Losing Money to Be a Tycoon

Everyone was pumped and excited.

Boss Pei’s two million yuan publicity fund was akin to a cardiac stimulant! After its release, the sales records of Bloody Battle Song: The Powerful Version had been bad. Everyone saw that and was originally very anxious about that.

Initially, they were all lost. The fortunate thing was that Director Lin decided to develop a mobile version of the game where data in both the mobile version and client-side desktop version were interconnected. That gave everyone a direction to work to.

However, even if the mobile version was released, was it able to turn the tables in their favor? No one was sure about that.

From the current looks of things, the biggest problem when creating the mobile version was not money but was instead time.

If they failed, that was akin to adding salt on their wounds.

However, Boss Pei had many praises for this game. He forked out another two million publicity funds. That showed how much confidence Boss Pei had in everyone!

Everyone was extremely motivated. They were determined to succeed in creating a mobile version for the Bloody Battle Song: The Powerful Version.

There were assigned employees who had already contacted the Hong Kong celebrities in the name list that Boss Pei handed over.

Wang Xiaobin looked at the name list and commented, “I have to say that Boss Pei is indeed very experienced in choosing the right people. These choices must have undergone serious consideration.

“Zhang Zuting and these people are all previous-generation Hong Kong celebrities. Their movies have a great influence on the current middle-aged players. It has a great publicity effect on our target players. “Zhang Zuting is the most expensive person to invite. We let him shoot a viral clip first before using the same amount to invite four other Hong Kong celebrities who were less pricey. Not only was that highly cost-effective, but it could also achieve a cluster effect and achieve the best publicity results.

“I have to say that Boss Pei’s move is really smart.”

Ye Zhizhou, who was standing beside him, agreed wholeheartedly. “Yes. Boss Pei is definitely a genius when it comes to publicity. He represents the ceiling of what the domestic games market can achieve in terms of publicity.

“The only thing I am ashamed of and find a little pitiful is that our game could have been better produced. The current state of our game is a letdown given how much publicity funds Boss Pei invested in it.”

Wang Xiaobin consoled him. “That’s alright. Aren’t we in the middle of producing a mobile version? When the mobile version is published, these advertisements will still come into effect. The popularity that the game had garnered would ultimately explode.”

Ye Zhizhou nodded his head fervently. “Yes, that’s correct! We must work harder so we won’t let Boss Pei down!”

September 11th, Monday…

When Bao Xu stepped foot into Jingzhou City once again, he felt a mix of emotions. He’s finally back! During the month-long paid leave, Bao Xu flew to Europe and toured four or five cities. He went to a different city almost every week.

All in all, it was a long story! Bao Xu desperately wanted to delete and reformat all the exotic sights in his mind. That month had been nothing but a nightmare to him.

Bao Xu was not referring to the places of interest which he had visited. As long as Bao Xu had to leave Jingzhou City, he would feel like he was living in a nightmare no matter how beautiful and green the city he went to was.

Fortunately, although Bao Xu had been addicted to the internet when he attended university, he had entered the university based on his abilities. His English standard was quite good, and he had brought an electronic translator along with him on the trip. Therefore, he had finally managed to complete the overseas travel tasks given to him.

No matter what, Bao Xu still felt a huge sense of despair when his trip finally ended.

He reached Jingzhou City around midnight. Bao Xu first headed to his rented apartment to take a nap. When he woke up in the afternoon, he decided to head over to Tengda in the evening to have a look.

During the trip, he bought some local snacks and goods as gifts. He had to give it to his coworkers at the office.

Moreover, he had been away for a month; and he knew nothing about the current progress of Repent and be Saved. Li Yada took over the role of chief planner in the middle of the game development. He did not know if she could handle the job well.

When he arrived at the company, he noticed that everyone seemed busy. Noticing that Bao Xu had returned, everyone welcomed him warmly.

“Brother Bao is back!”

“Brother Bao, how was Europe?”

“He seems to have turned slightly tanner.”

“Did his hair grow longer again?”

“Around this season, I think Europe should be quite cold, isn’t it?”

Bao Xu greeted everyone back and distributed the gifts he bought.

Li Yada was originally concentrated on editing the documents. When she saw that Bao Xu had returned, she stood up hurriedly and said, “Brother Bao! You have returned at such great timing. I have some questions to consult you about!”

Bao Xu’s face turned pale instantly. “I’m too tired! Let’s talk about it another day!”

“Ah, okay.” Li Yada nodded her head and felt a little bewildered.

Bao Xu seemed really tired. Was Bao Xu less energetic than usual after returning from this trip? Previously, if anyone faced any problems about the game designs or if anyone had things to consult him about, he would be very eager to help.

Furthermore, Bao Xu would repeatedly try out the latest games that they were developing and would find the respective designers directly if he had any suggestions on how to improve the game.

The previous time he returned from his trip, he tried out the games on the day he returned and could enter his ‘work mode’ very quickly.

However, Bao Xu seemed disinterested in working today. Very soon, Bao Xu finished distributing all his souvenirs to everyone, including Boss Pei who was trying out a game in his office.

After that, he returned to his work desk, clicked open an overseas Triple-A game, wore his headphones, and switched on his ‘autistic model.

He had come up with that idea during his month-long torture. The first thing that he would do when he returned to the company was hide his abilities! As a partially autistic person, Bao Xu was resented every moment in Europe when he tried to communicate with foreigners using his broken English. His tears then were the water that went into his head earlier!

When he recalled what happened then, Bao Xu realized that the outcome of him coming in second during the Outstanding Employee Selection might have come unexpected but was foreseeable.

He should have predicted such a terrible outcome!

Lu Mingliang was the chief planner and had spent the most effort in producing the game. Who was the next in line?

It was definitely Bao Xu.

Bao Xu had the greatest workload and contribution within the design team. Since Ocean Stronghold, he had been responsible for the creative elements of the games. He would offer many suggestions in areas such as the gameplay, details, and balance of the games.

He had such a strong presence within the team. How could anyone not vote for him?

This time, after he came back, Bao Xu thought about it deeply. If this continued, there were only two possibilities for him during the next Best Employee Selection.

One, he would leave with the one million yuan Dream Fund, just like what Lu Mingliang did.

This outcome was acceptable to him. However, Bao Xu could not bear to part with his coworkers if he had to leave the design team.

Two, he received another month-long paid leave and went on another trip.

That was the scary part!

Although he had received the paid trip twice, there were still many places unexplored in the world. Bao Xu did not think that there will be an end to this torture.

Therefore, Bao Xu set his mind. He was going to be a slacker!

He would bury his head and game all day. That would lower his presence in the office.

Although he was very worried if Li Yada could handle the job as the chief planner, he would definitely not help her in front of everyone. He would only help her with her questions secretly and privately.

He must not attract everyone’s attention!

Bao Xu was actually very apprehensive on the inside. He felt that him slacking off could disappoint Boss Pei.

However, he had no choice. To prevent a similar misfortune from happening during the next Best Employee Selection, he must try his best to slack off. At the very least, he must be able to trick most employees. After gaming for half an hour, Bao Xu exited the game and peered over his work desk. He observed his surroundings carefully.

Boss Pei was still in his office.

The others were focused on their work. No one was noticing what was happening over here.

Bao Xu sent Li Yada a message secretly: “If you have any problem, privately message me about it. Do not tell this to anyone else.”

In the office, Pei Qian was eating the biscuits and chocolate that Bao Xu gave him while scrolling through Aili Island casually.

His torture for the day was over. There were only two bosses left before he could complete the six realms of rebirth and existence and reach the conclusion.

There were roughly three more weeks until the release of Repent and be Saved. He had ample time.

Therefore, Pei Qian was not worried at all. On Aili Island’s website, a new video compilation was featured on the home page.

Brainwashing Bloody Battle Song Advertisement Compilation!

There was initially only Zhang Zuting. However, now it had turned into a family portrait. There were Zhang Zuting and his four brothers.

They were all clad in similarly awkward costumes, holding similarly awkward props, and speaking in a similarly awkward Hong Kong accent. Their style was highly similar. Although the names of the others did not produce good memes like ‘Zha Zhuti’, that did not affect the enthusiasm of others. That could be seen from the number of comments, bullet screen comments, and popularity of the videos. “What a shock! I am watching advertisements on Aili Island!”

“I would normally consider fifteen seconds to be way too long for a commercial, and yet I willingly watched one that was ten minutes long…”

“Indeed, others would skip the advertisements, and yet I would search for it.”

“I can only say that this game merchant is truly an advertisement genius. Each of them only had less than two minutes of clips, and yet the advertisements were made into dozens of different versions!”

s are w

“The advertisement lines are way too brainwashing. ROFL!”.

“I did not even dare to press the pause button when this video is in full screen. It would be terrible if I was directed to the webpage.”

“I am Zha Zhuti. If you are my brother, come nibble at me… and my four brothers!”

After watching the latest advertisement, Pei Qian nodded his head in approval.

Yes. Good friends should stick together!

Zhang Zuting’s status in web-based games should be more or less indisputable. As for the others, they would be the four little kings of web-based games. Combined, they could debut as an old-aged Hong Kong accent dream team. Seeing how awkward those four friends of Zhang Zuting were when they shot the web-based game commercial, Pei Qian was assured. Zhang Zuting should be able to hold his head high in front of them during their next gathering.

After all, everyone shot this embarrassing commercial together; and Zhang Zuting’s endorsement fee was the highest amongst them.

Zhang Zuting should be able to feel that his net worth exceeded that of his four brothers.

Having lent Old Zhang a helping hand casually, Pei Qian only had one thought. He felt greatly satisfied!

Zhang Zuting should be very thankful to him, wouldn’t he?

Satisfied, Pei Qian closed the website. Out of habit, he opened the platform for Bloody Battle Song: The Powerful Version and took a look to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Although these recent advertisements caused a rise in the statistics, the numbers were still far away from the danger line currently.

Pei Qian did not know what Ye Zhizhou and Lin Wan were busy with all day. However, from the looks of things, it was likely that they have yet to come up with a plan to salvage the situation. Anyways, as long as the statistics did not turn for the better, everything was going smoothly.

After checking that the numbers were still in the safe zone, Pei Qian stood up and was prepared to leave.

Although he had been feeling restless lately, Pei Qian did not know what to do next. He could only wait patiently for the new stores of the Fish-Catching Internet Cafe to open and also wait for the release of Repent and be Saved.

As he left the office, Pei Qian glanced over in Bao Xu’s direction involuntarily. Since the overseas trip, Bao Xu was evidently tanner and appeared healthier than before.

Pei Qian did not know if he was seeing things, but he felt that Bao Xu’s receding hairline was growing back. The reforestation project on his head seemed to be taking effect.

At this rate, if he were to go on a few more trips, would he become a long-haired artist? Hmm… that might be quite an interesting sight.

Huh? He’s not trying out Repent and be Saved?

Pei Qian was sharp, and he noticed a blind spot.

Bao Xu was playing an overseas Triple-A masterpiece. He seemed to be playing it very casually and was not taking screenshots every now and then or recording its details down on his notepad.

It meant that he was not researching on other games and was instead simply… playing it for fun.

According to Bao Xu’s previous habits, he should be proactively playing Repent and be Saved, find tons of problems in the game, and raise those issues for others to solve them.

However, this time around, Bao Xu seemed like a completely different person after the trip. He had his headphones on and seemed as though he did not care about what was happening around him at all.

He almost had the words ‘I am being autistic’ written on his face. Pei Qian contemplated for a while and understood what was going on.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Bao Xu was worried that he would once again be voted as an outstanding employee. Therefore, he turned on his ‘slacking mode’ and steered others’ attention away from himself. In that case, the other employees would definitely not vote for him again.

In that case, he did not have to suffer another month of torturous paid leave.

When Pei Qian realized that Bao Xu was slacking, he was not angry at all. Instead, a comforted smile appeared on his face.

As expected, my Best Employee Selection indeed had its effects!

Although the process was different from how he had expected, it achieved his desired results perfectly!

The first-place-elimination system should indeed be continued and be used as Tengda’s core guidelines.

Great. Bao Xu, you should keep up the good work. I will definitely raise your salary in the future!

Even such a motivated employee like Bao Xu had been turned into a slacker by me, what more the others.

Pei Qian was in a great mood. He put down his worries and left.

When Bao Xu saw Boss Pei head to the elevator and left with the corner of his eyes, he heaved a sigh of relief.

He had no choice. Bao Xu had to be cautious around everyone in the company! He was not targeting Boss Pei. No matter who walked by, Bao Xu would be on his guard and would switch to the games window immediately. He looked around him and made sure that no one was watching him. Then, he switched from the games window back to the document that he was editing and continued working on it.

“This feels a little strange,” Bao Xu dissed himself internally.

He had to hide from everyone when he was merely doing the work that he was supposed to complete. What the hell!