Have you ever been a celebrity? Why are you writing about entertainment?

Chapter 239 Only children make choices
"Is there such a thing?"

Yu Weigang had just arrived home and was putting the trophies on the shelf when he received a call from the company saying that someone wanted to discuss a collaboration with him.

He initially thought it was just a normal collaboration, but upon closer inspection, he learned that the other party had been waiting for him for many days and called every two days to inquire, showing great sincerity.

Yu Wei wasn't in a hurry. He had already waited for several days, so a little longer wouldn't make a difference. He tidied up the house, opened the windows to ventilate, and then took the trash out the door.

Twenty minutes later, he appeared downstairs at the Firefly Chinese Building. Yu Wei still remembered the bewilderment he felt when he first came here, but now coming back felt like coming home.

Inside the conference room on the seventh floor, Aya Ayaka and Rio Sakuratani had been waiting for a long time. The latter was there to act as a mascot, and she didn't intend to play the emotional card with her cousin.

Yu Wei pushed the door open and found that there was no one else present except for the two of them. If it were a company that collaborates with people in the entertainment industry, they would definitely make arrangements.

However, Yu Wei's book has nothing to do with them, and it's not related to their major. They can only help with the introduction, and they can't interfere too much.

Ayaka Tanyuki wore a perfectly tailored light gray suit skirt, the fabric crisp and subtly lustrous, which perfectly accentuated her capable figure.

According to Sister Liu, this is the president of Sakura Green Pine Publishing House. He doesn't look that old, but he's already a shrimp dumpling (a nickname for a young man). He's really accomplished at such a young age.

The two nodded slightly in greeting before sitting down to begin their business.

"I've read Mr. Yu's work, 'Malice,'" President Danxue said, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable professionalism. "I'm currently reading 'The Devotion of Suspect X.'"

Her fluent Chinese surprised Yu Wei; if he didn't know her identity, he would have suspected she was Chinese.

Seeing his astonishment, Aya Yuki carefully added, "My mother is Chinese, and I've been influenced by her upbringing. I also lived in China for a period of time before."

No wonder, not many native Japanese speakers can speak Chinese well; it turns out they have a certain talent for it.

"The analysis of the dark side of human nature in 'Malice' and the deep-seated malice that even the author cannot explain deeply shocked me."

"Your story background and characters are unique, and the deep-seated questioning of criminal motives is very profound."

Aya Tsuyuki gets straight to the point, believing that this profound depiction of complex human nature and emotional paradoxes can provoke deep reflection in Sakura readers.

Furthermore, since the novel is set in a cherry blossom-themed area, it's bound to resonate strongly with readers.

Yu Wei nodded. It seemed this person was very professional; the analysis of the works was quite insightful, and the person also had a good understanding of the market.

"Especially the protagonist in your story, who on the surface is the victim's close friend, but behind the scenes he meticulously plots a conspiracy to ruin his reputation. This irrational malice at the end of logic has a very strong impact."

Yu Wei realized that he had underestimated the significance of Keigo Higashino's works in the hearts of the people of Japan. When Aya Yuki talked about the core of the novel, her eyes lit up.

The land shapes its people; let's give the cherry blossom book to those who appreciate cherry blossoms...

Danxue Caiyu took out a folder, opened it, and found a manuscript filled with markings and some preliminary market analysis notes.

"Our publishing house has also successfully introduced works by several Chinese authors in recent years."

"I have found that stories that depict the deep psychological struggles, emotional entanglements, and the vicissitudes of fate resonate strongly with Sakura readers, especially those who seek depth in their reading and exploration of human nature."

She didn't come to collaborate blindly; she did market research beforehand. The elements of the book "Malice" perfectly match the preferences of Sakura readers.

The worst outcome is that we won't make any money; it's practically impossible to lose money. What's there to hesitate about with this level of cooperation?
Yu Wei noticed that President Danxue paid great attention to details during the conversation and had obviously made thorough preparations.

However, he wouldn't cooperate with others so easily. You can't believe everything a businessman says; you should listen selectively.

Despite Yu Wei's current achievements, he needs to be even more cautious. A misstep can happen in an instant, and the higher one climbs, the easier it is to fall to the ground...

"Regarding translation," Aya Ayaka continued, "this is the most crucial step. We have made initial contact with Sinologist Ms. Miyuki Kuramochi."

"She has in-depth research on contemporary Chinese literature and psychological descriptions, and her writing is precise and literary."

"We hope that the translation can not only accurately convey the suspenseful rhythm, but also deliver the subtle psychological and complex emotional layers in the original text."

Wow, she's so professional. Yu Wei thought she would just talk about this casually, but she didn't expect her to be so open and honest about the future cooperation.

Importing translated novels is still very important. If we just use translation software, apart from understanding the general plot, the content might be rather bland and uninteresting.

This put his mind at ease; a professional translator should be able to restore the novel to a level close to that of the original.

"sounds good."

Yu Wei was indeed a little tempted. These two books would likely be hits in Sakura, and going overseas was only a matter of time. If he had to find a partner, the one in front of him seemed like a good choice.

Although he was a businessman, he could sense the other party's love for the work itself.

Seeing that Yu Wei had expressed interest in cooperation, Danxue Caiyu rarely smiled. "Please rest assured, we will do our best to achieve accuracy, expressiveness, and elegance."

It seems that, just as rumored, Mr. Yu values ​​the work itself most; he really loves novels.

She specifically contacted a well-known translation teacher, hoping to cater to his preferences, and it seems she made the right decision.

Danxue Caiyu paused briefly, her tone becoming more cautious.

"Following the usual practice of Sakura Publishing, we hope to obtain the exclusive Japanese publishing rights for 'Malice' in the Sakura region, with a contract period typically lasting five years after the first printing."

She also thought highly of "The Devotion of Suspect X," but Aya Ayumi didn't dare to make a definitive judgment before the novel was finished.

However, with the experience gained from the first collaboration, negotiating the second one will definitely be easier, so there's no need to worry about that. Specific details such as royalty rates, advance payment amounts, and marketing and promotion plans were laid out one by one.

Danxue Caiyu's expression was clear and organized, but at the same time, she also paid great attention to listening to Yu Wei's thoughts and concerns.

After all, Yu Wei was an outsider, so when Yu Wei expressed confusion about a certain clause, she would patiently explain the industry practices and considerations behind it.

Her ability and patience left Yu Wei somewhat in awe; no wonder she could become a shrimp dumpling maker at such a young age…

"Regarding marketing," Aya Tanyuki said, taking out another plan, "we have initially come up with several options."

Books definitely need advertising before they are published, especially for authors like Yu Wei who are virtually unknown at Sakura Publishing.

Aya Tsurugi mainly proposed two methods: one is to promote the book itself, such as through dialogues and book launches.

Another approach is marketing to the author themselves; the gimmick of a celebrity writing a book is always appealing.

"Can't... we have them all?"

Children make choices, and there's no conflict between promoting books and authors together.

Aya Yuki had a similar idea. She originally planned to use a two-pronged approach, but she wanted to use her celebrity status to market her work, and it would be best if he had a certain level of fame in Sakura.

If you just say he's a minor celebrity from China, probably not many people would pay attention to him. But if he's already famous, then it's a different story.

This was actually Tanyuki Aya's real purpose; she hoped that Yu Wei could promote her musical works in Sakura.

Ever since listening to Yu Wei's Japanese songs, she has become increasingly optimistic about Yu Wei's potential, feeling that this kid could become an international superstar.

Once he makes a name for himself, releasing his novels will definitely be much more effective.

Yu Wei nodded upon hearing this. It was a good idea. The author and the work complement each other. If he could become popular overseas, it would definitely boost the novel's sales.

He dared not say anything else, but that Japanese song and the piano piece from "Castle in the Sky" should still be quite popular in Sakura.

"Take your time, this can't be rushed."

The specific contract and translation will take some time. By then, Yu Wei might already be a renowned musician overseas. Who knows?

His "take it slow" actually has another meaning: he wants to see how things go. He can't just agree to something after a few words. This kind of thing needs to be analyzed by professionals.

Danxue Caiyu understood his unspoken meaning. That was normal; in business, there's no such thing as genuine feelings for genuine feelings. It's just about getting what you need.

Yu Wei's reaction was within her expectations. As long as he showed interest in cooperation, the meeting was considered a success.

"I'll be returning to my home country for a while tomorrow. Please have Rio convey the details of the cooperation on my behalf."

There are many things that can't be handled online, so she has to go back as soon as possible. Although she wasted a lot of time here, Danxue Caiyu felt it was worth it. Yu Wei was obviously worth the time she invested.

"No wonder you brought her here."

While they were discussing the collaboration, Sakura Rio was just standing there in a daze. Yu Wei thought she was a freebie with a phone top-up, but it turns out she was involved too.

"After all, they're one of our own."

After the exchange, Aya Yuki became much more cheerful, a far cry from her previous shrewdness; it seemed this was her true nature in life.

After seeing the two off, Yu Wei went straight to Manager Song Yiwen's office and showed her the contract terms he had just read.

As the saying goes, "every profession has its own secrets," and she certainly didn't know anything about publishing novels. Yu Wei just wanted her to help find someone to ask around, to leverage the power of connections.

"So you're having the company handle your personal matters again, aren't you?"

Although Song Yiwen joked about it, she readily accepted the task. In a sense, Yu Wei's novel also increased his popularity, which was a good thing for the company.

"There's nothing we can do; we don't have a professional team."

Yu Wei was all alone, and there were many things he didn't really understand. He couldn't just make assumptions on his own, so he had to rely on the company's resources.

"And your team, how are they preparing?" Song Yiwen composed herself, remembering Yu Wei's earlier suggestion.

Yu Wei plans to set up a personal studio under the company's name. This will not conflict with the business contract, but it will make many business operations much more convenient.

For example, his personal matters, such as his novels, can be handled on a case-by-case basis, and subsequent publication can be directly coordinated.

When Yu Wei took over the revenue from Keyboard Business, it was a plan for the studio in advance. After accumulating so much money and influence, it was a natural progression.

He wasn't lying; money has many uses.

Yu Wei can make money while lying down by signing a few artists to his studio. This is a small step for him to go from being a star to a capitalist.

"It's still in preparation. Let's wait until the variety show is finished filming."

We'll sign a few struggling authors and make them produce tons of work; if they're slow, we'll whip them...

(End of this chapter)