Tension

Tang Yao had no idea what happened after she left the Editorial Department.

But the speed at which this incident snowballed had far exceeded Tang Yao's expectations.

After all, the Manga Award had received an extremely popular work, Fate/Zero. After a full day of discussion yesterday, everyone at Wenxin Hall knew about it.

So when Ding Yilong's claims about taking the blame came out, coupled with Kang Ming fanning the flames...

In less than an hour,

pretty much the entire company had heard about it.

Zhao Fang Sheng's office.

Bang—

The door was slammed open again.

This time, it was still Shang Tao who had burst through it.

But perhaps he had heard Shang Tao's hurried footsteps before the door opened.

Zhao Fang Sheng was fairly calm this time. In fact, after Shang Tao burst through the door, he leisurely picked up his thermos and took a sip of tea. "What is it this time? You're always in such a hurry. You're practically half a century old. Haven't you learned to stay calm yet?"

Shang Tao was panting heavily. Compared to the last time he had burst through the door, he was not only drenched in cold sweat this time, but his face was also filled with panic.

As soon as he entered, he got straight to the point and shouted, "Vice President! Ding Yilong drove Editor Tang to the point of resigning! And the author of Fate/Zero has decided to serialize the work online for free!"

"Pfft—"

Upon hearing that,

Zhao Fang Sheng, who had just been asking why Shang Tao had not learned to stay calm, immediately sprayed the tea from his mouth.

At the same time,

on the eleventh floor,

in the break area,

Tang Yao was lying listlessly on the table, playing with her phone to pass the time.

She really did not want to stay in the Editorial Department and face Ding Yilong, but she did not want to go home yet either.

After all, her main reason for coming to the company was to see Li Xue and confirm the details of their meeting.

So she could only wait for Li Xue in the break area during her lunch break.

It was nice enough, just a little boring...

But soon,

she was no longer bored.

Because... Shang Tao called.

Tang Yao saw the number, hesitated for a moment, then answered and chatted with Shang Tao for a while.

As expected, Shang Tao brought up what had happened earlier and began urging her not to leave.

Of course, he also mentioned Fate/Zero being serialized for free...

But Tang Yao merely replied politely that it was a personal choice.

However, just as she finally finished dealing with Shang Tao and had not even caught her breath, another call came in.

This time, it was an unfamiliar number.

Tang Yao answered anyway, and the person on the other end introduced himself as the vice president of Wenxin Hall...

Tang Yao was quite surprised by that.

Of course, he was still talking about the same matters. He merely added a few more things. For example, the vice president promised to deal with Ding Yilong immediately and, in the end, seemed to offer Tang Yao the position of editor-in-chief after Ding Yilong's removal.

But Tang Yao had consumed too many such promises in her previous life. She did not take the bait... Besides, she had truly made up her mind, so she continued to reply politely that it was a personal choice and promised only that she would not take Third-rate Painter to another magazine.

After that, the other party was even less willing to give up... He said many more things, trying to persuade her not to resign.

But Tang Yao did not change her mind.

In the end, Zhao Fang Sheng had no choice but to ask for the contact information of that "Third-rate Painter."

Tang Yao hesitated for a moment, then gave it to him.

Of course, she gave him her own spare number...

After Zhao Fang Sheng obtained the contact information of the legendary "Third-rate Painter," he still refused to give up and wanted to say more.

But Tang Yao saw Li Xue... She had no patience to listen to him any longer. After apologizing, she hung up directly.

"..."

Li Xue had indeed arrived. She was standing beside Tang Yao, still wearing her classic black-and-white suit and almost imperceptible light makeup. Her bearing was elegant and dignified.

However, her breathing was somewhat ragged. She seemed to have jogged over, slightly undermining her aura as a mature beauty.

"Miss Li... Why are you here so early?"

Tang Yao looked over Li Xue beside her in surprise. "Isn't it still before lunch break?"

"I was worried about you."

Li Xue motioned for Tang Yao to move inward, then sat down beside her. She patted her chest and let out a long breath. "I was still working just now when I suddenly heard people saying that the male editors were fighting. I went to the Editorial Department but couldn't find you, so I figured you were here..."

"They were fighting...? What? Who spread such an exaggerated rumor?"

Tang Yao widened her beautiful eyes, her face full of disbelief. "I only said a couple of things. How did that turn into a fight?"

"All I heard was that they were fighting..."

Li Xue breathed slightly heavily as she smoothed the somewhat disheveled strands of hair at her temple. With her other hand, she took Tang Yao's hand.

Tang Yao froze for a moment and lowered her head to look at their joined hands.

When she raised her head again,

Li Xue had already turned to look at her. "Can't I hold it?"

"It's not that you can't..."

Tang Yao noticed that Li Xue's palm was covered in sweat and asked curiously, "But you don't really think I got into a fight, do you?"

"Mm... Let me catch my breath."

Li Xue nodded and took deep breaths, calming her racing heart.

She did not know why she had become so nervous upon hearing the news... Perhaps she was afraid that the friend she had finally made would be hurt.

"How could that be?"

Tang Yao found it both amusing and touching. She could tell that Miss Li had probably run over the moment she heard.

It was also the first time Tang Yao had seen this mature beauty so anxious and flustered.

So she squeezed Li Xue's soft little hand in return and said gently, "But thank you..."

"..."

This time, it was Li Xue's turn to lower her head.

...Tang Yao's hands were truly beautiful, completely good enough to be a hand model's. They were fair, smooth, warm, and soft.

"Hmm?"

Tang Yao noticed that Li Xue was looking down too and joked, "Can't you hold it?"

"No..."

Li Xue immediately looked away and changed the subject. "So, have you made up your mind?"

"Mm. I've already written my resignation letter."

Tang Yao had nothing to hide from Li Xue, so she answered honestly. "In any case, I can't stay for long. Just thinking about how to resolve the Fate/Zero issue is already giving me a headache."

After all, she had never planned to serialize it in a magazine in the first place...

"That's true... You can use Ding Yilong to take the blame."

Li Xue nodded when she heard that. "Then you can serialize it for free openly and legitimately."

"Actually, I didn't think that far. I originally planned to placate Shang Tao, act first and report later, release it for free first, and then tell them that 'Third-rate Painter' didn't want to serialize in a magazine."

Tang Yao furrowed her delicate brows. "But that Ding Yilong really... How should I put it? He came forward to take the blame himself?"

"Then he deserved it."

Li Xue seemed to find it amusing. "He actually dared to say something that arrogant. I don't know where he got the nerve..."

She shook her head and did not continue. "Since you've made up your mind, then resign. But don't write an application. Write a notice."

"Mm, I thought of that too. I'll go back and change it later."

Tang Yao nodded in agreement. She had only written an application to get rid of Ding Yilong earlier; she would definitely change it afterward.

After all, she would not have much time to come to the company from now on.

Besides, she had not had time to mention making a game to Kang Ming.

Things would be very hectic from now on. She would have to go back and tell him later too. She wondered whether he would be willing...

Tang Yao fell into thought.

On the other side,

Li Xue thought for a moment, then continued asking, "By the way... Who was the person who called you just now?"

Tang Yao came back to herself. "Vice President Zhao Fang Sheng."

"As expected, you've already caught his attention."

Li Xue looked enlightened and did not seem surprised. "So what did he mean?"

"To persuade me to stay, and to get the legendary 'Third-rate Painter's' contact information. But I managed to brush him off."

Tang Yao recalled what the other party had said, then continued, "He even offered me some empty promises?"

"Empty promises?"

Li Xue did not quite understand, but she did not pay it much mind. "If he calls again, if possible... don't burn the bridge."

"Hmm? Why?"

"The collected volume. Do you remember what I said yesterday? I think Wenxin Hall would be a good choice."

"..."

Tang Yao froze for a moment. "But Fate/Zero gave up the chance to serialize in a magazine under Wenxin Hall. Is that really possible?"

"It is."

Li Xue nodded and said seriously, "Trust me, Big Sister will find a way when the time comes."

"Then I'll do my best."

Tang Yao looked at the exceptionally serious Li Xue and agreed again. "But this is fine on my end. The problem is Third-rate Painter..."

"Then you'll have to think of something yourself. Who told you to use a pseudonym?"

Li Xue chuckled. "Wouldn't it be enough to admit that you drew it? A beautiful-girl manga artist would be quite a gimmick too..."

"..."

Tang Yao ignored her. Admitting it was impossible. It felt like it would cause a lot of trouble.

Or should I have Xun make a guest appearance?

"Also."

Just as Tang Yao began considering whether to have her younger sister make a guest appearance as "Third-rate Painter,"

Li Xue spoke again. "Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"

"Hmm?"

Tang Yao raised her head. "Of course."

"Then I'll arrange for that relative to meet tomorrow. I'll come find you when the time comes."

Li Xue encouraged her, "Don't get stage fright."