In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

Of course, there are indeed masters in reality who can create works across different genres.

But it took them years of accumulation and refinement, enough life experience, reading volume, and knowledge reserves to naturally take that step.

The most crucial point is that the Edogawa Ranpo Award is different from the competitions that Minamoto Chiya participated in before, which were only open to people of his own age.

Young man, you are about to face a group of writers covering all ages!

Not to mention, the variety and quality of Japanese mystery novels are renowned worldwide!

To break through in the Edogawa Rampo Award is ten times, or even nine times, more difficult and competitive than winning the Hayakawa Science Fiction Award!

Machida Sonoko calmed herself down from her urge to roar and complain, and asked to confirm, "Gen-kun, are you trying to enter the Edogawa Rampo Award?"

“Mm.” Yuan Qianye nodded, not hiding his true intentions.

"..."

"Is there a problem, Ms. Machida?"

“Ah, no, no, no…” Machida Sonoko carefully chose her words, then asked after a moment’s thought, “Gen-kun, why are you suddenly thinking this way… is it because you have a mystery novel that you’ve already written?”

"No, but Ms. Machida, didn't you say that the manuscript submission period ends at the end of the month? Today is only December 7th, there are still more than 20 days left. I'll go back and work a little harder, and I should be able to finish in time."

"..."

More than twenty days... just a little more effort...

You think mystery novels are like high school students' diary entries?!

This isn't something that can be written simply by adding a little effort.

Besides, how could one possibly conceive a storyline that is perfect and interesting enough to serve as the entire framework of a detective novel in just over twenty days?

Even if I could manage to come up with something, I definitely wouldn't have enough time to write it down!

Even if it is eventually written, there is no doubt that something rushed out like this will definitely be a piece of garbage!

Machida Sonoko suddenly felt that the private room seemed a bit hot.

She pulled out a tissue to wipe non-existent sweat from her forehead, glanced at Kasumigaoka, and thought that she would be like her and try to persuade Minamoto Chiya to give up this unrealistic idea that had just flashed into her mind.

But Kasumigaoka, though surprised, wasn't utterly astonished. After recovering, she looked at him with a gentle and warm gaze, as if in reverence and support. She even served him a bowl of seafood geoduck porridge and specially added two extra pieces of plump crab leg meat...

Well, she's clearly unreliable.

Machida Sonoko made her judgment.

Young girls are just like that; this love virus has completely taken hold of them, they're already in the late stages of a severe case.

But it's true, without such a girlish heart, how could one possibly write "Love Metronome"?

There's a saying in the light novel world that only authors like Xiao Chu Nan, who have never experienced love, have no dating experience, and harbor fantasies and longings, can write such bittersweet romance stories.

In retrospect, there is some truth to that statement.

I can't rely on Ms. Xia Shizi at all; I can only rely on myself.

Instead of working on improving such a wonderful work as Si Ti, suddenly switching to writing mystery novels would be a complete waste of talent.

Machida Sonoko: "So, what about the 'Four-Piece'? Gen-kun, you're going to participate in the Edogawa Rampo Award, are you just going to give up on such a wonderful work as the 'Four-Piece'?"

Gen Chiya smiled and said, "How could that be? I will participate in the Edogawa Rampo Award, but I will not give up on the Four-Dimensional Writing. However, I will focus on mystery novels this month, and I will pick up my pen again in January next year to start writing Four-Dimensional Writing."

It's fortunate that they don't plan to give up on SiTi...

Machida Sonoko initially intended to continue persuading him, but then she thought that if she could take this opportunity to temper the boy's arrogance, it might be a good thing, letting him know that there are always people more capable than himself.

If this opportunity allows him to experience setbacks and grow, becoming more composed, this change in mindset may greatly help him in his future creative endeavors.

"I understand. Since you've put it that way, wait a moment, I'll ask my friend about the requirements for submitting to the Edogawa Rampo Award."

"Thank you for your help, Ms. Machida."

"Hehe, no trouble at all. After all, Ms. Kasumi asked me so earnestly before."

She deliberately smiled and winked, giving Kasumigaoka some face.

When Gen Chiya thanked Kasumigaoka again, whose face was slightly flushed.

Machida Sonoko had already taken out her phone.

She graduated from Keio University, which, along with Waseda University, is known as one of the "two giants of private universities in Japan".

The university's most prestigious program is literature.

It covers philosophy, Japanese literature, Oriental literature, American literature, and more.

Most of the students who graduate from this school go on to work in the field of literature.

Having graduated from such a university, Machida Sonoko naturally knew many people working in the literary world.

In fact, she had the opportunity to work for a formal literary company, but she ultimately chose to become a light novel editor because of her own lighthearted and free-spirited personality.

Soon, Machida Sonoko found a friend who had the information she wanted.

She obtained Yuan Qianye's social media account, added them as friends, and sent him all the detailed rules and requirements for the competition at once.

Yuan Qianye read through the entries one by one.

Submitted works must be unpublished full-length mystery novels...

New authors only; contributors cannot have previously published any full-length novel as a standalone volume...

Submitted works must be between 120,000 and 240,000 words...

After reading through all the submission guidelines, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Rather, the word count requirement was exactly what he wanted.

With only twenty-odd days left, if the word count requirement were higher, he would really find it a bit difficult.

The awards were also specifically listed at the end.

The winner will receive a prize of five million yen.

Actually, the bonus was originally 10 million yen, but in recent years the economic situation has been bad and money has been hard to earn, so every penny saved is precious, and the bonus was reduced by half.

However, the cash prizes are just a small bonus; no author participates in this competition for the meager prize money.

The most important reward, of course, is the prestige brought by the highly prestigious Edogawa Rampo Award, as well as the collaboration with Kodansha, the organizer of the competition.

If the work wins an award, it will be published as a standalone book, and Kodansha will contact mainstream media for promotion and recommendations. After the book is published, it will also be featured in a prominent display area in bookstores.

These kinds of benefits, along with the royalties and literary honors earned during this period, are the real highlight!

“My friend told me that so far this year, more than 400 people have submitted their mystery novels, which is a third more than last year. The competition this year is even fiercer than in previous years,” Machida Sonoko said, revealing the information she had gathered, as if she wanted to send a warning.

But Yuan Qianye didn't care at all, and simply nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

He even used serving chopsticks to put a piece of sushi on her plate without any sense of nervousness.

Oh, they completely misunderstood what I meant...

Hopefully, this young man, who has always had a smooth journey and is the beloved "white moonlight" of Kasumi Shiko, won't be discouraged by this setback...

…………

Volume 1: Chapter 125: Cohabitation?!

Putting aside the editor's worries, Yuan Qianye actually enjoyed the meal quite a bit.

This Japanese restaurant has good ingredients; the ingredients are fresh enough, and the taste is quite good.

Especially the salt-boiled snow crab, with its tender meat inside, the salty aroma of the salt perfectly complements the freshness of the crab meat, creating a very rich flavor.

After finishing her meal, Yuan Qianye ordered two more portions to take home for her family to try.

It's also very convenient to reheat it in the oven after you get home.

After some initial refusal, Yuan Qianye insisted on paying.

After the three of them left the Japanese restaurant, it was already past 7 p.m.

Chiya and Kasumigaoka helped the editor into a taxi.

This is where the hidden benefits of the editing profession become apparent.

Using the excuse of meeting writers, they can report a certain amount of transportation allowance to the company each month.

It's always good to take advantage of this, as it can definitely save you some time.

After watching the taxi carrying the editor drive away, Gen Chiya turned to look at Kasumigaoka: "Can you stay with me a little longer?"

"Ah."

I couldn't ask for more!

The two strolled slowly along the street, chatting casually.

"Shiyu, you didn't seem very surprised just now?"

"What do you mean by 'Thousand Nights'?"

"Of course, it was my sudden announcement that I wanted to participate in the Edogawa Rampo Award. I originally thought you would have the same reaction as the editor and would try to dissuade me."

"To be honest, I did have that thought at the time, but in the end I decided against it and didn't say anything unnecessary."

"Oh?"

"Because if you look at past examples, Qianye, haven't all your choices been correct?"

"Is there?"

“Yes.” Kasumigaoka said, counting on her fingers: “Look, you chose to practice kendo, and then you won the championship in a stunning way. Before the Japanese authorities even noticed anything unusual, you reminded me to wear masks when I went out with my family. Then the flu broke out. After that, you started playing the piano, and you also achieved quite good results in a very short time.”

All these examples combined, do you know what they represent?

This shows that the study girls are really awesome...

Gen Chiya shook his head in agreement.

Kasumigaoka looked at him and smiled, "This not only shows that you are very capable, Chiyo, but also implies that you can see the final result through the dimension of time before making a specific decision. You are quite forward-thinking. Since you seem so confident and sure, I will of course choose to believe you unconditionally."

This is what women call a sixth sense; it's so acute it's almost frightening...

"I'm not as amazing as you make me out to be."