Chapter 10: “Love and the Starry Sky”

This time, the atmosphere in Meeting Room 308 was even heavier than when Cen Lan last entered. In addition to the key members of the External Communications Department, the main leaders of [REDACTED] were also present.

Cen Lan didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow. She walked straight to her seat and sat down, her gaze steady and fixed on the empty space ahead.

“Deputy Minister Cen, can you explain why the audiobook app launched by Youjian Entertainment contains such a large amount of vulgar content?” The first to speak was the main leader of [REDACTED], his voice tinged with barely concealed anger.

Cen Lan turned to him with a smile. “Minister Wang, in your opinion, how much manpower, material resources, and funding does it take to produce a single ‘Journey to the West’? This is a cultural benchmark that Youjian Entertainment has poured all its resources into. The production cycle is already much longer than other projects, and now, in these special times, to ensure progress, we’ve had to seek alternative means. I believe you, of all people, can understand our difficulties.”

Minister Wang opened his mouth, but couldn’t utter a word.

Cen Lan, as if unaware of his reaction, continued, “At the end of the day, Youjian Entertainment is still an entertainment company, and can only do what it’s meant to do. I have a new proposal here—why don’t you all take a look first?”

Xiao He immediately distributed the documents he was holding to everyone present.

Minister Li was the first to finish reading. He looked at Cen Lan with a complicated expression, all his words finally reduced to a single sigh.

“This is a proposal from Youjian Entertainment after joining the Earth Entertainment Alliance Association, offered in response to the topic of ‘serious culture.’ Youjian Entertainment will do its utmost, as a member of the association, to contribute its strength.” Cen Lan’s smile deepened. “I wonder, are you all satisfied with this proposal?”

·

“Satisfied? I’m more than satisfied!”

For once, the online meeting of the Earth Entertainment Alliance Association was relaxed and cheerful.

Number 4’s delight was obvious, even after being processed through a voice modulator.

“This ‘National Treasure Appreciation’ project introduces cultural relics from various countries in the form of stage plays. Not only does it meet the higher-ups’ demand for ‘serious culture,’ it also gives our company’s artists a chance to shine. Whether actors or singers, being linked to national treasures will raise their profile—this is killing several birds with one stone. That girl really has ideas.”

Number 6 snorted, pouring cold water on Number 4: “The proposal is good, but they’re demanding that all the performers for the first season’s relics be Youjian Entertainment’s artists. Isn’t that going a bit too far?”

Number 4 replied irritably, “Do you think I’m stupid? At most, we’ll give them two episodes—one for the girl group, and one for the Yu7 CP. They only provided the plan; all the museum contacts and personnel arrangements are our job. There’s no way we’ll let them take advantage.”

Number 5 chimed in sarcastically, “I thought you’d lost your head, Number 4.”

“I’m not some impulsive kid,” Number 4 pulled the conversation back. “This project is closely tied to the civilization approval rating. We need to move fast—just one year, and we at least need to get the first season done.”

Number 1 nodded. “Number 4 is right. Since we’ve decided to do this, let’s operate on the same scale as ‘Wu Zetian.’ The higher-ups are taking this project very seriously. We need to do it well, because if we don’t…”

He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone understood.

Number 2 interjected at the right moment, “We still need to borrow Yuhui from Youjian Entertainment. Her network and experience are exactly what we need.”

Number 3 frowned. “Doesn’t that mean we’re letting Youjian Entertainment have the upper hand again?”

“Youjian Entertainment is now a member of the association. If they can’t contribute money, they have to contribute people,” Number 4 said. “Yuhui must participate, and their art team needs to send people too.”

Number 6 pondered for a moment. “If that’s the case, I’m afraid two episodes won’t be enough to satisfy them.”

Number 2 slapped the table. “Three episodes, no more!”

Number 5 agreed, “Three is the limit—two would be even better.”

Number 4 looked at Number 1. “Number 1, can you negotiate that?”

“I’ll do my best,” Number 1 said. “Let’s do what we can now, and once Youjian’s people are in place, we’ll speed things up.”

“No problem.”

Everyone agreed in unison.

·

While the Earth Entertainment Alliance Association was busy preparing the new show, Youjian Entertainment’s official homepage once again featured new content:

[Brand-new large-scale immersive romance game—“Love and the Starry Sky,” online today!

Is he the one you’ve been searching for all these years?

Will it be love at first sight, or affection that grows over time?

Do you want a love story for the ages, or a gentle romance that flows quietly?

Whatever you desire, we’ll give it to you!

I’ll be waiting for our fateful encounter in the world of “Love and the Starry Sky”!]

Below the ad copy were the character illustrations of the four male leads. This time, the character designs were in a completely new style.

Perhaps to better fit the game’s plot, all four male leads—both in appearance and attire—were modeled after the latest trends of the major star systems, with not a trace of Earthly influence.

Even fans already accustomed to Youjian Entertainment’s unpredictability were stunned at first glance.

The game was set in an alternate future. Players took on the role of the female protagonist, enrolling in Alice Interstellar Academy.

This academy, founded by the four great interstellar families, was attended almost exclusively by the powerful and privileged. The heirs of the four families also studied here, and were the most respected figures in the school, revered by all as—S4.

The female protagonist, whom the player controls, is admitted as a special exception due to her outstanding grades, earning a full scholarship.

Here, the player encounters the S4, triggering a series of events and ultimately finding her own love story.

Alien players, upon entering the game, felt as if their minds had been whisked away.

This game made no sense, had no logic—so why couldn’t they stop playing? And it had a gacha system; many alien players did a hundred ten-pulls on the very first day.

There was no helping it—the game was just too addictive. Once you started, you couldn’t stop!

·

Central Star System · Interstellar Institute of Literature.

The Wordweaver Star Anchor closed her copy of “Capital,” glancing at Shu beside her. Shu was muttering to himself, drawing patterns in the air with his finger, then tapping his terminal’s virtual screen; a few seconds later, his anticipation turned to dejection.

“That was my last method—why can’t I get the card I want…” Shu muttered, his voice full of disappointment.

The Wordweaver Star Anchor understood. “Didn’t get the card you wanted?”

Shu jumped in fright and stammered, “Teacher… I… I just think the game’s writing is really good. I didn’t expect Autumn Whisper to be so skilled in Interstellar Common.”

“That wasn’t written by Autumn Whisper. It was written by Yuhui.”

Shu’s face was full of disbelief. “Senior wrote it?! She can write such tangled, passionate prose?!”

The Wordweaver Star Anchor laughed. “Just what kind of bias do you have against your senior?”

Shu didn’t dare say a word. The image of Yuhui as a demon king was deeply ingrained in his mind—impossible to erase.

Just then, Star Anchor’s terminal signaled an incoming call from Yuhui. After accepting, Yuhui’s holographic image appeared before them.

“Teacher, have you played the game I’ve been working on lately?”

“I played for a bit, but for someone my age, it’s a bit much. Shu, on the other hand, is having a great time,” Star Anchor said with a smile. “He was just fretting over not getting the card he wanted.”

Shu stiffened, terrified that Star Anchor would tell Yuhui what he’d just said.

“I knew Shu would like it.” Yuhui’s image turned to Shu. “Well? What do you think of my writing?”

Shu mustered his courage. “It’s… not quite like your usual style…”

“Very perceptive. The Interstellar Common script for this game was my own adaptation of the Huaxia version, with a lot of localization. So it really isn’t my usual style,” Yuhui praised.

“Looks like you really enjoy this job,” Star Anchor smiled.

“This job is so much fun.” Yuhui’s tone turned excited, as if recalling something. “Teacher, you have no idea how many strange ideas Autumn Whisper has. The whole game setting was her idea. If there really were four great families like this, the universe would be doomed. And she even gave Qing Lan a request for a ‘colorful black,’ so now Qing Lan tries to avoid her whenever possible. Earthlings are just too interesting.”

Star Anchor watched Yuhui’s eyes light up as she talked about her experiences on Earth, a smile never leaving his face.

Earth’s culture was quietly, imperceptibly, changing the universe.