Chapter 666, It’s Better to Make Others Suffer Than Yourself
Originally, Bai Ming’s employees had their complaints about Sang Zhe’s exploitation.
But when they discovered that Sang Zhe was even harsher to his own people, they had no complaints left.
Ever since that day, the whole Sang residence had turned into a game company.
The trio who used to gather daily to watch comics and play games were now glued in front of the Communication Device, laboriously drawing various characters and scenes every day.
Yan Rouwan didn’t even have time to feed her cat anymore; she and Shi Qingyan were holed up in a room, programming spiritual power while even their meals were brought to them by Aunt Yu.
Tang Yubbing was also frantically reading all kinds of comics and novels, cramming relevant knowledge, and running to Bai Ming’s room at every opportunity, dreaming up character designs even while eating and sleeping.
Xu Hongyi was darting around, gathering market research data from various departments.
Meng Qiyan and Gu Yingmian were relatively okay.
Since they hadn’t reached the stage where motion capture actors were needed, Meng Qiyan spent every day in the game department, soaking in knowledge on motion capture from the professionals.
Gu Yingmian also managed to carve out some time to research how to make swordplay appear more graceful. Her workload was among the lightest of the group.
Of course, there were those who had absolutely no workload.
“So boring.”
Huo Ningxue, who was sporting a big belly, sighed with a frown as she stared at the door: “Everyone seems busy, but why am I the only one with nothing to do?”
In front of her, the now-handsome young Sang Guxian and the poised Sang Lianyou exchanged a glance, both reflecting the helplessness in each other’s eyes.
…Theoretically, Huo Ningxue’s job was to take care of the two.
But in reality, not to mention that both kids were precocious, being only twelve or thirteen yet much more mentally mature than their peers, Huo Ningxue, who was quite clumsy and silly, ended up being the one needing care in front of them.
Now, the two kids mainly did their homework at home while taking care of the pregnant Huo Ningxue to prevent her from getting too bored and suffering from prepartum depression.
——
——
That day, Tai Xu Academy was on winter break.
With nothing to do, Li Shanyan proposed a toast with his old friends Grand Eunuch Qin and Xu Yourong, then brought up the idea of visiting the Sang family.
When the three arrived at the Sang residence and saw everyone so busy that they barely had time to greet them, they were momentarily dumbfounded.
In the end, it was Zhang Xiaoying who found a moment to attend to the three.
“Sorry.”
Zhang Xiaoying smiled apologetically: “My husband has been quite invested these days, so I’ll entertain you instead.”
“Uh.”
After a long silence, Xu Yourong quietly asked, “Has Brother Sang’s business been losing money lately? Why does it feel like his home has become a company?”
“How could that be? He has no reason to be short on funds,” Qin Xiuyuan said, equally confused.
Only Li Shanyan chuckled and shook his head: “You guys really don’t understand him.”
“Old man knew it! Sooner or later, this damned vampire would become dissatisfied with just squeezing his employees.”
“Well, now he’s even squeezing his own woman. That capitalist face is truly ugly!”
Zhang Xiaoying could only force a smile in response.
Ultimately, the visit turned into a company inspection.
Under Zhang Xiaoying’s guidance, the three toured all the departments of the “Sang Family Game Company.”
Along the way, they witnessed the once-proud Demon Cultivators Sect Leader, the domineering Dragon Princess, and the temperamental Elixir incarnation now hiding among mountains of sketches.
The formerly renowned fairy from the Water Moon Sect now wore black-rimmed glasses, craning her neck as a code monkey, while the haughty Water Moon Sect leader served tea and water beside her.
These women, once seen as goddesses by countless people, had now turned into ordinary workers, burning the midnight oil.
Next to her, Zhang Xiaoying explained:
“Compared to the original game department employees…”
“All of us from the Sang family are high-level cultivators with skills.”
“So we don’t have to worry about things like the 996 schedule, and can work twenty-four hours straight if needed.”
“Ugh.” Hearing this, Xu Yourong couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth, “Even the Mahayana-level cultivators would find that brutal!”
Qin Xiuyuan kept shaking his head: “Hard to imagine. Thankfully, our family hasn’t worked under Young Master Sang. Right, Old Li?”
Li Shanyan just shivered slightly.
It seemed he recalled some unpleasant memories.
“But the ladies of the Sang family are truly devoted to Brother Sang.”
Xu Yourong smacked his lips: “Brother Sang’s demands are so reckless, yet the ladies are still willing to humor him.”
“Well,” Zhang Xiaoying chuckled shyly, “At first, everyone was somewhat reluctant.”
“But later, I proposed a new incentive mechanism—whoever’s project team has the highest weekly progress could enjoy a day of my husband’s special costume service.”
“Since then, everyone’s enthusiasm has soared unexpectedly.”
The three: “…”
“Of course, there are also other reasons.”
Arriving at Sang Zhe’s room, Zhang Xiaoying gently pushed open the door: “Please come in.”
Curious, Li Shanyan and the others stepped inside.
The room wasn’t particularly well-lit, with only a desk lamp illuminating the space.
Sang Zhe was focused on writing something at his desk.
Stacks of documents piled up beside him, all filled with various “plans,” “main storyline outlines,” “script dialogues,” and so on.
Those mountains of documents made even Li Shanyan gasp.
“Is Little Friend Sang working this hard?”
“Yes.”
Zhang Xiaoying gazed at Sang Zhe, who was engrossed in his work, completely unaware of their entrance, her eyes turning warm: “Li Guoshi, did you see the look in my husband’s eyes?”
Li Shanyan fell silent.
That look—he had never seen it in Sang Zhe before.
“I’ve never seen it either,” Zhang Xiaoying said softly, “None of us have.”
They had never witnessed Sang Zhe being so wholeheartedly invested, so thoroughly passionate.
That unmistakable delight and love in his eyes.
“Actually, we hardly understand games.”
She gently bent down to pick up a few scattered sheets: “But that doesn’t matter. We only need to understand my husband.”
“We know he truly loves making games.”
“That’s all that matters.”
Upon hearing these words, the three exchanged glances.
They could see the mutual appreciation in each other’s eyes.
“Having such a virtuous wife is indeed a blessing for Little Friend Sang.”
“Well then, we won’t disturb you any further—”
Just as Li Shanyan was about to take his leave, Sang Zhe suddenly looked up.
His eyes glinted with a fierce intensity, locking onto Li Shanyan like a predator.
“Your school’s on break, right?”
In that moment.
Li Shanyan felt a wave of unprecedented terror wash over him.
Qin Xiuyuan and Xu Yourong sensed something was off and stealthily made their escape.
“N-No, our teachers don’t get breaks—”
“They are,” Sang Zhe continued to stare, “I specifically asked Xiang Zimo.”
Li Shanyan trembled, eyes wide in fear: “Y-You asked about me? You’ve had your eye on me for a while?!”
“Of course.”
Sang Zhe wore a devilish smile: “After all, I’ve been using you for so long; it’s convenient for you. You don’t mind working overtime.”
“Y-You! What you’re saying isn’t human-like! Am I not human? Am I or am I not human?!”
“Doesn’t matter whether you’re human or not. I currently need someone to help me share the pressure, and you’re it.”
“Please! I don’t want to!”
In that moment, Li Shanyan realized he had stepped through the gates of irreversible hell.
As the door slammed shut, Li Shanyan’s desperate screams echoed from the crack.
Zhang Xiaoying sighed softly at the door.
“Sorry, Li Guoshi.”
“Better for you to suffer than for my husband to suffer. You won’t hold it against me, right?”
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