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Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Changing Old Pei’s Stereotypes!

Chapter 93: Changing Old Pei's Stereotypes!

The New Year holidays weren't particularly exciting—mostly just visiting relatives or being visited by relatives.

It wasn't until the third day of the Lunar New Year that Pei Qian finally got to relax, sprawled lazily on the living room sofa, watching TV.

"Son, has that short video of yours come out yet?"

His mom handed him a peeled apple.

Pei Qian took it and started munching.

"Aiya, these things don't go live right after filming. They still need to be edited and post-processed. You've already asked like eight times today."

"Then ask the director again," she replied, still unwilling to let it go after successfully delivering her fruit.

Left with no choice, Pei Qian sent a message to Huang Sibo.

Not long after, Huang Sibo replied:

"President Pei, it was uploaded yesterday! You can find it on Sweet Potato Video, under the 'Comedy' section—it's called President Pei's Daily Life."

It's actually out?

That was quick!

Pei Qian grabbed his laptop and opened the Sweet Potato Video homepage. He scrolled to the Comedy section—

There really was a recommendation slot!

Not one of the top-billed banners, but still a solid position.

He recalled that Zhu Xiaocen had mentioned a senior working at Sweet Potato Video who could help with a front-page slot—and apparently, they came through!

Of course, it probably wasn't free. Most likely, they had to pay an advertising fee.

Pei Qian clicked on the video link—and immediately felt his heart sink.

Uploaded just yesterday, and it already had over 200,000 views!

And this was a brand-new account!

He quickly glanced at the comments below.

Lively didn't even begin to describe it!

A rough scan showed dozens of pages of enthusiastic, trollish comments from meme-loving netizens.

It's over. My worst fear is coming true!

Pei Qian composed himself, trying not to let his parents see anything off in his expression.

Then, pretending to be casual, he handed the laptop over.

"Here it is."

His parents placed the laptop on the coffee table and leaned in together to watch.

"President Pei's Daily Life?"

Old Pei gave Pei Qian a suspicious look.

"Ahem. That's the title of the short video. I play a company president in it," Pei Qian explained.

The video began.

"I glanced at my Rolex—not to check the time, but just to let you know, ever so casually, that I'm loaded.."

"That day, I was struck by a sudden whim: I wanted to make a game that would bleed the players dry.."

The dull background music, combined with the flat, emotionless narration, gave the video a distinctive flavor right from the start.

In the footage, Pei Qian wore a tailored suit, a Rolex on his wrist, lying languidly on the sofa in a sleek corporate lounge. On the table beside him sat elegant tea sets and fine tea—all of it coming together seamlessly.

Even Pei Qian's detached expression felt spot-on.

President Pei's Daily Life, in terms of tone and execution, was very much in the same vein as Zhu Yidan's Boring Life.

To a first-time viewer, the initial impression might be:

"This is boring... What's the point? It's weirdly off-putting!"

But the more you watched, the more addictive it became.

This kind of stylized video had two key strengths:

First, it had a distinct, recognizable identity.

Second, it was packed with metaphorical undertones—the kind that reward repeated viewings with deeper meaning.

Whether it was the vertical filming format, the unchanging background music, or the monotonous narration designed to emphasize that feeling of tedium—it all left a strong impression.

As for the metaphors...

There was always the possibility that some of the audience might overanalyze things—but truth be told, the director really did pack a lot of meaning into the short clip.

This kind of dark humor had a much more refined tone compared to those vulgar, low-brow internet skits.

Standing behind his parents and watching himself on the screen, Pei Qian couldn't help but smile faintly.

'Damn, do I really look this good on camera?'

And he actually had a bit of acting skill too!

Look at that expression—so natural!

Look at that face—perfectly photogenic!

No wonder Director Zhu Xiaocen didn't call "cut" even once during the shoot.

It wasn't just because Pei Qian was his boss or the investor—clearly, it was because his acting was just that good!

Pei Qian was feeling pretty smug.

The video was only a minute long, but the storyline had twists and turns, the dialogue was witty and rhymed, and the ending left people wanting more.

"That's it? I wasn't done watching!"

"Son, isn't this short video... a little too short?"

Old Pei had assumed that even the shortest of short dramas would run at least ten minutes per episode.

Instead, this one wrapped in a minute flat.

Pei Qian explained, "That's the trend now—short and sweet!"

Mom eagerly replayed the video.

"You know, I think our son might actually have a talent for acting! Look how naturally he plays the president—it's like he really owns the company!"

Old Pei nodded slightly.

"It's not bad at all. But our son's still so young... playing a big boss feels a little off, no? The director didn't think of sticking a fake mustache on him or something? And this voice…"

Pei Qian quickly cut in,"Oh, that voice? Someone else dubbed it."

Old Pei nodded,

"Yeah, figured. It just doesn't quite match what I'd expect a company president to sound like."

Mom waved off Old Pei's comment with visible disdain.

"And what, like you've met a bunch of company presidents?"

Old Pei was stumped, speechless for five whole seconds before mumbling,

"Well... you haven't either, have you?"

"Nope, but I have seen more TV dramas than you. And on TV, all the big presidents act like this. So I think our son played it great—what's your problem?"

She was already in full illogical mom mode.

"Okay, okay… Anyway, the fact that this kid can earn money acting now, that's a good thing. Means he's learning some real skills."

Old Pei's face beamed with pride.

Seeing his dad in such a good mood, Pei Qian seized the chance to strike while the iron was hot.

"Dad, this short video—it's actually a satire of the gaming industry!"

"Look, the president gives two hundred grand for development, but it gets skimmed and sliced down the chain, and by the time it reaches the guy who actually has to make the game, there's only fifty grand left. That's a jab at the mismanagement in many game companies."

"And the game that gets made? It's boring. But people still go crazy spending money on it. That part's meant to criticize the chaotic mess that is the current gaming market!"

"It's all dark humor—meant to mock and expose the industry. The director planned it this way from the start."

Old Pei's expression went from stern, to curious, to suddenly enlightened.

"Ohh… so that's what it's about."

Pei Qian could feel that Old Pei's interest was piqued, so he quickly tried to steer things toward breaking his dad's preconceived notions.

"And there's actually a deeper meaning behind the plot," Pei Qian added earnestly. "Director Zhu wants to build the image of a righteous game company president, someone completely different from the typical stereotype!"

"Oh? And how does he plan to do that?" Old Pei asked curiously.

Like many from the older generation, Old Pei's negative impression of video games wasn't really his fault—it was largely shaped by media and public perception.

Video games were still a relatively new thing. Someone Old Pei's age wouldn't have had many chances to actually play them.

What he did know about games came from TV news or from idle chatter among other parents.

And most of the news was always along the lines of:

"So-and-so student skipped school to go to an internet café,"

"Someone spent their parents' entire savings recharging a game account," and so on.

Naturally, that didn't exactly paint gaming in a favorable light.

The blame wasn't entirely on people like Old Pei, though—a fair share of it lay with shady game developers and media outlets who loved to fan the flames.

Now, it was up to Pei Qian to slowly start dismantling that mental image.

"Here's what Director Zhu planned," Pei Qian began.

"He wants to show the other side of this game company president—a designer who genuinely brings positive energy to the world, someone who uses games to spread happiness and even touch people's hearts."

"For example, there's this storyline: a student tries to stop a car thief and ends up getting run over in the process. He dies heroically, and the president builds a statue of him in the game world so that players everywhere can remember and honor him."

"That same president deliberately avoids shady monetization. No forced microtransactions, no exploiting people's emotions—just a pure, heartfelt experience meant to bring joy."

"And you won't believe it—players loved it! It was a hit!"

Old Pei had never heard of anything like this before. Clearly, his curiosity was really kicking in now.

"You play that president character?"

Pei Qian nodded confidently.

"Yup, that's me!"

"Well, that's actually... not bad at all," Old Pei murmured with a thoughtful nod.

Pei Qian pressed on while the moment was right:

"Honestly, things in the domestic gaming scene are a mess right now, no doubt about it. But games are just tools—a form of entertainment. Whether they're good or bad depends entirely on the people making them."

"If all game developers only care about milking money, of course you'll have kids stealing money from their parents to recharge accounts."

"But what if the devs just wanted to make something fun, something that brings people simple joy?"

"Think about it—those overworked office workers, when they get home and play a game, it's just like watching a movie or reading a book. It's just a way to unwind. Isn't that a good thing?"

"So banning games outright isn't the solution. What we need to do is guide the industry—to help people enjoy games without becoming addicted. That's the direction we should aim for."

"And that's exactly what Director Zhu wants to express. It's also what my character in the show is trying to achieve."

Old Pei nodded repeatedly, clearly moved.

Somehow, coming from "Director Zhu," those same ideas felt much more persuasive.

Pei Qian could tell—his dad's attitude was definitely softening!

"Sounds like a pretty decent director," Old Pei said at last, impressed. "What's his name again?"

"Zhu Xiaocen," Pei Qian replied.

"How old is he?"

"Fourth year in university."

"Wow, young and promising!" Old Pei exclaimed with admiration. "He's got some real insight for someone so young. If only we really had a game company president like that in real life…"

Pei Qian nodded enthusiastically.

"Exactly, right?!"

Meanwhile, Mom was still glued to the laptop.

"Our son's acting really is great. I'm gonna keep watching it a few more times. Hurry up and copy this onto the home computer for me!"

Their home PC was an ancient desktop from when Pei Qian was still in high school—barely functional now and slow as molasses.

Still, Pei Qian transferred the video to it, and Mom gleefully clutched the computer, replaying it over and over, while the monotonous background music echoed through the house again and again...

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