Chapter 3

"Ring!"

Sending a message, Totsuka Sogo turned to look at the slightly flustered girl.

"Eito, that..." The boy looked at Hikari Suzu with her hands clasped in a pleading gesture: "For the sake of an older brother, could you please write a dedication, Ms. Hikari? After all, as an older brother, I need to save face."

As he spoke, Totsuka Sogo also closed his eyes symbolically and made a gesture as if he were about to bow.

The sight made Hikari Suzu shiver, and she quickly moved to the side.

Swish.

However, it seemed that moving to the side was a feint. During this time, Hikari Suzu quietly snatched the phone from Totsuka Sogo's hand.

"Hey, you pervert who chats with beautiful girls and makes excessive demands while constantly playing with your phone, what's in there? What has blinded your eyes? Let me, this girl full of scars, inspect it."

Totsuka Sogo: "..."

There's even this move?

Before he could react, Hikari Suzu was already flipping through the phone.

"Wow, so many words. Is this a book review or a love letter to your crush?" Her voice was full of sarcasm.

"That's a book review, a book review!" Totsuka Sogo tried to grab the phone back.

However, the foresighted Hikari Suzu had already found a recliner to hide behind.

Blocked by the obstacle, Totsuka Sogo felt a bit helpless.

"Wow, so many words. Is this a book review or a love letter to your crush?" Her voice was full of sarcasm.

"That's a book review, a book review!" Totsuka Sogo said irritably, watching Hikari Suzu circle around the recliner.

"Hmm, hmm..." Hikari Suzu responded with a tone of "I know, I know" as she circled around.

However.

It was less than three minutes later.

Hikari Suzu was stunned.

It was indeed a book review, but it was completely different from what Totsuka Sogo had described. The entire review, without spoiling the plot, highlighted all the selling points, even some content she hadn't thought of was brought out by the review, as if the review was speaking the story she truly wanted to tell.

In a moment of shock, Totsuka Sogo snatched the phone back.

"Being a smartass is one thing, but stealing a phone is completely out of bounds!"

Hearing this, Hikari Suzu looked at Totsuka Sogo with a complex expression.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally spoke.

"Here, take it."

"What?"

"The novel, you want a signature, right? It's for your sister, isn't it?"

"Souka." Totsuka Sogo's face instantly brightened: "Ms. Hikari, you finally realize the importance of an older brother's face, don't you?"

Hikari Suzu's lips twitched.

Taking the novel from Totsuka Sogo's hand.

"That, is it really necessary to write such a serious dedication for a book review?" The girl wrote the dedication while speaking softly: "You must have read it many times, right?"

"Hmm?" Totsuka Sogo, who had been looking forward to it, saw the suddenly reserved girl and smiled sarcastically again.

"Cough, cough, just asking, Ms. Hikari, you don't have many friends, do you?"

Hikari Suzu felt another arrow hit her, and her pen paused while writing the dedication.

"In Japan, not having friends is a very bad label."

"Ha ha ha..." After a while, Hikari Suzu showed a dangerous smile: "I just don't want to waste time on superficial relationships. What, Mr. Scum, you even think about the secrets of such a girl..."

"Stop!" Totsuka Sogo interrupted the sarcastic girl with a smile.

"What I'm trying to say, Ms. Hikari, don't you think your current state is dangerous?"

"Eh?" Hikari Sugo was taken aback.

"For example..." Totsuka Sogo smiled and gave an example: "I just praised and criticized 'Love Rhythm' and got you all worked up, didn't I?"

Hikari Sugo was taken aback again, and then her wine-red eyes stared at Totsuka Sogo again. This bastard was indeed doing it on purpose.

"Oh, this is a common problem for new writers. Because of their unfamiliarity with the market, their works are often cut short. Despite their hard work, they don't get recognition, and with no friends to talk to, they often doubt themselves."

Hearing this, Hikari Sugo nodded inwardly. Indeed, she had been like that before.

But what does 'dangerous' mean?

"At such times, new writers often become prey for certain internet experts at signing events..."

"What!" Hikari Sugo interrupted Totsuka Sogo: "What do you mean by 'prey'?"

"Hey, let me explain. First, pick some obviously popular works by new writers that haven't been recommended and are buried in obscurity."

"Then, the hunt begins." Totsuka Sogo extended a finger and smiled.

"An author who is very insecure because their work is about to be cut short, when faced with a reader who talks enthusiastically about their work, wouldn't they feel good?"

Hikari Sugo pouted uncomfortably, it seemed that was indeed the case.

But that's all it is.

"You think, for a fan of your book, this level of affection is normal, right?"

Hikari Sugo was startled.

"However, after the signing event, that fan who you felt a bit of affection for is already surrounding your editor, saying, 'This novel is so great, why cut it? No, I won't let it be cut.'"

Hikari Sugo's lips twitched again, her mind racing as she said uncomfortably:

"That should be a natural reaction from a fan."

Totsuka Sogo smiled sarcastically again.

"If a favorite novel is about to be cut, that's something that should have been addressed early on. After all, the poor performance of this novel in the industry is no secret. So, do you think someone would start promoting it only when the author is a beautiful girl..."

"Stop talking." Hikari Sugo shivered, this was too deep a scheme.

"Ehe!" This time, Totsuka Sogo smiled innocently.

"From this reaction, Ms. Hikari is really easy to manipulate."

Hikari Sugo's eyes widened and stared at Totsuka Sogo. After a moment, she suddenly changed her demeanor and smiled seductively.

"If Ms. Hikari is so easy to manipulate, why did Mr. Scum say it out loud? Why not just manipulate me directly? Or is it that Mr. Scum..."

"Stop!" Totsuka Sogo raised his hand again: "I just noticed that Ms. Hikari's state is a bit dangerous, so I pointed out some possibilities. Maybe it's not that bad, just some scammers?"

...