novelraw Chapter 33: Storyboard’s Done?
Chapter 33: Storyboard’s Done?
Friday.
As time passed and a day went by since the magazine’s release, the reader backlash against Ou Congquan still hadn’t calmed down.
In fact, it only got worse.
But amid all the outrage, more and more readers noticed the AORI that Tang Yao had added.
Whether it was hope or just wishful thinking, a decent number of readers, in addition to yelling for Ou Congquan to explain himself, also started calling for the editor to speak up.
“These dumb*ss readers… what does this have to do with me… Okay fine, maybe it does, but what do they mean ‘come out and talk’?”
Tang Yao muttered as she read the reader comments after waking up, then tilted her head and said, “Don’t you think so, Kaoru?”
“……”
Tang Kaoru was standing behind her, tying her sister’s ponytail. She paused for a moment at that: “I have no idea what you’re even talking about.”
Tang Yao explained, “Let me put it this way: imagine one of your classmates wrote a super crappy essay, but it just so happens the title is the same as yours. Then the teacher turns to you and asks you to explain why she wrote it that way.” “Then I wouldn’t explain a thing.”
“Right?”
Tang Yao chuckled, then said, “Not only would you not explain, you’d argue your case. I mean, I’m just giving an example, but if you ever run into something unfair, you absolutely shouldn’t back down. And if it really can’t be resolved—don’t worry, I’ve got your back, always.”
“…I know.”
Kaoru nodded, then smoothly gathered Tang Yao’s hair, looped a hair tie around it, and tied a neat ponytail.
“But hey, come to think of it—you’ve never had a ‘parent day,’ huh?”
A thought seemed to strike Tang Yao, her eyes lighting up slightly: “Don’t schools still do that whole ‘invite your parent to class’ thing?”
She actually kind of wanted to try it.
She’d never had the chance before.
“I’m in high school, not elementary school.”
Kaoru glanced at the ponytail she’d just tied, made sure it was fine, then took a step back to check her work. “There aren’t that many ‘parent event’ things.”
“Oh, I see. So how are your grades?”
“Top ten in the year.”
“……”
Tang Yao was stunned into silence.
That good, huh? What could she even say to that?
That was academic territory she’d never even sniffed.
“After all, you’re the one working hard to pay my tuition.”
Kaoru seemed to know what her sister was thinking. She stepped forward again, came behind Tang Yao, gently tugged the hem of her shirt to smooth out some wrinkles, and said softly, “I’m doing just fine at school. You don’t need to worry.”
“You don’t need to say that… eep!”
Just as Tang Yao was about to tell her not to stress herself out—
Kaoru’s hand, which had been smoothing her clothes, suddenly went up and lightly cupped her chest.
“Kaoru!”
Tang Yao froze, her body going stiff, her cheeks instantly flushed red. She twisted away, flustered: “What are you doing!?”
“Checking if the one we bought last time fits.”
“You could’ve just asked me!”
“You’d lie.”
“I…”
Tang Yao glared at the girl in front of her, half-angry, half-embarrassed: “What kind of stupid reason is that? Can I use that excuse to touch yours? You think that’s okay?”
“Of course you can.”
Kaoru stood in front of her sister, proudly puffing out her chest while tying her own ponytail. “But I don’t lie, and I didn’t need you to buy mine, so there’s no point… Also, only you, sis, would react like that over something sisters do.”
“……”
Tang Yao wanted to argue back, but couldn’t find a solid reason. All she could do was speak with heartfelt sincerity: “That’s not a ‘girly’ reaction. That’s called being caught off guard.”
“Exactly.”
Kaoru finished tying her ponytail and let her hands drop. Her stunning looks, paired with the high ponytail, were full of youthful charm.
Tang Yao reached out and pinched her soft cheeks: “Is arguing with your big sis really that fun for you?”
“No.”
Kaoru let her sister pinch her cheeks, then pulled out her phone to check the time. “I need to head to school.”
“…Go on then.”
Tang Yao looked at the cool, aloof girl in front of her, and reluctantly let go of her cheeks. “Be careful on the way.”
“Mm. You stay home and make sure to eat properly.”
Kaoru turned, started gathering her things, and walked toward the door, ready to leave for school.
But when she reached the doorway—
She suddenly stopped, turned around, and came back to stand in front of her sister.
“Hmm?”
Tang Yao looked at her, puzzled.
“That just now wasn’t teasing. I really was worried you’d feel embarrassed.”
Kaoru tilted her porcelain-pale face up to look at her sister, her voice soft: “And no matter what I do, it won’t change the fact that you’ve always protected me. I don’t know what happened that made you stay home, but whatever it is, I’ll always be right here with you. Sis.”
Tang Yao blinked, then reached out and ruffled her hair gently. “Kaoru… thanks.”
…
Kaoru left for school.
Tang Yao stretched, then looked at the manuscript pages on her desk, pulled out her chair, and sat down.
She hadn’t told Kaoru about the manga award, or the early release stuff.
Because honestly, it was hard to explain… and the reason she stayed home today was to fight the clock and get more pages drawn.
But that wasn’t a bad thing. Even if she did tell Kaoru, it wouldn’t help much—and would just make her worry.
Right now, what mattered most was action.
Like they’d said—no matter what happens, the two of them would always have each other’s backs.
That was enough.
“Let’s do this.”
Tang Yao looked at the manuscript pages on her desk, took a deep breath, and bent over to start drawing again.
Her speed was even faster than yesterday.
Lately, she’d started to realize something — it felt like crossing worlds had brought her a few perks.
The biggest one? Her memory had improved. Maybe it was because she was hosting two souls in one body, but now she could recall everything she’d ever seen.
And also — her drawing skills seemed to have leveled up. She wasn’t sure if it was an overlap effect or something else…
But her hands? They just worked.
And this was with paper. If she had a digital tablet, she seriously felt like she could morph into a tentacle monster.
She could do this.
She could definitely draw it all!
With that thought, Tang Yao’s mind went still. She once again entered full focus mode.
Outside the window.
The first light of morning rose and slowly crept upward, shining into the room.
As time passed, the light shifted and moved.
And during all that time, apart from a quick lunch and a bathroom break, Tang Yao stayed glued to her desk.
Until around 2 p.m.
She finally came to, or rather — was pulled out of her work mode.
Because her phone on the desk rang.
Miss Li had already told her she wouldn’t be in today, so it probably wasn’t her.
So… work stuff?
Tang Yao glanced at her phone, then at the piles of completed manuscript pages on the desk. She probably had enough content ready. Might as well check.
She set her pencil down, picked up her phone, and looked at the screen.
And immediately frowned.
It was from Ou Congquan — or more accurately, from his assistant, Li Jiang. The message was short and straight to the point:
Editor Tang, the teacher’s storyboard for next issue is done. I’ll upload it to the editorial drive soon. Are you available to receive it now?
“……”
Done?
Already?
Tang Yao stared at Li Jiang’s message, leaning back in her chair, a little suspicious.
Sure, storyboards weren’t the same as finished drafts — some mangaka didn’t even bother with rough sketches and just scribbled dialogue.
But still… this was fast.
She’d only visited yesterday, and today it was already finished?
She didn’t believe for a second the guy had accepted everything and immediately started storyboarding out of obedience.
So he still stuck to his own idea? Looks like they really would have to get upper management involved…
What Tang Yao didn’t know was — Ou Congquan had pulled an all-nighter.
“……”
Tang Yao stared at the message, thought it over, and eventually replied to Li Jiang, telling him to send the file in half an hour.
Li Jiang replied immediately: Got it.
Tang Yao put her phone away, stood up, gathered the manuscript pages on her desk, and got ready to head out.
Time to go take a look.
See what the situation was — and figure out whether she really needed Shang Tao to call in the higher-ups.
In any case, the Fate Zero manuscript was already set for now.
Might as well.
…
Meanwhile, at Ou Congquan’s house.
Ou Congquan sat on the fancy couch in his already-cleaned-up living room, dark circles under his eyes.
Normally expressionless, he now looked like he was sitting on pins and needles.
He was clearly on edge.
“What did she say?”
Just then—
Li Jiang stepped out of the assistant’s office.
As soon as he did, Ou Congquan turned sharply to him, eyes fixed, and asked for the fourth time:
“…Editor Tang said to send it over in half an hour. It’s not time yet.”
Li Jiang was getting a little annoyed but still replied patiently.
It was the fourth time he’d been asked…
But Ou Congquan wasn’t done yet. He asked again, “Why half an hour?”
“……”
Li Jiang fell silent.
You’re asking me? How the hell would I know?