Chapter 161: Annoyed
Date: 2025-03-26
Author: Xian Ge
“Hm…”
Hearing Li Xue’s words, Tang Yao didn’t let go. Instead, she gave Li Xue’s soft cheeks a gentle squeeze.
Li Xue didn’t resist. Thoughts of Rumi had already flown out the window… Staring at Tang Yao, clearly a bit miffed, she felt her heart race.
But it couldn’t be that reason, right?
As Li Xue pondered, Tang Yao suddenly released her cheeks, chuckling as if it were just a prank. “Well… it’s normal to have favorite mangaka. You were an editor, after all. I do too… But no betraying us! You’re Avalon’s shareholder and manager now. Don’t let your idol sway you.”
“No way,” Li Xue shot back, catching Tang Yao’s smile. “I’m excited to meet Rumi because my editing career grew up on her stories. It’s just a manga editor’s admiration for a talented mangaka. I’d have to be crazy to side with her. If she tries to play me for a fool, forget admiration—I’d walk out, not even picking up the tab…”
Tang Yao’s smile brightened, tilting her head. “Just skipping the bill?”
“What else? You want me to brawl with her? That’d be awkward…” Li Xue raised her pale hand, glanced at it, and clenched it lightly, lacking confidence. Still, she added, “Unless she messes with you.”
Her voice was soft, as if adding the line to prove something.
“Nah, forget it,” Tang Yao said, eyeing Li Xue’s slender frame and blinking with amusement. “No need to go that far. We’re just meeting to talk. Why’re we even discussing fights?”
“You’re the one saying weird stuff,” Li Xue retorted, rolling her eyes. “So why’d you suddenly bring up being a mangaka?”
Tang Yao shrugged. “Wanted you to know.”
“I know…” Li Xue replied. “I knew when you gave me Human Head Balloon. But Rumi’s just a talented mangaka to me. You, though—you’re not just a mangaka in my eyes…”
“What am I then?” Tang Yao asked, curious.
“…” Li Xue met Tang Yao’s captivating peach-blossom eyes, hesitated, then said slowly, “A great mangaka…”
“???” Tang Yao’s pretty face flushed red instantly. She puffed up, springing from her chair to pounce on Li Xue, mock-threatening to pinch her. “You did that on purpose!”
“Haha…” Li Xue caught Tang Yao’s slim waist, laughing until she shook.
But soon, noticing other staff glancing over, they hushed, lowering their voices.
Even so, the sight of the company’s charming manager and boss tangled together drew lingering stares.
Ahem.
Tang Yao cleared her throat, shooting the onlookers a glare.
They reluctantly looked away.
Li Xue, embarrassed, reached to fix Tang Yao’s collar. “This is your fault…”
Tang Yao turned, glaring at her again. “…”
Li Xue mimicked Tang Yao, straightening proudly. “I’m just being honest!”
“If you’re gonna copy me, go all in,” Tang Yao teased, stretching her pale neck and scanning the room. “Can’t let you have all the fun mocking me, right?”
Li Xue’s elegant face reddened, but she raised her hand, lightly patting her ample chest. “I’m being honest!”
“…” Tang Yao, realizing what she’d just done, burst out laughing. “So dumb…”
Li Xue dropped her hand quickly. “You knew it was dumb…”
“But…” Tang Yao’s tone shifted. Leaning closer, her head near Li Xue’s ear, she whispered, “Having someone join me in being dumb feels nice. And… it’s quite a sight.”
Li Xue’s face turned beet red. Giving up pretense, she went for broke. “Yours too…”
Now it was Tang Yao’s turn to blush.
Their flushed faces met, and they burst into laughter again.
With constant time together, their bond was growing fast.
Those hesitations and doubts might, with each playful probe, vanish entirely… Perhaps.
The next day, Tang Yao and Li Xue headed out to the coffee shop they often visited.
Maybe to apologize for the failed FGO collab, Rumi-sensei let Tang Yao pick the meeting spot.
Tang Yao didn’t hold back, choosing the closest place—a short walk away.
Rumi-sensei didn’t object, even seeming eager.
So, the coffee shop was set, at 2:00 p.m.
Tang Yao and Li Xue left around 1:50.
On the way, Tang Yao studied Li Xue. She wore light makeup as usual, but her expression was calm, lacking yesterday’s starry-eyed vibe.
“Not excited anymore?” Tang Yao asked during a stoplight wait.
“Got it out of my system yesterday,” Li Xue said, shaking her head. “Now it’s just… normal. Actually, I’m thinking, besides the collab, maybe we can sort out Fate/Zero’s tankobon issue.”
“You mean… Rumi’s magazine?” Tang Yao caught on.
“Yup,” Li Xue nodded. “We’ve been busy, so Fate/Zero’s tankobon plan’s on hold. I wanted to work with Wenxin Pavilion—old ties—but YOUNG Comic’s publisher isn’t a bad option. The top-selling manga magazine’s backing could boost sales.”
“Honestly, tankobon or not doesn’t matter much now,” Tang Yao said, understanding Li Xue’s point.
She knew tankobon royalties were a mangaka’s lifeline, often 40% of their income. When Li Xue first mentioned it, Tang Yao had been tempted.
But things were different now—she wasn’t short on cash.
“It’s still your life’s work,” Li Xue countered. “Plus, it’d help the game, right? Boosts popularity, benefits the game.”
“Fair point,” Tang Yao mused, nodding. “We can bring it up then.”
As they spoke, they entered the coffee shop.
It was quiet inside.
“Welcome,” a staff member greeted.
Tang Yao was stunned. This half-dead café could afford staff now?
Shocked but polite, she asked, “Sorry, is there a guest named Guan Qian?”
Guan Qian was Rumi-sensei’s real name, shared with Tang Yao since using her pen name was inconvenient.
They’d recognize each other by real names.
“Ms. Guan Qian?” The staff smiled, pointing to a corner. “She’s over there. I’ll take you.”
She’s here already?
Tang Yao blinked, then followed.
Drawing closer, Tang Yao finally saw Guan Qian in the corner.
And froze.
In the corner sat an elegant woman in a chic red dress, its sleek cut hugging her curvy figure—sensual, voluptuous, stunning.
…Her figure was too perfect!
Paired with lazy, wavy hair and foxlike, alluring eyes, every move was captivating, dripping with charm.
Judging by looks wasn’t polite…
But this didn’t scream mangaka!
This was Rumi!?
Meanwhile, Rumi, hearing the staff’s introduction, looked at Tang Yao.
She sized up the girl approaching—Tang Yao’s flawless, jade-like face and fully matured figure—and froze too.
This was the married Tang Yao, who rejected her game investment over fears of her investor getting jealous???
Wait.
Married? Really?
She looked barely legal!
That’s a crime!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 162: Awkward Moment
Date: 2025-03-26
Author: Xian Ge
“You’re Rumi?”
“You’re Tang Yao!?”
In the coffee shop, they blurted out in unison.
Three striking women together were already eye-catching, but their simultaneous outburst drew even more stares.
Li Xue noticed, quickly pulling Tang Yao to sit.
But Tang Yao, seated, still locked eyes with Rumi, both stunned.
Li Xue could understand Rumi’s shock—Tang Yao was breathtaking, especially at first glance.
But Tang Yao being this shocked? Li Xue hadn’t expected that. Leaning close, she whispered, “Haven’t you seen Rumi-sensei’s photos? I remember some leaked.”
Tang Yao turned, bewildered. “I have, and I knew she was a woman… But in those pics, didn’t she look super prim? Her clothes, her vibe—totally different person!”
“That’s because my editor made me dress like that…” Rumi, snapping out of it first, explained. “And they piled on heavy makeup and thick clothes.”
Before Li Xue could respond, Rumi continued, “Forget me. I’ve got a question. When I offered to invest in your game and you declined, saying you didn’t want your investor to get jealous—was that your husband? Are you married?”
“???” Tang Yao whipped back, a head full of question marks. “Married? What!? My investor’s her.”
She pointed at Li Xue.
Rumi’s head swiveled like a robot, staring at Li Xue, blurting, “Yuri?”
“Huh?” Li Xue’s body stiffened, eyes widening as she glanced at Tang Yao, clearly not expecting that introduction.
Tang Yao stared at Rumi. Rumi stared at Li Xue. Li Xue stared at Tang Yao…
Awkward silence.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Ten minutes later, the misunderstanding cleared, Rumi bowed deeply, apologizing sincerely.
Tang Yao eyed the famed Rumi-sensei, her expression complicated.
What was this woman imagining?
That she was old? Married? Her investor was her husband?
What nonsense!
And normal people, hearing Li Xue was her investor, wouldn’t jump to “yuri,” right?
No way!
…Did she really come off that queer?
No one said anything…
Li Xue wasn’t faring better. Her excitement to meet her idol had evaporated. She glanced at Rumi, exasperated.
“Fine, misunderstanding cleared,” Tang Yao said after a pause, seeing Rumi still bowing. She couldn’t stay silent. “Let’s move on.”
“Sorry… But honestly,” Rumi exhaled, apologizing again before slowly looking up at Tang Yao’s youthful, vibrant charm, still in disbelief. “I really didn’t expect you to be so young and gorgeous.”
“I didn’t expect you to be so stunning either,” Tang Yao replied politely.
Pre-business pleasantries—she was a pro.
“…” Rumi, easing out of her initial shock, finally accepted that Avalon’s rising star was a girl younger than her.
Hearing Tang Yao’s polite response, she shook her head.
This wasn’t just courtesy.
She meant it!
It was absurd.
Young, gorgeous, looking like a high schooler, yet she drew the grim, intense Fate/Zero.
If that was all, fine.
She was a big mangaka, after all!
But this high schooler turned her manga into a mobile game, shaking up the gaming world…
It blew Rumi’s mind.
She’d braced for meeting a troublesome older woman.
Turns out, she was the older woman…
“Rumi-sensei?” Li Xue, noticing Rumi staring at Tang Yao, took a deep breath and spoke up.
Older woman… no, Rumi snapped back, lifting her coffee to calm her tangled thoughts, regaining some composure. She gave a wry smile. “I’m not being polite—I’m genuinely shocked. The one stirring up the anime world… is this young. By the way, what do you want to drink?”
Truth be told, despite the initial shock, she was kind of thrilled.
Compared to an older woman, she preferred dealing with a young, pretty girl.
Even if she was the older woman…
Tang Yao, sensing Rumi had accepted reality, called the staff to order two coffees.
When the coffees arrived, silence settled again.
Rumi processed her thoughts, then spoke, curious. “…Tang Yao, you drew Chainsaw Man too, right?”
“Yup,” Tang Yao nodded, then turned to introduce Li Xue. “By the way, this is Avalon’s manager and my editor, Li Xue.”
“Hello,” Rumi said, nodding to Li Xue.
Li Xue nodded back. “Hello… Rumi-sensei seems quite interested in us?”
“Of course,” Rumi said, sipping her coffee. “Who wouldn’t be? But learning Avalon’s top brass are both so young and stunning makes me more curious.”
Li Xue followed her lead. “So, you want to know about us?”
“Yup,” Rumi set down her cup. “For instance, I’m dying to know… Tang Yao, why’d you suddenly pivot to a genre like Chainsaw Man?”
“You can probably tell,” Tang Yao replied. “ANF’s pushing its manga section hard. That’s the main reason I drew Chainsaw Man.”
“I get that… but why the style shift?” Rumi pressed, curious. “And do you really think web manga serialization can take off?”
“The style shift… I guess because I’m confident in Chainsaw Man’s story,” Tang Yao explained. “As for whether web manga can take off…”
She smiled, tired of beating around the bush, and cut to the chase. “Want to find out with us?”
“Hm?” Rumi froze, pointing at herself, incredulous. “You’re inviting me… to your platform?”
No way.
That confident?
“Of course not,” Tang Yao shook her head gently. “I’m asking if you’d like to collaborate with our game. We’re planning an FGO collab card pool soon…”
Rumi caught on. “With my work?”
“Yup, your Nightfall. The main characters would appear. If possible, we’d love for you to write the collab story.”
“This…” Rumi hadn’t expected Tang Yao to reveal her goal so fast, before answering her questions. She hesitated, tactful. “If it’s just designing cards, I can decide. But for copyright issues, I can’t call the shots. That’s up to the magazine’s higher-ups and my editor.”
“Your work’s licensed to other game companies?” Tang Yao asked.
“Yup…” Rumi nodded.
“Got it… But why ask your editor too, if it’s the higher-ups?”
“Because my editor’s my mom… and she’s a higher-up at StarChase.”
StarChase—the publisher behind the top manga magazine YOUNG Comic.
“…” Tang Yao blinked. Talk about a family business… She straightened, serious. “You think your higher-ups won’t agree?”
“Hard to say,” Rumi said, hesitating, recalling her editor—her mother—urging her to invite Tang Yao to serialize in YOUNG Comic. When Tang Yao declined, her mother had harsh words.
Called her ungrateful, wasting a golden opportunity, squandering Fate/Zero.
Claimed she could’ve pushed Fate/Zero to five million copies, if not ten.
Said she’d bet this “third-rate artist” would regret it, realizing her hard work and laughable principles meant nothing with no income, crawling back to beg for serialization…
In the end?
This “third-rate artist” behind Fate/Zero didn’t beg—she made bank.
…Five million copies?
Did that match a month of FGO’s revenue?
After FGO’s success, Rumi didn’t dare ask her mother’s thoughts.
It’d be too awkward.
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Li Xue (黎雪), Guan Qian (关倩). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Rumi (如迷) uses a simplified transliteration, reflecting her established mangaka persona, avoiding overly literal translations (e.g., “Like Mystery”).
Manga titles (Chainsaw Man for 电锯人, Fate/Zero, Human Head Balloon for 人头气球, Nightfall for 入夜), studio names (Avalon Studio for 理想乡, Wenxin Pavilion for 文心馆, StarChase for 逐星社), and magazines (YOUNG Comic) use context-appropriate English equivalents.
Terms like “铝铜” (yuri, lit. “aluminum-copper”) are translated directly as “yuri” to preserve the playful slang context.
Cultural Nuances:
Manga Industry: The tension between web and print serialization, and StarChase’s clout, mirror China’s manga market dynamics, translated with universal industry stakes (e.g., “track record” for 底蕴).
Anime Culture: FGO’s dominance and ANF’s push reflect China’s anime boom, rendered with relatable fan and industry hype (e.g., “stirring up the anime world”).
Interpersonal Dynamics: Tang Yao and Li Xue’s playful banter, and Rumi’s shock, add humor and warmth, translated with natural, lively dialogue.
Technical Terms:
Manga Industry: “网络连载” (web serialization), “单行本” (tankobon), “版税” (royalties), “漫画家” (mangaka), and “版权问题” (copyright issues) align with creative markets.
Game Terms: “联动卡池” (collaboration card pool), “联动剧情” (collab story) reflect FGO’s gacha mechanics.
Platform Terms: “漫画版块” (manga section), “编辑” (editor), and “高层” (higher-ups) fit digital and publishing contexts.
Adjustments:
Narrative Clarity: The collab proposal and Rumi’s hesitation are explained vividly, balancing accessibility for non-industry readers and depth for enthusiasts.
Emotional Tone: Tang Yao’s teasing, Li Xue’s flustered reactions, and Rumi’s awkwardness are tuned for natural English flow, preserving emotional stakes.
Dialogue Flow: The trio’s banter, workplace antics, and coffee shop gaffes add humor and relatability, grounding industry plot points.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Playfulness: Her cheeky confidence shines, rendered with lively charm.
Li Xue’s Loyalty: Her protective streak and fangirl roots are translated with warm competence.
Rumi’s Shock: Her missteps and industry perspective add depth, translated with nuanced humor.
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.
Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.
0 comments:
Posting Komentar