Before Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui arrived at the publishing house, Bao Lixin had just discussed the second reprint of “The Galaxy and You” with Xiao Nin.
Xiao Nin was extremely angry and accused Bao Lixin of violating industry rules. Bao Lixin remained unhurried, letting Xiao Nin vent her emotions.
Once Xiao Nin had finished scolding, Bao Lixin then dangled his bait, intending to win her over with benefits.
At first, Editor-in-Chief Bao had planned to suppress Zou Weijun’s loyalists through force, but now he saw that approach would not work and had to change tactics. After the inaugural Chinese Writers’ Rich List was announced, Wen Ying had garnered far too much attention. Her first novel went on sale in August 2005, and by December 2006, she had earned over ten million in royalties. This rate of making money was akin to a printing press. Any other publisher with half a chance would surely try to poach Wen Ying!
Bao Lixin was anxious.
After figuring out the “connection” between Xiao Nin and Wen Ying, he finally thought of emotional binding as a strategy.
The bond between Xiao Nin and Wen Ying dated back to “Aige”. A new editor had nurtured a novice author, they had fought a lawsuit together, and together they had propped up a new magazine. Along the way, the two had forged a deep revolutionary friendship!
Xiao Nin’s opinion was crucial to Wen Ying’s choices.
So Bao Lixin promised Xiao Nin that he would quickly promote her to editor-in-chief of “Spark”.
” Spark” magazine had always been under Xiao Nin’s responsibility, but her seniority was too shallow. The magazine’s editor-in-chief was concurrently held by the general editor of the Literature Publishing House. Xiao Nin was merely an executive editor; she could decide minor matters, but major ones still required approval from the publishing house side.
Bao Lixin intended to strongly recommend Xiao Nin as editor-in-chief. Afterwards, “Spark” would be entirely under her control. At just over twenty years old, becoming a magazine’s editor-in-chief would be unique in both the Rongcheng Publishing Group and the industry.
With this promotion, Xiao Nin would count as a mid-level leader in the Rongcheng Publishing Group, shifting from a monthly salary to an annual one. Achieving such career success in her twenties would make her an unequivocal winner in life. Sure enough, when Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui arrived, Xiao Nin said nothing, and Bao Lixin knew she was tempted.
Being tempted was good. According to Bao Lixin’s plan, the next step would be for Xiao Nin to help put in a good word. Bao Lixin would lower his stance a bit more, give full face to Wen Ying and Yuan Fenghui, and the previous unpleasantness could be considered resolved.
Who would have thought that after a long silence, Xiao Nin would declare she was reporting Bao Lixin for irregular operations.
“Editor Ni?”
Was becoming editor-in-chief of “Spark” not attractive enough?
He could not possibly cede the position of editor-in-chief of the Literature Publishing House to Ni Sisi too!
Bao Lixin inwardly cursed Xiao Nin for being greedy, ungrateful, and a fool who could not read the situation.
Xiao Nin said nothing more to Bao Lixin and turned to leave the office.
“Ni Sisi, come back here!”
Bao Lixin was furious. Xiao Nin left without looking back, striding away quickly. Bao Lixin, forgetting his editor-in-chief’s dignity, hurried after her. In the corridor came Song Fotxiang’s sarcastic voice: “Editor-in-Chief Bao, where are you rushing off to? Another business trip?”
“Song Fotxiang, get out of my way!”
“This is a public area. You can walk, so can I. Why should I make way for you? Oh, I get it. The big editor-in-chief is going to bully the little editor!”
When it came to being argumentative, Editor-in-Chief Bao was no match for Song Fotxiang.
Interrupted by Song Fotxiang, Bao Lixin could no longer catch up to Xiao Nin.
Gritting his teeth, Bao Lixin turned back to the office. Fearing Song Fotxiang might barge in to cause trouble, he carefully locked the door from the inside before sitting down again:
“Director Yuan, we will cooperate in the future. There is no need to make things too ugly. These days, I have read Little Fish’s manuscript several times. Such themes are a new attempt for our publishing house too. If Little Fish thinks no changes are needed, then none shall be made. I have great faith in Little Fish’s talent and look forward to her new book achieving even greater success.”
No more revisions; Bao Lixin had finally compromised!
Yet both Yuan Fenghui and Wen Ying remained unmoved.
Seeing he could not sway Yuan Fenghui, Bao Lixin tossed another sweet bait at Wen Ying. “An initial print run of 300,000 copies is too few. How about this: let us raise it to 500,000 copies, priced at 35 yuan? For a bestselling author of your calibre, Little Fish, we can offer advance royalties.”
Initial print run of 500,000 copies, priced at 35 yuan, 15% royalties, plus advance royalties.
As long as Wen Ying agreed now, without waiting for “In Search of Yong” to be formally published and go on sale, she could immediately receive 2.4 million in advance royalties from the Literature Publishing House.
Adding the royalties from “Teenage Idol” and “The Galaxy and You”, that would total over 5 million. Even though Li Mengjiao teasingly called Wen Ying a “ten-million rich woman”, this would amount to half of Wen Ying’s net worth.
Bao Lixin was confident, but Wen Ying wanted to laugh.
This Editor-in-Chief Bao was truly ridiculous!
One moment acting like a petty villain by withholding her royalties, the next like a hypocrite generously using the publishing house’s money.
Was an initial print run of 500,000 copies and advance royalties some extraordinary condition?
Under Bao Lixin’s confident and composed gaze, Wen Ying gently shook her head: “Saying these things to me is pointless. I have entrusted the publishing rights of my novels entirely to Teacher Yuan. Whether we continue cooperating with you is up to Teacher Yuan to decide. If Teacher Yuan feels we can still cooperate, then no need to raise the print run or offer advance royalties. If Teacher Yuan feels we cannot, then I can only say sorry to you!”
Yuan Fenghui was Wen Ying’s agent. Several attempts to meet Bao Lixin had been brushed off by him with excuses of business trips.
Previously, Bao Lixin had thought he could manipulate Wen Ying and had paid no heed to Yuan Fenghui.
Now, Wen Ying not only wanted to make Bao Lixin understand Yuan Fenghui’s importance but also to send a signal to the outside world: this agent, Yuan Fenghui, could make decisions on her behalf!
Sure enough, Bao Lixin’s face turned ugly, while Yuan Fenghui’s brows relaxed, inwardly sighing that she had not misjudged the person.
“We can cooperate again if there is a chance in the future. I have decided to entrust the publication of ‘In Search of Yong’ to another publishing house.”
“What?”
Bao Lixin panicked and stood up abruptly. “Director Yuan, there was some misunderstanding and poor communication between us before, but now I am showing great sincerity.”
“Sincerity in concealing the reprint of ‘The Galaxy and You’? Editor-in-Chief Bao, let us speak plainly. This matter will not only be reported to the higher-ups by Editor Ni; as Wen Ying’s agent, I will not stay silent either. For the publication of ‘In Search of Yong’, I believe Editor-in-Chief Bao no longer has sufficient energy.”
He had not even cleared the lice on his own head, yet he wanted to plan the publication of “In Search of Yong”?
Even if Bao Lixin was willing to plan it, Yuan Fenghui would not trust his capabilities.
With a mocking glint in her eyes, Yuan Fenghui opened her briefcase and took out the prepared termination agreement.
The document had been drafted by Zheng Zhihe. Before coming to the Literature Publishing House today, Wen Ying had already signed her name on it.
Regardless of whether Bao Lixin provided the royalty data for “Teenage Idol” and “The Galaxy and You” today, Yuan Fenghui and Wen Ying had decided to terminate. If Bao Lixin dragged his feet again today and refused to give a clear answer, besides the termination agreement, Yuan Fenghui would also serve him a lawyer’s letter. She would not waste more time arguing with Bao Lixin; withholding royalties was also irregular. Worst case, they could sue the Literature Publishing House.
The newly appointed editor-in-chief had driven away the publishing house’s most profitable author. Yuan Fenghui and Wen Ying both believed Bao Lixin was done for.
With Xiao Nin adding fuel to the fire, Bao Lixin would fall even faster.
Evidently, Bao Lixin realised this too. Holding the termination agreement, his hand trembled slightly. He pointed at Wen Ying:
“It was ‘Spark’ and the Literature Publishing House that made you famous!”
Wen Ying’s expression remained calm. “Correct, but the ‘Spark’ and Literature Publishing House of that time had no Editor-in-Chief Bao. You have no right to accuse me of ingratitude.”
“Does Ni Sisi not have the right to say that about you? Ah, I get it. You are going to replicate the ‘job-hopping’ once more! Just like with ‘Aige’ before, we have been used as a springboard again.”
Wen Ying had fallen out with “Aige” before and taken the editor Ni Sisi with her.
Now, terminating with the Literature Publishing House would similarly mean taking Ni Sisi to the new house.
No wonder Ni Sisi was unmoved by the promotion temptation!
At this thought, Bao Lixin felt he had grasped Wen Ying’s moral flaw. The termination could not be entirely blamed on him.
Bao Lixin’s analysis sounded plausible; even Wen Ying almost believed it.
Had Teacher Yuan privately arranged a job switch with Xiao Nin?
Yuan Fenghui merely smiled: “How could Editor Ni leave? It is not the right time yet. Never mind, why am I telling you this? A summer insect cannot discuss ice with you; you cannot comprehend Editor Ni’s ideological realm!”
