Chapter 147: Choices
Date: 2025-03-18
Author: Xian Ge
“Rebirth-revenge-regret stories?” Li Xue’s curiosity piqued.
Tang Yao grinned, explaining, “Let me paint a picture. Say you funded Avalon Studio with your money, but I, a rotten Tang Yao, struck it rich and kicked you out without a second thought. I tossed back your 1.7 million, cackled, and said, ‘Thanks, here’s your cash—done.’
“No regard for your companionship or sacrifices.
“You’re seething, watching me thrive, earning piles of money, while you’re left destitute, burning with resentment.
“Then, one day, you’re reborn—back to when we first met.
“Having seen my true colors, you refuse to fund me this time.
“You want to watch me crash and burn without your help.
“I lash out, boasting I’d be fine without you.
“But without your support, I achieve nothing, wasting away. I struggle to start Avalon, and even when I do, without your help and presence, it’s nowhere near as successful as before.
“Meanwhile, you, with your foresight, rake in a fortune.
“Later, I realize my mistake, drowning in regret, seeing you were the only one who truly cared…”
“I’ve even got the blurb ready.” Tang Yao, stifling a laugh, spun it on the spot: “In my past life, I bet everything on Tang Yao.
“She built a gaming empire with my money, only to fling a check at me during the victory toast: ‘Li Xue, you should’ve known—phoenixes don’t share crowns with sparrows.’
“Reborn, I’m back in that café, ready to go broke for her.
“But this time, I pocket my bank card, splash coffee on the contract, and say, ‘I’m not investing.’
“Titled—Reborn, I Buried Her Ambitions Myself!”
“…” Li Xue stared, her lovely eyes wide. “So many issues… I don’t even know where to start.”
Tang Yao chuckled. “Just say it—does it hook or not?”
“It doesn’t. You’d never do that.” Li Xue shook her head gently. “Otherwise, right after FGO’s launch, you wouldn’t have rushed to see me…”
“Then swap perspectives. Replace me with someone else, you with Lin Shuang.”
“That…” Li Xue paused.
“Point is, these stories focus on the protagonist using past-life memories to rewrite their fate, exacting revenge on those who wronged them. The betrayer, losing the protagonist’s help, derails from their path, realizing their error too late, steeped in regret…” Tang Yao said with a light laugh. “The key is emotional conflict, character arcs, and dramatic fate reversals.”
Yup, she was talking about web novel tropes.
Truth be told, after a few reads, they’re predictable.
But in terms of grabbing attention, these tropes have something.
They hit multiple angles.
Modern life’s stressful—protagonists winning revenge lets readers vicariously release pent-up emotions, satisfying a need for catharsis.
The bad guys get punished, justice prevails, fulfilling a craving for fairness, especially when reality falls short… It also mirrors social anxieties—betrayal, broken friendships—resolved in stories, unlike the messier real world.
Plus, in Tang Yao’s past life, competition got brutal. Reborn protagonists using foresight to crush foes turned survival stress into a cheat-code thrill.
Of course, the real driver of these tropes’ popularity was algorithms.
In the short-video era, it’s all about seizing attention.
This forced web novels to hook readers in seconds… and rebirth-revenge’s fast-paced openings meshed perfectly with algorithm-driven recommendations.
Here, the algorithm revolution hadn’t hit yet.
But pressure still existed—these elements were universal.
It just wasn’t that cutthroat yet.
The market was still vast.
“These stories are emotion-driven, right?” Li Xue pondered, then looked at Tang Yao, asking softly, “Do they fit ANF’s vibe?”
“Sharp.” Tang Yao nodded. “That’s my worry too… but it’s one option.”
Tang Yao figured using her past life’s ultra-competitive tropes for manga would definitely draw eyes.
Those were honed in an algorithm-driven crucible.
But… they’re a bit tacky, with little staying power.
These tropes thrive on instant gratification, perfect for quick-spread, early buzz.
Hooking readers? No issue.
But they likely wouldn’t spark much discussion. Worse, they might open a Pandora’s box, flooding the manga section with similar content.
And even the freshest ideas, repeated endlessly, bore readers.
“Hm… then what’s up with Chainsaw Man? How’s it different from rebirth-revenge?” Li Xue, mulling it over, circled back. “What’s this ‘psycho-thriller’ thing?”
“Chainsaw Man.” Tang Yao shook her head, smiling. “If rebirth-revenge hooks early but might not suit ANF, this manga… it’s not just an early hook. It’s gripping throughout, perfectly aligns with an anime site’s vibe, and it’s a meme machine, guaranteed to stir buzz in anime circles!”
In her past life, her favorite modern manga artists were Tatsuki Fujimoto and ONE.
Both were master storytellers. Fujimoto excelled at unpredictable plot twists and a style steeped in cult-film vibes. ONE nailed ironic worldviews, quirky character designs, and deadpan humor.
Compared to ONE’s brainy, sprawling epics like One Punch Man or Mob Psycho 100, for instant eye-grabbing, Fujimoto’s unhinged Chainsaw Man was king.
Talking corpses, Halloween, “Yo, sweet!”—those iconic memes.
The breakout scenes.
Purely captivating.
Tang Yao bet, even in this world, that wouldn’t change.
Plus, Chainsaw Man’s pacing had a short-video flair—plot pivots in three pages, a narrative rollercoaster, dopamine on blast.
Back then, Tang Yao was hooked the moment the Darkness Devil appeared, binging to the latest chapter that night.
No dull moments.
It wasn’t for nothing that it outshone Frieren to snag the top spot in the 2021 This Manga Is Amazing! rankings.
Crucially, Fujimoto’s work was visual dynamite, tailor-made for manga. Its wild storytelling and bizarre elements were uniquely his, unmatched in other media.
Her past life’s anime adaptation proved it—fine for newcomers, but for manga fans… director Ryū Nakayama got flamed off Twitter.
The anime’s numbers got crushed by Bocchi the Rock! too…
Li Xue, surprised, said, “That confident?”
“Not in me.” Tang Yao shook her head. “In the story.”
“…” Li Xue frowned. “What’s the difference?”
“No difference… never mind.” Tang Yao couldn’t explain. “How about this: I’ll draw Chainsaw Man’s opening and write a rebirth-revenge opener. I’ll show you both, and you decide what to do.”
“…You sure?” Li Xue didn’t jump to agree, instead asking, “And… you’re letting me decide?”
“No problem.” Tang Yao shook her head, her smile blooming. “Tomorrow’s New Year’s Day, right? I’ll rest up, and it’ll be fine. As for you deciding, isn’t that normal? I trust your judgment. If you think ANF needs to widen its lead now, then you take the lead on what’s next.
“Go for it, don’t be scared.”
“…” Li Xue gazed at Tang Yao, her unmasked trust sinking in, leaving her silent.
…So stop using yourself as the villain in that rebirth-revenge pitch, okay?
You’re nothing like that!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 148: New Year’s Day
Date: 2025-03-18
Author: Xian Ge
Since joining Avalon, Li Xue had constantly worried about screwing up.
It wasn’t about confidence—or lack thereof.
Rather, diving into an unfamiliar job, facing a totally new field, blind confidence would be worse.
Did she love this job? Not really.
Tang Yao’s trust was her biggest drive.
Though that trust… came with some pressure.
Tang Yao always handed her critical tasks without hesitation, even letting her call the shots on major decisions like this.
“By the way.” Tang Yao, noticing Li Xue’s silence, seemed to sense something and extended her pale hand. “…Give me your hand.”
“Hm?” Li Xue snapped back, looking up at Tang Yao, puzzled… but she obeyed, resting her hand in Tang Yao’s palm.
Tang Yao’s slender fingers curled, gripping tightly, and she said, “Don’t stress, okay?”
Li Xue froze slightly.
“Skills can be learned. Nobody’s born knowing it all, and anyone can mess up—even me. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Follow your instincts, build experience over time. I may not look it, but I’ve got your back.” Tang Yao smiled lightly. “I invited you because I believe in you, not some resume or perfect skillset… And with your talent, give it time, and I’m sure you’ll outshine me.”
Her voice was soft yet firm, like a ray of winter sunlight.
Li Xue’s hand, clasped in Tang Yao’s, felt the warmth and strength from her palm, her invisible burdens easing bit by bit.
She looked down at their joined hands, sighing, “So how are you that kind of person?”
…She was practically being won over, and yet talking about rebirth-revenge.
Li Xue had never been treated like this, not even by her mother…
“What?” Tang Yao blinked, confused.
Li Xue didn’t answer, just shook her head, then said firmly, “No rebirth-revenge stories using our story as a template.”
“Why? It’s ready-made material!”
“No way! You can’t tarnish my precious memories.”
“What’s so precious?”
“It just is… don’t ask.”
“Oh… fine then.” Tang Yao, still holding her hand, didn’t argue, just swayed their arms lightly. “A different template works too.”
“…” Li Xue felt Tang Yao’s playful tug, gazing into her clear eyes. After a pause, she asked softly, “So… tomorrow’s New Year’s Day. Any plans? Got time?”
“House hunting.” Tang Yao’s sway stopped, her easy vibe fading, replaced by a wry sigh. “Made a deal with my sister. My current place is too far—commute’s eating up too much time.”
She didn’t really want to go out.
But it couldn’t wait any longer.
Li Xue’s gaze dipped. “Got it…”
“Wait.” Tang Yao, struck by a thought, squeezed Li Xue’s hand. “Li Xue, which neighborhood do you live in?”
“Me?” Li Xue blinked, catching on, her eyes lighting up.
But before she could answer, someone approached, calling Tang Yao’s name.
Their chat paused.
Tang Yao looked over, spotting Si Jinliang, and frowned. “What’s up?”
“…” Si Jinliang didn’t speak right away. Reaching them, he eyed their clasped hands, puzzled.
Were these two really just investor and founder?
This close?
His own investor relations were all cutthroat, no love. His expression turned odd.
Tang Yao followed his gaze to their hands, instinctively starting to pull away… then thought, Wait, I’m a girl.
What’s to fear?
So, instead of letting go, she gripped Li Xue’s hand tighter, even lifting her chin slightly with a smug, ‘Jealous, huh?’ look.
Si Jinliang: “…”
Li Xue stifled a laugh.
But soon, Tang Yao caught Si Jinliang’s expression and realized, Why am I smug?
It was near quitting time.
With Avalon running smoothly and it being the last day before the holiday, the company vibe was relaxed.
Tang Yao’s mood lightened too.
She coughed, getting serious. “So, what’s the deal?”
Si Jinliang snapped back. “I want to stay over New Year’s.”
“You’re staying?” Tang Yao blinked.
After all that grind…
Someone’s volunteering to work?
“Yup.” Si Jinliang nodded. “I can’t wait! Shi Wanglin’s staying too. We want to test the game’s playability ASAP.”
“Alright.” Tang Yao saw he wasn’t joking. “Thanks for the hustle.”
“No.” Si Jinliang shook his head. “Not hard at all. If your vision works, Card Clash could come alive… If it does, it’s all worth it.”
Tang Yao studied his earnest look, smiling. “Then here’s to having fun… But after New Year’s, this project’s moving forward, no matter what. No need to rush.”
“It’s because it’s moving forward that I want to test it.” Si Jinliang said.
“Don’t trust me?”
“Not that. I just… want to be sure. I want to face my old Mingyu Tech crew with confidence.”
“Got it.” Tang Yao nodded. “Stay if you want. Pay’s covered.”
“Mm.” Si Jinliang agreed, then hesitated. “But I’ll judge your decks and simplified rules with the strictest eye…”
“Fine.” Tang Yao shrugged.
With her answer, Si Jinliang glanced at their hands again, seemed to want to say something, but left without a word.
Once he was gone, Li Xue couldn’t hold back her laugh. “That look you gave—claiming territory much?”
“Did I?” Tang Yao blinked. “Nah.”
She pivoted, as if dodging the topic. “Back to earlier—where do you live?”
Li Xue caught her flushed ear tips, her mood lifting. “Tianhe City, Yonghe Road.”
Tang Yao pressed, “How’s it feel living there?”
“Pretty good.” Li Xue replied. “Security, environment—it’s solid. I’m on my own, so I took my time choosing.”
Tang Yao’s interest sparked. “Then tomorrow, I’ll check it out with my sister… Living nearby would be handy.”
“Yup, we could head home together.” Li Xue nodded. “If I get back early, I could cook for you…”
“What a housewife.” Tang Yao giggled, but honestly… she was sold.
The next day, New Year’s Day, Tang Yao and her sister went house hunting.
At Avalon Studio, Si Jinliang and Shi Wanglin finally set up their test.
It was bare-bones—limited manpower meant no major overhauls.
But both were hyped about Tang Yao’s two decks.
So, they tweaked the original Card Clash, cobbling together a rough test environment to try her decks.
Soon, they sat down.
Si Jinliang took Control Warrior; Shi Wanglin, Zoo.
Two classic Hearthstone decks from ages past.
Zoo swarmed the board at breakneck speed.
Control Warrior… mostly took a beating.
Shield versus spear.
Polar opposite decks.
But the match… was surprisingly fun.
Si Jinliang’s Control Warrior was pummeled but demanded choices—clear the board or survive, track deck cards, read the board, guess Shi Wanglin’s hand. It was a mental chess game.
Shi Wanglin’s Zoo brought a different rush. He quickly learned winning wasn’t about mindlessly hitting face but required precise board trades, tempo control, and cornering the opponent step by step.
Neither was fully versed in the game, but they played hard—and were shocked.
Si Jinliang had worried defense would be dull… but every clear and counterattack brimmed with strategy.
Shi Wanglin was stunned that aggro wasn’t brainless—board trades, tempo, damage order all mattered.
The real match blew them away.
About half an hour later, the game ended. Both let out a long breath.
“Another round?” Shi Wanglin looked up, eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Bring it!” Si Jinliang didn’t hesitate. “This time, I’m trying aggro!”
He was pumped too.
As a TCG veteran, he knew the genre’s core issues: complex rules, high strategic barriers, and economic costs—three mountains.
These made TCGs the pinnacle of intellectual duels… and a commercial tightrope.
Balancing depth for core players while lowering entry for wider audiences was TCGs’ eternal riddle.
That mix of pain and glory made TCGs one of gaming’s most enduring genres.
If a card game dodged those pitfalls…
While keeping solid strategy and fun?
Forget everything else—it’d print money!!
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Li Xue (黎雪), Si Jinliang (司金亮), Shi Wanglin (石旺林), Lin Shuang (林霜). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Fate terms (Fate/Zero), game titles (Card Clash for 斗牌, Chainsaw Man for 电锯人), and studio names (Avalon Studio for 理想乡, ANF for AnimationFan, Mingyu Tech for 鸣宇科技) use established or context-appropriate English equivalents.
“Control Warrior” (防战) and “Zoo” (动物园) are translated directly to reflect Hearthstone terminology, familiar to TCG players.
Cultural Nuances:
Web Novel Tropes: Rebirth-revenge-regret stories reflect Chinese web novel trends, translated with universal emotional appeal (catharsis, justice) while noting their algorithmic roots.
Anime Culture: Chainsaw Man’s meme potential and ANF’s anime focus tie to China’s anime fandom, rendered with relatable buzz and community dynamics.
Workplace Trust: Tang Yao’s faith in Li Xue and Si Jinliang’s dedication mirror Chinese startup loyalty, translated with nuanced camaraderie.
Technical Terms:
Gaming Terms: “卡组” (decks), “铺场” (swarm the board), “解场” (clear the board), “打脸” (go face), “节奏把控” (tempo control), and “策略性” (strategy) align with TCG jargon, referencing Hearthstone mechanics.
Media Terms: “造梗能力” (meme potential), “叙事节奏” (narrative pacing), “算法推荐机制” (algorithm-driven recommendations), and “讨论度” (discussion buzz) fit digital media contexts.
Business Terms: “关键决策” (key decisions), “办公区域调整” (office realignment), and “渠道争夺” (channel war) reflect corporate jargon.
Adjustments:
Narrative Clarity: Chainsaw Man’s appeal and rebirth-revenge’s mechanics are explained vividly, balancing accessibility and depth.
Emotional Tone: Tang Yao’s trust, Li Xue’s pressure, and Si Jinliang’s drive are tuned for natural English flow, preserving emotional stakes.
Dialogue Flow: Tang Yao’s playful pitch, Li Xue’s banter, and Si Jinliang’s shock add humor and warmth, grounding technical plot points.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Vision: Her creative and strategic brilliance shines, rendered with charismatic confidence.
Li Xue’s Growth: Her evolving role under pressure is translated with tender resolve.
Team Dedication: Si Jinliang and Shi Wanglin’s commitment adds depth, translated with relatable passion.
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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