Utaha Kasumigaoka's pen name was decided just like that, and she was very satisfied with the pen name Kasumishi.
Lord Chen was also very satisfied; he had chosen it himself, even though it should have been her pen name all along.
But at least now the meaning was different.
Utaha Kasumigaoka's light novel was submitted to Fujikawa Shoten Publishing House that very day.
The gears of fate began to turn, with Lord Chen as the instigator.
The publishing house wouldn't reply anytime soon; too many people wanted to be novelists these days, and countless submissions came in daily.
However, waiting was the most agonizing part, especially when one held expectations.
Lord Chen didn't want Utaha Kasumigaoka to just wait around every day, so he had her start brainstorming the plot for the second volume.
Her novel's acceptance was practically a certainty, not because Lord Chen knew future developments, but because her writing style was good enough to stand out.
In an era where plot tropes were rampant, good writing could definitely carve out a path easily.
Utaha Kasumigaoka followed Lord Chen's suggestion, still coming to the coffee shop after school every day to brainstorm the second volume's content, except that before leaving each day, she would inevitably meet Tohru and be met with her vigilance and wariness.
It was just a pity that Utaha Kasumigaoka temporarily had no mind to bother with her.
Lord Chen also took advantage of these two free days to take Tohru to buy a mobile phone on the street; in this era, not having a phone was simply not an option.
Fortunately, he had a prepared identity in this world, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to buy anything at all, but Tohru was a person without an identity, so both phones could only be bought under his identity.
Tohru, on the other hand, knew quite a bit about mobile phones; as soon as she got the phone, she exchanged contact information with Lord Chen.
She wanted to be Lord Chen's first added contact.
And Lord Chen's second contact, naturally, was Utaha Kasumigaoka.
Thus, Saturday arrived, and Utaha Kasumigaoka came to the coffee shop in the morning; she hadn't brainstormed for long when she finally received the result of her submission, which, as expected, was successfully accepted, and she could go sign the contract that very day.
The editor who contacted Utaha Kasumigaoka was none other than Sonoko Machida.
"Lord Chen, what should I do?" After finishing the call, Utaha Kasumigaoka nervously asked Lord Chen.
The two had become completely familiar with each other, and Utaha Kasumigaoka had started calling him by his name directly.
Who knew when she would start calling him just Chen.
"What else can you do?" Lord Chen smiled, "Of course, you go directly."
"I'm a little scared..."
Lord Chen shook his head, amused, "What's there to be scared of?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka pursed her lips, "I haven't experienced it before."
"That's normal. Every novelist's first time is like yours. Don't worry, and wasn't the editor who just contacted you a woman? So there's even less to fear."
"What if she likes women?"
...Your worry is a bit excessive.
Lord Chen's mouth twitched.
"Because I'm so beautiful."
"I don't think you're scared at all, are you? You can even joke around." Lord Chen said, annoyed.
"How am I joking? Am I not a beautiful girl?" Utaha Kasumigaoka retorted, displeased.
"You are, but you shouldn't say it yourself."
Utaha Kasumigaoka laughed, "As long as you say I am, that's enough."
"Sigh, how about this, I'll go with you, alright?" Lord Chen said.
"Eh? Really?" Utaha Kasumigaoka immediately became excited and asked for confirmation.
"After all, I'm the one who told you to submit it, so I should take some responsibility... Wait, you weren't intentionally waiting for me to say that, were you?" Lord Chen snapped back to reality, staring at her suspiciously.
...I don't understand what you're saying.
Utaha Kasumigaoka's gaze drifted.
"Never mind, I really wouldn't be at ease with you going alone."
"Oh~" Utaha Kasumigaoka looked at Lord Chen with a smile, "Not at ease?"
"Is there a problem?" Lord Chen retorted openly, "As your first fan, and we're still friends, isn't it normal for me to be worried about you?"
"Tch~" Utaha Kasumigaoka pouted unhappily.
"What? What do you want to hear me say?"
"What you want to say yourself, what does that have to do with me? Hmph!" Utaha Kasumigaoka snorted, clearly unhappy.
"Heh heh~" Lord Chen didn't care, "Then let's hurry up and eat."
"Okay."
Lord Chen left first, going to the kitchen to report to Tohru, and as expected, she was very unhappy.
"Lord Chen is going out alone with that woman, Utaha Kasumigaoka?" Tohru's cute little face showed an expression of collapse.
"It's just about signing the novel contract. Didn't you also read the novel she wrote?"
"Then can I go too?" Tohru asked, looking aggrieved.
"Of course... not."
"Why not?"
"The shop is still open, and there are still customers. It wouldn't be good to just drive them away, would it?"
"Hmm..." Tohru pouted, looking pitiful.
Lord Chen had no choice but to unleash his trump card: "How about this, I'll let you sleep with me again tonight, alright?"
"Tch~ I already sleep with Lord Chen every day anyway." Tohru pouted.
...Then what do you want to do?
"Can I call Lord Chen, Lord Chen?"
"What's wrong with that? Of course, you can." Lord Chen smiled.
"Thank you, Lord Chen!" Tohru happily threw herself into Lord Chen's arms.
Feeling the softness in front of him, Lord Chen naturally embraced her and asked, "Is that all you want? Nothing else?"
"Can I ask for something else?" Tohru looked up in disbelief.
"It's just a name, it definitely doesn't count as compensation."
"Then... Lord Chen, kiss me... can you?" Tohru's eyes filled with anticipation.
"Yes, you can." Lord Chen nodded.
"Really? Lord Chen isn't trying to trick me, is he?"
"What's there to trick you about?"
"Then..." Tohru slowly closed her eyes and pouted slightly.
Seeing her like this, Lord Chen blinked, then cupped her cheeks, leaned down, and lightly kissed her... forehead.
"Eh?" Tohru opened her eyes in confusion, staring blankly at Lord Chen.
"You're all set, then I'll be going now." Lord Chen released her and turned to walk towards the door.
Tohru remained frozen in place, until Lord Chen's figure disappeared, then she raised her hand and touched her forehead.
Something felt wrong, but it also seemed fine... What the hell!
Lord Chen actually changed the subject!
I clearly didn't ask for a kiss on the forehead!
Next time, next time I'll make sure to kiss the right spot!
But the forehead isn't bad either.
Touching the spot on her forehead that Lord Chen had kissed, Tohru was in an incredibly good mood.
..."Let's go." Lord Chen walked out of the coffee shop and said to Utaha Kasumigaoka, who had been waiting for a long time.
Utaha Kasumigaoka walked side by side with him towards the station.
"Did you handle her?"
"Hm? What?" Lord Chen didn't react for a moment.
"Your maid, she's willing to let you go out alone with me?" Utaha Kasumigaoka looked straight ahead, not at Lord Chen at all.
"Why wouldn't she?" Lord Chen retorted.
Don't pretend, you must have done something.
"No, she's very obedient."
"I almost believed that."
"Haha."
Lord Chen's demeanor clearly showed no intention of explaining, so Utaha Kasumigaoka had to give up asking.
Fujikawa Shoten was located in Akihabara, and Lord Chen was quite familiar with the area, though it was Utaha Kasumigaoka's first time there.
Getting off at Akihabara Station, the two didn't go to the main office but instead went to a family restaurant not far from the station.
Sonoko Machida had arranged to meet them there.
It wasn't even noon yet, and there weren't many people in the restaurant. As soon as the two entered, they saw a mature woman in business attire in a corner.
Lord Chen recognized her at a glance.
Sonoko Machida also immediately noticed the two of them, but their appearance made her a little unsure if they were the people she was waiting for; they were as beautiful and handsome as idols!
Until the two came in front of her.
"Excuse me, are you Editor Sonoko Machida?" Lord Chen asked.
"It's me... Are you Teacher Kasumishi?"
"Not me, it's her." Lord Chen gestured to Utaha Kasumigaoka.
"Hello, Editor Machida, I am Kasumishi." Utaha Kasumigaoka immediately bowed in greeting.
"Oh my goodness, Teacher Kasumishi, you really are a high school student, and so beautiful!" Sonoko Machida gasped, covering her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide.
"Editor Machida, you flatter me."
"No, I'm telling the truth! It's just like a light novel plot..."
"Where..."
"Please, have a seat, Teacher Kasumishi, and this..."
"Excuse me, Utaha Kasumigaoka, you talk with Editor Machida first, I need to step out for a moment... Editor Machida, please excuse me."
Lord Chen left with a serious expression.
"Lord Chen, where are you going?" Utaha Kasumigaoka quickly asked, but Lord Chen had already walked out of the shop.
"Is something wrong with him?" Editor Machida asked curiously.
"I don't know either." Utaha Kasumigaoka frowned, her gaze through the window tracing Lord Chen's retreating figure.
"Then are you two... dating?" Sonoko Machida continued to ask gossipy questions.
"No, just friends." After Utaha Kasumigaoka could no longer see Lord Chen, she withdrew her gaze, her expression calm.
"Is that so?"
"Editor Machida, shall we discuss the novel?"
"Oh, okay."
Outside, Lord Chen left the restaurant and ran towards the station.
He had just seen a familiar face!