Chen Nan had not been in the Underworld for long.
But.
He had suffered far more than he had in the mortal realm.
Of course.
Besides being targeted twice by Liang Jian.
The physical injuries paled in comparison to the torment of his soul.
For every time he wrote stories for Teacher Bai, he felt immense pain.
It felt like he was about to explode!
Although Song Ziwei had said she would cooperate with him if needed.
However.
Even the host, that useless wretch, hadn't harmed Song Ziwei.
How could he, a dignified gentleman, harm her?
If he did, he would be no better than the host.
It was for this reason.
That he had set his sights on Wu Ningshi, the beautiful woman.
She fit Chen Nan's aesthetic.
A pure and alluring appearance, with a voluptuous figure.
She was practically tailor-made for him.
While he could go to brothels and listen to music.
But...
Was that as enjoyable as being a Cao thief?
------
"You are shameless!"
Wu Ningshi was so enraged her face lost all color.
Her eyes were filled with fury.
She was not foolish.
She naturally understood Chen Nan's intentions.
This fellow wanted to use the extra ten percent profit to keep her.
To make her his woman.
Chen Nan couldn't help but laugh: "What decent person writes smut books?"
Wu Ningshi was speechless.
That was true.
What decent person would even look at such things?
Who would write them?
Chen Nan said: "You can consider my previous proposal."
"If you agree, we'll still split the contract fifty-fifty."
"But I'll give you the extra ten percent profit privately."
"This way, even if your husband dies one day."
"Even if you're driven out of the Wu family."
"The extra ten percent profit can ensure you live a life of comfort and security."
"Instead of relying on someone for security, I trust money more."
"What do you say?"
Wu Ningshi's hesitant gaze instantly turned resolute: "Okay, I agree."
"However, I have a condition."
She had finally compromised.
Chen Nan was right.
Security wasn't something others provided.
Money was more reliable than anyone.
Therefore.
She needed to prepare for the future while her husband was still alive.
If he truly died, the Wu family would surely expel her.
At that point, she wouldn't even know how to live.
Chen Nan revealed a roguish smile: "Speak."
"While my husband is alive, I... I cannot do anything that betrays him." Wu Ningshi's eyes darted, afraid to meet Chen Nan's gaze.
She didn't deny that Chen Nan was an extremely handsome and dashing man.
But did handsome and dashing men truly appeal to women?
No!
Handsome and debonair men were certainly pleasing to the eye.
But they could also create an intangible sense of distance.
Therefore.
When a man who was both handsome and slightly wicked appeared.
He could easily strike a chord in a woman's vulnerable heart.
This was the case for Wu Ningshi.
Even though Chen Nan was a bit wicked!
She really liked him!
Chen Nan's lips curved upwards: "What do you mean by 'cannot do anything that betrays him'?"
Wu Ningshi's face blushed, her tone, though chiding, held a hint of indignation: "You're deliberately asking what you already know!"
Chen Nan shook his head: "Truly, I don't know about this."
Wu Ningshi's beautiful eyes were filled with anger.
She knew Chen Nan definitely understood her meaning.
But this man was pretending not to know, clearly making things difficult for her.
Speaking of which...
Why did this topic make her mouth feel dry and her heart flutter?
After a moment's hesitation, she walked to the window.
Subconsciously, she extended her middle finger and poked through the paper pane.
Then, blushing, she said: "As long as this layer of paper isn't broken, that's fine."
Seeing that slender middle finger.
Chen Nan suddenly realized.
She was also a craftswoman!
However.
He liked such people.
He grinned mischievously: "So, as long as this layer of paper isn't broken, other things are permissible, right?"
A wicked glint in his eyes, like Cupid's arrow, struck Wu Ningshi's heart. She chided him, her voice tinged with resentment: "Why are you so lecherous?"
Chen Nan looked down at his shoes: "What color are my shoes?"
Wu Ningshi didn't understand why Chen Nan had suddenly changed the subject, but she replied: "White!"
Chen Nan nodded slightly and asked: "Will white shoes turn yellow after being worn for a long time?"
Wu Ningshi nodded.
Chen Nan: "Will white clothes turn yellow after being worn for a long time?"
"Will white paper turn yellow after being kept for a long time?"
"Will an apple turn yellow after being bitten?"
Wu Ningshi continued to nod.
She knew all these things.
They were commonplace in life.
Chen Nan then asked: "Do you know why this happens?"
Wu Ningshi shook her head.
Chen Nan smiled: "This matter seems complicated, but it's actually quite simple."
"The core of the universe is yellow."
"And I am merely following the truth of the universe."
"Living a simple and pure life."
Upon hearing this.
Wu Ningshi gasped.
She felt as if she had encountered a celestial being.
This was the first time she had seen someone elevate shamelessness to such an extreme.
And yet.
To connect shamelessness with the truth of the universe.
This guy did have some talent.
It was not hard to imagine.
His book, once released, would surely cause quite a stir.
It might even become a bestseller.
Chen Nan moved closer to Wu Ningshi, wrapping an arm around her slender waist. His lips curved upwards, forming a graceful and handsome arc. "You haven't answered me yet, besides breaking through that layer of paper, are other things permissible?"
Although she couldn't break through that layer of paper.
For Chen Nan, there were still many interesting things he could do.
This was precisely what he, a scoundrel, excelled at.
"Don't be like this..." Wu Ningshi quickly dodged away, flustered and afraid of being consumed.
"Come on, sign the contract, a sixty-forty split." Chen Nan didn't tease the woman further. After all, she was already like fat meat within his grasp.
There was no rush.
He said: "We can print a thousand copies initially. The market price is two taels of silver per copy. If the market response is good, we'll increase the print run."
Wu Ningshi: "Isn't two taels of silver a bit too cheap?"
Chen Nan was nonchalant: "We need to open up the market first. We'll be releasing many more books later, so it's not too late to raise the price then."
"Leeks should be harvested batch by batch, no need to rush."
Wu Ningshi fetched paper and brush and drafted the contract.
There were two copies, one for each party.
He asked: "If our side works overtime, how long will it take to print a thousand books?"
"At the earliest, three days." Wu Ningshi added: "Have you had someone draw the book cover and illustrations?"
Chen Nan replied: "We don't need those."
"We are just selling stories, relying on the readers' imaginations to complete the story content."
"Book covers and illustrations would only be superfluous."
Wu Ningshi had to comply.
Although she was a businesswoman and eloquent,
She felt she was no match for Chen Nan.
Chen Nan was overjoyed: "The contract is signed. I'll trouble you, young lady, to handle the printing. Let's aim to be on the market in three days!"
His tone shifted, and he winked at Wu Ningshi: "Do you have any plans tonight? How about we find a quiet place to discuss life?"