Momo's Gradual Change - VOL. 1

C193. The Battle for Copyrights.

Chapter 193: The Battle for Copyrights

Zhang Chuliang: Are you thinking about not renewing with the platform?

Barely Rich: I’m sentimental; I don’t like change. But I refuse to compromise. If it were just about money, I've earned enough these past two years to live comfortably without worry. I can always work, I won’t starve. I’m not willing to sell what I’ve spent years creating to someone who isn’t worthy of that trust.

Zhang Chuliang lit a cigarette and scanned their conversation again, mouse in hand.

Barely Rich was the most principled author he’d ever met. She had a piercing clarity about this industry; if she chose to market herself, she’d be wildly successful. Yet she wouldn’t even respond to a single comment in the review section, holding herself with the stubborn integrity of an old-fashioned scholar, putting everything solely into her work.

She was, frankly, the least troublesome author he had to manage. Her reputation was spotless, so devoted that no other author on the platform could match her fan loyalty. Even though she only updated once a day, her readers waited eagerly, treasuring each chapter.

It was almost laughable—how many colleagues both openly and secretly envied him, trying every trick to win her over. Rumor had it, more than a few people had tried to add her as a friend just to pry her away, but Barely Rich flatly refused all friend requests. Reaching her was next to impossible.

No one had expected she’d reject the renewal proposal so bluntly, without the slightest room for negotiation. She hadn’t even bothered to hear their offer.

Just then, another message came through.

Barely Rich: Liang-ge, trust me on this. They’re not the right buyers. Let’s go for quality, alright? Selling to a reputable team would benefit the company far more than peddling our work like cabbages.

Zhang Chuliang smiled, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray.

Zhang Chuliang: The copyright is yours. If you say no, nobody can make you sell. But be prepared—they’ll try every avenue to reach you.

Barely Rich: Even you don’t know my phone number; how would they contact me? Liang-ge, I only trust you. No one else matters.

Zhang Chuliang felt deeply appreciated. All his efforts on her behalf hadn’t been in vain.

However...

Zhang Chuliang: Barely Rich, there’s something I need to hint at—strictly off the record. The company is dealing with internal faction issues. The editor-in-chief who mentored me is caught in it, and my hands are tied. You’re a keystone for the platform. If things fall apart, both sides will likely lobby for your support. Just keep this in mind.

Barely Rich knew better than anyone what was coming, an upheaval that would shake the whole literary world.

But one thing remained uncertain: which side was Liang-ge on?

If he ended up with the losing faction, cast aside...

Barely Rich: Liang-ge, don’t mention my contract to anyone.

Zhang Chuliang immediately understood her meaning and typed a solemn "Thank you."

Song Yimo smiled to herself. She wasn’t known for frequent updates, and she hadn’t managed it before, nor could she now. Unlike most people who could coast through four years of college, she couldn’t afford to. Her grandfather had worked at the university for decades, and she couldn’t let him down—she had to excel in every subject. She was even planning to pick up an additional foreign language, which would take up even more of her time.

Liang-ge was a warm-hearted editor, never pressuring her to update and shielding her from a lot of hassle. Working with anyone else wouldn’t have been this smooth.

Besides, the one who laughs last is not always the one who won first.

With Barely Rich ’s support, Zhang Chuliang felt more grounded. Even if things did escalate, they wouldn’t be entirely defeated.

To avoid attracting attention, Editor Zhang hadn’t told even the editor-in-chief that Barely Rich’s contract was expiring soon. The factional struggle would soon come to a head, and then…

But things rarely go as planned. Since Barely Rich stubbornly refused to sell her rights, the company, eager for this potential profit, started looking for other ways to get to her. Naturally, their first target was the contract.

The company’s legal advisor, Xu Pei, was well-known in the industry.

Unlike the standard agreement, Barely Rich’s contract had been modified according to her terms. It was clearly written that all rights to her work remained hers, with the company having only first refusal rights if the terms were equal. Nothing more.

If they sold her rights without consent, she could sue them into the ground, setting a dangerous precedent for future negotiations with other authors.

As Xu Pei read further, he suddenly stopped. "She only signed a three-year contract? And there was no extension?"

The executives exchanged looks and quickly crowded around to see.

"Get Zhang Chuliang here. He’s always managed Barely Rich."

The news couldn’t be kept from Zhang Chuliang, but he didn’t seem surprised. Facing the executives, he was direct. "I’ve only ever contacted her through Penguin Messenger, no other way."

"No mobile number? No landline?"

"No."

No one believed him, and Zhang Chuliang knew they wouldn’t. They assumed he was simply keeping the company from reaching Barely Rich directly.

He couldn’t blame them; he might think the same in their position.

"Let’s set that aside for now," one of the executives said, tapping the table. "Xiao Zhang, Barely Rich’s contract is down to a little over two months. We need to renew it, and we’re willing to negotiate terms."

Zhang Chuliang nodded. "I’ll talk to her."

"Not just talk, Zhang Chuliang. We need results."

"That, I can’t guarantee."

"Xiao Zhang, we all see your talent and value here. Don’t let us down."

Zhang Chuliang didn’t argue further. Back at his cubicle, he opened his computer and logged into Penguin Messenger. In his contacts, he clicked on the Author group—where only Barely Rich was listed.

He’d been promoted to chief editor a year ago, and most of his authors had already been handed off to other editors. Only Barely Rich remained under his direct care.

People assumed it was about the money, and he never denied it—who’d turn down more money?

But, truthfully, he also didn’t want stubborn Barely Rich working under anyone who would make her miserable.

With her slow update schedule, any other editor would have hounded her endlessly.

Just then, Chen Xin, who’d recently been promoted from deputy editor, rolled over in his chair, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What happened? Are they trying to sway you?"

Zhang Chuliang gave him a sidelong look, his glasses glinting. "What’s the rumor mill saying now?"

Chen Xin glanced around, then leaned in, whispering like a conspirator, "People are saying Zhang-ge has defected to the other side."

"Chen Xin, I’ve always had a suspicion about you."

"About what?"

Zhang Chuliang looked him up and down. "That you’re actually a woman disguised as a man."

What?!"

Chen Xin early slid off his chair, clutching his chest in mock offense. "Zhang-ge, look at my Adam’s apple, look at this skin, look at my flat chest—what part of me says ‘woman’?"

"With how you’re always gossiping with the women, it’s not too far off."

Chen Xin clutched his heart dramatically as he walked away, feigning hurt.