Foul-Mouthed

"Teacher…"

On the desk, the phone's vibration stopped, then it rang again.

It was still Ding Yilong.

But Ou Congquan still hadn't noticed.

And when the phone stopped vibrating for the second time.

Li Jiang found Ou Congquan still sitting there motionless and finally couldn't help it, calling out cautiously.

Ou Congquan snapped back to attention, then looked up at his chief assistant, opening his mouth as if wanting to say something: "Did I just…"

But the words caught in his throat, and he closed his mouth as if remembering something.

However, Li Jiang, who had overheard the entire conversation, took a few deep breaths and summoned his courage to ask: "Teacher… what happened just now?"

"Nothing."

Ou Congquan was unwilling to say more, just shaking his head and looking at the revised draft in his hands: "I just feel that Editor Tang wasn't wrong. In the end, I just feel saved… The idea of a sudden awakening is too far-fetched. I'm just fortunate to have survived, saved by an editor I initially looked down on, or rather, never looked down on. I haven't changed from beginning to end. Even if time rewound to last week, my attitude probably wouldn't change. I'd still arrogantly tell her to get lost."

Li Jiang: "……"

What he said wasn't wrong.

This Teacher Ou had always felt that editors were dispensable, otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically requested to avoid interference with independent creation when he was poached.

In fact, the previous amateur editor assigned by Ding Yilong had only reinforced Ou Congquan's ingrained prejudice, making him even more impatient with editors.

Deep down, he had always felt editors were useless.

It was just that…

Knowing was one thing.

Li Jiang didn't know how to respond at the moment. Should he reply… 'Teacher, you make sense'?

If he did, Li Jiang would probably be telling others about a past job of his…

And…

That was probably in the past now…

Li Jiang looked at the revised draft in Ou Congquan's hands.

Since just now… he had been clutching the revised draft given by the editor tightly.

Fortunately, Ou Congquan wasn't looking for a chat with Li Jiang; he seemed to be talking to himself and didn't pay attention to Li Jiang's reply at all.

After speaking, he lowered his head again, slowly opening the revised draft in his hands. On his face, which looked particularly harsh due to his downturned lips, a hint of apology appeared: "My arrogant self was saved by someone, and I was also taught a lesson…"

"Hmm?"

Beside him.

Li Jiang, who was still thinking about how to reply, snapped back to attention.

"It's nothing. Go call the other assistants back."

Ou Congquan took a deep breath, then stood up from the sofa, holding the revised draft: "I'll start preparing the storyboards for the next issue immediately. I want to finish drawing them by tomorrow and hand them over to… to Editor Tang tomorrow."

"Uh, okay."

Li Jiang nodded in agreement, looking at the suddenly re-energized Ou Congquan.

Ou Congquan walked towards his workroom, adding, "Also, please call an auntie to clean the house."

"Okay."

Li Jiang agreed again, then watched Ou Congquan enter the workroom before turning his gaze back to the doorway.

He could see that his boss had pulled himself together.

Not only had he pulled himself together, but he also seemed to have started reflecting on himself.

And all this change was because of one editor.

Editor Tang… truly amazing.

Li Jiang thought of the young and beautiful girl, and her expression at the end, like she was looking at trash… His face suddenly flushed red, then, as if to conceal his thoughts, he abruptly turned and went to contact the other assistants.

Five minutes later.

Li Jiang finished contacting the other assistants and the cleaning lady, then returned to the living room.

He intended to tidy up the teacups on the table. While tidying, he saw his boss sitting at his desk in the workroom, looking through the revised draft with extreme focus.

He should have read it once already, right?

So what exactly was written on it?

Li Jiang felt a bit curious seeing this, but it was awkward to ask, so he could only watch the situation over there while picking up his cup.

…Wait.

Incoming call.

Li Jiang suddenly remembered something and was about to remind Ou Congquan.

But as soon as he looked up, he heard his phone ring.

Li Jiang paused, looked towards the workroom where the sound came from, and found that Ou Congquan had noticed this time and looked up.

However, the moment he saw who was calling... his face instantly darkened, and even from a distance, his disgust was clearly palpable.

...Looks like there's no need for a reminder.

Seeing this, Li Jiang didn't say anything further and went back to the kitchen with his cup.

Meanwhile.

Although Ou Congquan said he was going to draw storyboards... he didn't rush to start.

Because the revised draft not only connected with the existing plot but also inspired him, giving him new ideas for the subsequent storyline, especially the interesting concept of the "malice collective."

So he flipped through it a second time, reading it with particular seriousness.

However, the more he flipped through the revised draft, the more uneasy he felt.

And just as he became immersed, and that uneasy feeling reached its peak.

His phone suddenly rang.

Although very annoyed.

Ou Congquan still looked up and glanced at it.

And when he saw the name of the caller, he was first stunned, and then... a strong sense of disgust surged from the bottom of his heart.

Because the caller's name was--Ding Yilong.

"..."

Ou Congquan looked at the caller's name, his face full of disgust and disdain.

He knew Ding Yilong was an incompetent person.

Because Ding Yilong's previous assigned editor had truly harmed him, and the fact that the other party then packed up and left, leaving him with a mess, had indeed eroded his last bit of trust in the existence of editors.

He had always looked down on this editor-in-chief, who mostly just went through the motions, but since the other party was the editor-in-chief, they had managed to coexist peacefully.

But that was before!

Tang Yao's words just now, and the revised draft in his hand, made him realize one thing: editors are not all the same.

If it weren't for the amateur editor Ding Yilong assigned...

If it weren't for Ding Yilong later feeling that Tang Yao was disobedient and fanning the flames...

If it weren't for this idiotic editor-in-chief...

Most people, even when they know they've made a mistake, tend to believe that their mistakes are caused by others, influenced by others.

At this moment.

Ou Congquan was in this state.

He looked at the caller's name on the phone screen and became furious.

After a long while.

He finally managed to calm down, reached for his phone, pressed the answer button, and brought it to his ear: "Hello?"

His tone was extremely stiff.

But Ding Yilong on the other end of the line didn't seem to notice. As soon as the call connected, he said impatiently: "Teacher Ou? Why didn't you answer just now? This is Ding Yilong from the Editorial Department... I'm truly sorry to bother you. Have you seen this issue of the magazine? I'm really sorry that something like this happened. My subordinate editor, that Tang Yao, caused you trouble. I will replace your responsible editor as soon as possible. However, this incident has caused quite a stir, and it's completely unlike your usual style. I wanted to ask, did Tang Yao affect your creative process?

If so, please tell me honestly..."

Ou Congquan listened to the voice on the other end of the line, listened to Ding Yilong's suggestive words, and instantly understood something.

His eyes slowly widened, and upon hearing the words "replace the editor," as if stimulated, he roared before Ding Yilong could finish: "Fuck off!!!"

"...?"

Ding Yilong on the other end of the line paused, falling into silence. After a while, his voice came through again, filled with disbelief: "...Teacher? What did you say?"

"I said! Fuck off!! Replace my ass!!! Did you hear me clearly!?"

Ou Congquan roared even louder: "Trying to shift the blame? Wanting the editor to take the fall again? Go eat shit!!!"

Ding Yilong: "..."

At the same time.

Tang Yao left Ou Congquan's house, unaware of what happened next.

She didn't care anymore.

Because her objective had been achieved.

She could tell that her revised draft should have had an effect, and as long as nothing unexpected happened, Ou Congquan should draw according to the revised draft.

Of course, there was also the possibility that he might stubbornly refuse to change for the sake of his pride.

But it didn't matter. When the time came, they could just have Shang Tao pressure the higher-ups... By then, even if Ou Congquan cared about his pride, he'd probably back down.

So, this matter was basically no longer her concern.

"Finally, I've finished the last thing."

Tang Yao left the luxury apartment building where Ou Congquan lived and came to the roadside. After taking a deep breath, she began to hail a taxi.

She wasn't planning on returning to the company, but going home instead!

Because the final piece of the puzzle was in place.

So now... all that was left was to draw the opening of Fate Zero.

After all, she had worked so hard for this, all to hitch Fate Zero to this incredibly high-profile opportunity.

It would be incredibly awkward if all the groundwork was laid and everyone was fooled, but the manga wasn't drawn.

Besides... there really wasn't much time left.