C8 The Workaholic Nurturer!

After a long seven-minute wait, the order buzzer finally went off, breaking her concentration completely.

"Finally ready!"

She eagerly walked toward the pickup counter, trying to figure out how to silence the noise along the way.

"Beef bowl combo," she said, handing over the source of the noise.

The buzzing finally stopped, and with a look of pure happiness, she returned to her seat with her meal.

"Yours should be ready soon, too," Miaojie said to her friends as she sat down.

"Probably soon. Go ahead and eat!"

"Okay, I'll start. I'm starving."

Miaojie picked up her chopsticks and spoon, skillfully using both. Just watching her eat made it clear how delicious it must be.

After finishing their meal, they headed back to the office. They took a short break in the studio before getting ready for a meeting. Miaojie and her two assistants took the elevator upstairs to a conference room next to the lobby. The room featured an oval table, and some employees were already seated. Miaojie spotted Lee Lin, who had shown her to the Arts Department that morning, and waved. Lee Lin came over.

"Miaojie, you made it."

"Yeah. By the way, do you know where we should sit? We're not really sure."

"Oh, you should sit near the table. Usually, the heads of each studio sit there, and the assistants and editors sit behind. You can sit with me."

"Got it, thanks."

Lee Lin found a spot and sat down with Miaojie, while the assistants took seats behind them. The meeting was about to start, and most of the seats were filled. The editor-in-chief arrived five minutes early.

"Alright, looks like everyone’s here. Let’s get started!" announced Gu Aoxuan.

"First, let's summarize last week's progress. Each studio, please report."

Each lead artist began their work reports. When it was Miaojie's turn, she realized she had nothing to report since she hadn't been with the company the previous week.

"Hey, everyone, our studio just launched this week, so there's not much to report yet."

"Alright, could you share your future plans for the current comic series you're working on?" Gu Aoxuan quickly asked.

"The third installment of 'Starlight' is coming out this year. Honestly, the plots of the first two were pretty straightforward. I'm planning to revamp the storyline to make it more engaging, with more twists and turns and a more logical suspense setup. So, the next step is mainly about revising and perfecting the story."

"Okay, regarding the plot, I'll discuss it with you privately," Gu Aoxuan said, looking at her.

"Sure thing, Editor-in-Chief," Miaojie nodded.

After a round of presentations, Gu Aoxuan retained some of the studio's lead writers, including Miaojie. She discussed the upcoming work content and schedule with Miaojie, emphasizing the company's commitment to the comic.

Miaojie returned to the studio, opened her computer, and transferred some comic scripts and stories from her USB drive. She began brainstorming for the next issue.

"Momo, Lina, do you have any projects at the moment?" Miaojie asked while typing.

"We've been working on the line art for some mini comics. I should be done soon," Momo replied.

"Same here, just one more page to go," Lina counted the pages on the screen.

"Great, let's start tomorrow. I'll sketch out a few script pages today, and then we'll divide the tasks."

"Sounds good."

"I'm in, too."

Miaojie gently pressed the power button on the drawing tablet beside her. The computer's drawing software was all set up. With one hand on the keyboard and the other holding a digital pen, she began sketching on the tablet.

Time always flies when you're focused. Before she knew it, it was time to clock out. Her assistants had nearly finished their tasks and were getting ready to leave.

"Miaojie, it's almost six. Are you heading out for dinner?" Lina asked as she approached Miaojie's desk.

"Huh? It's almost six already? That was fast!"

"Yeah, are you going to keep drawing, Miaojie?"

"Yeah, I want to finish this today. You all go ahead."

"Wow, it's only your first day at work and you're already staying late. How are you going to manage in the future?"

"It's no big deal. I don't have much to do at home anyway," Miaojie reassured.

"Alright, we'll head out then."

"Okay, bye." She waved them off and continued focusing on her drawing.

With a few light strokes, she skillfully outlined the character, mastering the balance of the lines' weight and the play between reality and abstraction. Even as a draft, the image was taking shape. She was deeply engrossed in her work when suddenly, a phone rang, interrupting her flow.

The familiar ringtone of her iPhone chimed.

Miaojie picked up the phone next to her. The screen lit up, displaying "Ms. Yang." Her heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the digital clock on her desk.

"Oh no, it's already seven!"

With a slightly panicked expression, she swiped to answer the call. A strong, commanding voice came through:

"Miaojie, why aren't you home yet? Didn't we agree to have dinner together tonight?" her grandmother questioned.

The authority and strength in her voice would surprise anyone who didn't know it came from an eighty-year-old woman.

Feeling a bit intimidated, Miaojie put down her pen, bit her finger, and said, "Ms. Yang, please don't worry. It's my first day at work, and there's a lot to do. I'll be home soon."

"How can I not worry? I've even invited Mrs. Lee from next door, and we're all waiting for you," her grandmother replied, her tone softening when she heard Miaojie's timid response.

"I lost track of time while drawing and didn't realize it was so late. I'm getting ready to leave now, so don't wait for me to eat," she said, packing her things into her bag and shutting down her computer, preparing to take the elevator.

"No way, we're here for you. It wouldn't feel right to start without you. We'll wait," her grandma replied with a resigned smile.

"Alright then, I'll be in the parking garage soon." Miaojie was already in the elevator, pressing the button for the basement level.

"Okay, just drive safely. There's no rush," her grandma advised with concern.

"Got it, I'm in the elevator now, so I'll hang up."

As soon as she said that, the call ended abruptly. Miaojie looked at her phone, slightly exasperated. "Every time, it's like they're trying to save on phone bills..."

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