Chapter Summaries

Gu Sheng’s Plants vs. Zombies debuted with a 6+ rating, and A Yin began playing its cheerful tower-defense tutorial on stream. After A Yin left the screen, zombies ate his poorly placed Peashooters and advanced toward his house, leaving him panicked when he returned.

• A Yin and the viewers reacted with surprise to Plants vs. Zombies’ title, cartoon art, and 6+ age rating.
• Gu Sheng explained to Shen Miaomiao that ratings depended on a game’s core content and how prominently restricted elements appeared.
• A Yin downloaded the game and watched its opening cinematic, which showed plants fighting off comical zombies.
• A Yin planted two Peashooters near the front of the lawn, mistook the tutorial for an easy game, and left to use the bathroom.
• While A Yin was away, zombies ate both Peashooters and advanced toward the house.
• A Yin returned, saw the approaching zombies, and shouted that his Peashooters were gone.

A Yin’s livestream of the game turned into a popular father-daughter show when Yiyi took over, while Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao joined the viewers and sent gifts. After the stream, Shen Wanlin called Shen Miaomiao at midnight to ask how to beat level 2-9.

• A Yin narrowly cleared the first level when the lawn mower defeated the zombies, then let Yiyi take over his livestream.
• Yiyi played through stages 1-1 to 1-8, amusing viewers with her comments and exploring the game’s plants, zombies, minigames, and Zen Garden.
• Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao sent gifts and supported A Yin’s stream, with Gu Sheng reflecting on how streamers had helped Golden Wind’s games gain exposure.
• Shen Miaomiao and Gu Sheng prepared to go to bed when Shen Wanlin called and asked how to clear level 2-9.

Plants vs. Zombies became a hit across a wide range of players, and Shen Miaomiao waited for its first-week sales results while calculating her expected rebate. When a property consultant called Gu Sheng about a home he was considering, Shen Miaomiao hinted that she did not want to live or eat alone, and Gu Sheng agreed they would eat together.

• Shen Wanlin called Shen Miaomiao late at night for help beating a Plants vs. Zombies level, so she handed the phone to Gu Sheng.
• Plants vs. Zombies spread among players of all ages through word of mouth and its availability on computers and phones.
• Shen Miaomiao calculated that a worst-case sales result could still earn her a rebate of about 2.7 million and went with Gu Sheng to check the first-week figures.
• A property consultant called Gu Sheng about a 230-square-meter model home, prompting Shen Miaomiao to ask whether he was buying a house.
• After they parked, Shen Miaomiao told Gu Sheng she was not used to eating alone, and he agreed they would eat together.

Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao negotiated the rent for his new apartment, then checked Plants vs. Zombies' first-week sales. They discovered the game had sold nearly 6.93 million copies worldwide, far exceeding Gu Sheng's expectations.

• Shen Miaomiao arranged for Gu Sheng to view a 240-square-meter apartment, and Gu Sheng agreed to charge her 2,000 a month after she faked an injury and he retaliated by tickling her.
• Gu Sheng explained that Plants vs. Zombies could sell more than a million copies because it launched on both PC and mobile, while Shen Miaomiao worried the sales would prevent her from losing money.
• At eight o'clock, Gu Sheng opened the sales data, and Shen Miaomiao initially thought the total was 692,729 copies.
• Gu Sheng realized the figure was 6,927,729 copies, revealing that Plants vs. Zombies had sold nearly seven million copies in its first week.

Golden Wind’s Plants vs. Zombies sold 6.92 million copies in its first week, astonishing Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao and drawing worldwide attention. After celebrating the record with a photo, Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao prepared to go house-hunting.

• Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao calculated that Plants vs. Zombies had earned $9.35 million in net profit and were stunned by its sales and their dividends.
• Shen Miaomiao suggested taking a commemorative photo, and Gu Sheng surprised her by lifting her into a bridal carry as the camera snapped.
• Gaming media and players worldwide celebrated Plants vs. Zombies’ 6.92 million sales, while its success overshadowed Firebird Studio’s Ace Hero.
• Shen Miaomiao covered Gu Sheng’s bruised eye with makeup, and the two prepared to look at houses.

Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao visited a housing development, where Miaomiao introduced him as her fiancé to deter Peng Qianqian, the supposed match her father had chosen for her. After Gu Sheng discovered Peng already had a girlfriend, Miaomiao continued an exaggerated display of affection during the model-home tour, leaving Gu Sheng trapped in the act.

• Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao discussed Golden Wind's plans to challenge the remaining Peak Studios before taking on Yunwei-Vendi, then went to view a home.
• Shen Miaomiao learned the development belonged to Peng Guangjun and tried to leave, but she encountered Peng Qianqian, the man her father had named as her prospective match.
• Shen Miaomiao introduced Gu Sheng as her fiancé and said they were looking for their marital home, so Gu Sheng played along.
• Gu Sheng overheard Peng Qianqian telling his girlfriend that Shen Miaomiao had a fiancé and joking that she probably beat Gu Sheng, revealing Peng already had a girlfriend.
• Shen Miaomiao led Gu Sheng through the model home while describing their imagined life together, and Peng Qianqian watched Gu Sheng with sympathy.

Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao finalized the purchase of a luxury apartment, while Golden Wind’s release date for Escape Together sent rival game companies scrambling to avoid competing with it. A Yin and A Cui began livestreaming the newly released game, which went on sale as the prison-break story opened.

• Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao signed a contract for a discounted 230-square-meter apartment and celebrated their new home together.
• Peng Qianqian watched Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao playfully goose-step away and remarked that they were two peas in a pod.
• Rage Flame, Guangyao, and other studios shifted their release plans to avoid Golden Wind’s Escape Together launch on the 7th of next month.
• Jiang Yingcai reviewed the release schedule and saw that Golden Wind’s announcement had pushed dozens of other games into a crowded release period later in the month.
• Golden Wind released Escape Together on Yiyou x2, and A Yin and A Cui began livestreaming as Vincent and Leo.

Leo and Vincent obtained a chisel and began digging out of their prison cells while Shen Miaomiao and Gu Sheng played through the escape together. They crawled into the prison’s maintenance area, where the story left them preparing for the next stage of their breakout.

• Leo asked Fred how to reach the labor-block roof, and Brother Shu used cigarettes to secure Fred’s help getting them roof-cleaning jobs.
• A Yin distracted a guard by reporting a broken mop while Brother Shu climbed the scaffolding, allowing Leo to retrieve the chisel and pass it to Fred.
• Shen Miaomiao asked Gu Sheng to keep playing, and they reenacted the escape in the game as Leo and Vincent.
• Fred secretly passed Leo the chisel inside a Bible, and Leo and Vincent used it to pry open the walls behind their cell toilets while taking turns keeping watch.
• At lights-out, Leo and Vincent crawled through the openings into the maintenance area, where they paused to plan their next preparations.

Qiezi and Dong Gua smuggled bedsheets into the storage room and escaped the cell block, while Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao experienced the same perilous manhole climb in VR. Leo and Vincent reached the top but discovered the manhole cover was bolted shut, leaving them to find a wrench and return the way they came.

• Qiezi hid Dong Gua in a laundry cart and got him into the storage room beneath the guard’s nose.
• When Dong Gua nearly opened the storage-room door beside a guard, Qiezi started a fight to distract the guard and prevent their discovery.
• Qiezi and Dong Gua used a sabotaged washing machine to draw the guard away, then made a bedsheet rope and escaped through the vents and sewers to a manhole.
• Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao climbed a manhole shaft by bracing against opposite walls and supporting each other, though Shen Miaomiao briefly slipped.
• Leo and Vincent reached the manhole cover, found it secured with iron bolts, and decided to get a wrench from the workshop.

Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao’s prison-break gameplay showcased the game’s cinematic escape and cooperative sequences, while Vincent and Leo fled prison to pursue Harvey. After visiting their families, Vincent reunited with Carol and held their newborn daughter, but police arrived at the hospital as Leo warned him to run.

• Leo told Linda that he planned to escape prison with help from Vincent, while Vincent learned Carol had stayed home to await their child’s birth.
• Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao escaped the prison work block during a storm, but a cable snapped and they barely survived gunfire and a fall before fleeing through a skylight.
• The game’s escape continued through forests, waterways, and a car chase as Vincent and Leo supported each other and shared how Harvey had betrayed them and killed Gary.
• Leo brought Vincent to meet Linda and Alex, then drove him to the hospital to see Carol and their newborn daughter.
• Vincent held his daughter and tried to explain himself to Carol, but police sirens sounded and Leo shouted that they had to leave.

A Yin and Brother Shu experienced an elaborate one-shot hospital escape as Leo and Vincent, then watched the story move toward its final revenge with the pair discussing Vincent's family. Gu Sheng shoved Shen Miaomiao from the plane, where she accidentally released her parachute pack and began falling without a chute.

• A Yin and Brother Shu alternated perspectives while Leo and Vincent fought their way through the hospital, escaping pursuing officers in a seamless chase.
• On the plane, Leo advised Vincent to write Carol a letter and congratulated him on becoming a father.
• Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao disagreed over whether to parachute into Harvey's hideout, and Shen Miaomiao's choice of Vincent's plan meant they had to jump.
• Gu Sheng shoved Shen Miaomiao from the plane, and she pulled the wrong ring, releasing her parachute pack instead of opening her chute.

Leo and Vincent killed Harvey, escaped Mexico by plane, and thanked each other for their help. When they landed, police surrounded them, and the police chief handed Vincent a pistol and praised him, leaving the brothers’ fate unresolved.

• Players fought through Harvey’s jungle base and celebrated as Vincent and Leo cornered Harvey in his conference room.
• Harvey took Leo hostage, but Leo struck him and Vincent shot him; the brothers then killed Harvey and escaped toward the plane.
• Vincent and Leo boarded the plane with pilot Emily, thanked each other, and flew home while the players celebrated the apparent happy ending.
• The plane landed, where police cars surrounded the brothers and officers aimed their guns at them.
• The police chief approached Vincent, handed him his pistol, and said, “Good work, Vincent.”

Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao finished Escape Together, with Shen Miaomiao forced to shoot Gu Sheng’s character after Vincent’s undercover identity was revealed and Leo and Vincent’s friendship ended in tragedy. After the game, Shen Miaomiao tearfully sought reassurance that Gu Sheng would never leave her, and he promised they would make a happier game next time.

• Shen Miaomiao learned that Vincent had been an undercover cop and confronted Gu Sheng as Leo, furious over his betrayal.
• Leo and Vincent fought through the factory and onto the rooftop, where Leo shot Vincent after reaching the fallen gun first.
• Vincent gave Leo a letter for Carol before dying, and Leo later delivered it as Vincent’s funeral and Leo’s departure with his family were shown.
• After exiting the sensory pods, Shen Miaomiao cried in Gu Sheng’s arms and said she would rather not have finished the game.
• Gu Sheng promised Shen Miaomiao he would never leave and agreed to make a wholesome game with a happy ending.

Players cursed Gu Sheng over Escape Together’s tragic ending even as critics and players praised the game. At Golden Wind, Lu Bian learned that Da Jiang had started dating Jiang Shan and was already meeting her parents, leaving him stunned and envious.

• Players and streamers discovered Escape Together forced one player to shoot their friend, confirming that the story had no happy ending.
• Escape Together received glowing reviews and high ratings, while players filled its reviews with jokes and curses at Gu Sheng.
• Lu Bian and Da Jiang laughed over the reviews before Secretary Chu called them to a meeting.
• Da Jiang teased Lu Bian about his slow progress with Chu Qingzhou, then revealed that Jiang Shan had confessed to him and that he would meet her parents that night.
• Lu Bian saw Jiang Shan kiss Da Jiang at the office and, after hearing how quickly their relationship had progressed, called Da Jiang a bastard for deserving such luck.

Golden Wind planned to reach mid-sized status before the Dongjin Game Festival, with Garden Warfare as a short-term PVZ spin-off and a new action RPG as its main project against Komeila. Gu Sheng committed to the plan, and Shen Miaomiao backed him as the company prepared for its biggest challenge yet.

• Gu Sheng told the executives that Golden Wind would soon enter the billion club but needed to reach mid-sized status before registering for the Dongjin Game Festival.
• Jiang Yun suggested releasing a new game to earn the remaining twenty million, and Shen Miaomiao proposed spin-offs of Escape Together and Plants vs. Zombies.
• Gu Sheng approved Garden Warfare, a PVZ-derived shooter where players became plants or zombies, and assigned its development to Golden Experience.
• Gu Sheng said he would temporarily move himself, Lu Bian, Da Jiang, and staff from Golden Experience to Steel Chain Fingers to prepare for the Dongjin Game Festival.
• Gu Sheng chose an action RPG built around the motion-assist technology developed for APEX as Golden Wind's main project against Komeila.
• Shen Miaomiao gave Gu Sheng full authority, clasped his hand, and supported his resolve to proceed without hesitation.

Gu Sheng announced that Golden Wind’s main project was Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, while Shen Miaomiao looked forward to the potential losses from the Plants vs. Zombies spin-off. As rumors about Garden Warfare spread and prompted speculation that Golden Wind was declining, Yan Sheng concluded it was not the company’s real main project and prepared Yiyou Technology for a coming fight.

• At a meeting, Gu Sheng named Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as Golden Wind’s main project and assigned Garden Warfare to Golden Experience and Steel Chain Fingers.
• Shen Miaomiao celebrated Garden Warfare’s 38-million-yuan budget and imagined the rebate she could earn if it lost money.
• At home, Gu Sheng teased Shen Miaomiao by eating her freshly baked cakes, and they playfully cooked dinner together.
• Rumors portrayed Garden Warfare as Golden Wind’s main project, sparking debate over whether the studio was reusing its old success or losing its creative edge.
• Yan Sheng told Old Zhao that Garden Warfare was likely a small side project, then ordered him to organize Yiyou’s projects for a difficult battle next quarter.

Moriya Tetsuya suspected Golden Wind was hiding its real project for the Dongjin Game Festival and feared another attack on Komeila. Gu Sheng then directly told Moriya that Golden Wind’s true main project was an action game, and Moriya agreed to help find mocap teams, leaving Lu Bian, Da Jiang, and Little Nezha baffled by Gu Sheng’s apparent betrayal.

• Moriya Tetsuya grew suspicious that Golden Wind’s Garden Warfare announcement was a smokescreen and worried it would strike Komeila at the Dongjin Game Festival.
• Moriya reviewed Komeila’s three planned festival games and became especially concerned about Koizumi Studio’s expensive Torii: Ghost Phantom.
• Gu Sheng called Moriya, invited him to a meal in Japan, and revealed that Golden Wind’s real festival project was an action game featuring Sato and Yuki.
• Gu Sheng asked Moriya to introduce mocap actors or kendo masters, and Moriya agreed to meet and discuss the request.
• Lu Bian, Da Jiang, and Little Nezha confronted Gu Sheng over sharing the secret with Komeila’s executive director.

Gu Sheng explained why he had revealed Golden Wind’s plans to Moriya, then traveled to Dongjin to arrange motion capture for Sekiro. MOSIA showed strong interest and offered to connect Golden Wind with the stunt team led by Rurouni Kenshin action director Kenji Kamiyama.

• Gu Sheng explained that Moriya’s suspicions and sense of honor meant telling him directly would keep him from warning Komeila about Golden Wind’s plans.
• Golden Wind struggled to adapt Sekiro’s action gameplay for sensory pods, and Shen Miaomiao traveled with Gu Sheng to Dongjin to support him.
• Moriya welcomed Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao, then introduced Gu Sheng to MOSIA Motion Capture Studio for Sekiro’s motion-capture needs.
• MOSIA became enthusiastic after learning Golden Wind was making a Sengoku-era sensory-pod action game and offered to arrange professional martial arts performers.
• Gu Sheng told Lu Bian and Da Jiang that MOSIA had proposed Kenji Kamiyama’s stunt team, known for its work on Rurouni Kenshin.

Gu Sheng secured MOSIA and Kenji Kamiyama’s teams for Sekiro and learned that Okura Kazu’s father had died. Back at the hotel, Shen Miaomiao gave Gu Sheng a massage, helping him let go of his doubts about their relationship, though he kept his feelings to himself.

• Gu Sheng told Lu Bian and Da Jiang that MOSIA and Kenji Kamiyama’s team would work on Sekiro’s motion capture and action design.
• Lu Bian and Da Jiang updated Gu Sheng on technical progress and the smooth development of Garden Warfare.
• Gu Sheng explained that he had attended the funeral of Okura Kazu’s father and passed along condolences from Sato and Yuki.
• Shen Miaomiao borrowed Gu Sheng’s hair dryer, then treated his hair and teased him about their trip to Akihabara.
• Shen Miaomiao pulled Gu Sheng onto the bed and gave him a massage, while Gu Sheng reconsidered his hesitation about their relationship and kept his feelings unspoken.

Gu Sheng coordinated Golden Wind’s preparations for Sekiro and asked Yiyou to consider joining Xunteng in an alliance against Komeila. Meanwhile, Garden Warfare launched with little promotion, and Dong Gua’s friends discovered its absurd full-sensory gameplay as players transformed into plants and fired peas from their mouths.

• Gu Sheng reviewed Golden Wind’s plans for Sekiro, including its motion-capture collaboration with Kenji Kamiyama’s team and a possible alliance with Yiyou and Xunteng.
• Yan Sheng said he needed time to discuss the proposed alliance with Yiyou’s executives.
• Golden Wind released Garden Warfare with little promotion after less than two months of development, prompting players to question whether it was really a blockbuster.
• Dong Gua gathered Qiezi, Liu Di, and Xiao Hei to try Garden Warfare, whose cover showed plants and zombies preparing to fight.
• Liu Di discovered that he had transformed into a Peashooter and fired a pea from his mouth, leaving the livestream audience laughing and astonished.