The next day, someone posted this question:
"What's your favorite game from the Valentine's Game Festival?"
There were so many games released by Valentine's Day, players weren't naive; they wouldn't empty their wallets for some rubbish games.
"Thanks for the invitation. I think the most fun one is 'Breaking Up Kitchen' by Black Star. I played the game with my girlfriend that night, we argued and broke up, but the next day, she sent me the game link and we got back together."
"That's so true, this game really hits home."
"This is Valentine's Day after all! What a thoughtful move by Black Star!!!"
"Is the highest game setting really a friend? I went back to my ex-girlfriend to play the game, and we broke up again the same day."
"Hahaha, luckily I have a bro, even though he's not talking to me now."
...
Almost everyone under this question was discussing a game called "Breaking Up Kitchen"
Occasionally, one or two people mentioned being moved to tears while playing other games.
"I haven't played the game you mentioned, but I played 'Breaking Up Kitchen' and my eyes teared up too. Played it, argued with my girlfriend, and we broke up."
"We broke up briefly and got back together to continue playing."
"I call it the best cooperative game!"
...
"Ding! Sprout Studio is now live! Come check it out!"
A message from the Shark Live streaming platform appeared on all users' phones.
Awkwardly, employee Xiao Zhou sat in front of the camera, looking at the hundred thousand viewers flooding into the livestream room and smiling sheepishly.
"Hel-hello, everyone~"
It wasn't prime livestream time, yet a hundred thousand viewers flooded in within seconds, shooting it to the top of the popularity rankings.
"???"
"Didn't you all know what you did last night? How dare you livestream today!"
"Give me back my girlfriend!"
"Answer me, who could design such a game?"
"Where's the old scoundrel? Bring him out to face death! Don't think he's safe just because he looks young!"
Looking at the barrage of comments, Xiao Zhou felt both unable to express his bitterness and incredibly proud at the same time.
Because he had contributed to this game's development too.
He could tell that even though players talked about sending knives, they truly adored this game deep down.
From the words between the lines, he could sense it.
"Now let me answer the first question: What's my role in the game? I'm in charge of the position of the fire extinguisher," Xiao Zhou said while reading the barrage, a smile he couldn't control spreading across his face.
"Where's your face? Bring it closer so I can slap you!"
"Is this the employee of Black Star? (Questioning face) Is everyone like this?"
"Have to admit, a bunch of scoundrels!"
...
Xiao Zhou laughed heartily. He wasn't really that bad.
During the game's production, Old Scoundrel just provided the game's general idea, and the employees had to arrange the details themselves.
Like the position of the fire extinguisher, like where the water tank and chopping board were located.
At first, he thought of placing the fire extinguisher closer to the fire source. That way, players could quickly grab it to put out fires in the kitchen.
But when the old scoundrel saw where he placed the extinguisher, he immediately said it was no good.
"Why not put it farther away?" Old Scoundrel said.
"I'm aware of the questions you all have. Why create a game that makes people argue and even break up on Valentine's Day?" Xiao Zhou adjusted his expression.
"Our intention wasn't to make you break up, but to help you deepen your bond through the game."
Just as he finished speaking, he saw the bullet comments of rebuttals:
"The frequency of arguments is too high, we quarrel constantly in every level."
Shaking his head, Xiao Zhou said, "People often say that the quality of a marriage can be judged by the state of the kitchen."
"Complaints like 'I've worked all day and I'm so tired, why do I have to cook?' might not be spoken out loud, but they've become a significant factor in marital disputes."
As he started explaining, the barrage gradually quieted down.
Because they found out that the other side had genuinely researched this issue; they hadn't just randomly made a game to confuse and separate couples.
"The kitchen has always been considered a breakup zone, a marriage touchstone. Through our data collection, we discovered that the kitchen is the place where couples argue the most, especially about who should do the cleaning."
"The kitchen is seen as the heart of a household, a place that maintains relationships, yet also harbors resentment and passive aggression."
"I'm sure many of you have bickered over trivial things, from whether to wipe the kitchen counter with a dishcloth to how long expired food is still edible. Who cooks? Who cleans? How to use the dishwasher properly?"
"While conflicts in the game might arise from unfamiliarity with the gameplay and lack of synchronization, we hope everyone sees this game as an opportunity."
"An opportunity for candid communication, to address accumulated dissatisfaction that goes unspoken."
"Love doesn't involve daily trivialities like firewood. Marriage requires weathering rough edges to attain pearls."
Xiao Zhou earnestly conveyed their game-making purpose.
The livestream room fell silent, as if what Xiao Zhou said was something that had happened in everyday life.
The game was simple and fun, just like what many people experienced: after quarreling, most would eagerly run back to their partners and resume the game.
Because the game was enjoyable, temporary unhappiness could be cast aside.
But what about life?
At that moment, the livestream room filled with gifts, and the number of viewers surged beyond a million.
Staring at the flashing gifts and the skyrocketing viewer count, Xiao Zhou was truly dumbfounded.
You see, this time he went live at the whim of the old scoundrel, a punishment in nature, and it was all the old scoundrel's mischievous amusement.
But just now, all he did was reiterate what the old scoundrel had said during a meeting, even though he couldn't remember all of it clearly, and there were some gaps. Even so, he gained players' approval.
Gazing at the wildly enthusiastic fans in the livestream room, Xiao Zhou couldn't help but look upward. He felt a hint of moisture at the corners of his eyes.
He saw himself in the fans and players in the room.
That day, after the old scoundrel accepted Shen Keke's challenge, he gathered everyone in the conference room.
He explained the design concept behind "Breaking Up Kitchen" and why they created such a game.
Back then, everyone at Sprout Studio was just like the fans in the livestream room right now—
Their eyes were shining.