Chapter 64: The Internet is not a lawless place!

Chapter 64: The Internet is Not a Lawless Place!

At noon on August 2nd, at Shengteng Network, Chen Qiang watched with mixed feelings as the download sales of *God of Walkthroughs* surpassed 160,000 and continued to surge fiercely...

He didn't know what to say!

Could this game actually break the weekly sales record of *Human Killing Machine*?

Surely that was impossible, right?

He lowered his head and pulled an acquisition proposal out of his drawer.

More than half a month ago, Shengteng’s senior executives had considered acquiring Zhang Yang’s studio.

However, just as the funds were being prepared and personnel were assigned to negotiate, various scandals about Zhang Yang exploded online, and both of the stand-alone games under his company were pulled from the shelves.

Countless parents denounced Zhang Yang on the internet, calling him a public menace and wishing they could tear him limb from limb...

Seeing this, they hesitated.

Subsequently...

After discussion, they chose to temporarily give up.

At the height of this controversy, why bother with an acquisition? If they weren't careful, it could implicate Shengteng Company!

Yet, no one expected that in just over half a month, Zhang Yang not only made a counter-attack and turned the tables, but what shocked him beyond his wildest dreams was that the very parents who had once boycotted Zhang Yang were now the loyal customers of this new game!

Even in the residential complex where Chen Qiang lived, several parents were discussing this educational game, talking about the top-ranked Jiajia, discussing downloading it or checking out Bluebird Technology’s learning computer to see how exactly one studied with it...

"Let your child win at the starting line..."

"If you don't know how to type on a computer, you'll be illiterate in the future!"

"Are you trying to ruin your child?"

"A child's future is more important than anything else!"

"..."

Chen Qiang had lost count of how many similar voices he had heard.

Parents...

Especially parents in big cities, felt an intense sense of crisis, particularly regarding education.

When they saw the children next door taking this tutorial and that tutorial, even if they couldn't figure out what was actually being taught, they would still crowd in to join the excitement.

If all the other children had enrolled and were learning, what would happen if his child fell behind?

Falling behind by missing a single cram school meant lagging in studies; lagging meant failing to get into a good middle school, which led to failing to get into a good high school, and eventually failing to get into a university!

With just an average university degree, the current employment situation was getting increasingly severe, making it hard to find a job or a good wife...

Wasn't this life...

Basically ruined?

The more they thought about it, the more anxious they became; the more anxious they became, the more blindly they would follow the crowd.

Just like how they previously criticized Zhang Yang's game.

Many of them had no idea what Zhang Yang's game actually was, and some didn't even own a computer at home, but seeing others curse it, they joined in and cursed it too.

Anything that affected a child's studies was treated like a ferocious beast or a flood, an absolute enemy!

They made a mighty uproar, portraying Zhang Yang as someone deserving of universal execution, yet they didn't even know what they were scolding...

Chen Qiang really wanted to say that this behavior was somewhat deformed.

However...

After pondering for a long time, and thinking about how his own child was only three years old and his wife was already being coaxed by the neighbor into buying a computer, he was completely at a loss for words!

The crucial point was that the phrase "Don't let your child lose at the starting line" had too much destructive power; it was simply unbeatable!

It went straight for the throats of the parents...

"This move by Zhang Yang!"

"Hits them right where it hurts!"

"It's truly ruthless!"

"..."

..............................

In the office.

Zhang Yang looked at the data...

As of 2:00 PM, download figures across all platforms had broken 180,000!

Even many internet cafes had installed this puzzle-solving game...

He touched his chin, a smile plastered across his face.

Surpassing *Human Killing Machine* within a week to create a new myth seemed to be no problem at all.

Every era has its own imprint.

Zhang Yang thought of the learning machines from many years ago in his original world.

"Good Study Star," "Vocabulary King"...

In truth, their actual effects were just so-so, their functions quite ordinary, and their prices very expensive!

Yet, their sales volume had created a myth!

Pitiful are the hearts of parents everywhere.

Fortunately!

Before *God of Walkthroughs*, many merchants hadn't realized this, starting to place advertisements for learning machines and similar items on major television networks.

Otherwise...

A stand-alone game could never have sold so fiercely!

Zhang Yang silently repeated these words in his heart, then cast his gaze out the window once more.

It was raining outside again.

Summer truly was a fickle season; sunny in the morning, overcast by noon.

"Now, I've returned to the proper starting line as well!"

Zhang Yang sat in his chair, letting out a long sigh of relief, as if all the pressure had been unloaded from him.

At this moment...

He felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation.

He leaned back in his chair with squinted eyes and drifted off to sleep before he knew it.

Then, he dreamed.

In the dream...

He vaguely heard sounds of doors being kicked open, curses, weeping and shouting, and the nagging complaints of neighbors...

However, he didn't immerse himself in it; instead, like a mere bystander, he simply watched the story unfold.

Then, he watched as one person after another left.

When he woke up again...

He heard a knock on the door.

He looked at the weather outside the window.

The rain had stopped.

The sun had broken through a little bit.

He tidied his clothes.

"Come in..."

"Senior, the adult version of *God of Walkthroughs* is currently in development. According to Manager Zhao Hang's intentions, this game can probably be released around the middle of the month..." Holding a stack of documents, Song Qingqing approached Zhang Yang with a serious expression, reporting on the project's progress.

"Ah, alright."

"Also, the company has recruited another batch of programmers, mostly with high academic qualifications. These are their resumes..."

"Well, leave them here, I'll take a look."

"Aside from that, Zhou Yang's new album *Qilixiang* will be officially released in two days. In addition, the interview with us by *Today* TV station will also be edited in two days and officially broadcast on Zhejiang TV, simultaneously with the internet..." Speaking up to this point, Song Qingqing couldn't help feeling a little excited inside, while also feeling happy that her senior had finally parted the clouds to see the clear blue sky.

On the internet...

There were still countless paid trolls cursing Zhang Yang.

However...

Once the program was broadcast, once the song was released...

Those trolls should quiet down!

She looked at the dark circles under Zhang Yang's eyes, the blanket in the office, and the instant noodle boxes in the trash can.

Over the past few days...

Ever since moving to the new company, in her impression, the senior had eaten, drank, and slept right here in the office.

Although he always wore a smile for everyone, she knew he had shouldered immense, crushing pressure.

He had survived the most painful dark night!

He had tasted coldness, discrimination, incomprehension, and contempt.

Yet he had never been willing to bow his head; he always kept his spine straight, facing life's hardships with a smile!

He had finally seen the dawn of daybreak.

And he deserved to enjoy the brilliance of this dawn even more!

"Alright, sounds good." Zhang Yang nodded, a knowing smile curving the corners of his mouth. "By the way, are there any news from Wrangler? We've been so busy with our own affairs lately that I haven't paid much attention to them over there."

"Oh, over at Wrangler, Liu Chongshan seems to have reorganized the company's management system. They are still bickering with the South Korean side, and Shen Yi has retired!" Song Qingqing replied.

"Shen Yi retired?" Zhang Yang chuckled, without finding it strange. "He has a non-compete agreement, right?"

"Yes, it's for five years!"

"What a pity." Zhang Yang shook his head, looking genuinely regretful. "I was actually thinking of poaching him over... Five years, well, it's not too late... Never mind, let's not think about work. Oh, Qingqing, let me ask you something: can someone like me, who has already graduated, retake the National College Entrance Examination?"

"Huh?"

"If it's possible, keep an eye out for it for me. Whether it's self-study exams or college enrollment expansions, I'm fine with any of it... Besides, are there any concerts, art exhibitions, or photography exhibitions lately?"

"It's been a while since I bathed in art, I need to go soak some in... After all, one lives and learns, right..."

"..."

"Right, Qingqing, also... How about you help me draft a few lawyer's letters?"

"Senior, are you planning to..."

"Yes!"

"And I want to report this to the police for investigation. The internet is not a lawless place—nobody cares if you secretly watch porn, but coming over to slander me simply won't do!"

"..."

............................

One day later!

When seeing the download volume of *God of Walkthroughs* surpass 200,000!

"Is he really going to break the record?"

"Impossible, this..."

"..."

Liu Yuan felt her face flushing redder and redder, inexplicably gripped by a sensation of wanting to vomit blood.

She forced herself not to dwell on these things.

Right at that moment!

A knock sounded on Liu Yuan's office door.

She pushed the door open wearily.

Then...

She saw a lawyer's letter.

"What is this?"

"Zhang Yang's company seems to be issuing a lawyer's letter to everyone... accusing you of slandering him, damaging his reputation, and causing him distress..."

"What! He's the one who gets affected? When did I ever slander her—him?"

Liu Yuan took the lawyer's letter!

Her face turned pale with anger!

........................

At the same time...

Dad Company and Wrangler Company...

Even Lianzhong Company all received lawyer's letters from "Universe Technology."

On Tieba, some of the ringleading paid trolls were also rooted out.

Along with a whole bunch of other trolls...