Starting as a Manga Editor-Chapter 204: Li Xue's Heart

Li Xue had always been fully aware.
Tang Yao was impressive...she'd known that since their first meeting.
Yet this young, beautiful girl still managed to astonish her time and again.
Like right now.
No way.
How did she connect all these? Just by collaborating on a manga adaptation and launching an event, she's managed to involve ANF's joint operations, the manga division, and even their second game?
Is this even possible?
Wait...
The manga division.
Li Xue suddenly thought of something.
But before she could speak.
Tang Yao asked first: "Has the manga division welcomed many newcomers too?"
Li Xue froze momentarily before replying: "Yes."
"Just as I thought."
Tang Yao smiled brilliantly again: "For manga artists, the most effective attraction is showing them the substantial earnings from collaboration events...though most won't benefit directly, every artist has dreams, and every artist has a heart that chases those dreams.
Even with the lowest revenue share, just from the collaboration card pool's direct income, the copyright holder earned millions in a single day.
Millions.
Miss Li, do you recall the licensing fees for top-tier manga IP collaborations?"
"Well..."
Li Xue answered instinctively: "Whether for adaptations or collaborations, it's usually an advance payment plus revenue share. Wenxin Press's most prestigious IP licensed to a PC game had an advance of seven million...with a 15% share of related revenue during the event period."
"Exactly."
Tang Yao smiled confidently: "Fifteen percent share...our collaboration with 'Dark Night' uses the same ratio, so the copyright holder earned nearly six million on the first day. What manga artist wouldn't be tempted by such numbers? And remember, for web serializations, they don't need to split this with publishers.
ANF's manga division also has very fair copyright terms. Combined with 'Chainsaw Man's' rising popularity bringing in paying readers, this collaboration's massive revenue is enough to convince any hesitant manga artists."
"But..."
Here, Tang Yao seemed to recall something and added: "Since we're earning so much from this 'Dark Night' collaboration, licensing fees will probably increase, especially for mobile games. Publishers are shrewd, so Miss Li, please pay extra attention to the manga division...
We need to raise entry standards to ensure quality while implementing tiered exposure support to prevent top works monopolizing visibility. If the editorial team gets overwhelmed, expand boldly—establish an editorial committee. The key is balancing commercialization with creative freedom, avoiding backlash from overemphasis on traffic.
Once ANF's manga division takes off, we'll have our own copyright library. No matter how external licensing fees rise, we'll remain unfazed.
Once stabilized...it might even synergize with our games."
Hearing Tang Yao's words, Li Xue gazed at her fair, captivating face, momentarily spellbound.
Manga collaborations, ANF joint operations, new game promotions, even anticipating licensing fee hikes and preparing a proprietary copyright library...
This resource integration ability and psychological insight...
"Hmm?"
Noticing Li Xue staring blankly, Tang Yao looked puzzled.
"Nothing..."
Li Xue snapped back to reality, cheeks flushing as she averted her gaze.
Seeing this reaction, Tang Yao leaned forward slightly, eyes brightening: "...Am I impressive?"
Li Xue watched Tang Yao seamlessly switch to a 'praise me' expression and pursed her lips.
How...how did this person combine seemingly contradictory traits of cuteness and maturity so perfectly?
Usually steady, mature, intellectual, and methodical.
Yet occasionally bursting with youthful charm.
Really...
Li Xue turned her head away.
"......"
Seeing Li Xue's profile, Tang Yao paused.
Then after hesitating, she whispered: "Miss Li."
Li Xue snapped back to awareness, realizing her behavior was odd, and quickly turned back: "...Yes?"
After a silent moment, thinking about their recent awkward interactions, Tang Yao decided to address it: "About last time..."
"......"
Hearing this, Li Xue froze slightly and bit her lip lightly.
...Is she going to be disliked now?
Truthfully, since childhood.
Li Xue had always been lonely.
She had few friends, and those few remained at an arm's length.
Youthful naivety, teenage academic focus, college manga obsession, then career dedication.
At every stage, she was composed, doing the right things...
Until she realized...she was already in her late twenties.
Without ever meeting someone special or making close friends.
Then Tang Yao appeared.
Li Xue still remembered their first meeting vividly.
How to describe it...
...She seemed like an awkward girl.
But through deeper interactions, Li Xue gradually discovered Tang Yao's 'awkwardness' was just surface-level.
She said strange yet reasonable things, bore responsibility with capability, and behind that clumsy exterior hid an astonishing soul.
Li Xue practically witnessed Tang Yao's entire transformation from editor to company leader.
Along the way.
Tang Yao's firmness facing Ou Congquan and editors-in-chief, her pride presenting "The Human Balloons," her dejection when Lin Shuang rejected her investment pitch, her anxiety during game development, her joy upon success...
At every pivotal moment.
Li Xue stood by her side, watching more and more brilliance emerge.
Then.
Somewhere along the way—perhaps when FGO launched successfully and Tang Yao hugged her...or maybe earlier.
Li Xue's eyes seemed to hold only her...and her feelings grew peculiar.
The night after FGO's launch, returning home separately.
Li Xue didn't sleep at all, convinced she'd gone mad.
Because this wasn't normal!
Even if she could accept it, Tang Yao might not.
Yet despite knowing it was wrong, she couldn't convince herself otherwise.
Then.
She seemed to step on a landmine.
And Tang Yao...must have taken offense...
"About last time."
Unnoticing Li Xue's suddenly pale face, Tang Yao whispered: "I want to apologize—I misunderstood..."
"I understand, I'm sorry, I'll be more careful...wait, what did you say?"
Li Xue automatically apologized before realizing something was off. Her head jerked up, eyes flashing with disbelief.
Tang Yao blinked: "Huh? I'm apologizing. What did you think I meant?"
"I thought you were bothered by what happened."
"I'm not. Weren't you the one bothered?"
"I wasn't..."
"......"
The air between them froze solid.
Three seconds, five, ten.
Watching Li Xue's trembling lashes, Tang Yao suddenly understood: "Wait...you're not bothered?"