Manga Award

"What's wrong?"

Tang Yao noticed Li Xue suddenly turn her head away, looking confused.

"Nothing… I just feel like I've been hit by a critical blow."

Li Xue took a deep breath, calmed her mood, and then turned her head back, saying with a serious expression, "You, you absolutely must not say things like that in front of others."

"I don't want to take anyone else with me, so why would I say that?"

Tang Yao was even more confused. "No, there's still one more person, but that person planned to make games from the start, so it doesn't matter… You're different, you're the only one I want to say that to."

"……"

Although Li Xue knew this was likely, probably, maybe a misunderstanding… she still felt like she'd been critically hit again.

So she quickly moved closer to Tang Yao, changing the subject. "Never mind, you should talk about the game instead. I still don't know what preparations you've made. You've been so secretive lately, I don't know what you've been up to. What are these preliminary preparations you mentioned? I want to understand, so I can be mentally prepared, and also have more confidence when I contact that relative."

"Oh…"

Although Tang Yao found it a little strange, she leaned against Li Xue and began to talk about the preparations she had made during this time.

"……"

Li Xue listened quietly, finally able to detach herself from that inexplicable emotion.

Then.

About ten minutes later.

"You…"

Li Xue's beautiful eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Tang Yao in shock. "You mean… the new media department will help promote the manga that's the original story for the game?"

Tang Yao nodded. "Yeah, pretty amazing, right?"

"It's not a question of whether it's amazing… You managed to connect all of that?"

Li Xue was a bit flustered. "So the director of the new media department really agreed?"

"He agreed."

"And the serialization is also okay?"

"I don't know why, but yeah."

"……"

Li Xue was greatly shocked.

Tang Yao smiled. "So, Miss Li, I've done everything I can. Now we just wait for the money and the results."

Li Xue snapped back to attention. "Results?"

"The results after the manga is released early… Although I have a lot of confidence in Fate Zero, it's not up to me to say. It still depends on the readers' feedback."

Tang Yao said softly, "And we'll probably know the results soon. Regarding releasing the manga for the awards early, Director Shang is probably more anxious than I am."

Tang Yao's guess was correct.

Shang Tao was indeed more anxious than she was, as it concerned the website's launch.

The day after Tang Yao provided that decisive storyboard.

The new media department began its warm-up efforts.

Of course, the new media department believed they were warming up for the manga awards.

But for many readers of Girl, Boy, and Sword… it felt like someone was defecating on their heads.

No, we've cursed it this much, and you still have the nerve to promote a manga award? And you want us to read the award-winning manga early? Where do you get off?

For example, Su Deqiang… he looked at the post about the manga awards in front of him, utterly bewildered.

But his bewilderment didn't stop him from raging!

Because after two days of fermentation… he was pretty much certain that he had been screwed over.

His cyber persona had been screwed over!

Because Girl, Boy, and Sword had such a dog-shit plot development in the last chapter, and Ou Congquan had been a coward the whole time! And the magazine was still promoting some manga award!

What were they even doing?

Couldn't they hear us?

At this moment, his anger truly flared up.

"Let me see… Special event, early access to manga award works. Excellent works will not be affected by any incidents. The first batch of works will be released punctually at nine the next day. Welcome everyone to read them in advance."

Su Deqiang looked at the official social media of the Literary Hall and softly read the latest post, feeling like he was about to have a stroke.

Welcome everyone to watch?

Advertising it like this?

Isn't this going too far!?

And what do you mean "excellent works won't be affected by any incidents"?

Isn't that clearly hinting that the piece of crap I drew this issue is considered an "excellent work"?

So! You guys knew all along, didn't you!?

Then why, if you knew, did you do nothing!?

You bastard...

Su Deqiang got angrier the more he thought about it.

And just then, something even more infuriating happened.

Ding-dong--

Ou Congquan, whom he was paying close attention to, posted a new blog.

Su Deqiang froze for a moment, then with the thought, 'You finally showed up, you bastard,' he clicked on Ou Congquan's post.

[...Apologies, this issue's serialization has caused trouble for everyone. I have fully understood everyone's demands and, with the help of my editor, have revised the storyboard for the next issue. Please rest assured, the next issue will not disappoint. I also want to thank my editor here; thank you so much. Without her, I probably would still be lost in my own world right now.]

[Additionally, due to my actions, the Wenxin Manga Award has released some works early. I am very sorry for this. I truly don't want excellent works to be buried because of me. So, if you are interested, you can go and take a look...]

"..."

Upon seeing this post, Su Deqiang's face rapidly turned red. He felt like he was about to have a stroke.

No.

While what you said sounded nice, like "fully understood reader demands," the way you shifted your tone completely exposed your true intentions!

Aren't you just advertising for the manga award!? What do you mean "the next issue won't disappoint!" This sounds exactly like you're trying to avoid affecting the manga award! You're saying all this for the sake of the bigger picture, to appease people, right!?

Fine.

Just fine!

"Old thief Ou... Even now, you still have the nerve to play these games, huh? The manga award, right!"

Su Deqiang held his phone, genuinely furious, his body trembling slightly from anger. "Alright, alright, you'll be waiting for me tomorrow!"

As he muttered to himself, he began typing a furious reply under Ou Congquan's latest post.

And judging by the number of replies... there were quite a few people who shared his sentiment.

The next day.

When Tang Yao woke up, she was stunned by the outrageous actions of Shang Tao and Ou Congquan.

"This is truly a disaster..."

Tang Yao, wearing her home pajamas, held her phone in one hand and gently patted her forehead with the other.

She never expected that the idea she gave Shang Tao would be amplified so drastically!

...He actually got Ou Congquan to advertise?

Is he really afraid readers won't notice the manga award? Or that works weren't released early by the manga award? While infamy can still be a form of fame, are you really provoking readers like this? Isn't this the same as standing on the street with your arms wide open, shouting, "I have an announcement to make"?

Do you want the entire manga reader community to look up to you?

"What are you doing?"

Tang Xun appeared at the doorway, wearing an apron, and looked at her sister, who was still in her pajamas, sitting in a chair. "Breakfast is ready."

"It's nothing, I'm coming," Tang Yao replied.

She shook her head and put down her phone.

This might... not be a bad thing, right?

At least Ou Congquan did make revisions, and the next issue can indeed appease readers... Now the readers misunderstand, thinking he's playing a trick and speaking nonsense for the sake of the bigger picture. It seems like a good thing that all the heat is directed at the manga award.

At least... the manga award won't be short on readers.

At the same time.

On the other side of the city.

Su Deqiang also woke up.

And after waking up, he still felt angry remembering what happened yesterday.

So.

He didn't even wash up. After getting out of bed, he immediately sat down in front of his computer.