radicalducati Chapter 13 Novel Submission and the Black Cat
Chapter 13 Novel Submission and the Black Cat
Arriving at the office door, Xia Sheng knocked on the closed door.
"Come in." Hiratsuka Shizuka's serious voice rang out from inside.
Xia Sheng pushed open the door and entered.
"Huh? What brings you here, kid? Did you get into trouble?" Hiratsuka Shizuka teased as soon as she saw Natsuo.
"...Teacher, can't you just hope I'm doing better?" Xia Sheng walked towards her speechlessly.
"I can't help it, you look too dangerous, I'm worried about you."
"I understand, teacher, you like me, right?"
There was only Hiratsuka Shizuka in the office. There was a bento box on her desk, so she must have just finished eating.
"You brat... tell me quickly, what exactly did you come here for?" Hiratsuka Shizuka glared at him.
"Why are you eating alone, teacher? Is there no one with you?" Xia Sheng wasn't in a hurry to get to the point.
"Try talking nonsense again?" Hiratsuka Shizuka said, clenching her fist.
Click!
The crisp sound of bones breaking instantly snapped Xia Sheng back to reality.
This person is not someone to be teased.
"Ahem, I'd like to borrow the printer." Xia Sheng glanced around the office and found it in the corner by the window. He walked over.
"Wait, I haven't agreed yet. What do you need the printer for?" Hiratsuka Shizuka had actually followed him.
"I'm going to submit the printed novel to the press today," Xia Sheng replied truthfully, turning around.
"Novels? You write novels?" Hiratsuka Shizuka looked surprised.
"There's nothing I can do, teacher. You know my situation. I have to find a way to make a living. I don't have much money left," Xia Sheng sighed.
"You...they didn't leave you any money?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked after a moment's hesitation.
Before Natsumi enrolled, Hiratsuka Shizuka had seen his information, including the message that his parents had passed away. She thought she had misread it.
She was initially worried that Xia Sheng would become depressed and lose hope in life, but seeing how energetic he was in the report, she felt a little relieved.
Xia Sheng was stronger than she had imagined.
At least, she couldn't imagine whether she could survive if her family were gone when she was a teenager.
Out of admiration for him, she naturally wanted to take care of him, which was also her duty as a teacher.
However, fearing that Xia Sheng might feel inferior and be rather sensitive, she thought she should get to know him first, not as a teacher and student, but as a friend.
Before their friendship had even progressed, Xia Sheng had already taken the first step.
"We only have one house, and we don't have much money," Xia Sheng said, shaking his head helplessly.
He's supposed to save the world, but they don't even give him enough funding, not even a sister. The world is so stingy.
However, he estimated that the world was already out of resources, otherwise why would it not say a word to him afterward or explain the situation?
Unable to deal with intruders?
What kind of invader is this that the world cannot deal with, yet this outsider can?
"Are you short of money?" Hiratsuka Shizuka continued to ask.
"It's not a rush, one or two months should be fine if we're frugal."
Two hundred thousand yen is more than two months' rent for him given his current spending habits, and he doesn't need to pay rent.
However, there are utility bills!
It was a very ordinary thing, yet it troubled him.
He lives alone and doesn't use much water or electricity, but the water and electricity costs here are not cheap.
We need to take all the situations into account.
"Two months...can you really make money with your novel?" Hiratsuka Shizuka was skeptical, as she didn't know much about novels.
But she still has the most basic understanding: who would think of making money by writing novels just because they are broke, and then succeed?
Unless that person is a genius.
Hiratsuka Shizuka knew that Natsuo was a genius at studying, but that might not be the case when it came to writing novels.
"You can make money as long as people watch it, teacher, would you like to take a look?"
"Okay, I'll take a look for you. Although I don't understand novels, I still have the ability to appreciate them."
So Natsumi made a copy of the novel for Hiratsuka Shizuka, and while she was studying it, he began printing the novel.
As he watched the manuscripts being printed out one by one, Xia Sheng couldn't help but complain in his mind again about how troublesome it was to submit his work.
Why can't we submit our work online?
Is 100,000 words a lot?
You can't read it without the original manuscript, right?
But no matter how much I complain, it's useless. In order to earn this easy money, I can only endure it.
After all the documents were printed, Natsumi organized them, put them into the file folder that Hiratsuka Shizuka had prepared for her, and prepared to leave.
Class is about to start.
"Teacher, shall I head back now?"
"Go back now." Hiratsuka sat quietly in her seat, staring intently at the computer screen, waving her hand without looking up.
She found Xia Sheng's novels quite interesting, and the writing was so good that at first glance she thought she was reading a literary work.
Is this how novels are?
This kind of plot...no wonder so many people like to watch it.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was already immersed in the world of the novel.
Xia Sheng chuckled and shook his head, then silently left the office.
Since Hiratsuka Shizuka is so engrossed in watching it, it's definitely a sure thing.
After finishing two classes in the afternoon, Xia Sheng left school and headed straight for the tram stop.
At that time, there was no one at the tram station, and no students came even as the tram pulled into the station.
They're all putting in the effort and developing their interests in the clubs.
Xia Sheng chose FJ Bunko, which specializes in isekai (another world) themes and is far ahead of the other two Bunko.
The other two paperback publishers also promote isekai (another world) novels, but they are not as strong as FJ Paperback.
Xia Sheng could also submit his work to the other two literary libraries; given the novels he referenced, he would certainly be given important roles.
However, it's too far. If Xia Sheng goes now, he won't be back until tonight.
He has confidence in the novel, so it doesn't matter which one.
Upon arrival at the station, Natsumi got off the train, left the tram station, and headed to the editorial office of FJ Bunko.
The novel industry in this world is thriving, with a well-developed industrial chain that extends to comics, animation, games, merchandise, and more—it's incredibly comprehensive.
Therefore, when Xia Sheng arrived at the editorial office building, he was not surprised at all by the sight of the multi-story building.
Just then, he saw a man carrying a file bag, who clearly had the same purpose as him, walk into the building, and he followed him in.
The lobby on the first floor is very large, with a rest area where you can drink coffee. There are quite a few people sitting there, looking very relaxed.
Xia Sheng followed that person into the elevator and went upstairs together.
He had done his research before coming and knew what to do and where to submit his work, but having someone to accompany him made him feel more at ease.
He was quite nervous too.
The other person was equally nervous and didn't notice him.
Upon reaching the third floor, the elevator doors opened, and Xia Sheng heard a chaotic and noisy commotion.
Stepping out of the elevator and walking down the corridor, one immediately sees mountains of documents piled up on every desk.
Similarly, everyone was busy and didn't even glance at the two of them.
Everyone here is an editor. Xia Sheng can submit his work to anyone and just leave his contact information.
Xia Sheng glanced around, then suddenly his eyes narrowed, and he stared in a certain direction, frowning.
He was a little unsure if he had mistaken someone for someone else.
Is this age inappropriate?
He walked uncertainly past the desks and editors, finally arriving at a desk in the corner.
The desk was equally messy, piled high with documents, and the person sitting behind it was staring at the computer screen with a tired yet intensely focused expression.
She was a woman with long, beautiful black hair that cascaded down her back. She had princess-cut hair on both sides of her face, and although she was wearing a black uniform, the youthful innocence on her face had not completely faded.
The woman was very beautiful, with fair skin and a delicate face, but what attracted Xia Sheng's attention the most was a black mole under her left eye.
Xia Sheng looked at the nameplate on the desk—Black Cat.