Chapter Seven Cooperation Intent
Su Mingxi put down the manga manuscript in her hand at this moment, and this time the look in her eyes as she gazed at Xia Jing had shifted.
Originally, when her younger sister mentioned that she had a close friend in the manga field who wanted to submit work to her, she had intended to refuse.
This feeling intensified upon learning that the person was the same age as her sister.
Although the anime and manga culture in Huaxia was rich, the vast majority of manga artists were still adults. How could a High School Student balance academics and manga creation?
How could there be so many High School Students with obvious strong manga talent like her sister, and who happened to be her friend?
This so-called submission was most likely a work created for the author's own enjoyment.
Therefore, Su Mingxi's initially overbearing attitude when she met Xia Jing was merely due to her suspicion that Xia Jing intended to take a shortcut by leveraging her sister's connections, and she wanted to scare him off first.
However, now... Su Mingxi stared intently at the manga manuscript on the table, her gaze flitting between the manuscript and Xia Jing's face.
She had a premonition that this work, once published, would certainly not remain obscure.
"Mr. Xia Jing, right?" Su Mingxi stood up at this moment.
"I apologize for my previous attitude. I underestimated you and was too arrogant."
Mr. Xia Jing?
Xia Jing was stunned, and Su Qingxiao, behind Su Mingxi, also narrowed her eyes.
Both immediately realized what Su Mingxi's change in address to "Mr." implied.
"I've received your submission. It's truly a very, very excellent manga work," Su Mingxi said.
"So, this means my manga has been approved, right?" Xia Jing asked with a serious expression.
In fact, before he came, he could largely anticipate a similar outcome.
Even if five centimeters per second wasn't particularly outstanding among Makoto Shinkai's works, that was in comparison to Your Name and Weathering With You.
How could it not even pass the submission for a third-tier manga journal in Huaxia?
But after the result came out, he still unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
"Of course, from an editor's perspective, I really like this manga. It's the most impressive work I've encountered in my two years as a manga editor at Huanmeng Group. It's just..." Su Mingxi mused for a moment before speaking.
"I think your work, Mr. Xia Jing, is amazing, but whether it ultimately gets a serialization opportunity will depend on the serialization meeting of our Huanmeng Group editorial department."
"Serialization meeting?"
Su Mingxi then explained to Xia Jing.
Huanmeng Group has several manga serialization journals under its umbrella, and whenever old works in these journals are about to conclude or be cut short.
The editorial department would naturally hold meetings to discuss the serialization of new manga works.
To put it plainly, it was a discussion forum where a group of industry editors collectively reviewed excellent manga submitted to the editorial department during that period and voted to select the works that would ultimately receive serialization opportunities.
As an ordinary editor, Su Mingxi didn't have such extensive authority to make the final decision on serialization opportunities for works in Sakura Color Journal.
five centimeters per second had to be presented at the serialization meeting and receive recognition from the vast majority of editors in the editorial department.
"When will this serialization meeting be held?" Xia Jing asked.
He had previously heard Su Qingxiao mention that several works in the Sakura Color Weekly, to which he intended to submit, were coincidentally nearing their conclusion.
"The day after tomorrow," Su Mingxi said, looking at Xia Jing.
The day after tomorrow?
Xia Jing looked at Su Qingxiao, who nodded slightly at him.
No wonder she rushed me here to submit this afternoon. She must have known this information, which is why she was so urgent.
"In any case, Mr. Xia Jing, your work is excellent in my opinion, and..." Su Mingxi said.
"I think there's a very high possibility it will succeed in the serialization meeting and get a serialization opportunity. May I make a copy of your manga manuscript? Although the serialization meeting is the day after tomorrow, in fact, the editors of the editorial department will register and submit the works submitted by their respective manga artists tomorrow. If you have no objections, we will tentatively reach a cooperation agreement like this..."
"I..."
Xia Jing paused, then realized something and adjusted his slightly relaxed posture and the hem of his clothes.
"Of course, I have no objections, Editor Su. This is precisely why I came here." Xia Jing extended his hand.
Su Mingxi's lips curved into a faint smile, and then she shook hands with Xia Jing... At nine in the evening, Su Qingxiao personally escorted Xia Jing out of the villa and then to the entrance of the community.
However, throughout the process, Su Qingxiao's expression was somewhat distracted.
"Su... Su-san, what's wrong?"
After all, she had helped him a great deal, and Xia Jing, noticing her unusual state, couldn't just dismiss it with an internal thought of 'it's none of my business.'
"I'm still thinking about the ending of five centimeters per second... Xia Jing, do you really think it's okay for Akari and Takaki to just pass each other in the vast crowd like that?" Su Qingxiao paused before speaking.
She herself was a manga artist and understood that it was impolite to criticize someone else's manga plot.
But she couldn't help it!
"Shouldn't manga portray the beauty that doesn't exist in reality to readers? Your ending is too sad." As she continued, Su Qingxiao's voice clearly carried some distressed emotion.
"So, think about it carefully, what is the beauty that doesn't exist in reality?" Xia Jing thought for a moment and said.
"Is it the kind of beauty you imagine, unique to anime works, where a pair of former lovers who have almost forgotten each other, with only a lingering obsession in their hearts, rekindle their old flame years later?"
Su Qingxiao was astonished.
"Or rather... like Takaki, at some point many, many years later, he finds peace in his heart. He can turn and walk away with a smile, embracing a new life... This is the beauty that we, as creators, should convey to readers, the beauty of anime works."
Su Qingxiao said upon hearing this.
"You talk as if you've been in love. Aren't you just a fifteen-year-old High School Student, just like me?"
Xia Jing smiled slightly, but he didn't voice his inner thoughts.
Of course. In my previous life, I had two relationships in college, though neither ultimately worked out.
"This is just my view on the work five centimeters per second. Although I brought this work out, it's perfectly fine for you, Su-san, to have your own understanding of its ending. But... I can't think of a better ending than this one," Xia Jing said.
Just like the literary work Hamlet, it's difficult for many creators to provide a universally convincing final interpretation of a story, let alone Xia Jing, who is merely a transporter.
"No need to call me Su-san anymore, just call me by my name." Su Qingxiao tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, thought for a while, and then sighed, saying.
"Xia Jing, let me remind you, many readers of Sakura Color Weekly are very fragile inside. If this work of yours really gets serialized... you'll probably receive many thank-you letters from fans."
Thank-you letters... Xia Jing's expression became strange upon hearing this.
Hmm, that being said, before the manga serialization, I'll have to come up with a pen name or alias. I absolutely can't use my real name...