In real life, Jia Lu was rather shy and rarely made eye contact with people, especially her male colleagues.
But in the game, her eyes were fixed on the screen as if she were staring directly at him, making Wang Zhi feel a little embarrassed.
Then, the scene shifted. The protagonist recalled something, and the screen transitioned to an art exhibition.
Jia Lu's long legs appeared in the frame.
Wang Zhi looked around furtively, like a thief.
A sudden thought struck him: *As a vice president, he should at least give me a private office, right?*
***
"Ziyan, don't be so resolute. Look—a Flying Saucer! Trisolarans!"
The protagonist lay in a dirt pit, facing Zheng Ziyan, who held a shovel.
In the camera's view, Zheng Ziyan (Jia Lu) said coldly, "The questions I asked you earlier were to see if you could be honest. But not a single truthful answer came from your lips. You're just like all the others."
As she spoke, Jia Lu began shoveling dirt, burying the first-person protagonist in the deep pit.
Guo Xiaoliang's eyes widened as he stood up. "Holy shit, Jia Lu just buried me alive!"
Jia Lu, her cheeks still flushed, retorted irritably, "Well, it's because you wouldn't be honest!"
Jia Lu naturally knew about the game's endings. Big Fei had briefly explained them to her during the acting preparation.
This buried-alive ending was a hidden one, and achieving it wasn't easy.
First, you had to max out your affection with Zheng Ziyan (Jia Lu). Then, you had to deceive her to trigger the scene.
It seemed that throughout this playthrough, Guo Xiaoliang had been interacting with her constantly.
Wang Zhi said smugly,
"Xiao Liang, your rank is still too low. Look at me—I'm already in a committed relationship with the Boss Lady."
Liang Yin rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Wang Zhi, don't talk nonsense. The character I'm playing is Lin Leqing. If you keep spouting garbage, I'll rip your mouth off!"
Wang Zhi's lips twitched. "Yes, yes, Boss Lady, my mistake! I misspoke—my bad!"
Guo Xiaoliang's eyes lit up, and he rolled up his sleeves. "Really? Then let me try to conquer this boss... this Lin Leqing!"
The two single dogs played with such enthusiasm that they wished they could play through every ending in one night.
Lin Chudong walked over and said, "Alright, that's enough for tonight. You should head home and play. Any issues?"
Guo Xiaoliang replied, "No problems here. Zheng Ziyan's route is bug-free."
Wang Zhi added, "Lin Leqing's route is also flawless. Brother Yao, you're awesome!"
Yao Qiang smiled and gave them a thumbs-up.
The others also tested the game, and after they confirmed everything was working, Lin Chudong said, "Since there are no issues, we'll release the promo video tonight and I'll submit it for review immediately."
The game platform was well-established, so they could release it directly once it was ready.
Liang Yin asked, "What's our price?"
"42, but it's 37 with the first-week discount."
Liang Yin frowned. "That cheap?"
Though she wasn't very familiar with games, she knew from Yao Qiang that players of *Audition Online* casually spent tens or even hundreds of yuan.
How could this game make money at only 42?
Lin Chudong gave a wry smile. "Boss Lady, you haven't seen the investment we've made. This game didn't even secure sponsorships. In just one week, our costs were less than 200,000 yuan. Including employee salaries, it's at most 300,000."
"Don't set your expectations too high."
Liang Yin nodded reluctantly. While his logic was sound, she still felt a pang of disappointment.
This was her big screen debut—even if it was for a game instead of a movie, she'd hoped it would be a massive hit.
Lin Chudong patted her shoulder. "Games don't get popular just because they're expensive. It's about small profits and high sales volume. Don't worry, Hao Hao's Mom."
Liang Yin rolled her eyes and muttered, "You were playing it in your office earlier, right? Who did you end up with?"
"Not telling you."
"Tell me now! Or I'll smack you!"
"I didn't play. I was sleeping in my office."
"I'd believe a ghost before I believe that!"
***
At midnight, Cool Sound Media released their promotional video.
"New game coming soon! A fully dynamic, live-action interactive dating simulator. Six goddesses with distinct personalities await your conquest."
The video was a montage of clips featuring the six beauties: seductive, innocent, tender, willful, sexy, and icy.
The interwoven shots of the six goddesses were enough to set the blood boiling.
Six goddesses, but only one will receive their exclusive affection?
This art style is absolutely intoxicating.
Now, you'll transform into a down-on-his-luck romantic. How will you choose?
*Damn! I'm Surrounded by Beauties* is launching on Steam tomorrow!
The announcement immediately caused a stir in Big Fei's fan community.
"Another game! The Big-Breasted Sis is making her debut!!"
"Seriously, this time the Big-Breasted Sis is the main character. I'm buying this game no matter what!"
"Not only the Big-Breasted Sis, but also the drummer from Cool Sound Band! I love this look."
"Black stockings and long legs... Is this even a game? Are you sure it's not a movie?"
"Just tell us the price so I can give up!"
"If it were anyone else's game, I wouldn't even glance at it. But Big Fei's game? I have to support it blindly!"
"..."
The trailer generated considerable buzz, but the fervent response wasn't within the gaming community. Instead, it was in Big Fei's film fan base.
The vast majority of users were fans of *Bright Sword* and *The Beginning of the End*. These two dramas had built immense anticipation for Big Fei, and this time, the game looked as cinematic as his movies. Even non-gamers were drawn to it.
Meanwhile, Chunting Games also released its trailer.
*Beauty's Rendezvous* will be available tomorrow at midnight.
The trailer showcased several exquisitely rendered anime beauties, realistic environments, and stunning art direction. The interactive gameplay immediately caught the attention of many game enthusiasts.
These enthusiasts also noticed Lin Chudong's announcement and immediately sensed a whiff of gunpowder.
"Two game companies going head-to-head again? This reminds me of the big battle between *Audition Online* and *Piano Tiles* during Chinese New Year."
"Will there be free internet access this time? It was so awesome to play at internet cafes without paying back then!"
"I miss those days too! I hope the companies fight it out—it'll be a blessing for us players!"
"This time it's single-player games, so I doubt there'll be any such events."
"Between the games, *Beauty's Rendezvous* definitely appeals to me more. Honestly, Big Fei's game feels more like a movie than a game."
"Yeah, I'm not interested in TV dramas anyway. I'll just wait for the game. Wonder what the price will be."
"The two games seem similar—one with anime beauties, the other with real-life ones. Guess I'll have to choose just one, right?"
"Exactly. Playing too many games of the same type gets boring. I'll just buy one and wait for reviews."
"@Old Immortal Hu, waiting for your review!"
***
In a cramped one-room apartment in the capital, sat a plump man—the gaming streamer Old Immortal Hu.
Old Immortal Hu, whose real name was Hu Fan, had been a gaming streamer for two years, never quite breaking through. In the capital, he barely scraped by.
He used to be envious of other streamers, who seemed to have so much fun and make so much money.
But after becoming one himself, he learned how difficult it was.
Compared to his peers, his skills weren't particularly outstanding, his banter lacked flair, and he wasn't funny or hardcore enough to stand out. As a result, he never gained traction.
Things improved slightly when he started reviewing games last year.
His reviews of new games drew a decent number of viewers. He now had hundreds of thousands of followers on Bilibili, and while his live streams didn't attract large crowds, his review videos performed well.
When he noticed two companies releasing similar games simultaneously, his interest was immediately piqued.
He tossed the instant noodle container into the trash and quickly opened the game platform to search. The games weren't available yet, but they were likely to go on sale after midnight.
Old Immortal Hu immediately started his stream, chatting with his audience about the two games.
Within twenty minutes, his viewer count had surpassed ten thousand.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting his game reviews, their impatience palpable.
"After all, this is a paid game. It's always a good idea to check out reviews before buying. Better to be cautious."
Old Immortal Hu addressed the audience, watching the comments scroll by.
"Family, you can't buy the game yet, so I can't review it. But I can analyze these two companies for you."
"First up is Chunting Games, a company you're all familiar with."
"No need to introduce them—they're the ones behind *Dynasty Warriors: Slash* and *Piano Tiles*. I reviewed *Piano Tiles* before. When it was an online competitive game, it was just okay. But after they switched to a paid, buy-to-play model, it became a huge success."
"Chunting's track record speaks for itself. They probably saw *Piano Tiles*' success and decided to pivot to the single-player market."
"I've watched the trailer for *Beauty's Rendezvous*, and the art style really appeals to me. You can tell they put a lot of effort into it. I estimate the price will be around 80."
"As for the other company, I don't need to say much. It's Big Fei's company, and they've been on fire lately. I'm also following *Bright Sword*, and it's fantastic."
"I've reviewed *Audition Online* before, and it's a blast. The music and social features are particularly addictive. No wonder it crushed *Piano Tiles*."
"However, I'm not optimistic about this new game, *Damn! I'm Surrounded by Beautiful Girls*."
"There are three reasons for this."
"First, *Audition Online* succeeded because it was a music game. As a musical prodigy, Big Fei could fully leverage his strengths there. But this new game has no musical elements, completely nullifying his advantage."
"Second, their company has no experience developing single-player games. This is their first title. While it seems Big Fei is applying his filmmaking talents, actual gamers won't buy into it."
"Third, their release timing is terrible. It's clashing directly with Chunting Games' new title. Two games of the same genre competing head-to-head is a cardinal sin. If the first week's sales don't take off, there's almost no chance of recovery."
"Therefore, I predict Big Fei's game is highly likely to fail. But rest assured, this is just my speculation. Once both games are released, I'll stay up all night recording review videos. You'll see mine by tomorrow morning."
The audience immediately praised his professionalism. While Old Immortal Hu's gameplay streams might lack entertainment value, his dedication was undeniable. Whenever a new game launched, he'd be the first to stay up until midnight to test it. The faster he released his reviews, the higher his views would climb, and this relentless drive had attracted a loyal following.
After checking the time, Old Immortal Hu ended his stream early. He lay down for a nap, setting his alarm for midnight so he could be the first to review the game.
At the Youth Internet Cafe, a group of gaming-addicted teenagers were all night in the middle of an intense *Audition Online* session, completely absorbed in the game.
Around eleven o'clock, they asked the internet cafe manager to make them some instant noodles. The game paused as they ate, sighing in unison.
"Ah, I miss when Sister Huan was around. It's just a bunch of guys playing now, it's so boring."
"Yeah, who knew Sister Huan was actually a famous host? Now she's a comedy queen. She was so down-to-earth back then, she'd still hang out with us at the internet cafe."
"She can't do that now. She's swamped with work, and if she showed up, it'd cause a scene."
"She *can* still play. I saw her log into the Guild yesterday."
"Guess we'll just have to chat with pretty girls in the game online."
"Just being guaranteed it's a woman in the game is a miracle. Who knows if she's even a beauty?"
"Now that the city chat is gone, I can't even meet up with online friends anymore. I don't know when I'll ever find a girlfriend."
"If we're just playing games all day like this, where are we supposed to find girlfriends?"
"Why bother with a girlfriend? You know, showering her with care, scrimping and saving to buy her gifts, and then struggling to afford your own meals? I'd rather stay single and play games."
"Haha, that's too real. Finding a girlfriend just isn't worth it these days."
After chatting for a while, they glanced at Sister Huan's usual seat, which remained empty. A sense of emptiness settled over them.
"Did you guys see Big Fei's new game?"
"Yeah, I saw it. Not interested. I still prefer hardcore games."
"I thought it looked okay, but it's a shame Sister Huan isn't in it."
"It's almost midnight. Let's see how much it costs. If it's under 80, I'll buy it just to support him."
"Yeah, good idea. Let me smoke a cigarette and check it out in a bit."
***
At midnight sharp, both games launched simultaneously.
*Beauty's Date* was priced at 98, with a first-week discount of 10% bringing it down to 88.2.
*Damn! I'm Surrounded by Beautiful Women* was priced at 42, with the discounted price at 37.8.
Old Immortal Hu downloaded both games instantly and immediately opened *Beauty's Date*. He started his recording software, adjusted his microphone, and prepared to record a review video while playing.
Upon entering the game, he was greeted by four anime-style beauties, each dressed in simple clothing.
As the player progressed, they could unlock more elaborate outfits for them.
The art style was exactly to Old Immortal Hu's liking. As a hardcore otaku, he loved this kind of anime aesthetic.
After playing for about two hours, the review video was finished.
Old Immortal Hu spoke into his microphone:
"Overall, this game is pretty average. I'd give the art a 9, the gameplay a 5, and the music a 6, for a composite score of 7.5."
"The price is slightly higher than I expected. I'd recommend waiting for the discount if you're considering buying."
Old Immortal Hu's reviews were always fair and balanced. His hundreds of thousands of fans relied on his honest assessments, so he couldn't afford to be dishonest.
Playing the game and editing the video took over three hours in total—a real grind. Even though he'd slept earlier, he was still exhausted.
But he couldn't rest yet. His audience was waiting for the second review. After publishing the first video, he downed a coffee and launched *Damn! I'm Surrounded by Beautiful Women*.
***
"Old Immortal Hu is so fast! He really is the top streamer on the entire internet. You're a true speed demon."
"The 'Speed Demon' title is well-deserved. Watching you play this game is enough for me. I'll wait to buy it—it's a bit pricey."
"Yeah, let's wait for a sale. It actually looks pretty good. Maybe it'll drop to 30% off. I'll buy it at that price."
"We could just watch a stream instead. One stream is practically like playing it."
"Big Fei, hurry up with your game review! I need it before I wake up tomorrow."
"Me too. I'm not waiting anymore. Going to sleep."
"..."
In the internet cafe, four young men were already feeling drowsy.
One of them, wearing glasses, said, "I can't do this anymore. My fingers are sore from playing. You guys play—I'm going to try out that new game."
The bespectacled man clicked on the game, and Jia Lu's captivating face filled the screen.
He instantly perked up. He put on his headphones and immediately immersed himself in the game.
As the story progressed, the twin-tailed Qian Duoduo and the glasses-wearing Kang Na, each charming and utterly devoted to the male lead, drew him in completely.
When Liang Yin appeared, the bespectacled man nearly got a nosebleed.
The others beside him stared intently at the screen. "Holy shit, that body is insane!"
"Isn't that the big-breasted girl? Turn up your headphones—I can't hear!"
The bespectacled man sighed in resignation, quickly turning up his volume to maximum. With his headphones hanging around his neck, everyone could barely hear him.
Little Hao Hao wanted to play hide-and-seek with them. When the protagonist and Liang Yin hid in the closet, the others' eyes widened.
"Holy shit, I can't take it anymore! Who could resist this woman?"
"Could this plot ever happen in real life? Hao Hao's the ultimate wingman!"
"I think Hao Hao needs his dad. If I were him, I'd definitely choose Hao Hao's mom."
When multiple women appeared simultaneously, vying for his attention, the bespectacled man unhesitatingly chose Zheng Ziyan (Jia Lu).
The others were speechless. "Are you an idiot? Why would you pick her? You'll break Hao Hao's mom's heart!"
The bespectacled man retorted, "I bought this game, and I like Zheng Ziyan. If you like Hao Hao's mom, go play with her yourself."
"Fuck, I'm buying one too! Watching you play is boring as shit."
"Me too. I at least want to romance two beauties."
"Stop bragging. Let's see who can romance them faster."
The four immediately bought and downloaded the game, each with their own favorite beauty and differing ideas on how to approach them. Watching others play was nowhere near as fun as playing themselves.
Lin Chudong, sitting in his office, saw the game was online and shut down his computer, ready to head back to his dorm to sleep.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter