Chapter 68

Yuelu Mountain House sounds more like the name of a bookstore than a restaurant, but in fact, it is a combination of both—a Hunanese restaurant that sells books.

This Yuelu Mountain House restaurant by Shichahai has already become a well-known place. The "Yue" character on the sign was specially written by Professor Zhu Hanmin, the dean of Yuelu Academy.

Lin Han was attracted by the strong literary atmosphere the first time he came here. The purely Chinese-style tables and chairs exude a classical grandeur, and the bookshelves standing beside them, filled with hardcover books, attract many customers to stop and browse.

Combining food and culture is indeed very unique.

As night fell, the small boats on Houhai lit up red lanterns, illuminating the somewhat dark lake, adding a rich poetic charm.

After climbing the wooden stairs to the second floor, Lin Han and Chen Jiaxuan sat by the window, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Even before eating, their stomachs were already satisfied by the sight of the delicious food.

"Let's order the dishes first before we talk about anything else," Lin Han said, watching the waiters shuttle back and forth with the fragrant and colorful Hunanese dishes that made his mouth water.

Chen Jiaxuan took the menu and asked, "Hunanese dishes are quite spicy. Can you handle it?"

"No problem, the spicier, the better. Eating some chili in winter keeps you warm."

Hunanese dishes are never without spiciness. They ordered some specialties like Spicy Fish Head, Pound Eggplant, Shredded Softshell Turtle, Chairman Mao's Braised Pork, and Taro Rice, and then handed the menu to the waiter.

The restaurant had already started taking numbers, and many people had to wait in the waiting area inside the restaurant. Lin Han and Chen Jiaxuan were quite lucky.

"The owner of this restaurant must be a literary person, blending all the artistic elements into the place. The appearance and taste of the dishes are very artistic," Lin Han commented, admiring the owner's idea.

Chen Jiaxuan smiled and said, "The last time I came here was in the summer. I bought several books before eating, and I couldn't stop. I guessed you would like the atmosphere here, so I recommended it."

Looking around, Lin Han found that the decoration style was simple and elegant. No matter where you sat, you could see many books and paintings.

Eating here felt like dining in an ancient study, so Lin Han praised, "I really like this. I think I saw my book just now, but I'm not sure if it was an illusion."

The cover of the physical book "I, Robot" is quite unique, specially designed by a famous illustrator, making it highly recognizable.

But a science fiction novel appearing in such an ancient and elegant restaurant seemed a bit out of place to Chen Jiaxuan. "Why don't you go and check if it's really that book?"

"Let's go after we finish eating. If it is, it would be like traveling back in time," Lin Han looked at Chen Jiaxuan across the table and asked, "What did you want to say in the car just now?"

"I was going to say that you have become the 'meat of Tang Monk.' More than ten publishing houses have contacted me, wanting to obtain the publishing rights for your new book. Tsk, tsk, they are all very sincere, offering 10% royalties without me even having to negotiate."

Hearing this, Lin Han couldn't help but laugh, "So, my value has increased a lot. How did you respond to them?"

Chen Jiaxuan sighed, "I feel it's too early to sign a contract. The hype hasn't reached its peak yet, so I told them to wait until you finish writing before we talk, just to drag it out."

At this point, Lin Han was no longer a newcomer. He was a winner of the Galaxy Award and had a well-received and best-selling physical novel. The heated discussion of "The Martian" on the internet made it almost certain to become another bestseller.

No one is a fool; this is clearly a surefire novel, so publishing houses flocked to try and secure the publishing rights.

The domestic publishing industry is in a situation where there are many publishers but few best-selling authors. Most of these best-selling authors have fixed publishing houses, leaving no room for them to poach.

But Lin Han is clearly different. He has been listed as the top potential stock. "I, Robot" sold nearly 500,000 copies in just one month and is expected to break a million in a year, making it a bestseller.

He has proven his strength in the market, showcased his talent at the award ceremony, and signed a publishing agreement for only one book with the People's University Press. Such an author is the publishing house's favorite.

So many chief editors have given orders to their subordinates to try to secure such an author, not letting go of any opportunity.

"I also think it's unnecessary to sign a new book contract so early. The sales potential of 'I, Robot' hasn't been fully utilized. If we delay, I believe they will offer more favorable conditions."

Lin Han has already bid farewell to his days of being short of money and won't waste his opportunities for small gains.

Chen Jiaxuan smiled mysteriously, "Leave it to me. As long as you focus on writing the novel, I won't hold you back. I'll increase your leverage in the near future to show them your importance."

As an entertainment agent, Chen Jiaxuan is best at this. She has already planned her strategy.

Just as the waiter started serving the dishes, Lin Han and Chen Jiaxuan stopped talking and began to enjoy the food, putting work aside.

The classic Hunanese dish, Spicy Fish Head, made Lin Han sweat, and the soup paired with the complimentary noodles was especially delicious. The Pound Eggplant in the mortar was well-shaped, salty, and fragrant, making it hard to stop eating.

Chen Jiaxuan couldn't help but open her mouth and breathe lightly, drinking a mouthful of iced water and exclaiming, "So spicy, so spicy, but so delicious."

"If you like it, eat more. Do you want to order two more dishes?"

"These are enough for the two of us. Ordering too much would be wasteful." Chen Jiaxuan's wealth is unknown, but she isn't extravagant. The place she chose for Lin Han to treat her isn't expensive, at least not a high-end French restaurant.

The meal cost them only a few hundred yuan, which is considered a moderate expense in Shichahai.

Feeling warm all over, even the cold wind didn't make them feel too cold. Eating so much chili had its effect.

The night in Yanjing City looked very beautiful, with the vehicles on the road weaving a beautiful visual tapestry. When they returned to their neighborhood, they still felt a bit reluctant to part.

"You must be tired from flying and cleaning today. Go take a shower and go to bed early. Don't stay up late," Chen Jiaxuan advised, handing Lin Han a cup of yogurt from inside the house.

"I know, I won't stay up too late. I'll just browse the internet and then sleep. You also shouldn't work too much. Your body is your own, and staying up late is the biggest enemy of your skin."

Lin Han immediately started drinking the yogurt, which is good for the stomach after eating spicy food.

Turning on the light and closing the door, the two stood in silence across the corridor, neither of them breaking the unspoken barrier.

...

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