At Slackin’ Internet Café.

“Old Qiao, let’s play a round of GOG!”

“Or we could team up for ‘BE QUIET’ too.”

“Old Qiao?”

“Strange, why is Old Qiao so quiet today?”

Several of Qiao Liang’s fans were calling for him to team up and play, but Qiao Liang sat in front of his computer wearing headphones, completely ignoring their calls.

He was repeatedly refreshing the page, checking the view count and various other metrics for his latest video.

This wasn’t right!

The script shouldn’t have played out like this!

This video hadn’t achieved the effect he’d imagined at all!

His previous “Masterpiece” episodes instantly went viral on their release days, shooting to the site-wide rankings within hours, completely transforming the public opinion on those games.

But this time, the video hadn’t achieved that effect at all.

Though it had certainly provided publicity, it hadn’t gone viral, nor had the response been as strong. Many viewers remained in wait-and-see mode, unconvinced.

For Qiao Laoshi, this was an intolerable failure!

It wasn’t that Qiao Liang had become so arrogant that he thought any video he made would automatically go viral.

If he’d made a video about another designer’s game that had no effect, Qiao Liang wouldn’t have considered it a failure.

But this was Mr. Pei’s project!

From the bottom of his heart, Qiao Liang believed Haunted Lodge was excellent, that Mr. Pei had invested no less effort into this project than his games, but this video hadn’t achieved the corresponding effect. What did that mean?

It meant Qiao Liang’s interpretation of Mr. Pei had gone wrong!

To use a simple analogy, other game developers provided ordinary ingredients, so if the dish tasted bad, the blame could be shifted to the ingredients. But Mr. Pei provided top-notch ingredients, and Qiao Liang, as the chef, had produced an unpalatable dish—that was a culinary skill problem!

More importantly, Qiao Liang had sensed this in advance.

Before publishing the video, he’d felt it was missing something, but couldn’t figure out what even after thinking about it all day. To avoid missing the momentum, he had to publish it.

After publication, sure enough, it didn’t achieve the expected effect.

Qiao Liang felt his relationship with Mr. Pei was like that between an outstanding student and an examiner.

In the past, when the examiner finished setting the exam, he would quickly answer, check it over once, feel satisfied with all aspects, submit it, and indeed receive a perfect score.

But this time, after completing the exam, he felt uneasy, sensing some steps or arguments were missing. Time ran out and he had to submit, but indeed only scored 90, worlds apart from his expectations.

For Qiao Laoshi, who always scored 100, this was unacceptable!

So he felt confused, frustrated, and guilty toward Mr. Pei.

Mr. Pei had handed him such excellent ingredients, yet he couldn’t cook up a good dish—this was simply a waste of resources!

Qiao Liang wanted to do something to salvage the situation, but couldn’t figure out how.

“Now, probably only Mr. Pei can guide me…”

“But how can I have the nerve to ask…”

Qiao Liang picked up his phone, clicked on Mr. Pei’s profile picture, but couldn’t summon the courage to send a message.

It was like a chef who had failed to cook a good dish calling the vegetable seller to ask how to cook the ingredients—he simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.

However, while he was hesitating, Mr. Pei sent a message.

“Are you free tonight? Come to Nameless Restaurant at 7 p.m., I’m treating you to dinner.”

Qiao Liang was stunned, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed a message from Mr. Pei!

“What a coincidence?”

“Just as I’m facing difficulties and hesitating about whether to call Mr. Pei, he happens to invite me to dinner?”

“Could it be…”

“Mr. Pei also watched the video and guessed my current predicament?”

“No, not necessarily.”

“Even if Mr. Pei is prescient, he probably can’t be that accurate. Maybe he just wants to comfort me.”

Amid his gratitude, Qiao Liang felt a bit of anticipation.

Whatever the reason, he had to go to this dinner!

Qiao Liang hurriedly replied: “Yes, Mr. Pei! I’ll be on time!”

……

Evening.

Nameless Restaurant.

“Mr. Pei!”

Qiao Liang shook hands with Pei Qian, his face showing hints of disappointment and guilt.

His emotions were complex, with many thoughts he didn’t know how to express.

Pei Qian smiled slightly: “Come in, let’s talk while we eat.”

The two entered a private room at Mingyun Private Kitchen, and soon, delicious dishes were served one after another.

Seeing these dishes, Qiao Liang’s expression grew complicated.

Mr. Pei was still treating him at the highest standard, which made him feel even worse.

Seeing Qiao Liang’s expression, Pei Qian secretly rejoiced.

Seeing Old Qiao’s expression, this meal hadn’t been wasted!

Worth it!

Pei Qian had achieved his goal and happily picked up his chopsticks to feast.

I don’t care whether you have an appetite, but I certainly do.

When you backstabbed me, did you ever think you’d face such a day?

If only the private room were larger—if there were more space, Mr. Pei wouldn’t have minded showing Qiao Laoshi what singing and dancing in celebration looked like.

Pei Qian had thought Qiao Liang would be angry, seeing his gloating expression, maybe even storming out.

However, Qiao Liang revealed a gratified smile: “Mr. Pei, I’m touched that you’re trying to lift the mood and prevent me from dwelling on failure. But I’d prefer if you could enlighten me.”

Pei Qian: “?”

Who’s trying to lift the mood and prevent you from dwelling on failure?

This is gloating, understand? Gloating!

Before Pei Qian could say anything, Qiao Liang continued: “Mr. Pei, I know you must have watched my latest video. What do you think it’s missing?”

Pei Qian fell silent.

I indeed watched your video and clearly understand it didn’t meet your expectations.

Otherwise, why do you think I invited you to dinner?

But you want to extract information from me?

No way!

Ask around, Tenda—who doesn’t know I keep the strictest confidence?

Pei Qian had suffered enough losses from “guiding others” and decided to focus on eating: “I have nothing to enlighten you about.”

Qiao Liang sighed softly: “Is that so…”

“This video wasn’t perfect. It didn’t properly explain the essence of Haunted Lodge, nor did it bring enough heat and traffic.”

“Actually, before publishing the video, I vaguely felt something was missing, but I couldn’t figure out what. I… really should have thought more.”

“But it’s not too late to think more now…”

Pei Qian: “?”

You had a premonition before publishing the video? Originally planned to think more before releasing it.

Thank goodness you didn’t think more!

If you had thought more, maybe I’d already be ruined!

“Come on, eat, eat.”

“These things aren’t worth overthinking. It’s all in the past, let it go.”

Pei Qian hurriedly consoled him, fearing Qiao Liang would keep fixating and fix the deficiency, releasing another video to remedy the situation—wouldn’t that be a disaster?

Qiao Liang sighed while picking up food: “Since Mr. Pei doesn’t want to tell me, I’ll have to find it myself…”

Pei Qian: “?”

How am I not wanting to tell you? Have you already presupposed in your mind that I know the answer?

I know absolutely nothing!

Pei Qian was speechless. This was the paradox he faced:

If he said nothing, others would think he was deliberately concealing something and would try to excavate deeper meaning, but if he spoke, he might accidentally hit the mark.

What should he choose?

He had arrived at another crossroads of fate.

Pei Qian considered for two minutes, feeling he absolutely couldn’t leave any room for Qiao Laoshi’s imagination, otherwise who knew what terrifying content he might conjure up!

The response he’d given to Yu Ping’an earlier would be perfect for this situation.

Pei Qian’s expression grew serious: “Alright, I’ll be honest with you. You asked what your video is missing, right?”

Qiao Liang nodded: “Yes!”

Pei Qian continued: “Your video isn’t missing anything, including the introduction of Haunted Lodge’s gameplay, explanation of the fee structure, analysis of details—everything is in place.”

Qiao Liang became even more confused.

Everything’s in place?

That can’t be right?

After a moment of silence, he asked: “Then… why didn’t it achieve the expected effect?”

Pei Qian was almost stumped: “Well…”

“Sometimes life is just like that. Communication between people is pale, powerless. A few simple words, a few lines of text—the other person can’t understand. Isn’t that the most normal thing?”

“That’s life!”

“I can only say your previous videos were too smooth, or rather, too fortunate. Being expressed but not understood is the norm in this world.”

“It’s not your fault, nor is it something you can change.”

“After all, not being understood is the fate of an expresser!”

Pei Qian spoke with increasing emotion because he empathized.

Although the two were talking about completely different things, Pei Qian’s tone was indeed sincere enough, convincing enough.

Pei Qian felt that now Old Qiao should give up, right?

However, after a moment of silence, Qiao Liang shook his head: “Mr. Pei, if someone else said this, I’d believe it. Coming from you, I don’t.”

“It doesn’t match your character!”

Pei Qian: “?”

What character?

Don’t go assigning me random character traits!

Qiao Liang said, “Mr. Pei, I know you’re a lonely expresser, often misinterpreted. But even so, you keep expressing your thoughts in different ways.”

“I believe you’re not someone who gives up easily, because you’ve always persisted.”

“So, why are you encouraging me to give up?”

“Is it because the method of persisting is too difficult, and you’re worried I’ll expend too much energy, so you won’t tell me?”

“Mr. Pei, just tell me. No matter how outlandish, I’ll try my best to achieve it!”

Pei Qian: “…”

Completely speechless.

So if I don’t give you an answer today, you’re going to linger here indefinitely?

Fine, since that’s the case, I’ll give you an answer! If you get tricked, don’t blame me.

Pei Qian thought for a moment: “There is one method, but the sacrifice is great.”

Qiao Liang’s eyes instantly lit up: “Tell me, Mr. Pei!”

Pei Qian paused, then said: “For Tenda’s next game, don’t make another ‘Masterpiece’ episode.”

Qiao Liang was stunned, remaining silent for a long time before saying: “No more ‘Masterpiece’ for the next game?”

“What’s the connection between the two?”

He was very confused because the column explaining Haunted Lodge had no relation to the column explaining games!

Moreover, would abandoning “Masterpiece” definitely allow the Haunted Lodge video to be reborn from the ashes?

It made no sense!

Seeing Qiao Liang’s confused gaze, Pei Qian displayed a meaningful smile.

“If you can’t figure it out, don’t think about it for now. Come on, let’s drink!”