Identity refreshed randomly, talents maxed out instantly.

The negotiations between the two sides ultimately ended in disagreement.

Watching Xu An's departing figure, Wang Xiang sneered.

"They really think they're lucky because they wrote a book that became a hit, and they think they're something special, and they even want to take the copyright away."

"Without the support of our Endpoint Novels, they really think they can be where they are today? They're ungrateful wretches."

Wang Xiang resumed his arrogant demeanor, his eyes filled with disdain.

This is not the behavior of capitalists, but the behavior of feudal landlords.

Capitalists are willing to give up a portion of their profits as long as you can help them make money, and make more money, no matter what you do or how you do it.

Feudal landlords, on the other hand, treated their subordinates as their own property. Everything you had was a gift from your master, and anyone who dared to resist or displease your master in any way was considered an ungrateful wretch.

In the West, almost all businesses are driven by capitalist ideology.

To give a simple example.

During working hours, once you've finished your work and made money for the capitalists, whether you relax or have tea is none of their business.

However, in the East, the vast majority of enterprises are rooted in feudal landlord ideology.

Even if you finish your work during working hours, you won't be allowed to relax.

Because in the mindset of feudal landlords, you have to work if you take their money. Even if you have finished your work, as long as you stop, you are being lazy. In the eyes of feudal landlords, they cannot bear to see workers idle.

This is absolutely intolerable in their eyes.

Editorial department.

Guan Hai looked up at the editor-in-chief's office.

He took out his phone and asked Xu An what was going on.

Xu An replied simply, "The talks have broken down."

Guan Hai didn't know what to say; he was just a junior editor and couldn't influence the editor-in-chief's decisions.

Inside the editor-in-chief's office.

Editor-in-Chief Cheng cautiously inquired, "Editor-in-Chief, is Xu An dissatisfied with the conditions we offered?"

Wang Xiang leaned back in his boss's chair. "A clueless kid, he got lucky and wrote a hit book, and now he actually wants to take the copyright for himself."

"Didn't he sell the copyright to 'Covering the Sky'? Didn't he get a share of the profits? If we hadn't helped him fight for it, could the two copyrights have sold for over 50 million?"

"He even threatened to switch companies if I didn't give him the copyright! It's ridiculous!"

Editor-in-Chief Cheng frowned: "Editor-in-Chief, what if he really leaves?"

"Job change? Where could he go? Our Qidian Novels is the largest online novel platform in China, with the most legitimate readers. We're the industry leader. Where could he possibly jump ship to?"

As he spoke, Wang Xiang chuckled, "He doesn't really think that the success of 'Covering the Sky' is entirely due to his own efforts, does he?"

"Without our management, would 'Covering the Sky' have gone viral and achieved its current success?"

Editor-in-Chief Cheng was still a little worried: "Editor-in-Chief, what if he goes to Zongheng Book Alliance? Xu An is capable of writing books, and the book 'Covering the Sky' has earned him a group of die-hard fans."

"Zongheng Book Alliance is just a half-dead website. How dare it compare to our Qidian Novels?"

"They don't have as many readers as we do, nor as many authors, nor as many books in their library, and their books aren't as high quality. How can Zongheng Book Alliance compare to us?"

Editor-in-Chief Cheng looked worried.

Wang Xiang said with a smile, "Don't worry, I guarantee that Xu An will come back and obediently sign the God Contract within three days at the latest. I've seen plenty of young people like him who can't tell the difference between a king and a queen once they gain power."

"The final novel is his only choice."

After saying that, he waved his hand, signaling Editor-in-Chief Cheng to go out first.

Editor-in-Chief Cheng wanted to say something more, but seeing Wang Xiang looking at the documents, he swallowed back the words he was about to say and could only leave helplessly.

......

Zongheng Book Alliance.

A website that was once on par with Zhongdian Novel Network and was known as one of the two leading novel websites in China.

Unfortunately, they failed to keep up with the times, falling behind at every step.

This led to the rise of Zhongdian Novel Network as an industry leader, while Zongheng Book Alliance became a retirement haven for some authors.

If the Endpoint Novel Network is a place where a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred boats race, it is like the rising sun.

The Zongheng Book Alliance was like a stagnant pool, lifeless and gloomy, like a setting sun.

Hong Bo is the chief editor of Zongheng Book Alliance.

He took over Zongheng Book Alliance a year ago and vigorously reformed it, hoping to restore Zongheng Book Alliance to its former glory and status.

Unfortunately, the readership is simply too small, and no matter how much reform is implemented, it is impossible to attract more readers to join.

Fewer readers mean fewer opportunities to make money.

Even with subsidies from websites, the pool of readers is only so big, and the number of authors it can accommodate is limited.

After a year of vigorous reforms, Zongheng Book Alliance is slightly better than before, but this is all the result of a large amount of funding.

Zongheng Book Alliance Conference Room.

Hongbo sat in the main seat and banged on the table: "A whole year, a whole year, so much money was burned, and we only increased the readership by 4%."

"I'm under pressure from above every day. Now, all of you, tell me, how should the reforms proceed?"

The middle managers sitting below were all silent, not one of them uttering a word.

"Come on, Pan Hai, tell us what you think, you old-timer in the editorial department."

Seeing that no one spoke, Hongbo directly pointed to someone.

Pan Hai adjusted his glasses. "Editor-in-Chief Hong, since you took office and implemented these reforms, our Zongheng Book Alliance as a whole has been developing in a positive direction..."

"Stop talking nonsense." Hong Bo interrupted him with a stern face.

"Ahem." He coughed lightly twice: "I think our Zongheng Book Alliance is currently lacking a face of the organization, a pillar of the organization."

"A good book, a wildly popular book, will attract readers to actively pick it up and read it."

"Although we have quite a few authors in Zongheng Book Alliance, including a few top-tier writers, none of them can truly live up to the reputation of Zongheng Book Alliance."

"Everyone should know about the novel 'Covering the Sky.' It became incredibly popular. Even before the anime and TV series were released, people were already cosplaying it. That's what makes a good book and the influence of a great author. I've heard that many people who don't read novels were drawn to read the original work."

"I think we lack an author like 'Chasing the Wind' who can write a hit book that goes viral and becomes a mainstream phenomenon..."

Hongbo listened and nodded slightly, feeling that what he said made some sense.

Readers and authors, representing different groups, are to some extent interdependent.

A truly good book will be read by people on any platform.

After Pan Hai finished speaking, Editor-in-Chief Hong made the final decision, ordering everyone to go and recruit people!

Go to the terminal novel website and poach people, recruit all those veteran top authors.

Especially the young man who just finished writing "Covering the Sky".

Hong Bo spared no expense in poaching talent, sacrificing a significant portion of his profits in the contract.

The meeting concluded, and the tone was set.

A day later, Hongbo heard the news he wanted.

"Editor-in-Chief! I have some fantastic news! A friend of mine works as an editor at Qidian.com, and he told me that the author of 'Covering the Sky' had a falling out with their editor-in-chief and didn't sign their top-tier author contract!"

Hongbo's eyes snapped open, and he instantly became excited. This was a golden opportunity!

"You have one hour to put the contact information for the author of 'Covering the Sky' in front of me!"