Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 31 Signing Fee, Chance Encounter

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Cao Sheng asked.

He really didn't know why Pang Yunhai, Wei Dongming and others looked at him like that. He didn't know the short-haired woman sitting next to the desk.

Similarly, the short-haired woman did not know Cao Sheng.

She only knew Cao Sheng's real name and pen name.

At this time, Song Chao spoke up, pointing at the short-haired woman, "Cao Sheng! This beautiful woman is here to see you. She said she is the copyright editor of Under the Banyan Tree and is here to discuss publishing agency rights with you."

Pang Yunhai nodded in agreement: "Yes! Cao Sheng, you are finally back. This beautiful lady has been waiting for you in our dormitory for a while."

Wei Dongming looked at Cao Sheng, wanting to say something but stopping himself. The look in his eyes when he looked at Cao Sheng was particularly complicated.

He has always been jealous and disdainful of Cao Sheng.

He was jealous that Cao Sheng was obviously taller, more handsome, and more popular with girls than him.

What he despised was that Cao Sheng was a bumpkin from the countryside and his family background was not as good as Wei Dongming's.

But today, someone actually came to Cao Sheng to sign the publishing agency rights of some novel, which surprised him. He never dreamed that Cao Sheng had quietly written a novel. From what the short-haired woman said just now, it seemed that Cao Sheng's novel was particularly popular and it was the most popular novel in "Under the Banyan Tree".

Does Cao Sheng have such talent?

How could he have such talent?

This unscientific!

But the facts were before his eyes, and even if Wei Dongming didn't want to admit it in his heart, he could only envy, jealous and hate.

"Oh?"

Cao Sheng looked at the short-haired woman, a little surprised, "Hello! Are you the editor of Under the Banyan Tree?"

The short-haired woman stood up and walked towards Cao Sheng with a surprised look on her face. While sizing Cao Sheng up, she stretched out her hands and said with a smile, "Hello, hello! Are you Mr. Cao Sheng of Zhongyuan Yidianhui? Hello, hello! Yes! I am the copyright editor of Under the Banyan Tree. My last name is Wang, Wang Jing! I am very happy to meet you in person. I didn't expect that you are not only a good novel writer, but also so handsome! Nice to meet you!"

She is very enthusiastic.

She held Cao Sheng's outstretched right hand tightly with both hands, and as she spoke, her eyes were full of surprise as she looked at Cao Sheng.

Cao Sheng's handsomeness really surprised her.

Before she came here today, she thought that a college student who liked writing would most likely be unkempt, taciturn, and ugly.

In her impression, people who like writing seem to be like this.

After all, guys who are handsome and cheerful are always popular with girls in life. Even if they don't actively pursue anyone, there will be girls who pursue them. They will inevitably be caught up in love affairs. How can they have the time and energy to write novels?
So, when she saw Cao Sheng's majestic figure, she could hardly believe her eyes.

Her heart beat faster, and when she held Cao Sheng's right hand with both hands, some impure images flashed through her mind.

Fortunately, she is already in her thirties and has the rationality to keep her mind clear.

Cao Sheng felt a little uncomfortable because Wang Jing didn't let go of his hand for a long time, and Pang Yunhai, Wei Dongming and others were watching!
"Nice to meet you! Sister Wang, right? Have you had lunch? If not, can I go eat something with you?"

Cao Sheng wanted to take her away from the dormitory.

Firstly, he had never let his roommates know about his writing, and now he still didn't want them to know too much.

Secondly, he felt a little uncomfortable seeing Wang Jing being so enthusiastic in front of his roommates.

Third, it’s lunch time now, and Wang Jing came down to see him on behalf of Rongshu. It’s only right and reasonable that he should do his best to be a good host.

……

Ten minutes later, in the school cafeteria.

Cao Sheng and Wang Jing sat opposite each other on either side of a stainless steel dining table in the corner.

Wang Jing indeed hadn't had lunch yet.

But Cao Sheng had already eaten it.

Cao Sheng originally wanted to take her to a small restaurant outside the school, but Wang Jing said she wanted to try the food in their school cafeteria and insisted on going to the cafeteria.

So he brought her here to get a meal.

The meal was quite rich, including twice-cooked pork, braised crucian carp and mapo tofu, as well as a free bowl of seaweed egg soup.

Nowadays, there are not many students who are willing to order so many dishes at once in the cafeteria.

But in fact, it was only a few dollars in total. "Sister Wang, I'm sorry for the meal. Are you going to leave tonight? If you are not leaving, I will take you out for a better meal in the evening. There are many delicious foods in Huizhou. I will take you to try them."

Cao Sheng looked at Wang Jing who was eating with her head down and made a suggestion.

Wang Jing looked up at him and nodded with a smile, "Sure! I'm not leaving today, but I should arrange dinner! What delicious food do you have here? After I got off the plane today, I asked the driver about some good restaurants nearby. I'll go and order food later. When you get out of school this afternoon, we'll go over there, okay?"

Cao Sheng laughed and shook his head, "No, no! You are a guest coming from afar, I should be the one to entertain you."

Wang Jing also shook her head, "No! You are still a student. Although your works are well written and popular on our website, you have not earned any royalties. And you are still a student now, so you definitely don't have much money. And this time I came here, the higher-ups approved a PR fee for me. Hehe, it's the company's money anyway, so we'd better spend it. If we don't spend it, we will have to hand it over to the company when we go back, don't you think so?"

As she spoke, she winked at Cao Sheng.

This……

This immediately made Cao Sheng laugh.

He instantly had a better impression of her and felt that this woman was quite interesting. She actually encouraged him to take advantage of their company.

"Okay, if that's the case, then I won't be polite."

"Of course! It's not my personal money anyway, so don't be polite tonight. Just order whatever you want to eat. The most important thing is that we enjoy the meal!"

……

evening.

The two of them came to the first floor of the old street together.

On the first floor of the old street is a very famous restaurant nearby.

The interior environment is decorated in an antique style. The cashiers and waiters in the store are all dressed in ancient costumes, and the food here is also exquisite.

Cao Sheng and Wang Jing asked for a table by the window on the second floor, ordered a few dishes and a soup, and asked for a pot of rice wine.

The two of them chatted while eating.

In fact, they had already discussed the specific publishing agency contract this afternoon, and the contract had been signed.

After reading the draft of "Living with a Flight Attendant", Wang Jing's eyes lit up. When negotiating the contract, she was very enthusiastic and made concessions several times.

The contract they negotiated mainly consisted of a few clauses.

For example: 1. Rongshuxia has the exclusive agency for the simplified Chinese publishing rights and film and television adaptation rights of "Living with the Air Hostess" for five years. During these five years, Cao Sheng himself has no right to sell these copyrights to any other party.

2. If the copyright is successfully sold, Rongshuxia will take 20% of the agency share of the copyright proceeds, and 80% will go to Cao Sheng.

3. The signing fee is RMB . If Under the Banyan Tree fails to sell the above copyrights within five years, the signing fee will not be refunded.

……

Before his rebirth, Cao Sheng had never received signing fees.

At that time, every time he signed a contract with Qidian, there was no signing fee.

Even if Qidian asked him to sign a long-term contract, there would not be a penny in signing fee.

Also, when he signed a contract with Xinchang Publishing House, he did not receive any signing fee.

But this time he managed to get a signing fee of 30,000 yuan from under the banyan tree.

This may be related to the fact that he is the first contracted writer of Under the Banyan Tree.

Before this, Under the Banyan Tree had no relevant experience, so everything could be discussed.

This time, Rong Shu Xia wants to obtain the exclusive agency rights for his book for five years, although this agency rights do not include traditional Chinese publishing.

But during these five years, Cao Sheng himself had no right to sell the simplified Chinese characters and film and television adaptation rights, and Cao Sheng was originally unwilling to agree to this clause.

But Wang Jing took the initiative to mention the signing fee.

She persuaded Cao Sheng with a signing fee.

……

At around 8 o'clock that evening, when Cao Sheng and Wang Jing came out of the first floor of the old street, they unexpectedly ran into Guan Zhi, who shared the same dormitory, and Guan Zhi's girlfriend Xu Ling.

Guan Zhi and Xu Ling were walking hand in hand in front of a store on the first floor of the old street, and Cao Sheng and Wang Jing were just coming out after paying the bill.

Guan Zhi and Xu Ling looked at Cao Sheng in surprise, then looked at Wang Jing beside Cao Sheng, with suspicious glances moving back and forth on their faces.

(End of this chapter)