Contributed to society

When they were in kindergarten, it was common for rows of children to carry chairs out to sunbathe.

But for adults, being able to lazily nap in the sun like a cat in winter is such a luxury.

What’s lacking isn’t just time, but also the right mindset.

Lin Yuan pulled out a pair of Bluetooth earbuds from his pocket, put them on, connected them to his phone, and started playing music.

“Hello darkness, my old friend.”

“I've come to talk with you again.”

On such a sunny day, Lin Yuan was listening to a lyrical and slightly melancholic song.

He had no sorrow to lament at the moment, and he didn't even pay attention to the specific content of the lyrics; he simply enjoyed the peaceful melody.

The tune caressed his eardrums, like a hand gently patting his back.

...

Lin Yuan didn't know how long he had slept until he was awakened by voices, and “The Sound of Silence” was still playing in his earbuds.

He turned his head towards the sound, and Zhang Yan was standing beside him, having just finished a conversation with someone.

“You're here too?” Lin Yuan got up and stretched lazily.

“Did I wake you? The waiter just came over to ask when to serve the dishes.”

“No, I just fell asleep a little while ago.”

“A little while ago?” Zhang Yan looked at him in surprise, “I've listened to several songs with you.” She then pointed to a Bluetooth earbud she was wearing on her ear.

Only then did Lin Yuan realize that the Bluetooth earbud from one of his ears had been taken by her.

“Has the playlist already finished one round?”

His chosen playlist had over ten songs, and the first one was still playing in his earbud; he had thought he had just closed his eyes.

“I really like the songs you listen to.”

“Nani?”

Zhang Yan began humming her favorite song, “Scarborough Fair.”

Zhang Yan only hummed a few lines before turning to Lin Yuan and scolding him playfully, “Dummy, can't you play an accompaniment for me?”

“Oh.” Lin Yuan quickly complied.

After getting together with Xia Ye, Lin Yuan warned himself not to pay attention to other girls with an exploratory interest, so his gaze did not fall on Zhang Yan, who was humming the song.

However, music is the most intoxicating potion, besides drugs.

Unconsciously, Lin Yuan's gaze fell upon her.

The bright sun illuminated her profile, and her hair was like a pulsating string on his heart. Her intoxicated expression and ethereal voice conveyed a magical power that tempted one to err.

Lin Yuan understood that saying better than ever at this moment, a quote from a famous person—I made a mistake that all men in the world would make.

This sudden sprout from his heart made him panic, “Stop singing.” Lin Yuan made a decisive move, personally nipping it in the bud.

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Does it not sound good?”

“Are you here to sing?” Lin Yuan said coldly.

“If you don't want me to sing, I won't,” Zhang Yan pouted and sat down, listening to Lin Yuan's slightly stiff tone. “How strange, you're scolding me as soon as we meet...”

Lin Yuan felt quite sorry for her in his heart, after all, it wasn't her fault for being beautiful; staring at her was his own problem.

But he didn't intend to apologize openly, because that would lead to a tangled situation. Being wishy-washy was never his style.

“Have you finished writing the report? I haven't seen you send it to me.” Lin Yuan chose to talk about business, attempting to use business to squeeze out space for personal talk.

“Who wants you to care?” Zhang Yan angrily turned her head away, not bothering to pay attention to Lin Yuan.

The fence Lin Yuan had erected between them was easily dismantled by Zhang Yan's single sentence. That one sentence instantly pulled their conversation back to the familiarity of private acquaintances.

‘Who the hell wants to care about you?’ Lin Yuan felt a headache coming on. How could he maintain an appropriate distance from her?

Soon, he gave up. Because he really couldn't think of anything.

To avoid appearing too deliberate, and besides, being overly constrained would make him uncomfortable, Lin Yuan simply chose the Daoist principle of non-action—If I have no intentions, why should I care?

“I'm sorry. I had a bit of morning grumpiness just now.” Lin Yuan still apologized for his behavior.

“Hmph! You get morning grumpiness even after a nap? I happily came all the way here to see you, and you give me a cold shoulder...”

Lin Yuan rubbed his forehead, letting her complain. But Zhang Yan didn't continue.

She approached Lin Yuan, leaning slightly, “Is it... is stock trading too mentally exhausting, too much pressure?”

Well, Lin Yuan never expected her to ask such a question.

But it was reasonable, after all, he had just borrowed a million from her for stock trading.

Facing Lin Yuan's sudden bad mood, Zhang Yan subconsciously assumed it was because he was under too much mental pressure from stock trading, so she spoke out of concern.

“It’s alright.”

“Why do you have to be like this? I know you have an 800,000 annual salary at Good Group, isn't that enough? How much more money do you want?”

“Who would ever think they have too much money?”

“You can't take it with you when you're born or when you die, what's so good about it? Enough to spend is fine.” Zhang Yan said carelessly.

“Well said,” Lin Yuan couldn't help but want to applaud her, “but in my pale life, there were too many times when money wasn't enough. People who have gone hungry will have an inexplicable sense of hunger edited into their genes; people who have been poor and see money passing by their eyes just can't control their hands.” Lin Yuan said this and actually raised his right hand towards the sun.

Zhang Yan immediately pressed his hand down, “Don't reach out. A gentleman loves money, but acquires it through proper means.”

“I'm being very proper this time; I'm not taking from anyone else's pocket.”

“Then after you finish this time, can you stop doing it next time?”

“Uh...” Lin Yuan thought for a moment, “My habit of collecting gold coins, like a goblin, currently shows no possibility of being cured.”

Zhang Yan then turned her head away again, “You'll end up inside sooner or later if you keep this up.”

Lin Yuan, however, looked relaxed, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes again.

After a while, “Hey, can you stop being so frivolous?” It was Zhang Yan who finally gave in.

“Stealing a half-day's leisure from a floating life. Brother Zhang, why not sit with me? Oh, right, how about we order a pot of tea? The big shots order their dishes, and we drink our clear tea.”

“I only drink milk tea.” Zhang Yan didn't understand Lin Yuan's hidden meaning.

Lin Yuan didn't believe they were truly just here to fish today.

“Junior Sister, don't always worry about your Senior Brother. Rest assured, Senior Brother is as steady as an old dog. Even if your Master crashes, Senior Brother won't.”

“What are you talking about? What do you mean my Master crashes?”

“Just kidding.”

“You're being so mysterious. I'm not going to bother with you anymore.”

Lin Yuan smiled bitterly in his heart, ‘It would be good if you really didn't bother.’

“How's the report? Do you really not need me to take a look?”

“It's already been submitted. I originally wanted to try it myself first and then ask you to refine it if it didn't work out. But my Master praised me greatly after reading it, saying I wrote it well.”

“Oh? How well?”

“She said I wrote it logically, with sufficient facts, and it was clearly based on thorough on-site research...”

Pfft~~, Lin Yuan couldn't help but laugh. Because this so-called on-site research was clearly done by Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan, relying on his work experience from being a delivery rider, understood the delivery industry too well. A young official like Zhang Yan, who didn't even know the rent in Zijin City, knew nothing about on-site research.

“What are you laughing at? Only you are capable.”

“Have you finished the homework your Senior Brother assigned you?”

“What homework?” Zhang Yan looked innocent.

“Then you definitely haven't done it.”

Zhang Yan thought for a moment before remembering, “You told me to research the salary situation of software engineers?”

“Exactly. Research the salary distribution of software engineers. It can be considered a social survey.”

What contributes to society? This is it.

People like Zhang Yan are clearly future successors. Lin Yuan is cultivating future successors. Letting future successors get more grounded is the greatest contribution to society.

“Do I really have to do it?”

“Do you admire Senior Brother?”

“Mm-hmm.” Zhang Yan immediately had a starry-eyed expression.

“Do you want to be as capable as Senior Brother?”

“Mm-hmm-hmm.”

“Senior Brother is teaching you right now, isn't he?”

...