System: Master Your Life

Chapter 1038 - 279: Another New Year’s Eve (Part 1)

[Next Chapter will add more words; staying up late to type is painful]

The day after returning from the Capital City, Xu Lin was back at the lab, continuing his work.

The technology involved in VR is quite extensive.

Even though Xu Lin is only responsible for tackling cutting-edge technology, it’s time-consuming.

This time, he first needed to solve the problem of neural signal decoding and translation, a technology that converts signals transmitted by the human brain into specific actions in the Virtual World.

For instance, if Xu Lin thinks: I want to walk.

The command "I want to walk" is a brain instruction that, through this technology, gets actualized in the Virtual World. Essentially, when Xu Lin logs in via virtual devices like virtual glasses, his consciousness enters the Virtual World, and he can do whatever he wants. It’s like building a brain instruction transmission channel between himself and the Virtual World.

Xu Lin spent eleven days achieving this technological breakthrough.

He was alone in the lab, also acting as the experimental subject, which sometimes posed inconveniences.

Even with the Moon God, the complexity of the technology and the fact that the Moon God lacks a physical form meant Xu Lin had to invest time in hands-on work, affecting efficiency.

Since the Virtual World shouldn’t belong to this era, if it were to manifest, Xu Lin needs to lead a team to overcome numerous related technologies.

After this breakthrough, Xu Lin began focusing on sensory feedback technology.

Sensory feedback technology is about relaying human sensory experiences, like hearing, touch, smell, back to the brain in the Virtual World.

This means humans can experience various sensations in the Virtual World, like tasting food while eating, rather than eating without any flavor or feeling, just seeing themselves eating.

Xu Lin contemplated sensory feedback technology for about ten days but hasn’t yet completed it.

With 2028 approaching, Xu Lin had to pause his work.

Today is already December 31st, the last day of 2027.

Tonight, naturally, it’s the annual New Year’s Eve celebration.

Xu Lin had no particular thoughts on New Year’s Eve, not even wanting to join the crowd.

But several girls asked if he’d join for New Year’s Eve.

Rong Xiyi, Xia Xiyao, and Yu Xinyan all inquired; girls seemed more keen on New Year’s Eve.

Ning Yuhuan was fine with just dinner with Xu Lin; she wasn’t interested in joining the New Year’s Eve excitement.

Jiangdu’s population exceeds 20 million; on New Year’s Eve in some hotspots, it’s crowded, and even finding a place to eat is challenging.

In the afternoon, Xu Lin picked up Ning Yuhuan and went out for a feast.

Ning Yuhuan started her graduation internship on the first day of November; it’s been two months now, enough for the internship. After two more days, she’ll return to school to finish her thesis.

Ning Yuhuan wrote her thesis quickly, with a core body of over 13,000 characters, considered substantial for an undergraduate thesis.

She started writing in November, taking two months. Many at school might not have started yet; some may not even have a thesis topic since the defense isn’t until mid-May next year, allowing plenty of time for the thesis, and many suffer from procrastination.

But Ning Yuhuan already submitted seven versions for Professor Huang’s review. According to Professor Huang, it’s a guaranteed excellent thesis.

Ning Yuhuan has always been earnest and attentive to her studies.

By six o’clock, it was completely dark.

Xu Lin took Ning Yuhuan to a mall for barbecue. When they left, there were over 80 people waiting outside the barbecue restaurant.

The New Year’s Eve crowd is truly enormous.

"Honey, I want to go back."

"So soon? I wanted to take you for a drive."

"No, I need to revise my thesis and read a book later."

Ning Yuhuan smiled and said, "Next semester, when I’m free, I’ll start previewing graduate coursework!"

"Ok, let me take you home then."

Ning Yuhuan is well-organized.

As they passed a clothing store, Xu Lin noticed some beautiful women’s hats, with a group of girls inside picking them out. These hats were quite popular in winter.

On a whim, Xu Lin took Ning Yuhuan inside and bought her a black beret.

These hats are also popular among girls and look pretty nice.

"It looks great."

Xu Lin put it on Ning Yuhuan, "This is your New Year’s gift."

"It looks great!"

Ning Yuhuan checked herself in the mirror, turning around, quite satisfied with Xu Lin’s gift, which she always liked.

"Let’s go, I’ll take you back now."

Xu Lin still had to accompany Yu Xinyan tonight.

As for Rong Xiyi and Xia Xiyao, they would handle New Year’s Eve on their own. Xu Lin had limited capacity, so it was fortunate Ning Yuhuan didn’t want to go out and was heading back to school tonight.

Over half an hour later, Xu Lin dropped Ning Yuhuan off at school.

"Goodbye, honey!"

"Ok."

Soon after, Xu Lin drove away, planning to pick up Yu Xinyan.

At the same time, Ning Yuhuan sent a message over to Yu Xinyan.

"I’ve returned to school."

"Great, thank you, Senior!"

"No worries."

Ning Yuhuan bit her lip, sighed, and returned to school.

Xu Lin wasn’t hers alone; she knew that long ago.

But Ning Yuhuan understood that sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Xu Lin’s love for her was genuine, not pretense.

She truly loved Xu Lin, unchanged from two years ago to now.

Half an hour later, Xu Lin met Yu Xinyan.

She was already waiting for him inside a mall.

"Honey!"

As soon as she saw Xu Lin, Yu Xinyan threw herself at him, hugging him and rubbing her face against his.

Yu Xinyan hadn’t seen Xu Lin for two or three months, her longing indescribable.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, just sent Senior back to school."

"It’s fine."

Yu Xinyan pulled out a cup of pearl milk tea from her bag.

"It’s heated; you liked drinking it in high school!"

Xu Lin wasn’t picky about milk tea; in high school, he didn’t drink fancy ones, just pearl and Red Beans milk tea, even in summer, preferring it heated; only fruit tea had ice.

"You’re thoughtful to remember heating it."

"I remember all your favorites!"

Yu Xinyan’s eyes sparkled with affection.

Xu Lin looked down at her, finding the 20-year-old Yu Xinyan very beautiful; maybe it’s because they hadn’t seen each other in so long.

"Have you eaten?"

"No, I was waiting for you."

"I already ate with Senior, yet you waited for me."

"Then accompany me to eat!"

"Of course!"

Xu Lin took her hand, planning to walk around nearby to find something to eat.

They avoided the mall since it was the most crowded on New Year’s Eve; no need to squeeze in there.

Eventually, they ended up at a Northeastern small restaurant. The owner and staff were a family from Northeast China, very enthusiastic, and the dishes were generous in size.

They ordered three dishes; although Xu Lin had just eaten, eating again was no big deal for him.

"Honey, you’re so handsome!"

Yu Xinyan didn’t eat much, and as Xu Lin cleaned up, she rested her face on her hands, gazing at him.

"You silly, haven’t I always been handsome?"

"Humph, haven’t seen you for a while, think you’ve gotten even more handsome."

"Maybe it’s my new hairstyle."

Xu Lin drank some egg soup and asked, "Want to celebrate New Year’s tonight?"

"Mm-hmm, New Year’s! We’re twenty now; we should celebrate and make memories!"

"Alright, I’ll celebrate with you."

Xu Lin checked the time; it was just past nine, over two hours until midnight.