Chapter 80

"Director Yang, I appreciate your kindness, but let's stick to the original contract. There's no need to increase the manuscript fee. Spend more effort on improving the magazine so that more readers can see and like *Flower Boy*. That's my greatest wish."

Xiaoyu really didn't care much for the money.

500 yuan per page, 20% is 100 yuan.

An extra 100 yuan per page, 10,000 yuan for 100 pages, is that a big deal?

Expanding the reader base, increasing recognition, and boosting the single-volume sales, royalties are the main part!

Today, if I accept 100 yuan less in manuscript fees, in the future, I can ask for an extra percentage in royalties!

"Mr. Mai, I understand your point. Our publishing house plans to release the single-volume edition of *Flower Boy* by the end of the year. At that time, we will ensure that the royalties will satisfy you."

"That can wait. I have a novel in hand..."

Xiaoyu took out a stack of printouts and handed them to Yang Linfei.

*Ghost Blows Out the Light*?

A supernatural novel?

Our publishing house specializes in young adult romance novels; we're not good at supernatural novels!

We don't handle what we're not familiar with. It's only because of Xiaoyu that Yang Linfei hasn't already politely declined.

This has nothing to do with the quality of the novel; it's purely because Feiyang Publishing lacks the professional judgment for supernatural publications.

Seeing Yang Linfei's dilemma, Xiaoyu took a sip of tea and said, "Old Yang, it seems you never listen to the radio."

"What does the radio have to do with it?"

Xiaoyu smiled, lit a cigarette, and began to explain the selling points of the book... or, more accurately, the promotional angle.

For a new author and a new book, even if the quality is good, it's hard to quickly attract readers' attention. Unless there's a sufficiently eye-catching promotional angle that can quickly increase recognition and boost sales!

Publishers are adept at this, and Yang Linfei understood it well.

After listening to Xiaoyu, Yang Linfei's mouth opened wide, and it took him a while to close it.

"Mr. Mai, you're in a feud with the cultural radio station?"

Surprised as he was, Yang Linfei keenly grasped the business opportunity.

He made a few calls, asking for help to contact a friend at the Beijing Radio Station, and started reading the first page of *Ghost Blows Out the Light*.

The descriptions and narratives were vivid and realistic, the style was very authentic, rustic, and mysterious. Some parts were written too simply and hastily, and the logic was a bit loose. However, the story was very novel, the mystery was captivating, and it had strong readability...

Editors have their own way of reading. Yang Linfei read and reviewed as he went. After two hours, he finished the last page and looked up, still feeling unsatisfied: "That's it? The Queen of Jingjue hasn't even appeared yet?"

How could it be over? This is only the first volume!

The entire book is divided into two parts, four volumes each, a total of eight volumes!

Soon, Yang Linfei's phone rang. His friend from the Beijing Radio Station called, starting with a complaint.

Old Yang, the *Ghost Blows Out the Light* you mentioned has really messed up the cultural radio station.

How bad is it?

Let me tell you...

Because of this, the head of the cultural channel was sick for two days; the deputy director's nephew was transferred and then transferred back; the website's message board was shut down; the *Whispering Fear* program is being cut... Is that bad enough?

His friend's tone was full of regret, but Yang Linfei didn't think so.

The worse the cultural channel is, the better the promotional effect, and the higher the publication value of the book!

After hanging up, Yang Linfei got straight to the point, calling his secretary to bring a publishing contract to the shelter and quoting a price to Xiaoyu.

15% royalties, settled every three months!

For a new novel, the royalties for new authors are usually between 5% and 8%, and for excellent works, the royalties increase stepwise based on sales. For well-known veteran authors, the royalties are around 10%. Unless publishers are competing for authors, the royalties might reach 15%, and the settlement cycle is usually six months.

It's only because of Xiaoyu that Yang Linfei wouldn't offer such generous terms to anyone else.

If you respect me a little, I'll respect you a lot.

Yang Linfei was very sincere, and Xiaoyu agreed readily: "Okay, let's do it your way."

"When will the second volume be submitted?"

"Every three months."

"A quarter... that's a reasonable time frame. I didn't expect that Mr. Mai not only draws comics well but also writes novels so well."

"It's not me, it's a friend of mine. I can sign all the contracts on his behalf."

This is acceptable; otherwise, how could others live?

This thought ended with the signing of the contract. Yang Linfei didn't even need the original author's authorization.

In the author's pen name column... Xiao Mai.

Mr. Mai? Mai? Xiao Mai?

Three people?

Two people?

One person?

What does it matter to me?

Yang Linfei shook his head, no longer considering those useless things, and asked, "The usual rules?"

"Yes, the usual rules."

The usual rules mean that Xiaoyu's identity is strictly confidential, including "Mai" and "Xiao Mai." They communicate directly, and Yang Linfei must not reveal it to anyone, including his wife and daughter.

This requirement is quite peculiar.

Yang Linfei didn't plan to pry, and he put away the contract, saying, "Mr. Mai, why don't you open a Weibo account?"

The popularity of *Flower Boy* has gathered a large number of fans for Xiaoyu. Feiyang Publishing has received many calls and letters from readers asking for Xiaoyu's Weibo.

In addition, some scammers have taken advantage of Mai's popularity, opening Weibo accounts to impersonate Mai and deceive readers, leading to heated arguments and mutual accusations of being fake.

Given this, Yang Linfei believes that Xiaoyu should now establish his own Weibo account.

"You can open one for me."

You're going to create a Weibo account for me?

This is too irresponsible.

"Mr. Mai, you're now a well-known comic artist. Your Weibo needs to be verified through the celebrity verification system."

Xiaoyu scoffed at the so-called celebrity verification system.

I'm not a celebrity, and if I'm not verified, I'm not myself?

How boring!

As for being mistaken for a fake by readers, that's easy to solve.

Announce the Weibo account on the magazine and the *Feiyang Youth* website, and before the new issue of *Flower Boy* is serialized, post a couple of sample pages. Isn't that enough?

Yang Linfei nodded helplessly. In his view, many of Xiaoyu's actions are different from those of ordinary people and are hard to understand.

A fraudster who seeks fame is not a qualified fraudster. A true fraudster wants only one thing—practical benefits.

What practical benefits can opening a Weibo account bring me now?

And real-name verification... that would increase the risk of exposure!

"Then you have to manage the Weibo account, right?" Yang Linfei asked.

"I'm very busy, where do I have the time? Why don't you find someone to manage it for me?"

Uh...

Yang Linfei felt terrible; he had never met such a peculiar author.

Or are talented authors all peculiar?

After some thought, Yang Linfei tentatively suggested, "How about letting my daughter manage your Weibo? She really likes *Flower Boy* and is your loyal fan."

Seeing Xiaoyu nod, he continued, "Should I give her your phone number?"