Assistant

Chu Yu pondered for a few seconds after hearing this, and finally nodded.

To be honest, he had planned to draw the manga manuscript for the first three chapters from the start. Now, Su Ruo had just interrupted his train of thought.

But after going in circles, since Chu Yu had already completed more than a third of the workload, why not just finish it directly?

After all, the reason other manga artists only submitted storyboards at the serialization meeting was twofold: first, the manga company's requirements were just that; second, drawing the manga manuscript was too time-consuming. If the serialization wasn't approved, the manuscript drawn with so much effort would be wasted.

But Chu Yu had no such worries. Unlike Su Ruo, who had only read one chapter and was confused about the plot of Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal, he had read the entire story of Trust and Betrayal.

Chu Yu didn't believe this work would have no chance of serialization. Even if the serialization proposal wasn't approved by Man Ying, other periodicals wouldn't refuse it, right?

In that case, since it had to be drawn sooner or later, being busy now would naturally lead to more ease later.

Moreover, Su Ruo had mentioned that submitting the manuscript directly at the serialization meeting would give the reviewing editors a more intuitive understanding of the work, helping to deepen their impression.

Su Ruo looked at Chu Yu and let out a soft sigh.

"I've been an editor for so long, and if there's one thing I can say, it's that your attitude towards your own work is definitely among the best."

"Other manga artists even hire assistants. I visit them three to five times a week, or even corner them at their homes to watch them draw, and they can barely finish one chapter a week."

"And you, facing the task of drawing three chapters' worth of manuscript in two weeks all by yourself, without batting an eye..."

"Alright, alright, enough with the pleasantries!"

"Since you've made up your mind, I don't have time to chat with you, Su Laoda, anymore. If there's nothing else, I'm going to work. There's tea, fruit, and internet at home, so entertain yourself. I can't entertain you, I have to go draw manga. I really can't afford to waste any time!" Chu Yu grabbed a can of coffee, gulped it down in one go, and walked towards his drawing desk.

Su Ruo's eyebrows twitched. She was about to voice her displeasure at Chu Yu calling her "Su Laoda" again, but upon seeing Chu Yu's somewhat pale face and the dark circles under his eyes, she decided not to bother him with such matters.

Watching Chu Yu's expression, which had been somewhat tired, become focused the moment he picked up his drawing pen, Su Ruo inexplicably felt much more confident about the serialization meeting in two weeks.

Talented and hardworking, how could such a person not succeed!

"Hey... Chu Yu!" Su Ruo fell silent for a few minutes, then interrupted Chu Yu's drawing.

"I have a proposal..."

"A proposal... What proposal?" Chu Yu looked up.

"Of course, I completely trust your drawing speed and your ability."

"But no matter what, three chapters' worth of manuscript in two weeks by yourself is still too heavy a workload..."

"You still have school during the day and can only draw manga after returning at night. Staying up late like this every day, even if your work is approved at the serialization meeting, it's not worth it if you collapse from exhaustion..."

"After all, once the serialization proposal is approved, what awaits you is the official serialization. You can't possibly maintain this high-intensity, late-night state long-term!"

Chu Yu fell silent upon hearing this. He also knew that this state was not a sustainable plan.

"So your suggestion is..."

"Have you ever thought about hiring an assistant?" Su Ruo looked at Chu Yu.

"Hire an assistant?" Chu Yu frowned.

To be honest, he had had such thoughts before, but firstly, Chu Yu didn't consider himself very wealthy, and secondly, he didn't know any friends in the manga industry, so the idea was just a fleeting thought.

However, Su Ruo's words made Chu Yu re-examine his situation.

For a period of time, he could handle this kind of intense work, but what about the long term? He knew that just the first three chapters of Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal had made him so exhausted recently. What about when serialization actually began? What if he started serializing a long-form work in the future, one that took years to complete, and he still worked himself to death every day like this?

He would probably drop dead before he turned twenty-five!

After some thought, Chu Yu explained his difficulties in hiring a manga assistant to Su Ruo.

First, his funds were not abundant. He couldn't afford assistants who demanded high fees, and he was afraid that assistants who charged low fees would have subpar skills, affecting the quality of the original manuscript.

Second, he didn't have any friends who were manga assistants. Even if he wanted to hire one, he wouldn't know where to find them.

"Indeed, funds are a problem!" Su Ruo nodded upon hearing this.

"As far as I know, in Ming City right now, a short-term manga assistant generally charges eighty yuan per page. Compared to your Manga Creation manuscript fee of only two hundred and twenty yuan per page..."

Manga artists, before becoming famous, were quite miserable. They couldn't afford assistants and had to do everything themselves. Working 996 was the norm for this group.

Only those famous manga artists, who relied on publishing Collected Volumes and selling copyright, could afford to hire several assistants without pressure.

For a manga author at Chu Yu's level, even with the manuscript fees from The Garden of Words supporting him now, hiring an assistant was still a bit of a strain.

"How about this, my personal suggestion is that you could hire a short-term assistant to help you complete the remaining Manga Creation within this week. Otherwise, if you keep staying up late like this every day, I'm worried about the Quality of your manga later on," Su Ruo thought for a moment and then shared her opinion with Chu Yu.

"As for the candidate..." Su Ruo pondered for a moment and said.

"I do know someone who is currently free..."

"You don't need to worry about her drawing skills. I've often introduced her to other manga artists as an assistant before, so she is fully capable of working as a manga assistant. More importantly... she's also a Fan of yours!"

"A Fan of mine? Of The Garden of Words?" Chu Yu asked.

"That's right... and, she's quite a Beauty!" Su Ruo looked at Chu Yu with a teasing expression!

A Beauty? I bet she's some scruffy guy!

Chu Yu didn't believe Su Ruo's nonsense.

"Of course, everything is up to you to decide."

"As your Editor, I can only offer you some channels."

Chu Yu leaned against the wall, thinking carefully.

First, if he wanted to continue down the path of a manga artist, and go further and deeper, it would be inevitable in the future to hire a few assistants and establish a studio.

Moreover, Su Ruo's proposal was only for a short-term assistant, at Eighty Yuan Per Page. Chu Yu had already completed one chapter's worth of content himself, and with two more chapters, over Forty Pages, remaining, hiring an assistant would cost over Three Thousand Yuan. Chu Yu could afford this expense.

Otherwise, if he really pushed himself alone for another One Week, his health might genuinely suffer!

Considering further ahead, if his work passed the Serialization Proposal at next Friday's Serialization Meeting, then to balance his Studies and manga, hiring assistants would also need to be put on the agenda. With this assumption, this week could be considered an Adjustment Period with his assistant before the new work's serialization.

And if Rurouni Kenshin failed to pass the Serialization Proposal, he wouldn't lose much.

Chu Yu wasn't a dithering person. After figuring it out, he quickly made a decision.

"In that case, for the choice of assistant, I'll trouble Su Laoda!" Chu Yu nodded to Su Ruo.

"You said it again!"

Upon hearing this, Su Ruo couldn't help it. She pinched Chu Yu's cheeks with both hands and pulled them sideways.

"How many times have I told you."

"Don't call me Su Laoda!"

Chu Yu cried out in pain and quickly said.

"Su Jie, I was wrong, I was wrong!"