C83: The Show  

At the entrance of every area, we're all talking animatedly forming various niche groups of interests.

______________________

"This year, Net Dragon and Tenghua have big moves planned!" 〠_〠

"Wow, they launched a VR masterpiece during New Year. Now there are new releases?" 〠_〠

"Don't get too hyped up, it might be demos like previous years." థ

"Still, that's super exciting! I'm lining up right now!"（ ՞ਊ ՞）

"Yep, I need to try it out myself—after all, it's the latest VR masterpiece from Net Dragon and Tenghua." （´≝◞⊖◟≝｀)

"But, there are so many people here." ( ༎ຶŎ༎ຶ )

"The lines will keep getting longer." ( ༎ຶŎ༎ຶ )( ༎ຶŎ༎ຶ )( ༎ຶŎ༎ຶ )

"Forget it. I'll check out other exhibition areas for now." ◥█̆̈◤

______________________

Most of us are heading to the exhibition area where NetDragon and Tenghua are stationed.

Our goal is clear: We're here for that latest VR masterpiece they brought.

It's hard to resist, but the long queues are intimidating. Some give up, not wanting to wait that long.

And while some areas don't even have queues, they still have a few, well... interesting sights.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Look at those legs! That's elongation with sleekness even my Ifruit 36XD looks fat!" ಸ‿ಸ

"This is a leg appreciation year!" ^ . ~

"You all are obsessed with trends. For me, I'm classic—I enjoy it for years!" ╰⋃╯

"Turns out we all have a similar appreciation for classics!" ╰⋃╯

"Hey, we're not creeps. We know how to admire the beauty!" (͡ o‿O͡) ***

"Exactly!" ///\\\

~~~~~~~~~~~

Not all are glued to the showgirls' legs, though. Some of us are more focused.

"Quit staring, your eyes are about to pop out," I said, rolling my eyes at Zhang Yi beside me.

"Ahem, I'm not staring! Not interested, really," he said, slightly embarrassed.

"There is some drool on your lips," I said...

He wiped it out and quickly changed the topic, he asked, "So, which exhibition area should we hit first, NetDragon?"

"Alright, I'm pretty interested in their new work," says Song Ren, a sturdy friend, who got a real fright playing Escape last time. Along with us, he brought a friend and a girl. We're all close pals and planned to attend this event together.

"I think it's better to skip it. The queue is ridiculously long—two to three hours for a few minutes of play! That VR game must be packed," I said, disappointed. The latest VR from NetDragon and Tenghua is tempting, but the queue is a deal-breaker.

"Oh, but Neon Games is here too! Let's check out their area and see if they have anything new!" I suggested, remembering how much I enjoy games from this studio.

"Oh, yes! Neon Games sounds good," agrees Qiao Yi, a friend who's also excited.

"I have no opinion," Wang Yi said, spreading his hands.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yi and Song Ren, standing side by side, widened their eyes as memories from their past came rushing back. Zhang Yi couldn't shake the image of himself dreading the endless days of washing dishes at home, a chore he loathed. Beside him, Song Ren recalled the time the game Escape nearly scared the life out of him—so much so that he almost wet himself.

Despite this, we decided to check out the Neon Games exhibition area first, mainly because the queues at the NetDragon and Tenghua booths were too intimidating.

We weren't alone in that decision, plenty of players headed straight for the Neon Games area. Neon Games and Chen Xu, their key developer, had earned a strong reputation within the indie game scene and with certain gaming communities due to their series of high-quality releases.

Media representatives and streamers were also spotted exploring the lesser-known indie game areas, like Neon Games, instead of focusing on big-name exhibitions. After all, NetDragon and Tenghua were the primary targets for mainstream media coverage. Competing for attention there was tough, so it made sense to cover reputable indie creators, where the competition for exposure wasn't as fierce.

But when we finally reached Neon Games' section, we were surprised by its unique vibe.

Other sections in the indie area showcased an abundance of eye-catching visuals—plenty of dazzling outfits. In stark contrast, Neon Games was a breath of fresh air. Yes, there were girls, but a handful, and most were dressed in mascot costumes, goofing around on stage.

+++++++++++++++

"What's going on? Neon Games' showgirl display is...unusual!" one of us commented.

"They don't have Gentleman Tastes"

"Are you sure they're showgirls? There are only three cosplayers here besides the staff," another added laughing.

"But it's fun," someone added.

"Look at that sign—they're debuting new games!"

"The Three Kingdoms Charge and JellyMan? Never heard of these! Is this some covert weapon Neon's been holding back for the expo?"

Our group buzzed with excitement. The whole setup felt fresh, different, and intriguing.

"For one thing, these colorful Jelly figures look a bit like gelatin beans, which is hilarious."

"Exactly! In this show, we at Neon Games bring something different!"

"However, even though You are introducing new games this time, why are so few devices available?"

"Yeah, that JellyMan game takes up so much space, and we've only got fifteen computers for it?"

"And for Three Kingdoms Charge, we have just five computers, along with a bunch of stools and tables."

"This is Neon Games and our first time at the exhibition."

"We've prepared for so many days. Hope you guys will enjoy it."

+++++++++++++++

Players gathered around our Neon Games exhibition area, whispering among themselves.

Their curiosity about the limited devices didn't last long, though.

Our exhibition area was split into three sections with a stage at the center. Showgirls dressed as gelatin beans were on stage, although one couldn't tell if they were men or women in the costumes.

Soon, the gelatin Beans on stage moved aside, and I, Chen Xu, stepped onto the platform to introduce the Neon Games showcase.

As soon as I appeared, some Neon Games fans in the crowd recognized me right away, waving and shouting excitedly.

And their shouts were hilarious.

________________________

"Chen Xu is my girlfriend!"

"Yeah, Chen Xu is my girlfriend!"

"Where's the Warrior of Love? Where is his armor?"

________________________

Watching the excited crowd, I couldn't help but feel amused.

I signaled to everyone to quiet down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright, everyone, let's calm down! Looks like we have an enthusiastic crowd!"

"But there's a bit of a misunderstanding about me."

"Of course, no worries – the games we're showing today will erase, any doubts about me. It's time to prove myself again!"

"I won't keep you waiting. JellyMan is a light-hearted, fun, and friendly multiplayer game designed with player joy in mind and soul. And Three Kingdoms Charge is a strategic multiplayer board game."

On the large screen behind me, the posters for JellyMan and Three Kingdoms appeared.

When the crowd heard me describe the games as relaxed, happy, harmonious, and full of love, laughter erupted.

But before anyone could react more, my next words got the crowd buzzing with excitement.

"I know you've noticed the limited demo equipment. The reason?"

"Simply scan the QR code to download the mobile versions, so you can jump into the fun right here at the exhibition."

"And on the last day of the exhibition, we have a special finale program in store for you all."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>> Don't forget to comment on the errors and mistakes.