Li Wànjī leaned back on the park bench, his brow furrowing as he looked at the message popping up on his phone.
"'New World' will officially launch at 8 PM tomorrow. All residents are advised to prepare and log in on time."
Li Wànjī had always been sensitive to wording. He couldn't understand why a game company would dare to use such commanding language.
"Advised to prepare, and log in on time?"
Such a tone, bordering on an order, wouldn't spark curiosity; instead, it would easily provoke a rebellious sentiment in players. It was a lose-lose situation.
Li Wànjī shook his head.
"What a failed PR campaign!"
There were too many fly-by-night operations, hastily putting out games like 'one-hit 999' and then aggressively promoting them through every possible channel. The advertisements were dazzling, but once you actually played, it was a different story. Not only was it vastly different from the ads, but it was also cliché and boring. Just the in-game purchase button took up half the screen; their greed was unsightly.
"They put their heart into the CG, but made the game with their feet."
No wonder a game like 'Black Monkey' could make domestic players celebrate universally. Indeed, given the state of domestic gaming, after eating so much garbage, anyone would be moved to tears by a proper feast. Clearly, the company behind this 'New World' was just another piece of excrement in this cesspool. One could imagine that a small company, struggling for funds, wouldn't even be able to produce decent CG, forcing them to resort to text-based announcements. Li Wànjī couldn't be bothered. He dismissed it as spam.
In his youth, he had been a notorious internet addict, proficient in competitive games, and quite well-known in his circle. But after battling with life for so long, that passion had gradually faded. When he finally had some leisure time, he would either sleep in or, like an old man, lounge lazily on a park bench. Quietly watching the crowds flow and the clouds drift, he had no energy left to play games. It was a kind of premature aging in a different sense.
However, Li Wànjī looked up at the distance...
A few shirtless old men, their muscles sharply defined, were effortlessly doing pull-ups on a horizontal bar. Their movements were so agile, their forms so graceful, it was astonishing.
"Hmph~".
"As expected of Huaxia! Talent is everywhere!"
Li Wànjī couldn't help but give them a thumbs-up. He quietly retracted his earlier thought: 'like an old man...'
Those old men were way more formidable than him! This society was probably sick, with the young growing old and the old brimming with vitality...
Li Wànjī shifted into a more comfortable position, squinting as he gazed at the fiery sunset in the distance. It was quite pleasant. The only drawback was the bench was too hard. It made his buttocks and back ache faintly. Otherwise, a short nap would have been heavenly.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
Li Wànjī took out his phone, wondering who the inconsiderate person was who dared to ruin this beautiful moment? He woke the screen, his eyes gradually widening, his eyebrows shooting up.
"After careful consideration and research by the government, to ensure all residents have a better gaming experience, starting from the launch of 'New World,' all work, classes, and business will be suspended for one month. Residents are advised to stock up on necessary living supplies to avoid inconvenience to your lives. We implore all Huaxia compatriots to do your best to improve your gaming skills during this month. We wish you a happy gaming experience!"
Li Wànjī scratched his head, re-reading it in disbelief. The text on his phone was clear, identical to what he had seen earlier!
"What the hell?"
His first reaction was that the team behind 'New World,' those amateur operators, were just trying to create a buzz! After all, with their small scale and lack of traction, they might as well be outrageous, do whatever it takes to grab attention and go viral! But thinking about it further, he felt it wasn't the case. Would anyone really dare to take such a huge risk and sign off as the 'Central Office'? This wasn't just bold; it was a flagrant defiance of the law! No, it had gone beyond defiance; they were shouting at the law, practically inviting themselves to be thrown in jail and presented with a custom-made set of exquisite handcuffs. How utterly audacious!
Wait, a decent person wouldn't go so insane.
If it wasn't the game company...
"Oh no!"
Li Wànjī scrambled to sit up straight. His fingers flew across the screen, tapping into deeply hidden folders, finally revealing several apps. He had recently, disregarding the risks, installed a few 'exciting' apps to quietly improve himself in the dead of night. As expected! Everything has a price. After only a few days of improvement, he had fallen victim.
"Pain, so much pain!"
Li Wànjī secretly resolved to delete them immediately. He had moved the icons to the delete button, but then paused and let go. It wasn't easy to find resources. Tonight, he'd find some good learning material to enjoy himself, as a final wild spree before saying goodbye, then resolutely delete them, perform a full system scan, and start anew. He also found it strange. Weren't they previously advertising 'New Macau Lisboa' and 'Sexy Hostesses Dealing Cards Online'? How had they started advertising games? Could it be that the nation's moral compass had improved so much that people rejected gambling and drugs, leaving these establishments without business?
While Li Wànjī was lost in thought, he was unaware that at that very moment, phones across the country were receiving the same announcement.
It was a ripple that stirred up a thousand waves. All major forums, portals, and social media platforms exploded.
"My child is addicted to games, doesn't study, doesn't work, and just stays in his room playing games all day. What is the government doing? Suspending work and school for a new game? Are they trying to ruin our next generation?"
"Yes, yesterday my little one secretly took my phone and spent 888 on the game. It broke my heart. Such a trash game, corrupting our youth, and they're heavily promoting it instead of banning it? They're not leaving parents any way out!"
"I think it's the end. Let's just destroy everything, quickly. I'm tired."
"Everyone, don't worry. With so much stress, playing games to relax isn't a bad thing."
"Who is this bootlicker? You talk about stress, but how will you pay your car and mortgage if you stop working? Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or genuinely stupid."
Public opinion escalated, and all sorts of conspiracy theories ran wild. The government, however, did not offer any explanations. Instead, they continuously rolled out policies to address the various pain points of the people during the suspension period.
...The wind by the river blew gently. Li Wànjī clasped his chin, staring blankly into the distance. Suddenly, he heard someone calling his name. He looked up and saw a beautiful figure before him.
"I knew you'd be here," the girl said.
Li Wànjī looked up, startled. "Rúyān? You... why are you here? You didn't tell me in advance, I could have come to pick you up."
The person before him was Li Wànjī's girlfriend, Liǔ Rúyān. They were nominally a couple. For work, they lived in two different cities, far apart, and only saw each other a few times a year. There was some distance between them; the initial passionate affection had faded significantly. This park was where they had met, and Li Wànjī often came here when he had free time. It wasn't surprising that Liǔ Rúyān could find him here.
Liǔ Rúyān stood before Li Wànjī, her arms crossed. The breeze rustled her bangs, giving her a fragile, almost broken appearance. Her expression was complex, as if she had something to say but couldn't.
Seeing this, Li Wànjī quickly helped her to a nearby spot. They sat side by side on the bench, and he asked softly, concerned, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Liǔ Rúyān bit her lip, turned to look at Li Wànjī. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. After a moment of hesitation, as if she had made a decision, she spoke.
"Wànjī, can we continue this?" My mother always says that when choosing a man, you can look for his status or his wealth, but never just for his kindness, because kindness can change, but money won't.
Every time I go home, I have to listen to them say these things. I'm under so much pressure, Wànjī. I don't see a future. I really don't see a future."
Li Wànjī remained silent. This wasn't the first time they had had this conversation. It wasn't that he lacked ambition, but looking back at the brightly lit apartments by the river and the sales office sign that read, 'First-class river view, luxurious quality, starting price at /ping,' the price was enough to shatter the confidence of a poor country boy multiple times.
Liǔ Rúyān continued, "My mother has arranged another blind date for me. Apparently, the man is quite wealthy, enough for me to live in comfort and plenty for the rest of my life.
You know, we're still dating, and I can't possibly go on a blind date with someone else. But my family won't accept you, and I'm caught in the middle, making things so difficult."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but sob, "I don't have the courage to defy them. I'm so tired, Wànjī. What should we do?"
Li Wànjī gently patted her back, about to say something like, 'I'll work desperately to guarantee our material future...' but then he felt like he was just making empty promises. His income hadn't increased in years. It wasn't that he wasn't trying hard enough; some things just couldn't be achieved through effort alone. It was indeed difficult to establish himself in this prosperous city. If he couldn't even convince himself with these words, how could he convince others?
Seeing Li Wànjī's quiet demeanor, Liǔ Rúyān, with tears in her eyes, asked again, "Can we continue this?"
"Yes!"
"With what?"
Indeed, with what?
"I'm already a grown woman. A girl's youth doesn't last long. I can't wait."
Li Wànjī lowered his head, feeling a heavy weight in his chest.
"So..."
"Let's take a break," the girl said.
Although he had had a vague premonition, hearing the words still made his heart tremble uncontrollably.
"Has it really come to this?"
"I'm sorry, I still love you, but love can't solve problems. Let's break up. Let's both think about it."
The girl stood up and left. After saying everything, even her retreating figure seemed resolute.
"Wait!"
Li Wànjī called out, trying to maintain his composure. He forced a strained smile. "How about we have dinner together?"
Liǔ Rúyān turned back, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart, feeling a sense of lighthearted freedom. "I'm sorry, Wànjī. Neither of us is wrong. Let's meet again sometime if there's a chance."
Her figure gradually disappeared under the dim streetlights.
Li Wànjī sat there for a long time, unmoving.
"It's not your fault, and it's not my fault. Then whose damn fault is it? If neither of us is wrong, then why are we still saying sorry?"
A relationship that hadn't started with a bang ended just as anticlimactically. Just like his unremarkable life.