Chapter 96: You’ll Regret It Even More

Zhang Yang was feeling a bit of a headache.

The TCA awards were known as the Oscars of the gaming world.

However, this year’s host country happened to be Japan, that place where people certainly know how to enjoy their “comfortable” lives.

Zhang Yang did know a few words of Japanese.

He had to admit, Japan’s cultural and linguistic export was truly impressive.

In his past life, he had watched plenty of those Japanese “combat action films¹.” When the 1v1 or 1vN battles reached a climax, the participants would often shout a few lines to heighten the excitement as they grappled with one another.

After hearing it so many times, even a linguistic idiot like Zhang Yang had picked it up, and he could even mimic the sounds quite convincingly.

But…

He only knew those one or two specific phrases.

And those were phrases you absolutely could not use in public!

How could he?

Just imagine it: you arrive at the awards ceremony, grab the microphone, and suddenly belt out a couple of those lines to show off your linguistic talent. The audience would probably pelt you with their shoes.

“Since Liu Ruohan refused, I’ll just have to hire another translator,” he muttered.

“Still, I really shouldn’t treat Liu Ruohan like that in the future…”

“It lacks stature. It makes me look too fickle.”

“…”

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yang didn’t feel much shame. He was thick-skinned enough that this little incident didn’t affect him at all.

After a round of deep self-criticism, he finally began to re-examine the relationship between himself and Liu Ruohan.

First, he realized that he and Liu Ruohan were business partners. She had generously helped him once when he was at his most difficult point – well, when he needed servers – so she should be considered half a friend.

Of course, when he chatted with her, he had also told her a lot about future trends, including the path Mumaen Technology should take. That was pretty much paying back the favor.

If she actually took his words to heart, it was unlikely that Mumaen Technology would be phased out by the era. At the very least, their player base would remain intact.

Mm…

Liu Ruohan counted as half a friend.

Of course, Zhang Yang didn’t dwell on the matter for too long. Instead, he started contacting other Japanese translators within the country.

After all, one encounters all sorts of people on the road of entrepreneurship. Some might seem very important at one point, but as you move forward, many become mere passing travelers, and the distance between you slowly grows…

That was perfectly normal.

……………………….

“From June to November!”

“It’s only been four months!”

“In just over four months, a game we developed is already up for a TCA nomination!”

“This feels like a dream!”

“…”

When they saw that Road Rash had been shortlisted for the TCA awards, the entirety of Universe Technology erupted in excitement.

Zhao Hang clenched his fists so hard they shook. If he weren’t worried about his professional image, he would have loved to roar at the sky, pop a beer, and spray it all over the office.

After all!

From the company’s founding until now!

To be selected by the Game Oscars in such a short amount of time!

Forget Huaxia gaming companies; even among game companies worldwide, this was an unprecedented record!

He even started thinking about other things.

If they could actually win, if they could stand on that glittering stage and look down at everyone below, Zhao Hang felt he would be willing to give up his other leg.

And!

Why shouldn’t they win?

As of today, October 31st, it had been about a month.

The download count for Road Rash in Huaxia had already surpassed two million!

Even though it was being suppressed by the massive traffic of Dadi Technology’s War of Warcraft.

But…

If you walked into any internet cafe in Huaxia and opened the single-player game menu…

Which cafe didn’t have Road Rash on their list?

Look around…

Which internet cafe didn’t have groups of three or five people playing Road Rash together, shouting at each other until their faces turned red?

So!

Why shouldn’t they win?

“The King of World Single-Player Games!”

Zhao Hang suddenly turned his head, staring at the banner on his wall.

He felt so excited he could hardly breathe.

He could almost see Zhang Yang standing on the awards podium, carrying the gaze of everyone at Universe Technology – no, the gaze of every game company in the world – as he looked down upon the crowd…

He suddenly felt that they were getting closer and closer to that title.

………………….

“Universe Technology’s Road Rash, Dadi Technology’s Lone Island Gun God, Mumaen Technology’s Mars Fighting, Shengteng Technology’s Human Killing Machine… they’ve all been shortlisted for the TCA!”

“Incredible. I still remember that year when Zhang Yang was talking big in the internet cafe. I didn’t expect… he’s actually embarked on the journey now!”

“That year… damn, Universe Technology has only been around for about four months, right?”

“Universe Technology is insane. How long has it been since the company started, and they’re already nominated for the Game Oscars?”

“Damn! This is too cool!”

“This year is our best hope. According to last month’s data, Universe Technology’s Road Rash is crushing all other single-player games from the same period. Even many games from the US can’t keep up…”

“This year really is the most promising… there’s never been a single-player game with such insane sales before!”

“Are our Huaxia games finally going to have their moment of glory? I’m so looking forward to it!”

“It’s been three years, hasn’t it? For three years, Huaxia has submitted games every year, but every year we were just there to make up the numbers. This year, we finally see some hope.”

“…”

On the game Tieba.

Topics regarding Road Rash and the TCA had already exploded.

Over the years…

Huaxia games were mostly seen as filler.

Basically, before the awards even started, many people already knew they were just there for the ride.

Whether in terms of production quality or target audience, Huaxia games hadn’t been able to go international. They couldn’t even withstand the invasion of foreign games on their own home turf.

In fact!

Think of the famous online games like Legend or War of Warcraft – which one of them was actually a Huaxia game?

Even Shengteng Technology was about to announce the release of a turn-based game called “Heavenly World OL,” which was another title licensed from the West.

Single-player games were in an even worse state.

Dadi Technology’s “Legend of Sword and Fairy” was quite impressive.

However, its stellar reputation was limited to the Huaxia single-player market. In terms of actual paid downloads, it still couldn’t compete with “Death Declaration,” which was released during the same period…

In Huaxia’s own domestic awards, “Legend of Sword and Fairy: Ask of Love” had won countless accolades, but at the TCA, it was once again relegated to being a mere runner-up.

What can one even say to that?

Though…

The TCA was a name unfamiliar to most, known only within gaming circles. It didn’t have the broad audience of film or music awards like the Golden Horse² or the Golden Rooster.

Even many years later, plenty of people still wouldn’t know what the TCA was until it was labeled the “Oscars of Gaming,” at which point they would have their moment of realization.

But…

This was a grand feast for many players in this world!

More than that, it represented a sense of honor!

Yes…

A game made by Huaxia’s own people was participating in a global gaming evaluation during an era when Huaxia’s technology was still relatively backward!

And, under the watchful eyes of the world, they would step onto the highest podium, looking down at everyone while delivering a stirring speech!

Just imagine it!

What a glorious achievement that would be.

To share in that glory!

This year!

It was the year with the most hope!

…

November 1st.

How should one describe this date?

For a happy bachelor, this day certainly carried a certain suggestive feeling³.

Zhang Yang looked at the many supportive comments online. Carrying the blessings of all the players, he boarded a plane to Osaka, Japan, accompanied by Ge Yumiao, Zhao Hang, and the others.

As they boarded…

The faces of Zhao Hang, Zhong Chongwen, and the rest were filled with longing.

They were even wearing brilliant smiles!

They had stayed up all night to have custom crimson robes embroidered with the “Universe Technology” logo. Carrying the national flag, they embarked on their journey in a state of high excitement.

In fact…

They had even made a decision. At the awards ceremony, standing before the microphones, they would take out a Phelps Phone and solemnly play the national anthem!

Right in front of the whole world.

Compared to them…

Zhang Yang had also prepared his robe and carefully packed the national flag, but he appeared exceptionally calm.

Until things reached the final moment, one couldn’t afford to be too optimistic.

“President Liu, hello… President Liu, you’re not sitting in first class?”

Zhang Yang sat in economy class, quietly waiting for the plane to take off.

However…

Just as the plane was about to depart, he spotted the figure of Liu Zhongshan.

He was shocked.

Why would Liu Zhongshan appear here?

A figure like Liu Zhongshan shouldn’t be attending an awards ceremony in the first place. Even if he did, he would surely be in first class. Why would he be sitting in economy like this?

“Hello.”

Liu Zhongshan saw Zhang Yang.

For some reason, at that moment, he felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly.

The TCA was a gaming awards event involving many different game companies.

His Mumaen Technology was naturally one of the TCA’s partners…

In previous years, he wouldn’t come personally, simply sending a representative instead. But this year, he had been invited as an award presenter…

And so!

He had come…

He had originally intended to be modest and fly economy, but he hadn’t expected to be seated so close to Zhang Yang…

After sitting down, he stared at Zhang Yang.

His eyes were filled with complex emotions.

“President Zhang…”

“President Liu?”

“President Zhang, there are some things I know I shouldn’t say. Well, I admire your youthful success, but before anything is confirmed, I hope you can keep a bit of distance from Liu Ruohan. You have a limitless future. Spreading messy rumors isn’t good for you or for her. Furthermore, as a father, I simply hope she can find a good place to belong. He doesn’t need to be wealthy, but I hope for someone who treats her sincerely, rather than someone who uses her for this or that. Do you understand?” Liu Zhongshan looked at Zhang Yang.

He did not like Zhang Yang.

It wasn’t just because Zhang Yang had disrupted the market order, but because of the man himself.

Having spent so much time in the business world and having reviewed Zhang Yang’s life from childhood to the present, the more he looked, the more he felt Zhang Yang was a complex, uncontrollable person.

Zhang Yang had experienced hardships that ordinary people could hardly endure or survive. Therefore, deep down, he had to be a wild, arrogant, and perhaps even extreme individual…

In the eyes of such a person, there were only interests and ruthlessness. It was impossible to talk about genuine feelings with him.

Zhang Yang instinctively turned his head after hearing Liu Zhongshan’s words.

He suddenly noticed that Liu Zhongshan’s gaze was very sharp, as if he could see right through him.

However, Zhang Yang wasn’t nervous. He laughed quite candidly. “President Liu, do you really think there’s a possibility between Miss Liu and me?”

Liu Zhongshan didn’t speak. He just stared at Zhang Yang, his gaze seemingly growing even sharper.

In his view, Zhang Yang hid himself very deeply.

Even he couldn’t guess what was hidden in Zhang Yang’s mind.

Zhang Yang’s smile grew even more brilliant. “Rest assured, Miss Liu and I are limited to being ordinary friends… Besides, I don’t want to call you ‘father-in-law.’ After all, our companies are rivals right now. If we became family, it would be hard for me to go all out in the future…”

Liu Zhongshan just stared at Zhang Yang and shook his head, his expression complicated. “President Zhang, you are very annoying. However, I must admit, you are a very special person. In fact, I’ve also wondered… if you had joined my company back then, would there be so much trouble now?”

“Heh… you’ll regret it even more later. President Liu, after you received my phone, did you grit your teeth and want to strangle me?”

Zhang Yang smiled, then turned his gaze out the window.

The plane had already taken off.

The buildings below were gradually shrinking, and the sunlight was a bit piercing. After watching for a while, Zhang Yang closed his eyes.

History has no “ifs”…

Since I’ve come to this world!

If I don’t make a scene, what’s the point?

“You’ve got nerve!”

Zhang Yang was more unruly than he had imagined.

He was like a hedgehog, seemingly ready to prick you at any moment, driving you mad with irritation.

But…

For a young man, things couldn’t always be smooth sailing.

Liu Zhongshan merely gave Zhang Yang a long, hard look, his gaze gradually growing profound…

…

After arriving in Osaka.

This wasn’t Liu Ruohan’s first time in Japan.

Fundamentally, she had a bit of a distaste for Japan, but she had to admit that Huaxia’s current technology was indeed weaker…

At the same time, there was still a gap between them and Japan in terms of gaming.

As she stepped off the plane, she saw an exquisite, “kawaii⁴” girl outside the airport wearing a pure white dress and a bow in her hair. She was holding a sign that read “Zhang Yang, Universe Technology” and looking around expectantly…

Then, she saw Zhang Yang walk over with a beaming, brilliant smile on his face.

Upon seeing Zhang Yang, the girl skipped over and took his hand, chatting excitedly like a little fangirl…

Scumbag!

Flirting around again!

Is he trying to sleep with a fan?

Liu Ruohan felt a wave of inexplicable annoyance.

Whether this annoyance came from seeing Zhang Yang’s smug expression or because he had shattered her inner longing for the Knight Prince, Liu Ruohan didn’t know.

She only knew that she felt more and more that the Prince Knight was just a fairy tale!

…

November 2nd.

The TCA Awards ceremony officially began.

Zhang Yang and the others entered the venue excitedly. The sight of all the female cosplayers was absolutely dazzling.

“However…”

“The feeling of falling from a great height is more painful than anything else.”

“The greater the pride, the greater the pain!”

“…”

Liu Zhongshan squinted as he looked in Zhang Yang’s direction.

Liu Ruohan instinctively looked at her father, feeling a bit puzzled. “Dad, what do you mean by that?”

“It’s nothing… just a passing thought…”

“…”

(End of Chapter)

Translator’s Notes