Chapter 18: E-sports?

Liu Yun stared blankly at the screen.

Then…

She looked at the download count for Desert Bicycle as if she had seen a ghost.

As of today, June 23rd, the game’s downloads had already surpassed twenty thousand.

For other games in their company, this data might not be worth mentioning.

But.

This was data created in just a few days!

At this moment!

She felt like things were going a little crazy.

She clicked on the Desert Bicycle forum and saw that the number of members had already exceeded thirty thousand…

The activity level of the entire forum was increasing at a frantic pace.

In the forum, she saw a figure that looked familiar.

When she spotted this figure, a confused voice came from a colleague beside her.

“Isn’t that the guy you rejected?”

They were all talking about it.

Their voices drifted into Liu Yun’s ears.

Liu Yun stared fixedly at the screen.

In her mind, the image of that guy who had suddenly set up a recruitment booth not far from her own flashed vividly!

At the time, she had found it a bit ridiculous, even thinking the guy was just a clown seeking attention.

It wasn’t just her; everyone at the job fair at that moment had mocked him, thinking he was a lunatic whose brain had short-circuited because he was so desperate for work…

Occasionally, when HR reps chatted, they would still bring him up…

Everyone treated him as a joke to share over tea, and they had even mocked the words he used when he tried to recommend himself!

But none of them could have imagined that this person would actually…

Succeed!

It must be luck. It’s definitely luck. Besides, one game really doesn’t prove anything!

Yeah, it proves nothing!

She reminded herself of this, hoping to make the gap in her heart feel a bit better.

However, her face suddenly turned crimson and hot.

She felt a suffocating tightness in her chest.

“Liu Yun, are you okay?”

“Liu Yun, this guy just got lucky…”

“Liu Yun…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just one game, it doesn’t represent much… and this kind of thing does happen often. After all, our recruitment criteria require an associate degree¹ or higher, a good image, and health. This isn’t your fault…”

“…”

Several colleagues nearby noticed her state and gathered around to comfort her.

She seemed to be comforted.

But just as she closed the forum, wanting to push this matter to the back of her mind, she suddenly heard a flurry of hurried footsteps.

Then…

She saw the head of her department’s personnel, Shen Yi, walking over in a hurry.

The leader’s name was Shen Yi…

Usually, he was very calm and rarely showed such an expression.

At this moment, he seemed extremely excited, even holding a stack of documents!

What was wrong with him?

Had something good happened, or had he won the lottery?

“Liu Yun, come to my office for a moment…”

Liu Yun subconsciously followed him into the office.

After entering Shen Yi’s office, Liu Yun saw him pointing at the computer screen. On the screen, something was running…

Liu Yun’s heart trembled, and her originally red face suddenly turned deathly pale.

Desert Bicycle was actually running on the computer screen!

“Have you played this Desert Bicycle? It’s a game that suddenly went viral these past few days. I just downloaded it and played for a bit… the game content is simple, but it’s incredibly addictive…”

“…”

“I’ve found that this Zhang Yang is a real talent. His grasp of the customers and user psychology is perfect. This kind of operational method is unheard of, but the results are surprisingly good!”

“…”

“Also, have you seen the forum? This Season 1 competition concept he proposed, and the things he said… it really gets the blood pumping!”

“…”

“For a talent like this, I want you to give him a call and set up a time. If he’s free, I hope we can go visit him together…”

“…”

“If possible… doesn’t our company have a vacancy for a Planning Director²? I can apply with President Liu… this guy’s planning ability is really strong, and his understanding of game concepts is also very deep. He gives me the feeling of a kindred spirit!”

“…”

“It’s really painful to have such a talent not working for our company. Hurry up and find a way to get his contact information and call him for an appointment…”

Shen Yi spoke with such excitement that spit was flying.

He was very agitated and happy, his eyes shining with light!

But a trace of bitterness appeared at the corner of Liu Yun’s mouth.

Shen Yi had no idea that Zhang Yang had actually come to their company to apply for a job!

Even worse, he didn’t know that the resume Zhang Yang handed over had been thrown into the trash by people like her…

At that time, Zhang Yang was a nobody to Liu Yun.

She hadn’t even felt a shred of guilt!

But at this moment…

Liu Yun lowered her head.

She didn’t even know how she left Shen Yi’s office. She only knew that her heart was gradually sinking…

In this world, it seemed there was no medicine for regret?

Just as she sat down, her phone received a text message.

It was from her best friend, an HR representative working at another company, Dadi Technology.

“I lost my job…”

“It’s all because of that guy with only a high school education!”

“…”

…………………………………………

“Thanks to everyone…”

“Thanks to everyone at the internet cafe…”

“I… I will work hard, I’ll keep working hard!”

The live stream on the forum was still continuing.

Every so often, an interview video or live footage would be posted.

Ge Yumiao, the great God Ge³, had red rims around his eyes. Having experienced unprecedented glory, the hand holding the trophy was constantly trembling.

After he finished speaking, he felt as if he were in a dream.

The interview then switched to the internet cafe owner, Li Zongnan.

Standing under the sign for Xingxing Internet Cafe, Li Zongnan was bragging wildly with spit flying everywhere!

“He worked very hard here!”

“Yes, I’ve never seen someone so talented and yet so hardworking!”

“In today’s society, you rarely see people like that anymore…”

“The first time I met him was probably… about six months ago…”

“…”

Ge Yumiao listened to the internet cafe owner recount his story, the man’s face beaming with excitement as he spoke.

Is he proud of me?

Am I bringing him honor?

His heart trembled.

Then…

He saw other people from Universe Technology interviewing other netizens…

Everyone was telling stories about him…

Every version was different, but without exception, they were all filled with admiration.

Once…

Deep in Ge Yumiao’s heart, the light had gone out.

It was as if he had fallen into an abyss, unable to pull himself out, completely giving up on himself.

But at this moment…

His heart felt warm…

“The Season 1 tournament with its thirty-thousand-yuan prize pool is halfway over, and there is still another twenty thousand in prize money left. You all need to keep working hard!”

“Once the rewards are fully distributed, we will be updating the player rankings…”

“This is a game!”

“But at the same time, this is E-sports!”

“It is just like physical sports. The only difference is that it exists online!”

“Every person who perseveres, whether they win a prize or not, deserves respect.”

“You all are the witnesses to the birth of E-sports!”

“…”

Zhang Yang’s words…

…felt like another beam of light.

Shining down on Ge Yumiao…

He stared blankly at Zhang Yang.

In this moment…

He felt this man was larger than life.

The game he played…

This was…

E-sports?

(End of Chapter)

Translator’s Notes