Chapter 37

Li Xuan sat for a while and then bid farewell and left. He didn't want to get too involved with these people. When he came out of the private room, Lin Yuhao was sitting alone at the bar, drinking.

"Handsome, let's go!" Li Xuan patted his roommate's shoulder.

"Uh!" Lin Yuhao was full of black lines. He had been tricked from Shatin all the way to Mong Kok, only to sit for a few minutes, and the drinks had just been ordered when it was time to leave. What about the girls?

"The girls here cost money to date. Next time I'll take you to Lan Kwai Fong. The bars there are frequented by white-collar workers. Then I'll teach you my secret technique—the Li Family Girl-Chasing Manual!"

Li Xuan said with a smile, then pulled Lin Yuhao out.

Lin Yuhao sat in the car, looking gloomy: "Do you think this is fun? How can I trust you in the future!"

"This time I owe you one. I'll treat you to some late-night snacks to comfort your wounded heart!"

Li Xuan also felt he had been a bit too much, so he briefly explained the whole situation to his roommate.

"So, dating girls was a lie, and using me as a shield was the real deal!" Lin Yuhao said with a dissatisfied look, "I see through your true colors. One late-night snack isn't enough. You have to cover my food expenses for the whole semester!"

"Deal!" Li Xuan agreed readily.

"Ah, no, that's only a little over a week left in this semester. You're too cunning!" Lin Yuhao realized, "I guess I'll have to order the most expensive dishes in the cafeteria for the next few days to even out this bad mood!"

"Bro, do you have to be so harsh? Are we still going to be good friends in the future? How about I give you a few more assists in the next soccer game to let you shine?"

The two of them joked and bantered all the way to Yau Ma Tei, where the Zhong family's new arcade on Wu Song Street was located.

"Didn't you say the arcade is full of smoke and you hate it? Why did my boss tell me you've been coming here every day!" Li Xuan gently hugged the girl who was concentrating on calculating the accounts behind the cash register.

"Ah, how did you come? Weren't you supposed to be reviewing for exams at school?" Zhong Chuhong looked up, her surprise evident.

"Missed you!" Li Xuan lightly kissed her smooth, delicate face.

"Don't do that, it's so embarrassing if others see!" Zhong Chuhong was still a bit shy about her boyfriend's intimate actions in public.

"How are the arcade's earnings? Making a lot of money, right? I told you it would work!" Li Xuan glanced at the ledger on the table.

"Yes! It's amazing, like robbing a bank. We'll break even in another month, and my parents are shocked!" Zhong Chuhong nodded, "Xuan, thank you!"

"How are you going to thank me? Just saying it won't do!" Li Xuan leaned close to her ear and blew a gentle breath.

"Hey, you two, even in public, you need to consider the feelings of us bachelors!" The antagonist always jumps in at the crucial moment to ruin the mood. Li Xuan glared at Du Wenqiang, who was rhythmically tapping the cash register with his fingers and deliberately winking at them. Zhong Chuhong had to lower her head and pretend to organize the accounts, blushing.

"Let's go, call the others to have some seafood. Late-night snacks should shut your big mouth!" Li Xuan said helplessly.

Oriental Electronics had previously made a few test machines of Hong Kong Blocks and Tank Battle, placing them in the arcades in Sham Shui Po and Yau Ma Tei. They also sent employees to record detailed data.

The number of players who played these two arcade games each day, how many minutes each player could play with one game coin, which level they died on, and their evaluation of the game, were all recorded in great detail. This data was then summarized and used as a reference for further improvements to the games.

To ensure the arcade machines would be a success when they were officially launched, everyone in the company was working very hard. Du Wenqiang, the design director, although he rented a house in Shatin, drove to these two arcades every day after work. He stood next to the arcade machines, watching others play the games he designed, looking for areas to improve.

Although the ideas for the two games were proposed by Li Xuan, the final results were very similar to the classics he remembered. However, all the graphics and program data were independently developed by Du Wenqiang and his software team without any references.

Next to Wu Song Street was Temple Street, the most famous night market in Hong Kong, known as the night club for the common people. Every evening, the mobile shops on both sides of Temple Street set up their stalls and began business.

They sold clothing, handicrafts, tea sets, jade, antiques, and even cheap electronics. Near the Tin Hau Temple, there were also fortune-telling and face-reading stalls, Cantonese opera performances, and martial artists performing and selling medicine. It was a bustling night city for the common people.

Temple Street also had many food stalls, which usually set up tables and chairs after 9 PM when the crowds began to disperse, and they would continue operating until 2 or 3 AM.

"Boss, bring us a plate of pepper salt spicy crab, a plate of fried oysters, a plate of pepper salt nine-belly fish, and a plate of fresh squid with broccoli. Each of us a large beer!" Du Wenqiang walked into the seafood stall and started ordering without even looking at the menu, then turned to Zhong Chuhong, "Miss, what would you like to drink?"

"Two fresh orange juices, Xuan has to drive, so he can't drink!" Zhong Chuhong smiled at the boss.

"Fine, I can't stand you two. Not drinking beer with late-night snacks, what's the point!" Du Wenqiang grumbled.

Li Xuan ignored the fat Du's words, smiled affectionately at Zhong Chuhong, and carefully wiped the chair with a tissue before letting his girlfriend sit next to him.

"Xuan, the players' reactions to Hong Kong Blocks and Tank Battle are very good. I met several people today who came to the arcade specifically to try these new games after hearing about them from others! When are we going to start selling the arcade machines? I think the timing is just right!" Liang Ning asked. He now shared a place with Du Wenqiang and they acted together every night.

"We need another half month. My brother just secured the new factory space on the 7th floor of Ansheng Building. Although a few old employees will be transferred from Keji, most of the workers will be new hires, and recruitment and training will take some time. Besides, our contract with Japan's Epson for the arcade machines was just signed, and they can only start small-scale shipments next month.

On January 3rd, there will be a Western Electronic Show in Mountain View, San Francisco. It's the first major electronics fair in North America in 1980, and it will have a dedicated section for arcade games. This will be the first stage for Oriental Electronics to launch our assault on the U.S. market!"

Li Xuan explained the situation, then raised a glass of fresh orange juice and said to the two men beside him, "I've already faxed the application to the exhibition committee. I'll lead the team, with Liang Ning as my assistant, and Fat Du will stay in Hong Kong to help my brother set up the factory! I wish us a successful start next month!"

"To success, cheers!"

"Boss, you're too cunning, using juice to toast with us, no sincerity!"

"Exactly, don't use driving as an excuse. We can take a taxi back! We must drink until we're drunk tonight!"

"I have an exam tomorrow afternoon. If I fail, will you take responsibility?"

A group of young people eating and drinking together never lacked enthusiasm. Li Xuan was also persuaded to switch to beer, but fortunately, he wasn't the type to get drunk easily, and a couple of bottles were no problem.

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