They don't actually think I like them, do they?

You can't exactly write a story about a perverted otaku who sees a beautiful woman on the street and then decides to create a bishoujo game, can you?

Such recommendations have also led to a consequence.

On the first day of the official release of "Mob," although the pre-sale results were quite good, the sales increase on the first day was clearly not commensurate with its popularity.

Just like an upcoming movie, the promotional videos generated a lot of buzz and discussion before its release.

However, on its opening day, while the box office performance wasn't bad, it clearly didn't match the level of discussion it generated beforehand.

Is my book going to be abandoned?

Lin Han was somewhat puzzled.

In fact, the reason for this is quite simple.

JC Light Novel, as a large-scale light novel publisher, has a large and loyal readership.

Light novels today are divided into two types: online light novels and traditional light novels, which are physical books.

While they are not too different in the major aspects, they have many subtle differences.

For example, online light novels tend to have bolder themes, with novel elements like "pursuing someone else" and "yuri" occasionally appearing in them.

However, traditional light novels, being a relatively new genre, have a slightly lower readership. Before reading light novels, most people were familiar with simple and pure romance novels like "Junkoku" (Pure Love).

So, on the first day of its release, when "Passerby" officially entered the view of Chinese light novel readers, the comments section looked like this—

"Huh? Three female leads? Is this going to be a harem? How disgusting!"

"A friend strongly recommended I buy this book, but after reading the synopsis and the recommendation, it seems like it's full of flaws..."

"How did this thing become the third most pre-sale item in September? It's so fucking vulgar! Dude, I'm a scholar of the Spring and Autumn Annals!"

"I'm a noble light novel reader! How could I possibly read something like this?"

Any niche product will inevitably encounter this problem once it enters the mainstream.

Lin Han wasn't the only one noticing the sales problems; Zhu Ye Qing was too. However, there was nothing they could do but wait!

Let time be the judge to see if this book can stand the test of time!

September 8th.

JC Light Novel Club, Editorial Department.

Today is a special day; a great battle is about to begin.

More than twenty editors sat in front of their computers, ready to go, their eyes resolute.

Sitting at the very front, the editor-in-chief, Hu Yi, looked at all the editors and solemnly issued the order:

"The preliminary judging for the 'This Light Novel is Awesome' writing contest of 2022 has now begun!"

034. Do you want to destroy Chinese light novels?!

This year's Niu Award brings together 509 light novel entries submitted from the end of last year to September of this year.

As one of the most authoritative light novel awards in China, the entire editorial department put in 100% effort.

Before this first formal preliminary review, the editorial department had already spent a week conducting a multi-stage selection process, eliminating the vast majority of books with low sales, suspected pornography, violations, or that did not fit the theme. Now, 300 works remain.

Now, these 300 books will be selected in this office to advance to the next round of the grand prize!

At the order of editor-in-chief Hu Yi, more than twenty editors immediately began to carefully review the document.

Although this essay contest was a very serious matter, the editors at JC Editorial Department chose a relatively relaxed review method during the review process.

While reading, everyone freely expressed their opinions in the WeChat group, recommending books to each other and refuting each other's points, sparking further discussion about the same book. A few poor readers would be publicly criticized and repeatedly ridiculed by a large group of people.

The advantage of this review process is that it leads to more objective and fair evaluations of the works. However, the disadvantages are also obvious: it can sometimes be easy to be swayed by popular opinion.

"So many amazing teachers participated in this year's competition! Just looking at the names of these authors, I feel the competition is incredibly prestigious!" Editor Da Ma exclaimed in the group chat.

“Yes, Mr. Gong Ye, the winner of last year’s Golden Award, is also participating! His name is really intimidating for this year’s authors!” Editor Niu Niu said.

Last year at the 7th Annual Niu Awards, author Gong Ye swept the charts with his Dungeons & Dragons story, "Black Dragon," which dominated the scene with its extremely bloody style and became the hottest light novel of the year!

This year, Miyano-sensei's "Black Dragon" is also currently being adapted into an anime, and it is expected to be available on Bilibili in a few months.

This year at the Bull Awards, Gong Ye once again entered the competition with his new work "War of the Fallen," which is also based on the Dungeons & Dragons theme.

This book, released in January of this year, has already firmly secured a place in the top three of the bestseller list. It is currently the most popular favorite to win the top spot.

"Seriously, Miyano-sensei's new work is so exciting and amazing! Every time I watch it, I get so fired up!" Da Ma couldn't help but exclaim.

As soon as the topic of Miyano came up, the editors in the group all started to chime in.

"Indeed, especially the part where they fight Youlong, it made me cry!"

"Cindy is so cute! I think what's really amazing about Miyazaki is the female characters he creates. Su Su in 'Black Dragon' was just like that, she really touched me!"

In this eighth annual Niu Award, which is full of hidden talents, Gong Ye is certainly not the only veteran author.

"Have you all read Teacher Xifeng's 'Melody of Love'? Teacher Xifeng's love stories are as sweet as ever!"

"I've seen it! The male and female leads are both super cute!"

"The sugar content is off the charts! It made me smile like a doting auntie and I couldn't stop!"

Just as everyone in the group was having a heated discussion about the works of several great teachers.

A weak voice asked,

Has anyone watched "Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend"?

The person who sent this message was editor Zhu Yeqing.

"How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend? That sounds familiar. What book is it from?"

"Is this a new book that was just released at the beginning of this month? It seems like the pre-sale sales were pretty good! But I wasn't interested in the title, so I didn't read it."

"Wait a minute, could it be that book that got a lot of complaints about being vulgar?" Editor Da Ma realized.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yeqing was so ashamed that she could hardly lift her head.

"I don't think there's any need to discuss this kind of new author and new book, especially since it's suspected of being borderline. Just pass it over if it's not popular," Niu Niu added.

With hundreds of books awarded each year, it's impossible to read every single one carefully. Scientific selection can significantly improve work efficiency.

"Actually, I think the book is a good book. It's just that there are too few books of this type, and readers haven't been exposed to it before, which is why they are polarized."

At this moment, Snow Rabbit stepped forward and spoke.

Zhu Yeqing looked at her good sister with gratitude.

Seeing that two editors were recommending the book at the same time, the editors had no choice but to take a look.

The group chat quickly quieted down, and everyone went to read their books.

A few minutes later--

"Holy crap... something's off about this book! It seems to have something going on!" a male editor said first in the group chat.

Soon, the other editors also came out one after another.

"Eri is so cute! Holy crap, I really love this character!! And Senpai too!"

"I couldn't stop laughing while watching it. How should I put it? It didn't actually push the boundaries, but I just don't know why..."

"I don't know why, but it's making you hard, isn't it?"

"Wow, you can resist seeing your senior's black stockings?!" Editor Niu Niu said, blushing as she was exposed.

"Damn, I really want to ride on Eriri's back and play with her twin tails!!"　

One second they were seriously discussing light novels in an editorial group, and the next they've turned into a gentlemen's chat!

As the male editors spoke more and more boldly, all the female editors fell silent.

The female editors also read this book, "Passerby".

However, their feelings differed somewhat from those of the male editors.

Isn't this just a typical otaku-friendly novel?!

The explicit content and novel, unprecedented settings... to put it bluntly...

This is objectifying women!

How could there be such a perverted, vulgar, and obscene novel!

This new author named Coffee must be a greasy middle-aged man!

What the female editors found even more incomprehensible was that

The people who signed the contract for this book were actually Bamboo Leaf Green and Snow Rabbit!

It's one thing for the man to be disgusting, but how could two girls allow a book like this to be published?!

Did the bamboo leaf viper and snow rabbit eat this coffee?!

"I think this book, 'Passerby,' is really good! Although it's by a new author, the writing style is really not like that of a new author. The female characters are also super cute. I think it's worth promoting it and seeing what happens next!" Editor Da Ma made his conclusion directly.

　Finally, this sentence ignited the powder keg.

The female editor, Huomao, couldn't hold back any longer and publicly refuted her in the group chat.

"If a book like this were to advance, it would be an insult to the image of our entire JC Light Novel Club!"

After Huomao said that, the other female editors in the group stopped hiding their opinions and started to speak up.

"Indeed! This novel is so vulgar. It's fine to read it in private, but it's definitely not suitable for public reading!"

"It's disgusting that light novels that objectify women and pander to otaku can be praised so highly!"

"This book has been promoted to the 'Greatest Award'? Are you trying to ruin the light novel genre in China?!"

035. The Fatal Problem

The male editors in the group were immediately displeased upon hearing this.

What do you mean by pandering to otaku? Vulgar?

Does that mean that people who find this book enjoyable are just losers or shut-ins?

Is it wrong for people to genuinely like the beautiful female characters in the show?!

"Novels are meant to entertain the public, don't make a big deal out of it!" editor Niu Niu retorted.

Niu Niu and his friends have just enjoyed a lot of happiness from this book, and now the female editors are saying that Niu Niu only reads this kind of vulgar novel to please him. Can Niu Niu agree to that?!

"It's true that it's meant to entertain the public, but as a publishing house, we also have a responsibility to the works we present to the public! Do you even know what values ​​'The Passerby' conveys?!" Huomao said. "This will have a huge impact on the image of our publishing house!"

"I don't think this book's advancement to the essay contest will have any impact on our publishing house's image."

The Malaysian editor said in a very serious tone,

"As everyone knows, the biggest difference between light novels and traditional literature is that we attract readers through uniquely charismatic characters. I believe this book, *Passerby*, is one such example."

In this respect, no one can match it! Its character development is the best I've seen in this year's writing competition! Just because you think its character development is pandering to readers doesn't negate its excellence!!

Short essays were posted one after another in the editors' group, and the two sides engaged in heated debates.

An editor who was quietly reading a book and hadn't checked the group messages accidentally opened a WeChat group and saw a bunch of short essays that were hundreds or even thousands of words long. It was enough to give me a stroke!

Suddenly, the editorial group, which had been discussing things harmoniously, became extremely hostile because of this book.

In the past, when essay competitions were held, some works often sparked debates. After all, everyone has their own preferences, and it's normal to have different opinions on a book.

However, in the past, when editors argued, it was mostly because:

"You don't understand, that's just how this teacher is!"

"You just don't appreciate it, but I think it's beautiful!"

"The minor flaw does not detract from its overall quality."

Now, the editors' argument surrounding this book, "How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend," has turned into:

"This is a desecration of light novels! Do you want to destroy light novels?!"

"How shameless! They'd even abandon their faith for such vulgar novels!"

"Do you still remember how you cried when you first read a light novel as a child and saw the male and female protagonists living happily ever after?"