Starting as a Manga Editor-Chapter 52: No Grudges Overnight

After finishing her resignation notice, Tang Yao left the company.
She was heading home.
She had already met with Li Xue and invited Kang Ming… and since she’d be resigning soon, there was no reason to stay at the office any longer.
As for the mangaka she was responsible for, she’d send a formal notice when the time to leave came.
There was basically nothing left to do.
She might as well go home and give the project proposal another once-over. Better safe than sorry when it came to tomorrow’s presentation.
Besides, Kang Ming was eager—
Ever since Tang Yao mentioned she was working on a brand-new type of game, one that tied into the free serialization of Fate/Zero, he hadn’t stopped asking questions.
But explaining it was a bit of a pain… and with other editors still around in the office, Tang Yao wasn’t about to out herself.
So the best solution was to just send him the proposal directly—
That way she could avoid any explanations.
Also, even though she had continued drawing the later plot of Fate/Zero, considering the heavy workload of this startup phase, it would be better to build up a buffer of drafts.
And then… what should she wear tomorrow?
In short, there were a ton of things waiting for Tang Yao to sort out.
Heading home.
Tang Yao left the company feeling full of drive and ambition, eager to get back.
But the long commute slowly wore that enthusiasm down…
By the time she climbed up to the seventh floor, she had pretty much reverted to being a total slacker.
Tang Yao opened the front door wearily.
Inside their cozy little apartment—
Tang Kaoru was curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees, her long, fair legs tucked neatly underneath her as she browsed her phone. When she heard the door open, she immediately looked up at her sister.
“Kaoru… Hm?”
Tang Yao looked at the cool, aloof girl on the couch and was just about to say hi—
But then she caught her gaze and immediately bent forward a little, her cheeks slightly red as she shot her a glare.
Tang Kaoru quickly realized and shifted her eyes, looking at her sister’s face instead.
“Kaoru…”
Still, they were sisters.
So in the end, Tang Yao pushed aside her brief embarrassment, forgave her, walked over and slumped down beside her on the couch.
With a sigh, she said, “I let it slide yesterday, but you’re doing it again today? Isn’t that a bit much? Aren’t you planning to apologize?”
Tang Kaoru put down her elegant white legs and turned her head:
“You were the one who lied to me first. Besides, I just reacted instinctively… We’re sisters—what are you even embarrassed about?”
“How could I not be?”
“Well, I’m not.”
“…When did I ever lie to you?”
“Yesterday.”
“I said it wasn’t appropriate.”
“Then why did you make me wear it?”
“…”
Tang Yao ran out of arguments and could only change the subject, putting on a serious tone:
“Kaoru… I’m going to be really busy soon. I might be coming home past midnight every day. You’ve already traumatized me enough… can you really bear watching me come home anxious and on edge every night?”
“……”
Tang Kaoru pursed her soft, glossy lips and looked at her sister.
“Is it about the game you mentioned?”
Tang Yao nodded. “Yeah.”
“……”
Having gotten a clear answer, Tang Kaoru was silent for a moment.
Then she got up from the sofa, walked over in her cute slippers, and stood in front of Tang Yao with her chest slightly puffed out.
“…What are you doing?”
Tang Yao looked confused.
The tips of Kaoru’s ears were red, but her pale face stayed blank as she replied calmly,
“There’s no need for sisters to be so uptight. I’m not going to apologize—because you lied to me first. That was payback.”
Tang Yao tilted her head and looked at the proud girl in front of her.
“So you’re really that shamelessly self-righteous, huh?”
“……”
Kaoru fell silent for another moment, then turned straight around and walked to the kitchen.
“Idiot…”
“???”
Tang Yao stared at the girl’s retreating figure, full of question marks.
She wouldn’t apologize and she called her names?
The next day.
Even though Tang Yao had spent the whole night drawing manga and reviewing the project proposal, she still got up early to wash up and change.
Today was really important.
Of course, she didn’t wear that three-piece set again.
Instead, she opted for a simple white blouse and straight black slacks—nothing flashy at all.
After all, the outfit from the day before yesterday really was a bit much.
“Kaoru, how do I look?”
Tang Yao, for the most part, didn’t hold grudges—especially not against her sister.
Even though she’d randomly gotten insulted yesterday…
“You look great.”
Kaoru replied while tying her ponytail, giving her radiant older sister—who looked stunning even in plain clothes—a quick once-over and a positive review.
“You should’ve said it looks appropriate.”
Tang Yao corrected her while looking in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction, and then picked up the proposal from the table.
“I’m heading out.”
Kaoru paused from tying her ponytail. “Mm. Be safe.”
No incidents along the way.
Tang Yao returned once again to the big comic editorial department.
But this time, Ding Yilong was nowhere to be seen.
However, she noticed that the nameplate on the Editor-in-Chief’s desk had been removed.
Clearly, Ding Yilong’s whole “begging the President on his knees” act wasn’t very convincing.
He didn’t even last a full day.
“Editor Tang.”
Tang Yao returned to her desk.
Kang Ming was already there. When he saw her, he immediately lowered his voice and said:
“I heard Ding Yilong got roasted by the higher-ups during yesterday’s meeting… I just saw him packing up and leaving.”
“Mm.”
Tang Yao wasn’t surprised.
“After saying something like that yesterday, this outcome was inevitable.”
“Also, the Vice President of the publishing house came by earlier to clear things up. He said Ding Yilong’s comments didn’t represent the editorial department, and he tried to reassure the other editors too.”
Kang Ming continued,
“Also… he was looking for you. I think he wanted to offer you the Deputy Editor-in-Chief position…”
“Hm?”
Tang Yao was a bit surprised.
Zhao Fangsheng had contacted her again yesterday, but she’d been deep in a manga-drawing frenzy and didn’t pick up.
So that Editor-in-Chief offer wasn’t just a pipe dream?
Still—
“I’ve already made up my mind.”
Tang Yao shook her head. “Are you thinking of staying?”
“No…”
Kang Ming definitely didn’t want to stay.
He was very intrigued by the new game concept Tang Yao had mentioned yesterday…
And besides, even with Ding Yilong gone, he didn’t think he’d ever do a better job than Tang Yao.
The girl in front of him was just too impressive.
But that’s exactly why he hesitated.
Now that Ding Yilong was gone, if Tang Yao stayed…
“If you really want to stay, you can just tell me.”
Tang Yao saw Kang Ming hesitate and thought he was getting cold feet.
She was a little disappointed but still replied,
“Following me is risky, I get it.”
“I’m not staying—but Editor Tang, are you really set on leaving?”
Kang Ming quickly explained once he realized Tang Yao misunderstood.
“Now that Ding Yilong’s out of the picture, with your level of expertise…”
“No need.”
Tang Yao understood what he meant and waved the proposal in her hand lightly.
“I have a lot of confidence in the game I want to make.”
Kang Ming’s eyes lit up—he had a feeling what that was.
“…Is that the proposal?”
“It is…”
Tang Yao was just about to answer when her phone rang.
She had to pause and pick it up.
It was a call from Li Xue.
After a brief conversation, she hung up and stood up again, looking at Kang Ming:
“Sorry, I really wanted to show you, but looks like I’m out of time. I’ll send it to you later.”
With that,
Tang Yao hurried off,
Leaving Kang Ming sitting there alone, completely bewildered.
Wait, seriously?
You couldn’t even let me see it first??
11th Floor – Lounge Area.
Tang Yao found Li Xue already waiting for her, and asked with some surprise:
“Miss Li, you scheduled the meeting for the morning?”
“Yep.”
Li Xue nodded and reached out to straighten the hem of Tang Yao’s blouse.
“I don’t really like eating with other people. Especially relatives…”
Tang Yao teased: “Afraid of getting nagged about marriage?”
“……”
Li Xue shot her a mild glare.
“I just really hate meaningless small talk. And that’s what you get most during meals.”
“You serious?” Tang Yao joked.
“Of course. If I don’t want to get married, I won’t—for my whole life. No one can force me…”
Li Xue replied softly, then looked over Tang Yao again and gave a satisfied nod.
Now this was what you call a clothes hanger.
No matter what she wore, it looked amazing.
Tang Yao noticed the way she was being eyed.
“Does this outfit make me look unprofessional?”
“Not at all. You look good in everything.”
Li Xue said what she truly thought, then took her hand and headed toward the door.
“Let’s go.”