Chapter 8

Mulan Qing heard Lin Yao's voice and stopped in her tracks.

Lin Yao stood up and ran to catch up with her, coming to her side. She tilted her head slightly, revealing a very friendly smile, "Let's go back together."

"…Okay."

Mulan Qing was somewhat surprised but eventually nodded, not refusing. She took the lead and walked towards the elevator.

Lin Yao followed her, thinking about how to bring up the topic of the project plan.

The two left the company, took the elevator to the first floor, and then walked together towards the station.

"How's it going? Have you found a new company yet?"

After walking for a while, seeing that Lin Yao was looking down and had not spoken, Mulan Qing thought for a moment and asked.

"New company?"

Lin Yao looked up, somewhat puzzled.

"Your next company, weren't you planning to switch jobs?"

Mulan Qing looked at the sunset, and said softly, "This internal audit will definitely need to give an explanation to the third development department and the upper management. Since you haven't been transferred out, I can't say much."

"Is that so."

Lin Yao realized that she was the one who would bear the blame and would have to leave in the end.

Mulan Qing nodded and then fell silent for a moment, "I'm sorry, I can't help you with this."

Lin Yao didn't pay much attention but instead asked, "Manager Mu, are you also looking for a new company?"

"Yes."

Mulan Qing pursed her lips, and a hint of reluctance appeared on her side face, "Although the decision wasn't made by me, who made such a loud objection and was so 'unpopular' at the time? I guess I'll bear full responsibility... I finally made it this far."

Lin Yao looked at her side face and remembered something.

When they were competing for the budget with the third development department, Manager Mu indeed opposed it. She strongly argued that there was no need to invest more in the game, and even had a rather unpleasant argument with the bucket-carrying director.

Strictly speaking, the situation wasn't really her fault.

Lin Yao sighed, "What a pity, everyone was talking about making the company bigger and stronger, and achieving glory. In the end, they just sent us off with drums and trumpets. We're the ones left to bear the blame..."

"..." Mulan Qing turned her head silently and looked at Lin Yao.

"What?" Lin Yao slightly lifted her chin, meeting her gaze with a puzzled look.

"Nothing."

Mulan Qing shook her head and looked forward again, "So in the future, don't trust others too much. What does it have to do with you when you just started working? They offer you a promotion, and you agree, but it's really about making you take the blame."

"I didn't think that much at the time..."

Lin Yao blushed slightly and lightly scratched her cheek.

When the bucket-carrying director said she would be promoted to the lead planner, who knew it would be a lead planner to take the blame. It's my fault for being young... No, it's the original me's fault for being too young.

"Remember this feeling of reluctance, don't trust anyone."

Mulan Qing left this final word.

They were almost at the station.

Looking at the subway entrance just a few steps away, Lin Yao knew she had to speak up soon.

She took a step forward, instinctively reached out and held Mulan Qing's arm, gently pulling her, "I understand, Manager Mu. What about you?"

"Me...?"

Mulan Qing stopped and looked at Lin Yao, somewhat puzzled.

"Are you also reluctant?" Lin Yao stopped as well and asked, "You not only opposed the budget increase but also disagreed with the project from the beginning. If the project fails, it has nothing to do with me, and even less to do with you."

"You don't have to call me Manager Mu anymore, just call me by my name."

Mulan Qing lightly shook her head, paused for a moment, and continued, "As for the reluctance, of course, I am reluctant, but the adult world isn't that simple. If everything could be judged by the process, it would be easier."

?

Lin Yao slowly raised a question mark.

What does the adult world mean?

... Am I not an adult?

But she didn't dwell on this question for long.

"Miss Mu, since you are reluctant, have you considered this possibility?"

Lin Yao leaned forward slightly, paused, and suggested, "For example... update the game and try to save it? This way, I won't be fired, and you won't have to take the blame."

Mulan Qing was slightly taken aback and then shook her head, "I've thought about it, but the bucket-carrying director took everyone away. Without people, I can't do much on my own."

"Good that you've thought about it."

Lin Yao sighed in relief and continued, "Since you've thought about it, why not give it a try? How can there be no one? You still have me."

"..."

Mulan Qing looked at the young girl beside her with a strange expression.

Oval face, almond eyes, high ponytail.

Although she was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, it couldn't hide her tall and curvy figure.

She looked so young and lively, people would probably believe she was a high school student...

"What's wrong?" Lin Yao met her gaze and tilted her head slightly, asking.

Mulan Qing smiled and suddenly said, "Actually, you're not suited for the game industry. Why don't you try dancing? You have a good foundation..."

"Huh?" Lin Yao was full of question marks.

"Alright, let's go back."

Mulan Qing shook her head, gently freed her arm from Lin Yao's grip, "Let's go, take the bus. Where do you live? Is it in the direction of Line 3?"

"No, I'm serious."

Lin Yao was taken aback, then ran to catch up with her, and once again held her arm, preventing her from leaving. She changed her address to show her seriousness, "Manager Mu, to be honest, I wrote a project plan today. It's about the modifications for the turn-based online game currently operated by the second department. I want you to take a look."

"Let's give it one last try. We'll try not to take the blame and save the game."

Because of the system, the project plan was already written.

Lin Yao was quite invested in the half-dead turn-based online game.

"..."

Mulan Qing saw the serious expression on Lin Yao's beautiful face, frowned slightly, and hesitated.

She seemed to be thinking of a way to refuse.

After a while,

She managed to smile and said gently, "Thank you for thinking of me, but it's too late. Given the current state of the game, even if it doesn't go offline, I can't secure much more resources. Small-scale activities and plans won't make a difference. The project was a failure from the beginning."

She paused,

Looking into Lin Yao's sincere almond eyes, she continued, "I know you want to do something... How about this, if you really want to stay in the game industry and trust me, I can introduce you to a few companies. You can try to apply."

"Thank you."

Lin Yao nodded obediently, looking like she agreed, but had no intention of giving up, "I know small updates won't save the game, so I proposed changes to the entire game's structure and gameplay. Sister Mu, I don't want to leave the company yet. Please, take a look at the project plan tomorrow."

"…Alright, I'll take a look tomorrow."

Mulan Qing was silent for a long time.

In the end, she didn't refuse Lin Yao.

Although she didn't have much hope for the project plan written by this young and lively girl...

After all, she had been in the company for less than half a year.

Game planning isn't easy, and the Pareto principle can be applied to this industry. Most of the time, a person's design and business capabilities are proportional to their work experience.

Which of the well-known game planners in the industry doesn't have seven to eight years of experience? Which one isn't a genius who can break through their own limits time and time again?

You think such a person can save the problematic turn-based online game currently developed by the second department.

Mulan Qing still believed it.

But a recent college graduate?

Probably doesn't even have their own methodology.

Updating an online game isn't a joke; it can affect the game's survival. There are examples of games losing a lot of popularity after a radical update.

A planner who doesn't know how to spend money wisely or how to control risks is hard to trust.

She wanted to advise the young girl to give up unrealistic fantasies and spend two years doing hard work and learning.

But thinking that the girl was about to leave, she didn't say anything hurtful...

Just as a comfort to the inexperienced girl who called her sister.

"Thank you."

Lin Yao breathed a sigh of relief, though she could sense Mulan Qing's lack of trust, she didn't say anything more.

Since she had agreed, it would be impolite to keep pestering her, and it might even make her dislike her.

So she just thanked her, let go of her arm, and didn't argue.

"I'll go first."

Mulan Qing waved her hand indifferently and turned to walk towards the station.

Lin Yao watched her leave, seeing her off.

The three difficulties in saving the game.

The first one had a glimmer of hope.

Although it wasn't certain if she could convince the other party, at least she had tried.

Next, it was up to tomorrow.

As for whether the turn-based online game could be saved,

Who knows.

Do your best and leave the rest to fate. Now, it's just a matter of waiting.

...

The next day.

Early in the morning.

As soon as Lin Yao arrived at the company, she printed out the project plan she had written the day before, along with the emoticons she had drawn, new gameplay concept diagrams, and system function effect diagrams, and placed them on Mulan Qing's desk.

A thick stack.

Almost a hundred pages.