It was obvious.Li Xue had also finished reading the twenty or so manga works that had been released early for the Manga Award — or more accurately, she had read the two works under Tang Yao’s heartfelt recomndation, which were also the ones Tang Yao herself had drawn.
There was no need to talk about Human Head Balloon; Li Xue had already read that one.But Fate/Zero — this was Li Xue’s first ti seeing it.
Because Tang Yao hadn’t been able to find a chance to show her earlier.
After all, it was drawn later — to et the Manga Award schedule, Tang Yao had just barely finished it and imdiately sent the manuscript off to Shang Tao.
So, just like ordinary readers, this was Li Xue’s first ti reading Fate/Zero — the manga Tang Yao had once ntioned... was originally ant to be a ga concept.
And after reading it,Li Xue’s only reaction was — This, as just a ga concept!? What a waste!
More importantly, it wasn’t just Li Xue who thought it was good — the readers clearly loved it too.
In this situation... it was the perfect opportunity for Tang Yao to make a debut as a mangaka!
So,Li Xue imdiately called Tang Yao.
"Miss Li, I’m aware of the situation on the website too…"Tang Yao couldn't help but chuckle at the big sister’s excited voice:"But I really don’t have any plans to beco a mangaka."
"...You really won’t even consider it?"Li Xue paused, then continued to persuade her:"With the way Fate/Zero started… it’s totally ready for serialization."
"No need to consider."Tang Yao, lying on Xun’s thighs, stared at the ceiling and said calmly:"If I really wanted to serialize it, I wouldn’t have handed the manuscript to Shang Tao in the first place.Although the response after releasing it has been a bit beyond my expectations, my decision won’t change.Besides…"
Speaking of this,Tang Yao thought back to their earlier conversations and joked:"I’m planning to steal you away from Wenxin Press, you know.How could I go beco a mangaka…?What would you do then? Turn yourself into an editor? And you don't even specialize in male-targeted works!Of course I have to aim for higher ceilings in the gaming world — that way, I can earn more money and bring you out of Wenxin...bring you ho!"
"……"
Li Xue suddenly fell silent.
At the sa ti,Tang Xun also looked at her sister’s face.
Tang Yao noticed and gave Xun a questioning look —What’s wrong?
But Xun either didn’t understand or didn’t want to interrupt.She just kept quietly staring.
"…Actually, I don’t care that much about being a deputy editor,"Li Xue’s voice ca again — but this ti, there was no excitent.Instead… there was a hint of shyness?
Why did her tone sound so weird?
Tang Yao was a little puzzled, but she temporarily shifted her gaze back from her sister’s face and replied:"I do care.Anyway, my mind’s made up.Miss Li, please just help
contact that relative of yours."
"I already have…"On the other end,Li Xue seed to take a deep breath, murmured sothing inaudible, and then her tone slowly returned to normal:"But about Fate/Zero… what’s the plan?You put it on the website for promotion, right?So how are you planning to handle the updates?"
"Hmm… wait until the hype gets even bigger."Tang Yao thought for a mont, then said:"Then on Tuesday or Wednesday, I’ll start releasing it at a weekly pace — for free."
"Release it for free?"
"Yeah, to avoid any unnecessary copyright disputes."
"And after it’s fully released? Will you publish a volu?"
"Uh…"
"You haven’t thought about it?Volu royalties are a major part of a mangaka’s inco — they can account for up to forty percent.Even if you update for free and don’t care about manuscript fees, you absolutely shouldn't give up on volu publishing.Given the current popularity of the manga, as long as the later chapters stay strong, the volu will definitely sell well."
"I really hadn’t considered it…"
"Then give
so ti.Let
think about it and make a plan for you.Free serialization is fine, but we can’t just give up the future inco."
"…Honestly, it feels a little too early to be talking about all this."Hearing how serious Li Xue sounded, Tang Yao felt a little awkward and hesitated:"We’re barely at the starting line.It’s only just a good beginning — and I really shouldn’t be causing you more trouble."
"This isn’t trouble at all!"Li Xue answered imdiately:"Even if it was trouble, I’d still help you…But I have to confirm one last thing:Tang Yao, are you really planning to resign?"
Tang Yao gave a firm answer:"Yeah."
Li Xue was quiet for a few seconds, then said:"Then promise
this:If you fail, don’t give up on yourself.Promise you’ll co back and draw manga.If that happens, I’ll even resign and beco a freelance editor to support you.I really don’t care about the deputy editor position."
"Okay."
"Then start preparing yourself…I’ve set up a eting with my relative for Wednesday.I’ll have him et us downstairs at the company, and I’ll go with you."
"……"
Hearing that,Tang Yao imdiately sat up from the sofa, smoothing out her ssy hair, and asked:"Miss Li, really?"
"Yeah.But getting an investnt isn’t easy.Even if Fate/Zero is super popular right now… if it ends up failing—"
"I know. I’ll be ntally prepared."
"Then let’s talk more about it on Monday at the office.I have to think about the free serialization and volu publishing issues.Also… for Wednesday, make sure you dress a little more maturely—Actually, never mind, the way you usually dress is fine."
"……"
After that, the two chatted a bit more before finally hanging up.
Tang Yao slowly put her phone down, took a deep breath, then exhaled, forcing herself to calm down.
Finally…she had reached the most crucial step — getting the money.
Although there were still tons of problems ahead,this was undoubtedly the most important step.
"…Miss Li."
At that mont,Tang Xun, seeing her sister had finished the call, spoke up:"Was that a coworker?"
"Yeah, a friend I t at the magazine company."
Tang Yao ca back to her senses, smiled brightly, and nodded:"A really good friend!"
She could tell —Li Xue genuinely cared about her situation.
And for that, she was truly grateful.
Tang Xun hesitated for a mont, then asked:"…It’s a woman, right?"
"Huh?I called her 'Miss Li.' If not a woman, what else?"
"Oh…"Tang Xun lowered her gaze and thought for a bit, but didn’t ask anything more.
"Let’s not talk about that now, Xun."Tang Yao stepped down from the sofa, ca to her sister, and reached out her hand seriously:"I need your help with sothing very important."
Tang Xun lifted her snowy chin slightly, looking at her sister, who was beautiful even in plain pajamas, and placed her little hand into Tang Yao’s palm:"What is it?"
"Help
pick out so clothes."
Tang Yao pulled her up and led her into the bedroom.
Then,Tang Yao stood still, slightly spread her arms, and said earnestly:"Xun, I need a set of clothes that leans more toward a neutral style… sothing that’ll make
look more mature."
Even though Li Xue hadn't pushed the point earlier, Tang Yao had picked up the hint —and she agreed.Since she was going to et soone to ask for money, she needed to present herself properly.
Hearing that,Tang Xun shook her head:"…That doesn’t really suit you. And we don’t have clothes like that at ho."
"Then sothing more feminine is fine too."Tang Yao hesitated, then compromised.
Fine.Screw it—whatever it takes!
"……"
Hearing that, Tang Xun didn’t say anything else.She sized up her pajama-clad sister for a mont, then turned to start digging through the closet.
About five minutes later.
"Xun, just asking, but…why are you bringing out stockings and high heels?"
"You said you wanted a mature look, didn’t you?"
"...Maybe let’s not, after all."
……
At the sa ti.While Tang Yao was busy preparing her outfit,the Manga Award’s popularity… continued to climb.
But as ti went on—the Manga Award, which had initially gained massive attention thanks to Ou Congquan,gradually beca less about him…and not even about the Manga Award itself anymore.
Because most readers weren't discussing the Manga Award at all —they were talking about a certain mangaka.A mangaka with a weird na — Third-Rate Artist.
And as readers’ discussions spread,the popularity of those two works skyrocketed even more, drawing more and more readers in.
Thus creating a positive feedback loop.
And then—
Even Kang Ming,who had already heard from Tang Yao that Ou Congquan had changed the storyboards and thus wasn’t paying much attention to the Manga Award anymore,ended up reading the two mangas.
And after he finished,his reaction was the sa as most readers —he couldn’t believe how incredibly fun the mangas were!!!
But—
Besides marveling at how interesting they were,after reading Fate/Zero, Kang Ming also felt a deep admiration… and a spark of inspiration.
"Holy relics, Heroic Spirits and Servants, Command Spells, Heroic Spirit Summoning, Holy Grail War…"Staring at the final page of Fate/Zero, Kang Ming muttered excitedly:"Where on earth did Editor Tang find such a mangaka!? This is amazing! These settings are pure genius!If this were turned into a ga…"
Thinking that far,inspiration seed to explode inside him.He couldn’t help but open a docunt and start jotting down ideas based on the manga's existing settings.
At the end of the day,this newly recruited editorial staff mber still loved gas the most.
So when he saw fresh, innovative settings—his first instinct was to think about making a ga.
Only—
The manga hadn’t revealed much of its world yet.
Before long, Kang Ming hit a block.
He looked up again, grabbed the mouse, and flipped back to the Fate/Zero webpage, getting ready to reread it for more inspiration.
But as he stared at the black-and-white manga on the screen,he suddenly snapped out of it—and laughed self-deprecatingly.
...What am I even doing?
The manga wasn’t finished yet.He was already an editor—what was he doing daydreaming about this?
Besides,like it’s even possible to make it into a ga.
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