After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

The editorial office of the Chinese Journal of Surgery has a small facade; half of the red paint on the two wooden doors has peeled off, and a bronze plaque hangs at the entrance with the lettering worn away.

At nine o'clock in the morning, when Lin Qi pushed open the door, the young woman at the front desk was dozing off on the table.

He stood at the door and scanned the area.

The cement floor was bare, the paint was peeling off the walls, the fluorescent lights on the ceiling were flashing, and a pile of manuscripts half a person's height was stacked in the corner.

The entire editorial department has only four offices. The largest one has a red paper strip on the door that reads "Editor-in-Chief's Office".

Lynch looked down at the grey wool suit he was wearing, which he had ordered from Savile Row in London, and then at the gleaming Oxford shoes on his feet. He pursed his lips and forced a smile.

The receptionist was startled awake by the sound of the door closing. She looked up and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Comrade, who are you looking for?"

"Hello, my name is Lynch, Asia Representative for Medical Journals at Cambridge University Press."

He spoke Mandarin with a standard accent, clear pronunciation, and a slight Hong Kong flavor at the end of his sentences.

"I'm looking for Editor-in-Chief Li Changqing."

"Editor-in-Chief Li has gone to a meeting and won't be back until the afternoon."

Lin Qi's smile didn't fade, but his brows furrowed slightly.

Parker gave him only one morning as his window of opportunity.

"Who else in charge of your company is present?"

The young girl thought for a moment and pointed to the office at the end of the corridor.

"President Wang is here."

"Please take me there."

President Wang's office was a bit more spacious than the editor-in-chief's office, with a row of metal cabinets against the wall, and labels on the cabinet doors.

The desk was an old-fashioned three-drawer desk with a glass plate on the top, under which were several group photos and an official document.

President Wang was in his early fifties, his hair was neatly combed, and he was wearing a brand-new Zhongshan suit with the top button fastened at the collar. Two pens were clipped to his left breast pocket.

Lin Qi knocked on the door frame twice. President Wang looked up and saw a foreigner in an expensive suit standing at the door, carrying a briefcase that looked quite expensive. His first reaction was to stand up.

"Hello, may I ask who you are?"

Lin Qi strode in and extended his hand.

"President Wang, excuse me. My name is Lin Qi, Asia Representative of the Medical Journals Department of Cambridge University Press."

He pulled a folder from the side pocket of his briefcase. The cover was printed with the shield-shaped coat of arms of Cambridge University, with a line of silver-embossed English text below.

President Wang glanced at the folder with the school emblem printed on it.

"Cambridge University?"

"Yes, President Wang."

Lynch sat down in the guest seat, crossed his legs, and placed his briefcase on his knees, moving with ease.

"Our publishing house's medical journals division was established in 1886 and operates several of the world's top five core medical journals."

He opened his briefcase and took out a beautifully bound sample copy of an English journal, with a glossy paper cover, full-color printing, and a gold Cambridge University crest watermark in the lower right corner.

He gently pushed the sample booklet in front of President Wang.

"This is a new special edition sample issue we launched this year, specifically targeting the mainstream medical community in Europe and America, to promote cutting-edge medical research results."

President Wang picked up the sample booklet with both hands and flipped through it.

The paper is thick and smooth, the layout is spacious and elegant, and the images are so clear that you can see the texture of the cell walls.

Having worked in this industry for over twenty years, he could tell at a glance that the printing cost of this sample book was more than ten times that of his own magazine.

"Mr. Lin, what's wrong...?"

"Simply put, we hope to cooperate with your publication."

Lin Qi leaned forward, his fingertips touching.

"The specific plan is that Cambridge University Press will be the exclusive agent for the overseas English edition of the Chinese Journal of Surgery, translating your journal's excellent papers into English and systematically promoting them in the European and American academic markets."

President Wang's eyes lit up immediately.

"English version? Targeting Europe and America?"

"Yes. We have a well-established academic distribution network in the UK, covering more than 800 university medical school libraries and over 2,000 top-tier hospitals across Europe."

Lynch spoke at a moderate pace, each sentence carefully calculated.

"Our partners are responsible for the North American market, and we are simultaneously expanding our distribution channels in Canada and the United States."

"If the collaboration is successful, your journal will become the first Chinese medical journal to enter the mainstream academic field in the West."

President Wang put down the sample booklet and tapped his fingers twice on the table.

He had been holding back his ambition, eager to achieve something.

If I seize this opportunity, I can write a whole page on my year-end performance review.

"Mr. Lin, what are the specific terms of this cooperation?"

"Exclusive overseas copyright agency, for a period of three years."

Lynch pulled a second document from his briefcase; it was printed in English and neatly bound.

"Your publication is responsible for providing the original Chinese manuscript, and we are responsible for translation, typesetting, printing, and global distribution."

Of all overseas distribution revenue, your publication receives 30%, while we receive 70%.

President Wang's finger stopped.

"A 30/70 split?"

"President Wang."

Lin Qi smiled and spread his hands.

"We will cover all translation costs, printing and distribution costs, and marketing expenses. Your publication will not need to contribute a single penny."

He paused.

"Thirty percent of the profits are pure profit."

President Wang leaned back in his chair and took a breath.

net profit.

How much is their magazine's annual budget?

Printing costs were covered by funding from the Ministry of Health, and the editors' bonuses were pitifully small.

Just as he was about to speak, footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Old Zhao and Old Chen from the editorial department were passing by the door carrying enamel mugs when they heard people talking in a foreign language inside. They both peeked inside at the same time.

"President Wang, are you receiving guests?"

Old Zhao is a key member of the editorial department. He has worked at the magazine for fifteen years, and a good portion of his hair has turned white.

He slowed down when he saw the beautifully crafted English sample book on the table and the contract in Lynch's hand.

"Old Zhao, come in and have a seat."

President Wang waved, his face beaming with undisguised smugness.

"This is Mr. Lin from Cambridge University Press, who wants to discuss overseas copyright cooperation with us."

Old Zhao walked in, sat down opposite Lin Qi, and took the sample booklet, flipping through it.

His English isn't great, but having been in the academic publishing circle for so many years, he's seen quite a few copyright contracts.

"Mr. Lin, would you mind taking a look at the specific terms of the exclusive agency agreement?"

Lin Qi smiled and pushed the contract over.

Old Zhao opened it, his brows slowly furrowing. It was all in English…

"No Chinese?"

Lynch smiled and said, "I can translate it for you."

Lin Qi translated a few lines, and they sounded fine.

Old Chen leaned over for a look, then lowered his voice and said something to President Wang.

"President, shouldn't we wait until Editor-in-Chief Li returns before making a decision on such an important matter?"

President Wang's expression was rather unpleasant.

"Comrade Changqing has gone to a meeting and won't be back until this afternoon."

Lin Qi glanced at his watch and frowned.

"President Wang, to put it bluntly, my flight to Tokyo is at 2 PM today, and the official journal of the Japanese Surgical Society is also discussing the same cooperation framework with us."

He lowered his wrist, a hint of regret in his voice.

"If we can't finalize things this morning, I'll have to fly to Tokyo and sign the contract there. Your publication will have to wait for the next cooperation window, but I can't guarantee when that window will open."

President Wang's knuckles tapped faster on the table.