Chapter 7: The Greatest Problem

"Can your game really make money?"

"The contract is already signed. What do you think?"

"Then when will your game be released?"

"Soon, within the next couple of days... The more people who play this game, the more money you'll be able to make..."

"Alright!"

"..."

After signing the agreement, the driver was still a bit skeptical.

However...

After seeing the earnest expression on Zhang Yang's face, the driver stared at the contract for a while longer. It was called a contract, but it looked more like a signed poster. On the poster, a few lines were written:

"The first 'Universe Technology' S1 Gaming Tournament is about to begin!"

"First-place prize: 30,000 RMB!"

"Every player who completes the side quests will receive an equivalent cash reward, up to a maximum of 10,000 RMB!"

"If the first-place winner also completes all side quests, they will receive an additional 20,000 RMB on top of the 30,000!"

"..."

"..."

On the last page of the terms and conditions, Zhang Yang had pasted a photocopy of his own ID card to demonstrate his sincerity. Chen Shou, the driver, compared it back and forth several times, glanced at Zhang Yang again, and finally nodded.

He didn't think Zhang Yang was a swindler. Besides, even if it were a scam, losing five yuan wouldn't matter much. And for a chance at 30,000 RMB, it was worth a shot!

Treat it like buying a pack of five-yuan cigarettes...

Suddenly, the way he looked at Zhang Yang became fervent. He felt eager to try.

"The more people who play, the more we earn. But how?"

"Downloading the game requires a five-yuan top-up. However, if you invite ten people to download and enter the tournament, that fee is waived. If you invite twenty people, our company will give you a ten-yuan rebate. A professional driver like you meets so many passengers every day—inviting twenty people a day shouldn't be a problem, right? Think of it as a side hustle!"

"Really?"

"Absolutely. To show my sincerity, I even copied my ID card for you. You can look me up anytime... To be honest, I just want to promote our game. We aim to create the world's top gaming experience, but because our company is just starting out and lacks name recognition, we had to resort to this."

"Alright!"

The taxi arrived at the destination. Zhang Yang and the driver, Chen Shou, exchanged contact information and waved goodbye.

The sun had already set, and the evening glow painted the world...

Zhang Yang looked up, silently watching the sunset, as if appreciating the beauty just before the night fell. A breeze blew past.

Standing nearby, Zhong Chongwen and Zhao Hang were still lost in the conversation they had just overheard. At first, they thought Zhang Yang was crazy. But after pondering it a few times and truly understanding the logic, a chill ran down their spines.

It felt as though they were entering a trap—a trap woven with the complexities of human nature.

Meanwhile, the tall man standing behind Zhang Yang, Wu Zhuang, looked on with growing fanaticism. The first time Zhang Yang met him was at a job fair. Zhang Yang had spoken words that set his blood on fire. He had felt a surge of passion that was hard to calm...

The next time he saw Zhang Yang, it was after he had been rejected by a company and was walking out with his head hanging low, holding his resume. He had felt that the vast city of Beijing was full of obstacles. Then, he saw Zhang Yang, beaming with a smile, holding that very same resume—a resume that had been thrown into the trash by others, which Zhang Yang had retrieved and taped back together.

At that moment, he had been speechless.

Under the evening glow, Zhang Yang's shadow stretched long. They watched him.

"This is a good era... Everything is flourishing..."

"If I already had two acres of land in Luoyang, why would I care about carrying the seal of a six-nation minister?"

Zhang Yang suddenly spoke these words. They were filled with sighing and reflection, yet devoid of any bitterness or frustration. He then pulled out a piece of gum, chewed it, and looked ahead.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

He possessed a confidence that came from deep within his bones, from the very depths of his soul. He believed that the moment he took that first step, he had already embarked on the path to success.

As night fell over the brilliantly lit city, he sat by the roadside, chewing his gum, quietly watching the people coming and going on the street. Towering skyscrapers stood before him, and luxury cars passed by.

The future... wherever he walked, would become the brand-new history of Chinese gaming.

...

Inside the rented room, three computers were set up. They were of different brands and ages—clearly brought by the team members themselves. Everyone was busy. Zhao Hang was in charge of art assets, while Zhong Chongwen programmed according to the design documents. Wu Zhuang was researching the current Beijing market, constantly gathering data on major game companies.

They were ambitious. Their goal, from the very beginning, was to become one of the top three gaming companies in China.

Not far away, Zhang Yang continued to write documentation and future plans. Silence filled the room. He was the architect of all the rules. Life was like a game, and he was currently playing it.

When midnight arrived, Zhang Yang heard the clicking of the keyboard stop. He saw Zhong Chongwen stand up.

"Old Zhong, what's wrong?"

"Brother Zhang... or Mr. Zhang, I feel that... is this a bit... boring? What is the purpose of us developing this game..."

Zhong Chongwen took a deep breath. He had called him "Brother Zhang" before, but he was shocked to learn that Zhang Yang was even younger than him. He still wasn't used to the formal title. He was hesitant now. Once the initial adrenaline faded and the reality of designing the game set in, both he and Zhao Hang felt something they couldn't quite describe.

The program for this game, titled *Desert Bicycle*, was not difficult. In fact, it was quite simple; the entire project could be finished in a single night. A random weather system, day-night cycles, cactus assets, desert textures, and small random events—that was essentially all there was to it.

In three hours, Zhao Hang had completed the structure. When they started the simulation, he felt the game was a bit dull and the scenery monotonous. For eight hours, you could only stare at the screen, holding down the arrow keys, dealing with random sandstorms, and controlling the bike. If you lost focus for even a second, the bike would veer off course and never return.

Anything else? No.

"A bit boring?" Zhang Yang smiled after seeing Zhong Chongwen's frustrated expression.

"Yes," Zhong Chongwen nodded. For someone like him, who had played many single-player games, this was indeed very boring.

"You are a developer. A developer will think their code is too simple. But don't look at yourself as a developer. If you look at yourself as a gambler, it becomes a different story."

"Huh?"

"Players have a competitive spirit. On the internet, this is a simple, casual game. But outside the digital world, the nodes of this game are filled with various small rewards and a leaderboard!"

"..."

"This is my operation plan. By the way, I want to create a 'Universe Technology' gaming platform, and I want this game to be the entry point..."

Zhang Yang handed a document to Zhong Chongwen. Zhong Chongwen took it, read it, and looked at Zhang Yang in surprise. Then, he nodded, turned back to his desk, and started typing away again.

As for Zhang Yang... he remained silent for a long time, then lowered his head to make a call to an advertising agency.

...

"Playing a game to make money? Is this for real? Isn't it a scam? How can there be such a thing as a free lunch in this world?"

"I think it's a scam too. But it only costs five yuan to download—it doesn't matter if I participate. Besides, they posted their ID card; I checked, it's legitimate. And I checked 'Universe Technology'—the company really exists. By the way, hasn't my son been obsessed with that game *Starfield* lately? He's playing games anyway, why not let him try? It's all just gaming... Maybe he can even make some money."

"Alright! By the way, Old Chen, do you think that 30,000 RMB prize is actually attainable?"

"I don't think I'll get the 30,000, but our family making a few dozen yuan shouldn't be a problem. Think of it as a side hustle."

"Then should I tell my brother and the others? If we pull in more people, can we get it for free?"

"Yes, that's what the contract says. If you don't believe me, look. If you're still skeptical, I'll go check out their company tomorrow when I have a spare moment..."

...

Throughout the night, the taxi driver Chen Shou and his family mobilized all their resources and made calls. Early the next morning, Chen Shou called Zhang Yang, saying he would drop by their company to take a look... After the call, he went out to drive his taxi.

...

After ending the call, Zhang Yang looked at the dilapidated room and the landlord, who was constantly banging on the door demanding rent. He fell into deep thought.

He was facing the greatest dilemma of his life.

A hero can be stumped by a single penny. A technology company needs to look like a technology company. Clothes make the man; appearances are everything. Even a scam company needs a decent-looking storefront. If Chen Shou came here and saw this broken-down room, it would be over. A poor guy renting a place like this... how could he possibly have the money to pay out prizes? It would scream "scam" and destroy all his credibility.

"Zhang Yang..."

"Today is the last day!"

"Are you going to keep renting or not? Give me a straight answer!"

"I've given you enough time! If you're not staying, pack your things early so I can bring guests to look at the room this afternoon!"

"..."

Zhang Yang hesitated for a moment. Then, he narrowed his eyes and pushed the door open. He looked at the landlord.

*How do I get the landlord not only to stop asking for rent but to provide me with a better, cleaner storefront?*