The next morning.
Although she had said ‘goodnight’.
霞之丘, dressed neatly, still had slight dark circles under her eyes.
Her skin condition has always been very good, she could be said to be naturally beautiful, so dark circles of this degree already indicated quite irregular sleep patterns.
She picked up her tablet.
Today, 霞之丘 was going to the Fushikawa Library.
Thanks to a certain someone.
Although she stayed up all night, the fourth volume of "Love Beat", which had been delayed due to writer's block, was finally completed.
Before going out, she passed by the entrance.
She saw the unopened white slippers on the shoe rack.
Size 37.
霞之丘 Shi Yu stared for a while, then strode out of the apartment.
Fushikawa Library, the coffee shop downstairs.
Machida Sonoko had already ordered two cups of coffee early, eagerly waiting.
霞 Shizi-sensei, or 霞之丘 Shi Yu, the fourth volume had been delayed for a long time.
This made Machida Sonoko worried whether 霞 Shizi would be able to finish the new volume before the deadline.
Or if they would have to postpone the release.
Unexpectedly, early this morning, 霞 Shizi suddenly informed her.
The new volume was finished.
This gave Machida Sonoko a feeling of unreal surprise.
But at the same time, she felt a faint sense of worry.
The release of "Love Beat" was truly full of twists and turns.
When 霞 Shizi came to her with the manuscript for the first volume.
Machida Sonoko, a seasoned editor, felt a sense of excitement.
It was the kind of work that, at a glance, you knew would sell well.
Even if it couldn't become a "masterpiece", it would definitely make waves in the market.
After its release, facts proved Machida Sonoko's judgment right.
The first volume, sold to date, has accumulated over 1.3 million in sales.
At this rate.
"Love Beat", assuming the average light novel length, would be ten volumes long and then end.
The total sales would probably exceed 10 million.
Becoming a well-known bestseller.
However,
The second volume flopped.
Sales were only about 200,000.
This was still based on the promotion of the first volume's success.
This caused "Love Beat" to be on the verge of being axed.
In the end, it persisted.
But the third volume was just an average work.
It no longer had the first volume's initial excitement.
Going forward, the fifth volume would probably be hastily finished.
Becoming a representative of a promising start but a disappointing end.
Although for a new writer, this is already a remarkable achievement.
But Machida Sonoko felt that 霞 Shizi should not just be at this level.
As she pondered.
The door to the coffee shop was pushed open.
Machida Sonoko quickly snapped out of her thoughts and waved to 霞之丘 Shi Yu at the door.
"Shi-chan, over here!"
霞之丘 sat opposite Machida Sonoko and pushed the fourth volume, typeset into a book, towards her.
Then she rested her chin on her hands, clearly looking a bit listless.
"I told you not to call me that."
Seeing that 霞之丘 wasn't in good spirits.
Machida Sonoko didn't tease her anymore.
"Yes, yes, 霞 Shizi-sensei, then I'll take a look at the manuscript..."
She focused entirely on the manuscript.
She hadn't even turned the first page.
Machida Sonoko's eyes involuntarily widened.
She couldn't wait to turn to the next page.
Her previous worries were almost completely gone.
This volume's manuscript once again gave her the same sense of excitement she had when she first saw it.
There was only the sound of pages turning between the two seats.
After about half an hour, turning the last page, Machida Sonoko closed the manuscript.
"Amazing, 霞 Shizi-sensei! This volume is definitely going to turn the series around!"
Hearing this praise.
霞之丘's fingers drew a slight circle on the table, not as happy as she had expected.
She had barely touched the coffee in front of her.
She only took a sip and couldn't drink any more.
Compared to what she had tasted last night, the difference was so great that it was impossible to swallow.
Machida Sonoko didn't notice 霞之丘's absent-minded state and excitedly said:
"Has 霞 Shizi-sensei recently encountered someone who makes her heart race?"
霞之丘's circling fingers paused slightly and she looked up.
"Why do you say that?"
Machida Sonoko pointed at the manuscript in her hand.
"A common problem for new writers is that the main character is a reflection of the author, an extension of the author."
"霞 Shizi-sensei's 'Sayuka' in this volume has come back to life, it's truly heartwarming."
"This situation is most likely because the writer, in real life, has experienced a shift in their emotions which is reflected in the work, what we call having 'sentiments'!"
霞之丘 Shi Yu, upon hearing this, unconsciously touched her chest.
'Is it that obvious?'
After discussing the sales arrangements.
The fourth volume was set to be released early next month.
The Fushikawa Library would allocate some of its promotional resources and hold a launch event.
They hoped to use the excellence of this volume to turn the series' reputation around.
霞之丘 Shi Yu returned to her apartment.
Walking into the entrance.
Her gaze once again fell on the white slippers on the shoe rack.
After a long moment.
She took off her black loafers and placed them neatly on the step below the entrance, alongside Yuki no Fuchi's shoes.
Then she picked up the white slippers, opened the packaging, and put them on.
They fit perfectly.
"霞之丘-senpai, you're just in time, come help me with the dishes!"
A voice called out from the kitchen.
霞之丘 Shi Yu quickly walked towards the kitchen, her steps somewhat eager.
She carried out the beautifully presented dishes from the kitchen.
For lunch today, Yuki no Fuchi had made green pepper stir-fried pork, mapo tofu, and tempura fried shrimp.
They looked and smelled delicious.
While carrying the dishes, 霞之丘 quietly pinched a fried shrimp and put it in her mouth.
The tempura batter was crispy, and the fresh shrimp inside was tender and juicy.
If 霞之丘 Shi Yu's willpower wasn't so strong.
She probably wouldn't have been able to leave any of the tempura fried shrimp for Yuki no Fuchi when he came to the table.
Looking at the figure in the kitchen finishing up, the skilled movements.
霞之丘 Shi Yu couldn't help but smile.
It was so good to have rented this place.
The future was long.
(ps: New book launch, please give flowers, please give tickets, monthly ticket rewards are welcome, every bit of support from the readers is a hundred points of motivation for the author! Support Sanqi, you won't get lost, Sanqi is typing at full speed!)