Chapter 61

"......This... One Page Book was also young and impulsive, acting on a momentary whim. Later, when I saw his posts in the group, it was clear that he was also showing signs of regret..." Lin Shuiqing said, feeling a headache.

He really didn't want to see Lin Mu, such a promising young talent, be blacklisted by the two major magazines. But Lin Mu's behavior was indeed too much.

Zhu Zhengting slammed the table and roared, "Yes! He did regret it, and even sent me an apology text to show his remorse, but when has such a situation ever happened in this industry! An author who has only been in the business for half a year actually dared to directly insult a magazine! How arrogant! Young people are wild, right? Then they must pay the price for their arrogance!"

He was really furious. In the past, even though his magazine ranked second, who would treat him like this, no matter how famous the author was?

Who wouldn't flatter and be friendly? Who wouldn't be polite and respectful?

But this One Page Book, not only dared to insult him, but also leaked the magazine's major secrets, causing such a huge negative impact!

Yes, he had suppressed him first.

But so what!

A new writer, no matter how good your writing is, no matter how excellent your performance, you are still under the management of the magazine. When we want you to publish, you publish; when we don't, you just sit there and starve!

Resist? Retaliate?

Do you want to rebel?

"The manuscript of 'Lian Cheng Jue' is now all in our hands, with five chapters left. We will withhold one chapter's payment as a punishment, and the rest of the payments will be settled after the novel is completed. Go tell him!" Zhu Zhengting said, breathing heavily with anger.

Lin Shuiqing was startled, "Withhold the payment? Delay the payment? Isn't that too severe a punishment?"

Zhu Zhengting sneered, "Do you know how wolves are tamed into dogs? You starve them and beat them when they don't listen! Over time, they naturally lose their wildness and become obedient!"

Frowning, this analogy made Lin Shuiqing feel extremely uncomfortable, "But you've seen Lin Mu's personality. If he gets angry again and exposes this, it will have an even greater impact on the magazine..."

"He dares!" Zhu Zhengting sneered, "If he wanted to go all out at the beginning, it would be one thing, but now that his mind has cooled down, he came to apologize to me, which clearly shows he doesn't want to make things worse! What good would it do him to expose this now? Isn't he afraid we'll withhold all his payments? A high school student, he dares?"

Lin Shuiqing opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

The more Zhu Zhengting spoke, the more he felt his analysis was correct, and the more excited he became.

"Call him now and inform him of this. I want to see if he still acts so arrogant!"

Lin Shuiqing had no choice but to take out his phone and call Lin Mu.

But the call went to voicemail, indicating the other party had turned off their phone.

Zhu Zhengting frowned, "He should be at his computer. Contact him via QQ!"

This time it worked. As soon as Lin Shuiqing sent a message, the computer received a video call request.

"Director Zhu, Editor Lin, I was just being impulsive earlier. Please don't take it to heart!"

As soon as the video call connected, Lin Mu began to sincerely apologize, his熟练的动作 clearly indicating he had prepared his words in advance.

Feeling a sense of vindictive pleasure, Zhu Zhengting pushed Lin Shuiqing aside and started scolding Lin Mu through the computer.

"You were so arrogant before! Be arrogant in front of me now! I'm telling you, your success today is thanks to the magazine! We can give it to you, and we can take it away! The rest of the payments for the other four chapters will be withheld, and the remaining payments will be settled after the novel is completed!"

Lin Mu's previously sincere expression changed, and he said in disbelief, "Withhold the payment? On what grounds?"

Zhu Zhengting sneered, "On the grounds that you were disrespectful and caused irreparable damage to the magazine!"

Lin Mu "flew into a rage," "That's only because you suppressed me without reason! Besides, I helped the magazine win the annual sales championship, and I didn't see you give me any rewards! So, it's fine to have achievements but not to have faults, and to suppress me, right!"

Zhu Zhengting, now relaxed, ignored Lin Mu's waiting for a response, picked up a cigarette, lit it, and took a leisurely puff before sneering, "So what? Today, you'll learn that some people are not to be offended lightly!"

"Are you going to withhold my payment? Aren't you afraid I'll sue you?!" Lin Mu's emotions were already "hysterical."

Lin Shuiqing, standing beside him, suddenly felt a sense of unease, but couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.

"Sue? Ha ha! Where will you sue? Do you have the money to hire a lawyer? Do you have the time to go to court? Fine! Even if you have the money and time, we'll just pay you some of the payment, what can you do? Little brat, you dare to defy me..."

Lin Shuiqing's unease grew more intense. Looking at Lin Mu's "expressive" face on the screen, he suddenly realized what was wrong!

Lin Mu usually communicated with him calmly and indifferently, and was quite open about money. When had he ever gotten so angry over such a small amount?

Raising his head, Lin Mu said with a mysterious tone, "According to your wishes, you can withhold my payment! Dealing with someone like you, one must not be soft-hearted!"

"What?" Zhu Zhengting thought he had misheard. This boy, who had just shown remorse, shouldn't have the courage to argue with him, let alone insult him.

Lin Mu sneered, "Nothing, just saying you're a scumbag!"

After saying that, he directly closed the video call.

Zhu Zhengting felt a bit dizzy, but Lin Shuiqing's face turned pale.

Almost pushing Zhu Zhengting aside, Lin Shuiqing quickly typed a message and sent it to Lin Mu.

Zhu Zhengting could clearly see: It's all a misunderstanding! We won't withhold the payment, and we'll double all your benefits, just don't do anything rash!

After all, he wasn't stupid. Recalling Lin Mu's initial respect and later defiance, as well as the strange situation where the phone call couldn't be made but the video call worked, Zhu Zhengting's face turned white...

"Hiss... One Page Book, he... he did it on purpose!"

His face pale, Zhu Zhengting almost fainted, never imagining such a ruthless person existed!

Earlier, when he threatened Lin Mu, he was right. If he wanted to withhold Lin Mu's payment, the cost for Lin Mu to reclaim it would be several times more.

But he was sure Lin Mu would compromise, and even if he didn't, he could adapt. So he acted without hesitation.

But now?

Lin Mu was well-prepared, even deliberately leading him to say those words, and on the computer. Even with his outdated middle-aged mind, Zhu Zhengting knew Lin Mu must have recorded the video as evidence.

This evidence could be used not only in court.

It could also be posted online...

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