Chapter 1 The Silent Expresser

In the evening, at Mingyun Villa branch of Moyu Internet Cafe.

Qiao Liang sipped his coffee, browsing online reviews of the Thriller Hostel.

His brow furrowed and relaxed by turns.

Currently, there weren't many online reviews of the Thriller Hostel. There was no comparison to the launch of a new Tenda game.

Among the reviews he could find, there were basically no overtly negative comments, but there weren't many praising comments either.

Qiao Liang could sense that something was off.

No one criticizing didn't necessarily mean it was good; it could also mean that people weren't interested enough and there wasn't enough buzz!

This meant that President Pei's painstaking efforts for the Thriller Hostel hadn't been understood by everyone.

If this situation continued, the result was obvious: the Thriller Hostel would gradually fall into disuse and never recover due to insufficient traffic and exposure!

Qiao Liang knew that he absolutely couldn't allow this to happen.

Explaining President Pei's profound intentions to everyone was the mission he bore!

His eyes quickly scanned the comments, locking onto some representative viewpoints.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with the haunted house itself. A lot of resources were invested, and the details inside are well done... but it's a haunted house, not a comprehensive amusement park. That's the biggest problem!"

"Who would specifically travel a long distance just to get scared, except for a few horror enthusiasts?"

"I think the pricing strategy of the Thriller Hostel is a big problem. 'Escape from Despair' is the most fun and suitable for multiple repeat experiences, but the ticket is only 10 yuan? Everyone is lining up at the entrance..."

"The location doesn't seem very good either. It would be better if it was located near an amusement park in Jingzhou, or at least in a convenient location in terms of transportation, right?"

"The 'Ultimate Terror' is a bit too expensive. Who wants to spend a hundred yuan to suffer?"

"I'm not optimistic about the future development of this place. Choosing to do a haunted house is already niche, and the location is remote and the pricing is strange. If it weren't for Tenda's strong promotion, I'm afraid it wouldn't be known at all. But now, even with Tenda's promotion, it's just a waste of resources, and it will probably lose its shirt soon..."

There were many similar comments. Most people didn't have any opinions on the Thriller Hostel itself. As a haunted house, it was indeed one of the best in the country, but its subsequent appeal was obviously insufficient.

Most people concluded that if you were a local in Jingzhou and went with friends, it was quite worth it, but if you were from out of town, not a horror enthusiast, and traveled a long distance just to be scared, it was obviously not worth it.

The most discussed issues were mainly focused on the Thriller Hostel's positioning and pricing, believing that these would be key factors leading to the project's subsequent weakness.

As for who should be blamed for this, people had different opinions.

Some said that President Pei would definitely not make such a low-level mistake, and the project负责人 (fùzé rén, person in charge) would definitely take the blame;

Others said that such a big thing as the fee strategy must have been reported to President Pei, and President Pei couldn't possibly not know. They also said not to deify President Pei, that President Pei was also an ordinary person and would make mistakes.

In short, the Thriller Hostel's current situation was not good.

Although some up-and-comers on the Aili Island website had already introduced their experiences of playing in the Thriller Hostel, the content was very comprehensive, but all of them had mediocre responses, not viral videos, and had not formed a good dissemination effect.

Qiao Liang couldn't help but feel injustice for President Pei, especially with one of the most excessive comments: "I think the project负责人 (fùzé rén, person in charge) must have a broken brain, thinking they have too much money and want to burn some."

"Misreading, this is an absolute misreading!"

"Sure enough, being misinterpreted is the fate of the expresser. To say that President Pei has a broken brain? That he thinks he has too much money? What nonsense!"

"President Pei is a commercial genius!"

"Most people don't even understand President Pei's positioning and special pricing strategy for the Thriller Hostel?"

"It seems that I, Qiao Laoshi, still have to restore the truth of the matter for everyone!"

Qiao Liang switched web pages and re-watched the video he had already made.

Thanks to the close cooperation of the staff of the Thriller Hostel, Shang Yang Games, and others, the new episode of the video was finally completed.

In the past few days, Qiao Liang hadn't contacted President Pei again, but instead devoted himself to the production of the video.

Collecting materials online;

Discussing the details of the Thriller Hostel's construction with Chen Kangtuo and others;

Repeatedly pondering President Pei's profound intentions.

In fact, this video had already finished rendering yesterday, but Qiao Liang himself wasn't 100% satisfied, so he didn't send it out immediately.

As for where the dissatisfaction lay?

This was exactly what confused Qiao Liang the most.

He carefully read his script many times and repeatedly watched the finished video. The content seemed to be all right, but he just felt that something was missing.

There was no "稳了 (wěn le, feeling of confidence)" feeling after making the "Deified Work" series of videos. Instead, he felt a little uneasy.

He felt that this episode of the video lacked some appeal and didn't reach the perfect level in his mind. It even felt a bit like "尬吹 (gà chuī, forced flattery)" after watching it too much.

But the problem was, even after reflecting on it countless times, Qiao Liang couldn't grasp what was missing, which made him very conflicted.

It was like finishing a test paper and repeatedly checking it to meet the 100-point standard, without finding any mistakes, but still feeling like a key step was missing in a certain question.

This feeling was really uncomfortable.

However, time waits for no one.

Qiao Liang felt that he had to release this video to correct everyone's misconceptions and justify the Thriller Hostel. Moreover, continuing to struggle like this might not lead to good results.

Thinking of this, Qiao Liang made up his mind and, before preparing to publish, finally confirmed the title of the video.

《沉默的表达者第一期：治愈心灵的惊悸旅舍！》(Chenmo de Biaoda zhe Di Yi Qi: Zhiyu Xinling de Jingji Lushe! – The First Episode of the Silent Expresser: The Thriller Hostel That Heals the Soul!)

The series' main title was changed from "The Lonely Expresser" to "The Silent Expresser."

This change was mainly based on two reasons:

First, Qiao Liang felt that President Pei wasn't actually lonely. Although he wasn't understood by the general public, he, Boss Ruan, Wu Bin, and the employees of Tenda all understood President Pei!

With so many people understanding President Pei, sharing his heart with him at all times, how could you say that President Pei was lonely? It was a bit pretentious.

Secondly, Qiao Liang felt that "silent" could better express President Pei's attitude than "lonely."

President Pei was actually doing things silently, deliberately not explaining to everyone, but in the end, his true intentions would always be understood by everyone.

Therefore, "silent" was more appropriate, and the combination of the two seemingly contradictory words, "silent" and "expresser," would be more philosophical.

Finally, Qiao Liang sent the video address to Ye Zhizhou, the person in charge of Shang Yang Games.

...

In the evening, Pei Qian comfortably nestled on the sofa, playing with his phone.

Suddenly, he accidentally lost his grip, and the phone fell directly on his face.

"Damn it!"

Pei Qian was stunned by the impact, rubbing his reddened forehead, and couldn't help but sigh.

This damn phone is too heavy! It's hard to hold, and it hurts when it hits someone!

Who makes a phone so heavy?

Oh, it seems it was me.

Never mind then.

Pei Qian changed to a comfortable position, preparing to cast the phone screen onto the large TV and comfortably binge-watch anime and go to sleep.

However, as soon as he opened the Aili Island App, he saw a push notification.

An up-and-comer he followed had updated!

Pei Qian couldn't help but feel a shiver, and a bad premonition surged into his heart.

Taking a closer look, it was indeed Qiao Laoshi!

"Games are one thing, but you're not even letting me off the hook for making a haunted house?"

Pei Qian was shocked. He originally thought that Qiao Liang would have to return to the imperial capital to make the video, which would take at least a week, right?

But he had already finished everything in four days!

Are you rushing to be reborn?

Pei Qian didn't want to open the video, but he had no choice.

"Let's see, Qiao Laoshi is a gaming up-and-comer. He shouldn't be able to hype up a haunted house very professionally. Maybe the impact won't be very big?"

...

Unlike previous videos, this time Qiao Laoshi appeared in person.

The background seemed to be the coffee area of ​​a Moyu Internet Cafe. It was recorded in the morning, the light was very good, and there weren't many customers.

Pei Qian instantly realized that Qiao Liang hadn't left at all. He had stayed in Jingzhou and edited this video in the Moyu Internet Cafe!

Qiao Liang took a sip of coffee and began to tell his fans about the origin of this series of videos.

"Dear viewers and fathers, long time no see! I'm still your 'game godfather' Qiao Laoshi!"

"I know that many fans are seeing my appearance in the video for the first time. Don't find it strange. Sometimes handsome and talented can coexist. Students who are conquered by my looks can type 'handsome' in the comments."

"Next, let's get down to business. Many students may ask, ah, Qiao Laoshi, what does the title of this series of videos mean? Why is it so poetic? Are you going to do a literary program?"

"Of course not! The 'expresser' here is actually a broad concept. Expression doesn't necessarily have to be through speaking or writing. It can also be through doing things."

"Every thing we do is actually expressing something, maybe some of our ideas, maybe some of our demands."

"The protagonist of this series of videos is the same person as the protagonist of 'Deified Work'."

"He is a silent expresser and a lonely expresser. His thoughts are always misunderstood, and his intentions are always misinterpreted. But even so, he still always sticks to himself and has never compromised with this world!"

"Next, let me uncover the mystery of this maverick theme park, explore those seemingly unreasonable places, and make my own unique 'Qiao-style interpretation'!"

...

Seeing this, Pei Qian felt that his little heart couldn't take it anymore.

He had to admit that Qiao Laoshi said one thing too correctly.

Indeed, my thoughts are often misunderstood, my intentions are always misinterpreted, and I always stick to myself and have never compromised with this world.

However, it's you guys who have been misinterpreting me all along!

If you guys weren't so anxious to explain my "true intentions," would I have fallen into such a state?

And this Qiao Laoshi, it's one thing to interpret my games and make them a big hit, but now you're not even letting me off the hook for secretly making a haunted house?

Are you even human?

Do you have to be so merciless?

Pei Qian felt angry and cold. The whole world was not going to be okay!

However, he quickly adjusted his mentality. After all, this kind of thing had happened many times.

Pei Qian continued watching.

...

The following content of the video mainly took place in the Thriller Hostel and Moyu Internet Cafe, but the connection between the pictures and the content wasn't strong. It didn't film the scenes inside the three projects, probably to avoid spoilers.

The focus of the video was still on the "interpretation" part.

Qiao Liang's unique voice was very recognizable, unhurried, and娓娓道来 (wěiwěidàolái, narrating in a patient and detailed way).

"Currently, everyone has roughly the following three doubts about the Thriller Hostel."

"First, it's just a haunted house. Although it's fun, it's not worth making a special trip."

"Second, it's very scary and only suitable for experienced horror enthusiasts to play."

"Third, its pricing has a big problem, which will directly restrict its future development, and the prospects are worrying."

"So, many people think it's well done, but it's only suitable for haunted house enthusiasts and not suitable for ordinary people."

"And my conclusion is exactly the opposite. The target group of the Thriller Hostel is precisely every ordinary person!"

...

I recommend a public account "小说拾遗" (Xiaoshuo Shiyi, Tales of Novels), which regularly recommends interesting online novels. By the way, I also recommend my own public account "Qing Shan Qu Zui", which has good content every day!