The next morning.

Inside the Golden Wind project department, lively chatter filled the air.

Some held fried pancakes, others carried soy milk, some shared steaming hot noodle soup, while others peeled boiled eggs.

Topics ranged from international affairs to domestic celebrities, from pork prices to financial currencies, from "Fxxk KOMINA" to the day's project development status.

People chatted about everything, from north to south.

And not only in Chinese, but also in English, even simple Japanese.

The room buzzed with lively voices.

"Finished eating, shall we go?"

After downing the steaming soy milk in one gulp, Lu Bian kicked Da Jiang’s chair.

Da Jiang sucked in the last mouthful of noodles, grabbed two sheets of tissue to wipe his mouth, and stood up:

"Let's go."

They were going to find Gu Sheng to discuss the recent development progress.

Ever since the three of them formed a team, this had become their tradition: roughly every three to five days, they would seize the morning time to hold a small meeting, align the development direction of each department, and ensure the game progressed as expected.

Now, nearly a week had passed since the Escape project began development. Although everything was proceeding smoothly, the necessary coordination meetings still had to be held.

The two left the project department and went to Gu Sheng’s office door to find him.

However, after knocking, they found Old Gu wasn’t there.

He wasn’t at his workstation nor in his office.

That left only one place.

The two exchanged glances and headed toward Director Ou’s office door.

But!

Just as Lu Bian was about to knock, they heard Director Ou’s voice from inside.

Soft, sweet, coaxing and begging: "What are you doing? I beg you~"

Then came Gu Sheng’s voice, tinged with helplessness: "Ah—now’s not a good time."

"Oh come on, it’s nothing serious, just do it..."

"It’s not... this might interfere with serious work."

"What’s there to interfere with? We could do it at home, not here, so it won’t take up work time!"

"Tsk, Shen Miaomiao, that’s a bit much. I’m working hard here at the company, then have to continue at home. Are you trying to squeeze me dry?"

"Hehe, please, please, just do it..."

What— the— hell—?

Lu Bian’s hand froze mid-air, ready to knock.

Beside him, Da Jiang literally turned to stone on the spot!

Their eyes had never been this wide in their lives!

They exchanged a glance and saw the other’s pupils dilate like an earthquake!

What are they doing?!

What did we just hear?!

What kind of wicked words are these?!

Ah???

"This... this... this..."

Da Jiang lowered his voice as much as he could, pointing toward Shen Miaomiao’s office:

"Can they even say this?"

"I... I also..."

Not just Da Jiang, even battle-hardened Lu Bian was shaken to his core, at a loss:

"I’m not getting involved either..."

Da Jiang felt his toes curl and scalp tingle: "They’re even... planning to do it in the company?"

"Seems like... yeah..." Lu Bian was stunned too: "But probably gave up because of poor soundproofing..."

Silence hung for a long moment!

In the end, their expressions turned shocked and subtle, and they whispered in unison: "Much obliged—fxxk this shit—"

"Why don’t we just find Sheng tomorrow? The project’s going well now, nothing urgent to discuss."

"Fine, fine, let’s go."

"Go... go..."

The two turned right, their upper bodies moving like ghosts, quietly sliding away at the CEO’s office door.

Meanwhile.

Inside the CEO’s office.

...

"Alright, alright, alright,"

Gu Sheng finally gave in to Little Nezha’s pestering:

"Fine, I’ll do it. Honestly, I don’t know why you suddenly care so much about charity..."

Indeed!

Since last night when Little Nezha told him about the charity week event, she had been pestering him to make a charity game.

Gu Sheng did not oppose charity—on the contrary, he fully supported it.

After all, Golden Wind’s achievements were inseparable from social support.

They naturally had the obligation to give back to society within their capacity.

Publicly, this was actively engaging in public welfare, helping those in need, responding to national calls, and contributing to charity.

Privately, it was a perfect opportunity to establish Golden Wind’s good reputation and image. A strong public welfare image could greatly increase their corporate tolerance. Frankly, even if they accidentally made mistakes in the future, as long as no fundamental principles were violated, both officials and players would be more forgiving.

Moreover!

Gu Sheng knew that about seven or eight years ago, a major scandal involving nearly one billion in charity funds had shocked the entire country and enraged the top leadership, prompting a harsh crackdown.

Everyone involved was severely punished, and it was mandated that all future charity work must be open and transparent, with strict enforcement of reporting, punishment, and harsh sentencing—three years minimum, five to ten years for serious cases, and even heavier sentences for more severe offenses.

Since then, charity flourished, with various activities everywhere. China’s charity sector steadily improved.

With external conditions and internal ability, public and private benefits aligned.

Logically, Gu Sheng had no reason to refuse.

But the problem was that they already had a project underway.

Escape.

This project, aiming to fiercely compete with K Company's Silent Hill, was in a heated development phase. Given Golden Wind’s current manpower, it was impossible to squeeze out extra time to make another game without potentially affecting the original project.

Therefore, Gu Sheng ruthlessly refused Little Nezha’s request, saying it would be discussed only after Escape was basically completed.

But Shen Miaomiao was not willing to give up!

Golden Wind was at its peak momentum, and with China Digital Entertainment Association backing this time!

With both factors combined and full promotional power, she might secure a high charity rebate!

Once this chance was gone, it would never come again.

Shen Miaomiao couldn’t wait.

So she kept pestering Gu Sheng nonstop, like a little nagging wife—

When washing dishes: "Sigh, I’m Golden Wind, yet we don’t even want to do charity..."

After brushing teeth: "Sigh, I wonder how the players see us..."

Before going to bed: "Sigh, Chairman Jiang is disappointed. His special invitation got no response..."

Even at night when going to the bathroom, she knocked on Gu Sheng’s door, muttering outside while he was half asleep: "Old Gu, Old Gu, you have no conscience, Old Gu, Old Gu, you have no heart..."

Gu Sheng was going crazy.

And this morning, when they arrived at the company, the first thing Shen Miaomiao did was drag Gu Sheng into the office for another round of relentless nagging.

Gu Sheng finally couldn’t take it and gave in.

Hearing Gu Sheng’s agreement, Shen Miaomiao’s eyes lit up: "Really?! You agreed?!"

Gu Sheng rolled his eyes: "I was afraid you’d annoy me to death..."

"Then pinky swear!" Shen Miaomiao stuck out her pinky and forcibly hooked Gu Sheng’s hand: "Pinky swear, hang for a hundred years, no changing. Whoever changes is a puppy!"

Gu Sheng was silent for two seconds, then suddenly tried to be cheeky:

"...Woof."

Shen Miaomiao: ?

"People can’t be that dog-like, Gu Sheng?"

Shen Miaomiao was shocked.

I’ve been nagging till my lips are worn out, and you just imitate a dog’s bark to get by?

Gu Sheng chuckled: "Don’t worry, just teasing you."

Then, after some thought, Gu Sheng said seriously:

"But the game can be made, we just need to set conditions first."

"Huh?" Shen Miaomiao pouted: "Rules too?"

Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow: "So you mean there’s no room for negotiation?"

"Hey, no, no," seeing Gu Sheng about to get up, Shen Miaomiao quickly stopped him: "There’s room, there’s room, you say, please go ahead."

Gu Sheng was pleased, nodding:

"First, this game’s scale won’t be, and can’t be, too large."

Scale ties to effort, and Gu Sheng couldn’t let it affect the already full-throttle Escape project.

Shen Miaomiao had no objections and nodded heavily: "Mm mm mm!"

Before, she would never have agreed so easily.

Because she didn’t understand games, she would have instinctively thought a small-scale game couldn’t compete with a large-scale one.

But now, having observed Gu Sheng closely, she somewhat understood that a game’s sales depend on quality and multiple factors, not just scale.

Vampire Survivors was small but set records back then, right?

"Second," Gu Sheng raised a finger: "This game can’t pull people from the project department. It must be fully outsourced."

Escape had to guarantee quality and quantity. The project department was in full swing, and every person was an indispensable part, not to be casually shifted.

"Okay! Okay okay!" Shen Miaomiao nodded without hesitation.

Charity project rebates depended only on charity amount, not cost or profit, so no worries there.

"Third!"

At this, Gu Sheng emphasized, raising a third finger:

"You have to participate in this project, and not just participate—you have to take primary responsibility!"

"What?!!!"

The first two conditions, Shen Miaomiao could agree to without hesitation.

But this one was way beyond her expectations, making her body tremble!

"Me?"

She pointed at herself:

"Take primary responsibility? You mean make me chief designer? Director?"

Gu Sheng nodded.

Seeing this!

Shen Miaomiao was silent for two seconds, then took off her shoes, stepped onto the sofa in her little white socks, then flopped down beside Gu Sheng with a pitiful pout:

"I can’t do it..."

What a joke!

I’m just a lazy CEO!

Others don’t know, but you do!

As the top power behind the company, from game type planning to update details and operations, it’s all you, Old Gu, holding the reins!

Now you want me to be Director? Do chief designer’s work?

It’s not that I won’t do it, I really can’t!

"Then no game," Gu Sheng spread his hands: "My main energy has to be on Escape."

"Hey hey, don’t be so harsh..."

Shen Miaomiao grabbed Gu Sheng’s sleeve:

"It’s not that I won’t, I just lack the ability."

"I’m not like you, with all your experience, strength, China’s rising star, global darling, talented and handsome, plus..."

"Shen Miaomiao, I warn you not to use sweet talk to corrupt senior management,"

Gu Sheng sat upright:

"I don’t fall for flattery."

"No, you do, look your mouth’s almost stretched to the back of your head,"

Shen Miaomiao laughed and shook Gu Sheng, poking his face:

"Don’t be so stiff, Mr. CEO, just have fun~"

Gu Sheng was defeated by Little Nezha’s shameless persistence and couldn’t help laughing. The two burst into laughter together.

"Honestly, making you Director doesn’t mean giving you full responsibility,"

Gu Sheng said through laughter:

"I’ll set up the framework, and you just handle communication with all the outsourcing departments, review their final results, and suggest modifications."

"Oh—! That’s it!"

Upon hearing this, she suddenly understood and nodded, then frowned again:

"But what if I mess it up? I’m afraid of screwing it."

"I’m here, so no worries. With my support, what’s there to fear?"

Gu Sheng gave Little Nezha a reassuring look:

"Just do it."

"Um... really? Are you sure?"

"Really."

"Doing it today?"

"Start at home."

"Okay! Then you have to teach me..."

"..."

At the same time!

Outside the door.

Chu Qingzhou, who came to report the week’s work to Shen Miaomiao, froze at the office door.

One hand that was about to knock also froze mid-air.

No... this... they...

Ah???

Has it come to this?

Yes, I understand you’re adults and have freedoms in this area, but...

Talking about this in the company... is it really appropriate?!

Who am I? Where am I? What should I do?

For a moment, Chu Secretary even felt mentally dazed.

This news was too shocking, so much so that she couldn’t control her expression.

Better to go back and calm down first...

Thinking this, Secretary Chu also slid away like a ghost at the CEO’s office door.

...

In the blink of an eye!

The workday ended.

At closing time, Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao entered the elevator together, one after the other.

While buckling up, Gu Sheng frowned in confusion and said, "Old Lu and Da Jiang were acting so strange today, just now they pulled me aside and said something about being careful going home and such."

Click.

Buckle fastened, Gu Sheng puzzled: "Am I not safe enough yet?"

On the other side, Shen Miaomiao wore a strange expression, furrowing her brow and pursing her lips: "Sister Chuchu was the same today. In the afternoon she came to talk with me for over half an hour, talking about being cautious with major life events, saying she understands me, but I have to think it through carefully."

They exchanged a glance.

Then, at the same time, they opened the lollipops in their hands, popped them into their mouths, pulled out sunglasses, put them on, shook their heads, and said in unison:

"Don’t get it!"

Buzz—

The pitch-black Navigator started, the car drove toward the garage exit, leaving the underground parking lot and merging into traffic...

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com