Chapter 44: Regarding the Blame for Not Writing Dragon Raja 4

Chapter 44: The Scapegoat for Not Writing Dragon Clan IV

After the copies of Dragon Clan III in the shop were sold out, Lu Anzhi sat down to rest and glanced at his phone, just in time to see the avatar of his editor, Kuku, flashing in the messaging app.

He opened the app and saw the message from Kuku: Boss B, are the copies of Dragon Clan III sold out over at your place? The offline department asked me to check if you need them to send over some more.

This message was followed closely by another one: I heard that since noon, the offline department has been receiving restock requests for Dragon Clan III continuously. The books are sold out in so many places.

Lu Anzhi slumped back in his chair, typed out a question, and sent it: Didn’t they print a huge number of copies for the third book? How is it already not enough?

Kuku’s invisible gray avatar quickly lit up, and a reply came through: Printing a lot is relative too, Boss B. Distributed across the whole country, the quantity for each location isn't actually that much.

Then another message followed: Mainly, none of us expected the sales of the third volume to be this explosive. It seems to be related to Boss B releasing your books so fast.

Followed by a supplementary message: Of course, the main reason is still that Boss B’s books are just that good.

And then came the follow-up question: So, Boss B, are you really not going to write Dragon Clan IV?

This guy just wouldn't quit.

Lu Anzhi ignored the last question, typed, and asked: Does releasing books quickly have anything to do with sales?

Kuku replied: It definitely does. Boss B, you released the first volume last year, the second volume early this year, and now the third volume is out. By following up so closely, the hype keeps building and doesn't have time to cool down. When the hype is maintained, the sales are bound to be high.

Then he added: For other people’s series, there’s basically a gap of over a year between installments. You are really much faster than them, Boss B.

Lu Anzhi instantly got annoyed. He tapped away furiously on his phone: Then you keep rushing me for manuscripts!

Zhang Suxin was sitting nearby playing with Qianqian. She couldn't help glancing at Lu Anzhi and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lu Anzhi lit up his phone screen, and Zhang Suxin saw the conversation between him and Kuku, followed by Kuku’s latest reply: Hehehe! Isn't this because I've been spoiled rotten by you, Boss B? Who told you to write books so fast.

Zhang Suxin couldn't help letting out a chuckle and asked, "Is this Kuku your editor?"

"Yeah, my coordinating editor."

Resentment surged in Lu Anzhi’s heart. While answering Zhang Suxin, he tapped out a message to Kuku: Fine! From now on, whenever anyone asks why I'm not writing Dragon Clan IV, I'll tell them it's because you made me mad.

Kuku: ?

Kuku: ......

Kuku: T皿T

Kuku: Don't do that!

Kuku: Boss B, that'll kill me!

Lu Anzhi: I'll send you the manuscript for a new book in a while.

Kuku’s attitude changed instantly: So fast?

Then he added: Boss B truly lives up to his name, having a new manuscript ready so soon.

He still refused to give up, asking: Is it Dragon Clan IV? Are you messing with me, Boss B? It has to be Dragon Clan IV, right? It definitely is Dragon Clan IV!

Lu Anzhi replied decisively: No. Dragon Clan IV was pissed out of existence by you. Don't overthink it.

Kuku hurriedly apologized to Lu Anzhi, begging him to have a change of heart. But Lu Anzhi had a heart of stone and was completely unmoved.

Zhang Suxin asked softly from the side, "Are you really not writing it?"

Because Wang Ping was also in the shop, she deliberately lowered her voice and didn't mention the title Dragon Clan IV.

But Lu Anzhi knew what she was asking about and replied, "Not writing it. My talent has dried up, I can't write anymore."

Zhang Suxin blinked at him. She firmly disbelieved these words; she couldn't see a single trace of someone whose talent had dried up in Lu Anzhi.

Evening was approaching, getting close to the closing time Lu Anzhi and Wang Ping had agreed upon.

Lu Anzhi slumped in his seat, having rested enough. When he stood up, he saw Wang Ping sitting behind the counter looking toward the door, seeming somewhat preoccupied.

Just as he was about to go over and ask what Wang Ping was thinking about, Qianqian ran over first. She stood by the edge of the counter, tilted her head up, and asked, "Auntie, what are you looking at?"

Lu Anzhi felt that Qianqian was speaking more and more fluently, and her sentences were getting longer. Zhang Suxin said that children change by the day, and it really seemed to be true.

Wang Ping snapped out of her thoughts, withdrew her gaze, looked down at Qianqian, smiled gently, and said, "Auntie is looking at the cars outside."

Qianqian nodded and said, "Mm-mm, there are cars outside." Then the little one held up her fingers and started counting them off: "There's a car, there's a bus, there's an ambulance, there's a police car..."

Wang Ping smiled, patted Qianqian on the head, and said, "Qianqian is so smart! Qianqian knows so much!"

"Qianqian is awesome!"

Qianqian cheered happily. This "Qianqian is awesome" had already become the little one's catchphrase.

Lu Anzhi walked up beside Qianqian and asked, "Sister Wang, are you worrying about the books you promised your daughter-in-law?"

Wang Ping replied, "Not really. At the end of the day, it's just a few books. If you can't buy them now, you'll always be able to buy them after a while. It's just that I promised my daughter-in-law, and now that the books are all sold out, it'll inevitably feel a bit embarrassing when I go back and tell her."

Lu Anzhi felt he somewhat understood why Wang Ping's family maintained such harmonious relationships. Whenever she talked about her son and daughter-in-law, the expression on her face was filled with happiness and warmth, without a shred of pretense.

Only through such mutual consideration and mutual devotion could things be this way, right?

"Sister Wang, open the bottom drawer and take a look."

Lu Anzhi said.

Wang Ping was slightly stunned.

Hearing this, Qianqian chimed in eagerly, "Qianqian will open it, Qianqian will open it!"

So Wang Ping stepped aside from behind the counter and said, "Alright, let Qianqian open it."

The little one walked behind the counter and pulled the handle of the second drawer down. But she was too small and lacked the strength. She strained with all her might, making grunting noises, but couldn't pull the drawer open no matter what.

Then she immediately adapted, grabbing Wang Ping's hand: "Open it together."

Everyone chuckled.

Wang Ping reached out, grabbed the drawer handle together with Qianqian, and pulled it open. The set of unsealed Dragon Clan III inside instantly came into view.

"Wow, it's books!"

Qianqian cried out in pleasant surprise.

"Right, these are books for Auntie Wang."

Lu Anzhi said.

"They're books for Auntie."

Qianqian nodded, grabbed Wang Ping's hand to reach into the drawer, and said, "Auntie, take them."

Wang Ping was stunned for a moment and looked at Lu Anzhi: "This is?"

Lu Anzhi said, "This set is the author-signed edition. I originally planned to keep it here to see if you wanted a brand-new copy or a signed one. But now everything else is sold out, so only this set is left for you. Please don't mind it, Sister Wang."

Wang Ping hastily said, "This is too precious. An author-signed version is worth much more than the original book price..."

Lu Anzhi took the books out, shoved them into Wang Ping's hands, and said, "No matter how precious, they don't have much meaning just sitting here with me. Hold onto them properly, Sister Wang, so you have something to show your family when you get back. It'll get tedious if you keep fussing."

Helpless, Wang Ping could only express her gratitude and accept the books.