Chapter 171: Wanna Take a Bath Together?
Date: 2025-03-31
Author: Xian Ge
Li Xue watched Tang Yao dash toward the door, brimming with youthful energy, like a sixteen-year-old girl.
She couldn’t help but laugh and sigh.
So childish!
Teasing me like that? Just wait for my revenge tomorrow!
Li Xue looked away, pursing her glossy lips, indulging in her own playful thoughts. She glanced at the draft in her hand, shaking her head lightly.
Though swamped, she’d always doubled as Tang Yao’s editor.
Well, “editor” was a stretch. Tang Yao barely needed her. Early on, Li Xue helped with panel layouts, but as her workload grew, Tang Yao took over, handling layouts and AORI herself. Having been an editor before, it was no big deal for her.
So, Li Xue was less an editor and more a first reader, a sort of content gatekeeper.
But as a women’s manga editor, her feedback was limited. Her only real note? Urging Tang Yao to ease up on… the boob obsession.
Tang Yao explained that the protagonist was an unconventional, contradictory figure with a strong anti-hero streak. The story’s narrative was anti-heroic too. Denji had no grand ambitions, driven only by animalistic instincts. That was normal.
That was the real Denji.
He didn’t believe in saving the world or making morally correct choices. His motives were selfish, not altruistic, fueled by desire and impulse.
If you stripped away food, shelter, and lust—especially lust—Denji wouldn’t be complete.
It’d mess up the later plot.
Plus, Tang Yao said readers were tired of formulaic hero archetypes. A flawed, even crude protagonist, after some initial shock, would grow on them.
In today’s world, classic hero adventures were struggling. Readers were bored. It was time for a bold new breakthrough!
When Tang Yao stood tall, declaring this with conviction, Li Xue was skeptical.
But the manga’s success proved Tang Yao right. A unique hero, absurd yet dramatic plot, vivid high-stakes scenes, and Denji’s unapologetic desires became reader magnets.
Li Xue couldn’t wrap her head around shonen manga anymore… She was floored.
She admired Tang Yao’s sharp instincts and talent even more.
But…
Li Xue eyed the draft. A key character, introduced in Chapter 1, just died?
Makima’s story hadn’t even unfolded, and she was gone?
What was Tang Yao planning next?
Li Xue was curious, sensing even wilder twists ahead…
Also…
Her gaze drifted from the draft to her own ample chest, her cheeks flushing.
Is she that obsessed?
As a seasoned editor, Li Xue knew authors’ preferences and thoughts inevitably seeped into their work—some more, some less, intentional or not.
No author was exempt.
Tang Yao couldn’t be either.
Clearly, Li Xue misunderstood something.
Her premise and reasoning were off, but the conclusion? Spot-on…
Meanwhile, Tang Yao had no clue what Li Xue was thinking.
Recalling Li Xue’s flustered expression, she chuckled, strolling toward her apartment with a light step.
Yup, she’d done it on purpose. Staying high-strung wasn’t good for her or Li Xue, and she didn’t want their relationship to be just work talk.
So, she teased Li Xue now and then.
Tomorrow, Li Xue would probably get her back… but that was tomorrow’s problem.
Worst case, she’d spill some Chainsaw Man plot details to smooth things over.
The real turning point for Chainsaw Man was this chapter—Makima’s “death” by gunfire.
After this, with the Special Division squad ambushed, the manga kicked off its death spiral.
As the plot surged forward, countless beloved characters would fall, driven by the story’s momentum.
Even the new faces from the last arc, who seemed like main cast members, weren’t safe.
If early Chainsaw Man blended hot-blooded action, humor, gore, and fanservice, from this chapter, it added a cruel edge.
This chapter marked the start of a breakneck pace—tight rhythm, stellar character work, and intense plot shocks delivering a gripping read. Action and visuals were top-notch.
Next came the widely praised Reze arc.
Then, the story went off the rails like a rabid dog, churning out iconic moments.
“Good job!” “I’m scared!” “The corpse is talking!” “I’m starting to get it!” “Halloween, Halloween, Halloween…”
And scenes like the Darkness Devil’s debut, the snowball fight, onion-flavored Makima…
From this chapter, the manga truly hit its stride.
Tang Yao deliberately paced it, saving these arcs for after the New Year. It was the holidays—she wasn’t about to work overtime.
Plus, with FGO’s collab card pool still in progress, letting Chainsaw Man’s buzz explode now wasn’t ideal. The current hype was perfect—enough to whet appetites, timed with the collab.
Next year, Chainsaw Man’s plot would climb to its peak.
FGO’s collab card pool would launch.
The second game would drop.
With these three prongs and savvy marketing, Tang Yao was confident ANF would soar. She’d rake in the anime game cash!
If Avalon didn’t blow up next year, it’d be a crime.
Lost in thought, Tang Yao realized she’d reached her doorstep, her mood lifting.
Living close was the best.
She opened the door.
The cozy apartment, revamped by Kaoru, felt even warmer. Sunset streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft glow on the wood floor. The city skyline gleamed in the evening light.
With ample space, Kaoru had added more plants to the living room, giving it a homely vibe.
Right now, the girl was crouched by a potted plant, hands on her knees, hips slightly raised, stretching her pale neck as if inspecting something.
She didn’t notice the door until it opened.
Snapping out of it, Kaoru stood, turning to her sister.
“Kaoru? What’re you doing?” Tang Yao asked, slipping off her shoes.
“Nothing…”
Kaoru replied, walking to the sofa and sitting.
Soon, Tang Yao, shoes changed, joined her. Loosening her ponytail, she glanced at the plant Kaoru had been studying. “So, something weird about that plant?”
“…”
Kaoru lifted her snowy chin, silently studying her sister. Her flawless face was striking, long hair cascading like water over her shoulders. Just sitting there, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Kaoru couldn’t fathom how her stunning sister drew such a bizarre manga.
She’d been lost in that thought earlier.
Yes, Kaoru had read Chainsaw Man too.
And it left her questioning reality.
“Hm?”
Tang Yao, getting no reply, turned, blinking.
Kaoru met her sister’s peach-blossom eyes, hesitated, then asked softly, “…Wanna take a bath together?”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 172: Bolting Upright from a Near-Death State
Date: 2025-03-31
Author: Xian Ge
“…?”
Tang Yao stared at her sister, a question mark practically forming above her head. “Why would I take a bath with you?”
Hold on.
Why bring this up out of nowhere?
Was this normal?
Not that it was impossible… She wasn’t as shy as she’d been initially, but acting totally cool with it? That’d be a lie.
It meant being completely bare…
“…”
Kaoru, hearing her sister, fell silent again, then said, “Don’t you care a lot about other people’s…?”
“Care about what?”
Tang Yao was still clueless.
What was up with her sister today?
“…”
Kaoru’s gaze drifted downward, settling on Tang Yao’s chest, subtly rising and falling with each breath, perfectly accentuating her graceful figure.
Noticing, Tang Yao looked down, then got it. “Oh… I do care about that. It’s a hassle—leaning forward when sitting, uncomfortable sleeping on my stomach, and maybe it’s psychological, but my shoulders ache after sitting too long…”
She rambled a bit, then shifted gears. “But how does bathing together fix that? And you said ‘other people,’ right? Who’s that?”
“…”
Kaoru didn’t know how to respond.
She seemed a bit shy.
She couldn’t just ask if her sister was fixated on other people’s chests, could she?
So, she pushed, “Just say if you want to…”
“Nope.”
Tang Yao shot her sister a look, brushing it off, and flopped onto the sofa. Leaning against the backrest, she tilted, soon lying sideways on Kaoru’s soft thighs.
Kaoru didn’t pull away, just looked at her sister oddly.
…She doesn’t seem like it?
Then why was Chainsaw Man’s hero so obsessed?
Gazing at her sister on her lap, Kaoru frowned in thought.
It couldn’t be her sister’s own obsession, right?
Though it was attention-grabbing…
But her sister wasn’t that vain.
“…Tell me first, why’d you bring this up?” Tang Yao asked, amused by Kaoru’s pensive look. “Spill, and I might say yes.”
“…You posted a manga, right? Third-Rate Sensei’s account.”
Kaoru hesitated a long time before speaking.
“Yeah.”
“That protagonist’s super crude… I don’t get why you’d write him like that, but I heard stories—books, movies—are reflections of the creator’s inner world…”
“There’s some truth to that. As long as the creator’s human, their thoughts inevitably creep into the work…” Tang Yao nodded, starting to explain.
Halfway through, it hit her.
Wait!
The crude protagonist!
In this world, she was Chainsaw Man’s author…
And her sister suddenly wanted to bathe together…
!!!
No way!
Tang Yao bolted upright, as if jolted from death’s door, staring at Kaoru, her pretty face flaming red. “I didn’t!!”
She finally got what her sister meant.
“…”
Kaoru, seeing her sister’s reaction, looked skeptical. “Really?”
“Of course!” Tang Yao protested. “I just created the character! His thoughts aren’t mine!”
“But you just said every creator puts their thoughts in their work…”
“…”
She had a point.
Even authors writing themselves might feel they’d slipped in some personal baggage, right?
Tang Yao froze, blush spreading from her fair cheeks to her ear tips.
She grabbed Kaoru’s face. “I swear I didn’t!”
No way.
A plagiarist like her, punished like this?
What torture!
She should’ve never drawn it!
Seeing her sister’s panic, Kaoru seemed to confirm something. Gently tugging Tang Yao’s shirt at her waist, she whispered, “Don’t think weird stuff outside. If you must, do it at home. It’s just me here…”
“I didn’t project my thoughts into the story! It’s just the character’s needs!” Tang Yao pleaded, at a loss. “You’ll get it when you read more!”
“Then… bath together?”
Kaoru, still doubtful, asked again.
“…”
Tang Yao eyed her sister, catching her clumsy probing, laced with subtle concern.
She knew if she refused again, it’d cement some “fact”…
Resigned, Tang Yao muttered, “We’ll see on New Year’s…”
Kaoru opened her mouth to say more.
“I’m bathing first.” Tang Yao stood, escaping.
Kaoru watched her sister’s back, thoughtful.
In her room, Tang Yao grabbed clothes, slowly calming down.
It was embarrassing, but it was a wake-up call.
She realized something critical—
No way—no way—could anyone find out she was Third-Rate Sensei.
It’d be social death!
If it was this mortifying with her sister, imagine others.
Like Li Xue…
Wait.
Tang Yao paused, mid-grab, a thought striking.
Li Xue… she wouldn’t think the same, would she?
They were together all the time.
She couldn’t think Tang Yao was…
“…”
Tang Yao didn’t finish the thought, just clutched her clothes, cheeks reddening again.
She wouldn’t… be that naive, right?
The next day, Tang Yao arrived at Avalon, sat down, and glanced at Li Xue’s empty spot. Recalling yesterday’s fears, she chuckled.
After a night’s sleep, she was calm.
Kaoru was one thing, but Li Xue? She wouldn’t think that.
She was a mature, reliable woman…
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the woman appeared.
Li Xue, fresh from ANF downstairs, held a stack of papers. Spotting Tang Yao, she hurried over. “Tang Yao, you ran yesterday, huh!?”
“Miss Li, hold that thought,” Tang Yao said, dodging her revenge. She nodded at the papers. “What’s that?”
“…ANF’s plans.”
Li Xue, seeing Tang Yao pivot to work, relented. “Wanna look?”
“Sure.”
Tang Yao took the stack, flipping through. She looked up. “Rin Tohsaka’s account update?”
“Yup. Cai Quan says the account hasn’t posted since the last promo, and its follower count’s dropping. It’s ANF’s biggest account—leaving it idle’s a waste. Plus, we might need it to promote the second game, right?” Li Xue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, serious. “So, he’s thinking of a year-end video to keep the buzz, tease the new game, talk Chainsaw Man, that sort of thing. I think it’s fine…”
“Hm.”
Tang Yao nodded, thinking it over. “Sounds good, but… wouldn’t a livestream work better?”
Li Xue blinked. “…Livestream?”
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Li Xue (黎雪), Tang Kaoru (唐薰), Cai Quan (蔡全). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Character names (Denji for 电次, Makima for 玛奇玛, Reze for 塞蕾) and titles (Chainsaw Man for 电锯人, FGO for Fate/Grand Order) use established English equivalents.
“Third-Rate Sensei” (三流老师) is kept as a nickname, reflecting fandom’s playful tone.
“Rin Tohsaka” (远坂凛) uses the established Fate character name.
“AORI” refers to manga cover blurbs, kept as is for industry context.
Cultural Nuances:
Manga Culture: Chainsaw Man’s anti-hero narrative and fan reactions reflect China’s evolving manga fandom, translated with universal reader dynamics (e.g., “social death” for 社死).
Sibling Dynamics: Tang Yao and Kaoru’s playful yet awkward exchange mirrors Chinese familial closeness, rendered with relatable sibling teasing.
Workplace Banter: Tang Yao and Li Xue’s teasing reflects China’s professional camaraderie, translated with lighthearted warmth.
Technical Terms:
Manga Terms: “分镜指定” (panel layouts), “原稿” (draft), “反英雄” (anti-hero), “叙事” (narrative), “动作场面” (action scenes), and “视觉表现” (visuals) align with manga contexts.
Industry Terms: “联动卡池” (collab card pool), “宣发” (promotion), “联运二游” (anime game co-publishing), and “粉丝数” (follower count) fit digital platforms.
Character Terms: “动物性本能” (animalistic instincts), “欲望” (desires), and “角色塑造” (character development) reflect narrative analysis.
Adjustments:
Narrative Clarity: Chainsaw Man’s escalating stakes and Tang Yao’s strategic pacing are detailed vividly, balancing accessibility for casual readers and depth for manga fans.
Emotional Tone: Tang Yao’s embarrassment, Kaoru’s concern, and Li Xue’s mock indignation are tuned for natural English flow, preserving emotional stakes.
Dialogue Flow: The sibling banter, Tang Yao’s flustered denials, and workplace exchanges add humor and relatability, grounding industry plot points in character moments.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Wit: Her teasing of Li Xue and flustered reaction to Kaoru reflect her playful confidence, translated with lively charm.
Kaoru’s Curiosity: Her probing and subtle care for Tang Yao are rendered with shy sincerity.
Li Xue’s Reliability: Her editorial role and playful revenge are translated with warm professionalism.
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