As they walked across campus, Fan Xian clapped Lin Yun on the shoulder. "Don't let Bai Zheng get to you, man. He's just jealous. You're already making waves, and we haven't even started classes yet."
Lin Yun smiled. "I'm not worried. We're all here to grow. If he wants to compete, that's his choice."
Li Shun nodded. "You're really calm about all this. I admire that."
Lin Yun shrugged. "There's no point in wasting energy on negativity. Life is too short for that."
In his past life, Lin Yun had met various kinds of people. People like Bai Zheng, who only knew how to rely on his family, were not worth paying attention to. It would be lucky if they didn't ruin their family's fortune in the future.
The cafeteria was a lively place, filled with the chatter of students and the clatter of trays. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, mingling with the faint scent of cleaning supplies. Lin Yun, Fan Xian, and Li Shun found a table near the window, where the soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the glass.
As they sat down with their trays, Lin Yun felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. In his past life, he had been so focused on academic performance and climbing the corporate ladder that he had barely taken the time to enjoy the simple pleasures of campus life. He had been driven, yes, but he had also been lonely, always chasing the next goal without pausing to savor the journey.
This time, he vowed it would be different. He would build his tech empire, yes, but he would also embrace the joys of youth—friendships, late-night conversations, and the thrill of discovering new passions. He glanced at Fan Xian and Li Shun, who were already digging into their meals, and felt a sense of camaraderie that he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"So, Li Shun," Lin Yun began, breaking the comfortable silence. "How did you get into computers? I know it's not easy to access technology in rural areas."
Li Shun looked up, a bit surprised by the question. He hesitated for a moment, then smiled shyly. "Actually, it's because of a donation. Last year, a company donated a few computers to my school. It was the first time I'd ever seen one up close."
"I was fascinated by how they worked, so I spent every spare moment learning about them. My teacher noticed my interest and gave me some books to study. I taught myself the basics, and… well, here I am."
Lin Yun nodded, impressed. "That's incredible. You taught yourself?"
"Yeah," Li Shun said, his voice tinged with pride. "It wasn't easy, but I believed that computers would be the future. I wanted to be part of that."
"You're absolutely right," Lin Yun said, his tone encouraging. "Computers are the future. They're going to change the way we live, work, and communicate. You've got a great foundation, and with the resources here at West Lake, you're going to go far."
Li Shun's eyes lit up at Lin Yun's words. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from you."
Fan Xian, who had been listening intently, leaned forward. "Speaking of computers, Brother Lin, I heard you're the brains behind QuickBooks. Is that true?"
Lin Yun chuckled. "Guilty as charged. It's just a small project I worked on."
"Small project?" Fan Xian exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief. "Dude, QuickBooks is everywhere! My dad's company uses it, and he says it's revolutionized their accounting. He even tried to get me to intern there this summer, but I told him I wanted to focus on my studies."
Li Shun's eyes widened. "Wait, you created QuickBooks? That's amazing! I've read about it in the tech magazines. It's one of the most innovative software solutions out there."
Lin Yun shrugged modestly. "It's just a tool to make people's lives easier. I'm glad it's been helpful."
Fan Xian shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "You're something else, Brother Lin. Most people would be bragging nonstop if they'd done half of what you've accomplished. But here you are, acting like it's no big deal."
Lin Yun smiled. "There's still a lot to do. QuickBooks is just the beginning."
The conversation flowed easily after that, with Fan Xian and Li Shun asking Lin Yun about his experiences and sharing their own dreams.
Fan Xian talked about his passion for cybersecurity and his desire to work in the military's tech division, while Li Shun spoke about his hope to bring technology to rural areas, ensuring that no one was left behind in the digital age.
Lin Yun listened intently, offering advice and encouragement where he could. He admired their drive and determination, and he felt a sense of responsibility to help them succeed. After all, he had been given a second chance at life, and he wanted to use it to make a difference—not just for himself, but for others as well.
As the evening wore on, the cafeteria began to empty out, the noise level dropping to a soft hum. Lin Yun leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of contentment that he hadn't felt in a long time.
For the first time in what felt like forever, he was truly present, enjoying the moment without worrying about the next big project or the next big goal.
***
Federal States, Megasoft Company.
Inside the private room, Billy Doors looked at Barry Sage and said with a smile, "Congratulations. Your user base has increased significantly."
Barry Sage chuckled and said, "Don't mention it. That Cloud Browser is indeed an era-defining product."
Billy Doors took a sip of coffee and asked, "What do you think about this rising star, Lin Yun?"
"Well, from David's words, he's indeed a genius. An 18-year-old teenager who can actually come up with so many revolutionary products by himself. 'Genius' is in fact a weak word to describe him," Barry Sage said with admiration.
He paused for a moment and sighed. "Unfortunately, he isn't one of ours. It's understandable, actually. I wouldn't work under anyone either if I were him."
Billy Doors smiled and said, "You're right. He's beyond a genius. But I can see that he's new to the game. He has no idea what's coming for him next."
The two stared at each other for a moment and laughed.
Lin Yun had no idea that the two of them planned to take something from him soon. Barry Sage's Booble would take all the users from him, while Billy Doors' newly developed browser would launch a killing blow at the end…