Chen Jianhai never expected Wen Zifan to be the type to chase after celebrities.
"Who's your 'gege'?" Chen Jianhai asked, his tone dripping with jealousy.
"Ren Xing!" Wen Zifan's eyes lit up as she said the name, making Chen Jianhai roll his eyes inwardly.
*Pfft!*
What kind of ridiculous name is that… Ren Xing (Willful)?! Might as well call myself Niu Bi (Awesome) while we're at it!
Thanks to his height advantage, Chen Jianhai easily glimpsed Wen Zifan's phone screen, where she was excitedly sharing the news with her best friend about Ren Xing coming to the hotel.
*Just some celebrity… What's the big deal?!*
"Lobby Manager Chen Niu Bi" scowled and strode out of the hotel.
Though the matters in Nanjiang had been resolved, before returning to Zaomen, Chen Jianhai still had one thing to settle.
---
**Nanjiang City Xinrui Teahouse**
"Mr. Chen, this way, please."
A woman in a pale blue floral-patterned dress, her hair elegantly tied up, led the way with gentle steps.
The teahouse exuded an antique charm, with screens, emerald bamboo, orchids, and bowl lotuses tastefully arranged throughout. Artificial mountains and flowing water complemented the swaying tails of koi fish in the pond. Dozens of golden birdcages of varying heights and designs hung amidst the bamboo grove in the courtyard. The crisp chirping of birds surrounded them like a melody, drifting from afar.
Coupled with the faint fragrance in the air and the scent of wood, the atmosphere was serene and tranquil.
Walking through the rear hall,
To the left were half-open windows and corridors with an antique flair, while to the right, bamboo leaves rustled in the breeze. Ahead, graceful and charming teahouse staff moved elegantly.
Country bumpkin Chen Jianhai suddenly felt as if he'd traveled back to the Qing Dynasty, experiencing the high-class vibe of a successful businessman.
*No wonder Uncle Xu and the others prefer teahouses for business discussions. The ambiance really is something else!*
In the past, Chen Jianhai had always negotiated contracts and deals in hotel cafés, meeting rooms, or offices.
A teahouse like this was a first for him.
The sounds of the guzheng and pipa along the way, though incomprehensible to him, were still pleasing to the ear.
After winding through the rear garden for about ten minutes, the teahouse attendant stopped at a private room named "I See the Mountains." With slender, fair arms, she gently lifted the curtain of crystal purple beads.
"Mr. Chen, please."
"Thank you," Chen Jianhai replied politely before stepping inside.
Passing the screen adorned with a painting of court ladies at the entrance,
Inside the "I See the Mountains" room, Qin Li, the chairman of Digital Dynamics Game Development Company, was already waiting.
Seeing Chen Jianhai enter, Qin Li raised his right hand and waved enthusiastically:
"Brother!"
"Brother Qin!" Chen Jianhai smiled as he walked over, shook Qin Li's hand, and took a seat.
"Brother, how's the game? Enjoying it so far?"
The moment he sat down, Qin Li immediately steered the conversation to his expertise, asking about Chen Jianhai's gaming experience.
Chen Jianhai nodded vigorously. "Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
"At first, when we started playing, the whole server had just two Jiang Ziyas dominating the opposing faction. It got boring after a couple of days."
"But now, a few more Jiang Ziyas have popped up in our server. It's like the Three Kingdoms—super intense!"
Once the topic turned to gaming, Chen Jianhai grew animated, chatting back and forth with Qin Li.
"Brother Qin, can you talk to the devs? The current dungeons are way too stale. Can we get some new ones?"
"And maybe optimize the boss battles too!"
Qin Li replied, "Dungeon and faction war updates are already in the works. You'll get to play them next month with the version update."
"As for boss battles… which one's giving you trouble?"
Qin Li's tone was serious.
User experience and feedback were crucial for any game!
And among all players, high-spending players were especially vital for retention.
Though Chen Jianhai's account was gifted by the company, his feedback represented the experience of top-tier spenders.
His opinions likely reflected those of many high-spending players, so they couldn't be taken lightly.
Without hesitation, Chen Jianhai answered Qin Li's question:
"The Furious Qing Daoist!"
"That boss is downright disgusting!"
"Once its HP drops below 30%, any fatal hit instantly restores it to full health—with no limit! It's completely anti-human!"
"By the end, everyone has to slowly chip away with basic attacks like scraping an eyeball with a tiny knife. No skills allowed."
"Sometimes, grinding one boss takes over half an hour!"
"And the worst part? It's not just the slow grind."
"The Furious Qing Daoist's damage is insane. One ultimate skill wipes out half our HP. We can't even start a raid without five healers."
Chen Jianhai spoke through gritted teeth, clearly harboring deep resentment toward the boss.
"We'll change it!" Qin Li immediately responded. "Since Boss Chen has spoken, we'll fix it right away!"
Chen Jianhai felt a little embarrassed.
Typically, high-spending players in online games had dedicated customer service reps to regularly check in on their experience.
But he never expected his personal gaming consultant would be Chairman Qin himself!
This feeling… was oddly flattering!
But pride aside, there was still business to discuss.
"Brother Qin, the main reason I asked to meet today is to discuss collaboration regarding 'Fengshen Fatu Shi.'"
Qin Li's expression turned serious. "Go ahead, Boss Chen. If there are any aspects of 'Fengshen Fatu' you're unsatisfied with, feel free to tell me."
"It's not about the gameplay! It's about collaboration!" Chen Jianhai clarified quickly.
"Thanks to 'Fengshen Fatu Shi,' my Zaomen Lion Castle Hotel's occupancy rate has increased by 300% compared to before."
"I'd like to propose a partnership."
"Could we integrate 'Fengshen Fatu Shi's' gacha pool into my Lion Castle's Wishing Pool?"
*Hmm?*
At this, Qin Li's eyebrows rose slightly, and he leaned back in his chair.
"Boss Chen's idea… is quite unique."
Chen Jianhai's request was easy to fulfill.
All he had to do was instruct the game's art team to redesign the gacha pool based on the Lion Castle's Wishing Pool.
But…
"What's in it for my company?"
Qin Li was blunt.
They were both businesspeople, and both straightforward.
Beating around the bush was pointless and a waste of time—better to lay everything out openly.
Chen Jianhai explained, "I checked the game's official site. 'Fengshen Fatu Shi' launched this March."
"When the game holds its first-anniversary offline carnival event next March,"
"I'm willing to provide the venue and theme for free!"
*Offline carnival?!*
Qin Li's eyes narrowed.
Major hit online games often hosted celebratory events for their anniversaries.
These events took many forms—
Sometimes a live symphony concert,
Sometimes a famous singer performing the game's theme song,
Sometimes fan-made videos or live cosplay…
Since these were anniversary events, companies spared no expense to create the most immersive scenes and music.
Many people who had never played the game before were drawn in by these events, becoming new players.
Longtime players often developed stronger loyalty because of them.
Moreover, anniversary celebrations were a powerful showcase of a game's market presence.
For Chen Jianhai to propose this meant he had thoroughly researched the game and had been planning this collaboration for a while.
A bold idea!
Qin Li glanced at Chen Jianhai, his gaze tinged with scrutiny.
First, this offer wasn't for now—it was for the future.
No one could guarantee whether 'Fengshen Fatu Shi' would still be this popular a year from now.
With how quickly games rose and fell these days, many flared up briefly before dying out within a year.
Second, the offer was undeniably tempting!
The most captivating aspect of offline game-themed carnivals was recreating in-game scenes, giving players an immersive experience.
Such setups required massive investments of time and money.
Chen Jianhai's promise to cover all expenses was incredibly appealing.
Besides, what game company didn't want their title to thrive long-term?
Not just a first-anniversary carnival—
If they could hold fifth-anniversary or tenth-anniversary events, they'd be overjoyed!
But… could Chen Jianhai actually pull this off?
"Boss Chen, carnivals are no small undertaking," Qin Li said cautiously.
Recognizing the doubt in Qin Li's eyes, Chen Jianhai smiled confidently.
"Brother Qin, you might not be familiar with my hotel's history."
"Actually, I started with themed hotels."
"If you take a stroll around the guesthouses and inns along Nanjiang's Ring Seaside Road, you'll find at least 60% share the same theme."
"They're copying the Dolphin Bubble Festival theme from my Lang'ai Hotel."
Here, Chen Jianhai's lips curled slightly, as if recalling something disdainful.
"And it's not just guesthouses and inns—even five-star hotels have imitators."
"But since we're all part of the same association,"
"I won't name names here."
"Anyway, I can't speak for everything,"
"But for 'Fengshen Fatu Shi's' first anniversary, I can fully recreate the game's scenes throughout my hotel."
"And all setup costs will be covered by me—Digital Dynamics won't pay a cent."
Chen Jianhai smiled sheepishly.
"I know this offer leans in my favor."
"If you have other ideas, Brother Qin, we can discuss them further!"
Chen Jianhai was laying it all out.
Though Lion Castle Hotel had top-notch software and hardware and was next to Magic Century Theme Park,
Its location outside the city center and high room rates meant occupancy remained low despite attractions like the haunted Room 1703, the castle-themed amusement park, and the Wishing Pool's rumored magic.
Chen Jianhai had to secure his current gaming clientele first before figuring out the rest.
Qin Li pondered, his brow furrowed in thought.
Suddenly,
Qin Li chuckled. "Boss Chen is truly straightforward!"
"Since you're offering to handle the entire offline carnival, why not go all out and add a prize component?"
"What kind of prize?"
Hearing Qin Li's openness, Chen Jianhai sensed an opportunity and pressed eagerly.
"If it's a collaboration between your hotel and 'Fengshen Fatu Shi,' simply changing the gacha pool's visuals won't let players know where the Wishing Pool is."
"I'll create a dedicated event page in the game."
"Any player who uploads a photo with the Lion Castle's Wishing Pool can enter a lottery."
"But the prizes and their value will be up to you."
"What do you think?"
Chen Jianhai's eyes lit up.
"Perfect!"
"Sounds fantastic!"
This event was essentially Qin Li handing customers to Lion Castle Hotel on a silver platter!
Even with first, second, third, fourth, and fifth prizes for 50 winners, the cost would be negligible.
But to participate, players would need to stay at the hotel.
If enough people joined, the room revenue alone would cover the prize expenses.
"Deal, Brother Qin! It's settled!"
"You handle the event, and I'll decide the prizes."
Chen Jianhai said earnestly, "Don't worry—the rewards will satisfy everyone!"
---
Though their agreement was verbal,
Once terms were set, Qin Li immediately called the game development team.
He instructed them to send artists to Lion Castle Hotel for reference photos, aiming to integrate the Wishing Pool into next month's update.
The art team was already swamped with the next update's boss designs and new maps, working around the clock.
Originally, after finishing the nine-tailed Daji artwork, they thought they could rest.
But the company changed plans—
The completed Daji was shelved, and they now had to rush out new dungeons and bosses before the update.
The team was practically living in the office, their eyes strained.
When they heard the gacha pool also needed redesigning, the art room erupted in despair.
"Got it, team lead. We'll finish the Water Pavilion and head to Zaomen."
Artist Men Youcai sounded utterly defeated.
"Come on, Brother Men. It's just a Wishing Pool. A quick sketch, and we're done. Think of it as a work trip to Zaomen."
His partner Xiang Dianqian patted Men Youcai's shoulder, resigned to fate.
Though Digital Dynamics was demanding, its logistics were impeccable.
Once the artists were chosen,
The admin team booked their high-speed train tickets to Zaomen for that very night.
By the time Men Youcai and Xiang Dianqian arrived at Lion Castle Hotel, it was past 3 a.m.
They collapsed into bed and slept until morning.
After breakfast,
When they arrived at the Wishing Pool with their tools,
Men Youcai and Xiang Dianqian gaped at the massive floating structure before them, voices trembling.
"We were told it was just a Wishing Pool…"
"This isn't a pool—it's a palace!"
"Brother Cai, can the two of us really handle this?"