Are you sure?

Tang Yao personally hated commuting.

... I'm sure no one likes it either.

But the reason most people hate it is probably related to the element of crowds.

However, Tang Yao left at an afternoon time when school was not yet out and most companies had not yet reached the end of their workday, so her commute was quite comfortable.

This was because there were very few people on either the subway or the bus.

She even started considering whether she should change her commute time to the Editorial Department.

But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, she thought of her senior, Li Xue's, cooking, and felt it would be a shame to change her schedule just for a comfortable commute.

And time slipped away while she was agonizing over it.

It was almost three o'clock.

Tang Yao successfully arrived at the Editorial Department.

There were still quite a few editors here, but Ding Yilong was absent, and she didn't know what he was up to.

However, Tang Yao only glanced at him and quickly looked away.

It wasn't her business anyway.

It would be best if he were dead.

"Editor Tang."

Kang Ming, a new recruit, was also here. Upon seeing Tang Yao, he immediately called out, "You weren't here this morning, did something happen?"

"You could say quite a few things happened."

Tang Yao stopped and turned back, asking, "What is it?"

"Nothing, it's just that many readers online seem to have noticed that AORI line and are even asking you, the editor, to explain what's going on. That old rogue Ou..."

Kang Ming hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does he plan to change it?"

"I know about this, and I won't be the one to explain it."

Tang Yao shook her head. "As for whether Ou Congquan will change it, I already tried yesterday. We'll know soon."

"You visited him yesterday?"

Kang Ming looked at the girl younger than himself, blinked, and then realized, "Soon?"

"The storyboards for the next issue have already been sent over."

Tang Yao pointed in the direction of the printing room and waved her hand. "I'm going to get them. We'll talk later."

With that said.

She walked towards the printing room.

As expected.

Li Jiang had already sent over the storyboards.

Tang Yao gathered them, confirmed the page numbers, and turned to head back to her workstation when her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.

Shang Tao had also sent a message.

[Editor Tang, how is Ou Congquan's situation?]

Tang Yao glanced at it and replied, "I just got the storyboard draft. I'll give you an answer in half an hour."

After replying.

Tang Yao put away her phone, took the storyboard draft back to her workstation, and began to examine it carefully.

Meanwhile, Kang Ming, who sat next to her, was clearly very interested in the storyboards.

But seeing Tang Yao's focused profile, he didn't dare to disturb her and could only suppress his curiosity.

Tang Yao wasn't flipping through the storyboards quickly because Ou Congquan's storyboards for this issue were much simpler than usual. While it wasn't so bad that he just wrote down the dialogue and called it a day, it still took some effort to understand what he intended to draw.

This was a Skill that could be improved through manga viewership and experience. Tang Yao lacked the experience... but she had indeed read a lot of manga.

Meanwhile.

Kang Ming kept craning his neck to look at Tang Yao, but every time he looked, Tang Yao wasn't looking up, so he couldn't find an opportunity to ask.

As for her expression.

Tang Yao's expression didn't reveal much; she seemed relaxed, occasionally making a few casual strokes with her pen.

But this was her usual demeanor. Whether she was working on storyboards with AORI, or at any other time, she always seemed to be in control.

Kang Ming felt like a cat scratching at his heart, enduring it for nearly twenty minutes.

When Kang Ming looked over again.

Tang Yao finally looked up and began to gather the manuscripts on her desk.

Kang Ming, filled with excitement, finally got to ask the question that interested him the most: "Editor Tang, what's the result?"

"Hmm... although there were this and that problem."

Tang Yao turned to look at Kang Ming. "But the next issue won't be garbage, so you can rest assured as a reader."

"...Really? Old Man Ou is willing to change it?"

Kang Ming's eyes lit up. Although he had cursed fiercely yesterday.

But in the end, he was also a reader.

As he himself said, he had been following it for a long time...

Seeing the light in the eyes of this 'living' reader before her, Tang Yao smiled faintly.

At this moment, she finally felt that what she had done yesterday was somewhat worthwhile, and she didn't even feel that way when she received the storyboards.

"Really."

Tang Yao replied, and at the same time took out her phone to tell Shang Tao on the other side about the storyboards.

"That's great..."

Kang Ming was a little excited. He had just shouted when he saw Tang Yao's slender fingers tapping on the screen, replying to a message. He realized something. "Wait, Editor Tang, did he change it according to his own ideas, or according to that phrase AORI?"

It wasn't that he was being overly cautious.

It was because after the garbage of the previous issue, he had already been disappointed with Ou Congquan. Kang Ming now really doubted Ou Congquan's control over the plot.

This was actually a real example of what Tang Yao had said about things not being over yet, and that the impact would not be easily eliminated even if the revised draft was followed.

While replying to Shang Tao on her phone, Tang Yao answered, "AORI, it introduced the concept of a malicious collective."

"That's great!"

Kang Ming was completely relieved and shouted again. Then, looking at Tang Yao's profile, he suddenly asked, "Editor Tang, after you wrote that phrase AORI... you already had a draft in mind, didn't you? And you knew better than Ou Congquan how to draw it next?"

Tang Yao put down her phone, somewhat surprised. "...Hmm? Why do you think so?"

Kang Ming hesitated for a moment. "Intuition... And you came up with that concept. I don't think Ou Congquan could come up with a complete concept just by reading a sentence of AORI. Only you could do it."

"Then your intuition is quite accurate."

Tang Yao tilted her head and looked at Kang Ming with confusion. She hesitated whether he was praising her or not... but she quickly realized why she was bothered. "It seems like a compliment... Anyway, thank you."

As she spoke, she stood up. "I'm leaving now... I need to go find the director of the new media department."

"Okay."

Kang Ming tilted his head slightly and responded.

"See you later."

Tang Yao picked up the storyboards and her original draft, waved goodbye to him gently, and turned towards the exit of the Editorial Department.

"..."

Kang Ming watched Tang Yao leave, then looked at her retreating figure, took a deep breath, and murmured softly, "She's amazing..."

Truly amazing.

It was the first time Kang Ming had so admired someone.

He had been in the Editorial Department for several days, and during that time, he had heard a lot about Tang Yao... As an editor, she realized immediately that something was wrong when she saw Ou Congquan's storyboards from the previous issue. She immediately wanted to change his mind, and worked hard four times for it, even risking a complete falling out with the editor-in-chief.

And after that, when all her efforts were in vain and everything was irreversible, she still fulfilled her responsibility as an editor and wrote that phrase AORI.

Moreover, she didn't just write it to comfort the readers.

She had prepared settings and related suggestions that fit the phrase AORI, and even had her own ideas about the future plot direction... Perhaps she knew better than Ou Congquan what readers wanted.

It could be said that Tang Yao completely matched Kang Ming's imagination of an editor.

Kang Ming had also heard about the argument between Tang Yao and Ding Yilong yesterday.

Kang Ming found it laughable.

An editor-in-chief like that... in his opinion, wasn't even fit to carry Tang Yao's shoes.

Same floor.

The reception room where Kang Ming used to stay.

Not long after Tang Yao entered, Shang Tao, the director of the new media department, rushed in, pushing the door open. As soon as he entered, he asked excitedly, "Editor Tang, are you serious? It's already been changed? And the storyboards are done?"

"Mm."

Tang Yao handed him Ou Congquan's storyboards. "Ou Congquan has made changes, and the storyboards for this issue have been drawn. I've seen them. Although there are some minor issues, overall, it can avoid the predicament of being put on the spot. The manga award works can be released in advance."

"Editor Tang! Amazing! You're a lucky star!"

Shang Tao was visibly excited. He took the storyboards from Tang Yao and flipped through them briefly.

Hmm.

He couldn't understand them.

After all, he wasn't an editor. He was responsible for new media operations at the magazine, and the storyboards were rough. It was normal.

But not understanding didn't stop Shang Tao from being excited!

Even though he wasn't an editor, he still had basic common sense.

The fact that Ou Congquan's storyboards were brought back on the second day already spoke volumes!

It had only been twenty-some hours!

There was only one possibility! Tang Yao's words yesterday about making AORI a reality had truly come true!

Just now, Vice President Zhao Fang Sheng had been asking about the situation and the results of Tang Yao's visit.

He had even suggested visiting Ou Congquan together with the editor Tang.

Shang Tao was so unsure that he proposed asking Tang Yao about it.

And when he asked, good heavens... not only were there results from the visit, but she had already brought back the storyboards!

"Thank you so, so much!"

Shang Tao quickly flipped through the storyboards and then looked up at the exceptionally captivating girl in front of him. "I'll tell you about the early release later. I need to report this to the Vice President first because the manga awards are launching soon, and time is tight."

"I understand."

Tang Yao nodded and handed over two other manga she had mentioned before. "These are the manga I mentioned earlier that I wanted to include in the early release lineup. You can take a look when you have time."

"Okay."

Shang Tao took the original manuscripts Tang Yao handed him and immediately agreed. "If they're suitable, I'll definitely include them in the early release lineup. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that.

He hugged the storyboards and manuscripts and jogged out of the reception room.

It was clear he was genuinely excited.

Tang Yao watched his retreating back and let out a huge sigh of relief.

Finally, she had done everything she could. The rest... was up to fate.

Meanwhile.

Shang Tao was indeed in a hurry to share the news with Zhao Fang Sheng. As soon as he left the reception room, he rushed to Zhao Fang Sheng's office, knocked on the door, and upon hearing "come in," immediately pushed the door open and entered.

Inside the office.

Zhao Fang Sheng was holding a report, frowning, seemingly pondering something.

Only when he heard footsteps did he look up and see Shang Tao. He instinctively said, "What did Ou Congquan say? Did you mention it to that editor Tang? About me going with her to visit Ou Congquan? I have some free time later, ask her if she's available soon to resolve this matter..."

Before Zhao Fang Sheng could finish, Shang Tao interrupted with a joyous expression, "No need."

"Don't worry, she didn't manage to change Ou Congquan's mind in the previous four attempts... Huh?"

Zhao Fang Sheng started to comfort Shang Tao when he heard him speak, but halfway through, he suddenly realized something was wrong. "What do you mean 'no need'?"

"It means exactly what it says. You don't need to get involved, President. The matter has already been resolved! Editor Tang brought back the storyboards."

Shang Tao said excitedly, "I just got the storyboards from Editor Tang."

"?"

Zhao Fang Sheng slowly formed a question mark and looked at the beaming Shang Tao. "What nonsense are you talking about? You brought up the change yesterday, and the storyboards are already done today?"

"It's true!"

Hearing this, Shang Tao immediately took a few steps forward and handed the storyboard draft to Zhao Fang Sheng. "Here are the storyboards... but I can't understand them. Do you want to take a look, Vice President?"

"..."

Zhao Fang Sheng frowned slightly but still took the storyboard draft. "Are you sure the content of these storyboards... follows the development of that phrase, AORI? Not Ou Congquan's original ideas?"

"Uh... I didn't ask, but Editor Tang seemed very confident."

"Impossible!"

Zhao Fang Sheng shook his head. The matter was brought up yesterday, and it's resolved today? And the plot follows AORI?

How fast was that?

Could it be that Editor Tang truly had her own unique insights into the future plot direction? Even clearer than Ou Congquan on how to draw the next scenes? And she also knew how to perfectly connect it with the already drawn plot?

After he visited Ou Congquan, Ou Congquan had a sudden realization and stayed up all night to smoothly draw the storyboards?

How was that possible!

"Then you take a look...?"

Hearing his President's decisive words.

Seeing his serious expression.

Shang Tao became unsure again and hesitantly said.

He knew that Zhao Fang Sheng was also an editor by background.

"..."

Zhao Fang Sheng didn't say anything in response but nodded and lowered his head to examine the storyboards.

He suddenly doubted the professionalism of that editor Tang again... It really depended on how you looked at it.

Ou Congquan's storyboards were a bit rough, but for him, understanding them wasn't difficult.

The plot immediately followed the male protagonist's death in the previous issue.

This development didn't quite feel like a twist; it was more like a step-by-step progression...

Huh?

As soon as Zhao Fang Sheng finished the last panel on the first page, he realized something was wrong.

Because the scene cut back.

Malicious collective.

Untouchables.

Zhao Fang Sheng froze for a moment, then quickly flipped to the next page... and the next, and the next.

His page-turning speed increased, and the expression on his face began to shift, from initial doubt, to surprise, and finally to shock.

Shang Tao waited patiently, carefully observing Zhao Fang Sheng's expression... but his expression seemed only shocked, making it hard to tell if the storyboard was any good.

Rustle, rustle, rustle—

Finally, Zhao Fang Sheng reached the last page of the storyboard. Just as Shang Tao was about to speak.

Zhao Fang Sheng flipped the storyboard back to the first page and went through it again.

Shang Tao: "..."

This time, he turned the pages even faster, as if confirming something.

Finally.

He finished the second read-through.

Then.

Zhao Fang Sheng slowly raised his head, his face filled with bewilderment, and looked at Shang Tao, asking in shock, "Are you sure that editor wrote this issue's AORI???"