Chapter 102: Spinning in Circles
Date: 2025-02-22
Author: Xian Ge
Tang Yao’s mouth fell open slightly at Sun Gong’s shout, her expression one of mild surprise.
But inside, her mind was blank, buzzing with static. She knew anime mobile games were cash cows—games with monthly revenues in the billions weren’t news to her. If they weren’t profitable, she wouldn’t have slaved away as lead artist on a trashy mobile game in her past life. Early anime games were leverage legends.
Take the hits players knew: Arknights raked in 500 million yuan its first month, Punishing: Gray Raven hit 300 million, and Azur Lane, with million-level production costs, pulled 100 million in its debut month. That’s why game companies swarmed the mobile market.
Fate/Grand Order? By 2020, it had grossed 4 billion… USD, averaging $291 per download. In China, Bilibili’s 2017 game revenue was 2 billion yuan, with FGO alone driving 72% of it. Seventy-two percent. People weren’t joking when they said FGO carried Bilibili to its IPO.
Here, the domestic market was bigger, the anime scene richer—her comic editor gig proved that. Test data backed her up. Tang Yao knew the game would make money.
But this much? She hadn’t expected this. It was just day one. A month’s revenue like this, she could handle calmly. But day one?
It proved, yet again, that the first anime mobile game was a leverage myth. And sharp pioneers could indeed strike it rich.
“…” The entire studio stared at Tang Yao.
She stared back.
Everyone was reeling from the news. After a long moment of exchanged glances, Tang Yao recovered, raising her hands to clap softly. The sound echoed in the studio.
All eyes waited for her to speak.
“Thank you all for your hard work,” she said, taking a deep breath, her voice soft but declarative. “We… did it.”
Silence followed.
Then, an eruption of cheers exploded.
“Holy shit! Holy shit!!”
Nearby, Sun Gong, stunned by the deafening roars, shoved Kang Ming, still dazed in his chair. “A hundred million on day one! Did you dream this when you dragged me here? Did you? This is unreal! We made a game that smashed a hundred million in revenue! Kang Ming!!!”
Across the room, Shi Wanglin swayed, dizzy, as if drunk. Success, just like that? When he’d been roped in, he’d thought this was some scam company. Meeting Tang Yao eased his doubts slightly, but during development, he’d had reservations. It wasn’t just Kang Ming fretting over monetization—Shi and his brothers did too.
Now? Worries? Day one broke a hundred million!
The studio buzzed with joy—everyone elated over the numbers. But Tang Yao knew this high wouldn’t last. Short-term, team morale and unity were solid, but without tangible rewards, it’d fade fast. A startup couldn’t just share struggles—it had to share the spoils.
She’d worked with these people long enough to know their worth. So, as cheers rang out, she clapped again.
The studio fell silent, eyes back on her.
“And,” Tang Yao said, her fair face blooming with a heart-melting smile, “congratulations, everyone. It’s early to say this on day one, but with these numbers, why not? Bonuses, equity incentives—they’re coming soon.”
“…” Dead silence gripped the room.
Kang Ming, snapping out of his stupor, gawked at her. The ex-Mingyu Tech crew turned to Chu Yuxin, who’d recruited them. They hadn’t dared hope for this. Chu Yuxin, oblivious to their stares, stood slack-jawed, staring at Tang Yao.
“So, thank you all for your efforts,” Tang Yao said, rising and bowing slightly. Straightening, she continued, “Now, let’s keep pushing. First, let’s nail the Christmas story and card pool!”
Her words landed, and the studio exploded again, cheers louder than before, nearly shaking the ceiling. Kang Ming stared at the petite girl at her desk, eyes wide, more shocked than when he’d seen the revenue. He knew the weight of her words in this moment.
He hadn’t expected her to say this now. Reflecting on her actions from the startup’s infancy to today, he realized he didn’t truly know her. This seemingly delicate girl had grit and vision far beyond the ordinary.
Tang Yao scanned the ecstatic crowd, about to speak again, when her phone buzzed. Glancing down, she saw a message from Li Xue, smiled, and replied quickly, plotting a sneaky exit.
Sneaky was impossible. After the initial thrill, everyone was watching her, openly or not, their eyes burning with expectation and gratitude. Tang Yao either didn’t notice or didn’t care. She packed up, turned, and headed for the door.
All eyes followed her until she vanished outside. The cheers never stopped.
Outside, Mingyu Tech’s staff had long clocked out. Tang Yao shut the door softly, leaned against it, and took a deep breath. Her fitted sweater hugged her curves, her chest rising and falling noticeably.
She closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm inside, wanting to steady herself before meeting Li Xue. But the cheers behind her and the staggering 94 million figure kept swirling in her mind, refusing to settle.
She gave up, pursed her glossy lips, and strode out. Fine, she’d stay excited. She needed to share this with Li Xue now.
Outside, it was late. Under the night sky, even this bustling area felt quiet, with only a few workers’ hurried steps echoing, their shoes scraping the pavement.
Tang Yao’s steps were light as she headed for the café, her long hair swaying in the night breeze, her fair face faintly flushed from the chill.
Soon, she reached their usual haunt. The café was closed, its windows dark, only the sign outside casting a faint glow.
Li Xue stood by the entrance, striking a poised yet relaxed pose. Though the weather had warmed, it was still chilly. Gone were her thin black stockings—she wore a deep-colored sweater that hugged her curves, paired with a classic plaid skirt revealing a sliver of smooth calf, and chic heels. Under the night sky, she exuded comfort, elegance, and a touch of allure.
Her eyes caught Tang Yao approaching, lighting up. She stepped forward, the dim light tracing her soft features, making her radiant. “Tang Yao, I saw the game blowing up online—”
Her words cut off as Tang Yao sped up, jogging toward her.
Li Xue blinked, not yet processing, when—
“Miss Li!” Tang Yao reached her, flung her arms around Li Xue’s slim waist, and lifted her with a burst of strength. “We did it!”
“Wha—wait, what’re you doing?!” Li Xue’s feet left the ground, her face flushing as her heart raced. Flustered, she stammered, “Put me down, put me down!”
But Tang Yao, as if deaf, spun her in a circle, beaming. “We did it!”
It was her first unguarded emotional outburst, no holds barred. The past months had been grueling.
“Yao… my heels are slipping!” Li Xue protested, her dainty feet struggling to keep her shoes on. “At least tell me what happened before you start spinning me!”
“Ugh…” She clung to Tang Yao’s shoulders, her voice shaky but unresisting, her flushed face—whether from embarrassment or something else—glowing.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 103: Tycoon
Date: 2025-02-22
Author: Xian Ge
Under the night sky, Tang Yao, grinning, spun Li Xue a circle and a half before her strength gave out. She stopped, gently setting Li Xue down, her lips parted, panting slightly.
Her slender frame wasn’t built for this.
Li Xue, cheeks rosy, leaned against Tang Yao, also catching her breath—not from exertion, most likely.
They stood, arms around each other, faces close, silent, regulating their breathing. Li Xue focused on steadying hers, while Tang Yao, after her emotional outburst, cooled down and grew shy, masking it with slow breaths.
After a while, Li Xue recovered, resting on Tang Yao’s shoulders. She looked up at Tang Yao’s lowered gaze, half-laughing, half-exasperated. “Why so hyped? How’d the game actually do?”
She knew it was a hit—forum buzz and Tang Yao’s spinning hug confirmed it. But how big a hit? That, she didn’t know.
“94 million…” Tang Yao lifted her pale chin slightly. “The game’s day-one revenue was 94 million yuan.”
“…”
What?
Li Xue froze, her petite mouth agape, staring at Tang Yao’s flawless face, motionless. She’d guessed success, but this kind of success? 94 million…
“You heard right,” Tang Yao said, reading her shock. “94 million, nearly 100 million, in one day. Players spent that much, and as we speak, it’s probably climbing. Impressive, huh?”
“…” Li Xue stayed silent, gazing at Tang Yao’s stunning face, dazed.
Tang Yao got it—she’d blanked out too when she heard the number, and she knew mobile games were lucrative. For Li Xue, who didn’t, it was overwhelming.
She waited patiently for Li Xue to process.
“Unreal…” Finally, minutes later, Li Xue exhaled, murmuring, “Not just impressive—impossible. When you said a pretty-girl mobile game could make bank, I didn’t believe you.”
“Now you do?” Tang Yao grinned, teasing, “Any thoughts, Miss Tycoon?”
“You’re calling me a tycoon?” Li Xue snapped back to reality, amused, her eyes on Tang Yao. “Day one, and you’re worth 94 million, Miss Pretty-Girl?”
Truthfully, she was floored but genuinely thrilled for Tang Yao. She knew better than anyone the effort and agony Tang Yao had poured into this game.
“Pfft, pretty-girl my foot,” Tang Yao retorted. Even after months adjusting to this world, being called that to her face still felt weird. Her cheeks pinked, and she shot Li Xue a mock glare. “And what’s this about my worth? You’re in on this! You’re the studio’s second-biggest shareholder!”
“No way,” Li Xue said, pausing, shaking her head instinctively. “I told you, I helped as a friend…”
For some reason, she didn’t want things so transactional with Tang Yao.
“And I’m doing this for my friend too,” Tang Yao cut in. “I want to share this joy with her. Without her, forget money—I’d still be duking it out with Ou Congquan. I don’t take people’s help for granted. Two million, just like that…”
“But besides the money,” Li Xue said, meeting Tang Yao’s earnest gaze, shaking her head again, “I did nothing…”
“Nothing? You dare say that?” Tang Yao glanced at the café behind them, recalling when Li Xue told her to hold out her hand. She tightened her hug, a radiant smile breaking through. “You know what that money meant to me?”
Wasn’t it great? Without Li Xue back then, Tang Yao would’ve been battling artists or editors, not celebrating.
“I just want you to know,” she said, pulling back from the memory, her voice soft, “you were the only one who believed in me, start to finish. You treat me like a friend—don’t you want me to do the same?”
“We’ll talk later,” Li Xue replied, deflecting. “I’m not short on cash. If I need it, you can pay me dividends…”
Tang Yao blinked. “You trust me that much?”
Li Xue’s eyes twinkled. “What, you gonna stiff me?”
“No guarantees,” Tang Yao teased, eyeing Li Xue’s lovely face. “Money changes people. I might get cocky, and if you ask for cash, I could make you dance for it first. If it’s not good, no payout!”
“…” Li Xue shot her a playful glare, unfazed. “Then tell me ahead of time so I can practice.”
Tang Yao chuckled, dropping the topic. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Li Xue’s warm, fragrant frame, lifting her again. “You’re perfect—soft, great cook, thoughtful. I wanna take you home.”
“…” Li Xue, feet off the ground, nestled in Tang Yao’s arms, didn’t resist. She stared at Tang Yao’s breathtaking face, a blush spreading across her own.
Tang Yao didn’t notice, setting her down and sobering up. “Li Xue, thank you…”
Despite her excitement, the success hadn’t fully sunk in. Day-one revenue was staggering, but it was just day one. Still, she knew she’d made it. Barring disasters, with Fate/Grand Order’s “story-update platform” model and current trends, this game could set her up for life.
Her initial goal was simple: improve her life, ensure Xun’s peace, and avoid a miserable transmigrated existence. Now, with her first fortune secured, she could pursue what she loved with ease.
And she owed so much of it to Li Xue.
Li Xue shook off her jumbled thoughts. “Thanks for what?”
“For back then—” A cold gust cut Tang Yao off, making her shiver, breaking the sentimental mood.
Honestly, sprinting and spinning Li Xue had left her sweaty, and with the adrenaline fading, the chill hit hard.
“Cold?” Li Xue stifled a laugh, teasing, “That’s what you get for getting sappy…”
“…” Tang Yao gave her a mock glare, cheeks red from cold and embarrassment. She let go of Li Xue’s waist, grabbed her hand, and strode forward. “Let’s grab a ride home.”
“…” Li Xue let Tang Yao pull her along, their steps aligned in the night. The wind stayed biting, but their clasped hands seemed to ward off the chill.
While Tang Yao was spinning friends in celebration, a day later, the game’s hype didn’t fade—it grew. The first anime mobile game was a wildfire in the core anime scene. These fans had never seen a game like this.
Their love sparked organic promotion, and the game began bleeding beyond the fandom. On social media, players shared portraits, and the gacha’s randomness fueled luck-bragging threads.
At first, only core anime fans engaged, but slowly, casual anime fans noticed. The art was undeniably stunning—not groundbreaking, but when core fans pointed to a blonde or white-haired beauty, calling them Britain’s legendary King Arthur or the Huns’ emperor Attila, curious onlookers clicked.
Those clicks introduced some to Fate’s genius worldbuilding and its game spinoff. As a standout mobile game, it caught the eye of general gamers too. Not quite mainstream yet, but its influence spread at a shocking pace, like a stone rippling a lake, far beyond Tang Yao’s expectations.
The next day, at a venture capital firm, Lin Shuang, dressed impeccably, strode through the office like a queen surveying her domain, heels clicking toward her office.
She was clueless about her cousin’s game’s success. Today, she planned to “check in”—not to gloat over Li Xue’s tears, but she was eager to hear her cousin’s regret.
Smirking, she quickened her pace. But just before entering her office, a voice rang out nearby.
“Wow… this game’s so fun!”
Lin Shuang paused, glancing over curiously.
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Li Xue (黎雪), Kang Ming (康鸣), Sun Gong (孙贡), Chu Yuxin (褚雨欣), Shi Wanglin (石旺林), Ou Congquan (欧从权), Lin Shuang (林霜). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Fate characters (Saber/Artoria, Iskandar, Mash, Gudao, Attila) use established English names for fan familiarity.
“Fate/Grand Order” and “Fate/stay night” are kept as proper nouns, with “Xun” (薰) as a personal reference, untranslated for context.
Cultural Nuances:
Team Dynamics: Tang Yao’s leadership and the studio’s euphoria reflect Chinese startup culture, translated with universal camaraderie.
Friendship: Tang Yao and Li Xue’s bond, with its playful intimacy, captures nuanced Chinese female friendships, rendered warmly for global appeal.
Fandom Spread: The game’s organic growth mirrors Chinese social media dynamics, adapted to resonate with global gaming culture.
Technical Terms:
Game Terminology: Terms like “流水” (revenue), “卡池” (card pool), “圣晶石” (Saint Quartz), and “观察线” (observation line) align with Fate/Grand Order’s English localization.
Business Terms: “股权激励” (equity incentives), “初创公司” (startup), and “首月流水” (first-month revenue) are translated to fit entrepreneurial contexts.
Adjustments:
Emotional Tone: Tang Yao’s excitement, Li Xue’s shock, and the studio’s cheers are tuned for natural English flow, preserving their intensity.
Celebratory Scene: The spinning hug and studio jubilation are amplified to capture their emotional weight, balancing humor and heart.
Game Hype: The game’s spreading influence is streamlined to reflect its viral momentum, with social media details vivid yet concise.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Growth: Her shift from nervous to visionary leader is highlighted, translated with subtle strength.
Li Xue’s Support: Her selfless friendship is rendered with warmth, emphasizing her role in Tang Yao’s success.
Lin Shuang’s Ignorance: Her obliviousness sets up future tension, translated with sharp contrast to the game’s triumph.
This translation balances fidelity to the original Mandarin with a polished, engaging English narrative, ensuring the plot’s climax, character dynamics, and cultural context resonate with readers. Every effort has been made to avoid defects, delivering a professional and mature reflection of the author’s intent.
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