Why Can’t I Make Games C48
by MarineTLChapter 48: A Compact Disc
In this world, aside from your parents, no one will ever give you anything for free…
If you want something, you have to trade for it.
It is either an exchange of equal value, or you trade something most important to you for something others deem important.
If you cannot make the trade…
Then!
It simply means you do not carry enough weight.
……………………….
“Is this the place?”
“…”
Sun Lili, carrying her backpack, had traveled all the way from distant Zhejiang Province to Yanjing.
She stopped in front of an office building, staring blankly at the large characters above that read “Universe Technology.”
She was lost in thought.
Just yesterday, she had received a message on her Q-Dog.
The message was sent by Manager Wu from the Human Resources Department of Universe Technology.
Manager Wu asked if she was interested in working for the company. If she was officially hired, the company promised a monthly salary of ten thousand yuan, totaling one hundred and twenty thousand yuan a year!
When Sun Lili heard that figure, she was utterly shocked!
In this era, there were not many companies that could offer such a high price…
Moreover, she was a girl from a small county town. She naturally felt a sense of yearning for a place like Yanjing, right at the foot of the imperial city1.
And so…
She came with the mindset of just giving it a try!
Of course, before coming, she had clearly emphasized her educational background.
She only had a junior college degree and was currently working a very simple sales job in her hometown. Drawing was just a hobby for her spare time, and she had only learned to use graphic design software when she could find the time.
Even before this, she had only submitted her work to Universe Technology with the attitude of giving it a shot. She never expected to receive prize money, let alone win an award.
Until now, she had always felt it was a fluke.
Once the fluke was over, everything would return to normal.
She would still be that air conditioner salesperson who worked herself to the bone every day.
Yanjing?
She longed for it, but she figured she would just come for a vacation once she had saved up some money in the future.
However!
The reply from Universe Technology on Q-Dog completely changed her mind.
The other party said her educational background didn’t matter at all.
She just needed to bring her award certificate…
What they valued was personal ability.
That night.
After tossing and turning for a long time, she finally made a decision and bought a plane ticket to Yanjing…
The light of the setting sun was beautiful.
Following the address, she took the elevator up to the seventh floor.
She noticed some people were nailing up department signs.
“Technical Department”
“Planning Department”
“Art Department”
“Finance Department”…
Aside from that, a single glance showed her that the entire office area was empty. There were no computers, no desks…
“Hello, you must be Ms. Sun Lili?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Hello, I’m Wu Zhuang, the manager of the HR and Marketing departments currently in charge of things here. Why don’t I take you to the dormitory first?”
“Ah, there are dormitories?”
“Yes.”
While Sun Lili was looking around, four girls about her age suddenly appeared nearby. They were being led through the company by a tall man from the Northeast.
When the man saw her, his eyes lit up, and he gave her an enthusiastic smile…
Sun Lili was momentarily stunned, followed by a wave of pleasant surprise.
She hadn’t asked about it on Q-Dog. After all, in her subconscious, a job paying ten thousand a month usually meant you had to rent your own place.
She hadn’t expected…
The company actually provided housing?
Just as she picked up her luggage to follow Manager Wu…
She suddenly saw a door open nearby.
A young man chewing gum and holding several sheets of A4 paper walked out in a hurry.
“President Zhang… I’m taking them to the dormitory now.”
“Oh, alright.”
President Zhang?
Sun Lili instinctively turned her head to look at the gum-chewing young man.
Was this the legendary Zhang Yang?
On the forums, you could always find legends about this man…
He had started his business from nothing. Relying on an unprecedented marketing model, he made his first game a massive hit. Then, using an “interactive” model, he pushed his second game, Beat the Grass Mud Horse, to the top of the indie game rankings…
Sun Lili watched as Zhang Yang gave the newcomers a small smile.
“Wow! This President Zhang is so handsome!”
“Yeah, he’s much more handsome in person than in photos or even the videos online…”
“Why does he look so young?”
“…”
In the crowd…
Several girls were staring at Zhang Yang’s back, whispering secretly.
Sun Lili was also shocked!
This person seemed even a bit younger than her.
He looked like he had just turned twenty.
“Our President Zhang is actually twenty-one!”
“What?”
When they heard Manager Wu Zhuang say this with a helpless smile, everyone was stunned!
Twenty-one years old!
Heavens!
Sun Lili felt her mind go blank…
At this age, shouldn’t he be in university?
“In fact, when we learned President Zhang’s actual age, we were shocked too…”
“…”
Old Wu shrugged, his expression quite complex.
Just as he was about to lead the new colleagues to the dormitory building, he suddenly saw Zhang Yang turn back to look at him…
“Old Wu!”
“What is it, President Zhang?”
“Do you know where the recording studio is?”
“Recording studio?”
“Yeah, the kind of place where you can record songs. I want to record an a cappella track…”
“Huh?”
“…”
Old Wu instinctively glanced at the A4 manuscript in Zhang Yang’s hand.
Sun Lili caught a glimpse as well.
They noticed the manuscript seemed to have “Seven Miles2” or something written on it…
On another page, the title seemed to be “Blue and White Porcelain3“…
After watching Old Wu tell Zhang Yang the location of the recording studio…
Sun Lili looked at Zhang Yang’s departing figure with a dazed expression.
What exactly was President Zhang planning to do?
…………………………
July 9th.
The sky was filled with the glow of the sunset.
Chen Weiwei lay exhausted on the lounge chair in her office.
Despite her fatigue, sleep eluded her.
She was under immense pressure.
In fact…
The moment she closed her eyes, she was haunted by business data and the competitive pressures facing a major corporation.
How could her stress not be high?
Her phone began to ring.
She answered it instinctively.
“President Chen?”
“Oh, it’s President Zhang. President Zhang, is there something I can help you with?”
“Have you contacted Zhou Yang yet?”
“Not yet. I’m about to. Why?”
“When you reach out, could you help me send him a CD?”
“What?”
…
Taiwan.
Huaxing Entertainment.
Zhou Yang’s manager, Li Ziwen, received a call from the mainland.
After hanging up, she remained silent for a moment before finally knocking on the door to Zhou Yang’s office.
Zhou Yang was currently reviewing manuscripts.
These were songs that Li Ziwen had commissioned for him.
It had been nearly a year since his last album was released, and the new one was nowhere in sight.
This was starting to make him anxious.
However, out of all these songs, he hadn’t been able to find anything suitable.
Or rather, he hadn’t found a single song that truly fit him.
Though he had become an overnight sensation, the industry had seen far too many such singers over the years. For a singer to truly endure, they needed the right body of work.
Otherwise…
They would inevitably fade into obscurity.
He looked troubled.
“Xiao Zhou…”
“What is it, Sister Wen?”
“Two computer brands from the mainland want to sign a spokesperson deal with us. One is Lianzhong4, an established computer giant, and the other is a company called Bluebird, a startup that was just founded…”
“What are their offers?”
“One offered around ten million, which is the top market rate. The other offered a little over seven million, which is quite unremarkable.”
“A big brand is usually more reliable.”
“The people at Bluebird sent us a CD… do you want to give it a listen?”
“A CD?”
“Yes.”
(End of Chapter)
Translator’s Notes
- foot of the imperial city: The phrase ‘at the foot of the imperial city’ (huángchéng jiǎoxià) is a common idiom for Beijing. It refers to the city’s history as the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasties, implying a sense of prestige, cultural superiority, and proximity to the center of power. ↩
- Seven Miles: Likely a reference to ‘Qi Li Xiang’ (Seven-Mile Fragrance), a famous song by Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou. The use of real-world song titles is a common element in stories where characters utilize existing cultural hits for their own success. ↩
- Blue and White Porcelain: Likely a reference to ‘Qing Hua Ci’ (Blue and White Porcelain), an iconic song by Jay Chou. It is a well-known example of ‘China Wind’ (Zhongguofeng) music, which blends traditional Chinese cultural elements with modern pop. ↩
- Lianzhong: The name Lianzhong (联众) literally translates to ‘united masses’ or ‘connected public.’ In the context of an established computer giant, it evokes the image of a major, state-linked, or market-dominant corporation, similar to real-world Chinese tech leaders. ↩
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