Chapter 131: A Visit
The awards ceremony concluded, and the editorial department was likely still reeling from the unexpected victory of another newcomer. Following Air’s success last year, a new superstar had emerged: Shion.
It was a surprise to everyone.
Even Yu Linna herself was stunned upon learning she had won. She had hoped for an honorable mention, a chance to publish, but winning first place was beyond her wildest dreams.
“Chen Xi from the editorial department wants to sign you. I’ll bring her over now. Is that okay?”
“I’ve almost finished my current manuscript. I have time.”
“That’s good. Nana, though a bit late, congratulations.”
“…Thank you.”
Yu Linna’s emotions were complex, but excitement dominated.
It had been a long and arduous journey, filled with failures and setbacks. The constant rejections had almost crushed her spirit, making her believe she was destined for mediocrity. But she had persevered, rising through sheer willpower and determination.
She had once thought her journey would never begin, but now, she was finally setting sail.
She remembered Tang Yumeng’s words, how the word “dream” had kept her going in the seemingly hopeless entertainment industry. It had been a key factor in Yu Linna rekindling her own aspirations.
This time, her persistence had paid off.
Effort might not always yield results, but without effort, there were no results.
Perseverance might not always bring hope, but without perseverance, there was no hope.
Yu Linna could finally proudly declare that she was no longer a nobody. From this day forward, she was a novelist.
“Wuu…”
She covered her face, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.
She was happy.
After so much hardship, so many failures, this feeling of triumph was overwhelming.
She was grateful to be alive.
Grateful she hadn’t jumped in front of that train.
She had survived. She had found her worth.
Yu Linna was finally on her way.
When Chen Xi arrived with Ye Zhiyun, her face was etched with disbelief, especially when the door opened, revealing Yu Linna standing in the doorway. She wasn’t foolish; she understood Ye Zhiyun’s intentions.
“You’re… Shion?”
“If you mean the pen name, then yes.”
Honestly, Chen Xi still struggled to accept this reality.
Yu Linna was so young, barely eighteen. Zhao Yuyan had won the New Talent Awards at nineteen. Now, Yu Linna had broken the record for the youngest winner, just a year later.
She had imagined Shion as a world-weary, middle-aged man, a literary type with a beard. This petite, adorable girl with blonde hair… the contrast was jarring.
If Shion was indeed a woman, it explained the emotionally charged ending, the delicate portrayal of feelings, which didn’t seem like a man’s writing style. But the world-building, the narrative tension… it was still hard to believe Yu Linna was the author.
“Nana, this is for you. You deserve it.”
Ye Zhiyun handed Yu Linna the trophy and the check, the symbol of Wenqing’s highest honor.
Yu Linna accepted them, her face still etched with disbelief, but her expression gradually softened as she looked at the trophy and the check, a sense of calm settling over her. Having finally achieved her dream, she couldn’t describe the feeling. She was usually obsessed with money, so seeing the three-million-yuan check should have sent her into a frenzy, but she was surprisingly calm.
Yes, she was happy, but not ecstatic.
She accepted her honor with quiet grace.
Perhaps it was the countless failures, the numerous setbacks, that had tempered her emotions, allowing her to receive this victory with unexpected composure. She was suddenly grateful for those difficult times, the struggles that had shaped her, the experiences that had paved the way for her success.
God was fair. If she had succeeded easily, she wouldn’t appreciate it as much. Perhaps she would have become like Nangong Ying.
“Shion, would you mind discussing your novel?”
After a long pause, Chen Xi finally addressed the matter at hand.
Having won the Gold Award, Yu Linna had earned the title of “Shion-sensei” from Chen Xi, a sign of respect.
“Yes, of course. Come in.”
Yu Linna wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, forcing a smile, and invited them in. Now that she had made a name for herself, she would be a priority for Wenqing; they wouldn’t let such a promising talent slip away.
Ballad of the Enchantress, though not a perfect commercial novel, with its melancholic ending and lack of lightheartedness, was still a good book. And this year, the competition had been weak; if not Shion, who else would have won?
“Shion-sensei, do you remember blocking me? When are you going to unblock me?”
“Ah? You’re… Chen Xi?”
“Who else would I be?”
“Uh… I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
“Just unblock me. I want to be your editor, in charge of your manuscripts. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine with me.”
Chen Xi was Wenqing’s top talent scout, second only to the chief editor in authority. Authors she took under her wing usually achieved success. Even Luo Nan, who had left for Qidian, had initially been Chen Xi’s target.
Chen Xi rarely misjudged talent.
Except for Yu Linna.
She had almost overlooked her, almost lost a promising author, a potential loss for the literary world. Fortunately, Yu Linna had ultimately chosen this path.
“Before we discuss the contract, Shion-sensei, there’s something I’d like to know. You said you weren’t interested in becoming a novelist and even rejected my offer. What made you change your mind? And you gave me such a pleasant surprise.”
Yu Linna struggled to find an explanation.
She had been so adamant, so resolute, and yet… she had eaten her words. She couldn’t bring herself to admit it.
“Let’s not talk about that…”
“Alright. One more question. When did you write this manuscript? I recall you rejecting my offer only two weeks before the deadline. You finished it that quickly?”
Her question was understandable. For a typical author, writing a one-hundred-thousand-word novel in two weeks was incredibly rushed, often compromising quality. But Yu Linna’s work was well-written, the prose flowing smoothly.
“Well… it took me a week. Seven days and six nights.”
“…Are you human?”
Chen Xi wanted to facepalm.
One week, seven days and six nights, to write Ballad of the Enchantress. That was insane. And the quality hadn’t suffered.
A complete novel in such a short time. It was unimaginable. She had assumed it was a carefully crafted work, the plot logically sound.
“Okay, let’s move on to the contract. Rabbit Princess already mentioned that we want to sign you, to publish five novels within three years.”
Yu Linna frowned.
She didn’t like the sound of that.
Ye Zhiyun, standing beside her, also looked displeased. The terms weren’t favorable to Yu Linna.
“Miss Chen, is this your standard contract for newcomers?”
“You could say that.”
“Five novels in three years is a bit much. Even the fastest writers can’t produce five full-length novels in that time.”
“In that case, I can revise the terms. Five books in three years, with novel volumes not counting towards the total. You can write both short stories and novels during this period, but you can’t simply pad your novel with multiple volumes, and you can’t submit only short stories.”
Yu Linna’s expression softened slightly.
These terms were acceptable. Three years; she could manage that.
“And regarding royalties…”
Chen Xi’s brow furrowed as she observed Yu Linna’s calm demeanor. She slowly revealed the terms.
“8%. What do you think?”
This was much more reasonable than the 4% offered earlier by Rabbit Princess, which Yu Linna had rejected.
Having won the Gold Award, Yu Linna’s status had risen; they couldn’t offer her such a low rate. This new figure was more befitting a champion.
“Okay.”
“Also, we want the animation and manga adaptation rights for your novel.”
“…What does that entail?”
“If your work is adapted, we’ll pay you for the rights. We can discuss the specifics later. Shion-sensei, you’d like to see your work adapted into anime or film one day, wouldn’t you?”
It was true. Every author dreamed of seeing their work adapted, reaching a wider audience.
Ye Zhiyun, sitting beside her, frowned but remained silent.
“And since you won the Gold Award, in addition to your novel publishing contract, you also have the opportunity to publish a collection of short stories. Can you write one soon?”
“…I don’t have any short stories ready, but I’ve been working on a new novel. Would you like to take a look? Perhaps it’s suitable for publication.”
Chen Xi’s brow furrowed.
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