Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

Shang Song's rental agreement was signed smoothly.

That small apartment, only three subway stops away from Qingguo, was bright and clean, with plenty of sunshine on its south-facing balcony.

That weekend, the entire dorm turned out and, using a small trolley that the eldest member had borrowed from somewhere, laboriously transported Shang Song's "belongings" from the dormitory building to his bright single apartment in the new district.

Although the process was exhausting, the brothers gave Shang Song a big meal.

After a beer and barbecue, Shang Song saw off his brothers and began his new life—joining Qingguo Interactive Art.

After a week of newcomer training, he was officially assigned to the technical art team of the "Starfield Fantasy" project.

Ken, who mentored him, was highly skilled and very decisive. After giving him a bunch of engine documents and project specifications, he asked him to start by optimizing some simple scene effects, under the guise of "familiarizing himself with the pipeline."

Shang Song picked it up quickly, and Ken gradually let go, allowing him to start working on some more core modules.

After that, the work assigned to him, regardless of its difficulty or workload, was always just right. It allowed him to learn new things and get plenty of training, without being exploited like other interns in the same batch, who were forced to stay up all night and be overwhelmed.

He would occasionally hear interns from the next project team lamenting that they were staying up until 3 a.m. for stupid requirements, or being scolded by an irritable lead artist, and he would wonder if his luck was a little abnormal.

Once, he jokingly asked Ken, "Ken, does our group get special treatment from above? The work seems pretty 'easy'."

Ken, without even looking up, was busy adjusting a complex particle collision effect on the screen. "What are you thinking about? You're a good kid, quick-witted and capable. I'm only giving you things you can handle. If I gave you something you couldn't handle, wouldn't that delay the project?"

The reasons are sound and logical.

Shang Song touched his nose, thinking that perhaps it was because he was quick-witted and Ah Ken was good at leading people that he adapted well.

After fully adapting to his work at Qingguo, Shang Song even began to truly enjoy life.

He added some small appliances to his apartment, and after get off work, he would cook some simple and convenient meals in his small kitchen. He also grew a few easy-to-grow pothos plants on the balcony and added a comfortable beanbag chair. On weekends, he would stay there, like a lazy cat, basking in the sun.

When he received his third month's salary, he even bought himself a new professional digital display.

As he was touching some simple scene images on the digital screen, messages in the dormitory group chat kept popping up beside him.

The second son's family runs a restaurant business; they have a well-established and successful stall.

He did a sloppy job on his thesis, his mind was already elsewhere. What he said most in the group chat was, "Ugh, I really don't want to write this lousy thesis. Anyway, I'll just inherit my family business after graduation, so what's the point of learning this?"

Then he posted a few photos of his dishes, the ingredients were fresh and the colors were tempting, which drew a chorus of "Daddy's hungry!"

The third brother was a bit unlucky. He got an internship at a startup that sounded impressive but was actually poorly managed. He was treated like cheap labor every day, doing multiple jobs and often "voluntarily" working overtime.

He complained the most in the group chat, and his emojis were all more mournful than the last, making him the main person everyone wanted to "comfort."

After securing a place in graduate school, the eldest student diligently pursued his studies under his advisor. Occasionally, he would post a photo of a table piled high with thread-bound books, accompanied by a bunch of classical Chinese texts that he neither understood nor wanted to understand.

The name Xie Jing was never mentioned again.

Aside from the eldest brother mentioning it casually in the group chat, saying that he heard from a senior student in the ancient literature department that since Shang Song moved out of the dormitory, the mysterious Professor Xie has never been seen at S University again. In addition, the progress of the restoration of rare books at the ancient book restoration center, which used to be reviewed or given key opinions by Professor Xie, is now being overseen by a senior expert.

However, this message didn't cause much of a stir in the group.

Shang Song had just finished a brainstorming session and replied with: Oh.

Then, the message was quickly flooded by the third brother's voice chat complaining about the stupid leader and the second brother's tempting nine-square grid of food photos.

Three months passed by in this way, amidst daily banter and jokes.

Shang Song is no longer the intern who needs to carefully familiarize himself with the pipeline. In the "Starfield Fantasy" project team, he is responsible for an important special effects design job, and his plans... can even be perfectly approved by the art director and planner every time.

He was never overworked, and even when he had to work overtime, the cafeteria would always be serving his favorite crayfish for a late-night snack.

Because of this, he even suspected that the cafeteria staff might be giving him some special treatment.

He had grown the pothos on the balcony into a lush and verdant plant, which climbed very high up the trellis; the beanbag chair was perfectly shaped to fit his body; and even the practice drafts on the digital screen had gradually accumulated to several gigabytes.

On a Saturday afternoon, the sun was shining warmly. Shang Song had just finished a practice draft and was curled up on the beanbag chair on the balcony with his tablet, watching an animated movie to relieve stress.

The WeChat group of the four roommates started popping up happily on the phone screen.

Second child: @All members, Dad is coming to the new district this weekend to inspect the people's conditions! Song, get your sugary drinks and snacks ready, let's fight until dawn!

Third Brother: [Working overtime to the point of being out of my body.jpg] Take me with you... if I can walk out of the company alive...

Eldest brother: [cat pushing up glasses.jpg] I second that, let's go to Fourth brother's place and improve our meals.

Shang Song picked up his phone, glanced at the messages, and couldn't help but smile. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed: [Lighting a cigarette.jpg] I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint my sons. This weekend, Dad has plans.

Second son: !! What kind of agreement? More important than our fathers?

Third brother: !!! ??? Song, you're busier than the CEO now!

Boss: [Cat curiously peeking out.jpg] Oh?

Shang Song suppressed a laugh and continued typing: "Yeah, watching a movie. Hehe."

The last two words were deliberately tinged with smugness.

The group chat was silent for two seconds, then instantly flooded with emojis.

Second Brother: [Wild boar rooting up cabbage.jpg] Who is it?! Which little vixen dares to seduce my brother Song?!

Third brother: [Cat smoking.jpg] Something's up! Confess now!

Boss: [Cat staring blankly.jpg] Is it still that UI head?

Shang Song didn't intend to hide it and replied: Yes, it's Chen Yu, the head of the UI team. Just watching a movie together. [Cat scratching head.jpg]

Second Brother: Wow, Song! Wherever you go, romance blossoms! You just dumped the aloof Professor Xie, and now you're hooked up with a career elite! When are you going to officially win her over?

Third brother: Exactly! Hurry up! Treat everyone to a meal to help them find love!

Shang Song looked at the screen, his face a little hot and his heart a little pounding, but he didn't let it cloud his judgment. He replied: Let's see.

Second brother: Oh my, still looking again! Brother Song is getting cocky!

Third brother: That's right, be careful the cooked duck doesn't fly away!

Shang Song stared at the screen, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

He recalled Chen Yu walking him downstairs last night, the soft glow of the streetlights casting a warm glow, and Chen Yu smilingly asking if he was free this weekend, saying that the new movie had amazing special effects and should be to his liking.

The feeling of being clearly pursued made his heart beat slightly faster.

He typed slowly: What's the rush? Let me take another look. [Cat resting chin on its hand.jpg]

The group chat was immediately flooded with a chorus of "tsk tsk tsk" sounds.

Shang Song smiled and exited the small group chat. He opened the chat window with Chen Yu, who sent him links to two restaurants' mini-programs. One was a newly opened fusion restaurant, and the other was a well-established restaurant with a good reputation. Chen Yu asked him which one he preferred and if he had any dietary restrictions.

The lazy evening sun bathed him in its light. He squinted, a smile playing on his lips, and typed a reply with lightning speed: "No onions, no ginger, no sour, no spicy... Haha, just kidding, I don't have any dietary restrictions. You decide, I'm fine with anything."

After sending the message, he put down his phone, picked up his tablet again, and wanted to continue watching his animated movie.

I was joking around with my roommates just now, and I was watching the plot in bits and pieces.

On the screen, the female lead seems to be...locked up?

"Huh?" Shang Song muttered in confusion, "Why was she locked up? Did she trigger some plot point just now? Or is that doctor who looks like a good person actually the villain?"