Handsome

Eleventh floor, break room.

"This way, this way."

As soon as Tang Yao walked into the break room.

Li Xue gently waved at her, signaling her to come over.

Tang Yao looked over. Today, this older sister was as beautiful as ever, with exquisite makeup and a mature style. She wore a white shirt on top and a pencil skirt that struggled to contain her shapely curves in the middle, a classic black and white combination.

And from the hem down, her two long, shapely legs were encased in delicate black stockings, showcasing her curves to the fullest.

They're really long... and evenly proportioned. Coupled with the heels, they looked straight and beautiful.

...Black stockings, nice.

Tang Yao thought about random things while pointing at the vending machine again.

But before she could leave this time, Li Xue stood up first, jogged over to her, and linked arms with her, "Don't buy bread. I made your portion today. Come with me."

"Huh?"

Tang Yao was a little surprised. Although she had been fed once before, Li Xue actively giving her food was quite unexpected.

"Stop 'huh-ing'. Here's the lunchbox."

After Li Xue pulled her down to sit, she handed Tang Yao one of the lunchboxes. Then, she opened her own lunchbox and picked up a piece of Guo Bao Rou, offering it to Tang Yao, "I tried making a dish I'm not familiar with. See if it tastes good."

"Mmm... Delicious."

Tang Yao opened her mouth and took the meat. Her cheeks puffed out slightly as she chewed the crispy on the outside, tender on the inside Guo Bao Rou, and immediately gave a positive review.

Regardless, she had to provide the emotional value first.

This was someone feeding her.

"That's good. Have another piece. This one tastes even better."

Just as she expected.

Hearing Tang Yao's response, Li Xue became even happier. Like a doting mother, she picked up another piece of Guo Bao Rou from her own lunchbox.

"You brought me so much."

Tang Yao opened her mouth to accept the Guo Bao Rou, then said indistinctly while opening her own lunchbox, "What's the point of stuffing me like this?"

"You wouldn't understand this. Watching you eat makes people feel very happy."

Li Xue raised her chopsticks and shook them gently. "Without that touch of everyday life, even the most beautiful person would seem ethereal. Even sitting together to eat, you'd feel distant from them. You belong to that type. If you hadn't shown me that 'mysterious spacebar movement' trick back then, I probably would still see you as an aloof beauty who doesn't eat mortal food.

Because our temperaments matched too well, you were too pure, which was quite discouraging for a sister like me who's been beaten down by society. If it weren't for a series of accidents, I probably wouldn't have approached you."

"I've never heard of that theory before."

Tang Yao took a few bites of rice, then looked up and replied indistinctly, "I don't think I'm aloof, and that kind of existence is impossible. Also... I've been beaten down by society too."

"This is what they call 'doctors can't heal themselves, and it's hard to save others when you can't save yourself'."

Li Xue looked at the girl with her puffed-out cheeks, as cute as a little squirrel, and continued, "You have no self-awareness."

"..."

Tang Yao glared at her lightly, but halfway through her glare, she lost her nerve. After all, she was still holding the lunchbox given by her elder sister. So, she could only puff out her cheeks and look at Li Xue, less like she was angry and more like she was acting spoiled.

Li Xue felt her heart melting. She could eat three bowls of rice with no side dishes.

The two of them had a pleasant lunch.

As usual, Tang Yao went to buy drinks. When she returned, Li Xue was tidying up the leftovers in an orderly fashion, exuding a wife-like aura.

"Thanks. But is it really okay for you to cook for two people by yourself?"

Tang Yao handed her one of the drinks and sat down beside her.

"It's fine. I don't have much to do at home anyway. Cooking is my only hobby."

Li Xue took the drink and shook her head gently. "Besides, cooking for you makes me happy."

Tang Yao joked, "Then I suggest you try working as a part-time nanny."

"Not just anyone can do that."

Li Xue gave Tang Yao a slight glare. "I'm only willing to cook for you right now."

"That's so sweet."

It would be a lie to say Tang Yao wasn't happy.

She took a sip of green tea, then screwed the cap back onto her green tea bottle. She bent over, resting her round, fair chin on the cap, and sighed, "In this materialistic and fast-paced society, people are cold and heartless. Only older sisters like you still have some warmth~"

"..."

Hearing this, Li Xue's playful mood subsided. She then asked softly, "Did your editor-in-chief put pressure on you again?"

The trouble caused by Teacher Ou.

She had heard about it, of course.

Because the manga artists under their Shoujo Manga editorial team were also affected.

Although the impact was relatively small compared to the manga artists for male-oriented magazines.

But no matter how small the impact, it still existed. The website and manga awards also had a Shoujo Manga department.

"No, I was just sighing."

Tang Yao knew Li Xue had misunderstood and explained, "Besides, the incident is just starting to blow up. Before I came to eat, that Editor Ding was just called away. He's probably in a meeting about the manga awards."

"I think I saw Vice President Zhao before I came... So that's why."

Hearing this, Li Xue seemed to recall something and gently shook her head, "Then it seems like this is a big deal."

"The main problem is the timing. The company seems to value this manga award and the online website highly. With this happening suddenly, the person in charge must be close to a breakdown."

Tang Yao smiled, "Fortunately, Editor Ding personally told me that I, a useless editor who can't be helped, no longer have to be responsible for that big manga artist. I guess it's a blessing in disguise."

Hearing this.

Li Xue looked at Tang Yao's profile, sensing something, and a gentle expression appeared on her face. She said softly, "Actually, I also read the latest issue of Girl, Boy, and Sword... just now."

"Hmm?"

"It was terrible. I couldn't keep up with Teacher Ou's thought process at all. I follow most of the works in the company, even the male-oriented ones, so I can really understand the readers' feelings. What is this drawing? What are they thinking? I almost threw the magazine away."

"Right?"

"But, I'm an editor after all, so I calmed down in the end and read it again. Then I saw the AORI section afterwards, and I inexplicably had a misconception – could this be intentional? Will there be a major twist next issue? Is the embodiment of malice referring to the so-called 'incarnation of hell' in the story? Is she behind it? And then a sliver of hope was born."

"Ah... is that so."

"So, that AORI was your own idea and you added it, right? Is there really a twist coming?"

"If it were up to Teacher Ou's original idea, no, it would continue to be bad."

"Then what did you think? That slogan at the end?"

"Out of a sense of editorial responsibility, and pity... I just felt the readers were too pitiful."

Tang Yao said casually, "I just added it when I thought of it."

Li Xue looked at the nonchalant Tang Yao and guessed something, chuckling, "Liar. You must know Teacher Ou's intentions, right? And you even have a backup plan... But what if Teacher Ou really draws it according to his original idea?"

"What does that have to do with me? It's his own fault. I just added a sentence. In the end, Teacher Ou will draw it however he wants."

Tang Yao straightened up and stretched her body slightly. "After pulling off such a shoddy job, if you can't wake up after such a violent backlash from the readers, then you can only die. I've fulfilled my responsibility as an editor, and the readers' anger has been clearly conveyed."

"As expected."

Li Xue smiled sweetly, then swayed her body and gently bumped Tang Yao's shoulder. "So cool."

"Huh?"

Tang Yao was a little surprised and immediately dodged to the side, looking at Li Xue with disbelief. "Why are you suddenly praising me? And calling me cool?"

"Because you deserve it."

Li Xue leaned towards Tang Yao, pressing against her again, and said meaningfully, "I'm suddenly starting to believe that the gacha game featuring beautiful girls you told me about before will succeed. I finally understand what my relative meant by 'investing based on who you know'."

Do your best and leave the rest to fate.

No matter what, bear the responsibility you should.

This saying is simple, but actually doing it is very difficult.

This year, Li Xue is twenty-seven by traditional Chinese reckoning, about to turn thirty. This means she has been working diligently at this company for nearly ten years.

During this long period, her colleagues have come and gone like a revolving door, and she has seen all kinds of editors. Although the works in the Shoujo Manga editorial department are not as popular as those in the male-oriented editorial groups, small temples often have strong winds.

She has seen too many people who, let alone uphold their principles, don't even understand what their principles are.

When Teacher Ou came up with that shoddy work, given his fame, if it were one of her editors, let alone trying to change his mind repeatedly like Tang Yao did... they would probably give up after one attempt and face the wrath of a long-established manga artist.

After all, he's a pillar manga artist, and big comic is a top five major publication.

It's not some no-name small magazine.

But Tang Yao still tried her best until the end.

And when things were irreversible, the other party was stubborn, and her superiors were also foolish, an ordinary editor would probably have completely given up, disregarding the consequences and the readers' feelings.

But Tang Yao didn't. She still did her best within her responsibilities and capabilities to mitigate the potential consequences.

Was that slogan useful?

Yes, it was.

Because Li Xue knew that after the initial anger subsided, readers would definitely notice that sentence and then hold onto a glimmer of hope, or perhaps comfort themselves.

And this would help them get through the next two weeks. By the time the next issue of big comic was released, how Teacher Ou drew it would no longer be important.

Because after two weeks of cooling down, the readers' emotional curve would slowly decline, and their psychological expectations would be lowered. Even if Teacher Ou continued to forge ahead on the path of shoddy work, the readers wouldn't feel too bad and would be more inclined to accept it.

Of course, the work's performance would likely plummet.

But at least for this issue, the readers had a buffer period. Tang Yao, even when everything was irreversible, still fulfilled her editorial responsibilities.

Not to help Teacher Ou, not for anyone else, but just for the readers.

She was merely fulfilling her responsibilities as an editor, acting as a bridge between the readers and the manga artist. When the manga artist on the other end was having a breakdown and lashing out, she provided the readers with a small shield.

Even though that shield was made of paper.

But honestly, in that kind of situation, to still hold onto one's principles, to still consider the readers, and to still make the best of the limited space they could control…

It was truly admirable.

Li Xue suddenly understood why, after only knowing Tang Yao for a week, she felt like she had known her for years.

Perhaps it wasn't because of their first impression of each other, nor was it their personalities.

Even setting aside Tang Yao's stunning beauty and her likable, adorable personality.

Li Xue figured she would still like the girl in front of her.

Because this person, even setting aside all external factors, was an adult with principles and a sense of responsibility.

And being friends with someone like that, you never had to worry about them acting against your interests.

"You have excellent taste."

On the other side.

Tang Yao paused for a moment before finally reacting. A happy smile bloomed on her porcelain-white face, and she grabbed Li Xue's arm. "I've already finished eighty percent of the game's proposal. As for the manga… I've also drawn the storyboard for the beginning. Keep your expectations high, and by the way, prepare to introduce me to that investor."

"..."

Li Xue felt a bit helpless and gave a wry smile. "I was just saying that casually. Actually, Tang Yao, I really don't recommend you take such a risk..."

Just as Tang Yao was about to reply, her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.

It was a call.

Tang Yao took her phone out of her pocket and glanced at it. Upon seeing the incoming number, she frowned slightly but still answered the call.

Li Xue, sitting beside her, could tell… it was Ding Yilong, seemingly calling Tang Yao back to the editorial office.

Soon.

The call ended.

Tang Yao put her phone away. "Sorry, Miss Li, I have to go back."

"Mm."

Li Xue nodded and added, "Remember to tell me if anything comes up. And if you need any help, don't hesitate to contact me."

"Okay, bye-bye."

Tang Yao agreed with a nod, then stood up and turned to walk towards the exit of the lounge area.

But as she reached the doorway, she suddenly remembered something and turned back, returning to Li Xue's side.

Li Xue slightly tilted her snow-white chin up and looked at Tang Yao, a little surprised. "What is it?"

"I almost forgot… it looks really good."

Tang Yao looked around and noticed two other people in the corner of the lounge. She then lowered her body and leaned close to Li Xue's ear, whispering like a thief, "But I don't have time to reference it today. Can I wear it again tomorrow?"

After all, she had asked for it.

She had to give some praise.

It was a matter of politeness.

...It definitely wasn't because she wanted to see it again.

"..."

Li Xue looked at Tang Yao, who was acting like a thief with a slight blush on her face, and couldn't help but chuckle. She gave Tang Yao a gentle glare. "What are you afraid of? Wear it, wear it, I'll wear it for you every day, alright?"