The news of the anime adaptation filled Gao Sijin with both excitement and a touch of regret. Without Tsukiyuki Rio, his book never could have reached such heights. Yu Qingxue had once told him in the mirror the truth of the matter: even as recently as January, Gao Sijin’s work had been lukewarm on the China light novel platform, beloved by only a small niche of readers, nothing more.
Still, the thought of a real anime adaptation was hard to suppress. So many other works on the platform deserved it more, yet only his had been chosen. Gao Sijin knew well this had nothing to do with talent; it was purely the power of capital at play.
“In any case, thank you so much, Editor Mishima.”
Gao Sijin bowed deeply to Mishima Kaoru.
Perhaps he should have been even more grateful to Tsukiyuki Rio, but since she didn’t want him to see through the truth, Gao Sijin had no choice but to continue the act and play dumb. They went on to discuss many details about the light novel’s anime adaptation, his editor patiently answering every one of Gao Sijin’s questions.
“Congratulations, Sijin-sensei.” Katakura Eiko was genuinely happy for him. “I’ll make sure my younger brother Hayabusa keeps working hard too, drawing even more wonderful illustrations for your work.”
“I’ll be counting on you both.”
“One more thing, Sijin-sensei. If Ovinia really is brought on as the singer for the opening theme, you absolutely must introduce me. I’m her biggest fan.”
“Of course.”
The night before Katakura Hayabusa had become Katakura Eiko, he had drawn a gender bent picture of Ovinia. Overnight, he himself had transformed.
By now, after the Old School Building Incident, Gao Sijin fully believed in the supernatural. Perhaps magic and many other things he struggled to accept existed too. Maybe in some forgotten corner, there truly was a Platform 9¾ like from Harry Potter, leading straight to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Ovinia’s identity had always been a mystery. Practically no one online knew her nationality. She might even be a magician from another world. Letting Ovinia meet Katakura Eiko might really break the gender bender curse, allowing Eiko to become a man again.
“Alright, that’s the rough plan for the anime adaptation. Do you have any other questions, Sijin-sensei?”
“There is one more thing. My girlfriend’s younger cousin has recently started writing.” Gao Sijin took her small hand and gently guided her in front of Editor Mishima Kaoru. “Her name is Tsukiyuki Uzuki. She’s never written before, but she has real talent. I was deeply moved reading her work. Please, take a look.”
Uzuki’s cheeks flushed a rouge-like crimson. Her eyes glistened as she glanced sideways at Gao Sijin, staying silent.
Gao Sijin could completely understand how she felt. When he had first uploaded his work online, he had been just as anxious. He remembered it clearly; he was a junior in college. One night, the idea to write something had suddenly sprung into his mind. He’d tossed and turned all night. His bunkmate had thought he was secretly… solving some physiological problem.
After a sleepless night, Gao Sijin opened his laptop the next morning and named his story In the Name of the Maid. Looking back, he had been so young. Not only was his prose immature, but his grasp of isekai economics and currency was nonexistent. Coming from a science and engineering background, Gao Sijin didn’t even know what the gold standard was. He had pushed forward on sheer passion alone. After posting the first chapter, he had been terrified of ridicule. What if the readers didn’t like it?
Fortunately, the readers hadn’t mocked the overambitious Gao Sijin, and so his path as a writer had begun.
“From a professional editor’s perspective, what do you think?” Gao Sijin clutched his chest, incredibly nervous.
Uzuki, too, kept her head low, unable to meet Editor Mishima’s eyes. She looked like a student who had just handed in a test full of wrong answers, waiting for the teacher’s scolding.
“It’s written well,” Editor Mishima said, after skimming Uzuki’s work at a glance. “But some areas still need refinement. The pacing, for example. Some parts feel overly wordy. The language could be tighter. The main plot is the ordinary life of a girl. This kind of story honestly doesn’t suit modern readers’ tastes. The subject matter is too plain.”
“Too plain…”
Uzuki’s face went pale. For her, a professional’s rejection was a devastating blow.
“Editor Mishima, could you please read it once more, more carefully? Uzuki’s work needs to be felt with the heart. It’s all daily life, but after reading it, there are soaring highs and crushing lows. The pain of the Class President breaking up with her first love, the solemn vows, and her…”
“Sijin-sensei, you can’t show her leniency just because she’s your girlfriend’s cousin. In this fast-paced age, who has the time to settle down and understand the ordinary life of an ordinary High School Girl?”
Gao Sijin was left speechless.
Editor Mishima wasn’t wrong. Besides, light novels were never literature to begin with. If literature was an exquisite and elegant palace banquet, then light novels were McDonald’s.
“If Uzuki can stand out in the Dengeki Award, I will be happy to re-evaluate her work then. But until that happens, I won’t give her a backdoor pass just because of her relationship with you, Sijin-sensei.” Mishima Kaoru neatly arranged Uzuki’s manuscript and handed it back to Gao Sijin.
“Very well. I believe Uzuki will distinguish herself.” Gao Sijin patted Uzuki’s frail shoulder. “Do your best.”
“I’ll work hard, Sijin.”
Uzuki forced a smile.
The praise Gao Sijin had given her that morning had filled her with a tiny sense of pride, but now, under Editor Mishima’s denial, she had plummeted back to rock bottom.
Thankfully, Sijin’s work was getting an anime adaptation. That made Uzuki incredibly happy.
The group left the Editorial Department.
It was the weekend, and the streets were crowded. As their car passed a distant bookstore, Gao Sijin saw a long line of people waiting to buy his book.
Yes, his book had been boosted by capital, but among so many people, surely some truly loved it for what it was.
“If only I could write a book that gets published too…” Uzuki rested her chin on her hand, dreaming of her future life as an author.
“One day, Uzuki, you’ll definitely debut as a professional, even more successful than me,” Gao Sijin said with a smile.
Tsukiyuki Rio, holding onto Gao Sijin’s arm, pouted her lips with a hint of displeasure:
“Lately, Gao-kun has been so close with Uzuki, leaving me all by myself…”
“I’m sorry, Rio. It’s just that Uzuki has started writing too, and I want to help her, so she can avoid detours.”
“Fine, I’m not that angry.”
She tightened her grip around Gao Sijin’s arm. He caught a playful, narrowing glint in her bewitching crimson eyes. A sudden premonition washed over Gao Sijin, a feeling that these peaceful days would soon be shattered beyond repair.
