Chapter 49

"Jin, why do you need me to provide you with this information?" Dave asked on the other end of the phone.

Jin Xuntao couldn't explain the matter in too much detail, so he only gave a brief explanation.

"It's like this, Mr. Dave. I always feel that keeping money in the bank is a waste, so I want to take it out and make some investments. I'm quite optimistic about the children's toy market, so I want to buy a children's toy manufacturing factory and try it out. I also think the cartoon animation industry is promising..."

In short, according to Jin Xuntao, he just didn't want to keep his money in the bank and wanted to take it out for investment.

Well, this explanation made sense.

So, Dave on the other end of the phone accepted Jin Xuntao's explanation, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "Alright, I can try to help you look into it. This will take some time, so you'll need to be patient."

It was great that Dave was willing to help. Jin Xuntao couldn't expect Dave to give him a clear answer in a short time; that would be unrealistic.

"Thank you, Mr. Dave, I really appreciate it."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jin Xuntao hung up the phone.

Listening to the 'beep beep beep' sound from the phone, Dave shook his head with a bitter smile, pressed the hang-up button on his phone, and his face showed a thoughtful expression.

"Miss Annie is still by Jin's side. I think I should be more patient and see if Miss Annie gives me any hints before making a decision."

Because of his concern for Annie, although Dave verbally agreed to help, he actually needed to wait for Annie's instructions before making a decision.

Dave believed that Jin Xuntao's plan to invest in a children's toy factory and an animation cartoon production company was something Miss Annie couldn't be unaware of.

Jin Xuntao had no idea about Dave's little calculations. At this moment, he was very pleased that Dave had agreed to help.

Annie, outside the room, had basically determined that Jin Xuntao was seriously considering buying a company in the field he mentioned and entering that industry.

However, Annie didn't understand why Jin Xuntao had suddenly made such a decision.

As a businesswoman who controlled many companies, Annie was well aware of the fierce competition in the children's toy market and the poor state of the cartoon animation industry.

Therefore, she felt it necessary to remind Jin Xuntao not to rashly enter an unfamiliar industry and suggested he focus on writing novels.

So, Annie came in with Coco.

"Sir, I was just about to take Coco for a nap and happened to hear your conversation. Are you planning to get into the children's toy and cartoon animation industries?"

Well, Annie had heard it, but it didn't matter. It wasn't something to be ashamed of.

Jin Xuntao nodded, acknowledging his intention.

"Yes, I plan to invest in a children's toy factory, or even buy one, and start an animation cartoon production company. The money I earn from writing novels needs a good investment channel; otherwise, it's a waste to keep it in the bank."

Jin Xuntao's statement wasn't baseless, as it was a fact.

Just like in another timeline's America, in this parallel Earth Federation, American banks also implemented low-interest rate policies. The annual interest rate for a one-year fixed deposit was only a meager 0.01%, far lower than the interest rates in China.

Therefore, in both the original timeline and this parallel timeline, most Americans, apart from emergency savings, would invest or spend their income, rather than save money just for the sake of saving.

Jin Xuntao had also long considered investing.

He just hadn't found a good investment channel, so he had been putting it off.

But now things were different. After seeing the incredible sales of his fairy tales, Jin Xuntao had a sudden inspiration.

In this parallel timeline, many things were different from the original timeline.

So, he couldn't use his foresight to speculate on stocks, futures, or short selling, which would have been a way to make huge profits.

Since he couldn't make such high-profit investments, Jin Xuntao had to look elsewhere.

Children's toys and cartoon animation production seemed like good choices to him, and they could complement his fairy tales.

In short, Jin Xuntao wanted to create peripheral products and animations based on his fairy tales to expand his profits and influence.

Disney did the same in the original timeline.

Jin Xuntao believed that if Disney could do it, he could too.

After all, his 'pirated' fairy tales were selling very well, so this was an opportunity he couldn't miss.

Unfortunately, Annie didn't know about Jin Xuntao's advantages, confidence, plans, or ideas.

She only saw a rash young man about to enter a very competitive industry, likely to suffer significant losses.

Want to invest?

Isn't that simple? She had an investment fund. If she told the old butler, he could put the money into her investment fund and earn substantial dividends every year.

Of course, this thought could only remain in Annie's mind; she couldn't say it to Jin Xuntao.

"Sir, you should think about it more. Earning money isn't easy, and these two industries are not profitable and are highly competitive."

Annie could only advise Jin Xuntao to think more before making a decision, urging him not to act rashly.

Jin Xuntao looked at Annie, seeing worry and the expression of someone looking at a 'naive' young boy playing around. This made him feel both amused and frustrated.

However, Jin Xuntao understood Annie. After all, he currently looked like a 16-year-old.

So, it was no surprise that an adult like Annie would look at him this way.

Moreover, how could Annie understand the advantages and confidence he possessed?

"Annie, don't call me 'Sir.' I'm not used to it. I've told you to call me William or Jin."

First, he corrected Annie's way of addressing him, then he explained to her why he had made such a seemingly unwise decision.

"Do you think I'm being foolish? Rashly entering an unfamiliar industry, just like a typical 16-year-old boy who gets a little success and becomes overconfident?"

Annie pursed her lips, though she didn't speak, her reaction and expression clearly showed that she thought so.

"To be honest, I have my reasons. Look at this." Jin Xuntao then opened the publisher's website, entered his account and password, and pulled up the sales data of his novels.

Annie, holding the drowsy Coco, came over and peered at the computer screen.

"The first volume of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' sold 2,458,700 copies in October, priced at 20 yuan per copy, with a 10% royalty being calculated.

The first volume of 'The Lord of the Rings' was released on November 1st (updated in real-time) and has sold 16,300 copies.

The 'William Fairy Tale Collection' was released on November 1st (updated in real-time) and has sold 960,000 copies..."

Wow!

Besides 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' this guy had released two more books. 'The Lord of the Rings' seemed to be doing well, but the 'William Fairy Tale Collection' was quite impressive.

Seeing the real-time sales data of the fairy tales on the publisher's backend, Annie was momentarily stunned.

Jin Xuntao's eyebrows twitched, and he smiled.

The sales had been 940,000 earlier, then 950,000, and now 960,000. At this rate, it would easily break 1.2 million by nightfall.

After all, it was only 1:30 PM.

"Um... William, are these novels you wrote?"

Annie had to pretend, even though she knew 'A Song of Ice and Fire' was written by Jin Xuntao.

"Indeed, all three books are mine. 'A Song of Ice and Fire' and 'The Lord of the Rings' are long fantasy novels, while the fairy tale collection is a standalone book."

Jin Xuntao's expression was humble, but Annie could see the hidden pride beneath his humility.

Well, anyone with such achievements would be proud.

What Annie didn't know was that Jin Xuntao's hidden emotion was not pride but shame and embarrassment.

Because these three books were not his original creations but pirated works.

As a literary plagiarist, Jin Xuntao hadn't reached the point of being shameless, so he still felt deeply ashamed.

"Wow! That's amazing!"

Annie's performance was exaggerated, and it was a poor act, no explanation needed!

However, Jin Xuntao didn't notice the flaws in her exaggerated performance and actions. Instead, he lowered his head, his face full of shame and a blush from embarrassment.

Ha, this boy is so interesting, he's actually blushing.

Annie misunderstood again, thinking Jin Xuntao was shy.

"Cough, cough," Jin Xuntao had to cough to cover his embarrassment, then looked up at Annie and said, "Look at how well my fairy tale collection is selling in just two days. You can see how popular it will be. If I use this momentum to create peripherals, won't I make a lot of money?"

This final statement explained to Annie the real reason why he was seeking information from Dave about toy manufacturing factories and cartoon animation production companies.

Annie finally understood that the boy in front of her wasn't as naive as she thought, but had deep considerations and plans.