"Ah, sorry, I got too excited," Shao Jingfei grinned sheepishly, noticing Li Caiyi's dumbfounded expression. "It's because your story is just that good. I have a sharp eye about things like this, so you can have faith in my judgment!"

"No, it's not that I don't believe you.. I just didn't expect you to already reach that part in a short time of reading."

"Haha, reading and evaluating people's works is my job. I read a million words every day, so it's more like I am used to it. Everyone can do it easily, too, if they are in a similar situation as me."

"I see, but it's still amazing..." Li Caiyi said in awe.

"I know I'm amazing, but you'd better not fall for me because I'm a man with thousands of secrets." Shao Jingfei swiped his hair back in a narcissistic yet silly manner, making Li Caiyi chuckle.

It was always easy for her to open up with him for some reason as if she had known him forever. Li Caiyi didn't have many male friends, so Shao Jingfei was one of her precious friends.

"You are always such a jest."

"Hehe, you are finally smiling."

"Huh?" Li Caiyi looked at him with a stunned expression.

"You looked dispirited a while ago, so I thought I should do something to cheer you up. Thank goodness it works. The last time I tried to help cheer somebody up, she ended up crying, so it kind of hurt my pride a little as the class clown," Shao Jingfei sighed sadly.

"I-Is that so? Well, thank you, Shao Jingfei. I appreciate your humor very much."

"You're welcome! You can just call me Jingfei, you know? No need to be so formal."

"Sure, if you're okay with it, Jingfei."

"That's better! Now, shall we talk more about your story, then?"

"Yes, please."

Shao Jingfei cleared his throat before he spoke. "I want to officially submit your work to be published under our company. I will speak with the editorial department to send you the contract via email, so you can sign it later."historical

"Thank you. But what about the negotiation I talked to you about before?" Li Caiyi asked worriedly.

"There won't be any problem. Suppose the manhwa you would bring to me is satisfying. In that case, I can arrange for you to have another set of contracts, one where you could split your profit fairly with your partner, without influencing your previous one."

Li Caiyi heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good news. I was worried for a second."

"I already told you there is nothing to worry about as long as I got your back, didn't I? Recruiting talent is my job, and no one would dare say anything against the talent I introduce," Shao Jingfei puffed her chest out proudly.

Li Caiyi already heard him mentioning it a few times before, but she really never got any chance to ask. "Jingfei, did you have special authority in the Glorious Days? Is it related to your talent to spot talent?"

"Hmm? Are you curious about me?" Shao Jingfei smirked teasingly before he shrugged his shoulders. "I won't call it with such pretty words like 'authority' or 'privilege'. I'm basically a company slave because I was expected to work without getting any salary. Don't you think my family is kind of horrible?"

"Was your family the one who asked you to do this?"

Shao Jingfei snickered. "Asked? They basically ordered me what to do. If I don't do as they said, I won't be able to eat anything."

Li Caiyi stared at Shao Jingfei, but he plastered his signature grin like usual, despite saying something pretty dark there. Was this also one of his jokes? She really couldn't tell at all.

"That's.. horrible."

"Hmm? Isn't every family like that?" Shao Jingfei tilted his head in confusion.

"No, not really. At least as far as I know?"

"Really? Well, whichever is fine, anyway. Bad or good, our family is still our family in the end. There's nothing you can do to change something you can't control."

Li Caiyi was astonished upon listening to his words. He said it light-heartedly, but it resonated deep inside her. Once again, she felt a sense of closeness to Shao Jingfei, who shared a similar idea as her.

"Yes, I think so too," she said softly, almost like a whisper.

However, Shao Jingfei didn't seem to hear it since he quickly continued their previous topic. "You said your friend who is good at drawing is injured. How much longer does it take for him to heal completely?"

"Oh, I heard he had already taken off his cast as of late. He should be able to draw around this week."

"That's good. Frankly speaking, I'm not really invested in this idea because I still think you will reach another height more quickly as a novelist and not split your brain into two types of projects. But since you are my favorite author and my friend, I'm willing to give your friend a chance."

"Yes, I won't ever forget this favor, Jingfei."

"Don't say that, or you will make me blush," Shao Jingfei put both hands on his cheeks while feigning an embarrassed expression on his face.

"I also don't know if this will work or not, but I want to give it a shot." Li Caiyi said determinedly.

"Yeah, do your best. I expect nothing but the best result. If not, prepare to get shot down." He replied while grinning from ear to ear.

Li Caiyi smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

They spent a few minutes chatting before Li Caiyi decided to return to her classroom first. Shao Jingfei told her to go first and waved at her diminishing figure as she walked away.

After Li Caiyi completely disappeared from his sight, he heaved a sigh before saying in a loud voice. "How long are you going to watch from there? Don't you know spying is a bad habit?"

....

Except for the occasionally rustling sound from the leaves being swayed by the wind, there was no other sound. Shao Jingfei nailed his gaze on the tree behind him as he shouted again, "I know you are behind the tree. Come out now, or I'll chase you out from there."

A few seconds later came the sound of footsteps. Shao Jingfei turned his head and was a bit stunned when she saw Li Chunhua come out from behind the tree. Her face, which was identical to Li Caiyi, caught him off guard for a second.

It felt like Li Caiyi suddenly appeared again after she had just left.

"Wow. If I don't know better, I would probably think I'm seeing a ghost right now." Shao Jingfei chuckled in amusement.