Chapter 40: I Want to Progress Too Much

For a moment, the deafening cheers echoed through every department of the company. One might have thought they were rising in rebellion, shouting that the Blue Heaven is dead and the Yellow Heaven shall rise.

There was a reason the state didn't allow large groups of middle-aged men to gather together; those with families could produce a "king of ideas" at any moment, let alone those with no strings attached.

The Machine Spirit was greatly pleased. He wondered who had invented this skill; he had thought the "Abstract Skill" he bought on the shopping page yesterday was one-of-a-kind, but to his surprise, it turned out to be realistic.

Just like his skills in equestrianism, programming, and his "Humanoid Cheat," it turned out there actually was a group of people in reality who had mastered this skill.

Of course, the results made it clear that people like Old Wang, who had only half-mastered the craft, had a very low success rate.

It was absurd. In a place that prided itself most on science, the ultimate solution turned out to be metaphysics. What was this? Scientific worship?

In contrast, Lin Mo, an intern on his very last day, had become an overnight sensation in the company following this battle.

For a long time to come, legends about him would circulate within the company's programming team.

"Congratulations! Don't you go disappearing on us suddenly. Keep in touch when you have time!"

"Of course! From now on, it's just you and Sister Yuan in the company. Insider tip: cling to Sister Yuan's coattails!"

"You don't have to tell me that! Besides, she's my godmother!"

"Alright, alright, I'm off. Come find me at my school sometime!"

At 1:00 PM, at the company entrance, Lin Mo waved goodbye to Zhang Wei. Although it wasn't like they would never see each other again, they would no longer be working together, and contact would likely dwindle over time.

Perhaps one day, Zhang Wei would become nothing more than a name in his WeChat contacts, never to be spoken to again.

But on second thought, as long as Zhang Wei or the Great Miss Yuan didn't quit, their story probably wasn't over yet.

With that thought, Lin Mo waved his hand and turned to leave, carrying a small cardboard box.

He didn't intentionally linger to delay the departure because he knew the outcome wouldn't change. This place didn't belong to him, and many people in the company were merely passing acquaintances, like Sister Li or Brother Old Wang.

Carrying his box out of the company, Lin Mo took a deep breath, feeling as though he were stepping into a new stage of life.

He had gained a brief glimpse into life after graduation, and indeed, it was not as easy as school. No wonder his high school teachers always emphasized that studying in school was actually the easiest part compared to working later in life.

Even so, he didn't regret not working harder during high school, because he knew that even if he were thrown back into those years, his grades wouldn't improve; after all, studying required talent.

Just then, Liu Ruyan's car pulled up in front of him. She rolled down the window, revealing her exquisite face, and said, "Get in! Big sister is taking you out for a spin."

Hearing this, Lin Mo climbed directly into the passenger seat. This was his first time riding in Liu Ruyan's car.

"Did you get all your stuff?"

"It's all here," Lin Mo said, patting the box in his hands. Inside were his personal belongings and, most importantly, his internship certificate.

"Good. Let's go!"

With that, Liu Ruyan stepped on the gas, driving him straight toward the clothing stores in the commercial district.

"Buying clothes? For me?" In the mall, Lin Mo was somewhat surprised to learn the purpose of the trip.

"Of course. Who styled you in that outfit? Your sense of fashion is terrible; it's only your current good looks that are carrying you. And the material of these clothes is mediocre. What kind of taste is that? Trash! If we walked down the street together right now, anyone would think you're my simp looking to live off a woman. Anyway, don't worry about it. Susu told me that I should give you a proper makeover today to make sure you're worthy of me!"

As she spoke, Liu Ruyan pulled him into a men's designer brand store he didn't even recognize.

Lin Mo:...

*Stop scolding me, please stop scolding me!*

He had been scolded for no reason. He bought his own clothes, but to be honest, his fashion sense was indeed mediocre. He had even liked wearing tight pants in middle and high school; he had made significant progress by now!

Immediately, Lin Mo became a mindless changing machine. It wasn't a scene where Liu Ruyan swept through and bought everything—she was wealthy, but she enjoyed the pleasure of shopping more.

Moreover, Liu Ruyan didn't just buy for him; she took the time to pick out a few pieces she liked for herself as well.

Soon, a strange duo appeared in the mall: a beautiful, fair-skinned, and clearly wealthy older woman shopping frantically, accompanied by a young man who was quite handsome.

Furthermore, the woman always paid the bill, while the man followed behind carrying the bags.

While Liu Ruyan was browsing a women's boutique to pick out a dress, Lin Mo, who was waiting at the so-called "husband's waiting area," encountered a middle-aged woman.

"Young man, how much for the one inside? How about I pay double? Don't look at me like that; I might be a bit older, but money is absolutely not an issue. I just like your type. If you're happy, I can even give you an apartment. Want to consider it?"

Lin Mo: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a

He looked up at the woman before him. Her plump figure and the thick makeup on her face couldn't hide her wrinkles; she was nearly his mother's age.

In terms of physique, Lin Mo would have believed her if she said she could eat Liu Ruyan alive.

"Auntie, I'm not..."

"Still playing hard to get? I saw everything. The woman pays for the clothes. I've seen plenty of guys like you. Call me when you've made up your mind," she said, shoving a business card into his hand and giving him a wink.

After the woman left, just as Lin Mo was feeling a bit nauseous and dazed, Liu Ruyan clutched her stomach and doubled over laughing at the store entrance.

"Hey, do you have any sympathy at all? Instead of helping, you're just standing there watching the show." Lin Mo quickly tossed the business card away as if it were contagious.

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan laughed even harder. After a while, she walked over, patted his shoulder, and teased, "I... I was just afraid of hindering your chance to strike it rich, haha... So, do you realize how great your big sister is now? Do you feel like living off me isn't so bad after all?"

"I'm telling my cousin!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say it... I won't say it. Teehee..."

Lin Mo:...

After this incident, the two finished their shopping quickly. Liu Ruyan picked out two outfits for him, while the rest were for herself.

In the car, Lin Mo gained his first real concept of wealth. A single shirt cost several thousand yuan, and a jacket cost tens of thousands. Lin Mo felt his consumer values were being severely shaken.

Just this shopping trip had cost tens of thousands. He even felt that his ten-yuan tea wasn't worthy of being worn alongside these clothes.

"Let's go. Big sister will take you for a massage, and then we'll have dinner with your cousin to celebrate."

As soon as Liu Ruyan finished speaking, Lin Mo thought for a moment and turned on his music player.

*'Waiting for you~ to write a few more lines, waiting for you~ to play a few more tunes, waiting for you~ to return to your hometown, waiting for your name to be inscribed on the golden list.'*

*'Three or five strokes upon the inkstone~ the partridge cries as the ink falls~ who knows the meaning within the song~ the string breaks, waiting for a single night~'*

Liu Ruyan:...

"What? Does my little brother not want to work hard anymore?"

Lin Mo shook his head. "Sister, I want to progress too much!"

(End of Chapter)