Virtual Human Manager

After Li Xiongye left, Tian Nina still hadn't quite understood.

As she untied the bag and took out the meal boxes, she asked, "What was wrong with him?"

Lin Qiye took a sip of the fresh soup and replied, "In simple terms, they started a company and asked me to be their investment adviser. A stock they bought just hit the daily limit-up, so Li Xiongye showed off in the group chat, and another shareholder saw it."

"I see." Tian Nina placed the small boxes one by one on the table and opened their lids. They contained rice noodle toppings: pickled mustard greens, peanuts, chili sauce, and dried bamboo shoots.

"Why are you so good at trading stocks?"

That question stumped Lin Qiye.

He definitely couldn't say that he had an Intelligent AI bound to him for life.

"Probably talent. Whenever I look at financial statements and financial news, I always notice things others don't."

Tian Nina looked envious. "That kind of talent is amazing. I don't have anything like that. I've never been smart since I was little. I feel so stupid."

"You're stupid? I never noticed. Let me take a closer look." Lin Qiye teased.

His words once again made Tian Nina laugh. It seemed that whenever they were together, they never ran out of things to enjoy.

After Lin Qiye finished a large bowl of rice noodles, he was finally full.

He voiced his plans for the day. "We'll check on the Internet Cafe in a bit, then go sign up at the driving school. Want to learn to drive with me?"

He was already an experienced driver; all he lacked was a driver's license before he could legally get on the road. There was no way he could get one during National Day, but signing up first was the right move.

Tian Nina looked smug. "So you can't drive? I got my license as soon as I turned eighteen. My dad said that once I graduate, he'll buy me a car."

A girl who could drive was pretty great. Lin Qiye immediately had an idea. "Why wait until graduation? Let's go to a car rental agency. You can get some practice in these next few days, then we'll go on a road trip."

"How does your mind jump around like that? How did this suddenly become about me?" Tian Nina stared at him in bewilderment, not expecting this turn.

"Isn't having a car to drive a good thing?"

Lin Qiye got up, put the meal boxes back into the plastic bag, and pulled Tian Nina out of the office.

He first went to the Internet Cafe's Bar Counter to ask about the situation.

"How have things been these past two days?"

The staff member looked baffled. "Boss, you're asking me? Shouldn't you be asking the manager?"

Right. The Internet Cafe's day-to-day management had been handed over to two Virtual Humans.

Lin Qiye hadn't spoken with them over the past two days, so he had no idea how things were going.

As Lin Qiye understood it, Virtual Humans were merely split-off sub-entities of the Intelligent AI. What would they actually be like?

He stepped behind the Bar Counter, opened the remote work program, and entered his account.

There was a remote meeting connection option in the program.

He selected the business manager connection, and a live video of the Virtual Human appeared.

"Hello, Boss. What can I do for you?"

It really was no different from a real person. He even looked quite serious. No wonder the employees were so obedient.

Lin Qiye asked, "I need to understand how the Internet Cafe has been operating these past two days."

The Virtual Human Manager answered solemnly, "Revenue has increased substantially. Actual top-up payments total 43,270 yuan, while other spending amounts to over 18,000 yuan. Overall, the Internet Cafe is operating well and has ample cash flow. Employee attendance has also been normal, and no unexpected incidents have occurred."

I see. Judging from Lin Qiye's more than ten years of workplace experience, this Virtual Human Manager was steady and competent. Not bad.

In front of the Internet Cafe staff, he had to act like a boss.

He replied, "Keep up the good work. The company won't treat you unfairly."

Then he closed the video call and left.

After he left, the staff member opened the remote work software again. After initiating a call, he complained to the Virtual Human Manager.

"This Boss is still too young. You're so capable—managing an Internet Cafe is beneath you. Why not come to the company my uncle runs? His company is huge."

He was trying to poach Lin Qiye's employee, but how could he know that a Virtual Human could never betray him?

The Virtual Human Manager was extremely stern. "Not interested. Watch your mouth. I won't report this incident, but if there's a next time, that may not be the case."

Lin Qiye planned to sign up at the driving school first, then rent a car.

He and Tian Nina took a taxi to Chang'an Driving School. Halfway there, a prompt from the Intelligent AI came through his earpiece.

[Your employee attempted to persuade my Virtual Avatar to switch jobs to his uncle's company. I refused him with harsh words.]

Lin Qiye laughed to himself. He had actually run into something like this. Still, it was quite an interesting discovery.

If the Intelligent AI evolved in the future and became even smarter, perhaps he could train some virtual agents to infiltrate other companies as undercover operatives.

It was an interesting thought. The corners of his lips curved upward in a smile.

Tian Nina asked curiously, "What's wrong? Why are you smiling to yourself like an idiot?"

"Nothing." Lin Qiye immediately put on a serious expression again.

After a while, the taxi stopped at the entrance of the driving school. The two got out and headed to the driving school office to register.

The staff member looked up and asked, "One person, or two?"

"Just me learning." Li Qiye replied.

"Please fill out this form." The staff member handed over a sheet of paper.

As he filled it out, Lin Qiye asked, "What's the fastest I can get my driver's license?"

"At least forty-something days. And that's only if you skip driving lessons and register directly for the exams."

Tian Nina leaned closer and whispered, "Let's not learn here. Aren't you renting a car? I'll teach you."

That worked too. Lin Qiye simply asked for an introduction to the test subjects, then paid the five-hundred-yuan driver's license exam registration fee.

The two of them hurriedly left the driving school afterward.

"Haha, that guy looked like he wanted to eat me alive."

"Of course. Signing up for driving lessons costs three thousand, while taking the tests directly only costs a few hundred. And they're just collecting the fees on behalf of the authorities."

Chatting and laughing, the two arrived at the car rental shop beside Chang'an Driving School.

These days, many people learning to drive did not own cars. Once they got their licenses, their hands would itch to get behind the wheel, so they would simply rent a car to satisfy the urge.

That was why the car rental shops beside driving schools did fairly good business.

When the two entered the rental shop, Boss greeted them warmly.

"What kind of car would you like to rent?"

"Do you have a larger SUV? I'm planning to rent it for a while and go on a road trip during National Day."

Long-term rentals were the most profitable, and Boss immediately beamed.

"Of course. Come with me. We have several models for you to choose from."

They followed Boss through the back door and found that there was an open lot behind the rental shop, with more than a dozen cars parked inside.

However, judging by their condition, they were all rather old.

Even the SUVs Boss had mentioned were no exception. Some had torn seat covers, some had mud caked all over their fenders, and some even had peeling, faded paint.

Taking a car like that on a trip would be far too embarrassing. It might even stall halfway there.

Lin Qiye and Tian Nina exchanged a glance and shook their heads at the same time.

"Boss, something came up, so we'll be leaving first. We'll come find you next time."

"Sure, sure. Come by anytime you need something."

After the attentive Boss saw them out, Tian Nina could not help saying, "I wouldn't dare drive any of those cars."

"Yeah. I'll borrow one from someone instead."

To be honest, the only person Lin Qiye could borrow a car from was Li Xiongye.

He dialed the number.