Chapter 25

PS. Here's today's update, and I'm also asking for votes for the 515 Fan Festival on Qidian. Everyone has 8 votes, and you get Qidian coins for voting, so I humbly request your support and appreciation!

"Love and Love" is a top-tier event in the Chinese comic industry.

The generous rewards and the difficulty of winning have earned the admiration of countless Chinese comic enthusiasts. Each new talent competition attracts a large number of comic lovers to sign up, and industry peers also flock to the five-day comic expo to discover new talent and new works, vying to sign them to their own companies.

Working for others?

Love and Love doesn't care.

Anyone you can poach, we don't want.

Losers, who cares?

Love and Love has the confidence to say this because their parent company is the renowned Titan Media Group, a listed private enterprise and one of the Five-Star Entertainment Media Groups in China!

In all of China, there are only five entertainment media groups that can be rated Five-Star!

This fact has been proven. For two consecutive new talent competitions, no winners have been poached, and even before the winners' list is announced, few have signed with other comic companies!

"Rest assured, Mr. Bin, the best comics will definitely be reserved for you. Just wait for the fans to worship you!"

In the luxurious office, "Love and Love" chief editor Li Gang held the phone with a fawning expression, speaking flatteringly. After hanging up, his face instantly changed, taking on the air of a successful leader, with no trace of his previous sycophantic demeanor.

He stood tall, his belly protruding, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the busy pedestrians and vehicles outside. A mocking smile appeared on Li Gang's face.

Ants, no matter how diligent, are always ants!

And I, with my clever mind, am destined to be the winner!

The chief editor entered the office with a thick comic manuscript: "Mr. Li, the selection results are out. Two works stand out in terms of plot, character design, world-building, and overall artistry. They caused a sensation in the exhibition hall when they were displayed a few days ago, and were also mentioned in the media."

"Two?" Li Gang's face darkened.

The most painful thing for a leader is when subordinates lack discernment.

He had just spoken to Mr. Bin, promising to reserve the best comic for him, and the chief editor brought him two options...

Are you making me choose?

Do you think I don't know anything about comics?

If I choose wrong, will I have to take the blame?

Do you still want to keep your job?

He took the comics with a stern face, flipped through them briefly, and asked, "Not two?"

"The other one was taken by the Japanese editor."

...

The winners will be announced the day after tomorrow. There shouldn't be any surprises, right?

Will the Japanese play dirty?

Can 1.5 million be paid out on the same day?

Before tax or after tax?

As the results of the "Love and Love" new talent competition drew near, Mai Xiaoyu, who was usually calm, began to feel nervous.

The "Naruto" and "Boys Over Flowers" in his dream were incredibly popular, but that was just a dream. How would it be in reality?

Even with the Liu Tao and Dove window advertisement as a foundation, Mai Xiaoyu was still uneasy because it was related to Aunt Song's surgery fees!

At the end of the workday, Mai Xiaoyu returned home and found the door slightly ajar.

He had clearly locked it this morning!

Who could it be?

Mai Xiaoyu gently pushed the door open, and the aroma of food greeted him. Liu Tao, wearing an apron, was busy in the open kitchen.

"Back already? Go wash your hands, the three-cup chicken is almost ready, and we can eat as soon as it's done." Liu Tao, busy with her task, said without turning around.

Her attire, her tone, and her busy appearance were those of a devoted wife waiting for her husband to come home for dinner.

Mai Xiaoyu was momentarily stunned, and another figure flashed in his mind.

The three-cup chicken was ready, and Liu Tao saw Mai Xiaoyu standing at the door, staring at her. Her face turned slightly red, and she scolded, "What are you standing there for? Go wash your hands."

"Oh."

Mai Xiaoyu responded, went to the bathroom to wash his hands, and when he came out, Liu Tao had already served the food and set the table, waiting for him to start eating.

"Try my cooking, see if it's good."

Mai Xiaoyu didn't move, his eyes welling up as he thought of that great figure again.

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

"No, no." Mai Xiaoyu took a deep breath, "How did you get the key to my place?"

"I had a spare made after you gave it to me last time." Liu Tao smiled sheepishly, sticking out her tongue like a child who had done something wrong.

While Mai Xiaoyu was in seclusion, Liu Tao had volunteered to clean his room and got the key. After he came out of seclusion, she returned the key but secretly made a copy.

"Don't stand there, come and eat. The food will get cold."

The three-cup chicken, stir-fried beef, pickled mustard greens, stir-fried bamboo shoots with bean curd, and a soup of Job's tears and shiitake mushrooms with pork ribs were all typical dishes from the Xijiang region.

"Try it, is it good?" Liu Tao, eager, placed a piece of three-cup chicken on Mai Xiaoyu's plate and looked at him expectantly.

Mai Xiaoyu didn't pick up his chopsticks, his eyes turning red.

Liu Tao was startled, "What's wrong, Mr. Mai? Is the food not to your taste? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, I just thought of my mom. She used to do the same thing, cooking and waiting for me to come home for dinner..."

"Why don't you go home and see your aunt?"

"I can't, my mom is gone..."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I didn't mean to. My parents divorced when I was very young, and I haven't seen my mom in a long time..." Liu Tao's eyes also turned red.

"Darkness gave me black eyes, but I use them to seek light..."

The sudden ring of a phone interrupted their sadness. Mai Xiaoyu wiped his face, picked up the phone, and walked to the bay window.

"Hello."

"Are you Mai Zi, the author of 'Boys Over Flowers' and 'Naruto'?" A stranger's voice came from the other end of the line.

"Yes, who is this?"

"I am Li Gang, the chief editor of 'Love and Love.' I've read your two entries, and they are very good. After the competition committee's review, they are eligible for an award..."

Li Gang's purpose was straightforward: to persuade Mai Xiaoyu to become a ghostwriter, giving up the pen name "Mai Zi" and the copyrights of the two comics.

In other words, if Mai Xiaoyu agreed, he would have no further connection to "Boys Over Flowers," regardless of its success or failure. His task would be to complete the comics under someone else's name, maintaining quality.

Of course, he would be compensated.

"Boys Over Flowers" won the silver award, and "Love and Love" would pay him 110 yuan per page, plus an additional 50,000 yuan as a bonus, which was 30,000 yuan more than the prize for the top award.

How about that, generous enough?

Pfft!

Who is Mai Xiaoyu?

A professional con artist for twenty years, sharper than a monkey. What tricks haven't he seen?

Want to deceive me and take my money? Your eyes must be blind!

"That's how it is. Mr. Li, wait a moment, I'll move to a more convenient place to talk." Mai Xiaoyu gestured for Liu Tao to start eating, then went into the bathroom with his phone, turned on the speaker, and also took out another phone to record the call. "Mr. Li, I didn't quite understand what you said. Could you repeat it?"

[The 515 Fan Festival is coming soon. I hope to continue to rank high on the 515 Red Packet List, and on May 15th, the red packet rain can reward readers and promote the work. Even a small amount is love, and I will definitely update well!]

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