The countdown to the National College Entrance Examination had turned every corridor of Grade 12-A into a battleground of hope and anxiety. With just three weeks remaining, the pressure was nearly tangible. Amid this storm of expectations, Su Jie and Tang Rui had become not only study partners but collaborators in their shared quest for a better future.
For the past few days, Su Jie had poured every spare moment into perfecting Fragments of Regret. By now, the game was more than a side project—it was a testament to his determination. Tang Rui, with her keen eye for design and subtle artistry, had transformed its interface. Together, they revamped the user experience to a clean, modern flat design. Tang Rui reworked the layouts, polished the color schemes, and ensured that every button, every menu, and every icon was intuitive and engaging. Her sketches of interactive elements and responsive grids were integrated seamlessly into the game, lending it a professional sheen that belied its humble beginnings.
Late afternoon, as the school bell signaled the end of another grueling day, Su Ning and Tang Rui retreated to the computer lab. The clatter of keyboards and the low hum of activity provided the perfect backdrop for their final push. They worked methodically, debugging last-minute errors, streamlining level transitions, and testing user flows until the game's UI felt as smooth as silk.
"I think we're ready," Tang Rui said, her voice soft but determined, as she reviewed the final build on a test machine. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she navigated through the menus and played a snippet of the opening sequence.
Su Ning nodded, adrenaline mixing with relief. "Let's release it tonight."
That night, under the dim glow of his second-hand laptop in the quiet of his room, Su Ning hit the "publish" button on the indie platform where he'd been beta testing Fragments of Regret. Within minutes, the game went live—a culmination of every late night, every moment of doubt, and every encouraging word from Tang Rui.
For the first three days, the response was electric. Students across the school and online praised the game's retro aesthetic, its unique "soul fragment" mechanic, and the fresh narrative that intertwined emotion with challenge. Reviews poured in:
"A genuine, heartfelt RPG that makes you feel every regret.""Who knew a high schooler could design such an immersive experience?""Flawless UI and intuitive design—this game speaks to the soul."
Su Ning's heart soared with every positive comment, every share on social media. Tang Rui smiled through her texts, praising the work and even suggesting minor tweaks for a future update. It was a moment of triumph—a clear signal that his passion was resonating with others.
But then, the tides turned.
Late on the third day after release, as Su Jie prepared for another study session in the quiet corner of the library, his phone erupted with notifications. An urgent post on a popular gaming forum blared in bold letters:
"Plagiarism Alert: 'Fragments of Regret' is stolen work? See the earlier version uploaded by DarkByte!"
A chill ran down Su Jie's spine. He clicked on the link and his blood ran cold. There, on another indie development platform, was a version of his game—down to identical pixel art, matching dialogue lines, even the same "soul fragment" mechanic. The duplicate had been uploaded under a pseudonym by none other than the bully's cousin, known only as DarkByte.
Online comments were scathing:
"This must be copied! How can a high school kid code something that polished?""He's nothing but a fraud if he stole it.""DarkByte is the real talent here, not Su Jie."
Within the school, rumors exploded. Classmates who once admired his work now sneered openly. Chen Hao and his cronies smugly whispered accusations in the hallways, and even a few teachers exchanged troubled glances. The game that had become Su Jie's beacon was now mired in controversy.
In a hastily arranged meeting after class, Ms. Lin called him aside. "Su Jie, there's a serious allegation against your project," she said, concern in her eyes. "I want you to explain yourself before these rumors spread any further."
Su Ning's chest tightened, but he maintained his composure. "Ms. Lin, I built this game from scratch. I can show you all my revision logs, my source files—everything. Someone's stolen my work."
Her expression softened, though the worry remained. "I believe you, but the administration demands proof. I suggest you work with Mr. Li and Tang Rui to consolidate your case."
Later that day in the computer lab, Mr. Li, the soft-spoken computer science teacher who had been quietly mentoring Su Ning, stepped forward. "Let's get to the bottom of this," he said calmly. "Show me your master code, your change logs. We'll compare them against the reported version."
As they pored over the files together, Tang Rui joined via video call from her home. "I've been keeping backups," she said confidently. "Every version is timestamped. There's no way someone could replicate it perfectly overnight."
Mr. Li nodded. "Your logs are pristine. This duplicate was uploaded before your public release. It seems... DarkByte pre-empted you."
Su Ning's eyes burned with a mix of anger and disappointment. "They're trying to steal my dream. They're saying I'm a cheat, that I've done nothing but copy someone else's work."
Mr. Li placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We will clear your name, Su Jie. But for now, focus on what you can control—your next update, your improvements, your vision. This is just the first test of your journey. Don't let it define you."
That evening, while the campus buzzed with tension and accusations, Su Jie retreated to his quiet room. Tang Rui's comforting words and Mr. Li's guidance rang in his ears as he sat down at his laptop. Slowly, methodically, he began compiling all his documentation—dates, version histories, debug logs—and prepared a detailed report to submit to the platform's moderators.
His heart pounded with determination. Despite the dark cloud of betrayal and jealousy, he refused to let this setback extinguish the spark he had worked so hard to kindle.
Before signing off for the night, he took a break to text Tang Rui. "No matter what they say, I'll keep pushing forward. I built this with my own hands. And soon, the truth will shine through."
Her response was immediate:"I believe you. And I'm right here with you. Let's show them what real passion looks like."
For the first time in days, Su Ning allowed himself a small smile. Yes, the shadows were looming larger than ever. The bully's cousin had tried to steal his moment, and now everyone was questioning his integrity. But in that very moment, with his allies by his side and his determination fueling him, Su Ning vowed to fight back.
He closed his laptop with a quiet, resolute finality. Outside, the campus lights twinkled in the twilight, and every whispered rumor, every accusing comment, became just another challenge—a spark in the darkness that would light his way forward.