I’m Really a Superstar

It was the weekend.

In China.

“Have you watched Naruto yet?”

“I watched it. It’s awesome!”

“I’ve downloaded it and started following the series.”

“I’m watching both One Piece and Naruto. They’ve both captured my attention!”

“What’s the big deal? The cartoons’ progress is too slow. I’ve already caught up to the latest developments in the comics. Want some spoilers? It gets even better later on.”

“Spoilsport, get lost!”

“Hahahahahaha.”

…

Korea.

“I can’t stop reading.”

“I love Naruto.”

“I love One Piece as well.”

“They’re both good works that rarely appear these days.”

“Right, I’ve heard that the whole of Asia has had their attention captured by these two cartoons.”

“I’m looking forward to how the plot unfolds.”

…

Back at home.

It was a school holiday today and Zhang Ye’s younger sisters had come to visit.

His eldest younger sister, Cao Dan, was the most sensible of the three. The moment she came in, she asked her sister-in-law, “Sister-in-law, how’s your leg? Are you getting better?”

Wu Zeqing smiled. “It’s much better already.”

His second sister, Cao Tong, blinked. “Sister-in-law, can I listen to the baby?”

“Sure.” Wu Zeqing smiled and beckoned her over. “Come here.”

His third sister, Cao Mengmeng, yelled excitedly, “I want to listen too!”

And so, the two of them carefully placed their ears onto Old Wu’s belly and listened to it for a long time. No one was certain if they really heard anything, but their expressions of shock and bewilderment seemed to suggest so.

Zhang Ye started chatting with Cao Dan. “So how are the short videos coming along?”

Cao Dan gave a wry smile. “I’m still practicing. It’s really not easy to make them.”

Zhang Ye nodded and said, “You haven’t graduated yet, so there’s no rush.”

Cao Dan said, “I’ve recently gotten quite into cartoons. I’ve been watching them almost every day.”

Zhang Ye’s eyes lit up. “Oh? What do you watch?”

Cao Dan said, “One Piece and Naruto, ah!” She suddenly remembered that her brother was a nationalistic young man and was fighting against Japan and Korea, so she immediately shut her mouth.

However, Zhang Ye didn’t seem bothered by it and said with a chuckle, “What do you think of them?”

Cao Dan said, “They’re fine, but they don’t really suit us girls. There’s too much hot-bloodedness and fighting in them.”

The two of them chatted for a quite a while.

The speaker spoke casually, while the listener was all ears.

It was time for lunch.

“Wow!”

“Brother, your cooking is pretty good!”

“Yeah, it’s quite tasty.”

“Brother, you really know how to cook?”

His three sisters were very surprised.

Zhang Ye was amused. “Of course. After cooking for so many days, even a fool would learn how to do it. But my skill is limited. I still have a lot to learn from my wife.”

Wu Zeqing smiled. “It’s pretty good. You’re better at cooking than I am.”

After lunch, his three sisters left. They were only here to scrounge a free meal.

When Old Wu went to take a nap, Zhang Ye returned to the drawing studio and thought about what Cao Dan had said. She was indeed right, China could not compare to Japan. For example in China, comics were still not as widely accepted as they were in Japan. They still preferred watching the animation over reading the comics, and the genres they liked were also different. One Piece and Naruto were both considered hot-blooded hero types, but were loved all the same by everyone in Japan. However, in the other Asian regions, it wasn’t as appealing to most of the female audience. This was something that he needed to consider. He was intending to use the comics to make a wave, so there couldn’t be any flaws in his plan. He couldn’t walk forward with just one leg, so it was natural to want to have as wide an appeal as possible. It would only work if a lot of people were reading them. Thus, Zhang Ye sank into deep thought.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

Suddenly, the drawing studio was filled by Zhang Ye’s shouting!

“I choose you!”

” Detective Conan ¹ !”

…

On the same night, Zhang Ye created two chapters of the comic.

The next morning, he held a video conference call with the studio staff.

The studio staff had only just arrived at work when they got a scare from Zhang Ye’s voice over the conference call.

Ha Qiqi was stunned. “What?”

Little Wang was floored. “Another series?”

Little Zhou yelled: “You want to do three comic series?”

Wu Yi said: “Are you an ironman or something?”

Zhang Zuo wiped off his sweat and said: “Director Zhang, surely that’s already enough? One Piece and Naruto have become so popular all over Asia. The popularity from them should be more than enough, right?”

Zhang Ye laughed and said: “No way. We have only just begun; this is still far from what I want. Hurry up and get it done. I’ve already sent the final copy to your inboxes.”

Little Sun said anxiously: “But my sister and brother-in-law are already—”

Zhang Ye blinked. “Is your uncle free?”

Little Sun was dumbfounded. “Ah?”

Little Wang laughed. “Pfft!”

Little Zhou also burst out laughing!

Is there some kind of enmity between you and Little Sun’s family!

Do you have to rip off their whole family like this!

Ha Qiqi asked: “What will you be called this time?”

Zhang Ye answered: “Call me Hatano.”

…

Japan.

Shōnen Publishing and POO Studios were both in the midst of a furious competition with each other!

The sales of the Naruto comic had set a new high!

Very quickly, One Piece broke that record again!

Later on, Naruto caught back up again!

It was the same case for the cartoons.

Finally, the battle escalated even further!

The two comics started competing on their release rates!

One Piece started updating at three chapters a week!

This was an update speed that had never been seen before in comics, and it came as a huge shock to many people!

But to no one’s expectations, Naruto followed up closely and started updating at three chapters a week as well!

Many of the cartoonists in Japan sobbed.

“Holy shit!”

“Do you two really have to be like this!”

“How do you expect us to go on?”

“Those two freaks!”

“Fuck, if you two are so great, make it four chapters a week instead! Four chapters a week, I dare you!”

Similarly left in tears was Shūkansha. As one of the top three publishing studios for such weekly comic magazines, Shūkansha was feeling non-existent. The editors who came to work every day had nothing to look forward to and might as well knit. Faced with the intense competition from the other two comic magazines, they could do nothing about it.

The office was idle.

In the editorial department, everyone was busy doing their own thing.

Right now, the sales figures of their comic magazine were decreasing with each passing week.

Down by 2%.

Down by 3%.

The sales figures dropped to a new low.

The editor-in-chief was nearly going insane. He sat there mumbling to himself every day. “Heavens! Why can’t you bless me with a national cartoon as well!”

At this moment, an editor came running over, crying out in surprise.

“It’s here! A good comic has arrived!”

“What?”

“Where?”

All the editors reacted as though they had been shot with adrenaline!

That editor waved a manuscript about in his hand and shouted, “It’s a manuscript submitted by a newcomer! It’s spectacular!”

“Let me have a look!”

“Bring it over here, quick!”

Everyone gathered around to read it.

When they were done reading it, all of them started screaming excitedly!

“Holy fuck!”

“It’s finally here!”

“The wheels of fortune keep on turning. It’s finally our turn!”

“Fuck! It’s finally our fucking turn!”

“Detective Conan! You’re exactly what we’ve been waiting for!”

Then that editor added something that made everyone cry in joy. “Furthermore, Teacher Hatano mentioned that he can also release three chapters a week! That won’t be a problem at all!”

At this moment, the editorial department of Shūkansha celebrated like it was the new year!

“We’ve gotten exactly what we wanted!”

“We’re going to be so popular!”

“Listen ti what he said! That! Won’t! Be! A! Problem! At! All!”

“Domineering! I have to admire cartoonists with a temper like that!”

Soon.

Detective Conan was officially serialized!