Is this cartoonist mentally ill?.

Chapter 14 Countdown to Popularity

The week passed quickly.

Editorial Department of Manjie Culture Company.

Large conference room.

"Everyone, this is the reader popularity poll for the last issue."

Yang Dahai distributed the report directly and then turned on the projection in the conference room.

Ayumi Ito picked up the report nervously and looked at the rankings above carefully.

She even ignored what the editor-in-chief Yang Dahai said in the meeting above.

Seventeen works were serialized in the last issue of "Comic World Gogo", among which four were serialized by newcomers like Lin Qingshan due to this Newcomer Grand Prix.

There was not a single work by a newcomer in the first ten, and Ayumi Ito suddenly felt a bit defeated.

But this is normal, right? The first time a newcomer's work is serialized, no matter how amazing it is, it can't beat the serialized works of well-known comic book authors.

"...Congratulations to Yuhao for his hard-working teacher selection, who won the first place in popularity this issue!"

"Pah, pah, pah—!"

Suddenly, under the leadership of Yang Dahai, all the editors stood up and applauded.

Ayumi Ito was startled, but she reacted quickly. At this time, she stood up and applauded together with everyone.

After applauding, everyone took their seats, and Ayumi Ito saw the popularity ranking of "Edge Walker".

"Cyberpunk 2077: Edgewalker" ranking...

15th place.

Ayumi Ito couldn't help but feel a little frustrated. In the last issue of "Manga World Gogo", only seventeen works were serialized, and the 15th place means the third to last one in terms of popularity.

Even among the four works serialized by newcomers, it can only rank second.

She looked at the other three works by newcomers, and she had some impressions. Among them, the newcomer's work called "Psychic Warlock", which was more popular than "Edge Walker", was ranked 13th.

It ranks two places higher than "Edge Walker".

At this time, Yang Dahai happened to be talking about this.

"The first place for newcomers in this issue is "Psychic Warlock", the work of Teacher Itchy Mouse directed by Zhe Xuan! Let us congratulate him!"

A tall, thin man wearing glasses stood up with a smile on his face.

Suddenly, under the leadership of Yang Dahai, everyone in the conference room applauded the tall and thin man again...

……

"Moses Moses..."

Ayumi Ito heard Lin Qingshan's familiar voice on the phone, and she called Lin Qingshan as soon as the meeting ended.

This is also one of the editor's jobs, and each popularity ranking must be relayed to the responsible comic author.

"Teacher Aoyama..."

But faced with ranking third from the bottom in popularity this time, Ayumi Ito didn't know what to say to Lin Qingshan.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Qingshan said carelessly, "If you have anything to do, just discuss it directly."

"It's the popularity ranking of comics published in the last issue, the popularity of "Edge Walker"..."

Ayumi Ito still didn't know what to say.

"Is it the last one?"

"No, no, no, of course not..."

Ayumi Ito said quickly.

"It's not the last place. That's pretty good. At least it's much better than I expected."

Lin Qingshan said carelessly.

This was indeed much better than he expected.

After all, this is the first chapter of his serialization, and his first chapter didn't have many explosions, so how could he become a blockbuster all of a sudden.

Even if he is a time traveler and a system host, it is impossible not to follow the basic rules. The first episode immediately shocked the comic fans and made the competitors say that this child must not be kept, right?
How could this happen?

It’s good if it’s not ranked last in popularity. "But this time "Edgewalker" only ranked 15th..."

Ayumi Ito felt that Lin Qingshan really didn't care about this and said.

"No. 15... Let me see, there were 17 works in the last issue, which means the third from the bottom, right? That's not bad, hahahaha!"

Lin Qingshan said with a smile.

"Teacher Qingshan, don't you feel sad?"

Ayumi Ito was stunned for a moment and asked.

"What's so sad about this? I'm still a newcomer, and "Edge Walker" has just been serialized, so relax... we're not in a hurry."

Lin Qingshan comforted Ito Ayumi in turn.

"..."

Ayumi Ito didn't know what to say for a moment.

Are you saying that Lin Qingshan has a big heart?
Or is it that Lin Qingshan doesn’t take it to heart?

"But our editorial department has regulations. Once a work ranks last in popularity for four consecutive issues, or if its popularity drops by more than 20% three times in a row, we will announce that the work will be cut in half..."

Ayumi Ito gritted her teeth and said.

"Ah? But aren't we still ranked third from the bottom right now?"

Lin Qingshan said in surprise.

"But what if I'm the last one starting from the next period..."

Ayumi Ito said worriedly.

"Don't worry...it won't happen."

Lin Qingshan shrugged.

It's impossible for him to count down to the bottom of the next episode, and then stay at the bottom for the next four episodes.

Well, it's possible. After all, although the setting of "Edgewalker" is excellent, the early plot is not particularly outstanding.

Lin Qingshan feels that the really outstanding part of "Edge Walker" starts from the third episode of the original animation. If he switches to the comic "Edge Walker" he adapted, it starts from about the eighth episode.

The most outstanding part is naturally the death of brother Mann in the sixth episode of the original animation and the last two episodes.

That is a plot worthy of being called a god.

Thinking about it this way, the first six chapters of "Edgewalker" are really dangerous.

The previous plot was a bit frustrating, even a bit uncomfortable.

If there's anything good about it, it's probably just the numerous cyberpunk settings and the level of painting that's comparable to the original animation, right?
If readers are not interested in the setting and painting level at all, and if the contemporaries are all gods and the plot of each issue is extremely high, then "Edge Walker" may indeed be cut in half.

But it doesn't matter.

Lin Qingshan just wants to earn rice, which is enough for him.

It is not impossible to find a publishing house for the remaining "Edge Walker" drawings and publish a single volume by yourself in the future.

"Don't worry, let's take our time, don't be in a hurry. By the way... Do you want to go out for dinner again on the weekend?"

he asked with a grin.

"Huh? Shall we... go to dinner?"

Ayumi Ito was stunned for a moment. Lin Qingshan’s invitation seemed like a date, right?

Her pretty face suddenly turned red.

"It's not just us, Qianli should be here by then, but you know, there might be misunderstandings if Qianli and I go out."

Lin Qingshan shrugged and said.

I see……

If a man and a woman go out alone, it is indeed easy to be misunderstood as a couple dating.

But with one man and two women, no one would have any doubts.

"OK then……"

After all, Ito Ayumi has no friends here, so she can’t always stay at home during weekend breaks...

(End of this chapter)