Three cobblers are no better than one

Right, the ones Gu Sheng wanted to recruit were none other than his two dormitory 'adopted sons'—Lu Bian and Xu Dajiang.

Originally, the dormitories at Binjiang University were four to a room.

But due to various circumstances, when it came time for Gu Sheng's group, they happened to be one short, so their dorm was a bit unusual, with only three people.

Since Gu Sheng had crossed over just as freshman year began, it could be said that in this parallel world, the first friends he made were these two.

This kind of emotional foundation was very important.

On top of that, the three of them had compatible temperaments and often got up to mischief together. Over time, they formed the most solid Iron Triangle.

Lu Bian was the second in the dorm. The first time Gu Sheng heard his name, he almost laughed himself into the ICU.

The reason was simple—the name was just too kidney-nourishing.

Old Second lived up to his name. Although his appearance was average, he changed girlfriends as easily as drinking water, which was impressive and baffling.

But Old Second's most impressive trait didn't stop there. His skill in programming was not to be underestimated.

Especially in learning and mastering cutting-edge game engine development and programming languages, he was even faster than he was at swapping girlfriends. He could even draw inferences from one example, a rare programming genius who still had a full head of hair.

As for Old Third, Xu Dajiang, he was a Ludong Big Man, 185 cm tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, honest and simple by nature, often the one Gu Sheng and Lu Bian would stir up.

If the three of them were described as jackals and hyenas working together, then Gu Sheng and Lu Bian were the cunning hyenas full of wild ideas, while Xu Dajiang was the long-suffering wolf carrying them around on their mischief sprees.

But.

Don't let Xu Dajiang's honest and rough appearance fool you—he was actually a refined person inside.

Having started learning art at the age of ten, Xu Dajiang had an extraordinary talent for color and composition. After getting into game art, he displayed an astonishing artistic sense.

Especially in his side gig, his modeling work wasn't just top-tier—it was the kind that made you want to go all in without hesitation.

A classic Zhang Fei Embroidery Type.

As someone with extensive experience in the game industry from his previous life, Gu Sheng had long seen the potential in these two.

They just lacked experience, but their foundations were absolutely first-rate.

Besides, after three years as classmates, their rapport was extraordinary. Working together would definitely be smoother than hiring new people on the spot.

"So... your two friends... are also students?"

After hearing Gu Sheng's words, Chu Qingzhou's face showed some difficulty.

Could you please spare the company, alright?

Right now, having someone like you, a father figure, as the Game Director is already ridiculously over the top.

Yes, the Mario Bros. you developed recouped its costs within just twenty-four hours and is now turning a profit—a miracle, truly impressive.

But can't this company have at least one seasoned veteran?

The director is a college student, the Lead Artist is a college student, the Lead Programmer is a college student, and even the damn president is a college student.

Is this a college student startup base?

Isn't this a bit too much of a joke!

However!

Shen Miaomiao's eyes lit up at that!

Right!

She had just been focused on how to raise employee salaries, neglecting the quality of the hires!

If she really did as she said and Chu Qingzhou hired a bunch of top-tier professionals, the salary investment would indeed go up, but by the same token, wouldn't the game quality also rise accordingly!

Even Gu Sheng's most absurd ideas in the future might be polished into a masterpiece by those experienced employees!

That wouldn't do!

The higher the salaries, the higher the quality, and the smaller the chance of losing money!

That was the last thing Shen Miaomiao wanted to see.

Better to follow Gu Sheng's suggestion and recruit a few equally foolish and naive college students to form an Idiot Development Team with him.

No idea is too absurd, no investment too high—just focus on losing money hard!

This project, I, Wang Duoyu, am investing in!!!

"Mm—good!!!"

Shen Miaomiao nodded repeatedly:

"Director Gu's idea is excellent."

"Building a top-tier game development team of our own ensures stable game quality while also maximizing the protection of our future trade secrets from leaks!"

"Director Gu has thought this through well. This proposal is a good one!"

On the side, Chu Qingzhou was speechless.

She now wanted to slap an extra-long watermelon strip on her head and post, "Family, who can relate? My boss is getting better and better at talking nonsense with a straight face..."

Trade secrets?

We don't have any damn trade secrets!

Is it that brain-dead cat with a mocking smirk on its face?

Or this piece-of-crap game that sounds like a dumpster fire, where two players play as a father and son bouncing around at the gates of hell?

What the hell do we even have that other companies would want to spy on?

Are you afraid that when other companies see our design doc, they'll laugh themselves to death and then make us take the blame?

Watching the two of them nod and smile at each other in perfect harmony, Chu Qingzhou slowly leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

Just let it all burn. I'm tired.

And so it was!

On the hiring issue, Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao reached a consensus.

As Game Director, Gu Sheng was responsible for recruiting his two idiot buddies to join Golden Wind.

As for salary, Shen Miaomiao gave them both sky-high annual pay, matching the top-tier treatment for newcomers in the gaming industry.

Lu Bian, the Lead Programmer, got an annual salary of 300,000; Xu Dajiang, the Lead Artist, got 260,000.

Add in Gu Sheng's 500,000 annual salary, and just these three alone cost a million a year!

Chu Qingzhou wasn't a stranger to money.

Back when she worked as a secretary for Shen Miaomiao's father, those venture capital broker teams often had individuals pulling in a million a year, and some even made five or six million with commissions.

But right now!

She still thought the annual salary Shen Miaomiao was throwing at this Idiot Development Team was utterly ridiculous!

Little did she know, a million a year might seem like a lot.

In reality, Shen Miaomiao could earn back the combined annual salary of all three in a single night just by losing a hundred thousand!

That was the power of the system!

As long as these three geniuses could lose her money, she wouldn't bat an eye at a mere million annual salary—not even if it shot up to five million, matching the top venture capital brokers!

"Then it's settled, Director Gu."

A hopeful smile once again spread across Shen Miaomiao's face.

Woo-hoo!

Two more idiots joining the company!

Three idiots plus one abstract game design doc.

Tsk, tsk.

With this setup, she'd be hard-pressed to make money, wouldn't she?

In fact, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that even if Gu Sheng and his crew stumbled into another stroke of dumb luck and their game got discovered by streamers, she wouldn't have to worry about it becoming a hit.

After all, dumb luck still required game quality.

I, Shen Miaomiao, admit that your "Mario Bros." knockoff had some merit.

But that's where it ends!

With two idiots holding you back, no matter how many brilliant ideas flash through your mind, they'll be mercilessly crushed!

This is what they call—three idiots, all stinking the same!

Meeting adjourned!

Bring on the losses!!!