Yangcheng City, Tianhuo Studio.

Outside the Tianhuo Studio building, Xiao Lü and the others were completely shocked.

Tianhuo Studio had its seven-story office building—how magnificent!

A large sign for Tianhuo Studio stood right by the entrance, with tall pines, green cypresses, and lush trees surrounding the building, creating a remarkably pleasant environment.

A game company that could build its own building was not short on money!

Many of them were secretly hoping that someday they would also work in a similar place.

Pei Qian showed no particular reaction to this.

He was only here under the pretense of a tour and exchange to spend money. Besides, it was merely a slightly larger office building—nothing worth envying.

When the group arrived at the entrance, someone from Tianhuo Studio was already there to welcome them.

“Assistant Yan, hello! And this must be Mr. Pei? Hello, hello! I’m the staff member responsible for receiving you today. My name is Sun Xi.”

The greeter was a young man who appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, in charge of reception duties.

Reportedly, Tianhuo Studio’s producer Zhou Muyan would also meet with everyone, but as a producer, he certainly wouldn’t come to the main entrance to welcome them—Pei Qian’s group hadn’t yet reached that level of importance.

Sun Xi led everyone inside while providing commentary.

“This is our front courtyard bamboo grove. Since we have traditional Chinese-style game projects, we planted this bamboo garden. Oh, and over there we have a guqin. Sometimes we have ladies in traditional costume playing it.”

“Further over there is the parking lot, where some colleagues drive to work.”

“Ahead is the front hall. I’ll take you directly to the reception area and the project team.”

Pei Qian looked around as they walked.

Indeed, big companies were impressive!

Building such a large place must have cost quite a bit, right?

Constructing an office building, occasionally renovating it, planting a bamboo grove, and commissioning some statues—these were all excellent ways to spend money. With expenses like these, there’d be no more worrying about having too much money left over!

Of course, building such a large structure would cost at least several tens of millions, which Pei Qian couldn’t afford yet.

The system was still providing funds at the fifty thousand yuan level, and although Pei Qian’s games were earning profits that made him want to vomit, he had only accumulated a few million in total.

If someday his annual profits reached tens of millions or even a hundred million, he could consider building a structure like this.

But Pei Qian hoped that would never happen…

He would much rather have his company lose several million annually than earn tens of millions in profit.

The personal wealth converted from losses was ten times that of profits…

Assistant Yan, having seen much of the world, remained unmoved by all this.

However, the others—Huang Sibo, Xiao Lü, and Ma Yang—had curious gleams in their eyes, somewhat like country bumpkins visiting the city, finding everything novel and exciting.

Of course, strictly speaking, the office conditions at Tenda were even better than Tianhuo Studio’s.

Whether it was the size of workstations or the configuration of computers, there were probably few companies in the country, no, even globally, that could compare with Tenda.

But Tianhuo had a large office space and owned its building, which naturally appeared more affluent and impressive from the outside!

When they reached the reception desk, the group felt a small surge of pride.

One victory for them!

Tenda’s front desk was staffed by a pair of beautiful sisters whose appearances completely outshone Tianhuo Studio’s receptionist. They won!

Sun Xi led everyone to the fourth floor, where they met Tianhuo Studio’s producer, Zhou Muyan.

Zhou Muyan was dressed in casual business attire, which was considered quite formal in the gaming industry.

When he saw the group before him, his eyes immediately locked onto Pei Qian.

Damn, a custom-tailored suit!

Zhou Muyan could tell at a glance that this suit was expensive, easily five digits at minimum!

This made Zhou Muyan feel pressured, as if he had already lost in terms of presence…

Zhou Muyan also wondered how someone who looked younger than an intern had become a boss and created a successful mobile game like “Ghost General.”

Could he be from a wealthy family?

Yes, that must be it.

If he weren’t born rich, he couldn’t afford to wear such clothes.

Generally, self-made entrepreneurs were quite frugal and didn’t have habits of lavish spending, especially in the gaming industry, where there were no strict dress code requirements.

The two exchanged pleasantries, both claiming to have “long admired” each other.

In reality, neither knew the other…

Pei Qian had no idea what games Tianhuo Studio had produced, and Zhou Muyan had only recently learned that Pei Qian was the producer of “Ghost General” and knew nothing else about him.

Since they knew little about each other, both tactfully skipped the mutual flattery phase, and Zhou Muyan began showing the group around the studio.

“This is our recording area, and ahead is the recording studio specifically for game voice acting.”

“Of course, the game’s music and sound effects are also produced here.”

“This area is the workspace. You can see our artists working on original drawings.”

“Here’s the training room where we regularly teach game design knowledge to our trainees.”

“Here we have a set of cosplay costumes that were worn by celebrity endorsers for our games, now preserved in this display case.”

“This wall displays some of our game merchandise.”

“Here’s the break area, and over there is our cafeteria…”

Zhou Muyan led Pei Qian’s group around while observing their reactions.

Tianhuo Studio was a relatively established game studio in China, so their working methods were still quite traditional. They had their own recording studio, art team, and so on, allowing them to be self-sufficient for almost all aspects of game development, unlike Tenda, which purchased art resources and music from resource platforms.

What surprised Zhou Muyan was that while Xiao Lü and the others had shown excited expressions outside the building, once inside, their expressions had become rather flat…

Wasn’t this backward?

Previously, when students came to visit, they were usually composed outside but excited inside.

Because the building had rest areas, a cafeteria, water bars, entertainment rooms, and other amenities—an extremely comfortable working environment—those students would get excited, fantasizing about working at this company in the future.

But these people from Tenda were completely the opposite!

Look clearly, this is an entertainment room! And a rest area!

Isn’t this big TV nice to look at? Isn’t this sofa comfortable to sit on?

Why don’t you have any reaction at all?

Zhou Muyan was perplexed.

The group’s lack of reaction was quite normal.

Most of them had only one reaction upon seeing the so-called “entertainment room” and “snack area.”

Is that all??

You have a tiny TV and one console in this little pigeon coop and dare to call it an “entertainment room”?

This snack area just has a few packets of biscuits and potato chips, with a sign stating that each employee can only take a limited amount, and you dare to call this a “snack area”?

All that boasting, but Tenda has all this too, and much better!

Of course, no one could say anything out loud, but internally they all felt somewhat underwhelmed…

Disappointed, extremely disappointed!

One of China’s top-tier game companies, and this was their office environment?

They were several streets behind Tenda!

The building looked so nice from the outside, but it was all just for show. The inside was completely underwhelming!

With the lackluster response from the group, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Ma Yang remembered Pei Qian’s instructions and immediately realized it was his time to perform.

He couldn’t let the atmosphere grow cold—he needed to ask questions and provide feedback!

With this in mind, he looked at the crowded office space and casually asked, “Wait, isn’t today Saturday? Are all these people working overtime?”

Zhou Muyan was bewildered.

What kind of question is that? Isn’t it obvious?

How many game companies in China don’t follow the 996 work schedule? If today weren’t a normal workday, would I be here at the company to receive you?

The question was so foolish that Zhou Muyan didn’t even know how to respond…

Huang Sibo quickly smoothed things over: “Work is work—overtime is normal.”

Ma Yang nodded. “Mm, that’s true. Plus, you can earn some overtime pay. Hey, with so many people working overtime in the studio, the monthly overtime pay must be quite substantial, right?”

Overtime pay?

Zhou Muyan continued to be confused.

He wondered where this long-faced guy came from.

He seemed to know nothing about the industry and kept saying things only an outsider would say.

What overtime pay in the gaming industry?! Wasn’t 996 always unpaid?!

Seeing Zhou Muyan’s slightly unnatural expression, Huang Sibo and the others immediately understood.

Only Ma Yang hadn’t realized it yet and still seemed to want to ask new questions.

Pei Qian quickly pulled Ma Yang back.

What a troublemaker! What kind of questions are you asking?!

I told you to ask questions, not to embarrass us! What if Zhou Muyan kicks you out? Would you believe that?

I didn’t come all this way to make enemies!

Ma Yang scratched his head, not understanding why Pei Qian was secretly pulling him back.

Aren’t these all normal questions? What’s inappropriate about them?

Fortunately, he wasn’t foolish enough to continue asking and instead remained silent.

Zhou Muyan was speechless, but being a cultured person, he ignored this small incident and continued proudly introducing Tianhuo Studio’s work environment to everyone.

However, having seen the cruel reality, the group had lost interest, and their expressions were quite perfunctory.

Zhou Muyan was puzzled—by all rights, they should have appeared eager and envious!

Tianhuo Studio’s work environment could outclass over 90% of game companies in China!

It was very unreasonable for them not to be envious!

Xiao Lü looked at the office seating area and unconsciously muttered quietly, “These workstations… are so cramped.”