Starting as a Manga Editor-Chapter 51: Employee No. 001

Editorial Department.
Maybe it was because of what had happened earlier, but the atmosphere felt strange.
Most of the editors were nowhere to be seen.
By the time Tang Yao returned after confirming the meeting time with Li Xue, there were only a few people left.
But Kang Ming was still there.
“Where is everyone else?”
Tang Yao returned to her desk and saw Kang Ming sitting there, zoning out. She called out to him.
Kang Ming snapped out of it and, seeing that it was Tang Yao, looked a bit embarrassed.
“Maybe they thought the vibe was off, so they went out… Oh right, Editor Tang, I think I was a bit impulsive just now. Sorry about that.”
“Hm? What are you apologizing for?”
Tang Yao pulled out her chair and sat down, asking curiously.
So Kang Ming told her what happened after she left.
To put it simply... he had almost quit on the spot and came close to punching Ding Yilong.
“Oh, so it was you... I was wondering how the rumors got twisted into a full-blown fight.”
Tang Yao looked like she just realized something. Then she studied Kang Ming carefully.
“You didn’t actually hit him, did you?”
“No.”
Kang Ming rubbed his high hairline: “When I saw him trying to go after you, I stepped in and bumped into him to stop him. But he’s just so irritating. I did end up yelling a threat, but I didn’t actually hit him.”
“That’s good.”
Tang Yao nodded. “It’s not worth putting yourself in the wrong just for someone like him... That said, if our roles were reversed, I probably would’ve socked him.”
She raised a delicate pink fist and gave it a light wave, clearly itching for action.
Still, the principle held—no matter which version of herself, there was one shared understanding: she had to act in a way that matched her own image.
And throwing punches definitely didn’t fit her image...
Otherwise, she would’ve done it already.
“…”
Kang Ming looked at the eager girl in front of him and couldn’t help but laugh to himself.
That shift between mature and girlish was way too smooth...
“This won’t cause trouble for you, right?”
Kang Ming hesitated for a moment and asked.
He had heard the rumors from that morning too.
“No, I’m already quitting.”
Tang Yao put down her hand and replied reflexively. But she quickly remembered a certain panting big sister.
“But you definitely caused trouble for someone else...”
“Who?”
“Nothing. Anyway, you’re quitting too?”
For some reason, Tang Yao didn’t feel like talking to a man about Li Xue, so she changed the subject.
“Was it just an impulsive decision? If it was, you can still take it back. Ding Yilong’s probably out of here by tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t say it was impulsive.”
Kang Ming shook his head, then explained his thoughts.
He’d actually been thinking about quitting since yesterday.
After hearing his reasoning, Tang Yao’s beautiful eyes lit up slightly.
“So, compared to being an editor, you’d still rather make games?”
“Yeah, and thanks for looking out for me these past few weeks...”
Kang Ming let out a long breath, apologetic.
“But I really don’t think this job is right for me.”
“Then how about working with me?”
Talk about perfect timing.
Tang Yao extended an invitation right away.
“I mean after you resign.”
“Huh?”
Kang Ming was a bit surprised.
“Editor Tang, are you really not planning to keep working as an editor?”
“You thought I was joking when I told Ding Yilong that?”
“So Fate/Zero is actually going to be published online for free?”
“Of course. Probably in the next day or two.”
“Hissss…”
Kang Ming sucked in a sharp breath, visibly stunned.
Honestly, not long ago, when Tang Yao had said that stuff, not just Ding Yilong—he had thought it sounded crazy.
I mean, with that kind of hype?
Not serializing it in a magazine?
Even if that “Third-Rate Artist” didn’t like Wenxin Press, they could’ve submitted it to another magazine!
This was about money!
Sure, the manuscript fee was only 900 yuan per page, and for a biweekly magazine, monthly income might not look like much.
But that fee was just the base.
If the manga kept up its quality, there’d be tankōbon, anime licensing, game licensing, IP sales... the money would come pouring in!
“So… is this ‘Teacher Third-Rate’ just super rich?”
Kang Ming asked, genuinely confused.
Tang Yao shook her head. “Nope. Totally broke…”
She was so broke she and her sister were about to start sharing outfits.
“Then this ‘Teacher Third-Rate’…”
Kang Ming couldn’t understand.
If this wasn’t a passion-project kind of mangaka, then why do this?
Deliberately avoiding money?
“Because she’s aiming for a bigger payoff.”
Tang Yao gave it some thought and decided it wouldn’t be smart to explain everything in the editorial office.
“I’ll show you the project proposal later—you’ll get it then. So? Want to work with me?”
Kang Ming paused for a moment. “So you’re planning to do…?”
“Games.”
Tang Yao picked up her phone and gave it a little shake.
“I’m starting with a mobile game—still a blue ocean right now. As for what comes after, I can’t give you any guarantees. Also, let me be upfront: we’re at the grassroots stage, so I can’t promise anything big.
I don’t like selling dreams.
At this stage, the only promises I can make are: we won’t delay your salary, and even if it fails in the end—I won’t bail.”
Failure wasn’t the worst-case scenario.
Worst case, she’d debut as a mangaka, pay off her debts…
But if it succeeded—that would mean enough money for Kaoru to go to school without worry. Maybe even enough for both sisters to live comfortably.
If that happened… anything would be possible.
Kang Ming was stunned.
“You weren’t joking back then?”
“Nope.”
Tang Yao extended a formal invitation.
“So? Want in?”
“……”
Kang Ming looked at that sweet, innocent face in front of him and hesitated for less than a second.
“I’m in.”
Even though he didn’t really understand much yet.
Tang Yao had only given him a rough direction—nothing more.
If it had been some random nobody making the same pitch,
His first thought would have been: “This guy’s trying to scam me.”
But Tang Yao was different.
Even though they hadn’t worked together for long, he’d seen firsthand what she’d accomplished during this time.
So he felt that if he said no right now... he’d regret it someday.
“It’s a deal.”
When Tang Yao heard his response, her face lit up with a dazzling smile.
“Then I’ll be counting on you.”
Looking at her radiant, beautiful smile, Kang Ming had a brief moment where he thought—
Even if she was scamming him out of money, it’d be worth it...
“Uh… so when do we start? When do I, uh… ‘join the company’?”
“Right now.”
Tang Yao turned and pulled out a sheet of sketch paper.
“You write your resignation notice now, leave in the next couple of days. I’ll rent a suitable place, and we’ll start this week.
It’s just the two of us at first, so I’ll handle planning, art, and operations. You handle development.
You’ll be Employee No. 001 and also lead programmer.
Later, I’ll bring on more people as needed. It’ll definitely be tough at first, but I’ll find other capable people as soon as I can.”
“……”
Kang Ming’s eyes slowly widened.
“You’re taking on both planning and art? Editor Tang, for game planning, that’s…”
“I know what you’re trying to say. But trust me—I’ll send you the game proposal later.”
Tang Yao knew what he was worried about.
Yeah.
A manga editor doing this kind of thing really did sound wild.
Kang Ming looked at the confident Tang Yao.
Even though common sense told him this was crazy... in the end, he still chose to believe.
Probably because Tang Yao had left him with such a strong impression.
“So, what kind of game exactly are we making…?”
“A bishoujo gacha game!”
Tang Yao replied without hesitation.
“A totally new kind of game! And it’s tied to Fate/Zero, which is about to go up for free!”
“…Eh?”