Lin: "Alright, then tell me, what's the second piece of good news?"
Machida Sonoko: "I don't want to say anymore, shrug."
Seeing this, Lin asked, feigning ignorance: "Why don't you want to say anymore?"
Machida Sonoko: "What do you think! Pouting cat emoji"
Lin: "So, Machida-nee, did you find a boyfriend or not?"
Machida Sonoko: "No, I'm not looking. Why look for a man? Men only hinder my work efficiency."
Lin: "I'm truly impressed. If I were a boss, I'd definitely like someone like you the most, Machida-nee."
"How about this, if I open a company in the future, Machida-nee, how about you come work for me?"
"Don't worry, I'm not a black-hearted boss; I wouldn't mistreat you."
"..."
Machida Sonoko looked at Lin's message, and her full, red lips, lightly touched with lipstick, curved into a gentle smile.
Holding a mature and charming smile.
She typed a reply to Lin:
"Alright, I'll look forward to Xiao Bai-sensei becoming a boss in the future."
"What position are you planning to give me? It wouldn't be cleaning toilets, would it?"
Lin: "How about secretary?"
Machida Sonoko: "Secretary, that sounds like a good position."
Lin: "Of course, male bosses love female secretaries, don't they?"
After all, when there's work, the secretary does it, and when there's no work…
Machida Sonoko: "???"
As an editor for Fujikawa Bunko, an older sister-type approaching thirty, and a well-read person, she immediately understood Lin's meaning.
How did he suddenly start "driving" (making suggestive remarks)?
Being teased by a boy thirteen years her junior made this mature older sister-type blush slightly.
Don't let her appear so grown up.
Her first kiss was actually still intact.
Mainly, she didn't dislike Lin.
Otherwise, let alone blushing, not getting angry would already show great magnanimity.
Machida Sonoko: "Oh, you, Xiao Bai! Have you been learning bad habits from someone recently? You dare to tease your older sister now."
Lin: "No, I've always been like this. It's just that I was younger before, and now I've grown up, that's all."
Machida Sonoko: "???"
For some reason, after knowing about Lin's earlier "driving," it was as if she had put on tinted glasses.
She felt Lin had a double meaning in his words.
It was best to talk about age.
It was not appropriate to delve deeper into this dangerous topic, so Machida Sonoko, as the mature older sister-type, changed the subject:
"Alright, I'll tell you the second piece of good news."
"Congratulations, Xiao Bai-sensei! The cumulative sales of your debut work, Game of the Gods, have successfully surpassed 105 million copies."
"After a meeting and discussion by the editorial department, it was decided to increase the initial print run for the new volume from 100,000 to 200,000 copies."
The new volume was the eleventh volume.
After a meeting and discussion, the release date was set for April 26th, which was next Saturday.
"It's surpassed 105 million!"
Seeing this message, Lin raised an eyebrow slightly, a little surprised.
The last time he checked, it seemed to be just over 104 million copies.
That was three months ago.
Just then, a new message from Machida Sonoko popped up:
"Well, is it good news?"
Lin: "It's pretty good. Thank you, Machida-nee, for your hard work."
Machida Sonoko: "Oh my, just a verbal thank you?"
Lin: "Then how do you suggest I thank you?"
Machida Sonoko: "That's something you should think of yourself! Asking me, that shows no sincerity at all."
Lin: "How about this, when you have a day off, Machida-nee, I'll treat you to dinner at a fancy restaurant?"
Machida Sonoko: "Dinner is fine, but let's skip the fancy restaurant."
Lin: "Very good, Machida-nee. You're not even my secretary yet, and you're already saving money for your future boss."
"As your future boss, I feel all warm inside."
"But don't worry, eat to your heart's content. Your boss here still has some money. If I really run out, I'll rob a bank to support you."
Seeing Lin's message, Machida Sonoko subtly rolled her eyes:
"Go on, you! You're unhappy I'm saving you money, huh? And robbing a bank to support me? Be careful, you might end up in jail sewing on a machine."
As the message was sent, her lips couldn't help but curve into a smile.
Lin: "Don't worry about that. As long as I don't want to, no one can arrest me and make me sew on a machine."
"Even robbing America's gold reserves would be a small matter."
Machida Sonoko: "Huh, how come I see a cow in the sky?"
Lin: "Sigh, that's just how the world is. No one believes the truth anymore. So heartbroken, so sad, so mushroom (a play on words for "uncomfortable")."
Machida Sonoko: "(?_?)?"
Lin: "Alright, let's not talk about these silly things. Machida-nee, when are you free? I'll make a reservation."
Machida Sonoko: "Tomorrow, actually. It's my day off."
Lin: "Won't tomorrow interfere with your blind date arrangements?"
Machida Sonoko: "Ha, blind date? I don't have any such non-existent arrangements, okay? Don't guess wildly."
Lin: "That's truly a pity."
Machida Sonoko: "???"
Lin: "Alright, I'll let you know once I've booked the restaurant."
Machida Sonoko: "OK."
Their chat ended.
In a lounge room at Fujikawa Bunko headquarters, Machida Sonoko stood up and stretched, crossing her arms.
Her two "mountains" were exceptionally spectacular.
The graceful curves of her body were revealed at this moment, prominently busty and shapely.
She bent down to pick up her phone from the table, saw the LINE chat interface with Lin, and suddenly thought of something.
"*'Boyfriend...'"
Her gaze flickered slightly.
She mumbled, and Lin's back suddenly appeared in her mind.
"Hmm?!"
This made her pause.
Then her cheeks couldn't help but flush slightly.
Why would she think of Lin?!
Could it be that because she'd been single since birth until now, someone saying that made her start thinking about romance?
But it shouldn't be Lin.
Although he was handsome, tall, and excellent.
But she was thirteen years older than Lin; to a high school student like him, she was an old auntie.
Wait, what old auntie?
I'm still very young, not even thirty yet. Clearly, those high school students just can't appreciate mature beauty.
"No, what am I thinking?!"
Machida Sonoko, lost in wild thoughts, suddenly snapped back to reality, blushing intensely at her recent thoughts.
It was an embarrassed and ashamed blush.
"Calm down, calm down."
Putting her phone into her pocket, Machida Sonoko cupped her slightly warm face with her hands, taking gentle, deep breaths.
Indeed, men affect her work efficiency.
Just thinking about it was like this.
If she really found a boyfriend, what would happen?
After deep breaths and barely calming down, Machida Sonoko used her phone camera to check herself. Mhm, no problem.
Putting her phone away, she took another deep breath, quickly returning to her usual professional work mode.
Transforming into an elite career woman.
"Oh right, I think I forgot to tell Shi-chan the news."
Just as she was about to leave the lounge, Machida Sonoko suddenly remembered something and took out her phone again, found 'Shi-chan'.
Then sent her a message.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Taito Ward.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was pondering the new plot for Love Metronome, received a message from her editor, Machida Sonoko.
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