Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao accompanies Tang Xun for her college entrance exams.
• After the exams, they go out to celebrate, and Tang Yao ends up trying on clothes with Tang Xun and Li Xue.
• Tang Yao returns to work, facing a mountain of tasks due to the success of the Summer Celebration Games.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: She temporarily sets aside her work responsibilities to focus on supporting Tang Xun during her exams. Afterward, she enjoys a moment of relaxation with Tang Xun and Li Xue, but quickly returns to her high-intensity work mode.
• Tang Xun: She completes her college entrance exams and experiences a moment of relief and relaxation with her sister and Li Xue. She also shows a playful side while shopping with them.
• Li Xue: She continues to support Tang Yao in her work, filtering important tasks and presenting them to her. She also joins in the fun while shopping with Tang Yao and Tang Xun.

Significant Themes

• Family and sisterly bond: Tang Yao prioritizes her sister's needs during the exams, and they share a moment of relaxation and bonding afterward. This highlights the importance of family and sisterly love in Tang Yao's life.
• Work responsibilities: Tang Yao's work is demanding and time-consuming, often pulling her away from personal time. This theme emphasizes the importance of balancing work and personal life.
• Relaxation and enjoyment: Tang Yao and Tang Xun have a moment of enjoyment and relaxation while shopping, highlighting the importance of taking breaks and having fun.

Character Interactions

• Tang Yao and Tang Xun: Their bond strengthens as they spend time together during the exams and afterward. They share a moment of playful teasing while shopping, showing their closeness and comfort with each other.
• Tang Yao and Li Xue: Li Xue continues to support Tang Yao in her work and joins in the fun while shopping with her and Tang Xun. Their interactions show a growing friendship and mutual understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao visits the MOBA (Arena) and Ronin project teams to check on their progress.
• The MOBA project is playable with a basic framework in place, though it's still buggy and needs balancing.
• The Ronin project demonstrates a combat system with a focus on wind and nature guidance, and a tense confrontation mode.
• Tang Yao decides to release 'To the Moon' as planned after seeing the progress of the major projects.
• Avalon officially announces 'To the Moon' with a release date, price, and a new story trailer.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao shows her professionalism and dedication to her work, visiting the project teams and making decisions based on their progress.
• Li Xue supports Tang Yao's decisions and helps her organize the office.

Significant Themes

• Efficiency and productivity in game development.
• The diversity of Avalon's game portfolio, catering to different player preferences.
• The importance of story and emotional connection in games, as seen in 'To the Moon'.

Character Interactions

• Tang Yao interacts with the project leads and team members of the MOBA and Ronin projects, showing interest and support for their work.
• Li Xue and Tang Yao discuss work-related decisions and support each other.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Avalon releases 'To the Moon', a pixel-style adventure puzzle game, surprising the gaming community after the success of 'Plants vs. Zombies'.
• The game is about fulfilling a dying old man's wish to go to the moon by exploring and altering his memories.
• The story reveals the old man's past, his wife's autism, and their shared promise to meet on the moon if they didn't meet again.
• The old man's memories are altered to help him achieve his wish, but his wife is erased from his memories.
• The game ends with the old man and his wife (from his memories) riding a rocket to the moon together.

Character Developments

• Johnny: The old man whose wish is to go to the moon. His memories are explored, revealing his past with his wife, his brother's death, and his wife's autism.
• Dr. Watts & Dr. Rosalene: The doctors who help Johnny fulfill his wish by exploring and altering his memories. They have differing views on how far they should go to achieve this.

Significant Themes

• Memory and identity
• Love and loss
• The fulfillment of illusions and regrets
• The cruelty of altering memories to fulfill a wish

Character Interactions

• The interactions between Johnny and his wife, especially her attempts to awaken his memories, are central to the game's narrative.
• The doctors' differing views on altering Johnny's memories create tension and ethical dilemmas.

In "Tang Xun's Playtime," Tang Xun, now free from the stress of her college entrance exams, explores her older sister Tang Yao's computer. She discovers a hidden folder filled with illustrations of beautiful two-dimensional female characters, sparking curiosity and speculation about Tang Yao's interests. Meanwhile, Tang Xun plays "To the Moon," a game developed by Tang Yao's company, and is deeply moved by its narrative. When Tang Yao returns home, she discusses the game with Tang Xun, but avoids revealing her regrets about the plot. The chapter ends with Tang Xun accidentally revealing that she found Tang Yao's collection of two-dimensional girl illustrations, causing Tang Yao to panic and lose her composure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao discovers Tang Xun has seen her browsing history and collection folders.
• Tang Yao is mortified and tries to make Tang Xun forget.
• Tang Xun asks about their parents' divorce and abandonment.
• Tang Yao explains the complexity of human beings and her views on marriage.
• Tang Xun and Tang Yao have a playful wrestling match.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: Struggles with embarrassment and anxiety over her sister discovering her secrets. Shows maturity and wisdom in discussing complex topics like marriage and parenthood. Ultimately accepts her sister's teasing.
• Tang Xun: Initially confused and curious, she later manipulates the situation to understand her sister better. Shows a playful and mischievous side.

Significant Themes

• The complexity of human nature and relationships.
• The impact of parents' actions on their children.
• The importance of open communication and understanding between siblings.

Character Interactions

• Tang Yao and Tang Xun's sisterly bond is explored through their conversation and playful interaction.
• Tang Yao's embarrassment and anxiety contrast with Tang Xun's curiosity and manipulation.
• Tang Yao's acceptance of Tang Xun's teasing shows their strong bond and understanding.

• Plot Points & Events: Li Xue mistakenly reveals a nonsensical game title, leading to a discussion about upcoming game releases and promotions, including Xiuhu, a new puzzle game, and two major projects with promotional videos ready.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: Shows understanding and care for Li Xue's feelings, teases her gently, and demonstrates her strategic thinking in game management.
• Li Xue: Exhibits her dedication and courage in pursuing her new career path, shows vulnerability and shyness in her feelings for Tang Yao, and displays her professionalism in managing the company's projects.
• Significant Themes: The chapter explores the themes of courage, vulnerability, and professionalism, as well as the importance of understanding and care in personal relationships.
• Character Interactions: Tang Yao and Li Xue's relationship is dynamic, with the dominant role shifting based on who gets shy first. They show care and understanding for each other, with Tang Yao teasing Li Xue gently and Li Xue showing her feelings through actions like hugging Tang Yao.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao reviews promotional videos for Ronin and the MOBA game, finding them too focused on gameplay footage.
• She calls a meeting with Kang Ming and Yu Lili to discuss the promotional strategy, emphasizing the importance of concept-driven trailers for new IPs.
• Tang Yao decides to step back from day-to-day production to let her team grow and take more responsibility.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: Realizes the need to let go and delegate more responsibility to her team. Considers restructuring Avalon's internal structure and stepping back from production.
• Kang Ming and Yu Lili: Show growth and maturity in their work, taking initiative in producing promotional videos. Open to learning and adjusting their strategies based on Tang Yao's feedback.

Significant Themes

• Letting go and delegation of responsibility.
• Team growth and empowerment.
• The importance of concept-driven trailers for new IP games.

Character Interactions

• Tang Yao interacts with Kang Ming and Yu Lili, providing guidance and feedback on their promotional videos.
• Tang Yao shares her thoughts on the company's future with Li Xue, considering a change in her role within Avalon.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Avalon suddenly announces two new games, Ronin and League of Legends (LoL), after the AG Summer Celebration.
• Zhang Da, a reviewer, is initially reluctant due to burnout but gets excited after watching the trailers.

Character Developments

• Zhang Da goes from being burned out and reluctant to excited and eager to play and review the new games.

Significant Themes

• The excitement and anticipation of new games, especially from a renowned developer like Avalon.
• The variety of game styles and themes, from small-scale puzzles to large-scale action and fantasy.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Da interacts with the game announcements and trailers, expressing his thoughts and emotions through his actions and internal monologue.

Additional Details

• Ronin is a single-player action game with a focus on artistic conception, loneliness, and sharp action.
• LoL is an online game with a grand fantasy worldview, epic battles, and diverse hero designs.
• Zhang Da's initial suspicion about Avalon's strategic shift is proven wrong, and he's excited about the company's ambitious projects.
• Players on forums and social media react with excitement and anticipation to the new game announcements.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Avalon releases concept trailers for 'Ronin' and 'League of Legends', stirring excitement and anticipation among players.
• Zhang Da, a game reviewer, struggles with his desire to play the new games, leading him to play 'Rusty Lake' as a substitute.
• 'Rusty Lake' experiences a surge in sales due to players' craving for Avalon's games and the anticipation for the upcoming titles.

Character Developments

• Zhang Da: Struggles with his desire to play the new games, ultimately playing 'Rusty Lake' to satisfy his craving.
• Tang Yao: Shows delight in the unexpected success of 'Rusty Lake' and discusses the international response to the trailers with Li Xue.

Significant Themes

• Anticipation and desire for new games.
• The impact of marketing strategies on game sales.
• The unique charm of different game styles and genres.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Da interacts with his gaming community, expressing his frustration and excitement about the new trailers.
• Tang Yao and Li Xue discuss the international response to the trailers and the unexpected success of 'Rusty Lake'.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Xue and Tang Yao discuss the successful conclusion of the AG platform's Summer Game Festival and Avalon's current strong position.
• Tang Yao shares her plans to let go of control after Ronin and LOL's completion, only proposing core concepts for new projects.
• They discuss Tang Yao's experimental project inspired by games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Genshin Impact.
• Li Xue expresses her desire for Tang Yao to rest, and Tang Yao playfully teases Li Xue about her interest in seeing Tang Yao in a skirt.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao shows ambition and dedication to her work, planning for the future of Avalon and her experimental project.
• Li Xue shows concern for Tang Yao's well-being and expresses her desire to spend more personal time with Tang Yao.
• Both characters display a playful and intimate dynamic in their interactions.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and dedication to one's work.
• The importance of rest and personal time.
• The exploration of new ideas and innovation in game development.

Character Interactions

• Li Xue and Tang Yao's relationship continues to develop, with Li Xue showing affection and concern for Tang Yao, and Tang Yao playfully teasing Li Xue.
• Their interactions highlight their close bond and mutual understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao continues to prepare for Avalon's "escape fund" and reflects on the game industry's future.
• Nintendo's Zelda series and the shift in open-world game design are discussed.
• Sony's and Microsoft's console strategies are critiqued.
• Avalon begins promoting Ronin and LOL with concept art and trailers, generating significant player anticipation.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: Reflects on her worries and fears about Avalon's projects, ultimately deciding to embrace potential failure as a learning experience. She redoubles her efforts on the experimental project.
• Zhang Da: Becomes increasingly curious and eager to interview Tang Yao after watching Ronin and LOL's trailers, recognizing her unique game philosophy and industry insight.

Significant Themes

• The evolution of open-world game design and the impact of Nintendo's Zelda series.
• The decline of traditional console business models and the rise of service-based games.
• Embracing failure as a part of the creative process and learning from mistakes.
• The desire to understand and share the thought processes behind innovative game design.

Character Interactions

• Tang Yao's internal dialogue and self-reflection drive her determination to continue working on Avalon's projects.
• Zhang Da's excitement and curiosity about Tang Yao's game philosophy lead him to consider interviewing her.
• No direct interactions between characters are mentioned in this chapter.

Plot Points and Events

• The final chapter of "Chainsaw Man" is released, leaving readers shocked and amused by Denji's unconventional method of defeating Makima.
• The manga's serialization has ended, leaving readers eager for the author's next work.

Character Developments

• Denji, the protagonist, finds an unexpected way to defeat Makima, merging with her literally.
• Makima, the antagonist, meets her end in a surprising and absurd manner.
• Su Deqiang, a reader, reacts with shock, amusement, and appreciation for the manga's unique storytelling.

Significant Themes

• The manga explores themes of desire, twisted emotions, and the unpredictability of fate.
• The ending highlights the absurdity and humor in the characters' struggles and destruction.

Character Interactions

• Denji's final interaction with Makima is both disturbing and humorous, reflecting his naive cruelty and dark humor.
• Su Deqiang's reaction to the ending showcases the manga's impact on readers, leaving them shocked, amused, and eager for more.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao's kinks are accidentally exposed to her younger sister, Tang Xun.
• Tang Xun accepts her sister's preferences calmly and offers support.
• Tang Yao and Tang Xun sleep together, and Tang Xun asks if Miss Li is the person Tang Yao likes.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: Struggles with embarrassment but eventually accepts her sister's acceptance. Shows concern for Tang Xun's feelings.
• Tang Xun: Demonstrates maturity and understanding beyond her age, accepting her sister's preferences without judgment.
• Li Xue: Offers professional advice to Tang Yao about an interview opportunity, showing competence and consideration for Tang Yao's preferences.

Significant Themes

• Acceptance and understanding between sisters.
• The struggle with personal preferences and their public perception.
• Professionalism and personal growth in the workplace.

Character Interactions

• Tang Yao and Tang Xun: Their relationship deepens as they navigate a sensitive topic, leading to a heart-to-heart conversation and a shared night of sleep.
• Tang Yao and Li Xue: They discuss work matters, and Li Xue shows understanding and support for Tang Yao's personal life, demonstrating a strong working relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao returns a bank card to Li Xue, which Li Xue had given Tang Yao years ago to help start Avalon.
• Tang Yao and Li Xue's relationship is revealed to be more intimate than previously thought.
• Zhang Da, a reporter from Game Frontier, visits Avalon to interview Kang Ming, the producer of Ronin.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: Reveals her deeper feelings for Li Xue and their shared history.
• Li Xue: Shows her nervous and flustered side when discussing her relationship with Tang Yao.
• Kang Ming: Reveals his discomfort with public speaking and his close working relationship with Tang Yao.

Significant Themes

• The power of friendship and trust in business and personal relationships.
• The importance of open communication and understanding in both professional and personal settings.
• The impact of a company's culture on its employees' creativity and productivity.

Character Interactions

• Tang Yao and Li Xue: Their interaction reveals the depth of their relationship and shared history.
• Kang Ming and the unknown person in the conference room: Their argument highlights Kang Ming's discomfort with public speaking and his close working relationship with Tang Yao.
• Zhang Da and Li Xiang: Their conversation provides insight into Avalon's company culture and the passion of its employees.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Da, a reporter from Game Frontier, interviews Kang Ming, the producer of Ronin, at Avalon.
• Zhang Da overhears Kang Ming and Shi Wanglin discussing their boss, Tang Yao, who they claim is involved in every game, and describe her as a beautiful girl.
• During the interview, Kang Ming receives documents from Tang Yao, which he becomes engrossed in, delaying the trial play.
• Zhang Da sees Tang Yao and recognizes her name from the overheard conversation, leading him to realize she might be Avalon's boss.

Character Developments

• Kang Ming: Initially nervous, Kang Ming becomes professional and passionate when discussing Ronin. He shows a different side when complaining about Tang Yao and becomes completely absorbed in her documents.
• Tang Yao: Although not the main focus, Tang Yao's brief appearance and interaction with Kang Ming hint at her influence and importance within Avalon. Her documents suggest she has a deep understanding of game design and open-world maps.
• Zhang Da: The reporter's perspective allows us to witness the impact of Tang Yao's presence and documents on Kang Ming. Zhang Da's realization about Tang Yao's potential role as Avalon's boss adds a significant layer to the story.

Significant Themes

• Game Development: The chapter delves into the complexities of game development, with Kang Ming discussing Ronin's design challenges and technical achievements.
• Leadership and Influence: Tang Yao's presence and the impact of her documents on Kang Ming highlight her influence within Avalon, despite her young age and brief appearance.
• Perception and Realization: Zhang Da's initial disbelief and eventual realization about Tang Yao's role as Avalon's boss emphasize the power of perception and how it can be altered by new information.

Character Interactions

• Kang Ming and Zhang Da: Their interaction during the interview showcases Kang Ming's professionalism and passion for Ronin, while Zhang Da's curiosity about Avalon's mysterious boss drives the narrative forward.
• Kang Ming and Tang Yao: Their brief interaction reveals Tang Yao's nonchalant yet authoritative demeanor, as well as Kang Ming's respect for her work.
• Zhang Da and Tang Yao: Although they don't interact directly, Zhang Da's realization about Tang Yao's potential role as Avalon's boss adds a new layer to their dynamic, making him eager to learn more about her.

• Plot Points & Events: Zhang Da, a game editor, visits Avalon to interview Kang Ming about Ronin. He learns that Tang Yao, the company's boss, is also the mysterious manga artist 'Third-rate Teacher' and has been the driving force behind all of Avalon's games. Tang Yao, unaware of the revelation, plans to take a break from work to travel.
• Character Development: Zhang Da's worldview is shattered as he learns the truth about Tang Yao. Kang Ming reveals his pride and helplessness in working with Tang Yao. Tang Yao feels embarrassed about being recognized by the reporter and expresses her desire to rest.
• Themes: The chapter explores the theme of hidden genius and the impact of a single individual on an organization's success. It also delves into the tension between recognition and anonymity, as Tang Yao desires both fame and privacy.
• Character Interactions: Zhang Da and Kang Ming interact, with Kang Ming revealing Tang Yao's true identity to the shocked Zhang Da. Tang Yao and Li Xue share a tender moment, discussing their upcoming travel plans and Tang Yao's reluctance to wear skirts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Yao announces her hiatus from manga serialization due to personal plans.
• A reporter from a gaming magazine, Zhang Da, visits Avalon and is impressed by their first action game, developed by Ronin (Kang Ming).
• Tang Yao decides to move up her rest plan after realizing the reporter might reveal her dual identity as the boss of Avalon and the Third-rate Teacher.

Character Developments

• Tang Yao: She feels a sense of responsibility and worry about leaving Avalon temporarily, but also looks forward to her vacation. She's embarrassed about the reporter potentially revealing her identity.
• Kang Ming: He's proud of Ronin's work and feels a sense of responsibility towards Tang Yao and Avalon. He's also worried about explaining Tang Yao's hiatus to his girlfriend.
• Shi Wanglin: He's nostalgic about the early days of Avalon and feels a sense of accomplishment. He's also worried about Tang Yao's hiatus.
• Ru Mi: She's worried about Tang Yao quitting manga and expresses her concern to Tang Yao.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and responsibility: Characters feel a sense of responsibility towards their work and the people around them, balanced with their personal ambitions.
• Embarrassment and identity: Tang Yao feels embarrassed about her dual identity being revealed, highlighting the theme of personal image and privacy.
• Nostalgia and accomplishment: Characters look back on their journey with Avalon, feeling a mix of nostalgia and pride in their accomplishments.

Character Interactions

• Kang Ming and Shi Wanglin: They reminisce about the early days of Avalon, express their worries about Tang Yao's hiatus, and share a moment of camaraderie.
• Tang Yao and Ru Mi: They discuss Tang Yao's hiatus from manga serialization, with Ru Mi expressing her concern and Tang Yao reassuring her.
• Tang Yao and Li Xue: They discuss Tang Yao's embarrassment about the reporter potentially revealing her identity and decide to move up their vacation plans. They share a tender moment, expressing their love and support for each other.

The new week had begun.
Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, casting a dazzling golden edge on Avalon's main building in the tech park.
The air was filled with the unique hustle and reawakening scent of a Monday, as employees hurried along, signaling the start of another work cycle.
Kang Ming held a folder containing the latest progress on an experimental project. There were a few key points he needed to confirm the direction on with Tang Yao.
Although the substantial document Tang Yao had provided already pointed the way, there were some details he still wanted to hear her thoughts on, even if just for a few brief sentences.
He walked through the corridor, arriving at the familiar door bearing Tang Yao's nameplate. He raised his hand and knocked twice with his knuckles on the smooth door.
Then, he pushed the door open and strode inside.
"Tang Yao!"
However, the moment he entered, Kang Ming froze.
The office was bright and clean.
Sunlight streamed unreservedly into the entire space, casting bright patches of light on the polished floor.
But the familiar scent, a mix of faint ink and coffee, was missing from the air, as was the figure who was always hunched over work or lost in thought staring at a screen.
The desk was unusually tidy; the usual drawing tablet, stacked documents, and the mug with game characters on it were all gone.
The place was empty.
Kang Ming stood at the doorway, momentarily dazed.
He had heard from the administrative department that Li Xue had made all the arrangements, but he hadn't expected Tang Yao to leave so decisively and swiftly.
Everything had seemed normal before he left work last Friday.
He had even said goodbye to Tang Yao, telling her he'd see her Monday.
But now it was Monday... and Tang Yao was already gone.
Gone...
He knew she was just taking a break, and the detailed blueprint was right on his desk, yet looking at the empty room filled only with sunlight, Kang Ming still felt a pang of disappointment.
Because it was only at this moment that he truly felt that the lighthouse that had guided Avalon for so long had indeed temporarily extinguished.
Kang Ming looked at the empty office and took a deep breath, as if to inhale the desolate atmosphere into his lungs.
A few seconds later, a smile, tinged with relief and a hint of mischief, crept onto his lips.
"That's really your style..."
He chuckled, remarking on it, and finally swept his gaze around the sunlit yet somewhat empty office, his eyes passing over the vacant chair and the clean desktop.
Then, without hesitation, he turned decisively, strode out, and gently closed the door.
The soft click of the lock... temporarily sealed away the brief tranquility and the soul of Avalon.
...
Mid-August.
Ronin and LOL were entering their final promotional phase.
This had not been affected by Tang Yao's temporary leave, nor had any players noticed that Avalon's boss had run off.
The powerful inertia.
The exceptional quality of the two games Tang Yao had spearheaded before her departure was enough to eliminate all impact.
In player communities, discussions about these two games were heating up, anticipation snowballing, with the focus firmly locked on the games themselves—exquisite trailers, exciting gameplay demos, and suspenseful story snippets.
Tang Yao's name was perfectly integrated into the vague yet powerful collective symbol of the development team.
And amidst the anticipation.
Soon.
That day arrived.
In fact, Avalon was now completely accustomed to new releases.
Whether it was an online game or a standalone title.
Perhaps when they released Dungeon or Survival Road, many had their hearts pounding, but as more games came out and the process became more mature, most staff members, except for the development department, had grown accustomed to it.
It was the same for the players; of course, they would get excited about new games and new gameplay, but they were also used to Avalon releasing new titles across various genres.
So, for both sides, this time, Avalon's two new games... were still a little different.
Because for Avalon, this was the first game released without Tang Yao present in the company, and for the players, this was Avalon's first attempt at a major action title and a new concept genre.
So, for both sides, there was much anticipation.
On the night of the release.
The city gradually fell silent, but before countless screens, excited eyes lit up.
Zhang Da sat at his desk, the computer screen displaying a draft of his in-depth report, which he had revised countless times.
However, Ronin only occupied a small portion of the text; the bulk was about Avalon and the person steering