High-Tech Quick-Dry Material!

Hangzhou.

A bookstore called One-Way Space.

Gao Yuan bought an iced Americano on the second floor, then found a quiet spot to sit down, planning to use the bookstore's air conditioning and internet to figure out the strange things that had been happening to him lately.

In fact, when the System first appeared in his mind, Gao Yuan wasn't surprised, he was terrified.

This was actually normal. Any sane person would be shocked by such a sudden, massive change – a mysterious, vast starry sky appearing in their mind with a giant light screen in front of them, right?

Everything takes time.

Slowly, as time passed, Gao Yuan adapted to this change, learning to open and close the System panel with his mind, and thinking about what he could do with the System.

Soon, a server brought his coffee, and Gao Yuan, putting on an act, picked a book from the shelf, Calvino's Cosmic Wonders Collection.

The content of the book didn't really matter; the sophistication was the key.

He looked around. A girl quietly drawing comics, a female scholar preparing for the bar exam, a girl dressed as a "lo-li" fan holding a Haruki Murakami novel, a shy handsome guy who just came back from the basketball court, smelling of sweat. Most of them were young people.

Gao Yuan firmly believed that what would eventually defeat Starbucks might not be another coffee shop, but perhaps a bookstore.

Because these new types of bookstores weren't actually selling books, but coffee, milk tea, cake, plus a quiet corner to read.

Gao Yuan closed his eyes and entered the System interface.

[Claim Gift: High-Tech Quick-Dry Material]. The System's content was ridiculously simple, with no other options.

As for the System itself, it was called [Future Technology].

Gao Yuan recalled the web novels he'd read. The protagonists who obtained black technology either started by developing photolithography machines or mastering robotics. At the very least, they'd play around with holographic projections.

But when it came to him, the style changed quite a bit. High-Tech Quick-Dry Material was clearly a chemical fiber technology applied to the textile and apparel industry.

Gao Yuan was slightly disappointed. After all, this was the internet era, and textiles and apparel belonged to traditional manufacturing. The setting sun was beautiful, but it was already dusk.

Many struggling brick-and-mortar businesses worked hard all year, yet their profits were less than what a scalper made reselling a second-hand house. It was truly heartbreaking.

Look at Boss Ma, who claimed to have no interest in money. He sat in his office building every day, commanding his subordinates and leading them to enjoy the blessings of 996 work hours, while money rolled in like the Qiantang River, unstoppable.

Boss Lei of the Mi family once said that when the wind blows, even pigs can fly.

In this impetuous society, would you rather go into a factory and focus on manufacturing, or stand in the wind and be that flying pig?

Gao Yuan certainly knew the importance of the real economy. Without industrial production and technological research and development as a foundation, the digital economy would be like a rootless duckweed, gradually withering away.

History had already taught us that fate must be firmly held in one's own hands, and core technologies must be firmly held in one's own hands, otherwise, major problems would arise.

So, the question arose again: what does it mean to firmly hold your destiny in your own hands?

It's simple. From photolithography machines to controlled fusion, from instant noodles to diapers. Children make choices; adults want everything.

"Life is truly interesting. After finally getting a System, the first technology it gives is textile materials. If only it were photolithography machine technology," Gao Yuan shrugged and muttered softly.

Regardless, possessing a System and not using it was clearly foolish behavior.

With that thought, Gao Yuan got up and left. When he returned to his rented apartment, his roommate Cao Feiyu hadn't gotten off work yet.

He tossed his backpack onto the sofa and went straight to his room, adjusting the air conditioning to the most comfortable temperature. Then, he lay down on the bed and took a deep breath.

"Claim gift?"

Facing the System's question, Gao Yuan pondered for a moment and chose "yes."

The process seemed smooth. Blueprints, chemical formulas, ingredient lists—countless pieces of information instantly appeared in his mind.

It was like installing an app on your phone; just a simple tap, and the System would automatically complete the rest, fast and hassle-free.

After the data transfer was complete, Gao Yuan saw a new line of text appear on the System panel.

Gift claimed successfully. Current task: Develop High-Tech Quick-Dry Fabric.

And then...

There was nothing else...

"It really is a simple System," Gao Yuan mumbled, touching his head in suspicion.