Watching Designers Lose It Is the Best!

"You're the finest game designer I've ever met." The blonde host deliberately took a step closer to Ethan Vale.

At this distance, Ethan Vale could easily smell the fresh floral scent of her perfume, tinged with the crisp chill of a morning forest breeze.

The event was being livestreamed in real time.

On camera, Ethan Vale politely took half a step back in response to the host's approach.

He looked earnestly into the camera. Beside him, the exotic young woman holding the trophy gazed at him with sparkling eyes filled with radiant color.

"Thank you. Thank you all for your support over the years. I hope that in the days ahead, Sprout Studio can continue bringing you works you enjoy." Standing at the center of the stage, Ethan Vale spoke with sincerity and conviction.

"When you said you hoped to bring everyone works they enjoyed in the days ahead, I don't know why, but it felt like you were making an oath." The host shook her head, wanting to drive that thought from her mind.

Yet strangely, the more she tried to shake it off, the deeper that sense of an oath took root in her mind.

"May I ask you a question?" At that moment, the host desperately wanted to know what drove him to devote himself to making every game well.

"Of course."

"I want to know what drives you to create one outstanding game after another." The young woman looked expectantly into his eyes. She wanted to know his ideals and ambitions, to hear his understanding of games from his own lips, to learn about the world in his heart.

"My original reason for making games was very simple."

"If possible, I wanted to make a game that earned the highest praise a player could give a game: 'Very Difficult.'" Ethan Vale looked into the camera. "That is my only wish."

"Huh?" The young host felt as if her brain had crashed. Was his original dream of making games really that simple?

Ethan Vale had won many awards. They could not possibly have him come onstage to give an acceptance speech every single time he won one, but they could not cut out his speaking time because of that either.

So now, they could only combine all his speech time together, ask about things players cared about, and get to know this newly risen legendary designer.

The host listened carefully to the organizer's last-minute changes through her earpiece, then looked toward the multimedia screen behind her.

"There is still plenty of time. If possible, we would like to make your wish come true right here on the spot.

"I believe many players have yet to leave their own ratings. If possible, I hope everyone watching the livestream can help make his wish come true." As soon as she finished speaking, rating statistics for several games appeared on the big screen.

"Based on the earlier poll, you are the guest most beloved by players. I'm sure everyone will be more than happy to help you fulfill your wish."

"Players, are you ready?! Starting now, open your game review pages! We'll count down from ten, and then give the answer in your hearts! Help our designer fulfill his wish!" The blonde woman spoke passionately, raising both hands high as she called on everyone to begin rating the games together.

"Designer, please turn away from the screen first. If possible, I'd like to give you a surprise!" She smiled brightly at Ethan Vale. This was exactly what the organizers had just told her through her earpiece.

Ethan Vale glanced at the screen, which had not started yet, and excitedly turned his back to it.

From beginning to end, he had only received one "Super Difficult" rating.

He had gotten it through This War of Mine, after making a very cute girl lose it.

He had never expected players to truly live by that saying: even when the duck was boiled to mush, its mouth would still refuse to soften.

Now that the TGA organizers were calling on players to rate his games and fulfill his dream, Ethan Vale was so excited that his body trembled.

"Ten! Nine! Eight! ..."

As the host counted down behind him, Ethan Vale held his breath.

There were so many players around the world. It seemed that today, his system would be able to grant him several rewards at once.

"Start!" The host's excited voice rang out, and Ethan Vale could not help clenching his fists.

"Let's see how many people can help our designer achieve his dream today! Give him the ultimate rating: 'Very Difficult'!"

Finally...

Ethan Vale let out a breath. He could finally complete the mission.

Even if everyone refused to give him face, they could not possibly refuse to give the TGA organizers face, could they?

Ethan Vale smiled, only to notice that the laughter at the venue gradually faded away.

Even the host's voice behind him grew quieter and quieter...

"It seems that although everyone speaks different languages and communication is inconvenient, words aren't needed for unity on this matter." Watching the livestream, Yinzi instantly burst out laughing.

Ethan Vale had turned away, but everyone else could see the screen behind him.

The number of votes for "Very Easy" shot skyward, while the other two options did not even get a share.

The host's smile had frozen. She quietly spoke into her earpiece, asking the backstage organizers what was happening.

The organizers backstage were embarrassed as well. They knew that all the ratings this designer had received were "Very Easy," but they had assumed only some of the players were being stubborn.

Especially after the designer openly stated his wish, surely everyone would help him fulfill it, right?

Yet they had never expected that even after a livestream appeal calling on players to fulfill his wish, not a single person would be willing to give that rating.

"How about we cast one ourselves?" The organizers backstage were pacing anxiously.

"Wouldn't it be even more awkward if there were only a few votes?"

"Quick, check what the players are saying. We'll play their comments along with the results later and let him see what the players think..." The organizers wiped the sweat from their foreheads.

They did not dare imagine what expression Ethan Vale would have when he turned around and saw the result.

Ethan Vale had already sensed the silence in the venue. A bad feeling suddenly rose in his heart. Just as he was thinking about it, the blonde host walked over to him and gave him an awkward smile.

"Ahem, the players' ratings are in."

"Before we look at the results, let's take a look at the players' comments first!" She tried her best to ease the atmosphere as Ethan Vale turned around.

Ethan Vale turned with her and looked at the large screen behind them. A player comment popped up on the dark screen.

'Why should we reward him?'

'Tell Black Star that everything else is negotiable. This one thing, no.'

'Watching designers lose it is the best!'

'As for this matter, I only have one stance: very easy!'

Comment after comment played across the screen, and Ethan Vale froze.

To preserve the surprise, he had not checked the increase in "Super Difficult" ratings in his system.

At that moment, he really wanted to say just one word.

Fuck!