Chapter 149: House Hunting
Date: 2025-03-19
Author: Xian Ge
“Tianhe City… why this neighborhood?”
While Si Jinliang and Shi Wanglin were buzzing over card decks, the two sisters arrived at the entrance of Li Xue’s neighborhood.
Tang Xun wasn’t in her school uniform today. Instead, she wore a creamy white, puffy down jacket that gave her a soft, cuddly look, paired with dark blue fleece-lined jeans and white canvas sneakers. Simple, but effortlessly charming.
She stood at the neighborhood gate, eyeing her older sister, her delicate hands tucked into her jacket sleeves, only her dainty knuckles peeking out.
Beside her, Tang Yao was dressed similarly… though her slim-fit jeans accentuated her slender waist and graceful curves a bit more clearly.
She was the older sister, after all.
“Don’t you think it’s nice here?” Tang Yao stretched her pale neck, peering into the neighborhood. The greenery was well-maintained, with evergreen trees and neatly trimmed shrubs even in winter. The paths were clean, and most importantly, it was quiet.
“…” Tang Xun poked half her fair face out from her jacket, exhaling a puff of white breath. “But I feel like you’re hiding something…”
“Hiding what?” Tang Yao shot back. “I just have a friend who lives here, so this is our first stop.”
“…Miss Li?” Tang Xun paused, then asked calmly.
Probably because Tang Yao was always in touch with her, Tang Xun knew her sister had a close confidante.
“Yup.” Tang Yao nodded, smiling lightly. “If we live nearby, I’ll introduce you sometime.”
“Oh…” Tang Xun gave a noncommittal hum, tucking her snowy chin back into her jacket.
“Let’s check out the place.” Tang Yao decided standing around wasn’t helping. She glanced at the shivering real estate agent nearby and smiled apologetically. “Sorry for the trouble.”
Not far off, the middle-aged agent returned a warm smile and led them inside.
Though she’d been standing in the cold, she wasn’t annoyed… mainly because the sisters were gorgeous and polite, making it hard to stay mad.
Especially the older one—her smile was stunning.
Then she thought of her own rebellious daughter at home.
The agent’s heart ached.
Someone not even twenty could care for her sister, poised and courteous without being overly formal.
Her own thirty-year-old couldn’t even fry an egg…
Good thing Tang Yao couldn’t hear her thoughts, or she’d have jumped up with a playful fist—Who’s not even twenty?!
“This way, please.” The agent snapped out of her thoughts, her professional smile back, leading Tang Yao and Tang Xun into the neighborhood while enthusiastically describing it. “Tianhe City is one of the upscale neighborhoods around here. The landscaping’s top-notch, property management’s on point, with 24-hour security patrols. It’s very safe, and the amenities are comprehensive…”
The sisters listened, taking in their surroundings.
No denying it—the environment was stellar.
“Also, the units we’re seeing are fully renovated, with all furniture and appliances included. You can move in right away,” the agent continued, her tone warm. “The landlord’s particular about quality, and the decor’s unique—you’ll love it.”
Soon, the agent led them into a building.
“The unit’s on the 12th floor, with great lighting and an open view,” she explained, pressing the elevator button.
The elevator doors opened, and the trio stepped out. The agent unlocked the apartment door.
The moment they entered, Tang Xun’s eyes lit up.
The decor leaned on natural wood, with warm, soft tones. The living room’s light wood flooring paired with a cream-colored fabric sofa.
With ample space and green plants tucked in every corner, it felt cozy and relaxing at first glance.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on the wood floor… It felt like home.
Clearly, Tang Xun loved the style.
As for Tang Yao?
She was marveling that the plants hadn’t died.
“This is a four-bedroom, one-living-room unit, about 160 square meters. Fully furnished, ready to move in,” the agent said, guiding them through.
The sisters followed, listening and inspecting every corner.
Soon, Tang Xun’s gaze locked onto the living room’s windows, offering a sweeping view of the city skyline, crisp under winter sunlight.
She couldn’t resist walking over, gently pulling the curtains to let more light pour in.
In the sunlight, her fair face glowed even brighter, radiant and captivating.
But when she saw the lone, oversized bed in the master bedroom, her bright expression dimmed.
Then, spotting the huge bathtub in the bathroom, she perked up again.
“What do you think?” Tang Yao asked softly.
Teenage girls’ thoughts were easy to read.
Though Tang Yao didn’t get why her sister was so taken with the bathtub—time-consuming, water-wasting, a hassle to clean—she was happy if Tang Xun was.
“…” Tang Xun didn’t answer, just tilted her head to look at her sister. “Do you like it?”
“Love it,” Tang Yao replied instantly.
Truthfully, she wasn’t picky. If the commute weren’t so long, she’d have been fine in their old place.
It came down to who you lived with.
Tang Xun, rare in her openness, said softly, “I like it too.”
The agent, seizing the moment, chimed in, “If you’re interested, we can sign the contract soon. The landlord said if it’s a long-term lease, the price is negotiable.”
Tang Yao turned, polite. “Can we sign now?”
Half an hour later, the agent left, overjoyed.
Tang Yao had boldly signed a two-year lease.
And didn’t haggle a bit on the agent fee.
Tang Yao courteously saw her out, closed the door, and flopped onto the sofa. For the next two years, this place was theirs. She could’ve bought it outright, but the paperwork seemed too tedious.
Across the room, Tang Xun stood by the windows, gazing at the view, her expression unreadable… but she seemed happy.
Tang Yao tilted her head, watching her sister’s back, feeling it was all worth it. “I’ll check on moving. We’ll hire a company. I’ll help pack after work each day. Let’s aim to box everything in two days. Bedding, we’ll buy new once we’re settled.”
Tang Xun turned, looking at her sister. With her hands tucked into her oversized sleeves, only her fingertips showing, her usual aloofness softened. Paired with her delicate features, she looked fragile, almost like a small animal.
She walked over, sitting close to Tang Yao, and gazed at the spacious living room, murmuring, “Mm…”
Tang Yao smiled. “Happy?”
Tang Xun, staring ahead, whispered, “Happy…”
Her voice was faint.
But for a girl usually so cool and distant at home to be this direct?
A rare moment.
Tang Yao’s face lit up. She reached out, gently pinching Tang Xun’s cheek. “Always so icy, but today you’re finally acting like a teenage girl. Love it, love it.”
Tang Xun didn’t pull away… though her ears reddened, clearly embarrassed, as she swatted at her sister’s hand.
Tang Yao, seeing this, stopped teasing and leaned back on the sofa, letting out a long breath. “We’ve finally made it.”
When she first arrived, it was a disaster.
Wrong gender, dirt-poor family, unfamiliar job… and worrying about Tang Xun’s next semester’s tuition.
Tang Yao had seriously considered starting over.
But when her sister clung to her, sobbing that she only had her, Tang Yao gave up that idea.
Having taken over this body, ruining one life was bad enough—could she destroy another?
So she worked to adapt to her new body, learned to be an editor, and dealt with maddeningly difficult manga artists.
The journey wasn’t exactly a bloodbath, but it wasn’t a breeze either.
Now, she could finally exhale. She’d fully embraced her body, her identity, and most days, she only remembered being Tang Yao. She’d made money—lots of it.
But most importantly…
Tang Yao glanced at the girl beside her.
…She hadn’t ruined another person’s life.
Thinking this, she slowly looked away, her chest rising as she took a deep breath. Raising her pale hand, she stared at it in midair, finally feeling a sense of reality.
Thank goodness.
Across from her, Tang Xun noticed her sister’s gesture and turned… gazing at Tang Yao’s hand, glowing soft and fair in the sunlight reflected off the floor. She raised her own hand, grasping it.
Tang Yao, startled by the small hand, smiled after a moment, her slender fingers curling to interlock with her sister’s.
“…” Tang Xun dropped her pretense of indifference, resting her head lightly on Tang Yao’s shoulder, her voice soft. “Sis, thank you…”
She knew full well how much her sister had sacrificed for their family, for her.
From those tough early days to this stable life now.
She’d been quietly holding it all together.
Honestly, Tang Xun looked around, feeling like she was in a dream.
“No need. We’re sisters.” Tang Yao nudged her head against Tang Xun’s.
Their heads leaned together, sunlight streaming through the windows, casting a gentle glow across the floor, warm and serene.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 150: Project Team Formed
Date: 2025-03-19
Author: Xian Ge
Moving couldn’t be delayed.
But it wasn’t a rush job either… After living in their old place so long, just packing would take time.
With Tang Yao working and Tang Xun in school, they could only pack during evenings after work and classes.
After the New Year’s Day holiday, Tang Yao headed to work.
Stepping into Avalon, she noticed a crowd huddled in a corner.
“?” Tang Yao mentally raised a question mark.
What was going on?
Then, voices drifted over.
“Clear the board! What’s with this dumb tank-and-take strategy?”
“Quiet! Don’t you see they’ve got six cards in hand? If I burn my clears now, what then?”
“Keep hitting face! Shi Wanglin, do you even know how to play?”
“Look at my health, you idiots! Face? They’ve got five attack on board—I’d be dead!”
“…” Tang Yao, catching the chatter, paused, guessing what was up, and walked over.
Sure enough, a big group was watching Si Jinliang and Shi Wanglin play cards…
The two were sweating buckets, juggling the crowd’s heckling and the game.
The onlookers were engrossed, tossing out advice now and then.
Tang Yao stood at the edge, tiptoeing to peek, and saw they’d played countless matches.
…Practiced to a heartbreaking degree.
Board swarming, clearing, countering aggression—they knew it by heart.
Yet the crowd’s enthusiastic “guidance” still flustered them.
Tang Yao couldn’t help but smile, not interrupting, instead watching the lively match with interest.
Then she noticed something.
The other staff… seemed to grasp the gameplay too, showing intense interest.
Typical TCGs weren’t easy to pick up, with complex rule systems, heaps of card effects, chain reactions, and strategic combos.
Take Magic: The Gathering—five colors, each with distinct styles and mechanics. Newbies struggled to parse the differences, let alone the walls of text on cards.
But this game the two were playing? Much easier to get.
Like Soulfire: deal 4 damage, discard a card.
Flame Imp: deal 3 damage to yourself, summon a beefy minion.
Descriptions under ten words.
Clear and simple.
Watch a bit, and you’d get it.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Tang Yao grew more confident in this second game but wondered: how had they viewed Card Clash before?
Just then, Si Jinliang looked up, meeting her gaze.
He froze, then looked sheepish.
His reaction drew others’ attention to Tang Yao.
The rowdy crowd quieted, turning to her.
Not out of fear of her boss status—honestly, she was hard to fear…
They’d heard from Si Jinliang.
This gameplay was Tang Yao’s idea.
“How’s it feel?” Tang Yao ignored their stares, looking at Si Jinliang.
“Great.” Si Jinliang snapped back, pausing the match, his voice excited. “The deck pool’s small, and balance needs tweaking, but this system’s absolutely viable!!”
“What about you all?” Tang Yao nodded slowly, turning to the onlookers. “What do you think of this card game?”
“…” The crowd went quiet for a moment.
Finally, someone spoke. “Way better than Si Jinliang’s old Card Clash. We can follow it, and the rules are easier to grasp. The old one was too complex—except for the planners, we couldn’t really play…”
“Yup.” Others chimed in.
Tang Yao: “…”
Well then.
The dev team couldn’t even play it.
She glanced at Si Jinliang.
His expression was awkward.
The team couldn’t play, not wouldn’t—pretty embarrassing.
Seeing his look, Tang Yao didn’t press, looking away and musing. She opened her mouth to ask something but stopped, rethinking.
She’d meant to ask what they found hard, but given the state… asking was pointless.
Only two decks existed.
“Yuxin.” Tang Yao made her call, looking at Chu Yuxin in the corner. “Starting today, the Card Clash project team is officially formed. You and Lu Shuping are reassigned to it. Kang Ming, pull four people from your side. We’ll start with the class system and core card pool, setting one or more base playstyles for the nine classes.”
“…” Everyone exchanged glances.
Si Jinliang’s eyes lit up. “You’re leading the team?”
“Yup.” Tang Yao shook her head. “But I’m executive producer and lead planner. Shi Wanglin’s lead programmer, Chu Yuxin’s lead artist, and you’re producer.”
An executive producer oversees projects with ultimate decision-making power, often juggling multiple titles—think the head of a big studio’s game division.
A regular producer runs the project internally, handling everything from product to hiring.
Si Jinliang knew this, his eyes widening as he pointed to himself. “Me?”
“Yup, don’t panic.” Tang Yao explained, “You’re the best fit. Within a week, I’ll give you the nine classes’ traits, class cards, and neutral card descriptions. As producer, you’ll manage development, review my pitch and cards, and ensure game balance, smooth experience, and fun.”
No choice here.
Tang Yao could rely on her transmigration cheat to recall Hearthstone card effects, but she hadn’t played from the beta days and wasn’t deeply familiar with many decks. Plus, Hearthstone’s early era leaned on low-rarity cards, frequent changes, and tactics borrowed from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering.
It was an era of cheap, powerful singles.
So, she wasn’t sticking to that era. Without Warcraft’s lore boost here, it’d flop.
She planned to push to the Blackrock Mountain expansion.
Hearthstone matured there.
Naxxramas focused on Deathrattle.
Goblins vs. Gnomes was aggro’s time.
Post-Blackrock, the game hit its stride, with iconic decks like Patron Warrior, Tempo Mage, Combo Rogue, Zoo, Handlock, and Midrange Druid maturing.
Miracle Rogue and Freeze Mage also resurged.
Yup, resurged.
Spanning three expansions, with dense changes, deck archetypes rose and fell.
Honestly, with so many cards, Tang Yao worried she’d mix things up.
Even if she didn’t, blending cards from multiple expansions needed someone to sort it, avoiding issues.
Cuts or tweaks—both necessary.
And the best person for that? Si Jinliang.
Tang Yao knew her past-life memories gave her a head start, skipping early grind, but they weren’t a cure-all.
“…” Si Jinliang, hearing her, recalled the dozens of cards in Zoo and Control Warrior. Instead of refusing, he hesitated. “So… how many class and core cards?”
“About 300.” Tang Yao replied instinctively. “With later additions, I’m aiming for around 500.”
Goblins vs. Gnomes added over a hundred cards.
Core cards plus expansion cards hit that ballpark.
“…” Silence fell. Everyone stared at Tang Yao, stunned.
“Boss.” Si Jinliang’s legs shook, dropping her name. “Launch version? Five hundred?! How long will that take to design?!”
The other staff weren’t much better.
Especially the Mingyu Tech folks.
Card Clash had only reached 300+ cards after ages…
“No need to worry about that.” Tang Yao shook her head. “I’ll handle it. You just review.”
Si Jinliang’s voice shot up. “All 500 by you!?”
Tang Yao blinked. “Who else? Want in? You can…”
Si Jinliang was dazed.
Is that what I meant?
No!
Five hundred cards for the launch? One person?
Impossible!!
But as he opened his mouth, FGO flashed in his mind, and the words died.
Still, he couldn’t wrap his head around it.
No, no, no!
No way!
Sure, she’d given two decks… but 500 cards? That’s insane.
One person? Absolutely impossible!!
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Tang Xun (唐薰), Li Xue (黎雪), Si Jinliang (司金亮), Shi Wanglin (石旺林), Chu Yuxin (褚雨欣), Lu Shuping (陆淑平), Kang Ming (康鸣). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Game titles (Card Clash for 斗牌), studio names (Avalon Studio for 理想乡, Mingyu Tech for 鸣宇科技), and neighborhood (Tianhe City for 天和城) use context-appropriate English equivalents.
Deck names “Control Warrior” (防战) and “Zoo” (动物园) reflect Hearthstone terminology for TCG familiarity.
Cultural Nuances:
Family Bonds: Tang Yao and Tang Xun’s sisterly dynamic reflects Chinese familial duty, translated with tender warmth and universal relatability.
Workplace Culture: The team’s casual banter and Tang Yao’s approachable leadership mirror Chinese startup vibes, rendered with lively camaraderie.
Gaming Culture: Hearthstone-inspired mechanics and TCG challenges are translated with clarity, balancing accessibility for non-gamers and depth for enthusiasts.
Technical Terms:
Gaming Terms: “卡组” (decks), “铺场” (swarm the board), “解场” (clear the board), “打脸” (go face), “卡牌效果” (card effects), “连锁反应” (chain reactions), “职业系统” (class system), “基础卡池” (core card pool), “亡语” (Deathrattle), and “平衡” (balance) align with TCG jargon, referencing Hearthstone.
Business Terms: “执行制作人” (executive producer), “主策” (lead planner), “主程” (lead programmer), “主美” (lead artist), “制作人” (producer), and “把关” (review) reflect game dev roles.
Real Estate Terms: “精装修” (fully renovated), “拎包入住” (move-in ready), “绿化” (landscaping), and “物业管理” (property management) fit housing contexts.
Adjustments:
Emotional Tone: Tang Yao’s care for Tang Xun, Si Jinliang’s shock, and the team’s excitement are tuned for natural English flow, preserving emotional stakes.
Technical Clarity: TCG mechanics (Hearthstone expansions, deck archetypes) are explained concisely, ensuring accessibility while retaining strategic depth.
Dialogue Flow: Tang Yao’s teasing, the team’s banter, and Si Jinliang’s disbelief add humor and energy, grounding technical plot points in character warmth.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Leadership: Her vision and trust shine, rendered with charismatic confidence.
Tang Xun’s Growth: Her rare openness adds depth, translated with subtle vulnerability.
Team Dynamics: Si Jinliang’s awe and the staff’s enthusiasm underscore Tang Yao’s impact, 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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