Chapter 27

Feiyang Publishing, the CEO's office.

CEO and Chief Editor Yang Linfei sat at his desk, staring at his wife Yang Qiuling, his teeth chattering.

Yang Linfei had once worked for a large domestic publishing company. With his outstanding work ability and diligent work attitude, he was recognized and promoted by the chief editor, rising from a regular editor to the chief editor.

A few years ago, there was a power struggle among the upper management of the company. The chief editor's faction lost and was exiled to the periphery, while the victors carried out a major purge within the company. As someone who had been promoted by the chief editor, he was labeled as part of the chief editor's faction, and his situation was predictable.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a person.

Feeling severely oppressed, Yang Linfei resigned in anger, gathered a group of friends, and founded Feiyang Publishing.

In the early days of the company, they were full of passion and grand ambitions, just like the name of their publishing house—Feiyang, which means "flying high and domineering."

However, after a few years, the publishing house's situation became increasingly difficult. The initial passion gradually cooled, the grand ambitions slowly eroded, and the partners gradually left. Now, only he and his wife remained, while the once like-minded partners had all left the company.

"Qiuling, did I make a mistake?" Yang Linfei asked, his voice low.

Two years ago, when Kōdansha and Aimen Culture jointly launched "Màn Màn Ài" (Slow Love), he keenly grasped the business opportunity in the manga market and decided to enter the manga market, despite the unanimous opposition of several partners.

With his wife's support, he overcame the objections and founded the manga magazine "Feiyang·Qingchun" (Feiyang·Youth), but this also sowed the seeds of conflict within the company.

If "Feiyang·Qingchun" had been successful, the conflict would have been nipped in the bud. Unfortunately, after two years of publication, the average sales of "Feiyang·Qingchun" were only 180,000 copies, with a peak of 230,000 copies.

The book publishing business, which had been profitable, was also affected by the company's resource bias towards manga, leading to a sharp decline in profits. Despite this, he continued to insist on the manga market, ultimately leading to the outbreak of conflict.

Partners left one after another, old employees resigned, and the company faced another upheaval. Now, in the Beijing publishing industry, it had become a laggard, and it was uncertain when it might close its doors.

Not long ago, the platinum author of "Feiyang·Qingchun," Jian Fei, hastily finished his work and jumped to another manga magazine, dealing a heavy blow to "Feiyang·Qingchun." The latest sales figures had plummeted to below 150,000 copies.

"You have never been wrong," Yang Qiuling said, walking behind her husband and gently massaging his head. "I think the newly published 'Dà Ài Wú Jiāng' (Great Love Without Borders) and 'Suì Yuè Rú Suō' (Time Flies) are both excellent. The sales should exceed 300,000 copies. Although Jian Fei has left, the new series 'Tà Gē Xíng' (Treading the Song) and 'Sǐ Huó Rén' (Dead or Alive) also have great potential. Can't you just cultivate a few more platinum authors?"

"Thank you, dear."

Yang Linfei shook his head and sighed lightly. He knew this was his wife's well-intentioned comfort.

China, with its vast land and large population, is a major copyright economy, with strict anti-piracy measures and a lack of fertile ground for piracy. The sales of legitimate products are very promising.

For example, a book with sales of over 500,000 copies is barely qualified, and over one million copies is considered a bestseller. 300,000 copies...

As for manga, the platinum authors of "Feiyang·Qingchun" are not even as good as the second-tier authors of "Màn Màn Ài." Cultivating new talent requires a lot of time, and can the publishing house afford to wait?

Ding Ling Ling!

The phone on the desk rang, and Yang Linfei picked it up, answering weakly.

"Dad, have you seen the latest announcement on 'Màn Màn Ài'?" his daughter's voice came through the phone, excited but with a hint of anger.

"Mi Mi, take it easy, what's wrong?"

"Quick, check the new talent competition website. They say Mai Zi impersonated someone else and canceled his qualification!"

"Mai Zi? You mean the author of 'Naruto' and 'Hana Yori Dango'?"

"Yes! They are being too unfair. Such a good manga, and they accuse him of impersonation. I and my classmates are contacting people to take down the new talent competition website. Dad, can you sign Mai Zi? Then I can see his manga first!"

"No problem, who is your dad!" Yang Linfei was excited.

"Really? I heard the authors' information is strictly confidential. Can you get Mai Zi's contact information?"

"Daughter, you underestimate your dad. I can not only get his phone number but also his submission!"

After hanging up the phone, Yang Qiuling had already logged into the 'Màn Màn Ài' website and opened the latest announcement.

The couple smiled in unison, their heads touching as they read the announcement.

Yang Linfei smiled and said, "It seems Li Gang that fool has met his match. Mai Zi is quite a tough author."

...

Integrity and ideals, like everything else, often bow to reality.

Mai Xiaoyu was not as tough as Yang Linfei imagined. To pay for Aunt Song's high medical bills, he had tried to compromise.

If Li Gang agreed to 1.5 million, he was willing to give up the copyrights of his two works and work as a ghostwriter for him.

But 80,000...

Go ahead and plagiarize my work, and see if I don't take you down!

The USB drive in his hand was Mai Xiaoyu's greatest insurance. He just needed to wait for the right moment to get the surgery fees for Aunt Song from Li Gang, and he believed the opportunity would come soon.

However, after waiting for two days, the results of the third "Màn Màn Ài" new talent competition were announced, and the winning works were about to be exhibited. Mai Xiaoyu did not get the opportunity he was waiting for.

Instead, the award list, with Japanese gold, Chinese silver, and a 6-4 split between Japan and China for the excellence awards, identical to the previous two sessions, sparked heated discussions online. Many people insisted that the "Màn Màn Ài" new talent competition was rigged, and the distribution of winners' nationalities over three sessions was the best evidence.

Then, someone brought up Mai Zi, and he and his two works, "Hana Yori Dango" and "Naruto," immediately became the focus of public opinion.

Those who believed the competition was rigged thought that Mai Zi's situation proved their point.

"Love 'Hana Yori Dango,' the award was predetermined, and Mai Zi was the victim!"

"Best 'Naruto,' better than Japanese manga, traitors helping the Japanese suppress the rising stars of Chinese manga!"

"I also think 'Naruto' is a hundred times better than the gold medal work. By the way, I am Japanese, who are you calling a Japanese invader?"

"What do you mean different styles? Can't Mai Zi be a genius?"

"Outstanding talent is envied, and Mai Zi's death would make the predetermined winners dare to accept the award?"

...

Those who believed the competition was fair thought that the cancellation of Mai Zi's qualification proved the competition's fairness.

"I like 'Hana Yori Dango' and Huaze, but Mai Zi impersonated someone else, which is shameful!"

"Sasuke is the coolest, Mai Zi is despicable, and the cancellation is justified, no rigging!"

"Mai Zi's two manga are excellent, but the styles are clearly different. The committee's decision is correct!"

"'Hana Yori Dango' and 'Naruto' will definitely sell well. If there was rigging, why would the committee cancel his qualification?"

...

"What is 'Hana Yori Dango'?"

"Is 'Naruto' a Chinese manga?"

"Where is it serialized?"

"Did I miss something?"

"Need an explanation."

More and more people were getting involved in the discussion...

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