the mainland market. Selling the novel to HK, Treasure Island, other Asian countries, even across oceans to Europe and America markets, all within publishing agency scope ha!
The little fox and old fox were both very satisfied, both feeling they gained big. Their two hands gripped tightly together.
“I will prepare the contract. Once you get your parents’ consent, we can sign anytime. I hope you reply soon, then I can handle “Xun Yong” for you. That Editor Bao is ridiculous, does he think only Rong City Literature Press can publish? I dare say many presses are vying for you. 15% royalties are not your highest value~”
The world is big. Wen Ying should look around, sign with whoever gives better terms.
Yuan Feng Hui’s words made Little Ni anxious.
“That won’t do. Editor Bao does not understand Little Fish’s value, but I do! Literature Press can leave Little Fish, but “Spark” cannot. Let us oust Editor Bao, once and for all!”
Ousting Bao Li Xin would solve it forever?
Of course not.
Without Bao Li Xin, there would be others, unless Little Ni could become chief editor immediately.
Yuan Feng Hui did not argue with Little Ni, spreading her hands, “Then like this, we act separately. I contact new presses for Wen Ying, see if better terms can be negotiated. You proceed with your plan to oust Bao Li Xin. Whoever succeeds first, we follow that.”
