Chapter 191: Sentimental Miss Li
Date: 2025-04-13
Author: Xian Ge
Tang Yao was puzzled.
Li Xue’s question caught her off guard.
She’d expected her to ask about the story’s continuation or its setting, given the abrupt ending.
But Li Xue asked if she’d slipped in personal feelings.
That question…
“Of course not,” Tang Yao said, indignant. “I’ve got standards.”
“Really?” Li Xue’s arms, looped around Tang Yao’s neck, tightened slightly, as if nervous.
“Obviously,” Tang Yao replied.
“…” Li Xue lowered her voice. “Then why did the husband, who begged his entire clan to summon the heroine’s echo, abandon her as time passed?”
“…?” Tang Yao blinked, bemused.
Seriously?
For that?
Tang Yao couldn’t help but laugh, realizing for the first time the gap between her and this older sister’s thought patterns.
Even though they were both women, with identical bodies, Tang Yao would never think so sentimentally.
She’d only think: the husband clung to his fiancée’s echo for a decade without forgetting—rationally, that’s impressive.
It wasn’t a living person, after all.
But Miss Li clearly didn’t see it that way.
Indeed, even after settling into this identity, some core traits couldn’t be changed.
That said, Tang Yao wouldn’t tease Li Xue.
Right now, her big sister needed comfort.
So, she raised her hands, gently cupping Li Xue’s smooth, fair cheeks.
Li Xue followed the motion, lifting her pale chin slightly, meeting Tang Yao’s gaze.
“It’s just a story,” Tang Yao said, looking into her slightly red eyes, her thumb brushing the corner of her eye. She tilted her head. “Are you scared you’ll be forgotten someday?”
“…” Li Xue flushed, her gaze darting away.
“Relax,” Tang Yao said, seeing she’d guessed right, kneading her soft cheeks with a chuckle. “You’re flesh and blood. Who’d forget someone with a figure like yours and such a great personality? Even if others did, I wouldn’t. Though… compared to whoever you fall for later, my promise as a friend might not mean much. But remember, promises? They’re flaky. Some guys keep their word, sure, but most? Just nod and move on. Trust me, I know.”
“You know?” Li Xue felt the gentle fingers brushing her eye, blinking, her long lashes fluttering, strikingly beautiful.
Tang Yao froze, then clarified, “Uh… I don’t mean I’ve heard tons of promises. I mean I’ve seen it all.”
“Seen it all, huh?” Li Xue shot her a look, then pursed her glossy lips, testing. “You look like you’ve never even dated…”
“And you?” Tang Yao glared back. “Have you? How many times?”
“Never…” Li Xue admitted.
“Then why call me out? We’re both hopeless romantics,” Tang Yao said, rolling her eyes, but her hands kept moving. Li Xue’s cheeks were so soft, so perfect—gorgeous, great personality, and still single? Unbelievable.
Come to think of it, back at Wenxin Studio, when they first met, Li Xue would gripe about colleagues’ clumsy pickup lines.
But at some point, she stopped mentioning suitors in front of Tang Yao.
Like no one chased her anymore.
But… really? No one?
The thought soured Tang Yao’s mood, for reasons she couldn’t pinpoint.
It just bugged her.
So, she kneaded Li Xue’s cheeks a bit harder, adding, “And getting so invested in a manga? You’re more embarrassing than me.”
Li Xue, shy, defended herself. “I wasn’t invested. I was just curious.”
“Excuses…” Tang Yao caught the dodge, giving her another look, but shifted topics, still holding her face. “Did you put on makeup? Don’t let tears ruin it.”
“I did… but I didn’t cry,” Li Xue protested. “My eyes just got red…”
Tang Yao studied her close, flawless face, curious. “Really? I can’t tell.”
“Just light makeup… And didn’t you mention my lipstick smudging last time? You knew I wore it, so how can’t you tell?” Li Xue said, as if proving a point. Sitting in one position too long was uncomfortable, so she shifted closer into Tang Yao’s lap, leaning forward.
Their fair faces drew near, warm breaths mingling.
Tang Yao was still holding her cheeks.
It looked like they might kiss.
“…” Tang Yao froze, her hands pausing… unable to knead anymore.
Li Xue had pressed closer.
Tang Yao’s arms bent, trapped between their bodies.
Li Xue, oblivious, said, “See?”
“…” Tang Yao stared at her suddenly near face, her glossy lips shimmering temptingly. A flush spread across her delicate features.
So close…
Li Xue noticed Tang Yao’s expression, paused, then realized their overly intimate position.
Her ears reddened, but instead of pulling back, she leaned closer.
Like she was determined to prove something.
Oh.
So close.
Why so close?
They were about to kiss.
Tang Yao, holding Li Xue’s face, saw her move, body tensing, cheeks burning, wanting to glare.
But Li Xue leaned even closer, lips parting slightly, white teeth peeking, eyes shimmering. “The lipstick mark should be obvious, right?”
“…” Too much.
Something in Tang Yao snapped. She closed her eyes, leaned forward, and her soft pink lips brushed Li Xue’s red ones.
A fleeting touch.
She pulled back instantly, regretting it, scrambling. “Okay, I saw, I saw. Get up, you’re heavy.”
“…” Li Xue froze, stunned, until Tang Yao spoke.
She jolted off Tang Yao’s lap, her face flushing.
She hadn’t expected…
“…”
“…”
One sat, one stood, silence crashing over them.
Tang Yao’s face burned, eyes darting away.
Li Xue fidgeted with her hair, looking everywhere else.
“I was just… testing the smudging thing again,” Tang Yao said after a while, feigning her usual boldness, but her flushed face and stammer betrayed her. It sounded like a flimsy excuse. “Don’t mind it. We’ve shared a cup forever…”
Li Xue stopped glancing around, equally red. “Yeah, I know…”
Tang Yao didn’t relax, stammering on. “Good. Then go get busy. Since Rumi’s mom greenlit the promo, release FGO’s crossover trailer. We can’t let Oracle of the Night’s team keep stepping on us. We’ll hit back. Also… check The Long Farewell’s feedback.”
“Right, I’ll go now,” Li Xue nodded, turning to leave.
She seemed to forget it was lunch break, with staff out eating.
Clearly, both were flustered.
Tang Yao’s face felt hot, relief starting as Li Xue turned.
But halfway, Li Xue paused, remembering something, and turned back.
Shyly, she approached Tang Yao and extended a hand.
Tang Yao blinked but instinctively raised her hand, placing it in Li Xue’s palm.
“…” Li Xue pulled gently, yanking Tang Yao from the chair, then hugged her as she stumbled up, lifting her slightly by her hips.
Tang Yao’s feet left the ground, pressed against Li Xue, her blush deepening.
Their curves pressed close.
Both tensed…
“I don’t mind,” Li Xue said, setting Tang Yao down, then fleeing.
Tang Yao watched her go, then stiffly turned, slumping back into her chair, burying her face in her arms, only her shy eyes peeking out.
One thought consumed her—
I’m doomed…
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 192: Venting
Date: 2025-04-14
Author: Xian Ge
Tang Yao was sure she’d lost her mind.
What was she doing?
No clue!
Why’d she kiss her?
Idiot! Moron! Acting without thinking!
Slumped on the desk, face buried in her arms, she didn’t move, hit hard by her own actions.
She wasn’t worried about being taken advantage of.
Her real fear was her orientation being exposed, driving a wedge between her and Li Xue. A rare friend…
But that wasn’t even the worst.
She knew Li Xue’s personality. Even if Tang Yao openly shared her orientation, Li Xue likely wouldn’t judge—maybe tease her a bit, tops.
The problem was the kiss.
Her orientation was her issue, but dragging someone else into it?
Li Xue, in her prime, getting emotional over manga romance—how could Tang Yao come clean now? Li Xue might just tease if told outright, but this bold move? Wouldn’t she think her friend had feelings for her?
What was she supposed to do?
With Li Xue’s personality, how should she react to a close friend’s sudden advance?
Wasn’t this putting her in a tough spot?
Go all in and sway her?
That selfish disregard… Tang Yao would despise herself.
So, she shouldn’t have done it. It only made things awkward, with no upside.
Then why did she?
“…” Tang Yao’s flushed face rubbed her arms, thinking it was probably… her core nature, hard to change.
With Li Xue, she’d been learning to navigate same-sex friendships.
She thought she acted normal, not dwelling on weird thoughts.
Adapting to her new identity, she’d been gauging boundaries, usually staying within them. Sharing a cup? Fine.
Occasional hugs with Li Xue? Normal. Close friends wouldn’t overthink it.
But that move? No convincing anyone—or herself.
So…
Ugh…
Doomed.
No idea what to do next.
This mess left them both awkward.
And Li Xue’s hug… what did it mean?
That “I don’t mind”—was it saying friends could brush it off?
Ugh…
No clue.
Should’ve just kissed Tang Xun—sisters would’ve been easier to explain…
At the same time, Li Xue, who’d said she was off to work, reached the restroom.
She paced to an empty stall, shut the door, lowered the toilet lid, and sat, scooting back, propping her shapely legs up, revealing delicate, pale ankles.
Clang.
Someone left the next stall.
Li Xue froze, cheeks reddening, glancing over like she’d been caught.
But realizing the partition blocked her, she relaxed.
As footsteps faded, she curled her legs up, hugging them.
Then, silence.
Li Xue buried her face between her knees, ears blazing red.
What was she doing?
No idea!
Idiot! Moron! Acting without thinking!
Why go back and hug Tang Yao?
What if Tang Yao hadn’t meant anything by it? Maybe she was just joking, testing the lipstick’s waterproof claim from their earlier chat, after Li Xue sat on her lap and leaned in.
Anyone would think it was playful.
Tang Yao didn’t shy from physical contact and told her to get up right after.
But Li Xue went back, hugged her—hard—lifted her, said “I don’t mind.”
Talk about protesting too much!
Would she notice? Would she hate it?
If she did, what was she supposed to do?
Ugh—
No clue how to face Tang Yao now.
“…” Li Xue hugged her legs tighter, biting her glossy lip, letting out a frustrated whimper, restless.
After a while, she muttered, “Idiot. Saying ‘I don’t mind.’ If you’re so brave, kiss her back…”
Tang Yao and Li Xue were Avalon’s most eye-catching duo.
Both held key roles, sat together, and were swarmed by staff daily.
So, when staff returned from lunch, they noticed… the once-close boss and investor’s vibe had turned oddly delicate.
Hard to pinpoint.
They still smiled and talked, but content and support staff sensed a shift—not as seamless as before.
Tang Yao and Li Xue seemed cautious, subtly keeping distance, like they feared something.
An awkward tension radiated, twisting the faces of staff approaching them.
In private, they lamented that true bonds didn’t exist in business!
The tight-knit investor and leader were fighting!
Yes, they assumed it was a work dispute.
It was the most plausible guess.
Over what? Company direction, shares, profits—plenty to clash on.
No one guessed they were just worried about burdening each other, driven by anxiety to keep distance.
As long as people live in society, they’re bound by layers of shackles. Some can’t even tell parents they don’t want to marry, as starting a family is a societal expectation, a mechanism of social conditioning—an objective constraint.
Some break free; not everyone can.
Especially not Tang Yao and Li Xue.
They couldn’t know each other’s thoughts.
Both, sensitive, didn’t want to pressure the other.
“Tang Yao… FGO’s crossover trailer and page are ready. Should we release them?” Li Xue asked, busy all afternoon.
Neither mentioned the earlier incident.
Near dusk, Li Xue looked up at Tang Yao, striving for her usual tone.
But, overly focused on sounding normal, her voice came off odd.
Tang Yao didn’t seem to notice, smiling. “Send them to me. I’ll check and upload.”
“Okay,” Li Xue nodded, standing. “I’ll have them sent now.”
She left, as decisive as ever.
“…” Tang Yao blinked, lashes trembling as her gaze dropped.
She knew the trailer was ready—Li Xue had likely seen it. Why have it sent?
But she quickly looked up, slapping her cheeks lightly.
What was she thinking?
Li Xue might have other tasks.
Yeah, she probably wasn’t avoiding her over noon…
The thought stalled, her shoulders slumping, mood sinking like a wilted eggplant.
Ugh…
Enough.
Tang Yao took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus, diving into work to numb the feeling.
Work…
She glared at her screen, at Oracle of the Night leeching FGO’s buzz, teeth clenched, radiating fury.
Riding our hype, huh?
You’re done!
Thinking this, she reached for Li Xue’s cup for a sip.
But as her fingers grazed it, she froze, recalling something, and slowly pulled back.
Never mind.
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Li Xue (黎雪), Rumi (如迷), Tang Xun (唐薰). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Titles (Chainsaw Man for 电锯人, FGO for Fate/Grand Order, Oracle of the Night for 暗夜之谕, The Long Farewell for 漫长的告别) use established or contextually fitting English equivalents.
“Third-Rate Sensei” (三流老师) reflects fandom’s playful nickname.
Cultural Nuances:
Friendship Dynamics: Tang Yao and Li Xue’s intimate yet awkward interaction reflects Chinese workplace friendships, translated with playful warmth and emotional depth (e.g., “bestie vibes” for 闺中密友).
Social Pressures: The mention of societal “shackles” (枷锁) and expectations like marriage taps into Chinese cultural norms, rendered with universal resonance (e.g., “social conditioning” for 社会规训机制).
Emotional Sensitivity: Li Xue’s sentimental reaction to The Long Farewell and Tang Yao’s internal conflict over her actions reflect Chinese emotional expressiveness, translated with nuanced vulnerability.
Technical Terms:
Manga Terms: “设定” (setting), “私货” (personal feelings), and “反馈” (feedback) fit manga workflows.
Gaming Terms: “联动宣传片” (crossover trailer), “蹭热度” (leeching hype), and “宣传页” (promo page) align with gaming ecosystems.
Storytelling Terms: “残像” (echo) and “感性” (sentimental) reflect The Long Farewell’s narrative themes.
Adjustments:
Narrative Clarity: The Tang Yao-Li Xue awkwardness, FGO’s promo escalation, and The Long Farewell’s impact are detailed vividly, balancing personal drama, workplace tension, and industry stakes.
Emotional Tone: Tang Yao’s regret, Li Xue’s flustered courage, and their mutual caution are tuned for natural English flow, preserving emotional complexity.
Dialogue Flow: Playful banter, internal monologues, and workplace exchanges add energy, grounding personal and professional plot points in character moments.
Character Dynamics:
Tang Yao’s Conflict: Her impulsive kiss and subsequent guilt are translated with raw, relatable turmoil.
Li Xue’s Boldness: Her emotional vulnerability and bold hug are rendered with endearing bravery.
Staff’s Misunderstanding: Their assumption of a work dispute adds humor, translated with subtle irony.
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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