After rounds of exchanges, and three rounds of drinks, neither of the three people from each side gained any advantage over the other.
Zhen Yu used the excuse of being a girl to avoid drinking, while the deputy chief editor from the other party said he was driving, so he couldn’t drink either.
Han Mingyue claimed a low tolerance for alcohol, suggesting Zhen Yan as an alternative; Chief Editor Wang countered by saying he’s too old with health issues, letting Xiao Chen drink with Zhen Yan instead!
Finally, Zhen Yu couldn’t bear their dawdling any longer, and decisively slammed the table saying, "Talk if you want, if not, I’m leaving!"
This forced Chief Editor Wang to pull his horse-like face long, nodding slightly to signal the deputy chief editor to speak plainly.
"Here’s the thing! The main purpose of our meeting today is to buy out all the copyrights of ’Immortal Tribulation’ permanently in one go. You can propose the specific price first! Then we will provide you with a reasonable offer after comprehensive consideration. What do you think?"
"Not happening!" If only mildly angry, Zhen Yu’s emotions might have been slightly more agitated.
But after hearing the deputy chief editor’s words, Zhen Yu couldn’t even muster any anger, no longer slamming the table, instead stood up directly, pulling Han Mingyue’s arm saying, "Let’s go! There’s no need to probe this! Their hearts are too black, won’t sell for any price!"
"Hey?! What do you mean, little girl?" Editor Chen, being a qualified subordinate, immediately stood up wanting to stop them.
But Zhen Yan immediately pushed him aside! Saying, "Move! It means my sister doesn’t want to talk anymore!"
Han Mingyue also quickly clarified his stance saying, "Sorry, I don’t want to talk either! I’m absolutely, absolutely not going to sign away any of my books’ copyrights as a buyout contract! Goodbye!"
"Hey hey!! Don’t go, you guys! We can discuss buying out slowly! Twenty years! Fifteen years is fine too..."
——
Although Editor Chen immediately chased after the three, trying to persuade them with several more sentences! But Han Mingyue still showed no intention of looking back.
In the end, he could only helplessly watch as all three of them took a taxi and left the restaurant.
He then returned alone to the private room to face the iron-faced Chief Editor Wang and displeased deputy chief editor.
Unwilling to give up, Chief Editor Wang couldn’t help asking knowingly!
"Really left?!"
"Yeah! No matter how I persuaded, they wouldn’t listen!"
After Editor Chen sat down, he first ran a hand through his hair, then asked in confusion, "The deputy chief editor didn’t even say much just now! Why such a big reaction from the other side?! It’s literally leaving on a disagreement! Could it be..."
The deputy chief editor immediately replied without thinking, "Not possible! Ye Yueming is only the second person on the list! Besides, our last acquisition ’talk’ was quite successful! That author shouldn’t be spreading bad words about us!"
"Then why is this Han acting so abnormally?! There’s always a reason for unusual behavior, I think," Editor Chen still felt something was off, so he wanted to suggest to the deputy chief editor to perhaps not go all out next time.
But Chief Editor Wang suddenly intercepted saying, "Self-important! Pretentious! Hmph!! I see that Han kid is nothing more than inflated pride from publishing a few books at a young age! If he doesn’t sign, fine! There are writers we like more than just him! Until someday..."
"Right! I agree too!" The deputy chief editor immediately chimed in, "Until someday his book is the only one that can’t sell its copyright, let’s see where he’ll cry then!"
Editor Chen: "..."
Okay, whatever you two say! Anyway, he’s just a small editor with good drinking capacity, just responsible for drinking...
——
Han Mingyue and the others are unaware of the slandering and insulting going on behind their backs by Chief Editor Wang and the deputy chief editor.
But when the three of them took a taxi home, their mood remained unpleasant.
"Permanently buyout, all copyright, wishful thinking!"
Zhen Yu snorted fiercely as soon as she sat on the sofa! Venting her dissatisfaction.
Zhen Yan, half drunk, asked incongruently, "What’s up? Does this phrase have something to it? I saw you both didn’t even inquire about the price before leaving, was it just because of that?!"
Zhen Yu didn’t want to speak, seeing this Han Mingyue had to respond on her behalf, "From the information Xiao Yu and I found online, once this phrase appears in the contract, my books will no longer have any relation to me in the future!"
"Whoa! That harsh!" Zhen Yan exclaimed! "Does that mean even your name will be changed, like someone else’s writing?"
"Not quite!" Zhen Yu suddenly spoke, "The other side buys copyrights purely for money! And the fact that Ye Yueming is the author of the book is already a public consensus! Changing the author’s name would be counterproductive, and whether it’s legally allowed is another thing... Anyway, saying this is pointless! We’re not selling!"
"Yeah! Not selling!" Han Mingyue grabbed Zhen Yu’s hand saying, "Since we’re saying we’re not selling, let’s pretend today’s incident never happened."
"Hmm."
——
Though Zhen Yu heard Han Mingyue’s words, she still felt low all afternoon.
Han Mingyue thought she was sullen for him!
However, in truth, Zhen Yu was concerned for the broad community of original authors.
The editors from Qihang Net were obviously sky-high pricing, just waiting for a writer wanting to sell copyrights to bargain on the spot!
No! They weren’t waiting at all! They were scheming!
As long as the authors initiating negotiations make offers, it means willing parties are hooked, then, the initiative falls into their hands! Especially since that Editor Chen chased after mentioning the negotiable term...
They negotiate back and forth, keep drinking heavily, and in the end, end up signing contracts on the spot in a muddle.
Once clear-headed, those drunk authors wouldn’t remember what objections they raised at the time!
Sigh...wonder how many unfortunate authors will suffer huge losses because of this...
But Zhen Yu can only helplessly watch, how could her mood improve!
Pondering it over and over, Zhen Yu finally walked into the bedroom.
Yet she just sat at the bedhead watching him type, not immediately disturbing him.
Until Han Mingyue felt he could take a pause, he put down his hands and turned asking, "What’s up? Didn’t I tell you not to think about that matter anymore?"
"Can’t help it! Han Mingyue, I think we should find a way to publicize this matter, alert web novel authors out there!"
Han Mingyue turned this sentence over in his mind then understood Zhen Yu’s meaning.
"Let me think about it..."