Losing Money to Become a Tycoon: Starting with Games

Chapter 98: Bao Xu Is Back!

Lin Wan gave a confident smile.

"You've asked the right question."

"In my opinion, that's the soul of this entire game."

"Just knowing something is wrong… doesn't mean you'll succeed."

"Suppressing your inner greed, staying true to your ideals, being driven by dreams… will that automatically make a good game? No."

"There's an ending in the game where the producer makes a game that's far too fair, completely disregarding profitability. As a result, most players enjoy it for free without paying a cent. The game earns high ratings, but never recoups its costs. Even with a few diehard supporters footing the bill, the finances just don't add up. In the end, the developer quietly exits the industry."

"That ending implies a hard truth: this industry doesn't run on passion alone."

"Having enthusiasm and integrity… doesn't guarantee success."

"It's harsh… but maybe that's just the reality of the game industry."

A hint of melancholy crept into Lin Wan's expression.

"Looking back… I think I was too naive before."

"Fame and fortune aren't as simple as we thought. The reason we've been so successful all along… is only because President Pei has been leading us forward."

Her words cast a thoughtful silence across the room.

She was right.

During their time working at Tengda, many people had gradually developed a kind of illusion…

As if success was something they were entitled to.

But just look at other companies. Think back to their past jobs.

The reason it all seemed effortless… was because someone else was carrying the burden for them.

That someone… was President Pei.

Just consider Game Producer. From the concept to the design, down to the very lines of the narrator—all of it had been personally refined and revised by President Pei.

The rest of the team? They only had to execute.

If the game failed, President Pei would shoulder the blame.

But if it succeeded, the credit would be shared by everyone.

And how do other bosses act?

They ignore the team's work under the guise of "delegation," but the moment something goes wrong, they're the first to throw others under the bus.

After all, a boss can never be wrong… right?

The difference couldn't be clearer.

Lin Wan continued, "So, the reason President Pei chose you to do the voiceover—it's all very clear now."

"First, you do meet the basic requirements. You can pass as a voice actor."

"But more importantly—your greatest advantage is that you understand games."

"Don't underestimate that. It's absolutely vital for this voiceover."

"The narrator… is basically the embodiment of the developer's inner greed and desire. It's a voice that tempts you down the wrong path."

"To bring that voice to life, just having a good voice isn't enough."

"You need to know the traps in this industry like the back of your hand."

"You need a deep understanding of how this world works."

"You need to capture the exact feeling of being seduced by temptation, down to the smallest nuance."

"And that's something no ordinary voice actor could ever deliver!"

It struck Lu Mingliang like a bolt of lightning.

So that's it!

That's why President Pei made such an unexpected decision!

He quickly grabbed the narrator script and scanned it with fresh eyes.

Yes! That was it!

No wonder President Pei personally revised the lines again and again—he was sculpting that feeling.

And now it was Lu Mingliang's job to inject life into it with genuine emotion!

He nodded with newfound determination.

"…I get it now."

"I won't let President Pei down!"

. . . . . . . .

The meeting concluded.

Lu Mingliang left the office and headed for one of the finest recording studios in Jingzhou to begin the voiceover work.

Back at her desk, Lin Wan returned to her script. Even after completing her tasks, she continued to study the narrator's lines from Game Producer, flipping through the pages again and again…

She realized that every time she read the script, it felt like she gained a new insight.

Game Producer had countless branches and endings. Every route felt like witnessing the rise and fall of a different game company.

Some flourished in the spotlight.

Some faded away in silence.

As Lin Wan immersed herself emotionally in each path, she came to see just how shallow her previous understanding of the game industry really was.

She used to believe that games were meant to bring people joy—so surely, game companies should be joyful places too, right?

But her internship at Tianhuo Studio had shattered that illusion.

She came to see that many domestic game companies weren't at all what she had imagined.

And just as she began to feel disheartened—Tengda appeared.

Without hesitation, she chose to follow Tengda's path.

Of course, Lin Wan wasn't blindly loyal. She joined as a regular employee, gradually integrating into the work environment, taking on tasks, and trying her hand at real design work.

From "seeing a mountain as a mountain", to "seeing a mountain as not a mountain", and back to "seeing a mountain as a mountain again"…

She felt like she had gained so much.

Perhaps, in no other game company in the country could she have achieved such growth.

It wasn't about how much money Tengda had.

It was about something deeper—an unique quality.

But no matter how much she tried to understand, there always seemed to be a mysterious glow surrounding President Pei.

A glow that no one could quite decipher.

Everything President Pei did always seemed to defy conventional wisdom—Yet, when the answer was finally revealed, it all made perfect sense.

Most importantly, his calm detachment when it came to money… gave him an almost ethereal quality.

And that—was what made him so truly admirable.

"I made the right choice coming here."

"If one day I can truly understand how President Pei thinks, then maybe… I can become a top-tier Game Producer too."

With that thought, Lin Wan silently made her resolve.

. . . . . . . .

March 3rd.

A travel-worn Bao Xu appeared at the entrance of Tengda Network Technology Co., Ltd.

"…So tired."

His face was noticeably tanned from the sun.

His expression said just one thing:

"Goddammit, I'm finally back!"

He had burned through his entire year's "going outside" quota in one month.

Originally a hardcore homebody—the kind who thought even leaving his seat for one minute was too much—he had been forced by Pei Qian to wander the world for a whole month.

And it wasn't even a relaxed trip!

Assistant Xin had prepared a brutally packed itinerary, complete with daily check-in tasks.

Every time they arrived in a new city, he had to hit all the tourist spots—morning and afternoon.

By the time he made it back to the hotel each day, he was so drained that he had zero energy left for gaming or going online.

After what felt like eternal suffering, the month was finally over.

Wearing a backpack, Bao Xu returned to the office with only one overwhelming emotion—nostalgia.

Next time someone offers him this kind of paid vacation, he'd be damned if he didn't give it away.

Whoever wants it can take it. He's never going again.

The moment he walked through the door, everyone noticed.

"Hey! Brother Bao's back!"

"You look so much healthier!"

"You lost a bit of weight… hey, you're standing straighter too?"

"You've got this vibrant energy now! Even your hairline looks better!"

Bao Xu froze. "Oh? Really?"

He tossed his backpack on his desk and dropped into his gaming chair.

How comfortable~

Now that he thought about it… he did feel better.

During that month of non-stop travel, he hadn't paid much attention to the subtle changes in his body.

But hearing the others point it out now… he realized he really was more energetic.

Before, he was practically living in internet cafés, often up all night, eating poorly, and sleeping at random hours.

His lifestyle had been completely out of whack.

Even after joining Tengda, things had improved with regular office hours, but his health was still lacking.

But after a month of walking, fresh air, regular meals, and proper sleep, he had unknowingly grown much healthier.

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