Cultivation Shura Field

The manual review of the app took a few more days. When he finally saw the official notification from Pingguo that the app was successfully listed, half of the winter vacation had passed.

It was another evening, and Xu Zhe was sitting in his office with his laptop in front of him.

Shen Lan was sitting opposite the desk, holding a stack of printed materials and studying - these materials were mainly game programming ideas, which were collected and printed out by Xu Zhe from the Internet.

But compared to her concentration in school, Shen Lan was not very serious at this time. While studying, she would occasionally peek at the boy opposite her.

The young man frowned slightly, his face hardly looking happy.

Shen Lan suddenly asked: "Has the data been displayed now?"

Xu Zhe: "Single digits. To be exact, the sales volume is seven. And this data has not changed for a long time since noon."

Two days have passed since the game was released, and the total sales volume is less than 4 million yuan. This money is enough to buy eight or nine bottles of Coke, but unfortunately the rule of Pingguo is that you can only withdraw money after you have accumulated 150 million yuan, so you can't even buy Coke.

The beginning of this entrepreneurial venture did not seem to be smooth.

Shen Lan considered her words carefully. She felt that she couldn't just say something like "Why is the data so bad?" That would be too irritating. But based on her understanding of Xu Zhe's personality, he probably wouldn't like empty comfort. She had to be meaningful but not too irritating, and it would be best if she could discuss solutions to the current situation... How should she say it?

Even though she was an extremely intelligent girl, she didn't know what to say at this moment. But at this moment, she noticed that Xu Zhe was typing seriously on the keyboard.

So Shen Lan asked curiously, "What are you doing now?"

Xu Zhe: "Fill out a self-recommendation form."

Shen Lan: "What is that?"

Xu Zhe's eyes were still on the screen, and he said without looking up: "Pingguo App Store will recommend some new apps every day, including games. They will actively select some new games with highlights, but developers can also recommend themselves. Of course, this requires telling a good story."

Shen Lan: "Tell a story?"

Xu Zhe: "Being too introverted and dull will bring you harm, especially when making games. You need to find something that will catch people's eyes, and be able to express it in a way that will catch people's eyes. How to package the selling points and how to write the copy are also a science..."

As he was speaking, he stopped what he was doing, thought for a moment, and then hit the delete key heavily.

So I deleted the paragraph I had just written and started over again.

Shen Lan couldn't help but shook her head: "Not only do you have to learn programming to make games, you also have to make your own sound effects, and worry about the bank card and account registration process. Now, you have to write copy, isn't this a bit too much of a burden?"

Xu Zhe finally raised his head and stared at her, saying, "It's like this in the early stages of starting a business. The boss must know everything. You must have a basic understanding, that is, no one can help you."

Shen Lan: "Startup bosses also need employees, otherwise, even Zhuge Liang would be exhausted to death."

Xu Zhe: "Generally speaking, entrepreneurs don't have as much work to do as Zhuge Liang. Of course, they are tired, but there is nothing you can do about it. For example, I am most satisfied with the programming part of this game so far, because I wrote it myself. I think the sound effects are average, because I am a novice in this area, and even if I work hard, I can't achieve perfection. I am most dissatisfied with the art."

Shen Lan: “Art is the outsourced part.”

Xu Zhe: “Yes, but I can’t be too demanding of others, because it’s really hard to find someone who can do game modeling these days, and the cost is too high. I can only use 3D pictures as a substitute, but the display effect is actually a lot worse. Of course, I can make more suggestions for revisions, but more revisions may not necessarily make it better, and the cost will increase significantly, so I can only make do with it.”

Shen Lan smiled bitterly and said, "It's too late for me to study art now..."

Xu Zhe: "You don't need to learn art. When the company is established, I can hire painters and modelers at high prices. For us, the most important thing is technology and programming."

Shen Lan nodded, thoughtfully.

She is in the first year of high school now. Normally, she will be increasingly busy in the next two and a half years until she can take the college entrance examination. But will the young man's business still need help as urgently as it does now in two and a half years? Will it have improved enough to hire more people, or will it simply go bankrupt?

If his entrepreneurial journey failed, he would definitely be in a terrible mood, right? If he still had two gentle, cute and lively girls by his side at that time... I just couldn't bear to think about it!

Shen Lan felt more and more that it was really necessary for her to get involved as soon as possible, at least to help him.

Then she thought about the information competition she was preparing for.

If you can achieve good results in the national NOI competition, you can directly enter the top universities in China without taking the college entrance examination. If you can handle the competition in your second year of high school, can you use your third year of high school to start a business with someone?

And when she was in her third year of high school, Xu Zhe was also in his first year, so it was just right... Thinking of this, Shen Lan smiled faintly.

Xu Zhe: "What are you laughing at?"

Shen Lan shook the information in her hand: "Nothing, I just think that these things don't seem to be that difficult. Give me some time, maybe I can start working soon."

Xu Zhe: "Don't worry. My idea is that you can take a look at the first game first, and I will summarize the experience and lessons. After all, this is my first time doing this. When it comes to the second or third game, I can ask you for help."

Shen Lan held her chin and asked, "Are you not planning to hire other programmers?"

Xu Zhe: "I don't have such plans. I have limited my costs very tightly. So let me make it clear first, I can't pay much salary, at most one or two thousand..."

But before he finished speaking, Shen Lan smiled and said, "Isn't that already quite high?"

Xu Zhe was stunned: "One or two thousand is considered high? Okay..."

Shen Lan nodded and stared at him with a smile on her face. Only when he lowered his head to continue looking at the computer screen did the girl's lips move slightly.

'Do you think I'm doing this for money?'

She just moved her lips to say this but didn't actually speak it out loud.

The office was quiet for a while.

Xu Zhe's work finally came to an end. He raised his hands high and stretched his body.

Shen Lan suddenly asked: "Do you want to play ball?"

Xu Zhe: "Forget it. I'm really tired now. And to be honest, I'm a bit nervous and don't feel like playing billiards."

Shen Lan: "Don't you need more entertainment activities to relax?"

Xu Zhe: "The air in the billiard hall is not very good. I would rather take a walk outside and enjoy the cool breeze. Okay, let's go, eat something first, and then I'll take you home."

Shen Lan smiled and said, "I can take you home."

She had already realized that she still didn't know the exact address of his home. How could this be possible?

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121. Chapter 121 121 Suspicion

121.

2023-09-06

"Xu Zhe hasn't come back yet..."

Tang Lingfei was at Xu Zhe's house at the moment. She put down the PSP game console in her hand and looked outside the study.

Zeng Jing, who was sitting on the sofa, turned around and saw the little girl, then smiled and said, "He should still be busy with work. He has been very busy recently, and he is still busy with work when he returns home."

Tang Lingfei couldn't help but pout: "You are still students, why are you busy with work? When you graduate and work, won't you have plenty of time to work?"

Zeng Jing works as a drawing artist in a design institute. At this moment, she couldn't help but sigh like an adult: "That's too many working hours..."

Although she was still far from entering society, the aunt's tone still made Tang Lingfei feel a little chilly.

The girl couldn't help but ask, "Is the work really tiring?"

Zeng Jing smiled and said, "Not tired at all, really."

Tang Lingfei: "Really?"

"I won't work overtime on weekends, and the client won't make random suggestions for revisions. Well, you trust me."

When saying this, Zeng Jing's expression was very calm, but there seemed to be something hidden in the calmness.

Tang Lingfei: "Why is it a bit weird..."

Zeng Jing smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay. Feifei, you are going to wait for Xu Zhe to come back, right? Just continue playing. You will definitely hear the noise when he opens the door."

Tang Lingfei nodded, went back to the study, picked up the PSP, and found that she couldn't even sit still. Of course, this was not because of the discussion with Aunt Zeng Jing about work hours.

She couldn't explain what was wrong with her recently. This winter was not colder than previous ones, but she couldn't help but think of that time - the warmth she felt when she accidentally bumped into someone's arms.

The warmth was so short-lived, yet she couldn't help but recall it.

Tang Lingfei stood by the window of the study, with her elbows resting on the windowsill, playing games while standing there.

From this window, she could see the gate of the community. If Xu Zhe came back, she would be able to spot him immediately.

Suddenly, the girl's eyes lit up, but then she was filled with confusion.

She saw Xu Zhe walking into the community.

But at the same time, she also saw another person accompanying Xu Zhe. Because it was already dark, at first glance she thought it was Song Xingye.

But when Xu Zhe and the man walked under the street light, Tang Lingfei could see them clearly - Xiao Ye Zi's hair was the standard long black straight hair, like an exquisite doll; but this girl had short hair, and was wearing a slightly mature windbreaker and jeans, with a neutral beauty.

As she got closer, Tang Lingfei recognized her. The person walking next to Xu Zhe was Shen Lan, the senior student she met in the billiard hall and who had given Xu Zhe water at the sports meeting last year.

Recalling the scene of handing over the water, Tang Lingfei's heartbeat accelerated involuntarily. She felt her chest seemed a little tight, and her breathing became a little faster.

After Xu Zhe and Shen Lan entered the community, they did not go home directly, but came to a small playground not far away. There were some community-level sports equipment there, such as parallel bars and walkers.

Xu Zhe sat on the swing, and Shen Lan stood not far in front of him, seemingly chatting.

Tang Lingfei watched from afar and couldn't help muttering, "Why doesn't this big idiot go home? What do you have to talk about...what are you talking about?"

After standing at the window and observing for less than a minute, the girl could no longer hold back and ran to the door to change her shoes.

Zeng Jing asked: "Xu Zhe hasn't come back yet, are you leaving now?"

Tang Lingfei changed her shoes, looked up at her aunt, and hesitated for a moment.

Zeng Jing smiled and said, "What's wrong with you, kid?"

But after hesitating, Tang Lingfei still shook her head: "It's okay, Auntie, I... I'm a little sleepy, so I'll go back."

Why did she cover up for Xu Zhe? The girl herself couldn't explain it. She just felt that if his parents knew about some things, Xu Zhe might be troubled.

Tang Lingfei subconsciously didn't want him to feel troubled, especially because of herself.

----

Xu Zhe sat on the swing, but was only swaying slightly.

On the way home, he had been talking with Shen Lan for a long time about his experience in writing code, and at this moment, Shen Lan suddenly changed the topic to another direction.

She said, "My winter vacation will probably still be shorter than yours. In another week, I will have to pack my bags."

Xu Zhe was a little surprised: "So short?"

Shen Lan sighed and said, "There's nothing I can do. The requirements of Experimental Middle School have always been quite strict. But I'm doing OK there, because as long as you prove your learning ability, the teachers there can give you a certain amount of freedom."

Xu Zhe: “I am very free now.”

"High school is definitely not comparable to junior high school..." Shen Lan looked at him with a fixed gaze, "So, you also went to the Experimental Middle School when you were in high school, right?"

Xu Zhe didn't think much about it and answered casually: "Probably, after all, it is one of the best middle schools in the province."

Shen Lan smiled and said, "With your grades and your ranking in the competition, you can definitely do it."

Xu Zhe: "You seem to have a lot of confidence in me."

"When the time comes, you will be in the first year of high school and I will be in the third year. Don't worry, I will take good care of you."

Under the streetlight, Shen Lan was smiling like a flower. She stood in front of Xu Zhe, with her hands behind her back and her waist slightly bent. Her gaze seemed natural and casual, but it contained a hint of enthusiasm that made the person concerned feel a little uneasy.

He wanted to ask, "How are you going to take care of me?", but before he could open his mouth, another girl's voice came from not far away:

"Xu Zhe, what are you doing here?"

It's Tang Lingfei's voice.

Shen Lan was stunned and quickly turned around to look.

Xu Zhe also saw Tang Lingfei walking over not far away, and he also noticed that the girl's steps seemed a little strange. Compared with her usual state, she seemed a little nervous at the moment.

Tang Lingfei came up to the two of them, cleared her throat, and said, "Hello, senior sister. What... are you here for?"

Shen Lan's tone and demeanor were quite natural: "I'll take him home and chat about work."

Tang Lingfei: "Work?"

Shen Lan: "Yes, because when you publish an APP on Pingguo's platform, you need to use API, and you can build some custom shortcuts. We are mainly discussing this matter."

Xu Zhe: "..."

He and Shen Lan did discuss this, but that was 20 minutes ago. Just now, they were clearly discussing the issue of attending the same high school and how the senior should take care of the junior.

Then he saw that Tang Lingfei said "uh" for two or three seconds and didn't know how to respond. Her little face turned a little red. He didn't know whether it was because she was embarrassed or because she was angry.

Shen Lan had a leisurely smile on her face, as if she didn't care at all.

But if she really didn't care, why would she use the topic from 20 minutes ago to shut up others? Maybe there was something wrong with the senior sister?

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