Wenxin Manga Award

Although Tang Yao suspected her sister had done it on purpose, she had no evidence and could only let it go for the time being.

After Tang Xun finished taking her measurements, she poured her another cup of water, then left after saying, "Sleep early," to go to bed herself.

Tang Yao also turned off the main light, switching to her desk lamp instead, and continued preparing to earn her first pot of gold.

Actually, situations like the one just now weren't uncommon in Tang Yao's memory. Even though Tang Xun had a cold expression and seemed indifferent to everything.

But the young girl's thoughts weren't hard to guess. It was probably because she felt she currently lacked the ability to earn money, so she took great care of her sister in daily life matters. Food and clothing were a given.

Those trivial things, whether the original Tang Yao or the current Tang Yao found them unimportant or hard to manage, she silently remembered and then acted upon them in a way that wasn't overly affectionate but was exceptionally effective for her sister.

There was no other way. Whether it was the current Tang Yao or the previous Tang Yao... neither was good at those kinds of things.

After all, it wasn't easy for a girl in her early twenties to support herself and her sister.

Rather, it was already incredible that she had persevered to this point without collapsing.

She simply didn't have time to concern herself with things that might make her life more comfortable but wouldn't improve their living situation.

Tang Yao could feel her sister's good intentions, but this only strengthened her resolve to abandon useless things... Earning money became her strongest desire.

In a way.

Tang Yao couldn't quite distinguish whether her current strong desire to earn money came from her present self or from the original soul.

"Well... it doesn't really make a difference."

Tang Yao reached out, her fingertips gently rubbing the warm rim of the cup. Thinking of the daily comedy that only the two sisters could put on, she chuckled softly.

She didn't understand what a soul was. If it was just a collection of memories.

Then the her right now was also the genuine Tang Yao.

So whose thoughts they were didn't matter at all, because the goal was the same.

That was to earn money.

"I should draw."

Tang Yao picked up her water cup, took a sip, and then began to ponder the storyboards for Fate Zero.

Her desk lamp stayed on until two in the morning.

Tang Yao put down her pen, looked at the full storyboard drafts, finally stood up and stretched, letting out a slow sigh before turning off the desk lamp.

Although the room was small, it had a window facing the balcony.

At this moment, moonlight shone through the window.

Tang Yao turned around, using the faint moonlight to reach her bedside, then looked down at the lower bunk.

The girl lay quietly on the bed, her sleeping face peaceful.

Tang Yao smiled. Without rushing to climb onto the upper bunk, she squatted down on the spot, reached out, and gently brushed a strand of hair from the girl's forehead, saying softly, "Don't worry, your sister will definitely earn money."

As Tang Yao squatted down.

The bright moonlight that spilled in from outside the window fell upon her, making her appear hazy, as if a thin veil of gauze had been draped over her fair and beautiful face.

The next day.

When Tang Yao woke up, unlike the last time she stayed up late, she didn't have a headache this time.

In fact, she didn't even feel like she had stayed up late.

She got out of bed feeling extremely energetic, stretched her body with some pleasant surprise, and then went outside.

As always.

Tang Xun had already changed into her school uniform, made breakfast, and was waiting for her to come out.

"Xun, it's okay to rest occasionally. You can eat out, and I can buy breakfast on the way."

Tang Yao looked at the steaming bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee on the table, then looked at the girl, who she didn't know when had gotten up, with some concern. After a moment's hesitation, she advised.

"..."

Hearing this, Tang Xun looked up at her sister with an expression that seemed to say, 'What nonsense are you talking about?'

Seeing the expression on her sister's face, Tang Yao hesitated for a moment and didn't press the matter further.

After the two sisters finished breakfast, they left one after the other.

They walked in silence.

Tang Yao arrived at the Editorial Department. As soon as she entered, she noticed that more people were present than yesterday. Even the two editors responsible for the "Night Owl" manga artist had arrived.

However, since they weren't very familiar, she simply greeted them briefly.

In fact, she wasn't very familiar with anyone in the entire Editorial Department...

This was evident from the fact that her first friend was Li Xue.

She wasn't someone who kept others at a distance.

Even on the chaotic first day, she hadn't resisted interacting with people. Or rather, compared to interacting with Miss Li, she was more familiar with how to deal with men.

But unfortunately, perhaps it was just bad timing for her.

On her very first day, she was assigned the incredibly difficult Ou Congquan, and that notorious procrastinator Shao Changqing. Then she noticed the surrounding editors casting sympathetic glances her way, as if she wouldn't last long. When anyone did strike up a conversation, it was only to ask for contact information, completely unrelated to work.

And those days were the most chaotic for Tang Yao. She spent her evenings just trying to sort out her emotions, let alone chat with people.

Even if she hadn't been chaotic, she wasn't interested in replying to people who clearly had ulterior motives and were forcing conversation.

So, she missed the opportunity to connect with other editors.

And then, there were no more opportunities.

Because that editor-in-chief, Ding Yilong, had roared at her.

And Tang Yao wasn't one to indulge the editor-in-chief. Just like yesterday, she pointed out the issues one by one and refuted them, leading to a very unpleasant argument.

And then... then there wasn't even any forced conversation anymore.

As fellow editors in the same Editorial Department, they basically stopped approaching her, probably thinking she was too much trouble.

Afterward, Li Xue said some confusing things to her about being a "high-and-mighty ice queen," office hierarchy, and the characteristics of difficult women.

But Tang Yao didn't really listen.

Regardless, the end result was that she wasn't familiar with the entire editorial office.

She hadn't even memorized everyone's faces.

However, she did remember most of the editors' faces.

And with so many people here this early in the morning, something had clearly happened.

As expected.

Not long after Tang Yao sat down, Ding Yilong arrived. He seemed to be in a better state today, at least not obviously drunk, but his expression was still sour. He even shot Tang Yao a glare as he entered.

Tang Yao glared right back, not backing down at all.

What are you glaring at?

If I did something wrong, just say it.

Do you think you can pressure me?

Meanwhile.

Seeing that Tang Yao had no intention of looking away and was staring straight back, Editor Ding couldn't hold it in and looked away first.

He walked to his workstation, then clapped his hands facing everyone. "Gather 'round, I have something to say."

All the editors stood up. Tang Yao also pulled out her chair and stood.

However, considering their relationship, she didn't move closer, staying at the very edge. Standing beside her was the new recruit, Kang Ming.

"Tang Yao... Miss, what's this about?"

Kang Ming realized Tang Yao was beside him and instinctively called her name, but then seemed to feel it was disrespectful and added a title...

"Just call me Tang Yao... It's probably about the Wenxin Manga Award."

Tang Yao replied in a low voice.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ding Yilong also spoke. "The opening date for the Wenxin Manga Award has been set for next Monday. I need you to inform the Manga Artists you're responsible for to help promote it on social media after the new issue is released. While it's not mandatory, to achieve the targets set by upper management, I require you to do your best. After all, the Manga Artists you're responsible for will be promoting their own work after the magazine is released anyway, so it's just a matter of mentioning it."

"Additionally, this Wenxin Manga Award is different from the newcomer award. Besides the judges, you should also pay attention yourselves. According to the new media department, the website will open its self-submission function after the manga award. You can pay attention to works in the youth category, and if you find suitable ones, you can approach them. Although I personally think it's pointless and will only affect the magazine, since the higher-ups have decided, let's give it a try."

At this point.

Ding Yilong twitched the corner of his mouth, seemingly disapproving of online serialization.

Saying this now was just a formality.

And with the head of the content department showing such an attitude, the other editors weren't fools; the website's fate was almost sealed.

After all, no one wanted to court disaster.

After the manga award, those Manga Artists who serialized their comics on the website and hoped to gain a magazine serialization opportunity through it could basically wait for death.

Unless... the editor-in-chief changed.

Thinking of this.

Tang Yao couldn't help but shake her head slightly. Although the ideas of the magazine's higher management were good—using the manga award to build momentum for the website, then opening the self-submission function to make the website soar, preserving the possibility of online serialization and even future paid content, while also selecting capable and innovative Manga Artists for the physical magazine.

But unfortunately, the most important person in the company, the editor-in-chief of the youth magazine, didn't value it.

After the popularity of the manga award faded, even if someone self-submitted on the website and drew quite well, they wouldn't have a chance to be published in the physical magazine.

Unless it was outrageously good.

But that was difficult for a new website.

Just as Tang Yao was lost in thought.

"Tang Yao! I'll contact Teacher Ou myself, you don't need to."

Ding Yilong's voice rang out again, carrying obvious resentment and anger. "Also, is it confirmed that Teacher Tang can't provide any more submissions?"

Tang Yao snapped back to attention. "Yes, I've found an alternative..."

"I'm not interested in the works of the third-rate artist you found!"

But Tang Yao hadn't finished speaking.

Ding Yilong interrupted her directly, saying impolitely, "I'm not interested in knowing who you found either. Just go through the regular submission route! Don't use the special guest artist slot! And don't come to me with any problems!"

"Oh..."

Tang Yao calmly nodded.

The so-called special guest artist slot was merely a means to ensure fairness.

After all, it was too much for established Manga Artists to bully those who created for the love of it.

Therefore, those special guest works would directly enter the final judging round, and the relevant awards would be independent.

As for the regular submission route... that brought up a trick devised by Wenxin Hall's new media department—reader voting rights.

Simply put, works submitted through the regular route needed to accumulate a certain number of reader votes to enter the judging round.

This was also to build hype for the website.

However, this made no difference to Tang Yao.

It was just...

Tang Yao's indifferent attitude was clearly not what Ding Yilong wanted to see.

He looked at Tang Yao, who seemed confident, and a look of disgust appeared on his face. "You, with your third-rate skill, dare to go and give Teacher Ou guidance, and you've done so multiple times! I'm looking forward to seeing how far the work you, a third-rate editor, have taken a liking to will go. Don't even make it into the judging round. I also hope you don't ruin a Manga Artist with your own low-level, unfounded confidence."

Tang Yao ignored him.

Third-rate... was it?