Chapter 31
Chapter 31: “To Live”
A 20g gold bar?
This reward was beyond Lin Shen’s expectations.
When he went shopping at Wujiaochang, he scratched out money. When he went hiking, he scratched out attributes that improved his physique.
Following the pattern, coming to campus to relax, Lin Shen had thought he would scratch out something literature-related, but who knew it would be a gold bar!
Vulgar!
Too vulgar!
But I like it.
Lin Shen quickly checked the real-time gold price—850 RMB/g, so 20g was equivalent to seventeen thousand.
“Sell it!”
Although gold was one of the best financial investment products, Lin Shen urgently needed money right now to complete the [Payment Treasure] task and increase his daily income.
Therefore, he decisively sold it.
「China Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received RMB 17,000 on August 4th at 16:32, current balance: 184,000」
5 PM, SISU East Gate.
Jiang Wan smiled as she extended her right hand to Gu Wanqing.
“Welcome to the SISU English Department family. If you have any questions or needs, feel free to contact me on WeChat.”
“Okay, thank you Sister Jiang Wan.”
After shaking hands with Gu Wanqing, Jiang Wan looked at Lin Shen beside her and smiled.
“Keep in touch.”
“Want to have dinner together tonight?”
Lin Shen took the initiative to invite her.
“I feel bad for troubling you all day.”
“I have plans tonight.”
Jiang Wan gave Lin Shen a mischievous smile.
“I’ll give you a chance next time, how about that?”
“Alright.”
Lin Shen didn’t insist, and after watching Jiang Wan’s graceful figure disappear, he felt somewhat regretful.
At this moment, Gu Wanqing couldn’t help but sigh.
“Sister Jiang Wan is really so gentle!”
“Yes.”
“So brother-in-law, do you like Sister Jiang Wan?”
“I do.”
Seeing Gu Wanqing show a meaningful mischievous smile, Lin Shen lightly flicked her forehead.
“Who wouldn’t like a beautiful and gentle big sister? Don’t overthink it, we’re just friends.”
“I know that!”
Gu Wanqing pitifully covered her forehead, making Lin Shen smile involuntarily.
“We’re not eating at home tonight. You choose a restaurant outside, my treat.”
“Then Haidilao!”
Gu Wanqing’s eyes lit up, and she smiled proudly.
“I have a university student discount, 12% off!”
“Good.”
Lin Shen hadn’t expected to enjoy this kind of benefit so many years after graduation.
Then let’s go enjoy a long-overdue hotpot meal.
6 PM.
Huamao Building, third floor, Operations Director’s office.
“The problems that customers reported in the online APP community—you still haven’t organized and summarized them for me.”
Behind the desk, Qin Yuenan threw the report in her hand in front of Yang Qian, the leader of Operations Team 1, her expression ice-cold.
“If you can’t complete such a small task on time, you might as well stop being a team leader.”
“Director Qin.”
Yang Qian picked up the report from the desk, her face showing bitterness.
“This part of the work was originally Lin Shen’s responsibility, but he resigned suddenly, and the new employee hasn’t fully adapted yet.”
“Are you saying that three days after his resignation, your team’s work efficiency has decreased by half?”
Qin Yuenan interlaced her fingers in front of her, her gaze stern.
“Are you all just eating for free?”
“…”
Faced with Qin Yuenan’s blunt criticism, Yang Qian was sweating profusely, could only keep apologizing and nodding, and finally fled the office in embarrassment.
“Sigh—!”
Qin Yuenan leaned back in her office chair, covering her eyes with her arm and sighing deeply.
Ever since she understood Lin Shen’s work capabilities, she had predicted that Team 1 would likely have an adjustment period after his resignation.
But she really hadn’t expected that the entire team’s work efficiency during the adjustment period would be reduced by more than half!
Eight or nine people still couldn’t match Lin Shen alone?
Qin Yuenan shook her head in frustration.
Only now did she finally understand who in Operations Team 1 was actually working and who was slacking off.
But it was too late.
Qin Yuenan rubbed her aching temples, got up, grabbed her bag, and headed to the fourth floor.
Besides physical fitness, exercise was also her main way of relieving inner irritation.
After changing into sports quick-dry clothes in the changing room, Qin Yuenan subconsciously looked around the gym, but didn’t see that familiar figure.
Her heart felt slightly disappointed.
Qin Yuenan took out her phone wanting to message Lin Shen, but after being stunned for two seconds, she put it on the treadmill and muttered somewhat petulantly.
“I’ll ask him tonight why he didn’t come.”
“I’m so full!”
At 8 PM, after coming out of Haidilao, Gu Wanqing wanted to walk around to digest before going home.
Lin Shen had the same idea.
So the two wandered around and eventually came to a bookstore.
“Do you have any book recommendations?”
Books?
Gu Wanqing really hadn’t expected Lin Shen to like reading, then said excitedly.
“Of course! ‘To Live’!”
“I figured it would be this book.”
Lin Shen had seen online that if there was a bookshelf at home, there must be a copy of “To Live” on it.
“Let’s buy it and read it then.”
Lin Shen also wanted to see if this book was really as good as people said online, so he asked the store owner, who immediately brought him a copy.
The blue and white landscape color scheme on the cover and the large characters “To Live” touched something in his heart.
“Let’s go.”
“Mm.”
Back home, after washing up and lying in bed, Lin Shen was about to try reading “To Live” when Qin Yuenan suddenly sent a message.
[Qin Yuenan: Haven’t you been working out lately?]
[Lin Shen: I have been working out, why?]
[Qin Yuenan: Then why haven’t you come to the company gym?]
[Lin Shen: I can still go after resigning?]
[Qin Yuenan: Why else would I sign that contract with you in the company’s name?]
[Lin Shen: You should have said so earlier! I’ll go in a few days.]
[Qin Yuenan: Good, I’ll wait for you]
Wait for me?
Qin Yuenan’s message made Lin Shen’s thoughts stir, and the image of her graceful figure in yoga pants and a small tank top suddenly appeared in his mind.
Having this kind of workout partner would make exercising more motivating!
Lin Shen put down his phone and opened the first page of “To Live.”
He planned to read for two hours today and sleep before twelve.
After all, he had agreed with Gu Wanqing to go to Disneyland tomorrow, so he needed to be well-rested.
However, when Lin Shen gradually immersed himself from the surface-level text into the deeper story they constructed, he lost track of time.
Under the dim warm light, his expression alternated between somber and melancholy.
2 AM.
“Phew—!”
Lin Shen folded the page corner, closed the book, and let out a heavy sigh.
He had read up to where the protagonist Fugui was captured on the battlefield and then repatriated to his hometown.
The simple text constructed a deeply moving story permeated with rich sadness.
This was Lin Shen’s biggest feeling after reading.
He hadn’t experienced that era, but through the book, he experienced the true meaning of “living.”
Financial freedom through money?
Power that commands respect?
None of these were as important as a healthy body.
Just being alive was enough.
“Time to sleep, don’t stay up late.”
Glancing at the time on his phone, Lin Shen turned off the light and went to sleep.
「China Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received RMB 4,000 on August 5th at 00:01, current balance: 188,000」