Starting as a Manga Chapter 175: She Died!?

“What did you just say!?”Kang Ming glared at his babbling sister, but he was still visibly thrilled. After all, for a fresh grad working only his second job to get such a massive year-end bonus—that was wild. “Why wouldn’t I deserve it? Sure, it is a lot, but—”

“A lot!? Do you even hear yourself right now!?”Kang Yu looked like she was constipated, glancing again at his phone screen. After confirming last month’s salary, she finally accepted that he wasn’t lying. “This is way too much! What kind of god-tier company is this…”

Kang Ming chuckled. “Didn’t you just say my company wasn’t legit?”

Kang Yu blurted out, “They’re giving this much—who cares if it’s legit!”

“Watch your mouth.”Their mother finally stepped in, giving her daughter a glare before turning to Kang Ming. She asked seriously, “This Avalon place you’re working at—is it really a proper, legit business?”

“It really is.”

“Then why are they giving you such a huge bonus?”

“Probably because… I’ve done a lot, and I was one of the earliest employees when the company first started.”Kang Ming thought about how Tang Yao had brought him onboard, and couldn’t help but smile a little. “And the boss is really great.”

“Then stick with it and work hard.”Hearing that, their mother finally relaxed. She looked at her son with warmth. “A-Ming’s really growing up—earning this much in under a year!”

“….”Kang Ming felt a bit awkward at the unexpected praise.But deep down, he was overjoyed.Really, really happy.

He hesitated for a second—he was just about to ask if they wanted anything, since he’d gotten such a big bonus.

But before he could open his mouth, his phone rang again.

This ti, it was a call.From Shi Wanglin.One of the two best friends Kang Ming had pulled into the company.

Kang Ming had a pretty good idea what this was about. He gestured for his mom and sister to wait a mont, then picked up.

The mont the call connected—A shout exploded through the speaker.

“Holy sh*t!!! Kang Ming!!! Did your year-end bonus co in yet?? Do I deserve this?? I’ve never seen that much money in my life! Are you sure it’s not a mistake??”

Clearly,Shi Wanglin was completely hyped. So hyped, in fact, that he was barely coherent.

And since he was yelling so loudly,Both Kang Yu and their mom heard it too.

Their expressions shifted again.

Huh? Shi Wanglin too?

“It ca in.”Since his family was right beside him, Kang Ming tried to stay calm. “Relax, you deserve it… You’ve been with us long enough. Don’t you know what kind of person Tang Yao is?”

“True… she’s amazing.”Hearing Tang Yao’s na seed to calm Shi Wanglin down a little, though he was still buzzing with excitent. “You know what? We were having lunch when the ssage popped up, and I almost jumped onto my chair! My dad scolded

on the spot.

But when he saw why I was so worked up, he looked like he wanted my mom to move the dishes aside so I could stand on the table and give a speech, hahaha!”

“Idiot.”Kang Ming couldn’t help but laugh.

“Thanks.”Suddenly,Shi Wanglin said this sincerely.

Kang Ming blinked. “What for?”

“For inviting us back then.”Shi Wanglin was a bit emotional. “If you hadn’t pulled us in, maybe we’d still be wasting ti sowhere else. It’s a good thing that even though we had doubts at first, we stuck with it.”

“No need.”Kang Ming also got a little nostalgic thinking back. “I just got lucky. I only wanted to try becoming an editor and sohow ended up eting Tang Yao… Honestly, even now, it still feels like a dream.”

He rembered sitting across from Tang Yao in that initial interview, watching her question her life choices.All he could think at the ti was—this girl is stunning.

Who would’ve thought?Not only was she gorgeous, but she was brilliant too. In just over half a year, she’d transford from a manga magazine editor into the founder of the most buzzworthy ga company in the industry.

And with her, their lives had changed too.

If he hadn’t t her…Kang Ming didn’t want to finish that thought. The “what if” was far too easy to imagine.

He didn’t have Tang Yao’s kind of courage…Maybe this is what people an when they talk about having soone who changes your life.

Shi Wanglin laughed at his words. “Yeah. So how about we tinker with that face capture tool and snap out of it a bit?”

“You got an idea?”

“Actually, yeah…”

“….”They both got caught up in the mont, excitedly chatting about work for a bit before finally ending the call.

Kang Ming put his phone down and turned back to his mom and sister. Just as he was about to speak—

Kang Yu jumped in first. “So Shi Wanglin’s in it with you!? He got that much too?”

“Yeah, and Sun Gong as well. I didn’t ask their exact amounts, but probably about the sa.”

“Then your company… still hiring?”Kang Yu, of course, knew her brother’s two best friends. The mont she heard that, she leaned in with eyes full of hope. “Big bro?”

Kang Ming looked at his suddenly-so-eager little sister: “…”

…

At the sa ti—Most of Avalon’s staff had received the sa ssage. Everyone was buzzing with excitent.

Especially the group that joined around the sa ti as Kang Ming—They were going absolutely nuts with joy!

After all, most of the early team who had joined Tang Yao during Avalon’s founding were super young.The average age wasn’t even 25.

And young people…Getting such a huge payout not long after graduation? Being thrilled was only natural.

But while they were celebrating—On the other side of things…Well, things weren’t looking so bright.

Yep.The readers.

That day,Chainsaw Man Chapters 21 and 22 were updated.

Su Deqiang was already on holiday… After lunch, with nothing else to do and knowing it was update day, he didn’t even wait till evening. He sat down at his computer and opened up his bookmarked Chainsaw Man page.

But—The first thing he saw in the ANF manga section wasn’t the comic,It was a holiday break announcent for Chainsaw Man.

“A break, huh.”Su Deqiang felt a little disappointed, but he could understand.

After all, Third-Rate-sensei had always been consistent with updates. The guy deserved a break for New Year’s. Besides, it was just one extra week—no big deal.

Most importantly, this week was a double update!

So he quickly closed the announcent, brushed off the break news, and eagerly clicked into Chapter 21.

The story picked up right after the Eternity Devil arc.The main team had just defeated the Eternity Devil in the hotel and were now celebrating at a restaurant.

The plot?As wacky as ever.

“Hahaha, Third-Rate-sensei really never misses.”When the female Devil Hunter senior, Hino, drunkenly fulfilled her promise and kissed Denji—the protagonist who defeated the devil—Only to throw up directly into his mouth mid-kiss…

Su Deqiang was equal parts horrified and amused.

A first kiss, followed by vomit.What a combo.

Seriously, who even thinks of that?Absolutely wild.

Still reeling, he scrolled down to read more.It was clear these two chapters were transitional, leading into the next arc.

Primarily focused on building Hino’s character—And also more interaction between Makima and Denji.

When drunk Hino got flirty and tried to sleep with Denji,But Denji—normally a walking hormone—actually turned her down because Makima had given him a lollipop?

“That’s totally canon OTP behavior!”Su Deqiang grinned like a proud aunt.

And when the next morning, Hino and Denji agreed to work together to hook him up with Makima?His auntie-smile grew even wider.

Was it finally here?The rom-com arc?

Brimming with anticipation, he scrolled further.

The scene shifted to Makima on a train with her team, apparently heading to so task.She reminisced about the delicious alcohol from the night before—Was it because of Denji?

Su Deqiang was mid-thought when—Next panel.

Two passengers—one in front, one behind Makima—exchanged glances.Then stood up simultaneously, pulling guns from their bags and aiming at Makima’s group.

Next panel.No dialogue.

Just blood spraying. Bullets flying.Makima’s team caught in the crossfire.

“………………?”Su Deqiang’s pupils shrank.He instinctively scrolled the mouse wheel.

The last panel—Makima’s head blown open.Her corpse, lifeless and silent.

Chapter end caption:[Terrifying! A Sudden…!]

And just like that—The chapter ended.

Su Deqiang had reached the final page.

He scrambled to click the next chapter button—only to get a popup:[You’re all caught up~]

“….”He stared at the screen, stunned. Then finally snapped out of it and scread:

“Huh!? She DIED!? What the hll do you an by that!? She’s the lead!! You kill her off!? And stop there!?”“Third-Rate-sensei! You bstard!! Are you even human!?”

Right then,Su Deqiang felt like he was about to explode. His heart itched like it was being clawed by a thousand cats.

What was this plot twist!?And what was next!?You can’t just leave it there!

Now he’d have to wait a week!

Wait…

As he thought about it, sothing clicked.He exited the chapter and reopened the break notice.

No update next week…

That ant two weeks.

Staring at the screen,Su Deqiang’s expression slowly twisted.

Monts ago, he’d thought waiting one extra week was no big deal.

But now—Now that he’d read the update,He realized the problem was very big.

Because…

He took a deep breath, pointed at the screen, and trembled as he yelled:

“F**k!! Third-Rate-sensei!! You MONSTER!!! Who ends a chapter like that!?”