C82: Fashion

The day of the exhibition arrived with inch-perfect weather—sunless skies and comfy temperature.

Players, enthusiasts, and fans from all over the country gathered in Shanghai, crowding in lines to enter the Exhibition venue. The scene was bustling and full of energy.

But for the manufacturers exhibiting it was a hectic day. We had our own designated entrance. We don't need to crowd in lines to enter the venue. Although every few years some lunatics will try to pull in some stunt by joining the crowd.

Upon arriving at the exhibition hall in Area 6, media outlets and manufacturers lined up to enter the venue through the special entryway.

....Meanwhile, people start discussing things as they wait...

Gossip easily found their way... Here we begin...

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"NetDragon has a massive lineup like always! They've surely prepared a groundbreaking VR title with some new innovative features!" Paparazi_1 added.

"And Tenghua, too. Their new release glimpses impressive." Paparazi_2 chimed in.

"They are a different breed and they play in different leagues," Zhong added.

"It's tough for us smaller developers to stand out. Hopefully, we can pick in some scraps."

Even though we had a separate entrance, it was still quite crowded. Besides the game manufacturers, showgirls and cosplayers were also arriving, so we still had to make our way in, one by one.

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[Chen Xu POV]

As we waited, I exchanged greetings with a few designers and managers from other companies nearby. Curious, I glanced at the neighboring booths to see what was happening.

Each booth had a distinct personality. On Tenghua's side, a giant LCD screen was playing a flashy promotional video, likely their centerpiece for this year's exhibit.

NetDragon wasn't holding back either. They'd set up eye-catching promotional materials, complete with showgirls dressed to impress, each penetrating heart.

Meanwhile, in our section of Area 6, things looked...mixed.

"Mr. Chen, is this your first time exhibiting here? Haven't you arranged any costumes for cosplayers or showgirls?" M_1 asked, striking up a conversation.

The success of Neon Games has been memorable, especially since the second half of last year and the New Year this year. Most people in the game industry, particularly independent designers, have studied them.

The Neon Games logo is easy to spot. But there's another reason we stand out—compared to other companies, our lineup is unconventional.

Other booths were brimming with cosplayers in various costumes, with some even holding props. Showgirls wore an assortment of Office Lady and JK uniforms, creating an enticing visual atmosphere.

But our setup? It was different.

...

A few of us are in classic knight cosplay, decked out in shining "armor" with oversized, irregular, unsymmetrical weapons. We have just stepped out of a medieval battleground—ready to defend the realm or pose dramatically for a photo. But then there's the rest of us...

Instead of the gallant knight look, we're in jelly-like suits, loose and wobbly, topped off with brightly colored sneakers. It's as if we just wandered out of a high-energy workout video from the 80s!

Fortunately, we've all got our ID cards clipped on, or people might think a random crowd of fitness fanatics just crashed a medieval showdown, or maybe the entire Neon Games team showed up ready to exercise intent to fight dragons.

...

"It's all ready. It's in the exhibition hall. I'll change into it later," I explained with a smile.

Hearing this, colorful expressions appeared on their faces—shocked, stunned, unsure, of what to think. But no one delved further into it.

"The location of our exhibition area this time is a bit awkward!" someone nearby remarked.

"Yeah, I feel like those two companies will draw all the attention!" a designer commented while glancing at the two giant companies' venues nearby.

"Well, that's what happens when a giant company sponsors an event," another chimed in.

I mused, "I don't need everyone, I only need the one that is left of them"

Then I smiled and added, "Not necessarily. With so many players attending, Net Dragon and Tenghua might not capture everyone's attention. Plus, they have long queues for their exhibition areas. There'll be players who prefer to avoid waiting in line, which, in a way, could work to our advantage."

"That's true!" someone nearby agreed enthusiastically.

"One-two giants clash, and our little ones can benefit—though it depends on the situation!" M_1 added.

"Mr. Xu, could we exchange contact information? It'd be great to connect more in-depth in the future and discuss collaboration." M_1 continued.

"Yes, for sure." I chimed.

I exchanged contact details with the surrounding designers, eventually joining a new group.

Although this was an independent game venue, only capable designers and manufacturers were invited. Building these connections would prove beneficial, especially since I'd decided to gradually develop Neon's game platform.

Soon, I found myself chatting with the designers and manufacturers who were present.

Eventually, we entered the exhibition hall. Since the players hadn't yet arrived, the place felt empty. The cosplayers and models on our team were preparing to change into their outfits.

"What's caught everyone's attention over there?" Yang Xin, who was accompanying me, murmured.

"That's right, why is everyone looking at us?" Ruan wondered, noticing that some people at nearby booths were glancing our way with curiosity.

"Well, we do have the largest booth in this area, so maybe they're just intrigued. Didn't you also keep looking over at the Net Dragon and Tenghua booths?" I tactically explained the reason...

"That makes sense!" Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin both nodded, realizing I was right.

They felt a bit proud. Our Neon Games booth was luring attention!

Just then, the staff brought over the mascot costumes that had been prepared and stored earlier in the exhibition hall. The cosplayers stepped forward, putting on the outfits, while the staff hung up the game promotional posters. The main attractions were Three Kingdoms and JellyMan.

The combination was a little mismatched, with one game being a realistic art style and the other a full-on cartoon. But it worked, especially with Three Kingdoms on the left, JellyMan on the right, and Neon Games' classics displayed in the center.

Other game developers were eyeing our setup with surprise. Watching the cosplayers transform into a funny jelly bean character or a little crocodile chef from Overcooked, they were a bit stunned.

Our booth was completely bizarre! While the rest of the indie game area mostly showcased characters with the typical long-leg aesthetic, ours looked like a kids's playground—the entire vibe was different.

But we didn't have much time to dive into the reactions. The doors opened soon, and players began entering the exhibition, bringing it to life.

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OL (Office Lady): This refers to women working in offices, typically dressed in formal business attire. The "OL" style often includes blouses, skirts, and blazers, creating a professional, elegant look. It's commonly associated with corporate and office environments in Japan.

JK (Joshi Kousei): This stands for "female high school student" in Japanese (女子高生). The "JK" style involves high school uniforms, which usually consist of pleated skirts, blazers, ties, and sometimes sailor-style tops. This style is popular in Japanese youth culture and is often romanticized or used for cosplay and fashion.

m_1 - It is some Manufacturer One.

I have used some weird vocab in some places.

Don't forget to point out the mistakes and errors in the text.

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