“Mm…”
Upon hearing Li Xue’s words, Tang Yao didn’t let go. Instead, she gave her soft cheeks a gentle, deliberate squeeze.
Li Xue didn’t resist either. As for Rumi, she was already out of sight and out of mind… She just looked at the clearly annoyed Tang Yao in front of her, heart beating faster than usual.
But... it probably wasn’t for that reason, right?
Just as that thought crossed her mind—
Tang Yao suddenly released her face, as if it had all been a prank. She chuckled and said, “Well... It’s normal to have a favorite mangaka. You were an editor, after all. I have mine too... but don’t you dare jump ship. You’re a shareholder and manager at Avalon now, don’t let your idol crush turn you into easy prey.”
“Like hell I would.”
Li Xue glared at the smile on Tang Yao’s face and shot back, “The reason I’m looking forward to eting Rumi is because I basically grew up listening to stories about her during my editor career. Bottom line, it’s just admiration from one professional to another. I’d have to be nuts to favor her.
If she dares to take
for a fool, forget admiration—I’ll just stand up and leave. I won’t even pay the bill…”
Tang Yao’s smile brightened noticeably. Tilting her head, she teased, “So your revenge stops at not paying?”
“What else do you want
to do? Throw hands with her? That’s a bit much…”
Li Xue raised her pale hand, glanced down at it, and gently made a fist. She didn’t look confident… but still added quietly, “Unless she lays a hand on you.”
Though her voice was soft, it sounded like she added that line just to make a point.
“Let’s not go that far.”
Tang Yao looked at Li Xue’s slender arms and legs, blinked playfully, and couldn’t help but laugh. “We’re just having a chat. Why are we suddenly talking about throwing punches?”
“Because you’re the one who said sothing weird first.”
Li Xue rolled her eyes at her. “So tell —why’d you suddenly say you’re a mangaka too?”
Tang Yao replied casually, “Just wanted you to know.”
“I do know… I’ve always known.”
Li Xue said matter-of-factly, “The mont you gave
The Hanging Balloons manuscript, I knew… But Rumi, in my eyes, is just a talented mangaka. You, on the other hand—your main identity in my mind isn’t that.”
“Then what is it?”
Tang Yao was genuinely curious.
“……”
Li Xue looked into Tang Yao’s beautiful peach blossom eyes. After a mont of hesitation, she said slowly, “A great mangaka.”
“???”
Tang Yao’s face instantly flushed bright red. Her chest lifted from the chair as she lunged at Li Xue, reaching out to pinch her. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you!?”
“Haha…”
Li Xue wrapped her arms around Tang Yao’s slender waist, laughing uncontrollably.
But soon—
They noticed several staff mbers looking their way, so the two quickly toned it down and lowered their voices.
Still, even then—
So staff couldn’t take their eyes off the scene of the adorable, charming manager snuggled up with the boss.
Ahem.
Tang Yao could only clear her throat awkwardly and give them a warning glare.
Only then did they reluctantly look away.
Li Xue, slightly embarrassed, reached out to straighten Tang Yao’s collar.
“This is all your fault…”
Tang Yao turned back and shot another glare at her.
“……”
Li Xue mimicked Tang Yao’s earlier posture, sitting up straight and retorting confidently, “I was just being honest!”
“If you’re going to copy , then do the whole thing.”
Tang Yao rolled her eyes at her, then stretched her pale neck to check her surroundings. “Can’t let you be the only one making fun of … right?”
Li Xue blushed slightly, but still lifted her hand and gave her own full chest a gentle pat. “I was just being honest!”
“……”
Tang Yao looked at her, finally realizing what she herself had done earlier, and couldn’t help but laugh. “That was dumb…”
Li Xue quickly dropped her hand. “Glad you noticed…”
“But,”
Tang Yao changed her tone and leaned in closer again, her lips near Li Xue’s ear as she whispered, “Doing sothing dumb together actually feels kinda nice… and very pleasant to look at, too.”
Li Xue’s face turned completely red, but this ti she didn’t bother hiding it. She just threw in the towel: “Yours too…”
Now it was Tang Yao’s turn to blush.
The two locked eyes, cheeks burning, then broke into laughter again.
Spending ti together like this—
The distance between them was shrinking fast.
All those doubts and hesitations might just disappear entirely… sooner or later.
The Next Day.
Tang Yao and Li Xue headed out together, on their way to the coffee shop where they’d t many tis before.
Maybe it was out of courtesy for the previously failed FGO collaboration—but Miss Rumi herself had insisted on letting Tang Yao choose the eting location.
So Tang Yao didn’t hold back and picked the closest spot—within walking distance.
Miss Rumi didn’t object. She actually seed happy about it.
So in the end, the coffee shop it was.
The eting ti was set for 2:00 PM.
Tang Yao and Li Xue left around 1:50.
On the way—
Tang Yao glanced at Li Xue. Today, she was still wearing light makeup, but her expression was calm—none of yesterday’s excitent remained.
“You’re not looking forward to it anymore?”
While waiting at a crosswalk, Tang Yao asked curiously.
“I already did yesterday.”
Li Xue shook her head. “The feeling passed. I was actually thinking—besides the collaboration, maybe we should also sort out the Fate/Zero volu release issue.”
“You an… Rumi’s publisher?”
“Yeah.”
Li Xue nodded. “I’ve been swamped lately, so the plan to publish Fate/Zero as collected volus had to be shelved. I was initially planning to work with Wenxin Press—it’s my old company, after all. But switching to YOUNG Comic wouldn’t be a bad idea either. It’s backed by the top-selling manga magazine in the country. The books might sell even better.”
“Honestly, the volus don’t matter much to
anymore.”
Tang Yao understood what Li Xue was thinking.
She also knew how important royalties from collected volus were to mangaka… they could account for up to 40% of a mangaka’s inco.
She had been tempted when Li Xue brought up the idea before.
But tis had changed—she wasn’t short on money anymore.
“That’s still your work.”
Li Xue shook her head, clearly of a different opinion. “And it benefits the ga too, doesn’t it? It’ll boost popularity—which is good for the ga, right?”
“You’ve got a point.”
Tang Yao thought for a mont and nodded in agreent. “We can bring it up later.”
As they chatted, the two stepped into the coffee shop.
It was quiet inside.
“Welco.” A staff mber walked over and greeted them.
Tang Yao was a little surprised.
This near-dead café could still afford to hire people?
Shocked but polite, she asked, “Excuse , is there a custor nad Guan Qian here?”
Guan Qian was Miss Rumi’s real na.
That’s what she had told Tang Yao—said it wasn’t appropriate to use her online na, and they should recognize each other by real nas.
“Miss Guan Qian?” The staffer smiled at Tang Yao, then pointed to a corner. “She’s right over there. Let
show you.”
Then he led the way.
She’s already here?
Tang Yao blinked in surprise, then followed behind.
As they got closer—
Tang Yao finally got a good look at the woman sitting in the corner.
And froze.
There, in the corner—
Sat an elegant young woman in a classy red dress. The simple yet sleek cut hugged her shapely figure perfectly—seductive, voluptuous, and absolutely stunning.
…Her figure was just unreal!
Pair that with her lazily tousled curls and those enchanting fox-like eyes—every move she made was full of sensual charm and allure.
Okay, it’s shallow to judge by looks…
But she really didn’t look like a mangaka!
That’s Rumi!?
On the other side—
Rumi looked up at the sound of the staffer’s voice and saw Tang Yao.
She scanned the girl from head to toe… that flawless, jade-like face, her fully developed figure—and was montarily stunned too.
This was the married Tang Yao? The one trying to invest in a ga and worried her original investor might get jealous???
No way.
She’s married??
Isn’t she underage!?
That’s gotta be illegal!
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