Chapter 264: The Blonde Girl’s Scheming Ways
Catching the tail end of June, Feng Zhuo and his colleagues finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After intense overtime work, the finished product for internal testing was finally ready, and after everyone worked together for two full days, no bugs were found—though of course there were likely still many small bugs hidden, and that would depend on the internal testing results.
“July’s internal testing is not just internal testing; it’s a battle.” Lu Qi had emphasized this more than once, and they all understood. If they couldn’t win in the Penguin game project competition, then all their efforts over the past year would just be stepping stones for others. Only the final few winners could become Penguin’s main push game project, enjoy the boost from social traffic, and embark on the road to glory.
Commercial logic has always been this cruel.
“Starting tomorrow, the operations and testing teams will continue with double salary overtime. Colleagues in the other programming groups can start their vacation now. But a reminder: don’t go too far, don’t play too wildly; you might still be needed anytime during testing.” Lu Qi announced this to her subordinates in the meeting room.
Feng Zhuo and his colleagues exchanged glances, seeing a hint of relief in each other’s eyes.
Finally, could they enjoy sleeping in?
As Lu Qi turned and walked out of the meeting room back to her private office, she saw Fu Jiu sitting on the sofa playing on her mobile phone.
“When did you get here?” Lu Qi took a water cup and asked casually.
Fu Jiu paused her game of defending the radish, looked up, and said, “I just got here. Qi Qi Jie, you promised to take me for milk tea tonight—don’t think I’ve forgotten!”
Lu Qi sat on the desk and smiled, “Don’t you have pocket money? Can’t you go by yourself?”
“The point of this isn’t the milk tea,” Fu Jiu stressed, “going alone would be too lonely!”
Lu Qi set down her water cup and asked casually, “By the way, weren’t you hanging out with Pei Ningle before? Why have you been coming to me these past couple days?”
No sooner had she said it than a flash of panic crossed the girl’s little face, just like a helpless lamb recalling being surrounded by hungry wolves.
“Things over there are too dangerous,” Fu Jiu swallowed and said, “I originally thought Wang Heng was the most dangerous, but now I realize that Sister Xiao Xuan and Sister Xiao Le are both…”
Lu Qi: “Both what?”
Fu Jiu suddenly realized that Qi Qi Jie in front of her was also part of it, shivered instantly, and shook her head vigorously: “Nothing, absolutely nothing—I didn’t say anything just now!”
Lu Qi examined her younger cousin’s expression thoughtfully.
Suddenly, Fu Jiu found an excuse to gloss over it: “Besides, I can’t hang out with them now anyway. Sister Xiao Le is holding a concert, and Wang Heng and the others all went together. I can’t just fly over there.”
“Concert?” Lu Qi said in surprise, “Pei Ningle hasn’t reached the level of holding her own concert yet, has she?”
Fu Jiu thought for a moment and whispered, “It seems like it’s a music festival…”
Lu Qi sat in front of the computer, checked briefly, and immediately understood.
It wasn’t just the music festival performance; there were also some inexplicable gossip rumors, all presented right in front of her.
Pei Ningle and Han Yixuan are yuri?
Seeing this gossip, Lu Qi’s first reaction was disbelief. But thinking about it carefully, why would such rumors emerge? Was someone fanning the flames?
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Qi focused her suspicions on Wang Heng.
If he was deliberately pushing it, then it all made perfect sense…
“Heh, being so close and still getting brushed off so easily?” Lu Qi murmured to herself in an almost inaudible voice, “These little yellow-haired girls’ tactics are way too green.”
Fu Jiu couldn’t help asking, “Qi Qi Jie, what did you say?”
Lu Qi lifted her face and smiled, “Nothing, let’s go get milk tea.”
At the same time, in the older sister type’s mind, a plan had already taken shape. Perfectly, she had quite a bit of free time in early July and could hang out with them properly.
————
The morning after the music festival performance ended, in Pei Ningle’s room, Wang Heng gathered with the three girls. They were all sitting on the edge of the bed, Pei Ningle in the middle holding her mobile phone, while the other two sat on either side of her, looking at the incoming message on the phone.
Wang Heng stood in front of them: “The organizer paid really fast this time. Last time it dragged on for a few days.”
Han Yixuan smiled, “The key is, this time the money is more too. Last time it was fifty thousand; this time it’s a full eighty thousand.”
Pei Ningle waved her phone excitedly and said, “Time to split the money! I’ve calculated it—you two each get sixteen thousand!”
Wang Heng glanced at the silent Ye Xun and said, “Split my share in half with Xiao Xun. This time, it was thanks to her being the bodyguard too.”
Ye Xun was suddenly startled.
Though she really didn’t want to admit it, watching them split the profit sharing naturally made her a bit envious. But envy aside, how could she take that kind of money?
Ye Xun quickly shook her head: “I just guest-starred as a bodyguard. Bringing me to Magic City for travel is remuneration enough—no need to give me money.”
Wang Heng smiled, “No need to be polite with me; this is what you deserve. And it’s just eight thousand anyway—don’t refuse.”
Ye Xun: “But I really only acted once.”
“That one time was enough. If Pei Ningle had gotten hurt that day, it wouldn’t have been just an eight thousand issue.” Seeing Ye Xun about to refuse again, Wang Heng turned to Pei Ningle and Han Yixuan and emphasized, “Split my share in half for her; transfer the other half to me.”
Pei Ningle nodded obediently: “Got it, no problem! Xiao Xun, just stop refusing. Worst case, take the money and when we go out later, you treat!”
Han Yixuan patted her shoulder and asked, “What do you want to do?”
Pei Ningle tilted her head and thought: “KTV?”
“No way,” Han Yixuan, who was tone-deaf, rejected instantly, “Didn’t you sing enough on stage yesterday?”
Pei Ningle: “Yeah, only three songs on stage, just over ten minutes…”
Han Yixuan: “Don’t even mention KTV; I’m definitely not going.”
At this point, Wang Heng said, “You guys have fun then. Magic City is so big; there are plenty of fun places.”
Pei Ningle looked up at him suspiciously: “You’re not coming with us?”
Wang Heng shook his head slightly: “I have other matters.”
Yesterday, he had already contacted Qin Meng and, through this investment director’s connections, gotten the contact info for an entrepreneur in Magic City and made an appointment. This afternoon was the time for the face-to-face meeting.
Little Orange Book, the planting app that would later sweep the nation, was at this point right before its A-round financing. This kind of e-commerce community app always needed more money in the early startup phase. Wang Heng figured that after the World Cup Final, he could pretty much enter the game.
Before that, it was obviously necessary to make contact first.
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Posting two chapters at once now—isn’t that better?
