The industry’s opinion was divided: they had money, but no taste.
Early last year, they held a high-profile launch event, announcing that they were investing most of their funds into an open-world project, which was a big surprise.
No one knew how it got through the higher-ups’ decision-making.
Open-world games have high costs and long development cycles.
A few years ago, many companies launched open-world projects, but two years later, 80% of those projects were canceled.
No one knows how long Ji Fan’s development project will last.
Among the open-world games already launched, only “Star Flame” by Apex Technology had decent DAU (Daily Active Users); the others were barely surviving.
So, Ji Fan’s launch event created quite a stir in the industry, attracting attention from both curious competitors and hopeful players.
At that time, Cheng Jiajia, as a media reporter, attended Ji Fan’s event and even interviewed the project’s producer, Li Yi.
That producer was very young, a genius since childhood.
He skipped two grades, entered university at 15, and won numerous awards in various competitions.
Cheng Jiajia also did a special interview with him.
Afterward, she called Jiang Nanshu and told her about it, asking if she wanted to come back to Jiangcheng to work, as this company seemed to be a good option.
Back then, Jiang Nanshu said: “If I plan to return to Jiangcheng and this company hasn’t gone bankrupt, and the project is still going on, I might consider it.”
Now, she was back, Ji Fan hadn’t gone bankrupt, and the project was still going.
She sent a resume to Ji Fan.
Although it was her first choice, she didn’t want to put all her eggs in one basket, so she also sent resumes to two other companies.
They hadn’t seen each other for a long time and talked well into the night.
Cheng Jiajia got up at 7:30 a.m., looking like she was about to collapse, while Jiang Nanshu slept in until she woke up naturally, collected the parcels she had delivered, and stacked them on the balcony.
She also helped Cheng Jiajia tidy up the house, leaving around 4 p.m.
The three resumes she sent late last night had already received replies, and two companies had scheduled interviews for Monday.
These companies weren’t far from each other, so she planned to check out some apartments nearby over the weekend.
If she landed a job, she could move next week.
However, this plan was immediately disrupted as soon as she returned home.
In the living room, Lu Youchuan was lounging with his legs crossed, lazily turning his head and smiling at Jiang Nanshu, who was standing by the entrance changing her shoes.
He spoke with an entirely natural tone: “Little sis, you’re back.”
“…”
From sister to little sis.
It sounded a bit more formal.
Jiang Nanshu looked at Lu Youchuan, but when facing him, the word “brother” was hard to say.
She just nodded: “Mm.”
Jiang Yu heard the noise and came out from the kitchen, giving Jiang Nanshu a look: “Talk to your brother for a while, dinner will be ready soon.”
Talk about what?
It seemed their only common topic was Song Ye.
Jiang Nanshu hesitated but still walked over to the sofa.
Lu Youchuan asked, “I heard from Dad and Auntie that you’re looking for a job.
Have you found a good company?”
“I’ve sent out resumes to a few companies and am preparing for interviews.”
Jiang Nanshu sat on the single sofa nearby.
“Which companies?”
“Wanyu, Qianfeng Interactive.”
She didn’t mention Ji Fan since they hadn’t replied yet.
“All game companies, huh?” Lu Youchuan looked at her thoughtfully and smiled, “I have a house that was renovated last year, and it’s been empty.
You don’t have to worry about finding an apartment; you can just stay there.
It’s close to both of those companies.”
Jiang Nanshu was taken aback.
Just as she was about to refuse, Lu Youchuan casually teased, “If you call me brother, what’s the harm in letting you stay for a few months?”
“…”
Jiang Nanshu paused for a few seconds, looked at him, and asked, “That wouldn’t be your wedding house, would it?”
If it was a wedding house, she definitely couldn’t stay there.
“No.”
Lu Youchuan laughed, “I only stayed for a month or so, but when the company moved to the park, it was too far and inconvenient, so I moved out.
The house has been empty ever since.”
“Since you already have a house, don’t bother renting.”
Lu Mingkun came out with the dishes and added his thoughts.
Jiang Nanshu could feel that both father and son were trying to get closer to her.
If she kept refusing, it would seem too distant.
She smiled at Lu Youchuan: “Then, thank you, brother.”
“You’re welcome, little sis.”
Lu Youchuan smiled, easily picking up the conversation.
Lu Mingkun, overhearing, smiled as he entered the kitchen and quietly said to Jiang Yu: “They get along well as brother and sister, calling each other so naturally.”
“It’s also because Youchuan set a good example.”
Jiang Yu knew her daughter well.
No matter what she was thinking internally, her outward behavior was always polished.
Worried that Lu Youchuan might mention Song Ye and have it overheard, Jiang Nanshu stood up: “I think there are oranges in the fridge.
I’ll make some fresh orange juice for you.”
More than ten minutes later, the family of four finally sat down and had the reunion dinner they missed last night.
Lu Youchuan drank the orange juice Jiang Nanshu made and casually asked, “When do you plan to move? I’ll come help you move your things.”
“Can it be Saturday?” Jiang Nanshu realized everyone was looking at her, probably thinking she was too eager to move out.
She added, “If the interview goes well, I can start work soon.
It’s a good chance to settle the house while I have time.”
Lu Youchuan: “Sure, I’ll come pick you up on Saturday.”
Lu Mingkun kindly added: “That works, you can go out with your mom and check if anything else needs to be bought for the house.”
So, the moving plan was settled.
On Saturday morning, Jiang Yu had something at the hospital, and Lu Mingkun was attending an expert consultation.
Lu Youchuan came to pick up Jiang Nanshu and, seeing that she only had two suitcases, asked, “Is that all you have?”
Jiang Nanshu: “Some things are still at my friend’s place.
I’ll have the moving company deliver them later.”
Lu Youchuan loaded the things into the car and drove Jiang Nanshu to her new house.
“Do you know that neighborhood?”
“I’ve passed by it a few times.”
It was a new neighborhood, with great surrounding facilities, but the rent was high.
If she were renting, she wouldn’t have considered this place.
Lu Youchuan tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, casually testing: “You and Song Ye were high school classmates, right? How come it seems like you’re not familiar with each other?”
“…”
So he did bring up Song Ye.
Song Ye was the kind of quiet, aloof guy who definitely wouldn’t share his personal matters with others.
Lu Youchuan clearly didn’t know about her high school history with Song Ye, so she downplayed it: “We haven’t been in contact since graduation.”
“Really? Aren’t you both in the gaming industry? You should have some interaction.”
Jiang Nanshu turned to ask him: “Do you stay in contact with every high school classmate of yours?”
“Well, that’s true.”
Lu Youchuan laughed.
“Song Ye must’ve had a lot of girls chasing him in high school, right? You…”
Jiang Nanshu’s heart skipped a beat.
She interrupted him: “I didn’t chase him.”
As if to prove she wasn’t lying, she added: “I liked someone else back then.”
Lu Youchuan turned to look at her in surprise: “What about now?”
“Not anymore.”
Jiang Nanshu suddenly realized something was wrong, turned to look at her “cheap” brother in shock, “You… Did my mom ask you to introduce a boyfriend to me?”
Lu Youchuan nodded: “She did say that.”
“…”
You can’t possibly be thinking about Song Ye!
Jiang Nanshu looked at the scenery outside the window with complex emotions, just as the traffic light turned red.
The car stopped at the white line.
She took a deep breath, turned to smile at Lu Youchuan: “I don’t like his aloof type.”
Not liking him before doesn’t mean she didn’t like him now.
Lu Youchuan decided not to tell Jiang Nanshu that her new neighbor was Song Ye.
It was obvious she disliked blind dates, and if things went the way Jiang Yu and Lu Mingkun wanted, it would probably backfire.
Creating an opportunity for the two of them to develop their relationship was a more sophisticated way to go about things.
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