Chapter 172: 172. Chapter 172: The Game Test Version is Out!

172. Chapter 172: The Game Test Version is Out!

The heated kiss gradually subsided; Lin Yeman's breathing was still a bit unsteady, and her chest rose and fell slightly.

Shen Huai's fingers gently stroked her lips, his gaze deep, carrying a trace of inquiry and dissatisfaction.

"If I hadn't come over just now..."

Shen Huai paused, his tone carrying a hint of danger, "Then were you really planning to kiss someone else?"

Lin Yeman did not answer directly; instead, she reached out to stroke Shen Huai's cheek, her fingertips lightly grazing his chin, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness: "Shen Huai, you don't take me for a child, do you?"

Hearing this, Shen Huai frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"

"It means..."

A triumphant smile curled the corners of Lin Yeman's mouth, "If you hadn't come over, then I naturally would have walked toward you."

"Just as you could still distinguish me even though I masked my scent with perfume, I have also long since memorized your scent by heart."

Shen Huai's heart stirred, and he immediately understood Lin Yeman's meaning.

She was telling him that no matter what happened, she would choose him, just as he could recognize her no matter what.

He was suddenly somewhat moved.

It seemed Lin Yeman had never spoken such direct words before.

This certainty and confidence caused an inexplicable sense of satisfaction to rise in Shen Huai's heart, while also intermingled with a trace of unease.

He lowered his head and kissed Lin Yeman again.

This kiss was no longer a probe or a contest, but carried a trace of possession and longing.

He wanted more; he wanted to completely possess this woman and make her belong entirely to him.

When Shen Huai and Lin Yeman returned to the banquet, the air seemed to still linger with an ambiguous atmosphere.

The originally noisy banquet hall seemed to have been hit with a mute button the moment they stepped in.

Everyone's gaze fell squarely upon them, filled with inquiry and gossip.

"Yo, where did General Manager Shen go to have fun? Where did you spirit our General Manager Lin off to?" the crowd teased.

"General Manager Shen, that's not cool, not telling us~"

"Exactly, showing off your love in public like this, shouldn't you give us single dogs some compensation?" a programmer giggled and chimed in.

The people around them joined in the teasing, and the entire villa seemed to explode with noise.

"It seems everyone is very concerned about us," Lin Yeman chuckled, her tone carrying a hint of banter.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Lin Yeman walked up to Liu Shishi and turned to say to Shen Huai: "Shishi has helped me a lot during this time; she is a very excellent secretary. Cultivate her well; she will definitely be able to handle things on her own in the future."

Liu Shishi was slightly stunned, then looked at Lin Yeman with gratitude.

She understood that Lin Yeman was publicly affirming her abilities and also helping her establish prestige.

"And Su Meng," Lin Yeman turned to Su Meng, her tone carrying a hint of praise, "You've done really well in HR; it's like you were cut from the same cloth as Sister Xiaolan."

Su Meng smiled shyly and said in a low voice: "Thank you for the compliment, General Manager Lin. I still have a lot to learn."

"Don't be humble," Lin Yeman said with a smile, patting her shoulder, "You have great potential; keep working hard."

Finally, Lin Yeman's gaze fell on Luo Xiaoya: "Xiaoya, those agreements you added were a stroke of genius; they helped me avoid quite a few risks. Thank you so much."

Luo Xiaoya smiled faintly: "It was all my duty."

Watching Lin Yeman handle interpersonal relationships with such ease, Shen Huai couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

This woman was not only capable but also possessed extremely high emotional intelligence.

She knew how to win people over and how to use her own advantages to secure the greatest benefits for herself. "What? Are you captivated by me?" Lin Yeman noticed Shen Huai's gaze and teased with a smile.

Shen Huai raised an eyebrow, noncommittal: "I was just thinking about how I can firmly tether you to my side."

Lin Yeman chuckled, a flash of cunning in her eyes: "That depends on whether you have the ability."

After the team-building event ended, the subsidiary seemed to have hit the fast-forward button.

All the employees were like they had been injected with adrenaline, their enthusiasm for work soaring.

The programmers were no longer code machines with their days and nights reversed; they were all full of spirit, and the speed at which they typed code had increased several times over. The planners were no longer miserable wretches racking their brains for ideas; inspiration flowed like a spring, and they were eager to produce a hit proposal every day. Even the administrative and finance staff, who were usually the most relaxed, took the initiative to work overtime to help their colleagues handle various chores.

In less than two months, the first test version of the romance game "Forbidden Love" was fresh out of the oven.

"Tonight at eight, meet at the usual spot. Everyone, perk up!"

Shen Huai waved his hand, announcing the "overtime" arrangement for the night.

Night fell.

The office building where Shen Huai's company was located remained brightly lit on the top floor.

This was the company's dedicated entertainment and leisure area, usually used for employees to relax and de-stress.

But tonight, it had turned into a "battlefield" for game testing.

"General Manager Shen, this is the first version we've developed so far. Please have a try," the programmer Xiao Li said, his hair a bird's nest, his face full of exhaustion but unable to hide his excitement as he introduced it to Shen Huai.

Shen Huai nodded and looked at the group of people below.

The dozen or so members of the testing department, as well as Su Meng, Luo Xiaoya, Liu Shishi, Lin Yeman, and others, were all present.

Everyone downloaded and installed the game, then clicked to enter in unison.

The game interface was clean and refreshing, and several virtual character portraits with distinct styles came into view.

Shen Huai also installed one.

Clicking in led to the player gender selection, which made it convenient to categorize players of different genders.

Shen Huai chose "Male" and began the game experience.

"Wow, this plot is cheesy enough!"

"Hahaha, these character portraits, why do they feel a bit familiar?"

"Look, look! General Manager Shen has reached the plot where he first meets the female lead!"

In the break area.

Several core members gathered around, and while controlling their own game progress, they crowded behind Shen Huai, discussing it all at once.

"Quiet down!"

Lin Yeman scolded in a low voice, and the crowd immediately fell silent, but their gazes remained tightly locked onto Shen Huai's phone screen.

Shen Huai ignored the "onlookers" behind him, his fingers sliding rapidly across the screen as he browsed the game's plot.

It had to be said, although it was only a test version, the plot setting, character personalities, and visual expressiveness were all quite impressive.

Especially a few of the female characters, whose personalities were distinct and each had their own merits, reminding him of a few "female confidantes" in the company.

"Does this female lead's personality seem a bit like Luo Xiaoya's?"

Shen Huai curled his lips in amusement and turned his head to look at Luo Xiaoya, who was bowing her head and playing with her phone not far away.

Luo Xiaoya seemed to sense Shen Huai's gaze; she raised her head, glanced at him indifferently, and then lowered her head to play with her phone again. (End of chapter)