Chapter 17: Grand Prize Promotion (Part 2)

Qiandu.

Inside the Desert Bicycle Tieba¹.

The forum moderator, “I am Da Zhuang,” began updating a featured post.

The title was incredibly eye-catching.

“Shocking! Today, the most stunning ending in gaming history was born! The witness to a world record, the god who broke the limits of humanity, his true identity is actually…”

Upon seeing this title…

The forum members who were looking for cheats or strategy guides couldn’t help but click on it.

Breaking the limits of humanity?

What on earth?

A Guinness World Record?

It smelled like pure clickbait.

After clicking in…

They saw this text in the very first post!

“The Universe Technology Season 1 competition officially reached its conclusion just half an hour ago…”

“As everyone knows, Desert Bicycle is a game that tests the limits of human focus and the limits of human rhythm!”

“Countless Huaxia players, after coming into contact with this game, were attracted by the reward mechanism while simultaneously being shocked by the game’s extreme difficulty…”

“In fact, the core of this game is a test of humanity, an affirmation of perseverance. It is easy to earn points in the early stages, but in the later stages, every second is a push to the limit!”

“Many people said that it was impossible for anyone to clear this game. Many were looking everywhere for guides, looking everywhere for cheats, and some even started calling it a scam…”

“Many said it was impossible for anyone to get the thirty thousand yuan prize. They said the officials were just fooling the players, because no one could possibly have such terrifying rhythmic ability or such amazing focus!”

“But…”

“There is one player who, amidst adversity, turned the tide. In a desperate situation, he broke the limits of humanity, causing the entire game officialdom to tremble. Even the Chairman of Universe Technology, Zhang Yang, was floored on the spot…”

“Season 1, a god of a new gaming era is being born!”

“…”

“…”

Below the post, several pictures appeared.

The pictures showed the background wall of Universe Technology. Beneath the wall, a refined-looking young man in a suit was slumped over a computer desk, staring at the screen in shock.

Immediately after…

The post was updated with another picture.

In the second picture, several figures carrying trophies and silk banners² were standing by the side of the road, directing a group of people playing gongs and drums.

The silk banners fluttered in the wind…

Seeing this scene, many netizens were stunned!

“Holy crap, someone actually cleared this game?”

“It seems so…”

“Someone definitely cleared it. This person is the god of our internet cafe, God Ge. He’s a legend!”

“Wait, these people are going to present the award? Why does this place look familiar?”

“Me too!”

“What the hell, isn’t this our Xingxing Internet Cafe?”

“Oh my god!”

“I can hear the noise! The award presenters are actually here!”

“Damn it, I’m in the internet cafe right now. I’ll go take a look and tell everyone what’s happening!”

“…”

“Bro, where are you? Livestream the ceremony! Take some photos and send them over…”

“…”

Xingxing Internet Cafe.

Several netizens who were originally looking for cheats on the forum heard the sound of gongs and drums.

They instinctively stood up.

Then…

They saw several smiling, jubilant young men leading a band, carrying cameras and microphones, as they walked into the internet cafe.

The sound of the suona³ was loud and clear, filled with celebration and joy. Outside, ceremonial cannons fired in unison, as if a top scholar⁴ from ancient times had returned home in glory.

They surrounded Ge Yumiao. Under the lens of the camera, they handed him the microphone!

Is this an interview?

Holy shit!

This is incredible!

Several people widened their eyes and crowded around…

“Congratulations, God Ge! Congratulations on winning the grand prize!”

Zhang Yang’s voice appeared beside Ge Yumiao.

Ge Yumiao was stunned!

He was at a loss, his face turning bright red.

The more people gathered around, the more nervous he felt…

When he saw the trophy and the silk banner, his mind went blank with excitement.

From childhood to adulthood, he had always been a poor student at school. In the eyes of his teachers, he was a net-addict who would eventually end up as a beggar. This was the first time he had ever experienced such grand treatment.

The sound of the suona became even more resounding and festive. Many onlookers felt a sense of daze, feeling as if a grand banquet⁵ was about to begin at any moment!

“Universe Technology Season 1, Desert Bicycle Champion!”

Zhang Yang handed him the trophy with great solemnity…

He took the trophy, his entire being in a trance. He lowered his head and saw those words!

In that moment, for some reason, he felt a surge of endless emotion. His nose stung and his eyes grew moist, and he didn’t even know what to say!

A burst of applause rang out in the internet cafe.

He became even more dazed!

There are actually people clapping for me?

He instinctively turned his head, only to see that he was already surrounded by people. Not far away, a camera was snapping photos of him rapidly…

I can actually appear on camera?

Just by playing a game, I can actually…

I…

“God Ge, let’s take a photo together! You are our first champion of the Season 1, and also the first champion of our Universe Technology. This is very significant!”

“It is my honor to take a photo with you!”

Ge Yumiao saw the leading young man excitedly grab his hand and say these words very seriously.

Then, someone took a photo of them together. After the photo was taken, he was handed a board that said “30,000 Yuan⁶” on it, and they took another photo.

Although he still didn’t quite understand what kind of spectacle this was!

He was currently a bit overwhelmed.

However, the stinging in his nose grew stronger.

For some reason, he felt a lump in his throat.

The sound of gongs and drums attracted even more people into the internet cafe.

Many people came just to see the commotion, not knowing what was happening.

The internet cafe owner, Li Zongnan, stared wide-eyed at the scene…

Then, he watched as Zhang Yang solemnly pulled out a black bag and stuffed it into Ge Yumiao’s hands.

He sensed it immediately…

It was money!

It was cash!

And it felt heavy.

“Thank you all for your support of Desert Bicycle and Universe Technology!”

“Everyone thinks Desert Bicycle is just a game…”

“But from the backend, I’ve seen how many people have spent countless days and nights grinding away at it…”

“I’ve seen account after account fail, yet one after another, people persisted and refused to give up…”

“Many even gave up their points just to clear the game, just to see the end of the story!”

“At this moment, the story’s end has arrived!”

“At this moment, it might be tinged with regret. Much like many people’s lives, it isn’t perfect; you can’t have everything…”

“But once again, congratulations to Great God Ge. Congratulations to him, and to us. When no one believed in this game, he chose to believe. He sacrificed all his points and all his hard work to bring the ending of this story to everyone!”

“Regardless of how the story ends, everyone, please keep fighting for your future!”

“Now, let’s welcome Great God Ge. Mr. Ge, could you share your thoughts with us?”

“…”

After Zhang Yang finished his impassioned speech, he began to applaud once more.

As he clapped, the people around him felt a sudden surge of adrenaline and began to join in.

Ge Yumiao saw the microphone being placed in front of him.

The heavy bag of cash, the symbolic trophy…

It all felt incredibly surreal!

A year ago, he had been scolded by his homeroom teacher and pressured by the school to withdraw. He had spent his days in a miserable, aimless daze.

Everyone insulted him, believing he had no future. Even he had begun to think his life was over.

That he was just a waste of space…

Even his encounter with Desert Bicycle had been a complete accident, born from a simple desire to earn a little money. That was all.

But even he hadn’t expected to persist until this point…

Was he trying to prove something?

At this moment…

Seeing everyone staring at him…

Hearing the applause…

His eyes suddenly grew red.

“I… I want to thank Desert Bicycle…”

“…”

………………….

Mumaen Technology.

Several staff members were looking at the front page of the forum.

They saw a trending post with tens of thousands of replies.

Subconsciously, they clicked on the thread about Desert Bicycle.

And then…

“What’s going on with this Desert Bicycle? Why is it so popular?”

“The game really has been blowing up lately. Even my younger brother is playing it…”

“For real?”

“It’s true! The marketing tactics for this game are unheard of. At first, I thought it was just another mediocre title, but I never expected it to become this hot…”

“Wait, the guy in this post… isn’t he the one you rejected?”

“Huh?”

(End of Chapter)

Translator’s Notes