Started as a comics editor

Chapter 28 Impossible

"You mean..."

After a long time.

Zhao Fangsheng looked at Shang Tao, who seemed to have finally reacted. He raised his brows and said slowly, "You want to use the controversy surrounding 'Girl and the Sword' to promote the manga award and online website?"

Shang Tao knew his boss well, and knew this was a sign of his displeasure, so he quickly explained, "Operationally, this is correct, but we have no choice. President, you've seen that all the readers are currently venting their anger on the comic award and the website..."

He copied Tang Yao's theory that black and red are also red.

"..."

After hearing Shang Tao's words, Vice President Zhao Fangsheng's raised brow slowly lowered. He seemed to understand Shang Tao's intention and reached out to knock on the table. "So, according to you, during the period when you release the manga award works in advance, do you still need to mention "Girl, Boy and Sword" from time to time to highlight the 'normality' of the manga award works?"

“It really works…”

Shang Tao's eyes lit up when he heard this, but just as he started, he noticed that the vice president in front of him had a strange expression on his face.

This is almost the same as using one's own flagship works to get ahead.

It's so unkind.

He quickly spoke up, defending himself, "No, no, no, I won't do that. I'll just take advantage of the readers' anger and not actively promote the... bizarre developments in this issue of 'Girl, Boy, and Sword' that have caused so much outrage."

"That's like roasting 'Girl, Boy, and Sword' over a fire."

Zhao Fangsheng's expression brightened when he saw Shang Tao change his tune at the last moment, but he was still furious. "Do you really think I'm Ding Yilong? Readers are venting their anger on the comic award, so the comic award released the works in advance, as if to let readers see how excellent the works are. Isn't that clearly letting readers compare?

Are you going to put your own flagship comic on the spot? Do you know how many people are against the new media department? You'll get the website up and running if you do this, but if Ou Congquan continues to have a relapse and "Girl to Boy and Sword" falls, do you know how much backlash will be directed at the new media department and me?

"I know."

Shang Tao immediately responded, then, noticing his president's skeptical look, continued to explain, "I really do, Vice President. I just raised the same concern, but Editor Tang said it could be resolved. She said... that she would make that AORI a reality, making this issue of 'Girl, Boy, and Sword' no longer just a flare-up, but merely a detour to set the stage for the subsequent explosion."

"Editor Tang?"

Zhao Fangsheng's anger faltered. Looking at Shang Tao's confident expression, he finally realized something: "Write that sentence about AORI's editor-in-chief? So... there really is a twist in the sequel to 'Girl, Boy, and Sword'?"

"Probably not at the moment."

Shang Tao smiled bitterly, then began to talk about what he saw and heard when he went to the editorial office, as well as the reasons and consequences of why this plot was drawn in this issue of "Girls, Boys and Swords".

He didn't exaggerate.

Because the original version alone, without any embellishment, is enough to raise one's blood pressure.

Ding Yilong, the editor-in-chief, not only did not even read the original manuscript, but when his editor discovered the problem and was trying hard to change the cartoonist's mind, he told him not to bother.

As for helping the editors below, that is even more unrealistic.

Not to mention helping, he even tried his best to shift the blame to the hard-working editor.

Any normal person would have a cerebral hemorrhage if they heard this.

As Shang Tao spoke.

Zhao Fangsheng's face gradually turned red: "I TM..."

Although he knew that Ding Yillong had serious problems before, he still couldn't help but swear at this moment.

Because it's really outrageous!
“I was actually shocked as well.”

Shang Tao smiled bitterly: "But it's normal. After all, he is an old colleague of the president and has achieved success in the past. He is too lax..."

“The achievements in the past do not represent the present!”

Zhao Fangsheng couldn't help but slam his hand on the table. "Now there's a problem! Who does he think he is? The emperor of the editorial department?"

Shang Tao didn't say anything.

Because maybe Ding Yillong really thinks so.

the other side.

Zhao Fangsheng was furious, but after slamming the table, he calmed down, breathing in and out, trying to keep his emotions under control. He said, "Shang Tao, you should know why I asked you to go to the editorial department under the pretext of AORI."

"Ah."

Shang Tao nodded: "Look at what Ding Yilong is up to, and also look at his control over the important cartoonists under his command. Ding Yilong should have vaguely guessed it, so he has been shirking responsibility in front of me."

"I always thought that AORI was a product of communication between the editor and the cartoonist. I didn't think the situation was that bad."

Although Zhao Fangsheng tried hard to hold back, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Now you're telling me, the editor was forced to write this to comfort the readers?"

Shang Tao realized something was wrong and added, "It won't be like that soon."

Zhao Fangsheng glanced at Shang Tao and asked, "Are you that confident in that editor?"

“Rather than confidence, it’s better to say expectation.”

Shang Tao said helplessly, "Otherwise, whether I put Mr. Ou on the fire or not, the situation of "Girl, Boy and Sword" will not be good."

"..."

Zhao Fangsheng was silent after hearing this. After a long while, he said, "So according to Ou Congquan's original idea, he will continue with the current trend?"

"According to Editor Tang, that's right. There's no twist... The next two months will be filled with scenes related to Hell, and only at the very end will the protagonist reappear in a resurrected state." "What the hell is going on?"

"I'm shocked too..."

"So why did Editor Tang fail to change Ou Congquan's mind despite trying four times?"

"On the one hand, Ding Yilong didn't take any action. Not only did he not intervene at all, he even suppressed his editors. On the other hand, it was probably because the cartoonists didn't trust him... Editor Tang was too young and too beautiful."

Zhao Fangsheng was a little surprised: "Female?"

Shang Tao nodded, then said with a strange expression: "Well, she doesn't look like an editor at all. She looks more like a member of a girl group, the kind who stands in the center position and makes everyone around them pale in comparison..."

"..."

Zhao Fangsheng had a look on his face that said, "What are you talking about?" but he didn't continue the conversation. "So why did she think she could change Ou Congquan's mind this time?"

"Uh……"

Shang Tao was stuck for a moment before he said, "Isn't Ou Congquan able to see the readers' feedback? I guess his attitude will soften, right?"

"What if he gets stuck in a rut and thinks his painting is fine?"

Zhao Fangsheng shook his head. "It's not impossible. When I was an editor, I met cartoonists who, in order to prove themselves correct, would go against the readers when they said there were problems with their work."

Shang Tao was stunned, and his excited heart cooled down instantly as if a basin of cold water was poured on it.

Yes.

Editor Tang failed to convince the other party in the previous four attempts.

Will it really work this time?
"unless."

At this time.

Zhao Fangsheng thought of the word "AORI" and frowned slightly. "Unless that editor named Tang has his own unique insights into the direction of the next plot, and even knows how to draw the next plot better than Ou Congquan, and also knows how to perfectly connect it with the plot that has already been drawn, then perhaps he can take advantage of the readers' dissatisfaction with the current situation..."

Shang Tao's eyes lit up again, and his heart, which had been splashed with a basin of cold water, became hot again.

"But the probability is too low."

Zhao Fangsheng shook his head, pouring cold water on Shang Tao's heart. He then pondered for a moment and said, "But let her try it first. You can release the comic award works in advance. You go and make preparations first.

Editor Tang is right. This is indeed a good opportunity, but it's just preparation. Please keep an eye on the progress of Editor Tang."

"it is good."

at last.

When Shang Tao heard this, his heart was no longer tempered, and it turned hot and cold, hot and cold.

"Go."

Zhao Fangsheng stood up. "We must keep a close eye on the progress. If Editor Tang can't make it, I'll go with her to visit Ou Congquan... On the other hand, the content department can't continue like this. They've lost control of the cartoonist, Ding Yilong... this Ding Yilong."

"it is good."

Shang Tao nodded in response. As for the rest, he didn't say anything more: "Then I will go to prepare and screen the works released in advance."

"Ah."

Zhao Fangsheng responded, then thought of something else: "By the way, what's the name of that editor named Tang?"

"Tang Yao."

"Tang Yao...I understand."

Zhao Fangsheng nodded and stopped talking.

He was already thinking about the time to visit Ou Congquan with Tang Yao tomorrow, as well as the subsequent restructuring of the Youth Magazine editorial department.

It’s not that he didn’t believe Tang Yao. From Shang Tao’s description and the word AORI, he knew very well that this editor was capable, but Ding Yillong was just too outrageous.

However, no matter how capable one is, it is difficult to have one's own unique insights while being consistent with the original author's ideas, let alone connecting with the already drawn plot.

It's so hard.

Not too possible.

If she could really do that... then she could directly replace Ding Yillong.

Although a thirty-year-old... Wait, how old is Editor Tang?

Zhao Fangsheng frowned and recalled Shang Tao's description of Editor Tang - young and beautiful; probably around thirty years old. It's not impossible for her to be the editor-in-chief. The girls' comics editing team also has a very young deputy editor-in-chief.

Wait...what am I thinking about.

Thinking about it
Zhao Fangsheng finally reacted and shook his head in self-mockery.

It was impossible, but I actually started to think about it seriously.

...Maybe they were too eager to replace Ding Yillong.

(End of this chapter)