Chapter 124: Truly, No One’s Worthy…
Date: 2025-03-12
Author: Xian Ge
Tang Yao watched her sister, suddenly downcast for no clear reason, and decided not to pry. Instead, she stood from the sofa, reaching out to pull Xun up.
Xun, seeing her sister’s gesture, obediently extended her hand, letting Tang Yao hoist her to her feet.
“Xun, I need a favor,” Tang Yao said, opting to shift Xun’s focus rather than dig into her mood.
She explained the virtual idol idea.
Xun listened, her attention seemingly caught, eyeing her sister curiously. “It’s not me on-screen… I’m just voicing. I want you to check the effect,” Tang Yao clarified, catching her look. “I’m not a pro voice actor. Tell me if it works. You know Rin Tohsaka, right?”
“I do,” Xun said, recalling the character. She’d played the game—her sister’s creation, after all.
She quickly pictured the black-stockinged beauty. In Tang Yao’s past life, Fate’s artist, Takashi Takeuchi, evolved his style over time. Tang Yao skipped his early look, adopting his later, wildly popular aesthetic. Though Fate/stay night wasn’t finished in-game, Rin’s stunning artwork had already won fans.
Her visuals were just that good.
Xun had a strong impression of her, too—those interjections always felt oddly familiar…
“Great,” Tang Yao said, relieved at Xun’s confirmation. She pulled out her phone, opened her script, cleared her throat, and lowered her voice. “So, what’s the deal with this game… idiot.”
Her natural voice was striking—soft, melodic, instantly recognizable. Now, she hardened it, dialing back the softness for a haughty edge. The rich tone stayed, gaining a unique allure.
The contrast was electric.
Xun, who’d never grasped “tsundere” voicing, got it now. She stared, stunned, at her sister’s unexpected flair.
Tang Yao, feeling Xun’s gaze, turned away, ears red with embarrassment. No—mortification. She wasn’t a pro. How did voice actors spit out cringe lines so calmly?
“…” Xun noticed Tang Yao’s flush and snapped out of it. “It’s good,” she said.
“No, forget it,” Tang Yao said, lowering her phone, reverting to her soft voice, deflated. “It’s too embarrassing.”
“Try again,” Xun urged after a pause, stepping closer, rare comfort in her tone. “I really think it’s good.”
She meant it—she’d never heard this side of her sister’s voice. She wanted more.
Tang Yao glanced at Xun, seeing her sincerity, and hesitated before picking up the phone again. “This second line’s too high—sounds off,” Xun critiqued.
“This one’s closer.”
“Try relaxing a bit?”
“…” Xun offered pointers, and Tang Yao, under her guidance, started nailing it.
Despite her lingering embarrassment—ears still red—her lines grew smoother. Soon, Xun’s advice wasn’t needed. Tang Yao adjusted her tone and pitch herself, aligning with the character.
Some people were just gifted. Tang Yao’s transmigration had thrown her into a mismatched identity, but it seemed the universe compensated with talent. Her past-life skills aside, even voice acting—new to both worlds—came naturally. Within minutes, she was convincingly good, improving fast.
She looked shy, but it didn’t stop her from sounding legit.
“…” Xun watched her sister’s progress, a bit dazed.
Her sister was incredible—genuinely. As one of the few who truly knew Tang Yao, Xun had seen her found Avalon Studio, drawing manga, painting key art, rigging animations, writing copy, even tinkering with sound software to craft a decent thud effect one day.
Not to mention running the studio’s daily operations.
Now, she was picking up voice acting.
Xun studied her sister, mid-performance. Today, Tang Yao wore a long, cream-colored wool coat, exuding wintery grace—elegant yet lively. Even the coat couldn’t hide her fully matured figure, tall and striking, with the refined beauty of Eastern aesthetics. Her curves were flawless, her presence captivating just standing there.
Xun hadn’t met another woman who could rival her sister’s figure. And if their figure matched? Their face wouldn’t. If their face did? Their personality or talent wouldn’t.
Xun gazed at her sister, silent, then whispered, “Truly, no one’s worthy…”
“Huh? It’s no good?” Tang Yao froze, looking at Xun, her peach-blossom eyes practically misting over.
After all that embarrassment, being told it didn’t work felt brutal.
“…” Xun blinked, lowering her gaze. “Not your voice—it’s great.”
“Really?” Tang Yao asked, skeptical.
“Really,” Xun confirmed.
“Oh~” Tang Yao drew out the sound, then pivoted, eyeing her subdued sister. “So, what’d you mean by ‘worthy’?”
She’d sensed Xun’s odd mood earlier—something was off.
“…” Xun froze as her sister switched gears.
Then, lips pursed, she looked at Tang Yao’s flawless face and went for it. “I said no man’s worthy of you.”
“Hm?” Tang Yao blinked, then blurted, “Then I won’t marry.”
“…” Xun’s head snapped up, mouth slightly open, staring at her sister in shock.
“…” Tang Yao saw her expression, thought better of explaining, and stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Xun’s soft frame, ruffling her hair with her other hand, playing the big sister. “What? Scared I’ll get married?”
“…” Xun lowered her head, processing.
“No worries,” Tang Yao said, understanding dawning. Their deadbeat parents had bailed—one vanished, the other gone—leaving the sisters to lean on each other since childhood. Their bond was deeper than most siblings’. With Avalon thriving and Tang Yao swamped, Xun, often alone, might overthink. She was still just a high school girl, mature or not.
“As long as you’re home, I’ll be there,” Tang Yao said softly. “If you don’t leave, I won’t. I’ll always be your sister. Deal?”
“…” Xun’s hands gripped Tang Yao’s clothes at her waist, lips pursed, silent.
“Stop overthinking,” Tang Yao said, smiling, ruffling her hair again, looking ahead.
Talking about “worthiness”? She’d be nuts to marry.
Oh—she’d send the voice clip to Li Xue later. Maybe rope her into helping?
Her eyes lit up.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 125: She’d Hate Me, Right?
Date: 2025-03-12
Author: Xian Ge
“Alright,” Tang Yao said, her mind buzzing with ways to… persuade Li Xue.
No rush, though. She snapped back, patting Xun’s slim back. “I won’t marry, promise.”
“Who cares if you marry?” Xun lifted her head, reverting to her usual cool demeanor.
“Wanna voice Rin Tohsaka, then?” Tang Yao teased, amused by her sister’s quick shift. “So dishonest.”
“…” Xun turned away, dodging the topic. “What do you want for dinner? I’ll cook.”
“Anything’s fine,” Tang Yao said, used to this. She mussed Xun’s hair, then sat on the bed, crossing her long, shapely legs, casually swinging a calf as she texted Li Xue.
Xun was about to head to the kitchen when she heard Tang Yao recording lines into her phone—those same script lines. Curious, she sat beside her.
Tang Yao didn’t mind, even scooting closer for warmth. Xun easily saw the messages.
Glancing at the contact name, Xun paused, then asked, “Li Xue… sending it to a colleague?”
“Yup,” Tang Yao said, typing without looking up. “Trying to trick someone into helping. Shame you’re underage—you’re so tsundere, we wouldn’t need anyone else.”
“I’m not,” Xun protested.
“Sure, sure. That wasn’t my sister clutching my clothes, worried I’d run off,” Tang Yao teased.
“…” Xun’s ears reddened, embarrassed, starting to stand.
Before she could, Tang Yao’s warm, soft hand caught her right hand, their fingers interlocking. “What are you scared of in front of me? Speak your mind. Think I’d judge you? Silly.”
“…” Xun’s gaze lifted.
Tang Yao held her phone with one hand, looking at her, her peach-blossom eyes tinged with playful reproach. Their locked hands seemed to channel a warm, steady current from her sister.
Xun sat back down, resting her head on Tang Yao’s shoulder. “Is that the investor, Miss Li?” she asked softly.
“Yup~” Tang Yao chirped. “She’s great.”
“Sister,” Xun said, lifting her head slightly, studying Tang Yao’s flawless profile—pure as flawless jade.
Tang Yao paused. “Hm?” That “sister” always got her.
Xun tightened her grip on Tang Yao’s hand, then shook her head. “Nothing.”
No one was worthy. Not even another woman.
“You can say anything,” Tang Yao sighed, nudging Xun’s head with her own, resuming her texting.
Xun stayed quiet. Their breathing synced, heads touching, hands clasped. Despite no heater, the room felt warm.
After easing Xun’s fears about her “running off” to marry, Tang Yao messaged Li Xue. The next day, Li Xue showed up.
Her style was Tang Yao’s type—today, an ankle-length skirt cinching her tiny waist, paired with a fleecy base layer and a long coat. Simple, elegant, warm, and gentle.
“You’re voice acting?” Li Xue asked, barely stepping into Avalon Studio before Tang Yao dragged her to the meeting room.
“Not just me—us,” Tang Yao said.
“Nope,” Li Xue said, shaking her head instantly. “I can’t.”
“I can’t either,” Tang Yao said, deadpan. “But think about it—for the company, I’m stepping up as the boss. Why can’t you, a shareholder? One person’s embarrassed? Fine. Two? Still embarrassed.”
“I really can’t,” Li Xue said, stepping back.
She gestured at her coat as she shrugged it off. “You said most Servants with cards have voices. Who’s left in Fate/stay night without one? Am I voicing Sakura?”
“Nah, forget that,” Tang Yao said, shaking her head after a pause. It didn’t fit.
“See? You do it,” Li Xue said, eyes brightening. “I heard your clip—it’s great. Just… don’t show your face.”
“Of course not!” Tang Yao shot back. “I’d be insane to go on-camera. It’d ruin the character and cause all sorts of trouble. I’m doing this to avoid the middle person messing with the role. Going live myself would defeat the point.”
“True, it’d be pointless,” Li Xue nodded slowly. “Everyone would just focus on you…”
“No way!” Tang Yao rolled her eyes. “Players would have to be nuts to ditch a gorgeous black-stockinged anime girl for me.”
“…” Li Xue stared at her clueless best friend, suddenly tempted to push her on-camera, let the world show her she was every bit as stunning as any 2D beauty.
Real, not virtual.
The thought flickered briefly. It’d only prove a point, nothing more. Better if the world stayed as oblivious as Tang Yao.
That way, Li Xue could keep her to herself…
The idea hit, and she shook her head, startled. What was with this possessiveness?
“What’s up?” Tang Yao asked, catching the headshake.
“Nothing… just pictured myself voice acting. It’d be awful,” Li Xue said, meeting Tang Yao’s jade-like face, that possessive urge creeping back.
If she said it, Tang Yao would hate her, right?
“How about this,” Tang Yao said, not pushing. “You don’t play a specific character—just an unnamed assistant. You’d voice alongside me, helping with the performance, in and out of the script. Not a game character.”
Li Xue tilted her head, curious. “Assistant?”
“Yeah,” Tang Yao said, a bit sheepish. “I’m too embarrassed to ask the staff. You know how cringey voice acting is… I need you.”
“That could work,” Li Xue said, not objecting. “But I know nothing about it.”
“No worries,” Tang Yao said, diving in. “I researched facial capture software last night. They’re not super advanced—only one supports custom model imports. So, we’ve got two paths…”
She launched into details, officially kicking off the virtual idol plan. Li Xue, still a bit dazed, didn’t yet grasp what she and Tang Yao were building—or what it would mean.
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Xun (薰, Tang Xun for clarity), Li Xue (黎雪), Rin Tohsaka (远坂凛), Sakura (樱, implied as Matou Sakura). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Fate terms (Fate/Grand Order, Fate/stay night, Servant, Ishtar) use established English equivalents for fan clarity.
“Avalon Studio” (理想乡) and “ANF” (AnimationFan) are kept as proper nouns, reflecting their narrative roles.
“Takashi Takeuchi” (武内崇) uses the standard English name for the Fate artist.
Cultural Nuances:
Anime Culture: The virtual idol plan and voice acting dynamics reflect China’s anime and gaming fandom, translated with universal themes of fan immersion and innovative marketing.
Sibling Bond: Tang Yao and Xun’s deep connection, rooted in their shared struggles, captures Chinese familial ties, rendered with warmth and relatability.
Friendship and Possessiveness: Li Xue’s subtle feelings toward Tang Yao hint at complex emotions, translated with nuance to preserve ambiguity.
Technical Terms:
Voice Acting Terminology: Terms like “语气助词” (interjections), “台本” (script), “傲娇声线” (tsundere voicing), and “配音” (voice acting) align with the voice acting industry.
Marketing Terms: “虚拟偶像” (virtual idol), “中之人” (middle person), and “宣传” (promotion) fit anime and gaming marketing contexts.
Game Terms: “立绘” (character artwork) and “面捕软件” (facial capture software) align with FGO’s technical context.
Adjustments:
Emotional Tone: Tang Yao’s embarrassment, Xun’s vulnerability, and Li Xue’s possessiveness are tuned for natural English flow, preserving emotional depth.
Strategic Clarity: Tang Yao’s virtual idol plan and her coaxing of Li Xue are streamlined to highlight her ingenuity and charm.
Dialogue Flow: The sisters’ banter, Xun’s quiet fears, and Li Xue’s inner conflict balance humor, tenderness, and subtle tension.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Versatility: Her talent and warmth shine, rendered with wit and relatability.
Xun’s Insecurity: Her fear of losing Tang Yao sets up emotional stakes, translated with tender nuance.
Li Xue’s Complexity: Her unspoken feelings add depth, translated with careful ambiguity to hint at more.
This translation balances fidelity to the original Mandarin with a polished, engaging English narrative, ensuring the plot’s progression, 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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