The promotional reel had lit a fire under the team, infusing David Raines, Lukas Voss, and Clara Weiss with an unstoppable energy. Confidence surged through their veins, and the production of Avatar officially kicked off.
A few days later, with university back in session, Alex Klein volunteered to return to campus. His mother was delighted. After weeks of gloom and drifting aimlessly, Alex seemed to have found focus again. She was convinced he had finally grown sensible.
The truth? Alex had merely found a convenient excuse to spend his days away from home.
University classes weren't demanding. Except for a handful of mandatory lectures, he could skip most without repercussions. Even if he attended, he could secretly experiment with the Infinite Time and Space editor, testing new ideas or running small auxiliary tasks for the game.
The editor itself was astonishingly powerful yet intuitive. With some practice, even a novice could craft simple copies using the platform's rich library of assets. The official online academy offered tutorials for beginners, making it even easier to get started.
Alex's university was decent but not prestigious. Wealthy parents in Aurelia often prioritized safe, local education over sending children abroad, and his mother had insisted he stay in the country. His childhood friends had studied overseas, only to encounter setbacks—one injured himself in a street racing accident, another returned disillusioned. It made staying home the safer choice.
Meanwhile, David and Lukas were indulging in a little brotherly banter.
"Look at him—Alex Klein. Handsome, smart, but all about games. Never had a girlfriend in his life," David said, pointing at a photo on his tablet.
Beside him, Yara Jensen, a stunning acting student with an effortlessly photogenic face, nodded. "Yeah… he's really handsome."
David's expression turned serious. "Exactly why he needs a pure, untarnished romance. Someone who looks out for him. You get it, right?"
Yara grinned, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Relax, Mr. Raines. Consider it my professional mission. If he's to succeed, I'll help keep him grounded."
David nodded emphatically. "Good. Now let's keep him from drowning in games."
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Later that day, Alex walked alone from the teaching building toward the parking lot, lost in thoughts of dungeon layouts and Avatar's next design stage.
Yara, anticipating the encounter, had already arranged a plan. Pretending to walk along the side path while on a phone call, she fumbled and dropped her wallet. Perfect timing—Alex would surely notice.
Yet, Alex didn't even glance at her. He passed by without a pause.
Yara froze, eyebrows raised. The wallet remained on the pavement. Not one to accept defeat, she picked it up and trotted to catch him, only to "accidentally" bump into him as she pretended to trip.
"Sorry! Oh—my ankle!" she groaned, playing it up.
Alex paused, concern in his deep voice. "Are you okay?"
"It's just a sprain! I'll manage," she replied, masking the frustration behind her professional smile.
But Alex didn't linger. He walked on, leaving Yara stunned. Her carefully orchestrated encounter had failed—twice in one day. She muttered under her breath, frustrated but determined. Acting or not, she had to seize this chance; it could influence her career, maybe even her future.
Once Alex arrived at the studio, he found David, Lukas, and Clara deep in work. The team was fully immersed in Avatar, pushing forward at full speed. Overtime was standard, but no complaints were heard—everyone's passion for the project was palpable.
Alex settled at his desk, reviewing voice actor demos that Leon had helped source. Though he had heard preliminary recordings, he planned to interview each actor personally. Authenticity mattered; every line in the game needed life.
The current plan used Chinese and English voiceovers, with other languages subtitled—a cost-effective, efficient method—but Alex wanted more. He intended to preserve the emotional depth of Avatar's characters as faithfully as possible.
As he prepared to call the first actor, his phone buzzed. An unknown number.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Hi! I'm the owner of Beijing AB6655. I… I accidentally scratched your car while reversing. I can either cover the repair via insurance or accompany you personally," a girl's voice said nervously.
Alex responded casually. "Send me a WeChat photo and the damage. The car's parked in front; I'll handle it."
Moments later, he received images of a minor scratch—and a selfie of a beautiful girl.
"Not bad," Alex muttered. The damage was trivial, barely more than cosmetic.
"No worries," he replied. "I'll have it fixed at a friend's shop. Thanks."
The girl sent another message in embarrassment, but Alex was already back to work.
Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that the day was unusually… eventful. First, an "accidental" bump. Then, a minor fender tap while driving. Both girls? Both with faces like rising internet stars. Alex shook his head. Even in Aurelia, luck—or fate—seemed to have a sense of humor.