Starting as a Manga Editor

Chapter 186: Disgust

"......"

Li Xue found Tang Yao's words reasonable.

However.

She still had some doubts and asked curiously, "But... they should know the quality of their own game, right? Why are they so confident?"

"Because mobile games are still a blue ocean market, players haven't suffered enough yet, and they have a deep understanding of the other side of gacha games," Tang Yao explained. "Their experience from PC games tells them that as long as they can lure players in, someone will spend money even if the game quality is poor."

Exactly.

In her past life when mobile games first emerged, how many quick-cash-grabbing game companies sprouted up like mushrooms after rain?

Moreover, online games—especially mobile games—always had gambling elements in their monetization systems.

Wasn't the ambiguous pricing of gacha mechanics exactly that?

"......" Li Xue slightly furrowed her delicate brows upon hearing this: "Is this really game development?"

"Perhaps they think it is."

Tang Yao gently shook her head, not continuing the topic: "Want some?"

Li Xue looked puzzled: "Hmm?"

"Water."

Tang Yao tilted her head: "You've been touching the rim of my cup this whole time. Did my lipstick stain it? Wait no, I'm not even wearing lipstick."

"......"

Li Xue looked down, somewhat embarrassed as she handed the cup back: "I don't want any."

As Tang Yao took the cup and raised it to drink—

"Wait."

Li Xue suddenly seemed to remember something, half-rising to grab a tissue from the table and carefully wiped the cup's rim.

"?"

Tang Yao slowly formed a question mark with her expression before looking at the blushing Li Xue: "What are you doing?"

Li Xue explained: "Didn't you say I was touching the rim earlier?"

"......"

Tang Yao slowly put the cup down: "Did you just go to the bathroom or something?"

"No! And do you think I wouldn't wash my hands!?"

Li Xue was momentarily stunned before laughing helplessly: "What are you thinking?"

Tang Yao countered: "Then why wipe it?"

Li Xue gazed at the beautiful girl before her, then after a brief silence whispered: "I... didn't want you to feel disgusted..."

"......"

Tang Yao froze momentarily before suddenly asking: "Where are the cookies on your desk?"

"Cookies?"

Though confused, Li Xue turned to retrieve them.

"I don't want any—you eat one first."

Tang Yao gestured for her to take a bite.

Puzzled but compliant, Li Xue picked up a cookie and began eating.

"Stop."

Tang Yao suddenly raised her hand, stopping Li Xue mid-bite before saying: "Give it to me."

"...?"

Even more confused, Li Xue subconsciously handed over the half-eaten cookie.

Tang Yao took it with her mouth, cheeks puffing slightly as she mumbled: "So why didn't you wipe this cookie?"

"......"

Li Xue blinked before understanding her meaning, watching Tang Yao's chipmunk-like stuffed cheeks. Her glossy lips curved into a bright, captivating smile.

"I was just asking—how could I be disgusted? We've been sharing cups forever because I'm too lazy to get my own."

Tang Yao took a sip of tea before adding: "To put it bluntly, we've been indirectly kissing for over two months now... Hmm, I guess this is what they call intimate girlfriends?"

"Mm."

Li Xue softly agreed, inexplicably happy as she watched Tang Yao's carefree smile and straightforward words.

"Though—"

Suddenly.

Tang Yao changed the subject, putting down her cup and eyeing the rim teasingly: "Miss Li, I think you should change your lipstick brand. Seeing your faint lip marks every time I drink makes me feel like some lecherous scoundrel..."

"......"

Li Xue stiffened as if some secret thought had been exposed, blushing as she denied: "Really? I don't think so..."

"Oh yes there are."

Seeing her denial, Tang Yao unconsciously scooted her chair closer before reaching out... and gently pressing a finger against Li Xue's soft, glossy lips.

Li Xue froze momentarily, body tensing as she stared at Tang Yao.

Completely oblivious, Tang Yao was merely testing whether the lipstick would smudge—nothing more.

Noticing this.

Li Xue slowly relaxed before playfully darting out her pink tongue to lightly lick Tang Yao's fingertip.

The cool sensation made—

Tang Yao jolt violently, yanking her hand back as if electrocuted, staring dumbfounded: "What was that for!?"

"Weren't you checking for smudges?"

Li Xue batted her lovely eyes innocently.

Tang Yao's beautiful face flushed red, gaze darting away—who cared about smudges now!?

Wait.

Since when did things work like this!?

Seeing Tang Yao's reaction, Li Xue also realized how bold her action had been, her eyes similarly avoiding contact as her ears turned pink.

An awkward silence fell.

"...Isn't that Chainsaw Man you're drawing?"

After a long while.

Li Xue decided to break the tension, scanning for conversation topics until noticing Tang Yao's screen: "Wait no, it's something else?"

"Oh, just a short story."

Tang Yao pretended calmness as she turned back to her screen, though her slender legs remained tense beneath the desk.

"A short story?"

Li Xue leaned closer: "You're doing one next week after Chainsaw Man's update?"

Tang Yao nodded: "Mhm..."

"Aren't you afraid readers will scold you for neglecting your main work... wait no, you're drawing this awfully fast."

Whether genuinely curious or still diverting attention, Li Xue continued: "Why suddenly make a short story?"

"Mostly to change moods. As for readers—Chainsaw Man isn't skipping updates this week."

Now more relaxed, Tang Yao glanced at Li Xue's lovely profile before answering.

"What's this one about then?"

Li Xue inquired curiously.

Tang Yao pondered: "Remember 'The Human Balloons'?"

Li Xue whirled around: "......"

"Same genre, but... the direction will differ this time."

Seeing her big sister's traumatized expression, Tang Yao barely suppressed a laugh: "Relax, it's not horror. You'll see later."

"Then what's it called?"

Li Xue patted her ample chest in relief—she'd feared another nightmare fuel like Tang Yao's debut work that left... rather unpleasant impressions.

"......"

Noticing the alluring bounce, Tang Yao inexplicably felt an urge to hug her—

But quickly.

She shook off the strange thought and answered: "...The Long Goodbye."

......

January 14th.

The last day before New Year celebrations fully ended.

Chainsaw Man Chapters 27-28 updated.

Although recent leaks about the FGO crossover comic made related topics trend heavily on the site, this didn't mean Chainsaw Man lost attention.

In fact.

Ever since last week's two explosive chapters—

Denji bisected, Himeno dead, Aki severely injured, Makima resurrected—

The discussions never cooled down.

Readers desperately theorized about these developments, eagerly awaiting this week's update.

Thus.

When the new chapters dropped—

Fans immediately clicked in.

As for Third-Rate Teacher's additional short story this week alongside regular updates? Nobody noticed...yet.

Among the many readers clicking in was Rumi's mother—Guan Fang.