I Thought You were a Rich Snob

Not long after Justin Wang disconnected from his call with author Jie, he composed himself and called the alleged Mr 'Yun'.

Yang Yun was already in his office, going through documents when his phone vibrates. His calls during work time were usually going through his secretary first, but this matter was private, so he didn't involve other people. He was convinced to have enough integrity to deal with such a small issue himself. Apart from taking the money laughingly, what else would the other side do?

"Mr. Yun, author Jie turned down the money."

"..."

What did he just hear? Did they turn down the money? He put his hand on his temple and tried to comprehend those words.

"I wasn't aware that your site allows people to turn run from paid chapters. I thought once the chapters were paid for, the author has to provide the readers with the chapters?" He said, his voice dangerously low.

He had read the terms of service on the way to the office. Reading the terms of a contract was vital whenever money or services were exchanged. Whoever read and understood the fine prints could emerge as the winner once they knew how to use them to one's advantage.

"That... I think one Million far exceeds our usual terms of service."

"Not only that, it far exceeds the value of the story, don't you think, Mr. Wang? That is why I even came up with a new contract to ensure things are up to par. And even allowing to post chapters daily instead of all at once, since I doubted that they had them queued up. Haven't you told this to the author?"

If they had chapters already, they would've posted them regularly, not letting his sister wait for weeks. He allowed them post daily, which was already very considerate.

"I did! And when I did, author Jie hung up on me!" The other side bore open his grievances.

"Why would they do that?"

"Author Jie said she writes for fun!" The righteousness Justin Wang used to explain let President Yang's eyebrow wander closer together in disbelief.

Horseshit! He almost cursed into the phone. What kind of reason was that?! If you like to write and someone even offers to pay you for writing, you then proceed to bite the hand that feeds you?

"Mr. Wang! You don't believe this reason yourself, do you?" He seriously doubted the reason and he could even less understand why this guy suddenly sounded so... happy. As the middle man who got a big meat pie for free, why didn't he become angry when one of his authors declined a heavy sum of money? Wouldn't that also take away Justin Wang's share of income? President Yang wondered if he had stepped into another world when he rashly clicked on that send button yesterday. A world where money suddenly doesn't matter?

"She... she is a true artist!" Justin Wang tried to defend the decision made weakly.

"Even artists strive to sell their work or try to find patrons to help them. Only a handful of artists have ever become recognised and independent in their lifetime, don't you know?"

Michael Yang used a coaxing voice. He went forth: "I know that a passionate man as yourself recognise and want to protect the authors in your care, but do you think I would want to harm them or need to exploit someone with my status and ability? What gain would I have?"

He never said his real name or his occupation, not that it mattered in this case, but someone who had one Million to his free disposal can't be trying to exploit a no-name author, right? If they thought so, he would be massively offended.

"O...of course not." Justin Wang said meekly.

"The more talented someone is, the more they are in need of a helping hand. Most artists think they have to shoulder everything alone - that it was similar to begging if they reach out their hand for help - so they keep living from hand to mouth all their life. To keep that foolish pride, they take on odd jobs while doing their art, resulting in a vicious circle of financial drought that would drag them down mentally and physically."

What he just said was according to experience.

In his field of work, how many artists have he met who worn themselves down by following a pipe dream? Some people were genuinely talented, but apart from that, they lacked the ambition and human sense to sacrifice a little of themselves and ask for help. Some people were dictated by their senseless pride all their life. On the other hand, some just don't know when to give up. Too much passion and too low self-esteem would end up in getting lost in that dream of becoming something bigger than you are. They would do anything and everything most humans wouldn't even dare consider. He had met people who sent themselves to his door, licking his feet, asking for patronage. Other's think they were high and mighty. Once they were recognised a little bit, they would think they've made it, not knowing that their position was so fragile, even a small breeze could make them fall.

Justin Wang was silent on the other side of the phone. You could feel his hesitation, even though they were miles away. This man was really too easy to convince. If you were a door to door seller, Justin Wang would be your most favourite customer for sure. And if you were to sell him out, he would be that kind of guy who would help you count the money.

"I didn't think you had so many thoughts on this matter." He uttered. Of course, Justin knew the life of an artist. He struggled himself most of his life, sometimes starving himself into sleep and barely making ends meet. Those days are gone, and now he was stable, but he was far from free of problems. Life was still sending him challenges now and then. Money was almost always involved somehow.

"I won't take back the money yet." Michael Yang sighed "Just keep it for now. I will contact the author personally and see their reasons for myself."

For someone to turn down such an offer, either they were too prideful, or too greedy, when they smelled money and wanted even more now. He liked neither of those types - the prideful and the greedy. Let's hope that this author Jie was just a mental case. You can't reason with those people, but at least you could coax them if you find the right buttons to push.

"Regardless of success or failure, following your terms of service, ten percent of the money is for you to keep as a maintenance and brokerage fee, Mr. Wang." He also added. He had the feeling that this guy, Justin Wang, was too easy to manipulate. Whatever they had talked about, he unhesitatingly took the authors side. President Yang needed to reign him in entirely if he wanted to have the upper hand in this.

"Master Yun!!" Shook with deference, Justin Wang nearly broke out in tears again "What are ten! I am not even worth one percent of that money! I am so sorry that I thought you were a rich snob, even if for a second, when you were so generous all this time, having such deep sympathy for the artist! You're a true paragon of life, a true patron of the fine arts!"

"..."

There was a limit as to how much of truth was needed, you know? Even thought everything else was flattery, how could you just casually let it slip that you thought the person you're talking to is a snob? Although the rich-part was undeniably true, you can't just say that, can you? If it weren't for Yang Yun's many years of training in conversation, he might have taken it as an offence.

When the call was done, and he resigned into his chair, his face was somewhat gloomy.

He wasn't regretting the money the slightest bit, but he felt like those people looked down on his generous offer too much, which didn't sit right with him. Normally, something like this wasn't worth his time - not even that of his personal secretary - but he wanted to feel out this author who dared decline his offer when there were at least a hundred thousand like them out there vying for his attention.