Agreeing to Create Bad Games, What the Hell Is ‘Titanfall’? Chapter 110: I Said—Happy New Year

“I'm heading out, Sheng-ge. Happy New Year...”

“Happy New Year. Safe travels.”

“Bye, Director Gu. See you after the holidays—”

“See you then. Give my regards to your parents.”

“I’ll bring back so tea cakes when I return. Later, Sheng-ge—”

“OK. Happy New Year.”

“...”

Before they knew it, the end of the year had arrived.

According to Golden Wind's holiday schedule,

Starting from the first day of the Lunar New Year, all developnt data for the Titanfall project would be sealed, and the entire project team would be on break until the eighth—

A full seven days off, no weekend shifts, no compensatory work.

As for the ops departnt, since so online issues still needed handling, they’d follow a rotating shift schedule. Triple pay for holiday shifts, and working from ho was allowed.

Of course, while the official holiday began on New Year's Day,

Shen Miaomiao had already waved people off starting on New Year's Eve:

“Oh co on, who's working on the 30th? If you're heading ho, then go! Ti to get moving!”

So by noon, the office was already mostly cleared out.

Everyone stopped by to say goodbye to Gu Sheng, then happily rushed ho for the New Year.

In no ti, the usually lively company fell quiet.

Only the voices of three brothers echoed from the director’s office—

“...Got any more dipping sauce? Gim so more.”

Gu Sheng sat on the couch, using a dumpling to clean out the soy-vinegar dish before popping it in his mouth.

“Dude, are you drinking the sauce or eating dumplings?”

Lu Bian was speechless. He and Da Jiang both split what was left of their dipping sauce with Gu Sheng.

The three were eating dumplings together.

A tradition they’d upheld since college.

In truth, it was less a “three-way” dinner and more like Lu Bian and Da Jiang keeping Gu Sheng company.

Because the two of them, dumplings or not, still had family waiting for them at ho—warm, festive dinners ahead.

But Gu Sheng... was different.

He had no family.

His household registry only had one page.

“Kha’Zix passive always active,” he’d joke darkly about himself.

It was one of his classic hell-level jokes.

But every ti he said it, neither Lu Bian nor Da Jiang could laugh.

They’d never know what kind of path Gu Sheng had walked alone all these years.

All they could do was make sure that every New Year’s Eve, they had a al with Old Gu—

To keep him company, to make sure he wasn’t spending the holiday in total silence.

After they’d eaten and chatted a bit more, the three headed out to see Da Jiang off at the station.

After waving him goodbye, Lu Bian returned with Gu Sheng to the office.

The two slipped into the sensory pods for a little “sweet duo queue.”

Because let’s be honest, gas are ant to be played with your bros.

Won? They only slow your blade.

Both longti gaming addicts—

And as ga developers, they were good at their own titles.

With the office empty, they basically treated it like a LAN café—matchmaking, ranked, the whole nine yards.

They played all afternoon.

DADADADADA—

Gu Sheng emptied a magazine into the final lone wolf, turning him into a loot box.

The victory screen popped up:

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

“Holy sh*t! We're Bronze I, Old Gu!”

Lu Bian cheered.

“We're freakin' aweso! Silver tier gods, here we co!”

“D*mn right!”

Gu Sheng was pumped.

“We’re only 3,000 points from Warlord rank!”

“The two of us?” “Unstoppable!”

Two noobs celebrating like kings.

Ti flew.

Soon enough, night had fallen.

“Wanna co ho with for New Year's?”

Lu Bian packed his bag with Gu Sheng’s help, slinging his laptop over his shoulder.

He turned to ask.

“You’ve asked that for six years, and you’re still not sick of it? I’m good,”

Gu Sheng clapped him on the shoulder.

“Send my regards to your folks.”

“Get outta here—I’m gonna go savor my solitude.”

“You...”

Lu Bian looked at his nonchalant expression and opened his mouth—

“Dumb*ss.”

He waved and headed for the door.

“Happy New Year!”

“...Happy New Year.”

At 7:30 PM, right after the evening news,

Night fully settled in. The office was completely still.

The project and ops teams had all gone ho.

As for Little Nezha—

She showed up in the morning for barely half an hour, then whisked Chu Qingzhou away.

Gu Sheng sat alone in his office, the silence pressing on his ears. It made him restless.

“BT.”

He called out.

A deep, rich synthetic male voice echoed from the smart speaker on his desk.

Yep—Gu Sheng had renad his smart speaker BT and replaced the default voice.

“Hello, Sam. I am BT-7274. You can call BT. How may I assist you?”

“Play the New Year Overture.”

Gu Sheng was trying to capture a little festive spirit.

But as the cheerful, celebratory lody filled the office,

The joy of it only made the emptiness more jarring.

He stood up restlessly, walked to the rec area, and started clawing at the candy claw machine.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

Maybe it was a bad luck day,

Or maybe the new batch of lollipops had slipperier wrappers—

But Gu Sheng’s usual prowess was nowhere to be found. He kept failing.

Just as he was debating whether to “borrow” a few tokens from Lu Bian’s office,

He suddenly heard the chanical sound of the company’s electric door opening.

“Hmm?”

Gu Sheng frowned.

He stepped away from the claw machine and into the hallway.

And there she was—

Shen Miaomiao, frozen in the doorway, a look of shocked confusion and faint terror on her face.

Their eyes t.

She took a step back.

“Wh-who are you having a party with???”

She looked spooked.

A massive, empty office.

An echoing New Year’s lody.

Gu Sheng standing alone at the end of the hall, like a ghost haunting the place.

The vibe? 100% Chinese horror.

Chill ran from her feet up her spine.

Seeing her panic, Gu Sheng put on a confused face.

“? I’m celebrating with everyone else…”

He even waved past her toward the empty space behind.

“Hey hey, Happy New Year! Let’s have dumplings later!”

Oh. My. God.

Shen Miaomiao whipped around—empty.

She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

Clutching her cream-colored coat tighter, she stared at Gu Sheng, voice trembling:

“Wh-who were you just talking to???”

“Old Song, from the floor above ours…”

Halfway through—

Gu Sheng stopped talking.

His gaze sharpened instantly.

He looked at her with piercing, chilling intensity.

“Wait… Don’t tell —”

“You can’t see them??”

“AHHH???”

Shen Miaomiao’s legs nearly gave out. She staggered back into a corner.

Just then, Gu Sheng stepped up to her.

“I said…”

He squinted.

And then shouted—

“You stepped on Old Song’s foot!!!”

“AHHHHHHH—!!!”

She shrieked, grabbed her buns (on her head), and dropped to the floor sobbing, curling into a little ball.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t an to! I swear I didn’t see them! I just ca to pick up a package!”

“I didn’t know there was a party! Wuwuwuwu…”

“Please forgive …”

Watching her quiver like a terrified puffball—

Gu Sheng finally found his holiday joy on this lonely New Year’s Eve.

Naturally, he was promptly beaten up.

He didn’t mind.

You play dumb, you better be ready for the consequences.

“Hiss... Shen Miaomiao, don’t you think that was a bit much?”

Gu Sheng sat on the lounge bench, clutching his wrist where two deep bite marks now lived.

“What are you, part dog? One more inch and I’d need a rabies shot.”

“You deserved it!”

Shen Miaomiao stood by the claw machine, happily fiddling with the joystick, resuming Gu Sheng’s failed candy quest.

“I actually held back, you know.”

She pouted, slapped the machine.

“Here, you try! I can’t get it!”

Gu Sheng: ???

Raised his hand. “I’m injured, rember?”

“True loyalty is working through injury,”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him up.

“And you need to heal the emotional trauma you gave .”

Gu Sheng clicked his tongue. “That’s so bullsh*t logic…”

He tried to argue, but she didn’t bother.

Just jutted out her lip and let big teardrops pool in her eyes—

“WAAAH—”

But Gu Sheng wasn’t that easy.

He stood and gently clamped a hand over her mouth.

Suddenly, her dramatic sobbing beca “Wah ooh wah ooh wah ooh…”

Like a tribal chant before a feast.

Gu Sheng burst out laughing.

Shen Miaomiao couldn’t keep up the act either—

Half angry, half amused, she lunged at him to resu the beatdown.

“Gu Sheng, you are such a dog—!!!”

As the upbeat New Year’s Overture played in the background,

They chased each other around the lounge like kids playing tag.

Eventually—

Gu Sheng managed to grab a lollipop for the now-exhausted Little Nezha.

Oddly enough, after all those failed attempts earlier, he nailed it in one go.

“Here, this should help soothe your little soul,”

He pulled it from the prize chute and handed it to her.

“Go ho and get your package. It’s almost eight—your dad’s probably waiting.”

She paused mid-lick, rolled her eyes.

“Him? He’s not waiting for . He’s got another dinner party tonight. Again.”

“I’m spending New Year’s alone.”

Gu Sheng froze.

He hadn’t expected to find soone else riding the lonely train on New Year’s Eve.

But thinking about it—

It made sense.

Shen Wanlin, a powerful elite with deep connections, probably had a never-ending stream of events and etings.

The man was more than a businessman.

Looking at Little Nezha,

And thinking about going ho to face the boring Spring Festival Gala alone…

Gu Sheng opened his mouth—

But Shen Miaomiao beat him to it:

“Wanna go light fireworks?”

She knew about his family situation.

In fact, she knew everyone’s situation in the company.

Seeing the mischief sparkle in her big eyes, Gu Sheng stepped back cautiously.

“...That look doesn’t inspire confidence.”

“Jeez, why are you always assuming the worst about —”

She tugged on his sleeve like a child.

“It’s just fireworks! It’s not like I’m strapping you to a rocket!”

“Never say never…”

He squinted.

“Tell the truth. If you do, I’ll go.”

“Ugh… fine.”

She scratched her head, a little embarrassed.

“Wait here.”

She returned with a package.

Inside? A bunch of air-popper confetti canons.

Pop!

She jumped at the sound, then said,

“I bought these as a substitute. Figured they’d scratch the itch.”

“Because, well… I’m too scared to light the real big ones.”

“I was afraid I’d… blow myself up.”

What?!

That hit Gu Sheng like a gut punch.

“So…”

His eyes widened.

“You were gonna use as your test dummy???”

“Ehehe…”

She gave him an awkward but polite smile.

“It’s not like they’d actually kill anyone… It’s fireworks, not landmines.”

“Besides, we’ve got top-tier insurance. Your healthcare balance is totally fine.”

Gu Sheng felt his heart give out.

D*mn.

She’s the devil in disguise.

She’s totally okay with my insurance card going into the negative.

“Well?”

Seeing him clutch his chest and say nothing, she stepped forward hopefully.

“They’re the big ones! Really pretty!”

What could he say?

——

Crack! Boom!

The first string of firecrackers lit up the sky at the riverside fireworks area.

Shen Miaomiao clutched her ears, laughing as Gu Sheng ca running back through the crackling explosions.

Nearby, a maroon Porsche and a jet-black Navigator sat parked side by side.

Between them, a stack of fireworks as tall as a man turned heads.

The firecrackers were just the opener.

With a series of whooshes and bangs, colorful blooms filled the night sky,

Reflecting off the river’s surface in stunning hues.

Across the river, the city glittered with light and festivity.

Red and yellow glows drenched everything in New Year warmth.

A ferry crossed the river, flashing “Happy New Year” in bright letters, carrying a boatful of cheer and celebration.

Along the riverside, families lit their own fireworks—

But Shen Miaomiao bead proudly:

“Ours are prettier!”

She twirled a sparkler.

“The biggest! The brightest! The best!”

“Yup—absolutely,”

Gu Sheng nodded with a smile.

“Ours are the best.”

Whoosh—BOOM!!

Another round of fireworks burst overhead.

Amid the starry sky and vibrant lights,

Gu Sheng looked over at the cheering Shen Miaomiao and smiled.

As if sensing his gaze, she turned too.

Under the dazzling night, their eyes t.

Her lips moved—saying sothing—

But the fireworks drowned it out.

“WHAT—DID—YOU—SAY—?”

Gu Sheng shouted over the noise.

She smiled brightly, her eyes crescent-shaped:

“I said—”

“HAPPY—NEW—YEAR—!”

BOOM!

A massive red firework exploded in the sky, drawing gasps from the crowd.

And in that crimson glow, Shen Miaomiao’s face turned the color of a peach…

—

Farewell to the old, welco to the new.

The New Year had co and gone.

Nothing beats a break without makeup days or work swaps.

On the eighth day—

Golden Wind was alive again, buzzing with energy.

Everyone looked refreshed and ready!

“Yo, Yun-ge, your face got rounder already…”

“C’mon, you’ve tasted my wife’s cooking. I’ve been feasting all week!”

“Back to work! I missed my BT so much…”

“BT’s probably been crying in the factory…”

“You mother—”

“Hahahaha…”

Titanfall, unsealed and rebooted.

Morale through the roof.

anwhile, the gaming market, already turbulent,

Ignited once more as tech giants YiYou and XunTeng roared back to life.

Both had their loyal followers—both had secret weapons.

The dia war began quietly but exploded instantly.

XunTeng launched the first wave of attacks.

YiYou fired back imdiately.

In just two weeks, both sides’ dia forces and hired posters escalated the clash to fever pitch.

Even though—

The new sensory pods wouldn’t release for another three months.

But there was a reason for this frenzy.

At the end of this month—

Both sides would release trailers for all three of their flagship titles.

It would be the first true showdown—

And one of the most critical.

Because these trailers would be the world’s first real look at the flagship titles.

Genres, graphics, thes, innovation—

All the key selling points would finally be revealed.

To hype things up—

Neither side could afford to slack.

News, leaks, speculation—

Everywhere.

The gaming world?

Total chaos.

And so—

The curtain slowly rose...