Tokyo Tycoon, Start as a Writer

Chapter 56: Moving, Showdown with Qingxue

Nearing midnight, Kiyoaki Matsueda was walking in the corridor in his pajamas.

The lights were on in the tea room, and Songzhi Qingxue was busy sorting out documents and account books, recording something on the computer. She looked focused and serious. The turnover at the food kiosk was very difficult, and her hard life would probably continue for a long time.

Kiyoaki Matsueda stood at the door and watched for a moment.

Ever since she said "my husband is a weirdo" when we were chatting on the porch that night, our relationship has become much closer.

Of course, this does not mean that the relationship between husband and wife has become closer, but simply that the relationship between two strangers has become closer.

From Matsueda Kiyoyuki's perspective, after the showdown, she felt much more at ease. She no longer had to spend a lot of time thinking about how to get along with him, and their relationship was as harmonious as that of friends.

In the morning, the two usually get up very early.

After having breakfast together, Kiyoaki Matsueda would go out for a run while she would go back to school.

They hardly saw each other during the whole day, and rarely at night. She would often be busy in the kitchen and come home very late, and only when Matsueda Kiyoaki was not asleep would the two of them have time to sit on the eaves and talk.

When we first chatted on the porch, Songzhi Qingxian brought some melon seeds, and later he developed the habit of bringing some to eat.

Tonight, Songzhi Qingxian brought a bag of broad beans.

Sitting on the eaves, eating broad beans, looking at the brightly lit night sky in the distance.

After a while, Songzhi Qingxue came out with a pile of documents and sat down next to Songzhi Qingxian with her legs crossed, looking elegant and graceful.

She is very busy on weekdays. She has to prepare materials for the defense, find materials for the graduation thesis, and manage all the affairs of the food pavilion.

Thinking about family can only be done in leisure time,...

Now she is no longer as reserved and arrogant as before. After moving back home, she meets with Kiyoaki Matsueda every morning and evening, and the way they get along has gradually taken shape.

Not a couple.

It's like a good friend you just met.

The attitudes of both sides were natural. There was no deliberate avoidance of anything and everything could be discussed.

She gradually got used to it and began to like this model. She even felt that if they could maintain this model for three years, it would be a good choice to become a real couple with him in the future.

Thinking about these things, Songzhi Qingxue lowered his head to sort out the documents, and said to Songzhi Qingxian: "Why don't you go out to play at night? I see those writers always like to run to the bars in Ginza for no reason, relying on the reputation of writers to hook up with women..."

"I have only written two books, and one of them has not been published yet because it is not famous enough." Kiyoaki Matsueda said helplessly.

"Your reputation is already famous enough. I often hear discussions about you at school." Songzhi Qingxue reached out to take the broad beans in the bowl. "Besides, even without the reputation, your face can charm a lot of women. Your little editor is one of them. If you take the initiative, maybe you can have a good story with her..."

"Is that so? Then I'll go to the bars in Ginza tomorrow night." Kiyaki Matsueda looked longing.

Songzhi Qingxue glanced at him coldly, then snorted and laughed: "Then take me with you tomorrow night."

"How can I pick up women with you? No way!"

"If you don't take me with you, I'll just stay at home!"

"Woman, you were the one who told me to go, and you were the one who told me not to go. You are not honest at all!"

Songzhi Qingxue smiled like a fox: "I am the daughter of a merchant. When have you ever seen an honest merchant?"

When she was at home, she gave Songzhi Qingxian the feeling of being as friendly as a girl next door, and her friendliness was also quite playful and cute.

After all, she is just a young girl who has not yet graduated from college, and her behavior and speech still reveal the immaturity of a girl.

She was under a lot of pressure and couldn't express many things... Chatting and joking with Kiyoaki Matsueda gave her a chance to relieve her emotions.

"The Tide of Tide will be on sale on the 10th, right? How many copies will be printed in the first print run?"

"10."

"Wow, that's amazing! I heard that the publishing industry is in a downturn right now. Many new and famous writers only have a first print run of 1 or even 5000 copies of their first single books."

“It means I’m good at marketing.”

"You're not just good at marketing, you're also praised for your talent everywhere on the Internet." At this point, Songzhi Qingxue laughed and asked him in a pleading tone: "Can you leave me ten signed first print copies?"

"What's it for?" Songzhi Qingxian looked at her. Songzhi Qingxue blinked and said in a cute way: "Of course, it's for slapping people in the face. When I chose you, many people in school felt confused and said bad things about you in front of me. Now I can finally fight back against them with a clear conscience!"

"Are ten enough? I can sign more."

"Haha, then you should be ready at any time. I'll ask you to sign one if I need one!"

"I can't be ready at any time. I plan to move out on the 15th."

"I didn't ask either... huh?"

The night wind blew past, ruffling the woman's hair.

She stroked her hair gently, her pretty face still clear in the eyes: "Have you made a serious decision?"

"Yeah, I've always had this idea, but I can't leave without money..."

Songzhi Qingxian smiled slightly, looked at her beautiful little face, pondered for a moment, and said: "The reason for moving out is mainly because I am not used to the feeling of living under someone else's roof, nothing else, so you don't have to think too much. I personally have a good feeling about you, and we will still be friends after moving out. When the time comes, I won't care much about your grandfather's inheritance, you just need to make arrangements..."

"That's fine too..."

"Ah."

"But..." Songzhi Qingxue lowered his head, as if he wanted to say something.

But in the end she just smiled, with a hint of helplessness in her smile, but more of it being calm and indifferent.

This young woman, who is nominally a wife, is very smart, has her own ideas and personality, and does not want to waste too much energy on trivial matters.

In the night wind, she raised her face.

The slender white neck reveals the youth and beauty of a young girl.

For now, she still has a lot of things to think about and do, and she can't stop because of this.

Perhaps one night decades later, when she looks at the night sky from this angle again, she will remember that she had such a blank relationship when she was young.

At that time, she would definitely laugh it off like she does now.

■

September 8, morning.

Naoto Oguri walked into the meeting room with a serious expression.

After Editor-in-Chief Nitta was dismissed, he, the editor with the longest experience and the best reputation, was naturally promoted to become the third editor-in-chief of Editorial Department 1. This should have been a good thing, but as soon as he took office, he was faced with the mess left by his predecessor, which made him busy and anxious every day.

The other two editors-in-chief were in the conference room.

The newly appointed Naoto Oguri does not have the decision-making power for the time being.

Among the three, the one with the most say currently is Editor-in-Chief Yamada.

The atmosphere in the conference room was somewhat depressing. Editor-in-Chief Yamada looked at the report and said in a low voice, "The first week's sales data was delivered this morning, and it's just over 30. Now is the weak period after the explosive sales last month. Even if there is a rebound later this month, the total sales will hardly reach copies."

"The key is that we have no way to reverse the downward trend," sighed another editor.

Shinchosha's current publicity and promotion resources are completely tilted towards Mishima's new work. The resources here have already been overspent, and sales are still so bleak that it is impossible to provide publicity and promotion resources for another film in the short term.

The August issue of "Dancing Girl" sold one million copies in a month, breaking the historical record.

The September issue, which did not include Mishima's works, had record low sales.

Now, anyone with a discerning eye can see that "Eggs and High Walls" is no match for the competition at all, having suffered a complete defeat in both reputation and sales.

The editor bet on the wrong horse!

"Now, our only chance to turn things around is to fully support Tachibana Toshio in winning the Akutagawa Prize." Editor-in-Chief Yamada looked at his two colleagues with a serious expression, "Let's go to a banquet together tonight and see how the people above will deal with Mishima..."

■

Asking for votes

(End of this chapter)