Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

(TL: Spoilers for Undertale this chapter and probably the next one too)

To unlock the fervent spending potential of domestic anime-style game fans, Yuanxi Interactive Entertainment's Sakura Games publishing plan is gradually rolling out. This year, their biggest goal is the simultaneous global launch of a new anime-style mobile game in collaboration with Type-Moon. At present, they have already secured the localization partnership agreement.

This yet-to-be-crowned king of anime games is still in the swaddling clothes of its closed beta. Aside from Mei Fang, no one knows what kind of storm this title will unleash upon the domestic market in the future.

At the same time, Yuanxi Interactive Entertainment's Series A funding round is nearing its conclusion.

Led by international investment giants Pengcheng Ventures and Red Cedar Capital, the round secured a total capital injection of approximately 300 million yuan. In exchange, Mei Fang relinquished only 5% of the company's shares.

For most startups, 300 million would be an astronomical sum, but for a unicorn like Yuanxi Interactive Entertainment, it isn't particularly high.

Due to Mei Fang's personal insistence, he was unwilling to cede too much equity. After all, an IPO was still a long way off, and excessive dilution at this stage could destabilize the company's decision-making.

His decision to let Pengcheng Ventures take the lead in the funding round was also deliberate—to strengthen ties with Pengcheng's local ecosystem, solidify his standing in the city, and ensure his new company could firmly establish its roots.

Pengcheng Ventures is the strongest domestic venture capital firm, with deep, intertwined connections to numerous state-owned enterprises in Pengcheng. As a stakeholder, their involvement would help Yuanxi Interactive Entertainment grow even further.

When Xia Yuan returned home after her afternoon classes, she found Mei Fang tinkering with a pixel-art game on his computer. Curious, she set down her bag and leaned in.

"Ah Fang… what are you playing? The art style's so old-school—are you reliving your childhood?"

"This isn't exactly childhood material… and didn't we playBubble Bobbletogether as kids? When did you ever play pixel games like this?"

"Oh right, I think I played with Xiao Ya—that one where two people shoot guns and fight aliens…"

"That'sContra."

"Yeah, yeah!Contra! This game kinda looks like that."

"It's the adventure puzzle game I showed you guys before, remember?"

"Now that you mention it, it does seem familiar… but I didn't pay much attention. Wasn't Youxi the one playing it with you?"

"She only tested the gameplay mechanics back then. You really didn't look at it at all, huh?"

Mei Fang pinched Xia Yuan's cheek. Puffing up her face, she plopped down in front of him with an indignant huff.

"Games like this are just walking around and talking, right? How hard can the gameplay be?"

"There's some bullet-hell dodging involved… Anyway, it's fully localized now. Give it a try—I'll watch you play."

"It doesn't look like a big game. How long's the playtime?"

"For an average player, about six hours."

"That's not bad!"

Xia Yuan turned to Mei Fang with a mischievous grin. "If I can finish this game, do I get a reward?"

"Finish it?"

Mei Fang pondered Xia Yuan's skill level.

"If you can beat it within a week, I'll go on a date with you. Just the two of us."

"Pfft, that's not a reward!"

Xia Yuan pinched his cheeks in mock disdain, then thought for a moment. "If I finish it this week, you have to call me 'Mommy Yuanyuan' for the entire next week."

"So… is this 'Mommy Yuanyuan' thing the same as guys who say 'call me Daddy' when they win a game?"

"What doyouthink, naughty boy—?"

Xia Yuan tweaked his nose and was about to snuggle closer when Lin Youxi walked over, smoothing her hair.

"What kind of mother-son game are you two playing? Count me in."

"W-what mother-son game?! We're playing that pixel game from before!"

"Oh, the localization's done?"

"Yep."

Mei Fang massaged Xia Yuan's shoulders and smiled at Lin Youxi. "Want to… give it a try too?"

"Seems like you really do want to be a baby."

Lin Youxi chuckled as she settled in front of her computer. "Send me a copy."

"It's already officially released. Buy it on TabTab Desktop."

"…We have topayfor our own company's game?"

"Of course. Otherwise, how would we maintain fairness and integrity?"

Mei Fang grinned. "It's 24 yuan. Thanks for your patronage."

"…"

Lin Youxi grabbed Mei Fang's phone, scanned the QR code, and deftly entered his payment password.

"Give it here, Youxi! I want to buy it too!"

Xia Yuan clamored to scan and purchase the game as well. "Alright, time for a speedrun… Oh, Ah Fang, anything I should know before starting?"

Mei Fang thought for a moment, then smiled. "There's a lot, but… just follow your heart."

"You're making that face again! Is this a horror game or something?!"

[Long, long ago, two races ruled over Earth: HUMANS and MONSTERS.]

[One day, war broke out between the two races.]

[The monsters were defeated and sealed underground by a magical barrier.]

Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi began their playthroughs, with Mei Fang sitting between them, alternating between massaging Xia Yuan's back and kneading Lin Youxi's shoulders.

Nothing brought him more joy than watching his beloved girls play his favoritehealinggame!

"The opening seems pretty normal, but this kid looks… oddly unsettling."

Lin Youxi remained expressionless.

"This goat mom is so cute! Let me see…"

"She's definitely evil. The atmosphere's setting it up."

Lin Youxi remarked, "Don't you think the background music's kinda eerie?"

"Huh? I think… it's fine?"

"Heh, hehe… I'm gonna keep flirting with her, keep calling her 'Mom.' Ah Fang's into this kinda roleplay, right?"

"Uh, sure…"

Mei Fang noticed Xia Yuan was engrossed in charming Toriel, while Lin Youxi was speedrunning—she'd already solved all of Chapter 1's puzzles and was back in front of the goat mom.

"Ah Fang."

Lin Youxi turned to him. "What's the difference between 'Act' and 'Fight'?"

Oh, the difference is HUGE!

"They're both ways to interact. Either can be used to 'defeat' enemies."

"But what do these 'Mercy' options do?"

"Depends on how you perceive the character."

"Can I avoid killing them?"

Xia Yuan nodded. "The monsters all seem so cute—none of them look like bad guys."

"Pretty sure they're faking it. Anyone who's rude to me is getting killed."

"Wait, do I have to kill the goat mom in the end? Is she actually evil?"

Lin Youxi nudged Xia Yuan away. "No spoilers. Play your own game."

Then she initiated the battle with Toriel, though Xia Yuan couldn't resist peeking.

"These dodges… are way too hard."

Mei Fang watched as Lin Youxi frantically maneuvered to avoid Toriel's attacks.

"You don't have to try so hard, Youxi."

"Are you trying to spoil it for me?"

Lin Youxi hesitated before selecting her next move. "This feels impossible to dodge. Bad design. Unless… it's a scripted loss? A scripted loss?"

She continued maneuvering.

"…Why'd her attack pattern change?"

Noticing the bullets actively veering away from her—even retreating when she moved closer—Lin Youxi mused, "Interesting… is she adjusting because I'm about to die?"

"So? Still gonna fight her?"

Lin Youxi shook her head. "I think I get it now…"

She had initially struck Toriel a few times but switched to sparing her after realizing something was off.

"But selecting 'Mercy' doesn't seem to do anything."

"It does." Lin Youxi pointed out to Xia Yuan. "Look, Toriel's dialogue changes every time."

"Oh, you're right! Maybe we really can make peace? If Ihaveto kill Toriel, I'm quitting. What kinda trash game did you pick, Ah Fang?!"

When Lin Youxi finally spared Toriel into reconciliation, Xia Yuan cheered.

"YES! Such a sweet character—Iknewshe was good! See, Youxi? Told you—"

"Wasn't that obvious at all…"

Lin Youxi frowned. "If she hadn't started holding back to avoid hurting me, I wouldn't have noticed."

"She was already showering you with love earlier!"

"Could've been a trick…"

"Ugh, whatever! I'm gonna go finish my playthrough."

Having seen Lin Youxi's route, Xia Yuan breezed through to Toriel.

She didn't attack even once.

Since she already knew the story beats, her progress was swift.

[Act – Mercy]

[Act – Mercy]

Just as Toriel began to relax at the protagonist's kindness, Xia Yuan also let her guard down—and accidentally selected "Fight."

"Oops, wrong button… but one little hit probably won't hurt, right—?"

SLASH!

Xia Yuan's attack dealt22,043 damage.

"…Huh?"

(To be continued—next chapter incoming!)