In just one day, Ye Feng's game soared to the number one spot for downloads on Yogagame.
The catalyst for this surge was Brother Yin's livestream, with countless marketing accounts editing hilarious scenes from his gameplay.
The short video platform was inundated with clips of him grinding his teeth and pounding the keyboard and mouse.
Each 30-second clip vividly captured the transformation from a composed human being to a flustered wreck.
Merely watching the footage, witnessing the little character in the jar tumble, induced a palpitation.
Perhaps due to Brother Yin's comedic flair and abstract style, the video found its way onto the mobile phones of non-gamers.
"It's so amusing! I don't play games; I'm just a passerby. Is the gaming world really this intense?" remarked one viewer.
"It seems scripted, like it's specifically tailored to promote the game," another speculated.
"To be frank, it looks intriguing. The game's marketing strategy is spot on, and I'm tempted to give it a try," chimed in a curious observer.
"I'm a fan of Brother Yin. Let me tell you, while other streamers might follow a script, Yinzi doesn't need one. I watched him struggle for four hours straight," asserted a dedicated fan.
"Let's give it a shot. It might seem simple, but who knows?" echoed the sentiment of many.
...
The internet was awash with clips of Brother Yin's gameplay antics.
Every frame of his four-hour gaming session provided ample comedic material.
"Is the mouse overheating? Why else would he chuck it like that after a fall?" pondered Zhou Jie, watching some fan-sent classic funny videos.
The moment the character in the jar fell, Brother Yin would toss the mouse away, his face contorted in sheer panic.
"He's so over-the-top. Is it really that intense?" Zhou Jie wondered aloud.
"I must say, Hou'er really understands the power of livestreaming. This is pure gold!" Zhou Jie grinned mischievously, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"No, I'm giving it a go. I refuse to believe it's that difficult," she declared, playfully wiggling for the camera every so often.
"It's cringeworthy; not even half as entertaining as Shubao," quipped one viewer.
"You can't recruit supervisors like that; might as well give up," teased another.
"Super Guan: Isn't this a bit extreme?" questioned yet another.
...
Zhou Jie paid no heed to the barrage of comments. She was accustomed to such banter, all in good fun from her online audience.
With a satisfying *ding*, the game finished downloading.
"I refuse to be defeated!" Zhou Jie vowed before diving into the game.
Half an hour later, her once smooth hair now stood frazzled, her hand frequently reaching up to adjust it.
"I concede defeat. Who designs these games? Do they have no mercy?" she grumbled.
Another half hour passed, and boom! boom! boom! echoed through her livestream.
The entire screen shook like an earthquake, punctuated by the relentless banging of fists on the table.
"Kudos to the designer; it's been a while since I've seen Sister Zhou pounding the table like this! Welcome back, Ye Qing!" cheered one viewer.
"I wish I were that table, haha," chuckled another.
"Just a casual observer, is this an earthquake? The screen's shaking like crazy!" exclaimed another.
"Sister Zhou, surrender gracefully; there are bigger hammers out there," joked another.
"Miss Zhou is truly exceptional, isn't she?" marveled yet another.
...
With one final slam of her fist, the water glass beside her keyboard toppled, soaking the table instantly.
Normally, Zhou Jie would've cursed at the spilled water. But this time, she simply smiled at the liquid pooling on the table.
"Oh no, spilled water! My keyboard and mouse are soaked; I can't continue playing! What a shame!" she lamented.
"It's not that I'm backing down; it's just that my equipment is flooded. You all saw it; once I get them repaired, I'll be back to conquer the game," she assured her viewers.
"This game is a breeze. If my gear hadn't been drenched, I would've beaten it by now."
...
The barrage in her livestream room was rife with question marks at Zhou Jie's sudden change of tone.
Just as she exited the game, a prompt from the game platform appeared.
"You've been playing for a while. Care to leave a review? Would you recommend it to your friends?" Zhou Jie read aloud.
Without hesitation, she grabbed her keyboard and typed a response, undeterred by the recent water incident.
[This game is child's play! Is having hands not enough?]
After leaving the review, she immediately shared the game with her loyal fan, Bobo, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Bobo, I've got a game recommendation for you! Come join the fun!"
Feeling refreshed after sharing the game, Zhou Jie finally understood why the comments section was flooded with similar remarks.
These folks were all pranksters!
No one could be trusted.
How could they shamelessly lure people into playing games?
Wait, in the gaming world, is this considered a prank?
It's just good old-fashioned word of mouth!
Meanwhile, Bobo, who had been livestreaming, received Zhou Jie's message and excitedly picked up her phone.
"Wow, Zhou Zhou sent me a message on WeChat!"
"She wants me to try a game called 'Digging for Ascension.' Is it any good?" Bobo pondered as she opened the game platform, unaware of recent events.
"Zhou Zhou really cares for me! The praise for this game is off the charts!" Bobo exclaimed, marveling at the game's reviews.
Of course, there were negative reviews too.
The reason for the poor ratings was straightforward, and the reason for the glowing reviews... equally straightforward?
"The more divided the opinions, the more it proves the game's worth!" Bobo declared, eagerly purchasing the game without hesitation.
Just as she was about to start playing, she noticed a peculiar barrage flooding her livestream.
[Remember the promise you made three days ago?]
Furrowing her brow, Bobo racked her brain for two minutes before recalling the pledge she made to her viewers three days prior.
A fine of fifty for every swear word uttered.
"I remember! Fifty yuan for every swear word!" she declared confidently.
"No worries! I keep my promises. See, I haven't uttered a single curse in three days."
"If I slip up once, I'll hand out fifty red envelopes to my fans. I'm true to my word!" Bobo raised her hand high, a determined look in her eye.
As she prepared to dive into the game, a nagging feeling tugged at her mind.
Why was everyone suddenly reminding her of this now?
Something felt off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Entering the game, she couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the character in the jar.
"How is the protagonist's design so similar to Saby's?" she mused aloud.