Chapter 284 If You Cry Again, I Will Kiss You
After a tour around this literary dream factory, Liu Zhiyi finally got what he wanted.
Editor Baiyun did not treat them lightly just because they were young. Besides treating them well, he also showed more care and consideration as an elder, such as chatting with them about campus life and academic performance.
"Liu Zhiyi...was this name given by your grandfather? It sounds really nice. Haha, the south wind knows what I mean. So that's how it is!"
"So is Mr. Baiyun's real name Baiyun?"
"That's not the case! My real name is Bai Qixian, and Baiyun is the pen name I've been using. Like my colleagues in the editorial department, we usually call each other by our pen names most of the time."
Even if they already know each other's real names, they still call each other by pen names. Perhaps this is the unique romance of literary workers.
"Nanfeng, Xiaofang, please sit in the conference room for a while. Teacher Mi Qing should be here by now. I'll go downstairs to pick her up. Here's some water. I'll give it to you to drink."
"Yeah, thank you, Mr. Baiyun."
Editor Baiyun led the two to a spacious and bright conference room and brought them two bottles of mineral water.
After closing the door, Editor Bai Yun went downstairs with his cell phone. Fang Wei and Liu Zhiyi stayed in the conference room reading magazines and drinking water.
"Fang Wei, you said that Editor Mi Qing's name is also a pen name?"
"I think it might be. After all, the surname Mi is rare."
"Hehe, I think so too~"
Liu Zhiyi smiled and seemed to be in a very good mood. When there was no one around, her sitting posture was not so straight. When she was alone with Fang Wei, she relaxed, curled up her legs with her knees bent, and held the sides of the chair with her hands. Her body swayed like a cute tumbler, and her big eyes looked around the environment in the meeting room curiously.
"How do you feel about meeting editors and colleagues for the first time?" Fang Wei asked with a smile.
"Hehe, I felt so nervous at first, but now I think it's pretty good. I found that we have a lot of common topics. Teacher Baiyun is older than us, and I didn't expect that we can still have common topics..."
"It shows that you can communicate more with editors or other authors on weekdays. At least in this way, you won't be alone on the road of writing. As the saying goes, I am not alone on my way!"
"I can't. Can't I still communicate with you normally~"
"Why don't you let me see your new book?"
"I'll show you when I get back!"
"You just want me to praise you, right?"
"No..."
"Great writer~ My deskmate is a great writer~ A great writer who published a book at a young age~ So amazing~"
Fang Wei was nagging in her ear, and the girl blushed and felt sweet listening to him, and pinched him unhappily.
The two were playing and joking when they heard footsteps and voices coming from outside the meeting room door, and they quickly sat up straight.
There were two knocks on the door, then it opened. Editor Bai Yun came in with Editor Mi Qing from Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House.
Editor Mi Qing is a woman in her thirties, wearing ordinary jeans and white sneakers, a pair of black-framed glasses on her nose, and a ponytail, looking like a Chinese teacher.
Because they needed to communicate the details of the contract before, Fang Wei and Liu Zhiyi had talked with editor Mi Qing on the phone many times, so they should not be strangers to each other, but it was still a strange feeling to meet them offline for the first time.
Fang Wei and Liu Zhiyi politely stood up from their seats and greeted Editor Mi Qing with a smile:
"Hello, Teacher Mi Qing~!"
"Hello... little sister, you are Nan Feng?!"
Just like Editor Baiyun’s reaction just now, Editor Mi Qing’s eyes widened when she saw Liu Zhiyi!
After all, she is a mother herself. When she saw that the writer who came to sign the contract today was actually a little girl who was only a few years older than her own child, editor Mi Qing was really surprised. If she saw them somewhere else in the magazine, she would probably think they were readers!
"Hahaha, I told you that you would be surprised when you meet Nanfeng in person!" Editor Baiyun smiled as if his plan had succeeded.
"I was wondering if it was someone I knew, so you said I would be surprised. I never thought Nan Feng would be such a young girl!"
"Nanfeng is a new talent with great potential. If he is well trained, I think his future achievements may not be lower than Xiaohan's. We all know each other, so I won't introduce each other. It's not easy for Nanfeng to come all the way here, so let's see if we can finalize the publication today."
“That probably won’t work! It’s definitely not going to be confirmed today!” Editor Mi Qing shook her head and smiled bitterly.
Fang Wei and Liu Zhiyi felt a jolt in their hearts when they heard this.
Before they could ask, editor Mi Qing smiled helplessly and said, "Nanfeng, you are not yet 18 years old, right? If you want to sign such a contract, you need the consent of your guardian. Did your parents come to Shanghai today?"
"Ah? No, no..."
"What should we do? Teacher Mi Qing, you can't let them make this trip in vain, right?"
"Hahaha, it's okay, let's just go through the details of the process normally. The contract can't be signed today, but Nanfeng you can take it back for your parents to review. Then ask them to sign the guardian consent form and mail it back. We'll just send you a copy after we've stamped it!"
It is a bit troublesome, but fortunately it is only a matter of time.
Seeing that editor Mi Qing gave a solution, Fang Wei and Liu Zhiyi also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, sorry to bother Teacher Mi Qing."
"No, it's my fault for not reminding you. Sorry for causing you trouble. Let's go through the process normally. I'll explain the contract details to you in detail. If you have any questions, you can always ask me. This student is..."
"Yes, it's my good friend Fang Wei. I brought him here to help me watch..."
"Hello, Teacher Mi Qing."
"Hello, Xiao Fang~"
Editor Mi Qing nodded. For such an important matter, the little girl did not bring her parents but brought Fang Wei instead. It must be that the relationship between the two must be unusual.
Several people sat around the conference table together, and Editor Mi Qing gave each of the three parties a copy of the printed contract.
Publishing contracts are not too complicated. Editors Mi Qing and Bai Yun have dealt with them a lot. This type of contract basically has a relatively unified template, but there are some differences in details for different objects.
The contract includes basic information about the work, the scope and period of copyright authorization, publishing plan, royalties and payment methods, etc.
Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House will complete the editing, typesetting, proofreading and other preparatory work for the work "Chasing Summer" within two months after the signing of the contract, and will then send a sample to Liu Zhiyi to solicit her suggestions.
As previously discussed, the first print run is set at 100,000 copies, with a royalty of 13%. The work is divided into two parts, each priced at 15 yuan. This part of the royalties will be paid in the next month after the contract is signed.
The royalties for reprinting were raised to 15%. This part of the royalties would be verified and paid to Liu Zhiyi on a quarterly basis based on the actual sales of the reprinted books.
After all, it is a large domestic publishing house that ranks high, and they are very generous when it comes to paying royalties. This is why Fang Wei suggested that the girl cooperate with them. After all, even if some small publishing houses pay higher royalties, it would be uncomfortable if they default on paying royalties.
When signing a physical publishing contract like this, Mengya does not participate in the profit sharing. It can be said that it is entirely a cooperation between Liu Zhiyi and Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House.
But editor Baiyun was still very enthusiastic in helping to contact the publishing house, and is now also helping the girl to look at the contract. It was a piece of cake for him, but for many new writers like Liu Zhiyi, it was the beginning of their literary dreams. It was really a great fortune to have such a guide on the road to their literary dreams.
Fang Wei had previously brushed up on copyright-related knowledge, so he read the first publishing contract in his life carefully many times.
"What do you think?" Fang Wei asked her quietly, "Are there any questions? I'll help you ask."
"I don't know...what do you think?"
"..."
Fang Wei was both angry and amused. Who on earth was going to publish it?
However, after thinking carefully, Fang Wei nodded and said, "I think there is no problem. For these vague parts, I also asked Teacher Mi Qing to make some supplements. I will take a look after she finishes the revision. We are not in a hurry to sign. When the time comes, I will ask my sister to ask their company's legal department to help look at it..."
Soon, Editor Mi Qing walked into the meeting room with two contracts that had been re-written according to Fang Wei's request with additional explanations added.
The freshly printed contract was still warm and smelled of ink. Fang Wei checked it carefully again before nodding to Liu Zhiyi.
Liu Zhiyi then said to editor Mi Qing: "Teacher Mi Qing, we think there is no problem..."
Editor Mi Qing finally figured it out. At first she thought that the young man Fang Wei was just here to watch the fun, but she didn't expect that he was the backbone of the girl. Moreover, despite his young age, the questions he asked were very targeted. Although the additional explanations were just minor details, Editor Mi Qing still added them to the contract according to his request.
The young man's mind is so meticulous and rigorous that it makes people look at him with new eyes.
"Okay, that's fine. Just ask if you have any questions. I'll take it back and have your parents review it. If you have any questions, we can always communicate."
"Uh-huh!"
Liu Zhiyi nodded and held the contract in his arms with great care.
After the important official business was completed, the atmosphere in the meeting room became relaxed. It was a rare opportunity for them to meet each other, so the two enthusiastic editors were very interested in chatting with the boys and girls.
After chatting with her, I learned about the girl's life experience. She lost her parents at a young age and left the big city to live with her grandfather on a remote island. Even though life was so tough on her, she still worked hard. Not only was she admitted to the best high school in the city, she also got first place in liberal arts. She is even about to publish her first book this year.
As parents themselves, how could Editor Baiyun and Editor Mi Qing not feel heartbroken and admire Liu Zhiyi when they heard her say this?
"So, in your first article "Sea Breeze Blowing", the people like Ah Wei who would run with you every day to watch the sunrise, and Xiaolin and Xiaosheng who would make plans to go to and from school together...they all really exist, right?"
"Ah Wei...Ah Wei...Fang Wei!"
Editors Baiyun and Miqing reacted and looked at the young man sitting next to the girl in surprise.
No wonder she brought him along for such a big event. Perhaps only Nanfeng herself knew how important this young man was in her life.
Unfortunately, she met a lucky person. This was her unique youth and unique life experience, which were integrated into her writing, and there was vigorous vitality between the lines.
The book written by the girl herself is a wonderful story, and her own life is also a magnificent epic of youth.
"Nanfeng, are you interested in an interview? You have a lot of readers and fans, and I believe they are also very interested in your own mental journey. You really have the potential to become a representative writer of the new generation of youth literature born in the 1980s!"
"Ah? No, don't do that..."
Liu Zhiyi quickly waved her hand to refuse. She didn't think her story was special. She just met a special person. If there really was an interview, she thought it would be better! She was super interested!
It's really funny. It would be strange if Zhiyi agreed to an interview like this. You have to know that she has been writing books for four years, and only a few people know her pen name!
After briefly chatting about the girl's life experience, the two editors became interested in her new book.
"'When We Are Young'? It has the same background as Wencheng No. 1 Middle School in 'Chasing Summer', but this time it's about the story of three years of sitting next to each other?"
"Uh-huh……"
"(⊙o⊙)..."
The two editors didn't know it before, but they know it now. They looked back and forth between the girl and Fang Wei beside her with ambiguous eyes, which made Xiao Zhiyi blush!
"Although I haven't seen your manuscript yet, I think it's definitely a story that's no less brilliant than Chasing Summer."
Editor Mi Qing smiled and said, "Nanfeng, are you interested in submitting your manuscript directly to our Literature and Art Publishing House? We can go for exclusive publishing and the royalties can be negotiated, right?"
Before Liu Zhiyi could reply, editor Baiyun at the side almost jumped up and down when he heard it!
"Hey, hey, hey! Mi Qing, you're poaching people, but you're poaching people right in front of me, right from our Mengya office? That's too much! Nanfeng, don't listen to her. Submit your manuscript to us. When the popularity grows, I'll find you a publishing house with a higher offer!"
"Baiyun! That's not very kind of you!"
Fang Wei knew what he meant: "..."
Wonderful, wonderful! It turns out that the competition among editors for manuscripts is so exciting!
……
Of course, Liu Zhiyi still prefers to continue submitting the manuscript to Mengya. After all, she is a girl who is nostalgic and grateful. Even if there is no contract constraint, she can't abandon her old employer and run away just because a book becomes popular.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, with the farewell of editor Bai Yun, Liu Zhiyi and Fang Wei came out of the magazine together.
The setting sun was brilliant, covering the narrow path and the once glorious garden house in front with golden color.
Fang Wei took out his camera and took a photo with Liu Zhiyi as a souvenir.
I just took a group photo with the two editors. This is a very precious moment in a girl’s life, so Fang Wei must of course preserve it for her.
"Do you still have the first remittance slip for the manuscript fee?"
"Of course!"
"That's perfect. Together with these photos, when your sample book is sent back, it will be the literary journey of our little writer Zhiyi!"
"whee……"
"How do you feel now?"
“It feels… like a dream!”
Liu Zhiyi felt a little excited, a little happy, and a little unreal. This afternoon, in the length of her life, was just a small part, but it was an extremely critical turning point in her life.
Holding the two copies of the contract in my arms, waiting to be signed and still emitting the strong fragrance of ink, doesn't it feel like a dream?
Fang Wei rolled up the magazine in his hand into a microphone shape and passed it to her mouth:
"Then I would like to ask, what does Miss Nanfeng feel at this moment?"
"Uh...uh..."
Zhiyi scratches his head! Zhiyi scratches his head!
After a while, the girl uttered softly:
"So what are we going to eat tonight?"
"..."
……
Because they had eaten McDonald's for lunch, they went to KFC together in the evening.
During the meal, Zhiyi called his grandfather at home to talk about the contract signing. Fang Wei also called Cailing and Wen Susu to report on the progress and asked his sister for help with legal affairs.
It's not that he doesn't trust the publishing house, but after all, this is an unfamiliar field that he is not very good at, and it is also the first time he has cooperated with them, so he has to be careful. Fang Wei doesn't want any messy disputes to arise later that will bother the girl while she is writing.
Perhaps this is what makes people feel at ease. When he is around, Liu Zhiyi feels that he is not afraid of anything.
When we came out of KFC, night had fallen.
It was still early, and as it was a rare opportunity to go out, the two of them went shopping in the mall together, grabbed dolls, and bought some small gifts to bring to Cai Ling and Sister Su Su.
Fang Wei was lucky today and got three cute fat penguin dolls of different styles, which was just right for each of the three of them to share.
Zhiyi was responsible for keeping the dolls. She didn't put them into her schoolbag, but just held them happily in her arms.
There was no need to worry about where to stay. I went to the main branch of Shanghai Jinhua Hotel and told the name of Wen Susu. The lobby manager immediately greeted me with a smile. "Little brother and little sister! Are you here? Our Miss Wen has already informed us and has reserved a room for you two. Please follow me!"
"Okay, please manager."
"No trouble! No trouble!"
Following the manager upstairs, Wen Susu reserved a presidential suite for Fang Wei and his partner.
When they saw the room, Fang Wei and Liu Zhiyi were shocked. They thought their sister would reserve two single rooms or double rooms, but they didn't expect that she would reserve the best suite in the hotel.
Wen Susu originally wanted to let them stay at her house, but unfortunately she was not at home, and Aunt Wang was also taken to Yanjing by her. There was no one at home, so they had to stay in a hotel...
How can this be wronged? My dear sister!
Since the room had been reserved, Fang Wei and Liu Zhiyi had no choice but to stay.
It has to be said that as the head office in Shanghai, the hotel's specifications are obviously much higher than the branch in Xuanzhu City.
Such a presidential suite has an area of more than 100 square meters and has a living room, a study, a balcony, two bedrooms, etc. It has everything you need. If you need anything, just press the bell and someone will deliver it immediately, which maximizes the living experience.
However, although the room was nice, it was a hotel room after all. No matter how luxurious it was, it lacked the homely feeling compared to home. If she was not in Shanghai, Wen Susu would definitely let Fang Weizhiyi live at her house.
Liu Zhiyi didn’t care. As long as Fang Wei was there, anywhere felt like home!
After the manager brought the fruit plate and left, there were only two people left in the huge room. The girl's lively nature came into play and she ran around the room.
"Fang Wei, there are two rooms here, which one do you want to stay in?"
"It's all fine. You choose."
"You choose first! You choose first!"
"Then I'll live in this room."
Fang Wei pointed to a room at random.
Unexpectedly, the girl sighed and said:
"Alas, I also wanted to choose this room. There is no other way. We have to sleep in this room together!"
"...??? Then I'll choose that one!"
"I, I chose that one too!"
"You just want to sleep with me, right?"
"You rascal! You have no shame!"
The girl blushed, pouted at him, then happily threw herself on the big bed with her dolls in her arms, and rolled around comfortably.
We must sleep together.
She hasn't tried sleeping with Fang Wei yet...
The house is so big, and the room is so big too, you must be afraid of the dark if you sleep alone!
Cai Ling has slept anyway.
No reason could be better than this. When she thought that Cai Ling had also slept with him, she felt more at ease.
After a busy day today, the two were indeed a little tired. They took a shower early, changed their clothes, and lay down on the same big bed together.
Liu Zhiyi finished her shower first and lay down on the bed first. When Fang Wei came out, the girl was already in the quilt, ready to warm the bed.
There was another quilt in the next room, but she had no intention of bringing it over, as if she wanted to cover herself with the same quilt as him.
Fang Wei couldn't do anything about her. After all, they had slept in the same quilt before...
The girl closed her eyes obediently and slept on the right side of the bed. The bed was very big and there was plenty of space, with a large empty space on the left side.
As Fang Wei sat down beside the bed, the girl's long eyelashes trembled with her eyes closed. She secretly shrank her neck and hid her mouth in the quilt. It was unknown whether she was laughing secretly.
He lifted the quilt!
As if winning a prize, Fang Wei lifted the quilt and was about to lie down when he saw the pajamas on the girl. Fang Wei was stunned.
"Why are you wearing Cailing's pajamas?"
"Cai Ling asked me to wear it... She said, she wanted me to sleep with you in her pajamas..."
"???"
No! What do you two usually talk about in secret? !
If I didn't look at her face, but only looked at the girl in pajamas in the bed, Fang Wei would have thought it was Cai Ling!
But as he lay down and took the girl's delicate body into his arms, even without looking at her face, he could feel the difference in the touch of holding two girls' bodies.
When Cailing is held in her arms, she feels slender and graceful, while when Zhiyi is held in her arms, she feels softer and more fluid.
Fang Wei likes both different ways of holding and touch.
The girl's heart was beating so fast!
This was the first time Fang Wei had hugged her so proactively and unexpectedly!
She closed her eyes tightly, feeling herself being suddenly embraced by him. Her pretty face flushed, her little hands clenched into fists like a baby and held against her chest. She lay on her side, her back feeling the hot warmth of his chest, making her so satisfied that she couldn't help but moan.
"Do you want to turn around?" Fang Wei asked softly.
"..."
Liu Zhiyi didn't say anything, but moved gently and quietly in his arms. She turned her body and lay on her side facing him, so that she could hug him while he hugged her.
She lowered her head slightly, his neck and collarbone were right in front of her. Liu Zhiyi couldn't help but secretly kissed his neck like before.
The movement was so light, as if a small butterfly had landed, making the whole body feel tingling and numb.
"You, you touch me..."
The girl squeezed out these words from her muffled voice in shame, and after she finished speaking she buried her face tightly in his arms.
"Where?"
"The back... and the forehead..."
"You want the forehead too?"
"..."
Fang Wei had no choice but to do as she wished and gently stroked her slender shoulders and back with his warm and broad hands. He could see that the girl had a very sweet and enjoyable expression on her face, as if she had fallen into a honey pot.
After touching her back, Fang Wei reached out and touched her forehead.
God knows why Liu Zhiyi likes this action?
As his palm rested on her smooth and delicate forehead skin, Liu Zhiyi suddenly felt dizzy. She couldn't help but smile foolishly and hummed as she pushed his palm.
Fang Wei finally realized that this was the same action of touching the forehead when one has a fever. He had touched her forehead quite a lot when she had a fever that year. Now that she was well, he had planted a strange habit in her? !
The girl's face was so hot that Fang Wei felt a little dizzy when he touched it.
"You don't really have a fever, do you? Why are you so hot?"
"I do not have……"
"Will you feel dizzy?"
"Ah."
"Ah? Do you really have a fever? Why don't you take some cold medicine? I'll ask the manager to bring it over..."
“No, no, no…!”
She was dizzy with happiness! How could it be the same as that kind of dizziness?
It took Fang Wei a long time to understand the girl's strange reaction. He stopped touching her forehead and just leaned over and gently kissed her hot forehead and cheeks.
"Is it still interest..." She opened her watery eyes and asked in a low voice.
"Yes, that's right. Now the interest has been paid."
Fang Wei's gaze moved down to the girl's pink little mouth.
Liu Zhiyi seemed to sense something and her heart beat even faster. She obviously wanted to try it, but now she was so shy that she couldn't help but pull up some of the quilt to cover her little mouth.
"Knowledge."
"……Um?"
"I kissed Cailing first, will you be jealous?"
"Won't……"
The girl shook her head and whispered, “Cai Ling came first, she should have been here first…”
"That's not right. People come first and come later, but there is no such thing as love. In my heart, you are equally important."
"That night I told Cailing, 'You don't have to do anything, I will like you anyway'"
"Now I also tell you, 'No matter who leaves you in the future, at least I will always be by your side'"
Fang Wei's words moved the girl. Nothing could touch her more than the words "I will always be by your side".
Why do people get married? Why do they try so hard to find a life partner? It's not to eat together, nor to pay the mortgage together, nor to have a child and work like a slave for the child. It's just because people are born lonely, but they yearn for long-term companionship. It's more reassuring to work together. When you are sick, someone can bring you food and water. When it rains heavily, someone can hold an umbrella to catch you. When you are wronged and frustrated, someone can lend a shoulder. When you are home, there are people waiting for you to come home...
That's why she is like this.
After her parents passed away, she was always worried about losing them, and was even willing to sacrifice herself in relationships just so that the three of them could stay together.
Even my parents and grandpa said that we will leave you one day when you grow up;
But only Fang Wei could tell her that no matter who leaves you in the future, at least I will always be by your side...
A huge amount of emotion accumulated in her heart, the girl choked with sobs and couldn't utter a word, but in an instant her eyes turned red and tears as big as beans slid down her pretty cheeks uncontrollably.
"…Why are you still crying? Why don't you believe me?"
"Woo... I believe you! I believe whatever you say!"
"Silly girl. Stop crying. If you cry again I'll kiss you."
"Ugh...!"
"??"
“Wu…! Then can you, can you kiss me a little longer… because you kissed Cai Ling first… I, I just need it to last a little longer… um!”
Before the girl could finish her words, she was blocked by Fang Wei's kiss.
Her slightly raised face was instantly covered with a layer of shy blush.
The red is like the cherry blossoms blooming in spring, and also like the sunset glow in the evening sky.
The blush quickly spread from the center of her cheek, like ripples gently blown by the spring breeze, spreading to her entire face little by little, even her small ears became red, as if they could drip blood.
Her eyes opened wide instantly, her bright pupils filled with panic and shyness. For a moment she even forgot how to breathe, and holding her breath for a long time made her cheeks even redder.
For a long time, the lips are divided.
Only then was Liu Zhiyi able to catch his breath.
"Has it been long enough?"
"Not enough... ugh!"
Another long time.
"now what?"
"..."
The blushing girl didn't want to pay attention to him anymore. No one knew where she got the strength from, but she actually pressed down on Fang Wei.
She wants to let Fang Wei see what long means!
"Well--!"
……
In the city, at Cailing’s home.
Cailing will sleep with her sister tonight.
"Cai Ling, why are you still holding your phone and looking at it so late at night?"
Xu Caiwei had just finished taking a shower and lay down in bed when she saw her stupid sister staring at her phone with a melancholy look on her face.
"Fang Wei and Zhiyi were offline on QQ the whole night!"
"It's the middle of the night, who would still log into QQ? Go to sleep."
"Wow——"
The girl rolled over and over.
My sister doesn’t know, but she knows.
They must be kissing! They're not going to kiss all night long?!
When will you come back?
(It's been a while since I updated an 8,000-word chapter, so let's consider it an extra chapter. I wish everyone a happy new year~)
(End of this chapter)
