After You Rong finished reading "Death of a Little Civil Servant," he couldn't shake the thought of recruiting the author; their penmanship was too potent.
Little did he expect that the person behind it was none other than Chu Kuang, snatched right from under Yinlan Library's nose!
Upon learning this, You Rong's eyes widened, feeling as if he'd been swindled.
But as the editor-in-chief of "Interesting Reading," he swiftly reined in his emotions. "I must win him over," he resolved silently.
You Rong made a firm decision.
Chu Kuang had earned recognition in the short story realm. No longer a fledgling writer testing the waters, he had ascended as a rising star, showcasing his genius!
And a genius like Chu Kuang wasn't just coveted by You Rong alone.
All major publishers in Qinzhou were poised to make their move.
Given the cutthroat competition in the industry, a talent like Chu Kuang could easily draw the interest of all stakeholders.
However, contacting Chu Kuang would prove challenging for these publishers.
Tribal literature's ability to locate Chu Kuang relied solely on leveraging their platform. The tribal account itself was linked to a mobile phone number, enabling the literature platform to reach out using the number provided by Chu Kuang.
You Rong believed that unless tribal literature was foolish, they wouldn't divulge Chu Kuang's information.
Unfortunately, secrets have a way of seeping out.
Industries intermingle, and information spreads through various channels. Sooner or later, the larger publishers would trace Chu Kuang.
In such circumstances, all You Rong could do was delay the inevitable.
For now, Yinlan Library and tribal literature were likely the only contenders.
This realization brought You Rong a measure of relief.
Meanwhile, within Yinlan Library...
Discussions about Chu Kuang were rife in the Youth Fantasy Department.
Although this department didn't handle short stories, being next door to the magazine department "Interesting," Chu Kuang, as one of Yinlan Library's best-selling authors, naturally attracted attention from the editors.
Chu Kuang's triumph in the tribal literature short story contest sparked a flurry of discussions within the department.
"I never knew Chu Kuang was so adept at writing short stories!"
"To excel in both short stories and youth fantasy novels is quite the creative talent!"
"No wonder the short story domain is vying to snatch him from us. Chu Kuang's prowess in short story creation is indeed remarkable."
"I heard even our editor-in-chief lauds Chu Kuang's short stories."
""
Midway through the discussion, a concerned editor spoke up, "Will Chu Kuang now focus solely on writing short stories, abandoning fantasy themes in the future?"
This concern wasn't unfounded.
Chu Kuang was one of Yinlan Library's top-selling authors in the Youth Fantasy Department, making him a valuable asset.
"Not likely."
A certain editor shook their head, uncertain. "How much can one earn from a few short stories? Short story writers can't make as much money as youth fantasy novelists."
"Money?"
Yang Feng, Chu Kuang's editor, suddenly looked up, his tone sour. "Do you think Chu Kuang cares about money?"
""
After Yang Feng's remark, the entire fantasy department fell silent. It seemed everyone tacitly agreed with him.
Indeed.
Chu Kuang had no fondness for wealth.
He harbored no interest in money.
This was a fact universally acknowledged within the fantasy department. Had Chu Kuang cared about money, he wouldn't have concluded "Net King" so readily.
Even the most clueless individual knew that with best-selling novels, the longer you drag the story, the more lucrative it becomes!
But two weeks ago...
Chu Kuang delivered the final manuscript for "Net King," neatly wrapping up the novel.
Yes.
Tomorrow, May 1st, "Net King" will be officially released, featuring its final chapter. The relevant departments even coined a slogan:
Chu Kuang hadn't written a single word more!
Throughout "Net King," he adhered closely to the initial outline he provided, concluding the immensely popular novel at just over a million words!
His decisiveness left even the editors in the department distressed, wishing Chu Kuang had continued writing!
You see given the current sales momentum of the novel, every additional word written translated into substantial earnings!
To put it bluntly...
Had Chu Kuang been inclined, he could have continued "Net King" indefinitely. Even if he had resorted to filler content and the subsequent quality plummeted, many readers would still buy it out of habit. Unless he included rubbish in the book, readers wouldn't easily abandon it. At most, they'd grumble at the author and then begrudgingly continue purchasing.
This was the collective experience of editors with years of tenure.
Chu Kuang was undoubtedly aware of this.
Yet he remained steadfast in his resolve. Despite knowing the financial windfall his work could generate, he concluded the book without hesitation.
How could someone treat money with such indifference?
For a while, only one editor in the department remarked emotionally, "This is Chu Kuang's scholarly style. He doesn't create for financial gain. Such a writer deserves immense respect."
"Yes."
"In an age where commercialism pervades literature, authors' original intentions may be noble, but how many are willing to toil for passion if their novels fail to turn a profit?"
"I haven't encountered such a novelist in years. Most writers aren't willing to conclude a highly lucrative novel. Even if their outline exhausts, they'll exhaust every effort to extend it. In contrast, authors like Chu Kuang who decisively conclude bestsellers are few and far between."
""
Yang Feng sighed.
Why couldn't he appreciate Chu Kuang?
While most writers followed the trend by choosing themes like alien adventures and monarchy, Chu Kuang boldly opted for the less popular theme of sports and competition. This pioneering spirit had already earned Yang Feng's admiration.
He could admire from afar.
At the same time, Yang Feng found himself at a loss.
Chu Kuang concluding "Net King" was a major blow to Yinlan Library.
Otherwise, the former editor-in-chief wouldn't have specifically instructed Chu Kuang to expand the outline and prolong the story...
Yet Chu Kuang remained adamant.
Yang Feng couldn't help but recall his initial dealings with Chu Kuang. Back then, he'd thought the latter was merely a novice, fearless in the face of authority.
One day!
He reckoned Chu Kuang would come to fear the dreaded "little black room" and see the terrifying power of editorial persuasion.
If only...
Chu Kuang didn't seem to fear the little black room. He was the first to witness Chu Kuang's audacity.
How could someone treat money with such disdain?
Yang Feng could only shake his head in resignation, remarking with a wry smile, "He's just being stubborn!"
The following day.
May 1st.
The finale of Chu Kuang's "Net King" hit the shelves!