CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: IN LOVE WITH A WOMAN WHO HAS A CHILD

Amber Yates first talked about the preset character of the game’s male lead.

"This male lead is designed to be the ’flower on the high peak’ during university days—a campus heartthrob, steady personality, has always liked the female lead but doesn’t express it. The voice needs to be a bit deeper."

"He needs to maintain a youthful vibe while also being mature, which is quite demanding for the voice actor."

The atmosphere in the conference room seemed less formal.

The game project proposal listed five male leads.

It’s a romance game targeting female gamers.

The conference room was full of female staff.

One of the marketing stunts for this game was that it was entirely made by a female team.

There’s still a big gap in the market for these demands.

The meeting was not tense, and Amber Yates relaxed and said, "Poppy, do you think there’s anything to adjust about this male lead?"

"Aside from needing to discuss the voice acting, I’m not a big fan of this male lead’s personality either."

Poppy Hale leaned back, looking at the enlarged introduction of the male lead on the screen.

"Secret admiration is beautiful, but if the male lead won’t express his feelings even after they start dating, it greatly diminishes his charm."

"The script and plot need adjustments."

Amber Yates nodded, "Exactly, why pretend when they’re already together? Saying he doesn’t like the female lead is pointless. I’ll have the writing team adjust it."

Poppy Hale clicked on an audio clip.

"Listen to this segment; it’s the most fitting voice for this male lead among the ones I’ve selected."

The deep, pleasing voice of the actor resonated in the conference room.

Compared to expectations, it fell a bit short.

But it was already the most suitable out of hundreds of voices.

After some discussion among the female employees, they decided to tentatively go with it.

Finally, they looked at Declan Hawthorne, "President Hawthorne, what do you think?"

"I don’t enjoy guiding experts in their field; you all can decide on this part."

Declan Hawthorne was notably accommodating in this area.

After the meeting, Declan Hawthorne pointed to some data at the back.

"Those responsible for this part, stay behind; everyone else, go back to work."

Amber Yates patted Poppy Hale on the shoulder.

Gesturing encouragement.

Everyone left, leaving only Poppy Hale and Declan Hawthorne in the conference room.

Poppy Hale was about to explain the data when Declan Hawthorne raised a finger, signaling her to be quiet.

A thick report of data.

He flipped through it, page after page, missing no data.

Poppy Hale had a habit.

Even though it was a printed report, she would subconsciously doodle on it during verification.

Declan Hawthorne turned to a page.

There was a stick figure girl with a big smiling face.

Few strokes, smooth lines, vivid and lively.

It resembled her from college.

Declan Hawthorne looked at it, a smile forming at the corner of his lips, pressing his fist against his mouth to cover it.

Poppy Hale noticed.

She stepped forward, trying to take the report away, "President Hawthorne, this report is temporarily printed, not the final result..."

"That’s fine. The game hasn’t launched yet; it’s all in the initial stages."

Declan Hawthorne had no intention of returning the report to her.

Poppy Hale had no choice but to stand on the side awkwardly.

Moments later, Declan Hawthorne closed the data report.

"I’ll take it back and review it carefully. You just said you think the male lead’s personality needs tweaking? Is that from personal preference or market research?"

While speaking, Declan Hawthorne tapped the table.

Indicating for her to sit and talk.

"It’s partly because I’ve played all the otome games on the market. Also, it’s personal preference; I don’t like this kind of male lead."

"Or rather, I really dislike such a personality."

"If you still don’t like each other after getting together, you can break up, no need to force it."

Her eyes were clear.

You could tell, there was no personal emotion, just her true thoughts.

Declan Hawthorne paused, "Is it really important? It’s just a sentence, after all."

"To you, maybe not. But for female gamers, it’s very important. If I were a player and met such a male lead, I’d definitely choose to give up pursuing him."

Poppy Hale twirled the pen in her hand.

"It’s a female-oriented game, not reality. Everything is based on the player’s wishes, President Hawthorne need not be concerned."

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first."

Declan Hawthorne nodded.

"Okay."

The conference room door opened and closed.

At the end of the long table, Declan Hawthorne’s hand reached for his pocket but remembered he was in the conference room, unsuitable for smoking, so he gave up.

After a while, the man pressed his fingers against his brow.

Allen Shaw texted him, inviting him out for drinks that night.

Declan Hawthorne picked up his phone, replied, and set it aside.

A moment later, he flipped through the script Poppy Hale submitted, pressed the microphone key on his phone, and sent a message over.

At her desk, Poppy Hale received a message from Declan Hawthorne, nearly dropping her phone.

It was a voice message.

Twenty-five seconds long.

After converting it to text, it resulted in just a strange sentence.

Poppy Hale glanced around and quietly put on her earphones.

She didn’t want others to know Declan Hawthorne messaged her during work.

In fact, no one else even knew Declan Hawthorne had added her on WeChat.

With earphones on, Poppy Hale played the voice message.

A long sigh entered her ears.

And a few fragmented, yet clear words, sounded like lines from the game’s male lead.

"There are no chance encounters, only deliberate schemes, only ulterior motives."

"You are the source of my desire."

Those were the only two lines in the audition script.

Having listened to over a hundred voice actor submissions, Poppy Hale felt nothing, even becoming numb to it.

But when she heard Declan Hawthorne say this line in the male lead’s tone, her ears turned hot.

Her body tingled, softening.

Did Declan Hawthorne record this breathy voice in the conference room?

Poppy Hale didn’t dare think further.

Yet she couldn’t help but play it several times.

I have to admit, Amber was right.

Declan Hawthorne’s voice is the most fitting.

Not to use it in the game felt like such a waste to Poppy Hale.

Declan Hawthorne sent another message.

"Does this fit your idea of the male lead?"

Poppy Hale was taken aback.

Her fingers paused, then she typed a reply.

"I prefer professional voice actors."

After replying, she set her phone aside to focus on work.

Poppy Hale raised a hand, touching her face.

It was burning hot.

-

In the evening, at Starlight Bar.

Bottles littered the private room floor.

A group of second and third-generation wealthy kids gathered, mixing their drinks.

One of them, face flushed from alcohol, looked at Mason Rivers beside him.

"Mason, I heard you fancy a woman with a kid?"

"Damn Mason, you’re playing quite the thrilling game?"

Mason Rivers instinctively wanted to rebuke.

But then he remembered the photo he sent to Mrs. Hawthorne, which indeed included Poppy Hale and Florence Lynch playing together.

No faces were shown.

But it was clear that she was a woman with a kid.

Mason Rivers took a sip of his drink, ice cubes clinking against the glass.

Making a crisp sound.

"Not exactly like, mainly because she hasn’t divorced yet."