Chapter 22. The Most "Healing" Game of the Year

"...As long as you're happy,"

Hokuto said dryly,

cough—

"I mean, yeah, sure, it's more or less how you described it."

Although Li Yue's understanding was a little... off,

Hokuto figured that explaining would only make things more troublesome.

It was easier to just go along with it.

"Still,"

Li Yue continued, unwilling to give up,

"as impressive as you are,

I still think you should consider joining Penguin Games.

A strong partnership would be good for miHoYo, for Honkai 3rd, and for your future career."

"My answer hasn't changed."

Hokuto refused politely.

"I see..."

Li Yue sighed with genuine regret

and finally hung up the call.

But just a few minutes after he set his phone down—

Knock knock knock.

"Come in."

Click.

The door opened.

A middle-aged man in a neat suit, sharp-eyed and composed,

stepped inside.

"Manager Li, are you free right now?"

the man asked politely.

"I'm free,"

Li Yue replied.

"Secretary Zhang, what brings you here?"

Zhang Secretory sat down across from him,

his expression slightly hesitant.

Then he placed his hands together neatly on the desk.

"I'll be blunt,"

he said.

"You should already know what I'm about to say regarding the failure of Desert Warfare."

Li Yue slowly nodded.

"The higher-ups... hope you understand their expectations."

Zhang Secretory's tone was tactful,

but the meaning was crystal clear.

"Honkai Impact 3rd is an excellent case study, don't you think?"

he hinted.

"I believe..."

Li Yue started carefully,

"If Penguin Games wants to become truly great,

we must stick to the path of original creation."

"You know,"

Secretary Zhang said, standing up and clapping Li Yue's shoulder,

"when you first took this position,

the board trusted your ability and gave you a real opportunity to prove yourself.

It's a shame...

things didn't quite go as hoped."

"But..."

"Old Li,"

Zhang Secretary's tone grew heavier,

"With Penguin's current resources,

how many years do you think it would take us

to independently develop a game that could surpass Honkai 3rd?"

Li Yue was silent.

"Think it over carefully."

Secretary Zhang turned and left the office.

Li Yue sat there,

drowning in silence.

......

......

Later that night,

Li Yue [Any quiet bars in Shanghai? I suddenly feel like I need a drink.]

Sit-up King [I know a quiet place.

Me and Mr. Minus Thirty Degrees both like it—go there often.]

Sit-up King [[Location shared]]

Li Yue [Thanks.]

When night fell,

in a secluded little bar tucked away in Shanghai—

Warm amber lighting bathed the interior,

a long wooden counter lined with shelves of glittering bottles.

Li Yue sat at the bar,

waiting for the bartender to mix his drink.

To down a strong drink—

this was the most luxurious way adults like him could vent their pressure.

Just then,

the door swung open.

A man with chestnut hair and brown eyes,

wearing a black dress shirt and slacks,

a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose,

walked inside.

"One Godfather, please."

The chestnut-haired man slid into the seat next to Li Yue,

casually ordering his drink.

Then he turned to Li Yue and asked:

"What's got you wanting to drink tonight?"

Li Yue didn't answer.

Instead, he asked a question of his own:

"Can I ask why you,

who used to be a perfectly good history teacher,

suddenly decided to switch careers and become a lawyer?"

"Hm..."

The chestnut-haired man paused for a moment,

then chuckled softly:

"Haha~~ maybe after seeing too many jokes about 'South Mountain Always Wins,'

I just felt a little disgusted inside."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Welt, you really are something."

"You're flattering me,"

Welt replied with a wave of his hand.

He picked up his freshly made Godfather cocktail,

taking a small sip.

"Now it's my turn to ask:

why did you suddenly bring up that question?"

"I'm planning to resign from Penguin Games,"

Li Yue answered without hiding his intention.

"Resign?

Out of nowhere?"

Welt asked curiously.

"If you want a reason..."

Li Yue mused for a second,

"It's like how Lu Xun once said:

'Studying medicine cannot save the nation.'"

He sighed before continuing:

"I realized that staying at Penguin Games,

I won't ever get the chance to make real games."

"Ha~~"

"What are you laughing at?"

"Just being honest,"

Welt said, no attempt to hide his thoughts.

"That's quite an immature view for an adult."

"If that's the case,"

Li Yue smirked slightly,

"then you're even more immature than I am.

At least I can jump companies and still have a stable life.

You?

You switched careers entirely—starting over from scratch."

"True,"

Welt admitted after a moment's thought.

"Seems like... we're both idealists,

you, me, and even that 'Minus Thirty Degrees' guy."

Welt laughed lightly,

taking another sip of his drink.

...

After that,

the two simply chatted idly,

having a few more rounds.

Welt just quietly listened,

letting Li Yue pour out everything bottled up inside.

It wasn't until deep into the night,

after Li Yue had left,

that Welt drained the last bit of his drink,

just about ready to leave too.

At that moment,

another man entered the quiet bar—

silver-white short ponytail,

sharp handsome features.

"Minus Thirty Degrees?"

"I've told you plenty of times—"

the white-haired man said with mild exasperation,

"don't call me that weird nickname in real life."

"Fine, Kevin,"

Welt conceded easily.

"What brings you here this late?"

"Couldn't sleep,"

Kevin replied in his usual detached tone.

But Welt, being who he was,

pressed a little teasingly:

"Couldn't sleep?

Did you fall for some lovely young lady

and now you're tossing and turning all night?"

Kevin went... strangely silent.

"Wait.

I actually guessed right?"

Welt grinned mischievously.

"Never thought even you,

the legendary 'Prince' from our school days,

could have girl troubles."

"Don't paint me like some playboy,"

Kevin said coolly.

"Although...

I have recently met someone...

Cough, anyway,

the reason I can't sleep isn't that."

Kevin casually pulled out his phone,

unlocked it,

and showed Welt a particular icon:

a square little avatar of Kiana Kaslana.

"Welt,

have you ever heard of Honkai Impact 3rd?"

"Uh...

Vaguely.

Heard it's supposed to be a 'bright, cheerful, and uplifting' game."

"Exactly,"

Kevin said sincerely.

"Especially the main story update today...

it's incredibly, incredibly heartwarming."

Kevin beamed with rare enthusiasm:

"You should give it a try.

Trust me, Honkai Impact 3rd is seriously amazing.

All thirteen of us unanimously approve."

"It's the most 'healing' game of the year."