Started as a comics editor

Chapter 319 Submitting for the exam

Unexpected yet perfectly logical.

On its first day of release, Plants vs. Zombies swept to second place on the AG platform's sales chart.

Although it still can't compare to the initial hype surrounding Left 4 Dead.

But considering its size and type, this is already quite remarkable.

Most importantly, this game's average playtime far exceeds that of similar casual games!

And then the very next day... it officially surpassed Left 4 Dead, topping the sales charts on the AG platform...

Although Left 4 Dead has been released for some time now.

But the speed exceeded that.

It still exceeded everyone's expectations!
This even includes many players who are optimistic about Avalon.

Because they thought this game was at best on par with Undertale.

I never expected... this game would become so popular!

On its first day of release, it topped the AG sales charts at number two, and on the second day, it unsurprisingly dethroned Left 4 Dead and took the top spot! This achievement, with its straightforward numbers, delivered a resounding slap to the face of all the doubters.

The game's affordable price of 27 yuan, combined with its addictive and captivating charm, quickly made it a hit.

Moreover, it is no longer just a topic of conversation among core gamers... but has quickly become a common topic of conversation in office break rooms, student dormitories, and even family living rooms!
Many circles that have absolutely nothing to do with games have started using terms like "planting sunflowers," "pea shooters," and "a huge wave of zombies."

Its simple and intuitive operation, rich and varied strategy combinations, and just-right difficulty curve make it a true "all-ages" game.

Yes, it appeals to all ages...

This penetrating power became evident within just three days.

Even rival game companies can see this game.

For example... Easy Travel.

As soon as Jin Feng stepped outside, he saw his secretary playing Plants vs. Zombies...

God knows.

Jin Feng, exhausted from a sleepless night and increasingly gloomy, walked out of his office, intending to make an inspection and try to extinguish the restless fire in his heart that had been continuously scorched by the success of "Plants vs. Zombies".

But as soon as he pushed open the door, he subconsciously glanced at the assistant's workstation outside the president's office and saw his usually capable, professional, and meticulous secretary with her head slightly lowered, her eyes fixed on her laptop screen, her fingers rapidly sliding and clicking on the touchpad.

And the screen displayed the vibrant colors of Plants vs. Zombies, which evoked my feelings...

He could even clearly see the notification that a huge wave of zombies was approaching!
Meanwhile, his secretary, the face of the CEO's office at Easy Game, his highly paid subordinate, was completely absorbed, her brows furrowing and relaxing at times, clearly deeply engrossed in the game world he despised as childish trash! She was even unconsciously swaying her body gently to the rhythm of the game!

Jin Feng watched helplessly as all of this happened.

...I really feel like I've been screwed over!
He even flew into a rage for a while because of it.

This is not an isolated case.

The game's popularity even exceeded the expectations of many Avalon staff.

no way.

The game's breakthrough came too suddenly. The success of Plants vs. Zombies was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, stunning the outside world and causing an incredible shock within Avalon.

The atmosphere in the project team office, which was entirely composed of newcomers, was completely different from the tense, expectant, and even somewhat self-doubting atmosphere of a few days ago.

The air was filled with an almost dreamlike excitement...

"My God... we've reached the top of the game! We've really reached the top!"

A young art student pointed at the AG platform's sales chart, her voice trembling with excitement: "Did we make this? Did we really make it?"

"Um……"

A programmer next to me, wearing thick glasses, kept refreshing the platform. Looking at the player online time curve that far exceeded expectations and the sales figures that were still growing wildly, his face was a mixture of ecstasy and a kind of bewilderment that said, "This is not scientific."

He pushed up his glasses and muttered, "That's really awesome..."

“My girlfriend mentioned games to me a few days ago, and she never plays games! But she just called me and said that everyone in her office is talking about it, and she even asked me if I could help her cheat.”

Another programmer scratched his head, looking somewhat bewildered, and said, "I was completely dumbfounded!"

"I've also heard from friends that many people who don't usually play games seem to be playing them too..."

"Fuck..."

The group chatted.

Then, at a certain moment, they all turned their gazes, with indescribable complex emotions, toward the office in the distance—Tang Yao's office.

Incredible!

This amazing game that swept the internet, broke through social circles, and made countless people addicted to planting flowers and fighting zombies was actually created by Tang Yao and her group of newcomers who knew almost nothing about game development when the project started. They managed to tinker with it bit by bit in a relatively short period of time, following the seemingly whimsical and even somewhat naive proposal she gave them!

At first, who didn't have some doubts?
"Tower defense? Growing plants to fight zombies? Is that even possible?"

"Isn't this art style a bit too...childish? It's the complete opposite of Left 4 Dead!"

"Isn't the gameplay too simple? Will players be willing to accept it?"

"Mr. Tang, has this time... taken too big a step?"

These questions had previously arisen within the project team.

Although it was very short.

But at the beginning, everyone was a little apprehensive.

They trusted Tang Yao's past glorious achievements, but they had all had doubts before.

However, reality taught them all a lesson.

"Now... I kind of understand what President Tang meant when he said in the meeting, 'Pure fun is the biggest hardcore thing'..."

The programmer with thick glasses looked away and suddenly sighed, his tone full of admiration: "She always seems to be able to grasp that core, the most addictive point."

"It's more than just understanding!"

Another member chimed in, his voice trembling with excitement: "I now think President Tang is simply... a Midas touch! Yes! A Midas touch! He found a bunch of good-for-nothings like us and somehow managed to turn them into gold! No, wait! A diamond!"

"Useless seems like an overstatement."

"Compared to President Tang, how do you see yourself?"

"Okay, he really is a piece of trash..."

"..."

Such conversations echoed through the office.

Actually, it wasn't just them; many of the long-time employees who had been working with Tang Yao on games since the very first one were also quite bewildered...

They could hardly believe that this game was created by Tang Yao and a group of staff members who knew absolutely nothing about it...

Just as Plants vs. Zombies ignited players' enthusiasm, AG Platform's Summer Festival finally unveiled its mysterious veil.

Suddenly, all the art assets on the platform were replaced with vibrant illustrations full of summer vibes.

At the same time, almost all games on the AG platform showed a bright green symbol on their price charts...

In addition, the homepage banner has been changed, with a large line of text prominently displayed: 【Summer Game Festival Begins! Enjoy a Cool Game Season!】

The players were initially confused, but once they clicked in, they instantly went wild!
"Holy crap! Did I see that right? Left 4 Dead is on sale?!"

"Undertale at its lowest price ever! This discount! Holy crap! That's incredible!"

"Even the newly released Plants vs. Zombies has a launch discount?!"

"I can understand AG platform offering discounts on its own games, but so many discounts on third-party platforms??? Wait!! It seems like everything is on sale!!"

"666666! Avalon is awesome! This celebration is so amazing!! I had so many games I wanted to play! Now I'm definitely going to play them!"

"So this is the Summer Game Festival! So this is the surprise!!!"

"Buy, buy, buy! These discounts are incredible! Holy crap! Avalon's boss is losing so much money he has to take the bus!!!"

"..."

The AG platform's player community was instantly flooded with comments like "666," "Thanks Avalon," and "So good!"

Players were pleasantly surprised to discover that this was not a marketing campaign with more hype than substance, but a genuine, large-scale discount event covering the vast majority of games on the platform.

Whether it's Avalon's own games like Left 4 Dead, Undertale, and Plants vs. Zombies, or numerous high-quality third-party games and classic titles integrated into the AG platform, all participated in this grand discount extravaganza. Avalon has clearly invested significant resources and sincerity, aiming to make the Summer Festival a truly revitalizing event for the platform's ecosystem.

The explosive popularity of Plants vs. Zombies kicked off the celebration, igniting players' enthusiasm for buying the game.

This unprecedented large-scale discount acted like a shot in the arm, completely igniting the activity on the AG platform.

New players were drawn in by Plants vs. Zombies, while veteran players were attracted by the discounts, prompting them to open their wallets to buy tickets or try out the new game.

As a result, the number of online users, downloads, and transaction volume on the AG platform broke historical peaks within a few hours of the start of the celebration!
The Summer Festival event, which was initially ridiculed as nonsensical by Zhang Da, Jin Feng, and others, instantly became a highly praised industry benchmark and one of the most anticipated events of the year among players...

With the stunning quality of Plants vs. Zombies and its substantial discounts, Avalon has declared one thing to the entire industry and all players: their platform strategy is not only ambitious but also solid and sincere.

It can be said.

The entire gaming industry was once again thrown into turmoil by Avalon.

just.

Tang Yao, the initiator of this event, had already quietly left this noisy battlefield...

……

June 7th.

The morning sun, carrying a hint of summer heat, spilled across the city's streets and alleys.

On this day, Tang Yao temporarily delegated all her tasks to other staff members.

even.

She didn't go to Avalon today.

This was quite unexpected for the staff, and considering that today is the day of the college entrance examination... many staff even joked that their boss had also gone to participate.

You know what? This idea sounds absurd, but some people actually believe it...

Perhaps it's because their temperaments are so similar...

but.

The reason Tang Yao didn't go to Avalon today was indeed related to the college entrance examination, but she wasn't going herself... she was sending her younger sister to take the exam.

Although Avalon is currently at a very important stage, with the AG platform's summer festival starting, there are many things that require her attention.

But she still put all her work aside because her mind was completely occupied by another important life event—her younger sister, Tang Xun, was about to take the college entrance examination.

The car's air conditioning is blowing out cool air.

Tang Yao dressed simply and elegantly as usual today, wearing a well-tailored pair of dark blue jeans that accentuated her long and beautiful legs. She wore a pure white cotton T-shirt, looking fresh and clean without any extra accessories. However, with her stunningly beautiful face and outstanding figure, what she wore was actually not important at all.

Beside her was Tang Xun, who was equally eye-catching. The girl was wearing a clean and tidy high school uniform, blue and white, and her smooth black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and cool and delicate face. The two sisters sat together, and their similarly beautiful faces and completely different temperaments were really attractive.

Anyway, Li Xue, who was driving in front, thought the scene was really beautiful.

of course.

It would be even better if Tang Yao wasn't so restless...

She glanced at Tang Yao sitting in the back seat through the rearview mirror, smiled gently, and said nothing.

back seat.

Tang Yao was pressing on the girl's shoulder, earnestly instructing her: "Xun, have you brought your admission ticket, ID card, pens, etc.? Double-check your pencil case?"

She carried a hint of nervousness, more like someone going to take the college entrance exam than her younger sister…

As for the actual test takers, Tang Xun merely glanced at the transparent file folder on her lap, gave a soft "hmm," and the morning light outlined her delicate features. Her long eyelashes drooped, revealing little about her emotions.

"And remember to bring water, and also..."

Tang Yao continued to give earnest instructions, looking exactly like an ordinary parent who was worried sick.

so cute.

As Li Xue thought this, she slowly stepped on the brake.

The car came to a smooth stop near the examination center, where a huge crowd had already gathered. Anxious parents, students with various expressions, and police officers and teachers maintaining order created a scene full of ritual.

As soon as the two sisters, Tang Yao and Tang Xun, got out of the car, they immediately attracted a lot of attention. The older sister was bright and beautiful, with an undeniable radiance, while the younger sister was aloof and exquisite, like a sculpture of ice and snow.

The two stood together, their similarly stunning faces yet vastly different auras creating a striking and eye-catching scene.

Many test takers and their parents couldn't help but secretly peek and whisper among themselves.

Out of curiosity, I asked where this pair of test takers were from.

I heard a pair of test takers say this.

Tang Yao's forehead veins bulged slightly, but considering that everyone around her was a fellow examinee, she ultimately chose to forgive them. She simply looked back at her younger sister, who was standing prettily in front of her, and continued to instruct her: "Don't be nervous when you go in. Relax, read the questions carefully, and manage your time well. You've prepared for so long, your abilities are definitely not a problem. Just perform normally..."

"I know, I will."

Tang Xun interrupted her sister's instructions and responded softly.

Then, she raised her cool eyes, looking at the undisguised concern and slight nervousness in Tang Yao's beautiful eyes. She pursed her cherry lips and revealed a bright and charming smile, like ice melting: "I'm going in, sister..."

"Oh, right, you'll see me as soon as you finish the exam. I'll be waiting for you here, don't worry."

"..."

Tang Xun parted her red lips slightly, then smiled again. Without saying anything, she took a step forward, opened her arms, and gently embraced her sister's delicate body, her cheek lightly rubbing against her snow-white neck.

The girl's cool aura mingled with the summer morning breeze.

Tang Yao was slightly taken aback.

"Thanks……"

Tang Xun's voice was very soft, muffled against Tang Yao's snow-white neck, with a barely perceptible nasal tone: "Sister."

Thank you for always putting me in the most important position, no matter how busy you are with your career.

Thank you for your silent support and protection when I was lost.

Thank you for never missing any of the important moments in my life.

Thank you for providing me with a safe haven to grow up in.

Thank you for providing me with this warm haven.

Thank you... sister.

The two sisters quietly embraced for a few seconds at the entrance of the noisy examination hall, a heartwarming scene that drew kind and envious glances from many parents around them.

Let go of her embrace.

Tang Xun's cold expression seemed to melt away, and she gave her sister a deep look.

Then she didn't say anything more, just nodded slightly again, then turned around, her slender but straight back merging into the flow of candidates heading to the examination center. Her blue and white school uniform gradually disappeared into the crowd, finally vanishing behind the gate that represented dreams and the future.

Tang Yao stood still, her gaze following her sister's figure until she could no longer see her, before slowly withdrawing it, her eyes filled with relief and a barely perceptible emptiness.

She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and then turned and went back to her car.

I opened the car door and got into the passenger seat.

The cool air from the car's air conditioning enveloped my entire body once again.

Li Xue, in the driver's seat, immediately turned her head, looking at the pretty girl beside her with a gentle smile.

Tang Yao felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, turned her head slightly, and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Li Xue smiled gently, her eyes softening: "It's nothing, I just didn't expect this..."

Tang Yao was somewhat puzzled: "Didn't expect that?"

"I didn't expect you to be even more nervous than Kaoru..."

Li Xue's voice was tinged with laughter as she remarked, "For a moment, I even thought I was seeing two test-takers off..."

"Hey!!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Yao immediately glared at her, but soon couldn't help but burst out laughing, her tense nerves finally relaxing completely after a whole morning.

She leaned back in her seat, gazing out the car window. The entrance to the examination center was still bustling with activity, with parents either eagerly waiting or chatting quietly in small groups.

The sky was a deep blue, a color typical of summer, and the sun shone brightly.

"I was so nervous today..."

Tang Yao responded softly, her voice carrying a hint of wistful emotion: "Actually, I didn't expect to be so nervous..."

She paused, her gaze seemingly piercing through the scene before her, landing in the distant river of time.

"As expected, time is a very powerful thing..."

Tang Yao's voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, or as if she were telling Li Xue: "It can change a lot of things, smooth out the rough edges, settle emotions, adapt to a brand new body, and make some things that were originally unfamiliar or even resistant become an integral part of life without you even realizing it."

She's been here... for quite a while now.

Before we knew it, so much time had passed, so much time that Xun had already entered the examination hall, so much time that…

Tang Yao's thoughts came to an abrupt halt as a warm, slender hand gently grasped hers.

Tang Yao was slightly taken aback and looked down.

Li Xue's hands are slender and fair, with distinct knuckles; they are truly beautiful.

She slowly inserted her fingers between Tang Yao's equally fair and slender fingers.

Their fingers were intertwined, and a soothing warmth emanated from their skin as they touched.

Li Xue looked at Tang Yao and blinked her beautiful eyes.

Tang Yao snapped out of her reverie, smiled gently, and stopped thinking about it. Instead, she slowly tightened her grip on her fingers, making the feeling of their intertwined embrace even more pronounced.

Then, feeling the warmth from her palm and the faint pulse, she turned her gaze back to the car window.

The entrance to the examination center was still bustling with activity, as parents eagerly awaited their children's arrival, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light.

Yes.

Time changes many things.

But most of them are good things.

At least the confusion and wariness of being alone have long been completely melted and filled by Tang Xun and Li Xue.

at this time.

The screen of Li Xue's phone, which was lying to the side, suddenly lit up, but it wasn't a ringtone.

Instead, a series of message notifications vibrated, the buzzing sound particularly clear in the quiet carriage.

The two subconsciously looked down and glanced at the screen, where a preview of information from the AG platform operations team and several key project leaders instantly popped up on the lock screen.

...That's good news.

After the summer festival started, sales of all games on the platform exploded!

"It seems it worked."

Li Xue looked up again and chuckled softly, "Another miracle..."

"A miracle..."

Tang Yao repeated it in a low voice, then a beautiful smile suddenly bloomed on her face as she gripped Li Xue's hand tightly.

Her coming here is perhaps the miracle!

Although I don't really want to admit it.

But this is really great...

(End of this chapter)