With final exams approaching, all the students in the class are busy with their final sprint.
Liu Feng, however, appeared relaxed.
Instead, Wang Juan became even more diligent, no longer playing after class, but often seeking out Liu Feng to discuss difficult problems.
One day after school, Liu Feng received a letter from the editorial department of "Comic King" magazine, containing a check for 800 yuan in royalties and a copy of the latest "Comic King" magazine.
He eagerly opened the letter and saw that it read: "Dear Liu Feng, your novel 'My Martial Arts Academy' has received a warm response since it was serialized in our publication. Readers have written to express their appreciation. Therefore, I am sending you this issue's payment of 800 yuan and this issue of the magazine. Please check and accept it."
Liu Feng was extremely excited.
The next day, as soon as they arrived at school, Liu Feng pulled Wang Juan out of the classroom and told her the good news privately.
Liu Feng pulled out a magazine and a check from his pocket and said with a smile, "Our 'My Martial Arts Academy' is being serialized in 'Comic King'! The editorial department even sent us the payment and the latest issue of the magazine!"
Wang Juan's eyes widened in disbelief as she took the magazine, flipped through it, and sure enough, saw her and Liu Feng's names listed in the author's column of the comic.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement: "Really? We're really having a serialization in 'Comic King'!"
For them, publishing their work in journals was something unimaginable before.
Liu Feng nodded and handed the royalty check to Wang Juan: "Here's the royalty payment. Here you go."
Wang Juan waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no, I don't want it. This is your hard work, it should all belong to you."
Liu Feng looked at her earnestly: "Wang Juan, my deskmate, I said I would draw a comic book for you, so this royalties should be yours. Besides, you put a lot of effort into this comic!"
Wang Juan said emotionally, "Liu Feng, I'm already very happy that you would draw comics for me. I really can't accept the payment; I'm just doing you a small favor."
She tried to push the check back to Liu Feng, but Liu Feng firmly held her hand and gently placed the check in her palm.
Wang Juan looked down at the thin check, and when she saw the number "eight hundred yuan" on it, she could hardly believe it.
She waved her hand again, her eyes full of insistence and refusal.
Seeing this, Liu Feng smiled gently, his eyes filled with affection for Wang Juan.
"Wang Juan, we're friends, right? Friends should share happiness and joy. Besides, your encouragement and support are my motivation for drawing comics. So, how about we split the royalties in half?"
His tone was sincere and earnest, making it impossible for Wang Juan to refuse.
Finally, Wang Juan blushed, looked up shyly at Liu Feng, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Liu Feng. I really... don't know what to say."
"Don't say that. We help each other and make progress together," Liu Feng said with a smile.
Then, Wang Juan asked curiously, "Liu Feng, how come the royalties are so high?"
Liu Feng explained, "It's not much. Actually, we only received regular royalties. This issue only published 10 pages, and the royalty per page was only 80 yuan. For some well-known comic artists, the royalty per page can reach 200-500 yuan, or even higher."
In 1997, Chinese comic magazines provided a platform for many comic artists to showcase their work and offered "high" royalties, which encouraged more creators to devote themselves to comic creation.
Wang Juan was very surprised after hearing the explanation: "Oh my, so much money! When can we continue painting?"
"Let's talk about it after your final exams!" Liu Feng pondered for a moment and replied softly.
Hearing Liu Feng say this, Wang Juan's mood suddenly plummeted. After the final exams, it would be graduation season.
Back in the classroom, Wang Juan clutched the "Comic King" magazine tightly in her hand. The colors on the cover seemed even more vibrant, and the gratitude in her heart was as warm and bright as the summer sun.
At this moment, her attitude towards Liu Feng changed again.
Then, a faint sadness crept in.
She gently turned the pages, inhaling the familiar and captivating scent of ink, and glanced at the cartoon drawn by Liu Feng himself.
Her cheeks involuntarily flushed, a blush unique to youth.
The gentleness and red glow of that lowered head caught Liu Feng's eye unintentionally, leaving him in awe.
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