Chapter 60

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Translator: Cheese

My name is…

After filming the dessert shop scenes, Ji Shaoheng “found time” to teach He Qingwan a few simple self-defense moves.

Ji Shaoheng was delighted every time he thought about it.

When teaching self-defense, there will always be a bit of physical contact. You come and I go, you retreat and I advance, one man and one woman, friction that generates heat…

–ah pei, friction that generates SPARKS.

While teaching He Qingwan the grappling technique, He Qingwan didn’t use enough power, “accidentally” fell forward, and was swiftly caught by Ji Shaoheng.

The two stared into each other’s eyes for several seconds before He Qingwan’s face abruptly flushed red. She found an excuse to hurriedly end classes and fled.

Ji Shaoheng stood there, recalling the sensation when their eyes met. It was so beautiful he was bursting with bubbles.

“Uncle Ji.”

Ji Shaoheng sharply turned his head. Xi Yun was standing behind him, looking up at him.

He looked behind him but didn’t see Su Tian. He let out his breath. Just now, he’d nearly broken out into a cold sweat.

It had to be said that the one he was most afraid of among this group of people was that girl Su Tian. Not to mention that that girl wasn’t ordinary, simply because she was He Qingwan’s daughter, he was very careful and didn’t dare to offend her. Otherwise…

He thought of He Qingwan’s love for Su Tian and felt that in the future, he would have to fight this little girl for favor.

Ji Shaoheng put his thoughts away and asked seriously, “What’s wrong?”

Xi Yun: “Can Uncle teach me the grappling technique?”

Ji Shaoheng raised an eyebrow. “How old are you, what are you learning it for?”

Xi Yun: “There’s a strange person who’s always following jiejie. I want to protect jiejie.”

Chief Ji instantly regained his identity as a policeman. He grew serious and asked a series of questions:

“What kind of strange person? How old did they look? Where did you see them? How long have they been following Tiantian?”

Xi Yun: “He’s about as old as Liu Kaiyan and about his height. He’s very good-looking… oh, he said that Nemo is at his house and asked jiejie to come see…”

Ji Shaoheng originally didn’t think much into Xi Yun’s description, but when he heard the word “Nemo,” he instantly felt thunderstruck.

Nemo… if he remembered correctly, the clownfish that little brat brought back from the aquarium was named Nemo?

And thinking about it, those other descriptions matched his profile.

Ji Shaoheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “Xiao Yun, go tell your Auntie He for me. I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving first.”

Then he dashed out.

Xi Yun was stunned. He quickly followed him to the door and shouted after the man’s fleeing figure: “Uncle Ji, remember to teach me the grappling technique!”

Ji Shaoheng waved his hand, indicating that he heard.

–At the hotel.

The door swung open. The youth was clutching his laptop, staring intently at the screen.

Ji Shaoheng moved over and read: 《The Love Guru’s Lessons on How to Pursue the Girl You Like》.

Chief Ji: “…”

What’s the stinking use of reading this thing, just come ask him! Guaranteed to teach you a number of tricks… no, no, it should be–it’s over! It’s just as he guessed.

The youth ignored him and continued to read.

He jotted a question mark next to the part “use the things she likes to get her to take the initiative to approach” and added a note: The things she likes have not been identified.

“Little… cough cough… you, uh…you like Auntie He’s daughter?” Chief Ji stammered out his question.

The youth nodded without lifting his head and graced him with a single-word response: “En.”

Chief Ji: “…”

He rubbed his nose and sat down, not sure on how to start the conversation. The youth completely ignored him and continued to read.

“This isn’t easy to handle, Tiantian will be placed on our household registration in the future…”

The youth interrupted him: “So hurry up and transfer out my household registration.”

Ji Shaoheng: “…”

This little brat, he’d already calculated everything long ago.

“But Tiantian doesn’t like you.” Chief Ji was never soft when stabbing a knife.

The youth’s hand movements paused. He turned to look at him. “She will like me in the future.”

Chief Ji: “…”

Where did this confidence come from?

“You’re completely being treated as a stalker. Like you? Like, my ass.”

Done with his complaints, Ji Shaoheng clapped the youth on the shoulder. “Come on, beg me and I’ll teach you.”

The youth refused. “Tiantian doesn’t like tricks.”

Ji Shaoheng: “…”

The youth looked up, his pitch-black eyes filled with seriousness. “She hates scheming and smooth-talking people.”

After a pause, he repeated: “She will like me.”

The scheming and smooth-talking Chief Ji Shaoheng: “…”

Fine, he won’t care. Let this little brat learn after getting bruised and bloody.

As soon as Ji Shaoheng left, the youth opened another document. It was a record of Su Tian’s interactions over the past three years.

The people around her were categorized and given brief summaries.

There were three categories–“good friends,” “favorable impression,” and “doesn’t care to interact.”

If anyone who knew Su Tian and Zhang Yingni were to see it, they’d find it odd, because Zhang Yingni was actually sorted into the “favorable impression” group.

If before, the youth wasn’t sure whether his placement was correct, he was completely certain after listening to Ji Shaoheng talking about his trip to Didu.

Although Zhang Yingni was always snatching Su Tian’s things, Su Tian didn’t hate her.

He knew that Tiantian didn’t like Ji Shaoheng’s wide variety of pickup tricks.

She liked straightforward and pure people.

As the filming continued, good news finally came from the publishing company’s end: 《The Adventures of Kaka》 had officially launched.

According to Su Tian’s initial plans, the first markets to invest in were the first- and second-tier cities. These cities had a large population, and many people accepted new things more quickly. They were the best testing grounds for gauging the market response.

If it failed, it would be 110,000 yuan down the drain, but if it succeeded, the profits would be unprecedented.

This was the most important step for Su Tian and the others. Even You Pinyan, who could toss out millions without batting an eye, was so nervous she was on her phone practically all day and asking how the publisher’s sales were, let alone Liu Kaiyan.

These 10,000 volumes were placed in such a large market, but there wasn’t even a splash. Even if other manhua publishing companies heard about it, they paid it no mind.

Among them was Red Sun Publishing House, which had rejected the manuscript of 《Kaka》 and asked Liu Kaiyan to revise it according to their request.

When they heard that Liu Kaiyan had printed 10,000 copies at his own expense, they all laughed in mockery. “Here’s another one spending money to buy fame.”

They’d seen too many of such people. Those manhua artists all felt that their art was the best. They wouldn’t listen to other people’s persuasions and insisted on paving their own path. Then they were taught a lesson by the industry. In the end, it was only after losing all their capital that they understood that the business circle was the business circle–the most ruthless and unfeeling.

They waited to see Liu Kaiyan’s joke.

Distributors and various bookstore owners were also unconcerned.

Sun Kai was one such bookstore owner. He’d been running a small bookstore at the gate of a Didu elementary school for twenty years. In addition to selling supplementary teaching materials, the books he sold most often were manhua and storybooks.

When he first received 《The Adventures of Kaka》, he instantly saw that it was a new author, and also self-published. With a sneer, he tossed it into a corner and did not promote it, while all the prominent shelves were filled with manhua that were currently popular.

In any case, book distribution wasn’t the same as with other products, where the owner would lose money if it didn’t sell. When the time came, the books could be returned to the publishing company.

After school one day, a group of ten-year-old children carrying backpacks came out of school. Passing by the bookstore, they immediately crowded the shelves and began to read the various manhua on the shelves.

Children–they could never resist the temptation of manhua.

The shop owner watched, chuckling. Several children quickly bought several serialized manhua and left.

Another child came over. The shop owner gave a glance at the book in his hand and said, “Robots is 8 yuan per book.”

Because it was the most recent release, the owner sold it at a fixed price and didn’t offer a discount.

The kid pulled out another book, asking, “What about this?”

The owner glanced over and froze. Hey, wasn’t this that Adventures of something or other that he’d tossed into a corner? Someone was actually buying it?

How much… he really didn’t know.

The owner took it and looked at it for a while before saying, “This is the last book, ten yuan.”

When the kid heard this, his face wrinkled. Two books for 18 yuan; but his mom only gave him ten yuan to buy manua.

The owner understood that the child didn’t have enough money and persuaded, “Buy one book first, then buy the second when you have more money.”

The child finally made up his mind and took out a ten-yuan bill. The owner opened the register and was about to take out two one-yuan bills when the child said reluctantly, “I’ll buy this one first.”

Shop owner: “……!!!???”

The Robots that had been ranked first in the national manhua sales list for a whole year was actually defeated by an unknown manhua???!!!

How could this be?

The shop owner collected the money in a daze and watched the child leave contentedly with that book in his arms.

It must be survivor bias. Maybe this kid was tired of reading Robots and just wanted a change of pace?

The result was that for the next four sales were all the manhua that had suddenly popped up from nowhere. Moreover, three children chose Kaka over Robots.

It wasn’t until five copies of 《The Adventures of Kaka》 were sold that Robots began to leave the shelves.

Just after the post-school rush, the shop owner hurriedly called the supplier: “Is that 《The Adventures of Kaka》 still in stock? Send me another ten… no, twenty copies tomorrow.”

Supplier: “Too late, the last twenty copies have already been ordered.”

Shop owner: “…Then when will they be in stock?”

Supplier: “Not sure, the other party only printed 10,000 copies.”

Shop owner: “…”

Forget it, maybe those kids just looked at the cover and bought it. The heat might pass in a few days?

Unfortunately, the popularity of 《The Adventures of Kaka》 didn’t fade, but instead intensified.

The next day, a kid came over and said, “XXX said he bought his 《The Adventures of Kaka》 here, why aren’t there any more?”

The shop owner laughed awkwardly. “They’re all sold out.”

Child: “…Huh? Then when will there be more?”

The shop owner silently shed tears in his heart. “I’m not too sure about this. Why don’t you read Robots? Or the others? They’re all the newest releases…”

The child shook his head in disappointment. “Then forget it, I’m tired of reading Robots.”

Then he left with his backpack slung over his shoulder.

The shop owner had no more tears to cry.

That Liu Kaiyan, sales are so hot; you should keep printing!!

《Kaka》 wasn’t just popular in Sun Kai’s store. During this period of time, all the bookstores around school were bombarded with children’s inquiries. Many shop owners were completely lost when they were asked whether or not they had 《The Adventures of Kaka》 in the store.

The problem was that they didn’t even know what the heck 《The Adventures of Kaka》 was.

So they called their suppliers and asked where 《The Adventures of Kaka》 was, and whether they could distribute it.

When they heard the good news from the publishing house, Su Tian and the others were so happy they nearly jumped out of their seats.

It was precisely because there was risk that success was more exciting when it came.

The publisher asked, “Should we continue to print?”

Su Tian: “Print, print another 100,000 copies.”

Although according to this situation, 100,000 may not be able to meet the needs of the market, a little less was always better than a little more.

The publishing house didn’t take the initiative to propose distribution on behalf of the company. After all, what they’d said at the beginning was that it was at one’s own expense. Now that sales were hot, how could they have the face to ask for the copyright?

After hanging up, everyone started counting how much money they made.

There was the initial investment of 110,000 yuan–10,000 copies, each costing about 11 yuan. However, the peculiar nature of printing was such that the more copies that were printed, the lower the cost. Since all the preliminary costs had already been invested in, they only needed to pay the money for paper and distribution shares.

Su Tian and the gang lay down and started counting. If there were 100,000 copies the cost of the manhua should be maintained at about 15%, and the distribution shares should be about 20%. That is to say, if all 100,000 copies were sold, they could make a net income of 650,000 yuan!

Of this 650,000 yuan, Liu Kaiyan, as the creator, naturally received the majority and would get 350,000 yuan. The 110,000 yuan start-up capital was jointly contributed by Su Tian and You Pinyan and accounted for 300,000 yuan. Xi Yun contributed his skills as a stake and was allotted 50,000 yuan.

All future prints of Kaka would follow this ratio.

Of course, once Liu Kaiyan had money, Nemo’s income would belong to him alone.

When Xi Yun heard that he received 50,000 yuan, he was so happy that he jumped up and hugged Su Tian. His eyes were bright like stars.

You Pinyan was already lying on the windowsill and calling Grandpa You.

“Grandpa, my vision was right. 《Kaka》 is popular, I’m going to make 150,000 soon!”

On the other end, Grandpa You was grinning so hard his eyes could not be seen. “A’Nan is so amazing, able to make money at such a young age.”

The grandfather and granddaughter talked for a long time. When they hung up, the old man looked to the butler and said, “A’Nan really has a bright future.” Much better than the ones at home.

The butler chuckled, nodding his head. “Eldest Young Miss has been brought up by you, after all. She is just like you.”

After the excitement was over, everyone began to calculate the funds needed to print another 100,000 copies.

100,000 copies would cost 150,000. Liu Kaiyan still had the 70,000 yuan from the copyright fees in his hand. The first 10,000 copies had been sold, and after deducting the distribution fees, the net profit was 80,000 yuan. Together, it added up to exactly 150,000.

Perfect!

Xi Yun also calmed down and suggested, “I’ll go call Wei Jianjun and ask him to help them make Kaka dolls.”

He rushed out the door to dial the phone number.

Everyone exchanged glances and burst out in laughter.

Making money feels so good!

Immediately after, Liu Kaiyan and Su TIan were bombarded with phone calls from various publishing houses wanting to purchase Kaka’s copyright, including the one that rejected their manuscript and asked Liu Kaiyan to revise the draft.

Su Tian and Liu Kaiyan refused them all without hesitation.

Who were they kidding. They were reluctant to take risks at first. Now that Kaka was popular, they wanted to get a piece of the pie? How could there be such a good thing?

The editor of Red Sun Publishing House was sternly rejected by Su Tian and simply threatened them: “A word of advice–newcomers shouldn’t be too arrogant. It’s not so easy to mingle with people in this industry.”

Su Tian: “…Thank you for your advice. We will be wary of those kinds of people.”

The other party angrily hung up the phone.

Su Tian raised a brow.

Such strange people.

A mere publishing house wanted to block Liu Kaiyan’s way?

It’s really a blessing that Liu Kaiyan didn’t change the original draft. Otherwise, hehe…

Just as she hung up, she spotted the teenager she suspected of being a fellow “countryman.”

The youth came over. For some reason, Su Tian could see there was grievance in his eyes.

He held out a hand, his fingers clean and slender.

“My name is Yu Cai. I want to get to know you.”

The author has something to say:

Casually flipped through the dictionary and put together the male lead’s name 【lol】

Cheese: *offers measly chapter to the audience i’ve kept waiting for months*

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