A Symphony of Inner Thoughts and the System

Lin Chen practically floated out of the office building.

The three o'clock afternoon sun shone warmly on him, but he felt as though he were walking on clouds, so light on his feet that he might take flight.

The so-called "urgent document" in his hand weighed next to nothing. It was plainly a pretext President Yan had printed up on the spot to send him away.

Yan Iceberg must have taken the wrong medicine today! But who cares? Heaven is on my side! A video call! Little Moon agreed to a video call!

Humming a tune, he hailed a taxi and went home to change at lightning speed into the casual outfit he considered his most handsome. Then he headed straight for his usual hair salon.

Tony, his hairstylist, saw how impatient he looked and teased him:

"Brother Lin, got an important date today?"

"Super important!"

Lin Chen examined himself from every angle in the mirror. "Tony, you've got to bring out your best skills today. Make me more handsome than ever!"

It all comes down to this! Whether I can end my lifelong solo streak depends on tonight! Little Moon, wait for me!

Meanwhile, in the president's office.

Yan Qingyue finished the last document on her desk and rubbed the slightly aching spot between her brows.

Her gaze wandered back to the chat with "Little Moon" on her phone screen, and the corners of her lips curved upward without her noticing.

The assistant who was usually so nervous and timid in front of her, but occasionally had an unusually active inner world, was so witty and funny online, with such original insights.

Those conversations that had made her smile on countless nights of overtime had all been with Lin Chen.

This curious coincidence struck her as... very interesting.

Especially since she could hear the private thoughts no one else knew about.

It was practically like getting an exclusive strategy guide.

She checked the time. Four in the afternoon.

There were five hours until the video call.

She pressed the intercom. "Secretary Li, come in for a moment."

"President Yan, what do you need?"

"Check whether the branch office signed for the document Assistant Lin took over."

Yan Qingyue's tone was even, betraying no emotion.

Secretary Li quickly checked:

"President Yan, the branch office says... they didn't receive any notice about a document requiring an urgent signature. Assistant Lin doesn't seem to have gone over there either."

Yan Qingyue raised a brow. Just as she had thought.

She waved Secretary Li out, tapping her fingertips lightly on the desk.

Looks like he went straight off to prepare for tonight's date. That eager? Heh...

She suddenly found herself a little curious. What would Lin Chen do to prepare for this video call?

Those inner monologues were much more interesting than his carefully composed face.

At that thought, she picked up her car keys and coat and decided to leave work early—an extremely rare occurrence in her career.

Elsewhere, after getting his hair done, Lin Chen rushed into a large supermarket and began a shopping spree.

I can't do without snacks and drinks. What if we chat until midnight?

Air freshener! I almost forgot, a single man's apartment always has a bit of a smell.

New bedsheets! Right, what if the camera accidentally catches the bed... I might be overthinking it, but what if!

Oh, right, flowers too!

He pushed his cart between the shelves, his inner thoughts rich enough to fill a shopping rhapsody.

Would buying roses be too obvious? Lilies? Their fragrance is too strong.

Baby's breath with sunflowers? Bright and cheerful without being too suggestive... Perfect!

Little Moon should like that kind of style, right?

She even said last time that she liked the little potted plant I keep on my desk... Wait, how does she know what's on my desk?

As he pushed his cart around a corner, Lin Chen abruptly stopped in his tracks.

Not far away, a familiar tall figure stood in the fresh produce section, carefully comparing two boxes of imported fruit.

She wore a well-tailored champagne-colored trench coat, her slightly wavy hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She looked less sharp than she did at the office, with a touch more relaxed femininity.

Who else could it be but Yan Qingyue?!

Holy shit! Yan Iceberg?!

Why is she here? Shouldn't she be sweeping all before her in the meeting room at this hour?!

I'm screwed, I'm screwed. Did she find out I never went to the branch office and come to catch me?!

Lin Chen instinctively wanted to duck back behind the shelves, but it was already too late.

Yan Qingyue seemed to sense his gaze. She looked up and picked him out with unerring accuracy.

A flicker of surprise flashed across her eyes, but her customary coolness quickly covered it.

She pushed her cart over at an unhurried pace.

"Assistant Lin."

Her voice came through particularly clearly over the supermarket's background music. "The matter at the branch office... is it taken care of?"

Lin Chen's scalp tingled as his mind raced:

"President Yan! What a, what a coincidence... The branch office, everything there has already been taken care of. I stopped by on my way to buy some... household supplies."

Help! What do I do when my boss catches me lying on the spot? Waiting online, urgent!

Will she think I'm slacking off? Is my year-end bonus about to fly away?

Listening to his utterly panicked inner monologue, Yan Qingyue let her gaze wander seemingly by chance over the items in his cart: new bedsheets, air freshener, a huge pile of snacks, and a bright bouquet of sunflowers and baby's breath.

He had prepared quite thoroughly.

For some reason, her mood improved a little more.

"Mm." She gave a casual reply, picking up the bouquet from his cart for a look. "Good taste."

Lin Chen: "!!!"

She said I have good taste? Was she praising the flowers or me? No, the point is, why is she praising me?

This is even scarier than her scolding me!

President Yan, have you been possessed by something? Or did I get out of bed the wrong way this morning?

Yan Qingyue fought back a smile and put the flowers back in the cart. In a casual tone, she asked, "Any plans tonight?"

"No, nothing important!"

Lin Chen immediately declared his loyalty. "Just staying home to read and recharge!" He nearly stood at attention and saluted.

Does a video date count as important? Of course it does! But I couldn't tell her even if she beat me to death! President Yan, please leave already. The pressure is killing me!

"Reading and recharging. Very good."

Yan Qingyue nodded, seemingly quite satisfied. "It's important to maintain a learning mindset. Carry on 'recharging,' then. I won't disturb you."

With that, she elegantly turned and pushed her own cart away, leaving him with a carefree view of her retreating figure.

Lin Chen let out a long breath, feeling as though he had taken a trip through the gates of hell.

Scared me to death... But President Yan really is acting strange today. She actually let me off for skipping work?

And she chatted with me about everyday things? Could it be... the legendary iron tree is blooming and the iceberg is melting?

Wait, her cart seemed to be full of food. Why would one person buy that much?

Could it be... she has a date tonight too?!

Yan Qingyue, who had already walked several steps away, heard his speculation and paused so briefly it was almost imperceptible.

This guy's instincts were occasionally quite accurate.

She did have a "date" tonight, with him.

Lin Chen watched his boss walk away and didn't dare linger. He paid at once and fled the supermarket.

Back at his apartment, he immediately began a thorough cleaning, leaving the room spotless. He carefully arranged the flowers he had bought and adjusted the camera angle and background lighting several times.

Everything was ready, and there was still an hour until nine.

He sprawled on the sofa, excited and nervous, with a little inexplicable unease.

The encounter with President Yan at the supermarket kept replaying in his mind.

Strange, how could it be such a coincidence? And the way she looked at me... it was like she knew something.

Impossible, impossible. If she knew I'd sent those sweet nothings to her by mistake, wouldn't she twist my head off? I must be overthinking it.

Just then—

A clear, utterly emotionless electronic voice rang directly in Lin Chen's mind without warning.

Ding—strong and sustained emotional fluctuations and career aspirations detected in host. Binding conditions met.

God-Level Investment Decision System activated successfully! This system will assist the host in becoming a legend in the investment world!

A clear but utterly emotionless electronic voice rang directly in Lin Chen's mind without warning.

Lin Chen sprang up from the sofa and looked around, bewildered and suspicious.

"Who? Who's talking?"

Am I hearing things? Or has all the recent stress given me a mental problem?

System: This is not an auditory hallucination.

This system is directly bound to the host's consciousness and can be perceived only by the host.

This system is intended to provide key future investment information and decision-making assistance, helping the host accumulate wealth and reach the pinnacle of life.

The electronic voice sounded again. At the same time, a translucent, futuristic virtual interface appeared directly before Lin Chen's eyes, displaying a few simple options:

[Today's Recommendations], [Future News], [Wealth Panel], [System Tasks].

Lin Chen stared openmouthed and gave his thigh a vicious pinch.

Hiss—it hurt!

This wasn't a dream!

Holy crap! A system?! The kind of golden finger they write about in novels?!

They really exist?! An investment system? Does that mean I'm going to strike it rich?! Wait... how do I use this thing?

System: The host can communicate with this system through consciousness.

The starter pack has been issued. Please check it.

For your first use, one [Today's Investment Recommendation] is provided. Would you like to view it now?

"View it! Right now!"

Lin Chen was so excited that his voice trembled.

The [Today's Recommendations] section of the virtual interface lit up, and text appeared:

"Tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., pay attention to the Hong Kong stock 'Kexiang Technology' (code: HK 08237). Current price: HK$0.85. Recommended purchase price: HK$0.82–0.86. Expected increase: over 50% within three days.*

Note: The company will announce a strategic partnership with industry giant 'Xinghai Technology' at noon."

Lin Chen's heart pounded wildly!

Kexiang Technology!

He vaguely remembered the company. It was an old electronics manufacturer barely clinging to life, and its stock price had been in the doldrums for ages!

If the information was true...

Is this real? Wait, system, how can you prove what you're saying is true?

System: This system's information is derived from analysis of disturbances in future information flows, with an accuracy rate of 99.87%.

The host may choose to trust and act on it, or wait and see.

System tasks will unlock once the host completes his first investment.

Lin Chen quickly pulled out his phone and checked Kexiang Technology's stock trends and recent news. Sure enough, everything was quiet, with no sign of an impending surge.

His breathing grew heavier.

Should he take a gamble?

But all his savings put together were only enough to buy a few lots...

Right! The starter pack! System, what's in the starter pack?

System: Starter pack: 50,000 yuan in starting capital has been deposited into the host's linked bank account. Please check it.

Also included: [Basic Insight Aura] (passive effect: slightly enhances intuitive perception of business opportunities).

His phone chimed with a text message at just the right moment.

"RMB 50,000.00 was transferred into your account ending in xxxx at xx:xx. Current balance..."

Looking at the deposit notification from the bank, Lin Chen's last trace of doubt vanished.

It was real! It was all real!

He really had a system!

I'm rich! I've really struck it rich this time! Hahahaha!

Yan Iceberg! Who'll be working for whom in the future is still up in the air! Little Moon!

Big brother can give you a good life from now on!

He paced several excited circles around the living room, his immense joy washing away his earlier nervousness and unease.

Meanwhile, Yan Qingyue, who had returned home early, was wearing a face mask and leisurely sipping red wine.

She checked the time. Eight fifty.

How were Lin Chen's preparations going?

Suddenly, an incomparably excited inner monologue, clearer than any she had heard before, crossed the limits of space and reached her ears without fail—

I'm rich! I've really struck it rich this time! Hahahaha! Yan Iceberg! Who'll be working for whom in the future is still up in the air!

Little Moon! Big brother can give you a good life from now on!

Yan Qingyue's hand paused with the wineglass in it, and her delicate brows drew together slightly beneath the face mask.

Yan Iceberg? Little Moon?

This was definitely Lin Chen's inner voice. But what he was saying...

What was wrong with him? Why was he suddenly so excited and wild?

He even wanted her to work for him?

Had... something set him off?

Or was this his... special way of relieving stress before the video call?

Yan Qingyue glanced at the video app on her computer screen, already logged in, then thought again of Lin Chen's "bold declarations." Suddenly, she felt that tonight's video meeting might be... far more interesting than she had anticipated.

She put down her wineglass, anticipation and a trace of almost imperceptible slyness glimmering in her eyes.

There were five minutes until the video call.