Rushing to Take the Blame

Ding Yilong's pupils constricted as he looked at the resignation application Tang Yao handed him.

But he quickly reacted, looked up sharply at Tang Yao, and said furiously, "Are you trying to poach Third-rate Teacher!? You...!"

"No."

Tang Yao slowly stood up.

This time, she completely ignored the gazes cast her way and said calmly, "I won't be poaching this Manga Artist. After all, as you said, I'm an incompetent editor. It's pure luck that the works I scouted have reached this point. I don't want to ruin a manga artist with my own inferior skills and baseless confidence.

Therefore, I will no longer be in charge of this Third-rate Teacher's work, nor will I go to another magazine."

Ding Yilong's anger faltered.

It wasn't just because of what Tang Yao said.

It was also because... those were the words he had used to mock Tang Yao back then.

They weren't exactly identical, but it was a complete repetition.

For a moment.

Ding Yilong felt a mix of shame, embarrassment, and rage.

Revenge, this must be revenge!

But as soon as this thought arose.

"As for Third-rate Teacher... he seems to be utterly disappointed with the Editorial Department, and utterly disappointed with me as his editor,"

Tang Yao continued, "So I won't be an editor anymore, and Fate/Zero won't be serialized in any magazine... Third-rate Teacher has decided to serialize this work online for free."

"...You're spouting nonsense!"

Ding Yilong was stunned. The complex emotions of shame, embarrassment, and rage were quickly replaced by shock.

His eyes widened, like copper bells. "Do you think any manga artist would do that? Free serialization? Who do you think you're fooling with words like that!? ...I get it, it's still mockery, right? Have you mocked enough? Yes! You got lucky! You found a good manga artist, so what? Do you really think you can control me with just one work?

Do you really think discovering a work that got off to a good start, with uncertain follow-ups, and only gained some popularity, makes you arrogant?

It's still unknown if Fate/Zero can survive the 'Death Five Rounds'! Who are you putting on a show for?"

"..."

Tang Yao couldn't be bothered to respond. Seeing that he wasn't taking the resignation application, she simply placed it on the table and turned to leave.

She hated this man.

She felt disgusted by him, both mentally and physically, and didn't want to stay any longer.

She could accept an editor-in-chief who wasn't competent, as he was better at administrative work, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing in some ways.

But she couldn't accept someone who was not only incompetent.

But also lacked self-awareness, and was selfish and arrogant.

This person... truly exuded a nauseating aura from the inside out, at all times!

"Using this as an excuse for revenge, huh? Do you really think I have no way to deal with you!? Do you really think you can force me out? Let me tell you! Even if I have to kneel and beg the President for forgiveness! I'll drag this out until the hype for Fate/Zero dies down, until you can't serialize it anymore!"

Seeing Tang Yao leaving on her own.

Completely ignoring him.

Ding Yilong's expression twisted, and he broke down. "Even if it can be serialized later... I'll make sure it doesn't get past the sixth chapter! Let's see how you explain that to the manga artist then!"

"..."

Hearing this, Kang Ming slowly turned his head to look at Ding Yilong... To be honest, he was completely convinced.

This guy was truly... a pure scumbag and an idiot!

Meanwhile.

Tang Yao paused when she heard this and then turned around.

Seeing this, Ding Yilong thought she had softened. The twisted look on his face disappeared, and he looked at Tang Yao with a hint of arrogance.

Tang Yao stood not far away, looking at Ding Yilong as if he were trash, and suddenly asked, "Do you know... why that Third-rate Painter decided to give up on magazine serialization?"

Ding Yilong seemed not to realize anything and immediately replied, "Why? You're asking the obvious!"

"Asking the obvious?"

Tang Yao nodded, her face expressionless. "Fine, then I'll ask another question – as the editor-in-chief of the Editorial Department, when was the last time you read a manga? Besides knowing Fate/Zero is popular, have you read this manga? Do you know what it's specifically about?"

Ding Yilong twitched the corner of his mouth, his arrogant expression becoming even more pronounced. "What? You want to back down and can't bring yourself to admit it, so you're starting to brag to me about how good this manga is? Does it matter if I read it?"

"...It matters?"

Tang Yao took a deep breath upon hearing this, and a mocking expression slowly appeared on her fair face. "How ridiculous. As the editor-in-chief of the Editorial Department, do you even know what you're saying?

You want it to be serialized in the magazine without even reading the manga? And—"

At this point.

She paused, looked around, and continued, "And you're doing this in front of the entire editorial staff, because of personal grudges, saying that even if the manga can be serialized... you'll make sure it doesn't get past the sixth chapter. You're truly remarkable, Mr. Editor-in-Chief. Tell me, going forward, what manga artists will dare to submit their work to the Editorial Department? Even if they do, who will trust the Editorial Department? Who will trust the editors?"

"You just said... no manga artist would do something like making a popular work free to serialize."

"But think about the look on your face just now, is it really impossible?"

"……"

Hearing Tang Yao's words.

Ding Yilong finally came to his senses. The arrogant expression on his face stiffened, and he suddenly looked around.

… All the editors in the editorial department were looking this way, or more accurately, looking at him.

Because of the distance.

He couldn't quite make out what emotions they held.

But Kang Ming, who was closest… Ding Yilong could see him clearly.

His eyes held undisguised disgust.

"Heh."

Noticing Ding Yilong looking over.

Kang Ming, with extreme lack of manners, spat directly, then turned his body, pulled out a form, and began to write.

"…That's not what I meant."

Ding Yilong swallowed. Although he hadn't fully grasped the situation, he already vaguely realized something was wrong.

He immediately raised his voice and started to explain, "I just…"

But he had only just begun.

He got stuck.

A dog can't change its ways.

You can't expect a selfish, arrogant person to immediately realize what was wrong with what he said.

"Just what?"

Not far away.

Tang Yao saw Ding Yilong's flustered attempt to explain, yet not knowing what he did wrong, and only found it ironic. "An editor-in-chief who doesn't even read manga, an editor-in-chief who only cares about popularity and not content, and decides to serialize a work without even reading it, an editor-in-chief who can say 'I can make sure it's not serialized'… still has the nerve to ask how a manga artist would possibly serialize for free?"

Ding Yilong swallowed again. The feeling that something was wrong grew stronger.

"Kneel down and apologize to the President? Drag it out until the hype dies down?"

And just as Ding Yilong grew more uneasy.

Tang Yao's voice rang out again, coldly saying, "See if you can drag it out until tomorrow! Make me wait to die? … After you get fired, then we'll see if you can find a job, you arrogant idiot!!"

With that.

She flicked her ponytail and turned to leave.

What an idiot, rushing to take the blame.

"……"

Ding Yilong watched Tang Yao's retreating figure. The arrogant expression on his face had completely vanished… replaced by panic.

The trembling of his right arm grew more pronounced.

Because he finally realized something…

With the current hype, if Fate/Zero were to be serialized for free, the entire manga magazine industry would be shocked!

After all, Fate/Zero had incredible hype right now! And the readers were genuinely looking forward to it!

The reason no one had contacted Tang Yao, and no one had inquired about that third-rate painter, was mainly because the manga had appeared at Wenxin Hall's manga awards.

Basically, everyone assumed this manga would be serialized in a magazine under Wenxin Hall. Weren't readers asking when Wenxin Hall would start the serialization?

Then, if the manga wasn't serialized in a magazine under Wenxin Hall.

And if his recent words got out…

Ding Yilong's flabby flesh trembled violently. Looking at Tang Yao, who was about to disappear, he panicked.

Because if something like this happened.

Let alone whether he could stay at Wenxin Hall, if he were truly fired, he wouldn't be able to find any related work!

Other magazine companies, having heard of his 'glorious resume,' would immediately kick him out… he wouldn't even be able to work as a regular editor!

This wasn't just about being fired; it was about having no fallback options.

Thinking this.

He frantically started to run after Tang Yao.

"Wait! You wait for me!! That manga absolutely cannot be serialized for free…"

Bang–

But as soon as he took a step, Kang Ming suddenly stood up and slammed into him.

Ding Yilong staggered from the impact, forced to stop.

He immediately turned his head to look at Kang Ming and said with a fierce look, "What do you want!?"

"I'm resigning."

Kang Ming picked up the resignation letter he had just filled out, and also picked up the resignation letter Tang Yao had placed on the desk, handing them both to Ding Yilong. He said coldly, "I'm resigning too."

Hearing this, Ding Yilong looked at Kang Ming, then at the resignation letters in his hand, and roared, "We'll talk about this later! Can't you see I'm..."

But he didn't finish speaking.

Kang Ming took a step forward, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him close, "Can't see what?"

Seeing Kang Ming looking like he was about to throw a punch, Ding Yilong's anger instantly vanished, and his words faltered...

His outwardly tough but inwardly timid demeanor was particularly laughable.