Starting as a Manga Editor-Chapter 44: Shame

Very soon,
Zhao Fangsheng understood the whole story.
Simply put… "Fate/Zero" was just too popular!
Because of Shang Tao’s sneaky move with that special categorization, the majority of angry readers ended up checking out the two mangas drawn by Tang Yao!
And after they finished reading… their reactions were exactly like Su Deqiang’s — they instantly forgot why they were mad in the first place, completely absorbed in praising how good it was, busy searching for the next chapter of "Fate/Zero"!
As for the other early-release works,
the readers couldn't care less about Ou Congquan, let alone any of the others!
Ever since some of the Manga Award entries were put online early, Shang Tao had been holed up in his own department, monitoring the backend data with his team. He figured if the plan flopped in the end, they could just manage the comments — delete the ones that were too nasty to minimize the damage.
Yep.
Even though the works were released early, each of the twenty-something mangas had its own separate rating system and comment section.
But the so-called rating system was a bit crude: readers could only like or dislike, and the website would only display the number of likes and dislikes — no detailed reviews.
After all, there weren’t many mature online manga reading platforms domestically yet.
Shang Tao was basically feeling his way through the dark.
But that wasn’t the point. The point was… Shang Tao had initially planned to control the reviews.
But later on, he realized — control what, my *ss!
Forget malicious comments — barely anyone was even reading the other works!
Meanwhile, the stats for "Human Head Balloon" and "Fate/Zero" were skyrocketing! Compared to the other early-release titles, their growth could only be described as terrifying!
It was really terrifying!
Not even half a day had passed yet! And the likes for Tang Yao’s two mangas had already broken 100,000!
One hundred thousand!!
While the other works were still struggling in the triple digits, these two just soared above the crowd, blasting their way to six figures!
And the website had just launched!
It was absolutely insane!
Mainly because Shang Tao and Ou Congquan’s operation was so sneaky, it pretty much made the entire manga reader community aware that some Manga Award works had been released early.
Readers — whether they were just looking for drama or, like Su Deqiang, coming for "revenge" — were all curious to check out what the heck Wenxin Press was up to.
And then, because of Shang Tao’s special "heartfelt recommendation" section…
Good lord.
Basically, as soon as readers opened the site, they all clicked straight into the works by the "third-rate artist"…
which was Tang Yao, of course.
By the time Shang Tao realized something was off, it was already too late.
He wanted to remove that special category, but there was no way anymore — because "Human Head Balloon" and "Fate/Zero" were already spreading like wildfire by word of mouth among manga fans!
Even readers who hadn’t been paying attention before were starting to flock in…
And what’s even scarier!
If both of these mangas were one-shots, that’d be one thing — but "Fate/Zero" wasn’t over yet…
It was a serial! And it ended right as the story was getting really good!
This was insane!
Readers who had their interest piqued were now directing all their frustration at the New Media Department.
Their demand was simple: Where’s the next chapter!? Where’s my next chapter!?
Even just telling them when the serialization would continue would have been fine!
Don’t just ghost us!
Say something!!!
Clearly, they refused to believe that "Fate/Zero" had just ended like that.
Such an amazing concept! Such an engrossing story — how could it just stop!? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
“……”
Zhao Fangsheng, holding Shang Tao’s phone, looked at the Manga Award’s latest social media post — seeing the comment count jump to twenty thousand and seeing countless readers asking about the "Fate/Zero" serialization — he was a bit stunned.
Even though he had already read "Fate/Zero", and agreed it was an outstanding manga that had completely hooked him,
the readers’ urgency…
was beyond what he had expected.
Combining that with the website data Shang Tao just mentioned…
Maybe, just maybe, this manga…
had the potential to become a new pillar!
Thinking of this,
Zhao Fangsheng got a little excited! A new pillar!
Originally, he had just wanted to gauge the readers’ acceptance. He didn’t expect to stumble upon a bonus surprise.
The readers actually loved it this much!
Still, although Zhao Fangsheng was excited inside, he didn’t show it. He quickly pressed down his emotions, slowly lifted his head, looked at Shang Tao, and asked,
"Who told you to specially categorize and list those two mangas separately?"
"I went back and read the two mangas Editor Tang recommended. They were just way too good, way better than all the others… so I figured, let’s let the readers see these two first, let them realize how amazing the Manga Award works are.
And also, I wanted them to see how capable Ou Congquan is as an editor, so they'd have some faith in his future projects."
Shang Tao said, looking miserable:
"But who would’ve thought it’d turn out like this."
"You already knew those two mangas were way better than the others,"
Zhao Fangsheng shook his head,
"and you still did that. Didn’t you basically hand all the popularity to those two?"
"Vice President, what do we do now? No one’s paying attention to the other works, and 'Fate/Zero'…"
At this point, Shang Tao also realized the problem.
What he did really wasn't very smart.
But overall, it wasn’t a huge deal. After all, the Manga Award’s main goal was to drive traffic to the site. Whether one work pulled the traffic or twenty works pulled the traffic — as long as the traffic came, it was fine.
The biggest problem was — "Fate/Zero."
The manga wasn’t finished!!
Tang Yao had only submitted enough for one issue!
Now all the readers were frantically demanding the next chapter and asking about serialization.
“……”
Zhao Fangsheng hesitated for a moment, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and then said,
"If no one cares about the other works… then so be it. Having these two is already more than enough. It’s worth it.
As for 'Fate/Zero', just use the social media account to post:
'Please be patient. We won’t let readers down.'
That’s enough…
I’ll handle the rest."
"That’s enough?"
Shang Tao said nervously, "It won’t affect the website?"
"It’s enough."
Zhao Fangsheng shook his head and handed the phone back to him:
"Readers have always been patient with outstanding works. The reason they’re aiming their anger at you now is because they’re worried you’re playing them — releasing just one chapter and then abandoning it.
Honestly, I shouldn't have allowed a serialized work to be in the early-release batch. But in the end, it’s not a bad result...
This mangaka is really talented.
The readers' response proves it.
Maybe when this manga starts officially serializing, it might even surpass 'The Girl, the Boy, and the Sword.'"
"Surpass 'The Girl, the Boy, and the Sword'?"
Shang Tao froze when he heard that:
"That’s impossible, right?"
Zhao Fangsheng countered,
"Then do you think, if Ou Congquan’s works were posted on the site, they could get a hundred thousand likes in one morning?"
Shang Tao froze for a moment, then lightly shook his head:
"No way."
"There you go."
Zhao Fangsheng took a deep breath, then looked toward the office door:
"Maybe we’re about to witness the rise of a legendary mangaka who’s no less impressive than Teacher Rumi… I should meet this mangaka through Editor Tang."
Rumi —
Tang Yao had once said, if it was a parallel world, Rumi would be the equivalent of Eiichiro Oda.
So when Shang Tao heard that, he gasped sharply.
But his thoughts were much more mundane:
He was just thinking — not losing to Teacher Rumi!?
If this manga runs for over a decade, how much money would that be!?
……
At the same time,
the so-called "third-rate artist" that everyone said was so talented…
was lying on a sofa, resting her head on her younger sister’s slender, fair thighs, still dressed in simple pajamas, holding her phone, face full of shame.
Tang Xun’s long, snow-white legs were pressed together. She lowered her head slightly, looking at the sister lying on her lap:
"I’m your little sister… and you're still blushing?"
"None of your business."
Tang Yao put down her phone, turned her face into her sister’s flat little stomach, and muttered in embarrassment:
"…It’s all that idiot Shang Tao’s fault!
What’s with ‘Tang Yao’s heartfelt recommendation’!?
Why did he have to drag me out there like that!"
Today was Sunday.
Neither of the sisters had to work or go to school.
And this morning, after seeing Shang Tao’s sneaky stunt, Tang Yao had been glued to the Manga Award situation.
Then she saw the homepage…
That "Tang Yao's heartfelt recommendation" section.
It was seriously… so embarrassing.
Although the results were fantastic, and she could understand and even appreciate Shang Tao’s intention...
Still… it was just way too embarrassing.