In the anime series, Goto Ichiri is actually my childhood sweetheart?

It was too polite and too formal. Asada, who had just sat down, was a little confused.

"Um, Mr. Takahashi... Where is your work?"

"Yes, here is my humble work. My level is poor, so I hope you can forgive me."

Having learned from Machida Sonoko in advance that this was a senior, Takahashi Kaede seemed particularly humble.

Opening his schoolbag, Gao Qiaofeng handed over a pile of sorted manuscripts.

"Here is the outline, here is the original text of the first volume, and this is the illustration drawn for me by the blonde girl sitting next to me, Sawamura Eriri."

Takahashi Kaede's serious attitude and the words and pictures that were obviously the result of a lot of effort piqued Asada's interest even though he had no faith in her.

He wanted to know what level this work was.

The sound of papers being flipped could be heard in the cafe. Because the environment was originally quiet, the sound of pages turning seemed particularly loud.

Sonoko and Eriri drank their tea naturally, while Goto Ichiri sat there stiffly, not knowing what to do.

There were not many people inside the cafe, and the focus was on the people coming and going outside the window. However, since the glass was dark gray, no one would look inside the store, so Goto Ichiri did not feel any pressure.

"What would you like to drink? Coffee or milk tea?"

Machida Sonoko asked.

"I'd like a latte, please." Eriri answered naturally.

"Ah...I...I don't need it, thank you."

"Xiao Feng, come out with me for a moment. Let's go to the front desk to order coffee for your friend."

Gao Qiaofeng nodded and stood up. He hesitated a little and turned back to ask.

"Is it okay for you two to stay here?"

"No problem, Feng, don't worry."

Eriri gave him an OK sign, and Takahashi Kaede followed Machida Sonoko with peace of mind.

"Xiao Feng, why are there so many girls following you? What's wrong with you? You look quite honest, but I didn't expect you to be so cunning when you grow up~~~"

Machida Sonoko put her arms around Takahashi Kaede's neck and teased.

"Oh, one of them is an artist, and the other is a member of my club. I just wanted to bring her here to practice. By the way, the editor is Mr. Asada. Is that okay? I always feel like he's a little worried about me."

“Are you confident about the quality of your work?”

Machida Sonoko asked.

"Well... it's definitely average, but I don't think it's outstanding. Maybe the subject matter isn't novel enough."

Takahashi Kaede thought for a moment and replied.

"That's definitely no problem. You must listen carefully to his suggestions later. As long as you can handle his pressure, the authors he produces will generally not do badly."

"Don't be fooled by his old-fashioned middle-aged appearance. He is actually very interesting. You will understand when you get along with him in the future."

After taking the coffee from the lady at the front desk, Takahashi Kaede and Machida Sonoko returned to the table.

I don't know when Asada started wearing glasses. Although her expression hasn't changed much, the aura of "don't disturb me" she exudes can still be felt.

The manuscript in his hand is a work that deserves his serious attention.

"Um... Excuse me, but did you really write this?"

Asada pushed his glasses up with his middle finger and looked at Takahashi Kaede with great momentum.

"Yes, although I mean to brag, you can ask the two girls next to me. They can see me writing this novel every day at school."

"Okay, I won't mention this."

Asada picked up the teacup on the table, and shook the cup gently as if he wanted to taste the most fragrant tea.

He pulled the cup closer and took a small sip of the tea, letting the tea mixed with the tea leaves stay in his mouth for a few seconds, then swallowed it down with a gulp, accompanied by a "ha~" sound of air flow.

It seemed that the tea was too hot; his complexion became visibly redder.

"A young boy who signed a contract with a dragon, an evil organization that secretly stole the artifact, an ancient, mysterious and majestic dragon, a vast continent and a variety of countries and nations. To be honest, I find it amazing that this was written by a 30-year-old."

Among that pile of manuscripts was a collection of settings that was carefully designed by Kaede Takahashi.

It turns out that it is indeed very exquisite, and Asada can see the shadow of reality in many countries and regions contained therein.

"Do you want to write a road novel? It's different from the traditional plot-oriented works. The core of the description is focused on the people and things the protagonist encounters in the process of searching for the artifact, rather than blindly making the protagonist stronger."

Asada raised the first question, and when facing each author he recognized, he would use questions to expand the content to be discussed and the problems of the work.

Chapter 51: Small win, medium win, or big win?

"Yes, but it's not pure. After all, there are no works that can be completely put into one big category nowadays."

Takahashi Feng pulled out a picture from the stack of papers on the table. It was the concept picture of the protagonist signing a contract with the dragon that he and Eriri had revised together a few days ago.

"This painting was created by me and this girl together. I was responsible for the dragon, and she drew the rest."

Takahashi Kaede pointed at Eriri.

"You can see that the sky in the painting has changed. This shows that whether it is a dragon or a divine weapon, they are both capable of subverting the world."

“What I want to write may be a cross between a road novel and a traditional Western fantasy light novel, where the road is replaced by the protagonist’s journey to find a divine artifact. So the development of the story will not only convey the values ​​and various concepts I want to write through the protagonist’s eyes, but the protagonist will participate in it, will change in it, and will affect many things.”

This was roughly the writing style of Takahashi Kaede in his previous life. Even if he wanted to write light novels, he had to write what he was most proficient in.

"Have you ever considered that with the current pace of life, not many people would have the patience to watch it?"

Asada raised his first question.

Although current online entertainment is not as developed as it was in Takahashi Kaede's previous life, it is also developing rapidly. More and more people are sitting motionless with their mobile phones in their hands on the train, and scandals of employees committing suicide due to overtime work in companies are also widely spread.

People don’t have the time to spend a long time reading a novel and savoring what the author wants to bring to everyone.

One chapter foreshadows, one chapter for elaboration, and the remaining three chapters for the climax are what the market requires, because they can make readers feel satisfied in a short period of time.

"...To be honest, no. I have referenced some successful cases from the last century, but I haven't done much research on the present."

Takahashi Kaede is essentially still a otaku who never goes out. He may have gone shopping as many times as Goto Ichiri did, and basically doesn't have much understanding of the young market.

The same was true on the Internet. He didn't go out of his way to look at it, but simply thought that things now were not as exaggerated as in his previous life, so this kind of problem would not arise.

Now that I think about it, there is a hint of working in isolation.

"Then I can only tell you that your book can only sell in small quantities, not in large quantities! Gao Qiaofeng, answer me! Small win, medium win, or big win, which one do you want?"

“Win big if you can.”

Takahashi Kaede began to look forward to what would happen next. What would Mr. Asada say?

"Okay! Then be prepared to face the storm!"

Asada opened his hands exaggeratedly, like a magician about to unveil the curtain, and Takahashi Feng felt a faint red light flashing under his glasses.

"Wow~ It's about to start again~"

Machida Sonoko, who was sitting on the outside, felt that she should give up her performance position to Asada, and squeezed to the side of Takahashi Kaede.

Because three elementary school students couldn't take up much space, there was still a lot of space for her to sit.

Sometimes Asada would be in this state at his workstation, and would start commenting on the works without paying attention to the people around him. Although his speech was passionate and every word was brilliant, and no one would fall asleep if it was a lecture in a university, in the editorial office, it was considered a serious nuisance.

"Mr. Asada is so scary!"

Goto Ichiri hid her head in her clothes like a little turtle. If she were asked to choose whether to talk to such a person, she would probably choose to die without hesitation.

"Your book doesn't fit the background of the times! It doesn't fit the development needs! If it was in the golden age of Japan's economy in the last century, I can say that it would definitely be praised by the world until now! But!"

But here we go. The most important part of a complete review is often the words that follow the "but".

"What kind of label do you want to promote it with? Road trip article? Travel article? I bet that if you do this, what awaits you is the fire of hell and the abyss! You will doubt your ability and question your own heart, and even the flame of enthusiasm when you first started writing will be extinguished!"

"People are vulgar, but they also have discerning eyes! If others fall madly in love with your book, they will do everything they can to promote it! But how can you make them fall in love with it? Gao Qiaofeng, answer me, what do you love?!"

Asada stood up exaggeratedly, holding the brim of his hat with his left hand and pointing at Takahashi Kaede with his right hand, his whole body tilted in a very uncoordinated manner.

Are you JOJO?! Why can students from the acting department of the Film and Television Academy also become editors?! Is this the tragedy of a profession that is not very professional?!

Disturbing the people again...

Looking at Asada, who didn't care at all that he attracted the attention of the entire cafe, Machida Sonoko rubbed her head which was hurt by his voice.

Mr. Asada is such a nuisance.

But...what did she mean when she said Takahashi Kaede loved...?

It can't be that...

Ying Lili also fell into deep thought.

What does Feng like? Making figures? Writing novels?

Or did Mr. Asada want Kaede to create a protagonist who is introverted and likes to be alone, so that readers can resonate with her?

After all, many people who read light novels are otakus, so the element of being aloof is completely possible.

Or maybe Mr. Asada wanted Takahashi Kaede to refine her own elements, then select the ones that are most suitable for today's young people and put them into the book as a gimmick?

Ying Lili couldn't figure it out.

Mr. Asada's voice is very loud. Did it trigger any thoughts in Goto Ichiri?

Ah, Goto Ichiri fell asleep. If dreams count, then she was indeed thinking, but she didn't know it.

"like......"

Takahashi Feng lowered his head and began to deduce in his mind. He knew what Asada probably wanted him to think.

Although big data has not yet developed rapidly, it is already the prototype of the traffic era.

In the case of light novels, the exposure rate of your novel determines the life or death of the novel.

This is what is said on the Internet. In reality, it is the willingness of people who come to the bookstore to open his book that determines the life or death of the book.

His content and writing style are up to standard. The main problem is how to let people see his excellent content and writing style, so as to convert passers-by into his loyal fans.

The business model has always been to print the name of the novel on paper, followed by the volume name, a brief introduction, and finally a cover illustration at the bottom.

The cover illustration must be fancy enough because the first thing passers-by see is not the text, but the colors on the pattern.

The human brain is powerful but also lazy; it processes information in a sequential manner.

The text that expresses the story content is complex and requires the use of a separate area of ​​the brain, so it is often the slowest to read.

Light and bright patterns and colors that bring pleasure to people are the highest priority targets for the brain.

Chapter 52: Workers are the primary productive force

Asada wanted me to say what I liked.

Moreover, this favorite thing is related to the pattern, and it can attract the eye the moment it is seen.

As if realizing that Takahashi Kaede had found the trick, the corners of Asada's unshaven mouth curled up, and the wrinkles on his face piled up like waves, making him look like a pervert on the train.

Gao Qiaofeng raised his head, which had been lowered for a long time, and opened his lips slightly, and the words came out.

"Pretty girl."

It takes tremendous courage to say this in such a situation. After saying this, Gao Qiaofeng didn't dare to look at the eyes of the person next to him. His whole body felt slightly numb, and his cheeks and neck felt like they were on fire.

"It's not enough. You know there's more."

Slowly sitting back in his seat, Asada assumed the same sitting posture as Gendo Ikari, with his hands crossed under his chin, his glasses reflecting the light so that no one could see his sight.

He was like a devil, tempting Takahashi Kaede to sign a contract with him, exchanging dignity and some important things for the success of his work.

"Hey, Xiao Feng likes pretty girls?!"

Goto Ichiri seemed to have turned on a switch for some keyword index, and his head instantly popped out of his clothes.

She looked at her hands with suspicion, and they were visibly withered.

Takahashi Kaede's pupils trembled and she looked at Asada with shock.

Do you want to say it? Do you really want to say it? Now? Here? In front of your juniors, in front of so many of my friends, and an elder!

"......pornography"