The next morning, Ethan Reed arrived at the company earlier than usual, but he did not head straight to work. Across Northstar Games, many of the core staff had also paused their normal duties. Today was not a day for ordinary business. It was a day the entire company had been waiting for.
From the team leaders upward, employees from the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth floors of the Science and Technology Building were preparing to leave together. That old office building had once been just another ordinary commercial property in Lumen City, but after Northstar Games rose to fame, it became something close to holy ground in the local game industry. Today, however, everyone was leaving that familiar place behind for something new.
By nine in the morning, a line of cars had already gathered near the building. Company executives, city officials, and invited guests were all preparing to travel to the same destination. Ethan found one detail especially funny. Vivian Frost's tiny little car was parked among them, looking almost absurd beside the larger vehicles. Even funnier, it sat close to the front of the line because Vivian herself was one of the main people being escorted.
For years, Vivian had stubbornly kept using that same small, round car.
To be honest, it no longer matched her current identity at all. With her wealth and status, most people would expect her to have a private chauffeur in a black suit, white gloves, and a polished luxury car with a shining hood ornament. But Vivian simply did not care. In her eyes, a car was just something that got you from one place to another.
Would driving a smaller car change the destination? Of course not.
In fact, when she and Ethan got up early and went out for breakfast, Vivian often did not even bother driving. She thought parking was too annoying, and taking a taxi felt easier. Because of that habit, the city leaders had slowly formed a very flattering impression of her. To them, Vivian Frost was a powerful and practical businesswoman, low-key, efficient, and completely free of vanity. Only Ethan knew the truth.
She was not trying to act humble.
She was just lazy.
Behind her were the cars of Northstar's senior staff. Daniel's black Audi stood out immediately. Ethan did not know much about cars, but even he had to admit it looked sleek and expensive. For a brief moment he considered buying one himself. He had earned more than enough money by now, and buying a decent car would hardly count as reckless spending.
Then he remembered he would need to learn driving rules properly and get a license.
His motivation vanished at once.
A mature boss, he decided, should ride in the car of a loyal employee.
So he calmly got into Rachel Quinn's car without any guilt.
At exactly ten in the morning, the convoy arrived in front of a brand-new skyscraper in Lumen City. The Northstar Building had officially been completed.
With the full cooperation of the city government, every step of the process had moved forward without trouble. The land, the construction, the permits, the decoration, the approvals—everything had been handled so smoothly that it almost felt unreal. In the early days, Vivian had taken Ethan there a few times to watch the building rise. After that, the city practically handled the entire project as if it belonged to them.
The truth was simple. The leaders of Lumen City desperately wanted Northstar Games to stay in Lumen City forever.
Only a few days ago, when they heard that Northstar was opening a branch in a first-tier city, several officials had nearly panicked. Compared to those larger cities, Lumen City had no real advantage in competition, resources, or industry influence. If the branch grew stronger and stronger, what if one day it turned into the new headquarters? What if the company slowly moved away?
That possibility made the city leadership nervous.
Northstar had brought something precious to Lumen City. The city had once been known mainly for tourism and traditional industry. But in the past two years, thanks to Northstar's success, internet-related businesses had started appearing everywhere. Job seekers from outside the city had begun moving in. The economic image of the city was changing. If Northstar ever left, the local government would lose one of its greatest success stories.
That was why so many leaders personally came to the completion ceremony.
Ethan walked beside Vivian as they greeted the officials. Since the ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for 10:58 in the morning for good luck, they spent the time before it touring the building with the guests.
One of the older leaders smiled warmly as he held Ethan's hand.
"Ethan, this new Northstar building is truly impressive. In all of Lumen City, it is the most eye-catching one. If your company ever needs anything in the future, speak freely. We strongly support emerging industries. Our city may not have everything, but we do have enthusiasm."
Ethan kept a polite smile on his face.
Emerging industry?
In his mind, that phrase sounded more suited to electric vehicles or futuristic energy projects. But then again, in Lumen City, maybe gaming really did count as something new.
He answered smoothly, "Thank you, leaders. We won't be shy if we need support. Northstar has only reached this point because of your help and trust."
He had practiced lines like that over the past two nights by watching videos and reading notes at home, and now they came out naturally enough.
The building itself was indeed magnificent. From the outside, it was dark and polished, almost black under the midday sun, with a metallic shine that gave it a sharp and modern look. It was also the tallest structure in the surrounding commercial district. Thanks to the city's backing, the location was excellent.
Compared to this place, the old Science and Technology Building looked far less impressive.
Before Northstar rose to fame, that building had struggled for tenants. Many floors stayed empty for years. Only after Northstar became successful did the building suddenly turn into a popular address. Small studios from other places came hoping to connect with the company. Some even tried to meet Vivian directly and offer her investment money.
After the tour, the group returned outside.
Because the city officials were present and Northstar's reputation was already high, many local media outlets had gathered there. Some were doing live streams. Others were filming reports. At 10:58, Ethan and Vivian stood at the center, with two city leaders beside them. Daniel and the other core staff stood nearby. Everyone wore bright smiles as cameras flashed in front of them.
Then, with scissors in hand, they cut the ribbon and officially opened the Northstar Building.
After answering a few quick questions from the media and seeing off the guests, the Northstar team finally stood together in peace, looking up at the tower that now belonged to them.
For a long moment, nobody said anything.
Vivian, who was usually lively and impossible to keep quiet, was trying hard to appear calm. But her eyes were full of light. Daniel, Luo Yang, Evan Cross, and the others who had been there from the early days all looked deeply moved.
This building was not just expensive.
It was proof.
Proof that they had survived. Proof that they had won. Proof that in a hostile domestic market, where single-player games were once treated like charity projects, they had built something huge with their own hands.
Even Ethan felt a quiet shock in his chest.
Vivian was the first to speak. "Ethan, do you think time moves fast or slow?"
"Fast," Ethan answered. "In the blink of an eye, we've known each other for three years."
Vivian let out a small breath. "It feels fast. But it also feels strange. Three years passed, and somehow Northstar went from a rented office to… this."
Ethan looked at her and smiled. "Boss, don't say you did nothing. You gave out plenty of bonuses."
Vivian turned sharply and glared at him. "Is that the point?!"
Her anger made the others laugh, but beneath it all, the emotion remained.
Three years ago, she had been forced to go home and take over a family business after her old company failed. Ethan had been just another confused programmer whose company collapsed and left him jobless. Yet now, Vivian was a rising business leader, and Ethan had become a respected genius planner in the game industry.
The speed of it all was almost frightening.
Vivian had been afraid, deep down, that maybe everything was a dream.
But Ethan's joke pulled her back to reality. The sting in her foot after she stomped at him felt very real.
So yes, this was real.
Northstar Games had become a giant.
No one entering this commercial district could miss the grand tower before them. And no one in the gaming industry could continue treating Northstar as some lucky little studio that got rich by accident.
Their rise had been unusual. While the domestic market chased online games, Northstar started with single-player titles and quietly grew without drawing too much hostility. Other companies looked down on single-player games because players were used to piracy and rarely paid. To them, making such games was nearly the same as charity.
That arrogance gave Northstar room to grow.
Step by step, Northstar trained players to value legitimate purchases. They built trust by releasing games that were fun, affordable, and worth the money. By the time competitors noticed the opportunity, it was already too late. Players had been shaped by Northstar's standards.
Then, just when everyone thought Northstar would rule only the single-player market, the company suddenly turned and entered online gaming as well, carrying a huge loyal audience with it.
Of course the giants tried to react. Acquisition offers came. When that failed, imitation followed.
That was the old tactic.
But Northstar was not afraid.
Those methods that had crushed smaller studios again and again simply did not work here.
Ethan finally said quietly, "I know what you mean now. Even though our accounts keep growing and more players keep joining us, this industry always feels unstable. Like a bubble that could burst any day. But looking at this building… it feels different. It feels solid."
Daniel nodded at once. "Chief, I feel the same."
Evan also joined in. "No matter how many floors we rented before, they were still borrowed. But this… this feels like it's ours."
Ethan turned and looked at him with disbelief.
"Ours?" he said silently with his eyes.
Luo Yang understood immediately and smacked Evan with words before Ethan could. "Don't get carried away. What do you mean ours?"
Evan lifted his chin proudly. "The company is my home. I love my home."
Vivian burst out laughing.
Then she clapped once and said, "Alright. Enough standing around. Let's finish the remaining paperwork and preparations. We'll do our best to move into the new office this week."
At once, the whole group cheered.
For all their achievements, most of them were still young. Many had only been out of school a few years. They had ambition, talent, and drive, but they also still carried a bright sense of excitement that the older corporate world often crushed.
Back at the office, Vivian immediately told HR to begin preparing for expansion.
Such a massive building could not sit half-empty.
Northstar would need many more people. Daniel could not keep finishing one project after another only for the same few people to handle everything. Luo Yang and Evan, who had once lived by technical skills, were slowly becoming management professionals. If Luo Yang got thrown into HR at this point, he might actually do well there.
So the next large hiring wave was already on the horizon.
That same afternoon, news of Northstar's relocation spread online. Once netizens saw photos of the building, many fans became excited.
People praised the company, said the tower looked incredible, and joked about teaming up in games around Lumen City. Some asked when the next title would be released. The discussion was not as explosive as the launch of a new game, but it still brought plenty of attention.
And attention always created jealousy.
At a dinner gathering attended by several major producers, Northstar became a major topic again. Some complained that the company was growing too fast. Some wondered why the gaming giants had still failed to suppress it. Others pointed out that acquisition had failed because Northstar was not short on money. Between hit games, adaptations, and related projects, the company was earning more than enough on its own.
One producer in particular, Chang Zhengming, sat there listening with a frown.
The more he studied Northstar, the less he understood it.
Its rise did not follow the usual path. A strange little game had made people notice them. Then came the card game. Then Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen, whose music pulled attention into the single-player market. Then animation. Then more breakout projects.
Was it really possible, he wondered, that Vivian Frost—the boss many dismissed as simple, lucky, or foolish-looking—was actually some hidden operational genius?
At that exact moment, in her little office, Vivian suddenly scratched at her arm and twisted awkwardly as if her back itched.
Ethan looked over just in time to see her turning in place, making a ridiculous face while trying to reach the spot.
She was beautiful, yes.
But when a beautiful woman twisted around with a dramatic grimace trying to scratch her own back, all elegance disappeared immediately.
Ethan watched her for a second and thought, with complete sincerity:
Yeah.
Maybe she really did look a little silly sometimes.
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