Started as a comics editor

Chapter 292 Li Xue's Dream, Damian's Confusion

Tang Yao made a big round to get a general understanding of the progress of the "Left 4 Dead" project team, then went to the art team to take a look at the concept sketches of the new project, before finally returning to her office.

then.

She then discovered that Li Xue hadn't left yet... As they spent more time together, they got to know each other quite well, and often they had a good understanding of each other.

For example, when they are busy, they basically only talk about work. When one of them needs to deal with their own work, the other quietly goes to do their own thing and waits for the next time they have free time.

But this time, after she left... Li Xue didn't actually leave.

Tang Yao was somewhat surprised and subconsciously slowed her pace.

The office was quiet, with only the faint hum of the air conditioning system.

And Li Xue.

This usually elegant and capable older sister, Tang Yao's partner and close friend, was now lying on the large desk in an extremely relaxed, even unguarded, posture.

Her long, smooth, black hair was scattered on the clean tabletop.

She rested her head on her arm, her breathing even and deep. The well-tailored black business suit accentuated her mature and graceful figure, and the black stockings that encased her long legs shimmered delicately under the office lights. One of her high heels was even slightly askew, hanging halfway from her toe, as if telling the story of the moment when its owner let down her guard.

She lay there, sleeping peacefully, and the whole space was filled with a tranquility that was almost languid, quite different from her usual efficient and sharp demeanor.

Tang Yao tiptoed to the desk but did not wake Li Xue.

She simply reached out, somewhat amused and exasperated, and gently brushed a strand of hair from Li Xue's smooth forehead, then retorted, "So bold... It's a good thing you're sleeping in my office, Miss Li."

Say it.

She gently shook her head, took off her thin coat, and walked over with extremely gentle movements, carefully draping it over Li Xue's shoulders, trying not to disturb her rare sleep.

Do it all.

Tang Yao leaned against her desk and started playing on her phone, but she seemed a little distracted.

She would occasionally look up and gaze at Li Xue, who was fast asleep at her desk.

That sleeping face, devoid of all defenses, shed its usual shrewdness and competence, revealing a rare, almost fragile gentleness. The scattered strands of hair, the slightly crooked high heels, and the coat draped over her shoulders, making her figure appear even thinner... all of this softened a corner of Tang Yao's heart.

Time seemed to slow down.

At that moment, a muffled murmur, heavy with sleepiness, suddenly escaped from Li Xue's lips.

"Yao..."

"..."

Ok?
Tang Yao paused, somewhat bewildered, and hadn't yet reacted.

"Yao...smells so good."

Li Xue murmured again, a little clearer than before, but still sticky and vague, with the characteristic slurring of sleep talking.

"..."

Tang Yao was even more stunned, and at the same time, her fair and beautiful face instantly burned... The heat quickly spread from her ears to her entire face.

No.

Dreaming?
But what exactly was this person dreaming about?

"..."

Perhaps it was those two unconscious calls that disturbed the dreamer.

Or perhaps it was Tang Yao's sudden, disordered aura that shattered the tranquil balance.

Li Xue's long eyelashes suddenly trembled slightly a few times.

Then, slowly, with a dazed look in her eyes, she opened them. Her hazy vision first focused on the dark texture of the desk in front of her, and then she sluggishly straightened up.

She didn't seem fully awake yet, still drowsy and lethargic, and subconsciously moved her arm, which was numb from being on the pillow.

Then, her gaze naturally fell on Tang Yao, who was standing by the table with a blush on her face.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The confusion in Li Xue's eyes quickly faded, replaced by a hint of surprise. She then realized where she was and the awkwardness of being asleep on her boss's desk.

She sat up almost immediately, not even caring that the coat draped over her shoulders had slipped off. She subconsciously raised one hand to tidy her slightly messy hair, while her other hand quickly went to straighten the stiletto heel that was hanging precariously from her toe.

"Uh……"

After tidying up my appearance a little.

Li Xue cleared her throat, trying to regain her usual composure, but a faint blush rose to her cheeks, and her voice was still a little hoarse from just waking up: "I...I fell asleep?"

She looked at Tang Yao with a questioning look in her eyes, as well as a hint of probing—did she not say out loud what she dreamed in her hazy state?
But what's with Tang Yao's obviously unnatural expression and the blush on her face?

"Ah."

Tang Yao suppressed the lingering heat on her face, then put down her phone, gently placed her hand on Li Xue's shoulder, and said earnestly, "But that's not important, Miss Li, tell me first, what exactly did you dream about?"

As soon as these words came out.

The air seemed to freeze.

Li Xue's hands, which were tidying her clothes and hair, suddenly stopped, and she froze on the spot. Her usually calm and composed beautiful eyes were wide open for the first time, clearly reflecting Tang Yao's face, which was full of inquiry and a hint of embarrassment but also unusually persistent.

then.

She turned her head away and looked away: "I wasn't dreaming!"

"You're obviously dreaming! Your face is so red!"

"no!"

"You're making people overthink things! What kind of dream did you have? What do you mean by 'smells good'?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Li Xue felt an even more intense heat surge from the base of her neck to the top of her head, and the faint blush that had been barely noticeable instantly turned into a scalding crimson.

Tang Yao became even more curious upon seeing this.

No, what kind of dream did this person have?!

But before she could ask anything further.

"They won't let it air..."

Li Xue uttered those words in a voice barely audible.

"!!"

Tang Yao was completely stunned by those three nonsensical words. Her beautiful eyes widened, her red lips parted slightly, and a row of huge question marks practically materialized above her head: "...What do you mean by not allowing it to be broadcast?"

She couldn't keep up with Li Xue's jumping thoughts at all.

But Li Xue didn't give her any time to react or ask questions. In the few seconds that Tang Yao was stunned, Li Xue seemed to have finally found a lifeline, or rather, a switch that could immediately break this suffocatingly awkward situation.

"You were walking too fast!"

Li Xue's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying a deliberate, decisive, and businesslike tone, trying to cover up all the previous panic.

Before Tang Yao could even react, she suddenly stood up, placed her hands directly on Tang Yao's shoulders, and with an irresistible, or rather, brute force that erupted in panic, pressed her down into the chair!
"Eh?!"

Caught off guard, Tang Yao was pushed backward by the force and fell back into her office chair. The elastic chair net supported her weight and bounced back slightly.

On the other side, Li Xue didn't even look at Tang Yao's expression, or rather, she didn't dare to look.

Almost simultaneously, she quickly circled behind the desk, moving as fast as the wind, and then slammed a thick document titled "Draft of Overseas Distribution Strategy for 'Escape' (First Draft)" in front of Tang Yao.

The crisp, loud sound of the document falling was particularly jarring in the quiet office, as if announcing—that the embarrassing interlude from earlier was over!

"There's something I haven't had a chance to say yet!"

Li Xue straightened up and looked at Tang Yao as usual—but her gaze was subtly focused on a spot an inch above Tang Yao's nose, resolutely refusing to meet her eyes, which were still filled with confusion and inquiry.

Her tone had returned to about 70-80% of its usual calm and coherent manner, but her taut jawline, slightly rapid breathing, and the lingering blush on her ears betrayed that the turmoil in her heart had not completely subsided.

"Regarding the overseas distribution of 'Outlast,' especially in the North American and European markets, we have received some new suggestions that require your prompt decision, particularly regarding rating and censorship. We may need to develop more refined content adjustment plans for different regions, and time is of the essence!"

Li Xue spoke rapidly, clearly, and logically, as if the person who was so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear on the spot just now was not her at all.

Tang Yao: “…”

She sat in her chair, glanced at the documents that had suddenly appeared in front of her, and then looked at Ms. Li, who had instantly switched back to her professional elite mode, exuding an aura of authority (although with a hint of bravado).

This is blatant! Utterly undisguised! A textbook example of changing the subject!

What kind of dream could I possibly have?!

Tang Yao parted her cherry lips slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but the words "It smells so good" and the even more bizarre "Don't let it be broadcast"...

It can’t be...

Suddenly, Tang Yao thought of something, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress the curiosity and inexplicable excitement that were lingering in her heart.

She didn't press further, but immediately picked up the document that had been slapped on the table and whispered, "Oh—overseas distribution, huh? So it's that important..."

Li Xue blushed, but still held her slender, white neck straight, maintaining the posture of 'I'm absolutely talking about serious matters,' and tried her best to keep her voice steady: "It is indeed very important, and... have you heard of Dragon Heart Animation Production Company?"

Tang Yao was taken aback, then a genuine surprise and interest flashed in her eyes: "I've heard of it... What's wrong?"

“One of their producers contacted us with a very clear goal—they wanted the anime adaptation rights for Fate/Grand Order.”

"Oh?"

Tang Yao was stunned again.

As one of Avalon's flagship mobile games, FGO boasts a large and loyal fanbase and a deep world-building foundation. An anime adaptation has always been a direction that fans have been looking forward to and that the company has been considering. The fact that a powerful production company has taken the initiative to approach them is indeed a major piece of good news.

only.

Is it reliable?
Little did she know that the Fate series anime had always had a troubled history in her previous life.

Seeing the change in Tang Yao's expression, Li Xue felt a little relieved, sensing that the topic had finally been steered back onto a safe track, and her tone became smoother: "Are you worried?"

"A little bit, indeed."

Tang Yao nodded slightly, her attention indeed diverted: "If this kind of thing is done well, it can certainly attract a large number of users, but if it's not done well, then... You know, there are too many fans of games and comics, and the expectations are too high. FGO also has a huge and complex storyline and a large group of characters, making it extremely difficult to adapt."

A slight misstep could lead to accusations of "drastic alteration" or "ruining the original work," or even worse, it could directly deplete the IP's value and dampen player enthusiasm for the game itself. While Dragon Hearts is a strong contender, the FGO market is too big and too hot to handle.

Tang Yao's concerns are very real.

An anime adaptation of FGO, if done well, is the icing on the cake; if done poorly... while it may not have a huge impact on the game, it's still a blow to players.

Who knows whether Dragonheart Animation Studio is just trying to make a quick buck or if they're serious about making a good production.

Seeing that Tang Yao was finally completely absorbed in the topic, Li Xue breathed a sigh of relief: "I understand your concerns. The adaptation of FGO is indeed a matter of great importance... So I was thinking, rather than testing the waters with a core IP like FGO from the beginning and taking on huge risks, how about... we use Chainsaw Man to test the waters first?"

"Chainsaw Man?" Tang Yao was slightly taken aback.

"Correct."

Li Xue nodded slightly: "The Chainsaw Man comic is currently gaining momentum. Its style is inherently impactful and generates a lot of buzz, making it a huge potential for adaptation into an animation. In addition, its worldview is relatively independent, and the storyline is still unfolding. Therefore, its 'forgiveness' for adaptation is much higher than that of a behemoth like FGO."

Besides, the storylines you've been drawing lately... are indeed quite captivating.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yao's expression turned somewhat strange.

Li Xue asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"without……"

If she didn't have memories of her past life, she would also think it was a good idea.

The problem is that the animated version of Chainsaw Man by Jackie Chan left a very deep impression on her.

Of course, if she can keep an eye on things, the final animated product shouldn't disappoint the readers.

But the problem is she doesn't have time right now... Left 4 Dead is about to be released.

As Avalon grows larger.

There are many things she simply can no longer do on the front lines. "..."

Tang Yao pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is Dragon Heart also interested in 'Chainsaw Man'?"

"They seem to know we won't give in easily, even though their target is FGO."

Li Xue replied, "But they don't seem to mind collaborating on other projects first to test the waters... And it sounds like they're willing to give us a say, so as long as we extend an olive branch for 'Chainsaw Man,' Dragonheart or other powerful production companies will most likely agree, and we can take the initiative to guide the direction of the collaboration."

Tang Yao watched as Li Xue spoke eloquently and confidently, as if her previous embarrassment and panic had never happened.

I have to admit, she's really amazing... a true elder sister is a true elder sister.

"Let's make contact and see."

Tang Yao gently shook her head, dispelling the chaotic thoughts, and at the same time temporarily banishing the impressions of the animated version from her previous life: "Let's see what they have to say."

If there is a chance.

Tang Yao certainly doesn't mind improving the current ANF ecosystem and promoting multimedia projects.

The future is unknown.

She cannot completely give up trying just because of her past life's work.

Moreover, Avalon now has both the ability and the willingness to strive for a better outcome.

"Ms. Li, please have someone follow up on this matter, and let me know if there are any progresses."

"it is good."

Li Xue nodded gently.

"Well, thank you for your hard work."

Tang Yao breathed a sigh of relief, then picked up the draft document for overseas distribution again: "Next, let's deal with the issue of tiered review..."

The office atmosphere has finally returned to full working mode.

The two began to have an in-depth discussion about the details of the overseas release of "Outlast".

But soon.

The two finished their conversation.

Because ultimately, it's really not a big deal.

The work atmosphere in the office finally came to an end with the finalization of the details of the overseas release of "Outlast".

Li Xue carefully put the last confirmed document into the folder, her movements returning to their usual neat and elegant manner.

"That's settled then. I'll email you the specific implementation plan later for confirmation."

Li Xue straightened up, her voice steady, her gaze fixed on the neatly arranged documents, deliberately avoiding Tang Yao's gaze from behind the desk.

"okay."

Tang Yao nodded, then stood up, walked around the desk, and went to Li Xue.

Her gaze fell on Li Xue's still faintly pink earlobes, and the curiosity that had been temporarily suppressed by work and a certain softer emotion quietly rose up again. The faint yet exceptionally clear elegant fragrance on Li Xue's body made her earlier murmur of "smells so good" come alive again.

On the other side, Li Xue held the documents in her arms, her beautiful eyes darting around, seemingly a little guilty. She turned to leave, saying, "I...I'll go and get back to work."

"Wait." Tang Yao's voice was very soft, but it made Li Xue stop in her tracks instantly.

"..."

Tang Yao looked at Li Xue, and the question, "What exactly did you dream about just now?" almost slipped out.

But in the end, looking at Li Xue's delicate face, which showed signs of nervousness, she swallowed her words back.

She's not stupid... She was just stunned, but this much time has been enough for her to come to her senses.

Moreover, Li Xue's usual behavior...

Although it is unknown whether Li Xue had similar thoughts subconsciously or when she was conscious.

But she didn't want Li Xue to escape in such a sorry state, because behind that embarrassment lay something she cherished just as much: the unique understanding and...friendship between the two of them.

"Li Xue".

Tang Yao raised her hand, gently pinched her soft cheek, looked at her quietly for a while, and then said softly, "Dreams are dreams, I won't ask you anymore, but don't make it so you can't get married..."

Done.

A charming smile appeared on her pretty face, and she quickly changed the subject: "Also... I'll give you a few days off. You've been working too hard, you've been sleeping in my office all the time. It's not good to be so tired every day. Take a good rest for a few days. Don't worry about the company matters, I'll handle them."

She didn't want to hold this gentle and beautiful older sister back.

"..."

Li Xue was stunned and stared blankly at Tang Yao.

Although Tang Yao quickly changed the subject.

But clearly, she heard it.

Seeing Li Xue's dazed expression, Tang Yao straightened her back slightly and couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Hurry up and say thank you, boss!"

"……don't want."

Li Xue snapped out of her daze, and her previous shyness seemed to vanish all at once. She put down the documents in her arms, then grabbed Tang Yao's wrist and pursed her glossy red lips: "If you're going to rest, then we'll rest together. Once the work is over, you can rest with me... come to my house, and I'll tell you about today's dream then."

Her voice wasn't loud, but her tone was exceptionally clear, firm, and even carried an unquestionable quality. As she spoke, she gripped Tang Yao's hand even tighter.

Her soft little hand wrapped around Tang Yao's wrist with unusual force, and Tang Yao could even feel her pulse beating at her fingertips—the frequency seemed to be much faster than usual.

Tang Yao: "Huh?"

"That's it!"

"I'll get busy first."

After saying that, Li Xue walked away in her high heels, looking rather guilty.

"..."

Tang Yao stood there, her face blank.

After a long time.

She suddenly realized what was happening.

and many more.

You should have made yourself clear!
Li Xue even invited me... and talked about dreams... wait... no... no...

what?
Tang Yao's fair face flushed red instantly, and she also showed a look of panic.

……

same moment.

North America, late at night, in Damian's apartment.

The computer screen was the only light source in the room, and the pale green night vision image reflected Damian Peterson's ashen face. Sweat soaked his temples and slid down his temples.

His fingers gripped the mouse so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force, and his breathing was as heavy as a broken bellows.

There was a suffocating silence in the headphones, with only the thunderous sound of his own heartbeat.

Under the eerie green night vision lens, a distorted, enormous figure appeared at the edge...

"Pause... Pause! Pause!!!" Damian almost shouted when he saw this, his fingers spasming as he furiously typed on the keyboard.

hum-

The game screen has paused.

The terrifying silhouette was frozen at the edge of the shadow.

A deathly silence descended.

Only Damian's own heavy breathing echoed in the room.

He slumped back in his chair, like a fish out of water, greedily breathing in the relatively safe air of the real world.

He trembled as he took off his headphones, as if the monster's roar still lingered inside. Cold sweat soaked through his T-shirt, sticking stickily to his back.

“Jesus…”

He muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and trembling with the shock of surviving a disaster.

This wasn't the first time he'd been scared by this game!

In fact.

This was the fifth time he had opened the game...

But the deep-seated fear was still impossible to overcome.

"How is this possible..."

Damian stared at the paused image on the computer screen, the lingering fear still present, but a larger, more perplexing question, like icy seawater, instantly overwhelmed him.

His thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to a few months ago.

The first time I received an invitation from Avalon was to test a game called Hearthstone.

He scoffed at the time, "Card games? What's so interesting about that?" But then he dragged a viewer into playing all night... The charm of card battles, the ingenious rule design, the unique card effects and voice acting... It's simple to learn, yet unfathomably deep.

He was amazed at the time, and a review praised this "mysterious oriental card game" to the skies, making his channel popular again.

Hearthstone is now among the top ten most popular games streamed on many streaming platforms in North America...

Damian wasn't surprised at all; he just felt... Avalon's got something special about them! They always manage to surprise you!

Then the second one was Undertale.

It was a pixel-art game. He was completely dumbfounded when he saw it, thinking—why is Avalon driving backwards? Why make a game like this?
Then, standing in the Judgment Hall and seeing Sans's lines, he was speechless with shock! Not to mention the peaceful ending where you don't kill any monsters... That subversive meta-narrative, that profound exploration of player choices, that philosophical depth hidden beneath the simple pixels... completely overturned his understanding of RPGs, and even games themselves! During his review, he almost felt like he was on a pilgrimage, calling it an "RPG revolution"!
Right now, Undertale is very popular among indie gamers... Many players think that this game has a high chance of winning this year's major indie game awards!
Damian wasn't surprised either, but his opinion of Avalon had changed—it was now that Avalon wasn't just talented, they were geniuses! Their depth of thought and creativity were unparalleled!
And now... the third time is "Outlast".

A top-tier, hardcore, and technically advanced 3D horror survival game!
Damian's gaze swept across the paused game screen...

To be honest, he doesn't usually play horror games.

But without a doubt, Avalon delivered a perfect result, the kind of result only a mature, world-class horror game development team could produce!

Once the game is released, fans will definitely not miss it!!
But this time!
Damian found this extremely strange!

Hearthstone is a fun and engaging card battle game with depth, Undertale is an RPG that subverts tradition and established impressions, and Outlast is an extremely immersive hardcore 3D horror survival game.

This span is too big!

Moreover, each of the three games has achieved near-perfect completion and an astonishing level of excellence in its genre, with no obvious shortcomings or novice-like inexperience, only seasoned skill and precision.

How is this done?
How come this company is so amazing?

"A company that previously made mobile games... in a short period of time... released three single-player games with very different styles..."

Damian murmured, "What exactly is the background of this company called Avalon?"

Ding Dong!

Just as Damian was deeply perplexed and shocked by Avalon's power.

The bottom right corner of the computer screen.

A new email notification bubble popped up unexpectedly on the email icon.

From: Avalon Global Publishing.

Subject: Review Invitation - Left 4 Dead Closed Beta Test

"!!!"

When Damian saw this, it was as if he had been struck by a high voltage. He jumped up and almost fell off the chair!
He stared at the familiar sender's name and the brand-new, action-packed game title—Left 4 Dead—his eyes practically popping out of their sockets!

The fourth one?!

Come again? !
(End of this chapter)