C4: Helper part 2

Hearing Ruan Ningxue's words, I couldn't help but blush.

But after a moment, I coughed lightly to dissolve the awkward atmosphere and began to think of excuses.

"Well, there are multiple reasons..." I stated.

Ruan Ningxue, who was sitting across from the table, pouted.

"Man's mouth, liar ghost!" she thought. He is still a junior, though. So she thought for a moment and proposed.

"I can accept the conditions you mentioned, though I also have a requirement!" she stated like a devil.

I was stunned, I was still thinking about how to convince her. Never would have I thought, that she would give me a way out.

Honestly, I didn't have much confidence at first—just wanted to give it a shot. After all, I know my situation. Take the money? Whose Money... That's impossible right now, and if I do, I do not have enough money to pay and the follow-up games after this are out of the question. There are still resources that need to be purchased and created.

Using the sibling relationship as leverage? But she's not my sister or cousin, there is no deep relationship between us, and she owes no obligation to help me. Besides, it feels like too big of a favour to do.

But now, is there a chance? Yes, there is. Let's hear her out.

"Sister, what is your request?" I asked, curiously.

"One month. And if your game sales aren't good, you will have to come and work for me!" she stated with the smile of a cat who likes to play games.

"We will sign two contracts! Of course, I will not exploit you like you'd do, my dear junior brother."

I was stunned for a moment, then regained my composure.

"Then what kind of sales would you consider as poor?" I asked her.

If she's talking about a million copies. Then there's no chance. This world is different from what I was used to. Although piracy isn't a big deal here, the market is still unfamiliar. Without capital for promotion and marketing, it's tough to go on. Although, word of mouth is still a way.

Even the highly acclaimed indie games I remember took time—sometimes half a year or more—to gain traction. Take *The Binding of Isaac*, for example. It didn't get much attention in its early days.

So if she's thinking of a million copies, I'd better be ready to be a full-time artist.

"Eh... 80,000, um, 40,000!" she said after thinking for a minute.

"If the sales don't hit 40,000 in the first month after release, then you've lost!" she continued, then she pulled out her phone and sent a quick message.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but smile a little with confidence.

Forty thousand in a month? Sure, the game market here is different, and I don't have a big starting capital, but hitting that number? No sweat.

"No problem," I agreed without hesitation.

"Then, senior, let's officially start tomorrow! I'll go back and do some prep work. See you tomorrow morning at my home!" I said, standing up from my seat.

Without giving her much time to react, I turned and left the coffee shop in a hush.

Only Ruan Ningxue remained there, looking a bit stunned. And it also looks like a scene from those dramas where a girl is dumped by some young master. Cough... cough... my imagination... OK.

Did she underestimate me? Of course, she did. I smirked a bit.

As I walked away, I could hear her dialling someone on the phone.

"Sister Xin, are you sure you weren't lying? Is 40,000 sales in a month a lot?" she asked, sounding puzzled.

A crisp voice replied, "It's not a huge number, but it depends. You have got to consider the person's first game, background, networks, and lack of funds. In that case, yes, 40,000 is decent." ... she continued...

"He doesn't have money, this is his first time making a game, and the engine resources available to him as a game designer are few. This is a hellish start. Reaching 50,000 sales is an S-level difficulty. Just making a few thousand sales would be considered passable." Xin replied

"Really?" Xue asked, still suspicious.

"Of course, this is the judgment of a professional game practitioner!" Yang Xin assured her.

"By the way, Xiaoxue, are you planning to make a game? Have you figured it out? Xin just said, come and help me with the original painting design and vertical painting, we will definitely be able to make a big business this time!"

On the other end of the phone. Yang Xin was getting more excited.

"Sister Xin, Sister Xin? What did you say? My signal isn't great here, let's talk later!" Xue quickly made up an excuse to end the conversation.

As Xue heard Yang Xin's excited voice fade, she felt a slight change in her expression, and then she couldn't help but smile at the thought of Xin's enthusiasm. Then she recalls something about Chen Xu.

It was his first time making a game, he had no money, and it felt like a hell-level difficulty. Chen Xu already fit all those tags.

But at least one problem was solved—my assistant's situation was finally sorted out. She starts to hum some tune.

The only regret was~ that it would take two months before my assistant officially joined.

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After saying goodbye to Ruan Ningxue, I returned to my flat.

I tidied up the room briefly and then sat at my desk, opening my laptop.

The computer I'm using for development has a pretty decent configuration, enough for the project "Magic Mirror."

Of course, if I wanted to develop bigger games, I wouldn't be able to do it with this setup.

Why? Because I had no money, and the official engine's resource permissions were insufficient.

Upgrading resource permissions works in two ways.

First, I could get officially certified as a game designer, and my resources would be raised. How would I achieve that? Game sales and other evaluations.

The second way was simple. But way out of my reach—just throwing money at the problem. The more money I had, the more resources I could unlock.

However, at this point, none of that mattered.

For a game like "Magic Mirror," the resources I needed were more than enough.

As I sat in front of my computer, I began drafting the design document for "Magic Mirror."

Even though I'm the only developer and Ruan Ningxue is just helping with the illustrations, it doesn't mean I can skip drafting a design concept. It's like writing an outline for an essay—it'll greatly improve efficiency.