A neighborhood somewhere in Shanghai.
"Rachel, are you really not thinking about making games with me?" Anna sat on the couch with her legs resting on the coffee table in front of her, talking to Rachel Ruan, who was sitting nearby coloring a sketch.
"Anna, your little boat is full of holes and about to sink," Rachel Ruan said, putting down her pen and rolling her eyes.
"Ahem, it's just a rough patch! Besides, I still have three employees! And look at your studio, Rachel — how can you even call it a studio? Have you ever seen a one-person studio before?" Anna Young quickly fired back.
"Well, at least I'm making money! And didn't you have eight employees three months ago?" Rachel Ruan suddenly realized something and pointed it out.
"People have their own goals. I can't stop them from chasing their dreams, can I? Anyway, how's that game your junior is making?" Anna said awkwardly, trying to change the subject.
"I haven't really checked. Maybe it's not doing that well," Rachel Ruan replied, shaking her head slightly.
"So your studio is about to have two people now?" Anna said with interest, clearly aware of the deal between the two of them.
"Maybe. But I'm guessing Lucas's not in the best mood right now," Rachel sighed.
During this time, she hadn't reached out to Lucas.
After all, once it ended, she had checked in with Anna, but Anna didn't seem to think much of it.
Even though her friend had already burned through nearly all her funds making three games in a row.
Still, she was a professional in the gaming industry.
And having made three games, even if they failed, that still meant she had some experience, right?
While working with Lucas for that month, Rachel could really feel his passion for game development.
She also felt the unique kind of fun that came from making a game—especially the joy of being hands-on and watching the content move forward bit by bit.
That feeling was amazing, and she could finally understand why Lucas Hart had said he wanted to make games.
So during this time, she hadn't asked how the game was doing. Especially since he had told her he would pay her as soon as the game brought in money.
Even though she didn't care much about the money, she also couldn't just tell Lucas to forget it.
After all, it wasn't about the money itself, and it wasn't just her problem.
Besides, she'd been busy with her own manga work, so she hadn't paid much attention to the game side of things.
She figured she'd let Lucas take this time to settle down a bit and talk to him later.
She really had worried herself sick for this junior of hers!
Anna sighed to herself.
"Well, this can't be helped. A lot of newbies think adult games are easy, but just because the risk is lower doesn't mean development itself is simple. By the way, Rachel, what's the name of your junior's game? I'll take a look."
Anna spoke with the tone of someone who had been through it all, clearly reminded of her own three failed attempts.
She hadn't met Rachel's junior, but for some reason, Anna felt like she understood how he must be feeling right now.
Especially after hearing that he had gone all in and spent everything he had on the game.
That made her even more sure—this guy must really love making games, just like her.
She remembered her own first time putting a game out and the crushing feeling when it failed.
In that moment, Anna actually felt a bit of sympathy for Lucas.
If her own company weren't already on the verge of cash flow problems, she would've asked Rachel to bring him in.
Someone that passionate about games—that's the kind of person she wanted on her team!
"Don't worry, Rachel. When the time comes, I'll be the cautionary tale for your junior. I'll comfort him by showing him how bad I had it," Anna said, patting Rachel Ruan on the shoulder.
Two people beaten down by the same harsh world—she understood that kind of pain all too well.
"Thanks, Anna. Oh, right, the game is called Mirror, but I think it launched on an overseas platform," Rachel replied.
Even though she hadn't asked Lucas directly, she'd quietly checked it out on her own. But at the time, the rating and review info hadn't been unlocked, so she had no idea how it was doing.
"Mirror… why does that name sound a little familiar?"
"Feels like I've heard it somewhere before?"
"Wait… this game!"
Muttering to herself after hearing the name from Rachel, Anna opened the official platform and started searching.
She didn't know why, but she had this strong feeling that she had seen the game somewhere.
She opened the overseas platform, typed in the name, and searched.
Then Anna went quiet, turned her head, and stared hard at Rachel.
"What the hell, Rachel—this is the game you said wasn't doing that well? This is the game made by the junior who supposedly didn't know what he was doing?!"
"Are you kidding me!?"
No wonder the name sounded familiar!
She had seen people talking about it on a game forum before.
And now, looking at the game's store page again—
Rating: 9.6
Number of reviews: 1,724
Anna couldn't stay calm anymore.
Sympathy? Empathy?
Who the hell could feel empathy for someone like that?
Who the hell would feel sorry for someone like that?
A 9.6 rating, and just look at how many reviews it already has!
It's only been a few days and there are already over 1,700?
She had never felt this way before.
"So, that game by Lucas... it actually did well?" Rachel asked Anna.
"Did well? It's a massive success! And don't forget, it's an 18+ game! And it's only been out a few days, but with this kind of score and this many reviews, I bet the sales will be even better than the highest-selling game I've ever made!"
Anna looked at Rachel with obvious envy.
When she looked at the number of reviews under the game's page, she felt completely crushed.
Especially after she had just tried to comfort Rachel by saying she could be used as a cautionary tale.
Well, now she really had become the cautionary tale!
But she quickly shook off the awkwardness. She stood up and grabbed Rachel's arm.
"Come on, Rachel, please! You have to introduce me to this genius!"
"I need to learn from him!"
Like the saying goes—if you're near the water, you'll be the first to see the moon.
Sure, it sounds a little weird in this context, but the meaning holds.
If you can't be the one others rely on, and you find someone who could be... then why not try to stick close?
(end of chapter)