166: Chapter 166 The Online Literature World is About to Change

Zhongdian Literature, Editor-in-Chief's office.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping was forty-six years old. He had been grinding away in this industry for fifteen years.

There wasn't a single blockbuster he hadn't handled, nor a bizarre author he hadn't encountered.

But the contract Song Siyi handed him today forced him to put on his reading glasses and read it over twice.

"An 80/20 split?"

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping slapped the few pages onto his large mahogany desk.

"Song Siyi, are you out of your mind?"

Song Siyi stood opposite him, her hands behind her back, her posture ramrod straight.

"Editor-in-Chief Chen, I suggest you read the manuscript first."

"I don't care about the manuscript. An 80/20 split, and the film and television adaptation rights go entirely to the author—are you signing a contract or giving money away?"

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping took off his reading glasses and waved them in the air. "Since the company was founded, the highest split we've ever given was 70/30. And that was for a legendary author with annual sales exceeding a million copies. You're starting a new author off at 80/20?"

"He is not a new author."

"Then who is he? What has he written?"

Song Siyi pulled the printed manuscript from her folder and pushed it in front of Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping.

"Jiang Fan. The Jiang Fan who wrote 'blue and white porcelain'."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping's hand, holding the reading glasses, paused for a beat.

He had heard of "blue and white porcelain". Who in the Shanghai cultural scene hadn't?

Writing songs and writing novels were two completely different things.

"A singer crossing over to write books?" Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping scoffed, tossing his glasses onto the desk. "Nine out of ten flop."

"Editor-in-Chief Chen, just take a look first."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping reluctantly picked up the manuscript, put his glasses back on, and turned to the first page.

Five minutes passed. Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping finished reading the first chapter.

He didn't say a word, moistened his finger with a bit of saliva, and turned directly to the second chapter.

Song Siyi estimated that it wouldn't be a short read, so she walked over to the leather sofa on the side, sat down, and picked up a magazine.

Ten minutes. Twenty minutes.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping's page-turning slowed down.

At first, he had just been scanning it roughly, but later, his finger began tracing line by line across the paper.

When he encountered certain passages, he would stop, flip back to the previous page, and reread them.

The only sound in the office was the rustling of pages turning.

Forty minutes later.

He had only read one-third of the fifty-thousand-word manuscript.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping closed the manuscript. He took off his reading glasses, placed them on the table, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

This wasn't the time to read it all in one go.

He leaned back in his chair, resting both hands on the armrests.

The office was silent for half a minute.

"This stuff... did he really write it?"

"Yes."

"How much more is there?"

"He said about a hundred chapters. Roughly over eight hundred thousand words."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping's Adam's apple bobbed.

"A hundred chapters. A million words. The world-building established in just the first seven chapters is already more solid than the foundation of any Xianxia novel on the market."

Song Siyi nodded; she had thought the same thing last night.

"Once this work is released, how much can it spin off? Film, television, animation, games, merchandise. Each one of those items represents profits that capital would fight tooth and nail for." Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping looked at Song Siyi. "By giving him the film and television adaptation rights, you're practically handing over the fattest piece of meat."

"He isn't short on money," Song Siyi said, hitting the nail on the head. "And he doesn't necessarily have to work with us."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping's fingers tapped on the desk.

"The current web novel scene is too homogenized. Readers have long since developed aesthetic fatigue. Major platforms are all looking for ways to break the deadlock; throwing money at writing contests, poaching legendary authors—none of it is working well."

"Give him the film and television adaptation rights," Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping said, picking up the contract again. "An 80/20 split is fine, too. But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"The exclusive serialization rights must remain with Zhongdian Literature. He cannot give it to any other platform for at least three years."

Song Siyi nodded. "I'll discuss this with him."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping pushed the contract to the side and rubbed his face vigorously with his palms.

"Song Siyi, if the rest of this book is at this level, this will be the first time our platform has a chance to snatch territory from Qishi Chinese Network."

"Forget an 80/20 split; even if he demanded 90/10, I'd still grit my teeth and fight the board of directors for it."

"Understood."

"Go get it done. Put the contract through an expedited legal review; make sure it's stamped before we get off work today."

Song Siyi stood up and turned to walk out.

"Wait a second."

She stopped.

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping's voice came from behind her, his speaking pace slowing down.

"What is your relationship with this author?"

Song Siyi turned back around.

"We grew up together in a Orphanage."

Editor-in-Chief Chen Ping opened his mouth, but didn't ask anything else.

——

Song Siyi exited the Editor-in-Chief's office and walked back to her workstation.

Her high heels clicked against the anti-static carpet, her strides larger than usual.

She pulled out her chair and sat down.

Song Siyi opened her phone and sent a message to Jiang Fan.

[Song Siyi: The contract is approved. Legal will stamp it today, and I'll mail it to you tomorrow.]

[Song Siyi: Three years of exclusive serialization rights—you don't have a problem with that, do you?]

While typing, Song Siyi's heart was in her throat.

She was actually gambling. Gambling that Jiang Fan still had that same trust in her from when they were children.

Three years of exclusive serialization rights—this condition was a gift for an average author, but for someone like Jiang Fan, who held a winning hand, it was a restriction.

He could easily distribute it across the entire web to maximize profits.

The reply came very quickly.

[Jiang Fan: No problem.]

Song Siyi looked at the "No problem" on the screen, and a complex, indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.

That little boy who used to follow behind her with a runny nose could now make the entire web novel world tremble with just a few taps on a keyboard.

[Song Siyi: I believe in you. But if you stand me up—]

[Jiang Fan: The bed-wetting photos, I know.]

Song Siyi burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.

A colleague's head poked over from the side, eyes sparkling.

"Sister Siyi, what are you laughing at? What kind of book did you sign? It must be something great to make you this happy."

"I'm laughing at how big your head is. Get back to work."

The colleague curled her lip and shrank back.

Song Siyi opened her work email, preparing to process manuscripts from other authors.

She opened an outline titled "Sword Pierces the Firmament". After reading three pages, not a single word registered in her brain.

Her mind was completely filled with the Golden Cudgel and the Somersault Cloud.

The Xianxia settings that used to look decent to her now seemed boring no matter how she looked at them.

She took off her glasses, tossed them onto the desk, and covered her face with both hands.

She couldn't work like this.

——

6:00 PM.

Shen Nian pushed open the door to Jiang Fan's office.

She had just finished shooting a commercial for Gucci, and her makeup wasn't fully removed yet.

The bright red lip gloss was eye-catching, a few fine glitter particles remained at the corners of her eyes, and her long hair was casually tied back.

She was wearing an oversized black hoodie that covered her thighs, and a pair of white flat shoes on her feet.

"Are you done shooting?" Jiang Fan shifted his gaze from the computer screen and saved the document.

"Yeah." Shen Nian walked over to the sofa, threw herself into it, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Jiang Fan closed the computer, walked over, and sat down beside her.

"Are you tired?"

Shen Nian turned her head to look at him; there were a few bloodshot veins in her eyes, but she was in high spirits.

"I'm okay. It's much more fulfilling than before." She turned over, lying on the sofa armrest as she looked at Jiang Fan. "I feel like I'm dreaming."

"This isn't a dream. It's what you deserve."

Jiang Fan reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Let's go, let's head home, and I'll cook for you."

Shen Nian immediately brightened up, springing up from the sofa, her previous fatigue completely wiped away.