Chapter 254 Contract

On the afternoon of Xiaoman's birthday, Xiao Liu drove to pick up Nan Zhiyi and Zhang Yueran from school and picked up the cream cake they had ordered on the way.

When Nan Zhiyi arrived home, she saw Zhou Anping being carefully supported by Meng Qingshan, already sitting on the sofa in the living room.

"Anping, what brings you here?"

Nan Zhiyi quickly put down her things and went over, scolding, "Didn't I tell you to rest at home? Why did you make a special trip?"

Zhou Anping said with a smile, "How could I not come to Xiaoman's birthday? Besides, I'm feeling cooped up at home, so I need to get some fresh air."

Meng Qingshan gently chimed in, "The doctor said she's fine, but she was worried about it and said she absolutely had to come and congratulate me in person."

As he spoke, Zhou Anping took the packaged rectangular box from Meng Qingshan and gestured to Xiaoman beside him: "Xiaoman, come and see this. This is a gift from your Uncle Meng and me."

Xiaoman couldn't hold it with his two little hands, so Gu Xiao took it from him, opened it, and found a set of wooden toy soldiers dressed in different military uniforms, with exquisite workmanship.

The little guy got excited as soon as he saw it and immediately wanted to play with it.

Gu Xiao then took Xiaoman aside and put his son and toys away.

Zhang Yueran leaned closer to the sofa and asked, "Anping, my sister told me you fell and hurt yourself. Is your foot alright?"

"I'm fine now, much better, but I still need to be careful."

Zhou Anping replied with a smile, pulled Zhang Yueran over, and said to Meng Qingshan, "This is our little sister who grew up with us, Zhang Yueran. We all call her Yueyue. She is now studying at Peking University with Zhiyi, studying radio engineering. She's very capable."

Meng Qingshan nodded and smiled at Zhang Yueran: "Yueyue, hello."

Zhang Yueran, with her cheerful personality, said with a smile, "Sister Anping, you have excellent taste! Comrade Meng is such a handsome man, and standing next to you, you two are a perfect match!"

Zhou Anping's cheeks flushed slightly at her words, "You have such a sweet tongue."

The group sat on the sofa, exchanging pleasantries and chatting about their interesting experiences studying at Peking University.

Before long, Nan Zhiyi went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner for everyone.

Sister Zhang prepared a sumptuous feast. At the table, Xiaoman was overjoyed to see so many people with him and a beautiful cake.

After dinner, two small candles were lit. Xiaoman stared wide-eyed at the flickering flames, and with her mother's prompting, she successfully blew out the candles with a "poof," drawing laughter and applause from everyone.

Comrade Gu Zhao's second birthday celebration came to a perfect end.

After Zhou Anping and Meng Qingshan said their goodbyes and left, Zhang Yueran went to her guest room to rest as usual.

After washing up, Nan Zhiyi lay down on the bed and almost fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

After Gu Xiao lay down beside her, she instinctively snuggled into his arms.

She was dozing off when Gu Xiao suddenly said, "Qingshan is going to be a father."

Nan Zhiyi's sleepiness vanished halfway, "How did you know?"

Gu Xiao pulled her closer. "The way he acted, he practically worshipped Zhou Anping like a precious glass. As he helped her sit down and stand up, his eyes never left her, and he couldn't suppress his smile. What else could it be but that he's about to become a father?"

Nan Zhiyi quietly admitted, "Yes, you guessed right. Because it's early in the pregnancy, there are many things to be aware of, which is why I didn't tell you."

Gu Xiao sighed, "My wife keeps all her secrets to herself now, sigh..."

His sigh was filled with resentment.

Nan Zhiyi groped in the darkness to cup his face and coaxed him softly, "Fifth Brother, I really didn't mean to hide it from you. Anping specifically told me that it's not good to make a fuss before it's been three months. I didn't tell anyone."

Gu Xiao nuzzled her nose against hers, his tone a mix of stubbornness and pleading: "Then you have to make it up to me."

As he spoke, his warm lips began to kiss her neck gently and repeatedly, while his hands also slipped under the hem of her nightgown, his palms burning hot.

Nan Zhiyi shrank back, gave him a perfunctory light peck on the lips, and protested, "Stop it... I have class early tomorrow morning..."

Gu Xiao seized the opportunity to capture her lips in his, deepening the kiss, and after a long while, he breathed softly, "The commander wants a truce again..."

Nan Zhiyi softened for a moment, and simply patted his back: "Good boy, go to sleep."

Gu Xiao stretched out his long arm and held the person tightly, saying in a muffled voice, "Go to sleep."

Over the next few days, Nan Zhiyi attended classes during the day and, after putting Xiaoman to sleep at night, would immerse herself in her study, meticulously refining the manuscript word by word, based on the revision suggestions Lin had made in his previous reply.

After finally managing to organize and transcribe the revised parts along with the subsequent chapters, she quickly went to the post office and mailed the thick stack of manuscripts to the magazine.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Editor Lin received the manuscript, he called Nan Zhiyi during the afternoon after school.

"Comrade Zhiyi? I received the manuscript you sent. I didn't do anything else but read it in one go! It's so well written, the plot is tightly woven, and the imagination is beyond words!"

"Editor Lin, you flatter me. It's your guidance that's so helpful."

“Well, it’s because you’re talented,” Lin Yuan said, getting to the point.

"I'm calling to discuss two important matters. Your previous book had an additional print run of 50,000 copies, and the royalties have been settled. Secondly, the editorial department has discussed your prequel, and they all agree that it has great potential. We plan to publish it as a standalone book once it reaches a certain length. We need to finalize the contract with you beforehand. When would be a convenient time for you to come to my office so we can discuss it in person?"

Nan Zhiyi thought for a moment and said, "Editor Lin, you're too kind. I'll be home on Saturday afternoon."

"Then it's settled. I'll come over and bother you on Saturday afternoon!" Lin Yuan readily agreed.

On Saturday afternoon, Lin Yuan arrived at the Gu family's courtyard on time, carrying a bulging canvas bag.

Nan Zhiyi welcomed him into the living room, where Sister Zhang had already prepared herbal tea.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Yuan took out a large stack of letters tied with leather straps from his bag and said with a smile, "These are some letters from readers that I've collected recently. There are quite a few, and they're all hoping you'll continue writing."

Then, he took out a settlement sheet stamped with a red seal and handed it over, saying, "This is the royalty settlement sheet for the reprint of the previous single volume. Please take a look."

Nan Zhiyi took the thin piece of paper; this was the fourth time she had received such an order.

The first two times Lin Yuan was busy, he sent registered letters.

Her gaze swept over the numbers; they were even more substantial than last time. "Thank you for your trouble, Editor Lin."

"You deserve it."

Lin Yuan waved his hand and took out two copies of the printing contract. "The main reason I'm contacting you this time is for the standalone edition of this prequel. The editorial department held a meeting, and in view of the bestseller status and reader feedback of your last book, the publishing house has decided to increase your royalty rate to ten percent this time."

He pointed to the relevant clauses on the contract and said, "Take a look. If there are no problems, we'll sign it today."