Shame

Soon.

Zhao Fang Sheng learned the whole story.

Simply put... Fate/Zero was too popular!

Because of Shang Tao's outrageous move to create a special category, most of the readers who'd come in a fury had gone to read the two comics drawn by Tang Yao!

And after reading them... they reacted exactly like Su Deqiang. They instantly forgot their original purpose and focused entirely on how good the comics were, and on finding out what happened next in Fate/Zero!

As for the other works released early—

The readers couldn't care less about Ou Congquan! Why would they care about the other works?

Ever since some of the Manga Award entries had been released early, Shang Tao had stayed in his department, keeping an eye on the backend data with his subordinates. He'd planned to manage the comments if the scheme failed, deleting the harshest criticism to limit the damage.

That was right.

Although they'd been released early, the twenty-odd works were all being tested, and each had its own rating system and comment section.

The so-called rating system was a little crude, though. Readers could only like or dislike a work, and the website displayed only the number of likes and dislikes. They couldn't leave detailed ratings.

After all, there weren't many mature online comics-reading platforms in the country yet.

Shang Tao could only feel his way forward.

But that wasn't the point. The point was... Shang Tao had originally planned to manage the comments.

Then he realized there was no point in managing a damn thing!

No one was maliciously insulting the other works—they barely had any readers at all!

But the numbers for Uzumaki and Fate/Zero were skyrocketing! Compared with the other early releases, their growth was downright terrifying!

It really was terrifying!

It hadn't even been a whole morning, and Tang Yao's two comics had already gotten over a hundred thousand likes!

A hundred thousand!

The other works were still struggling to reach triple digits, while these two stood head and shoulders above the rest, shooting straight to a hundred thousand!

The website had only just launched!

It was unbelievable!

The main reason was that Shang Tao and Ou Congquan had pulled such an outrageous stunt that just about everyone in the comics-reading community had heard that the Manga Award entries were being released early.

Whether readers came to watch the spectacle or, like Su Deqiang, to "get revenge," most were eager to see what the Literary Hall was up to.

Then there was Shang Tao's specially curated "Editor's Picks" category.

Good grief.

Readers opened the website and went straight to the comics by Third-rate Painter... that was, the comics Tang Yao had drawn.

By the time Shang Tao realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

He couldn't remove the special category anymore! Readers had already spread the word about Uzumaki and Fate/Zero, and the comics were making the rounds among fans. Plenty of readers who hadn't been paying attention were now flocking in to see what the fuss was about...

And what was even more terrifying—

It would've been fine if both comics were short stories, but Fate/Zero wasn't finished...

It was a serialized work, and just when the story was getting good, it stopped!

Good grief!

The readers' interest had been piqued. They wanted to read the next installment, and now they were turning their anger on the New Media Department.

Their demand was simple! Where was the next installment!? Where was their next installment!?

They didn't care when the comic would resume—just don't leave them hanging!

Tell them!!!

They clearly refused to believe that Fate/Zero was over just like that.

Such an interesting premise! Such a captivating story! How could it just stop in the middle? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

"..."

Holding Shang Tao's phone, Zhao Fang Sheng stared at the two thousand replies under the latest post on the Manga Award's social media account. Countless readers were asking about Fate/Zero's serialization, and he was a little dazed.

He'd already read Fate/Zero, and he thought the comic was truly excellent. It had drawn him in, too.

But he hadn't expected readers to be so eager... almost desperate.

Considering the website data Shang Tao had just mentioned...

Perhaps this comic... could become their next flagship!?

At the thought, Zhao Fang Sheng grew excited! A flagship!

He'd only wanted to see how readers would respond. He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise.

They liked it this much!

However, Zhao Fang Sheng didn't show his excitement. He quickly pushed his thoughts aside, then slowly raised his head and looked at Shang Tao. "Who told you to put those two works in their own special category?"

"I went back and read the two comics Editor Tang recommended. They were so good—better than all the other works... I thought I'd let readers see them first, so they'd know as soon as possible how excellent the Manga Award entries were.

"And I also wanted them to see how capable Ou Congquan's editor is, so they'd have some confidence in Ou Congquan's next release."

Shang Tao looked close to tears. "But who could've guessed it would turn out like this?"

"You knew those two comics were better than all the others."

Zhao Fang Sheng shook his head. "And you still did this. Weren't you handing all the popularity over to those two works?"

"Then, Vice President, what should we do now? No one's paying attention to the other works, and there's also Fate/Zero..."

By now, Shang Tao had realized that what he'd done really wasn't appropriate.

But overall, it wasn't a major problem. The Manga Award was meant to bring traffic to the website anyway. One work could draw traffic, and so could twenty-odd. If all the attention went to Uzumaki and Fate/Zero... so be it.

So the biggest problem was still Fate/Zero.

The comic wasn't finished!

Tang Yao had only given them one installment!

Now all the readers were demanding the next one and asking when it would be serialized.

"..."

Zhao Fang Sheng hesitated for a moment, lightly tapping the desk with his fingers before speaking. "If no one's paying attention to the other works... then let them be ignored. These two are enough. They've already made this worthwhile.

"As for Fate/Zero, post a message on social media saying, 'Please be patient. We won't disappoint our readers.' I'll handle the rest."

"That's enough?"

Shang Tao asked uneasily, "Won't this affect the website?"

"It's enough."

Zhao Fang Sheng shook his head and handed the phone back to him. "Readers are always patient with good works. They're only directing their anger at you because they're worried you're making fools of them—that you'll put out one installment of Fate/Zero and then leave them hanging.

"Actually, I shouldn't have let a serialized work be included in the release in the first place. Still, the result hasn't been bad... This cartoonist really is talented. The readers' reactions prove it. Maybe once the comic is officially serialized, it could even surpass Girl, Boy, and Sword."

"Surpass Girl, Boy, and Sword?"

Shang Tao stared at him blankly. "That's impossible, isn't it?"

Zhao Fang Sheng countered, "Do you think one of Ou Congquan's works could get a hundred thousand likes in a single morning if it were posted on the website?"

Shang Tao paused, then slowly shook his head. "Impossible."

"Exactly."

Zhao Fang Sheng took a deep breath, then looked toward the office door. "Perhaps we're about to witness the rise of a legendary cartoonist who could rival Teacher Rumi... I should meet that cartoonist through Editor Tang."

Rumi.

Tang Yao thought of him as the Eiichiro Oda of a parallel world.

So when Shang Tao heard that, he drew in a sharp breath.

But his thoughts were a lot more mundane.

He was just thinking, someone who could rival Teacher Rumi... if they drew for a decade or more, how much money would they make!

At the same time.

The third-rate painter whom everyone was calling talented... was lying on the sofa, her head resting on her younger sister's fair, slender thighs. Still wearing her simple pajamas, she held her phone, her face full of embarrassment.

Tang Xun's long, pale, shapely legs were together. She lowered her head slightly to look at her older sister lying across her lap. "I'm your younger sister... and you can still get embarrassed about this?"

"It's got nothing to do with you."

Tang Yao set down her phone and turned her face toward her younger sister's flat stomach, embarrassed. "...It's all Shang Tao's fault, the idiot. What's with 'Editor Tang's Picks'?! Why did he drag me into this?"

It was Sunday.

Neither sister had to work or go to school.

That morning, after seeing Shang Tao's outrageous move, Tang Yao had been keeping an eye on the Manga Award.

Then she'd seen the "Editor Tang's Picks" category on the website's homepage.

It was... way too embarrassing.

Although the outcome had been great, and she understood why Shang Tao had done it, and was grateful to him for doing so—

Still... it was just too embarrassing.