Chapter 203: Her Aunt Arrives
Li Jing was having another busy day. Her company, still in its infancy, demanded her constant attention. To outsiders, she was an anomaly, a woman who had successfully started her own business. But knowing her family, a lineage of business elites, her success was less surprising.
Her older sister, Li Xiaoyue, had been a legendary figure in the business world, a woman who had carved out her own empire, at her peak, even almost bringing down a rival company. And Li Jing, her younger sister, had inherited her talent, achieving considerable success before the age of thirty, her only remaining goal… marriage.
“Have you made the appointment?”
“Yes, manager. The appointment is confirmed. Madam said you’re welcome anytime.”
“Good. It’s been a while since I last saw my sister.”
Li Jing planned to visit Shanghai, to see her older sister, who, despite their ten-year age difference, she was very close to. And with her niece home for the holidays, it was the perfect opportunity. Her brother-in-law, however, would likely be busy, so she would only need to buy one gift.
Meanwhile, at Ye Zhiyun’s home, Yu Linna had settled in for a short stay, about a week, she thought. The summer vacation was long; she might as well enjoy it.
And she had missed spending time with Zhiyun.
“Zhiyun, your house is so big! Even bigger than your old place!”
“Of course. If you like it, you can come every year.”
“I was just saying… Zhiyun, it’s almost time. Let’s go eat.”
“Okay.”
On Yu Linna’s second day, Ye Zhiyun was still in high spirits, her mood always improving when Yu Linna was around. She hadn’t realized how much she enjoyed her company, a feeling that was both strange and wonderful.
Li Xiaoyue, usually bored at home, either sipping tea or chatting with friends, occasionally traveling with her wealthy acquaintances, was different from other housewives. She was the boss at home. And in her youth, her formidable reputation had scared off most suitors. Now, with children, she had softened considerably.
Her past exploits, however, had earned her the respect of her peers, who hailed her as a female hero.
Today, after watering her flowers and a morning workout, she was in the living room, reading the newspaper, the maids preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
“Awake, Little Nana?”
“Good morning, Auntie.”
“Sit down. Breakfast is almost ready. Oh, and Little Nana, I stayed up all night reading your novel. When is your next book coming out?”
“July 1st, I think…”
“That’s soon! I never would have thought such a cute girl could write such… a story. Are you… secretly evil? Is your surname Yu or Xu?”
“Mom!”
Ye Zhiyun’s interruption was sharp.
Li Xiaoyue simply smiled, her gaze fixed on Yu Linna, who, embarrassed, sat on the sofa, unsure what to say.
“Tell me, Little Nana, can you… be a decent human being?”
“…Okay.”
If her readers could see her now, they would surely say, What goes around, comes around.
Li Xiaoyue wasn’t particularly fond of light novels, having long since outgrown her youthful fantasies, but she had read Yu Linna’s novel out of curiosity. And she had to admit, it was good, though Ballad of the Enchantress was a bit depressing. Zixuan and the Paper Airplane, however, was quite heartwarming.
Such fluid prose, such a high-quality story… she was truly a talented author.
Her daughter was quite capable, having brought home a famous writer.
If she knew her daughter had spent eighty million yuan on this writer, she would probably be… surprised.
After breakfast, Ye Zhiyun took Yu Linna out, Li Xiaoyue staying behind, having other plans. She stretched, thinking about her sister’s arrival this afternoon. Should she prepare something special?
And her sister’s recent interest in acquiring copyrights… now that the author was here, there was no need to go to Huainan Province. They could discuss it in person.
And with her daughter’s close relationship with the author, the negotiations would likely be much smoother.
She called her sister.
“Li Jing, are you on the plane yet?”
“Not yet, Sis. I’ll be there around five.”
“Okay, I’ll let the housekeeper know. Oh, and my daughter brought a friend home, a very cute girl. You’ll like her.”
“I thought she brought a boyfriend home. Isn’t she close to the Li family’s son? Why aren’t they together?”
“They’re just not interested in each other. Zhiyun probably realized it and gave up.”
“For her to give up on something… it must have been difficult.”
Li Jing knew Ye Zhiyun well. As a child, she had been a spoiled princess, always getting what she wanted. She never gave up easily, not unless it was truly impossible.
Her decision to give up on Li Muqing was surprising. With her personality, she would have pursued him relentlessly.
“Li Jing, there’s something else I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“You said you wanted to buy the rights to Shion-sensei’s novel, didn’t you?”
“What does that have to do with me visiting you?”
“Everything. Because my daughter’s friend… her pen name is Shion.”
“…”
Li Jing paused, processing the information, a silent “what the fuck” echoing in her mind. Her head throbbed; this was too sudden.
“Sis, I’m coming over early. I’ll stay for a while. Please… put in a good word for me with Shion-sensei. I want to talk to her directly.”
“I knew you would say that. Don’t be so hasty.”
“How can I not be? This is crucial for my company’s success!”
Ending the call, Li Xiaoyue sighed.
Her sister was just like her younger self, always so impulsive when it came to work, her youth making her reckless. Perhaps, when she reached her age, she would also learn to let go.
Around four in the afternoon, Li Jing arrived, dressed in a sharp suit, high heels, her hair neatly styled, her makeup slightly smudged from the heat.
She resembled Li Xiaoyue, though her demeanor was less gentle, more… intense.
“You didn’t have to rush, dear. Zhiyun took her out; they’re not back yet.”
“Damn it! You didn’t tell me!”
“You didn’t ask. And I was about to, but you hung up.”
“…”
Frustrated, Li Jing changed her shoes and sat in the living room, waiting. She had planned to visit the Wenqing editorial department, but now, with the author here, she could negotiate directly, a much more advantageous position. And with Shion-sensei being her niece’s friend, it would be even easier.
If she could secure the rights, the film adaptation could begin immediately. Though Ballad of the Enchantress had only one volume out, it was perfect for adaptation. She had to acquire the rights before anyone else snatched up this valuable IP.
“Why are you in such a hurry? She’s not going anywhere. Are you that desperate to succeed?”
“I’m still young. If I don’t make a move now, I’ll lose my chance. I’m not like you, married and retired. You were so successful; why did you leave the business world?”
“Everyone has their own path. I’m not interested in that anymore. What’s the point of earning so much money? Family is more important. You don’t understand now, but you will someday.”
Sipping her red tea, Li Xiaoyue, now a full-fledged socialite, had no interest in business. Her youth had been filled with passion and ambition; now, she wanted to enjoy life.
Years of working tirelessly, pulling all-nighters, had taken a toll on her health. What was the point of money if you didn’t have your health?
“Oh, please. Who would complain about having too much money? You’ve become a traditional woman since marrying my brother-in-law. A woman needs to earn her own money to be respected. If you don’t, men won’t respect you.”
“Mmm, you have a point. But… it doesn’t matter to me.”
“…As long as you’re happy, Sis.”
It was her sister’s life; she had no right to judge. After all, she was the one who was still working, not her sister.
If she could secure the rights, her plans would be set in motion, her victory assured.
They chatted until around five o’clock, when the door opened, and Ye Zhiyun and Yu Linna returned, Yu Linna in a new outfit, likely a gift from Ye Zhiyun.
“Shion-sensei, you’re back!”
Li Jing immediately stood up, rushing to greet her.
“????? Who are you?”
Yu Linna was confused.
“Auntie? Why are you here so early? I thought you were coming in a couple of days.”
Ye Zhiyun put down her shopping bags, greeting her aunt.
Auntie? Yu Linna was even more confused.
“Forgive my rudeness. I’m Li Jing, Zhiyun’s aunt. I’ve heard so much about you, Shion-sensei. I came to visit my niece, and… I also wanted to see you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. About your novel rights. I’d like to discuss them with you. Are you free?”
So direct, Li Xiaoyue thought, sipping her tea. Her sister was so impulsive, so unlike her younger self.
But she understood her eagerness, her desire to secure the rights, her ambition to build her own empire. It was understandable.
