Chapter 226 Someone Is Always After Another’s Wife

Chapter 226: Chapter 152: Someone Is Always After Another’s Wife

"Liar. Did someone say something to you?" Si Yingying didn’t believe her for a second.

Her face was so long it was practically touching the table.

’How could nothing be wrong?’

"It’s nothing, really. I’m already prepared for it. After all, compared to being with the person I love, none of this is a big deal!" Yan Xici pursed her lips and said earnestly.

And she truly felt that way.

As the old saying goes, life is full of disappointments. When she thought about it, compared to Brother Xiao Ran, he was the one who truly had it tough.

’There’s nothing I can’t face!’

Ever since they sat down, Wang Kai’s eyes hadn’t left Yan Xici.

’People really are strange creatures.’

To be honest, he didn’t quite understand himself either.

Why was it that after she’d made that kind of announcement, he found himself liking her even more?

He even felt a desire to protect her.

Beside him, Chen Nan saw Wang Kai’s dazed expression and couldn’t help but look surprised. "Dude, what’s up with you?"

Yan Xici was certainly outstanding—she had good grades and was uncommonly beautiful.

’But she already got together with her former brother-in-law in such a high-profile way. Surely no one still has ideas about her, right?’

Hearing this, Wang Kai blinked. "It’s nothing."

’Falling for someone who already has a boyfriend... that’s really not something to be proud of.’

’But if I could make her my girlfriend, that would be a different story, wouldn’t it?’

...

Meanwhile, Xiao Ran was sitting in a coffee shop, introducing his book to the people from Jiaxing. His editor, Shi Guang, sat beside him.

With the experience from the first time, he was clearly more relaxed this time around.

To be honest, since it was a book that Sister Mi herself had taken a fancy to, their job was just to sign the contract. Naturally, they wouldn’t have many opinions on the matter.

So, things went exceptionally smoothly. After just twenty minutes, they were already getting ready to sign the contract.

He was just gripping the pen in his hand when his phone suddenly rang.

Xiao Ran said quickly, "Excuse me, I need to take this call."

He took out his phone, and seeing the caller ID, he couldn’t help but look surprised.

It was none other than Liu Min!

His brows twitched. ’Why is Liu Min calling me?’

’Didn’t we already sort things out last time?’

With that thought, he answered the call.

"Hello, Sister Liu," Xiao Ran said with a smile.

"Teacher Xiao, is now a good time? If it is, let’s meet up. I’ll treat you to breakfast," Liu Min’s cheerful voice came from the other end of the line.

Honestly, she wasn’t calling to treat Xiao Ran to a meal. She was calling about the copyright!

Just last night, Director Zhang had stayed up all night to finish Xiao Ran’s new book. He thought it was excellent and gave her a mission first thing this morning.

She was to lock down the copyright for this book!

His intuition told him that if this book were adapted, it would definitely be a hit with young audiences.

Hearing this, Xiao Ran gave an apologetic smile. "I’ve already had breakfast. If there’s something you need, you can just tell me directly."

He’d known Liu Min for a while now, and to be honest, he had a good grasp of her character. A phone call from her was definitely not about something as simple as breakfast.

"Alright then, I’ll get straight to the point. Director Zhang wants to continue working with you. In other words, he wants me to discuss the copyright for your book, *A Neighbor Girl Fell From The Sky*," Liu Min said frankly.

Xiao Ran froze.

’Good grief, what is this situation?’

’I’m about to sign the contract, and now she’s telling me she wants to buy the rights?’

’Even though I’d also like to work with Liu Min, the problem is, I’ve already made a deal with Sister Mi.’

Besides, she was the one who had poured nine Platinum Alliances into the book.

The book’s success today was also thanks to her ’Superpower.’

’If I back out now, I’m afraid Sister Mi will be angry.’

When Xiao Ran went silent, Liu Min subconsciously grew nervous. "What’s wrong? Is there a problem?"

’We were having a perfectly good conversation, why did he suddenly stop talking?’

Xiao Ran glanced at the Jiaxing screenwriter sitting across from him, gulped, then stood up and walked toward the restroom.

Only then did he speak: "Sister, um, I’m already about to sign the contract here. I’m afraid you might be a little too late..."

’Honestly, while I’m grateful for Liu Min’s appreciation, Sister Mi has also been really good to me.’

’And Sister Mi was the one who took an interest in this book first. We’ve already agreed on it.’

’Backing out now would be a really low blow.’

"Besides, there’s another issue. Haven’t you contacted Qidian? My book is contracted to them."

This was another critical point.

He had a contract with Qidian; once the book was published, any inquiries had to go through the platform first. Telling him directly wasn’t very useful.

On the other end of the line, Liu Min never dreamed that someone would have approached Xiao Ran before she did. She was completely astonished.

"Wait, Teacher Xiao, who are you signing a contract with?"

She was desperate to know who was trying to snatch the copyright away from Ai Qi.

Hearing this, Xiao Ran, still on the phone, blinked.

’I think I promised Sister Mi I wouldn’t tell anyone about this.’

"Um, well..." Xiao Ran hesitated, looking conflicted. He had promised Sister Mi he wouldn’t tell anyone, especially not Ai Qi. But Sister Liu had also been really good to him.

’What am I supposed to do now?’

But Liu Min was a sharp woman. Seeing Xiao Ran’s hesitation, she immediately said, "Alright then. I’ll contact your people at Qidian right now. Y-you just wait for me a moment. Please!"

"I..."

Before Xiao Ran could finish, the call was disconnected.

He could only shove his phone back into his pocket with a helpless look.

He didn’t hurry back, deciding to use the restroom first.

His mind raced, trying to figure out how to handle this.

Meanwhile, Shi Guang sat with the Jiaxing staff, waiting for a long time, but Xiao Ran still hadn’t returned.

He couldn’t help but feel anxious.

’This guy... he could have gone to the restroom anytime, but no, he had to go right when it’s time to sign!’

’Does he have a grudge against money or something?!’

He forced a smile. "Uh, I’m going to take a call. Could I trouble you two to wait a moment?"

After saying that, he hurriedly got up and headed toward the restroom. As he turned the corner, he saw Xiao Ran just coming out.

"What took you so long?" he asked anxiously.

Xiao Ran pursed his lips. "Brother Shi, Ai Qi wants to buy the copyright too. What do we do?"

Shi Guang froze.

’Man, this Xiao Ran is more than just a little popular now.’

’Two different companies are fighting over one book.’

’Impressive!’

"That’s a good thing!"

"How is that good? Who are we supposed to sell it to now?"

Shi Guang smiled and said without a second thought, "Whoever pays more, of course. The contract isn’t signed yet, what do you think?"

’When it’s time to talk money, we talk money seriously!’

’What’s so difficult about that?’

"I don’t know..."

To be honest, Xiao Ran was tempted to just sign the contract. He thought about it and still felt it should be first come, first served.

"What’s not to know? You’re here to make money, not to get sentimental!"

Just as he said that, Shi Guang’s phone rang.

He quickly picked it up. "Hello, President Ma."

Xiao Ran saw his expression change as he quickly said, "Okay, okay, no problem."

Then he hung up.

"What’s going on?" Xiao Ran asked, looking at Shi Guang curiously.

Shi Guang swallowed. "The boss said we shouldn’t rush. Ai Qi has already gone to negotiate with Jiaxing."

The truth was, as an author, once he signed a contract with a platform, the copyright for that book couldn’t be sold without the Weijin Platform’s permission.

Otherwise, the platform had the right to sue the author.

In other words, Xiao Ran could offer his opinion, but he didn’t have the final say.

"Well, well," Xiao Ran shrugged. He’d never expected this. He was just a minor web novelist, yet his book was in such high demand.

It was all making him feel a little out of his element.