Chapter 432: Miracle
Rental apartment, computer, printer.
Jiang Shu stared blankly at the familiar yet strange furnishings.
A few minutes later, a complex expression slowly emerged in Jiang Shu's eyes.
Although the real world was still at the moment he was playing the game, for Jiang Shu, a very long time had passed.
He got up and walked to the window, opened it, and looked at the stars twinkling in the sky outside, taking a deep breath of the air from the real world.
“I’m back…”
At two in the morning, the City That Never Sleeps still had countless tall buildings lit up with scattered lights.
The City That Never Sleeps at dawn was a time for the city's wealthiest to indulge, and also one of the few personal times for people like Jiang Shu, who left their hometowns to work in the City That Never Sleeps for a living.
“Oh, right!” Jiang Shu quickly returned to the computer. The game icon he had clicked countless times on the desktop was now nowhere to be found.
Jiang Shu, unwilling to give up, searched online but still found no trace of related content.
“It’s gone?!”
Jiang Shu looked at this scene in confusion. This wasn't logical.
Why?
Suddenly, a phantom image appeared before Jiang Shu’s eyes.
Dream (Unique)
Introduction: A miracle born from dreams. Once all anchor points are activated, the miracle of the dream will reappear in the world.
Anchor Points:
?(Inactive)
?(Inactive)
?(Inactive)
“???”
I didn't go back? Am I still in the Bond World?
Jiang Shu quickly checked various groups. Yes, they had all debuted, and everything that was supposed to happen had already happened.
But this bond…?
Jiang Shu's eyes focused on the word “Dream” for a second.
Dream (Unique)
Unique Effect: Bestows the power of bonds upon artists pursuing their dreams.
Message: Dreams do not shine; it is always the people pursuing them who are dazzling. What will you do with this miraculous power?
Jiang Shu's mouth gradually widened.
“What the f***?!”
Bestow the power of bonds upon artists?
Jiang Shu immediately thought of Girls' Generation.
Girls' Generation in the real world truly existed; even if they had gone their separate ways, they could still reunite.
But Jiang Shu dismissed the thought a second later.
Not to mention whether the Girls' Generation members would be willing to return, just how he, an office worker, would even contact these top K-pop artists was a huge problem.
Then… TWICE?
Even more impossible.
As JYP's only cash cow girl group, someone unknown wanting to lead TWICE?
Dream on. The difficulty was no less than bringing Girls' Generation back for a comeback.
Then… IZONE?
Okay, why would he have such unrealistic thoughts?
Jiang Shu couldn't help but scratch his head.
“I really get into character quickly, don't I? I just got back and I'm already thinking about how to reform bonds.”
“By the way, how do I use this bond?” Jiang Shu looked at “Dream” again. It really didn't say how to use it.
Wait.
Artists pursuing their dreams…
Could it be?
A bold guess gradually emerged in his mind.
“That's right.” Jiang Shu suddenly snapped back to reality and quickly ran to the computer to search.
After browsing for a while, Jiang Shu quickly closed the webpage and opened a new folder.
More than three hours later…
Jiang Shu stood up from his computer desk, stretched in place, and nodded in satisfaction at the contents of the folder.
With these songs, he could make other plans later.
He checked the time; it was already past three in the morning, almost four.
“Time to sleep.”
When it got light, he would resign and move to a different living environment.
Jiang Shu looked around his small rental room. Although not large, it was his sanctuary in this city.
He had entered society not long after leaving the ivory tower of university and had stayed there until now.
Having spent four years in the Bond World, returning to this rental room now gave him a strange feeling of life's impermanence.
Jiang Shu shook his head, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and closed the window. It was March, and the night wind was still quite cool, making him feel a bit chilly.
He drew the curtains, went back to the computer, packed all his work-related content into a folder, and sent it to his boss's email.
Although his boss was quite cunning, liked to take small advantages, and occasionally made various arbitrary rules to oppress employees, honestly, his boss had treated him quite well, at least in terms of salary, providing a level above the Shanghai market standard. From this perspective alone, his boss was good to him.
Resignation is one thing, but since he took their salary, these things should be left for the boss.
After making the decision, Jiang Shu also relaxed, and a wave of fatigue washed over him.
It's done; time to sleep!
…
Exiting the company's main gate, Jiang Shu stood on the bustling street, looking up at the towering buildings, feeling a sense of relaxation he had never experienced before.
After quitting his job, Jiang Shu truly understood what it meant to be free from worries.
He hadn't really enjoyed himself much in the Bond World; every day was busier than when he was an employee.
“My head is full of you, my heart is full of you~~~” Jiang Shu took out his phone from his pocket. Caller: Landlord Uncle Fang.
“Hello, Uncle Fang.” Jiang Shu answered the landlord's call.
“Xiao Jiang, I saw your message on WeChat. You're not planning to rent anymore?”
“Yes, there have been some changes in my career plan, and my work location is a bit far from here, so I'm looking for a different place to rent,” Jiang Shu said with a smile.
“Then your previously paid rent won't be refunded, only your deposit,” the landlord said.
“Don't worry, Uncle Fang, I understand. Strictly speaking, this counts as me breaking the contract,” Jiang Shu said cheerfully.
He paid rent once a quarter, and he had only lived there for less than two months this quarter. If the landlord refunded the remaining rent, it would be out of kindness; if not, it was also perfectly fine.
“Hmm, alright. How soon will you move out? It's not that I'm rushing you, I just want to know a rough time so I can put up the rental listing again,” the landlord inquired.
“I'll look for a place these two days, and I'll contact you once I find a new one.”
“Okay, good. If you need any help, just say so. Your Uncle Fang is an old Shanghai native.” Landlords usually like tenants like Jiang Shu, who don't cause trouble, and don't mind offering him a little help.
After all, anyone who's been a landlord knows how tormenting it is to deal with difficult tenants, which is one reason many landlords hand their properties over to agents or simply let sub-landlords manage them.
“Okay.” Jiang Shu resisted saying “Shanghai boss” and responded with a smile.
Ending the call with his landlord, Jiang Shu glanced at the time on his phone and stepped into the crowd.
