Exaggeration

"Miss Li, thank you so much."

Hearing this, Tang Yao's mood was quite complicated. She was both excited and felt… she couldn't quite say if it was regret or something else, just a subtle discomfort.

Li Xue said that Tang Yao was a rare friend she had made.

For Tang Yao, it was the same. Perhaps Li Xue held an even more significant place in her heart, especially considering her "heaven-collapsing" start when she first arrived in this world.

Besides Xun at home, Li Xue was the second person who helped her through it.

Although not as close as her own sister… it was precisely because they weren't that close that Tang Yao could learn some things from her that were inconvenient to ask others, things she had to learn and adapt to slowly on her own.

Interacting with her, to some extent, was also part of Tang Yao's process of learning how to get along with people of the same gender and how to maintain distance.

You could say that the troubles brought about by the differences between genders… the private parts were handled by Tang Xun, and the rest was handled by Li Xue.

If Tang Yao were alone, she would actually be quite willing to hang out with this older sister at the company.

After all, she wasn't getting married, she had a salary every month, and she could eat for free every day…

But unfortunately, she wasn't alone.

"…You look a little disappointed."

Li Xue scrutinized Tang Yao's expression and then said playfully, "What? Did you expect me to say I wouldn't help you? Do you want to stay?"

"To be honest, a little."

Tang Yao sighed softly, then bent over and rested her arms on the desk in front of her, her fair arms extending out. Like a kitten, she slumped there: "It sounds a bit idiotic, but after doing so much for it, I really had thoughts of backing out at the last moment."

"Actually, if you really want me to, I can change my mind."

Li Xue reached out and gently stroked Tang Yao's slender back, as if petting a kitten. She gathered her emotions, put on a beautiful and exquisite, pretty face, and said with mock seriousness, "Or we could act out a dramatic scene. For example, when we leave later, I'll go first. Then, when I reach the door, you'll suddenly call out to me. I'll stand with my back to you and not move. You'll catch up, and then… you'll say you're not leaving. I'll turn around and call out too – 'I don't want you to go!' Then we'll look at each other, embrace, and the music will start. Finally, I'll happily take you home."

???

"Miss Li, you watch too many romance dramas."

Tang Yao slowly raised a question mark, then her perky, rounded backside lifted off the chair. She moved aside a little, as if disgusted, away from Li Xue. "And why would I go to your house?"

"Didn't you say you'd accompany me?"

Li Xue seemed amused by the scenario she had created, unable to suppress her laughter. "I'm looking forward to acting this out now. What do you say, should I go back on my word?"

"No."

Li Xue said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Why? Isn't this quite interesting?"

"Because… I know why I hesitated."

Tang Yao slowly straightened up from the desk, then turned to look at Li Xue and said seriously, "Ultimately, the reason I hoped you'd say no, besides not wanting to part with you, was more about my own insecurity, my fear of failure, and my fear of stepping out of my current comfort zone. This is human nature. I believe that when most people make such a decision, they will feel uneasy and think about backing out. But thinking about it is one thing. If I really backed out at this moment, my spirit would instantly dissipate, and countless reasons would immediately pop up to comfort myself. Then, in the future… I might never have the courage to take this step again. So, I won't back out. Even if I fail in the end, even if I fall hard, I have to take this step. Miss Li, please help me contact them."

"……"

Li Xue looked at the earnest expression on the girl's face and heard her words. There was a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but it was quickly masked. She reached out and smoothed a strand of hair from her temple, then chuckled, "Then it seems the dramatic retention scene will have to wait for another time."

"You should just throw that trash script away."

Tang Yao scoffed when she heard this. "Something so cliché would never happen."

"You just said you didn't want to part with me!"

Li Xue shot Tang Yao a flirtatious glance, with a hint of annoyance and coquettishness that was incredibly potent. "And now it's cliché and would never happen."

"Not wanting to part with you is one thing."

Tang Yao moved back beside her again. "But it's also genuinely cliché. Do you think a scene like that would play out in real life?"

"Those tropes are very popular in Shoujo Manga, what if?"

"There's no 'what if'… Also, I'm glad I didn't go to the Shoujo Manga Editorial Department. What kind of trash tropes are these."

"Then I'll think of a new one."

"Stop. You'd better not. I can't handle the Shoujo Manga tropes here. I'll think of one… Hmm, I successfully get investment, then make a lot of money. With a wave of my hand, I acquire the Literary Hall, and then stage a 'Dragon King's Return'…"

"What's a Dragon King?"

"Never mind, don't interrupt me. Anyway, it's a very powerful existence. I'll stage a 'Dragon King's Return,' then find you, still suffering in the Shoujo Manga Editorial Department, and solemnly invite you to join. Then you'll nod in agreement. Happy ending!"

"Isn't that also very cliché?"

Li Xue retorted, then glanced at Tang Yao's profile and suddenly asked, "Also… why wait until then? Why don't you try inviting me now?"

"……"

Tang Yao paused, then said helplessly, "I wouldn't dare."

Li Xue gently bumped Tang Yao's shoulder, "Afraid I'll refuse?"

Tang Yao retorted, "Would you?"

Li Xue glanced at the proposal in her hand and asked softly, "Do you want the truth or a lie?"

"Never mind, I don't want to hear it then."

Tang Yao shook her head slightly. "Whether you would refuse or not, I won't invite you at this moment, because I don't have the confidence."

Li Xue blinked. "Didn't you say you had confidence in this proposal..."

"It's not that I don't have confidence in this proposal,"

Tang Yao replied, "but rather in... how do I put it, I don't have confidence in myself. If I invited you, and you impulsively quit with me, it would mean I'd have to be responsible for you, responsible for the rest of your life. You're already a deputy editor-in-chief at such a young age with a bright future. If you followed me on a risky venture, what if it failed? What if we just happened to hit that one percent chance of failure?

Even with a minuscule chance of failure, I don't want to gamble with your life.

Even with a one percent chance of failure, I don't want you to take the risk."

"..."

Hearing this, Li Xue's rosy lips parted slightly, revealing her pearly white teeth. She looked stunned, seemingly not expecting Tang Yao to say something like that.

Maintaining her somewhat surprised and adorable expression, after a long moment, she finally reacted, "It's not that exaggerated, you know..."

"No."

Tang Yao gently shook her head. "I don't think it's exaggerated at all."

Then.

She shifted her gaze from Li Xue's face and looked forward again. After a soft exhale, she said solemnly, "This matter is really important to me... Anyway, before I have the ability, I will absolutely not gamble with your life."

"I see..."

Li Xue looked at Tang Yao's profile. A faint blush crept onto her elegant face. She immediately averted her gaze, suppressing the complex thoughts swirling deep within her.

My life is important?

Why does that sound so much like someone who can't afford to marry the woman he loves yet, so he can only make a promise for now?

This was the first time Li Xue had ever heard someone say something like this to her.

It's actually quite heartwarming.

Even though it's probably a misunderstanding.

Li Xue subtly shook her head, then returned to her usual demeanor, chuckling lightly. "Then I'll wait for you to succeed."

"Just wait."

Tang Yao turned her head again, her beautiful face, like flawless jade, breaking into a smile. "Miss Li, I will definitely come to take you away!"

"..."

Li Xue looked at Tang Yao's beautiful face, so close to hers. Hearing her words, she was slightly taken aback before... averting her gaze again, turning her head to the side.

It must be a misunderstanding...

I've just been in the Shoujo Manga Editorial Department for too long.