While Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin were exchanging thoughts about "Magic Mirror," Chen Xu remained glued to the game's backend metrics. He wasn't alone. "Magic Mirror" had begun making waves across the gaming community—quietly at first, but now unmistakably. It had done the unthinkable: an 18R game was sitting at the top of the praise list on a major overseas platform.
It wasn't just a fluke. Although the official site didn't release sales figures, developers and media outlets could make educated guesses based on download statistics, user reviews, and forum discussions. The consensus was clear: this game was a hit.
Even more peculiar were the user comments flooding in:
"A very good match-3 game!""Women, step aside! I'm busy playing match-3!""Is this a galgame or a puzzle game? Either way, I'm satisfied.""Thought this was just another sleazy game—turns out it's a hidden gem.""Too heartfelt, too polished. Why is a gentleman's game making me feel things?""Ten minutes in and I should've quit… but why am I still playing?!""I saw the good, the bad, beauty and ugliness of human nature. What a game.""Whether I rushed or not… this game moved me."
They baffled many in the industry. Was this really an 18R title? Or had the developers stumbled into something deeper?
Unlike his initial marketing strategy—which involved paying for a few promotional posts—most of the current buzz was organic. Word of mouth among "gentlemen" had taken over. And for Chen Xu, that meant one thing: it was time to monetize.
The first wave of revenue had landed, and Chen Xu, lounging on his rented bed, already began planning his next moves—registering a company, renting a proper office, and investing more in future development. Even with his rising sales, the system's reward points trickled in at a modest pace—just enough for two single draws.
His thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. Seeing "Ruan Ningxue" on the screen, he picked up.
"Hey, Sister Ruan. What's up?"
"Nothing much… I just wanted to say congratulations," she replied, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
Chen Xu chuckled. "It's normal to have doubts, Sister. Honestly, I'm a little surprised too."
That was only partially true. He had planned everything—the design, the timing, the marketing. But the sheer velocity of the game's success had exceeded even his well-informed expectations. Despite launching on an "overseas" platform, most of the traffic was domestic. And it was booming.
"By the way, Chen Xu," Ruan Ningxue continued, "are you free tonight? I want to throw you a little celebration dinner. I've got a friend who'd really like to meet you."
"Sounds great. I was thinking of inviting you, actually. You really helped out a lot during development," Chen Xu replied sincerely.
After wrapping up the call, he glanced again at the latest data: 58,121 copies sold in six days. Explosive growth. The gentlemen had proven themselves to be a powerful force in indie game sales.
But while Chen Xu was still digesting his numbers, the broader gaming world was waking up.
Some media outlets and developers, skeptical at first, had quietly started tracking "Magic Mirror." A few even speculated it might break 10,000 or 20,000 in sales. But when a third-party agency released a figure of 50,000, even the skeptics were silenced.
The actual number was higher—yet even the conservative estimate stunned the industry. Especially the creators of other adult-themed games. For them, it was a moment of existential reflection. Could their projects ever reach these numbers?
"Magic Mirror" wasn't a global AAA release. It wasn't on major storefronts or featured in glossy magazines. It didn't come from a known studio. It was an 18R indie title made by a newcomer. And yet, it was now being spoken of as a record-breaker in its genre.
The landscape had shifted.
Some in the industry scoffed. Others took notes. But a few began whispering the same thing:
History was being made.