What does that have to do with me?

Half an hour later.

Tang Yao arrived once again at the door of Ou Congquan's apartment, C Building, 20th floor, in a certain residential complex, and rang the doorbell.

This time, after the doorbell rang.

The speed at which the door was opened was much slower.

About a minute later, the door was opened, and a man wearing round-framed glasses, looking somewhat haggard, appeared at the doorway—it was Ou Congquan's assistant, Li Jiang.

Li Jiang leaned against the door, saw Tang Yao standing outside, and his expression suddenly changed. He then glanced worriedly behind him and said urgently, "Editor Tang... you've come at a bad time. Teacher is in a very bad mood right now. Maybe you should come back later..."

"Is he free now? I have something to confirm with him."

Tang Yao shook her head, seemingly not noticing his hint, and politely said, "Please ask him for me."

Li Jiang was a little anxious and was about to say something more.

"Are you here to laugh at me?"

But at that moment, a voice came from behind him.

Li Jiang's body instantly tensed.

Tang Yao's gaze passed over Li Jiang in front of her and looked behind him.

Ou Congquan stood not far away, his eyes bloodshot, looking at Tang Yao. "Your judgment was correct, so are you here to laugh at me?"

His condition looked extremely poor. He should have rested well last night, as the magazine hadn't even been released yesterday. Yet, in just twelve hours, he had become this way, with red eyes and hysterical.

He had clearly been greatly stimulated.

It seemed.

Although he appeared confident on the surface, he wasn't on the inside.

This was an author who was not what he seemed, and was extremely easily influenced by reader feedback.

In fact, as far as Tang Yao knew, some manga artists were warned by their editors not to look at social media, especially around the time the magazine was released.

This was because there was a type of manga artist who was indeed easily swayed by reader reviews. They would be very happy when they saw good reviews, but once they saw bad reviews, they would constantly doubt themselves, which would affect their mindset. They would unconsciously adjust their rhythm based on criticism, ultimately disrupting their original flow.

It was even possible for the manga's plot to completely collapse.

And this arrogant and conceited Ou Congquan clearly belonged to this type... and was one of the ones with the most unbearable psychological resilience.

Wait...

Tang Yao thought of something. After accepting her role, she had flipped through Ou Congquan's past serialized works because she felt that an editor who hadn't even read the works of the manga artists they were responsible for would be too incompetent.

From his past serialized works, Ou Congquan, although occasionally pretentious, was mostly normal. His condition fluctuated, with some very poor chapters and some very good ones. But whether good or bad, he always maintained a normal level and never took leave. This meant he had never had such a severe illness.

This was the first time.

And Ou Congquan's psychological resilience was so poor...

Thinking of this.

Tang Yao narrowed her eyes slightly.

"What? Here to laugh but afraid to?"

At this moment, noticing that Tang Yao had been staring at him without speaking for a long time.

Ou Congquan spoke again.

"Laugh?"

Tang Yao snapped back to reality. Looking at the red-eyed Ou Congquan, she replied expressionlessly, "I really want to laugh at your incredibly foolish plot, but unfortunately, I don't have the time. I am the editor, representing the magazine and the readers. What? Do you want people to laugh at you? You don't need me to laugh. Just log into your social media account; there are plenty of people laughing at you there."

"..."

Ou Congquan's eyes turned even redder, and his breathing suddenly became rapid.

Li Jiang stood in front of Tang Yao, staring at the girl before him, his eyes wide, his pupils shaking wildly.

"If I were you, I wouldn't ask such a stupid question. If I wanted to laugh at you, I'd just leave a comment saying 'Serves you right' on your social media, because you really deserve it. Why would I bother showing up in person?"

Tang Yao continued, "So can you stop putting on that act? Have you finished drawing the storyboards for this issue?"

"...No!"

"Then now, can the great manga artist listen to the editor's advice?"

"..."

Ou Congquan stared intently at Tang Yao upon hearing this.

These words were almost exactly the same as what Tang Yao had said when she first visited.

Only this time, it was more mocking.

However.

He didn't see any gloating or vengeful expression on the girl's face.

Her face was calm, just like when she first visited.

Ou Congquan's expression slowly became complicated. After a few breaths, he turned and walked back into the house.

Li Jiang glanced behind him, then at Tang Yao, unsure what to do.

Tang Yao reminded him, "Could you please move aside, Assistant Li?"

Li Jiang hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, forcing a wry smile as he warned, "Editor Tang, Teacher Ou is furious today, actually..."

You shouldn't have come.

"It's fine."

Tang Yao shook her head, appreciating the assistant's good intentions, and walked directly into the room.

Nothing can stop me from earning money to support my sister.

Upon entering, Tang Yao saw the messy living room. Items were thrown everywhere. From the workspace facing the living room, she could see the floor covered in sketches, all crumpled and torn. This further proved that Teacher Ou's psychological resilience was indeed trash.

Furthermore, it seemed all the assistants had been driven away.

Only the chief assistant, Li Jiang, remained.

"What do you want to say?"

In the chaotic living room.

Ou Congquan sat on the sofa, head bowed, hands supporting his forehead. Though he tried to appear upright, he gave the impression of being completely curled up, exuding an aura of dejection from the inside out.

Tang Yao sat down opposite him, placed the documents she brought on the table, and began, "This issue's manga plot has caused a lot of controversy."

She had barely started when...

Ou Congquan suddenly looked up, glaring at Tang Yao. His downturned lips, paired with bloodshot eyes, made him look sharp and frightening. "You came just to tell me that?"

"What else?"

Tang Yao met his gaze fearlessly. "To tell you it's okay? To spout nonsense about not caring about reader reviews? Why don't you check your social media? If you want to hear empty praise instead of solving problems, you can call Ding Yilong right now, and he'll give you plenty of it! If you want to be an ostrich, then don't sit here. Go to bed, bury your head under the covers, and pray to the gods to change the situation.

In this messed-up situation, you're still putting on an act and unwilling to listen? I just started, and you're already like this. What? Did the editor offend you?"

"..."

Ou Congquan's breathing became rapid, his chest heaving, seemingly angered.

However, his breathing soon slowed... and he lowered his head again, curling up.

In the end.

The reason he let Tang Yao in was because he didn't know what to do anymore.

He was a mess right now.

And the only person who came to visit was this female editor he looked down on.

He wanted to solve the problem, but he didn't know how.

It seemed he could only rely on his editor now.

"I have issues with all of you editors."

Ou Congquan lowered his head, looking at the reflective tabletop, his voice low. "My previous chapter turned into that mess because of your editors."

"The summer vacation arc?"

Tang Yao narrowed her eyes.

"..."

Ou Congquan froze, seemingly surprised that Tang Yao could blurt out the name of the corresponding arc.

But he quickly regained his composure and continued, "Back then, that editor told me my drawings were too monotonous, always the same old thing. And a world with superpowers couldn't lack official forces, so he told me to try incorporating political drama... I found some readers saying the same thing, and he collected information, so I gave it a try.

But that guy, while saying that, would always say this wasn't right, that wasn't right after I finished drawing. He'd say this was sensitive, that was too extreme and unsuitable for serialization, and in the end, he always made me change it, change it, change it, change it!!!

By the time I finished changing it! I didn't even know what I was drawing anymore! The readers were all cursing me!

And that guy! That editor! He turned around and said he was thinking of me, telling me not to push the boundaries! Damn it! Who does he think I was listening to for advice? And when I contacted Ding Yilong, Ding Yilong was also vague, saying the other party was obedient! He just didn't solve the damn problem!

In the end, after messing up my serialization, that guy packed up and left! Leaving me alone to finish it! Editors! Hah! What use are they!"

"..."

Tang Yao confirmed it. This person was indeed easily influenced. Otherwise, anyone with a firmer resolve wouldn't have listened to the previous editor's nonsense.

Official forces? Incorporating political drama? What does that have to do with your manga?

At the same time.

Tang Yao finally understood why he had such a big issue with her.

But!

Tang Yao looked at Ou Congquan and said coldly, "So, what does that have to do with me?"

"You're also an editor recommended by Ding Yilong."

Ou Congquan slowly looked up. "He told me at first that you seemed very obedient... Your editor-in-chief really knows how to recommend people."

Saying that.

Ou Congquan twitched the corner of his mouth. "Obedient, huh."

"So it's because of this?"

Tang Yao's voice grew colder: "You're taking it out on the next editor?"

"Yes, shouldn't I be?"

Ou Congquan glared at Tang Yao, his eyes bloodshot: "You're exactly the same as that editor! The moment you showed up, you started talking about revisions! Acting like you know better than the manga artist, you need to understand! I'm the one drawing it! Not you guys!"

"So you can't communicate? Are you mute?"

Tang Yao looked him straight in the eye: "And what did I suggest you draw? I said the plot development in this issue wasn't good, that it was too sharp and abrupt."

"What's the difference?"

"What's the difference? Did you even read the suggestion document I gave you?"

"..."

"It seems you didn't."

Tang Yao noticed Ou Congquan's silence and guessed what was happening: "So why wouldn't you even take a look? Afraid of being influenced?"

Ou Congquan remained silent.

"It really is like that."

Tang Yao shook her head: "How foolish."

"What did you say!"

Ou Congquan's expression stiffened, then he leaned forward, glaring fiercely at Tang Yao like a beast ready to devour.

"I said you're stupid."

Tang Yao's expression remained calm, unmoving: "You accept all the feedback from readers but completely disregard the editor's feedback, all for some ridiculous reason, causing such a huge uproar. You're a manga artist who gets paid so much in royalties you can barely handle it, yet you're like a puppet, lacking even basic judgment.

No, you don't even have the courage to judge! You're over fifty, but you act like a primary school student, and your reasoning is childish and laughable."

"You—"

Ou Congquan was furious: "What do you know? You're just here to mock me, aren't you? Are you happy now? I messed up! I was wrong! Are you satisfied? But do you know what the readers said? Do you know why I drew this plot? You don't even know what I'm drawing, and you're here to teach me!?"

His voice echoed through the living room.

Meanwhile, Li Jiang, who had just come out of the kitchen with tea, suddenly flinched and stopped in her tracks.

She looked at Tang Yao's back worriedly, hesitating whether to say something when...

"I know."

"You know... What do you mean?"

Ou Congquan's anger faltered, seemingly surprised by this answer.

Tang Yao looked at the manga artist before her and replied: "You wanted the protagonist to be less perfect, to show he has flaws, right? And at the same time, you wanted to use this plot to express the deep-seated worries of each character, thereby completely ending the romantic storyline between the male second lead and the female lead, correct?"

"..."

Ou Congquan looked at the girl before him, his eyes widening slightly, shock slowly appearing in their depths.

"Denying others based on your own assumptions without understanding anything."

Tang Yao noticed the shock in his eyes and said coldly: "Are you happy now?"