Chapter 60: The Sins of the Fathers, the Misfortunes of the Sons

“What are you sighing about? If you like her, go chase her. If there are difficulties, crush them. It’s that simple. What’s there to sigh about?”

Fu Huayi glanced at him, a look of mockery on his face.

Yi Yunshuo: “Hey, what kind of look is that? I’m encouraging you to chase her, and you’re giving me that look. You’re handsome, your family background is good, if you want to, is there any girl you can’t get? Be a man, don’t be a coward! Just go for it! What’s the use of sitting here drinking coffee and sighing?”

Originally, he didn’t want to pay him any attention, but Yi Yunshuo’s words about him not being a man angered him.

“Hmph, I shouldn’t have bothered to help you today.”  He finished his coffee in one gulp and signaled the waiter for a refill.

Yi Yunshuo: …

“No, why are you still angry with me? I’m helping you, you know. If you like her, you have to tell her, understand?”

Fu Huayi gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Yi Yunshuo: “You’re embarrassed to go?  Should I help you ask her out?”

Fu Huayi’s face darkened. “No, I can’t.”

Absolutely not.

“Huh? Why not?”

“She’s different. If I speak to her, we won’t even be able to remain friends.”

Yi Yunshuo: …

He didn’t understand, he was completely baffled.

“Why? Does she have such high standards? Even that bastard Lu Jiangting could get her, and she wouldn’t look at you?”

“It’s not a matter of whether she’d look at me or not, she…” He couldn’t explain it, it was just a feeling.

She was different; she wouldn’t be impressed by his looks, education, job, family background…

She wouldn’t look at him differently because of any of his advantages.

If she knew his kindness towards her was ulterior, he’d probably end up like Lu Jiangting.

To put it simply, perhaps it’s the sins of the fathers, the misfortunes of the sons.

“Anyway, don’t you dare meddle in this. If I can’t even be friends with her, I won’t be friends with you either.”

Yi Yunshuo: …

He really didn’t understand, but he had never seen Fu Huayi so serious before.

Fine, he wouldn’t meddle.

He’d just accompany him here…drinking coffee and people-watching.

“Hey, Yi ge, what do you think of that girl?”

“Her legs are so long.”

“That one’s not bad either.”

“Wow, drinking coffee here on the weekend is really nice. There are so many young women out shopping. Yi ge, let’s come again next week.”

Fu Huayi: …

…

Over the next two weeks, she finished her first novel manuscript and sent it directly to the publishing house.

Two days later, they finished reviewing the manuscript.

They scheduled a meeting for her to sign a contract with the publishing house.

Standing at the entrance of the publishing house, Lin Yuyao stopped a passerby and asked, “Comrade, excuse me, does Song Qin, Sister Qin, work here?”

The girl shouted into the room, “Sister Qin, someone’s looking for you.”

A sophisticated-looking woman in her thirties soon emerged.

Lin Yuyao smiled slightly, “Sister Qin, hello, my name is Lin Yuyao.”

The woman’s eyes lit up. “You’re Lin Yuyao? My, you’re beautiful. Come in, come in. I’ve been waiting for you here specially today.”

Song Qin enthusiastically pulled her inside.  Once inside, several people looked at her, whispering amongst themselves.

“Who is she?”

“She’s the author of the book Sister Qin just signed.”

“She’s so young, and so pretty.”

“She’s not just pretty, she’s incredibly pretty.”

“Pretty girls are more likely to become famous.”

Lin Yuyao felt embarrassed hearing these comments.

Song Qin, who was looking at the contract, looked up and said to Lin Yuyao, “Your image is quite good. Why don’t we just use your own photo for the book cover?”

Huh?

Lin Yuyao was completely taken aback.

Song Qin said, “Usually, if the author’s image isn’t good, we hire a model for the cover. But you look great, using your own photo would be best.”

Lin Yuyao hesitated, “Can we not use a person?”

Song Qin smiled, “We can, but the theme of your book suits a person on the cover.  And the author being so pretty will improve sales. People tend to have a positive impression of young, pretty, and talented girls, and it will also benefit your future writing. The money is here; whether you earn it or not is up to you.”

But her book was a buyout contract, wasn’t it?

Song Qin paused, then smiled again, “Of course, if we use your photo, we’ll pay extra.”

Extra pay?

If that’s the case…

But…she still wanted to keep a low profile.

“Sister Qin, I work at a bookstore. If people recognize me, I won’t be able to work there anymore.”

“Is that so?” Song Qin thought for a moment, “How about a cartoon style? We can take your photo and draw based on it.”

“Won’t people still recognize me?”

“It’ll just be a cartoon character; at most, it’ll just look similar. Don’t worry.”

Song Qin kept persuading her to use her photo, or at least a cartoon drawing that resembled her.

She said it was for her future fame.

After much persuasion, she finally convinced her.

“Alright then.”

She naturally wanted…

It’s good to make more money; I’m really short of cash right now.

“That’s great! Let’s sign the contract now. We’ll make another contract for the image rights, and then…” She glanced at the time. “Let’s do it this afternoon. I’ll take you to get some artistic photos taken. Are you free?”

“Yes, I’m free.”

The entire book only earned her two thousand yuan, but the image rights earned her an additional five hundred, which truly shocked her.

She had worked so hard for so long; how much did she earn per page?

A single photo was worth so much?

“Are you satisfied with the money?”

Lin Yuyao said, “Satisfied. More than I expected.”

Song Qin smiled, studying her. “Pretty girls are worth more. Look at those postcards.”

She had a feeling she would be worth even more in the future.

As her editor, she would have to collaborate with her more in the future.

This girl might become a trump card in her hand.

…

She signed all the contracts in the morning, had lunch with Song Qin in the publishing house’s cafeteria, and in the afternoon, Song Qin took her to the photo studio across the street to take artistic photos.

Song Qin gave them instructions, asking for photos that captured a youthful and vibrant girlish feeling.

That was easy; she was a youthful and vibrant girl.

It also had to have a scholarly atmosphere.

That was a must.

It also had to evoke the feeling of falling in love at first sight, a first love.

Lin Yuyao twitched her mouth.

“Sister Qin, we don’t need that. The people buying this book will mostly be female readers.”

“Silly, everyone likes pretty people, regardless of gender.”

Lin Yuyao: …

“Just shoot it as I said.”

They spent the whole afternoon taking dozens of photos, changing three sets of clothes in the process. They were told to pick them up the following week.

Lin Yuyao hesitated and asked, “Didn’t you say you only needed one?”

Song Qin smiled, “We’ll have to choose one later. Don’t worry, the contract only specifies using one photo, and the rest, including the negatives, will be given to you. Keep them well; maybe you can use them later, and we won’t have to go through the trouble of taking them again.”

“Okay, I’ll go back then.”

“Is it convenient for you to go back? Should I have someone send you?”

“No need, I’ll take the bus back.”

“I remember you live in Chenshan Town?”

“Yes.”

“You have to transfer several times to get to Chenshan Town.” Song Qin looked at her watch and frowned. “Oh dear, you might miss the last bus.”

Lin Yuyao: …