Chapter 1

Yancheng.

Tian's Barbecue Restaurant.

Tang Song patted his burning cheeks and exhaled a breath of air heavy with the scent of alcohol.

He turned on the faucet, cupped the cold tap water in his hands, and splashed it on his face.

He took out his phone to check the time.

【22:02】

This department team-building event, which had lasted all day, was finally coming to an end.

He returned to the private room.

He pretended to quickly blend back into his colleagues' conversation.

A harmless smile on his face, Tang Song chimed in from time to time.

The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

Director Chen Yunteng raised his glass, spoke a few pleasantries with a glowing face, casually painted a grand picture of the future, and brought today's team-building to a perfect close.

He walked out the front door of the barbecue restaurant.

A chilly evening breeze hit his face as his colleagues bid each other farewell.

"See you Monday, bye~"

"Remember to post in the group when you get home."

"Director Chen, be careful on the road, bye."

"Let's go together, Tang Song, we're heading in the same direction!"

In the black Nissan Teana.

Two female colleagues were chatting heatedly in the back seat.

Tang Song leaned against the back of the passenger seat, eyes half-closed, his face expressionless.

Having joined Jinxiu Trading for over four months, he had poured all his energy into the development of the company's new SCM (Supply Chain Management) system.

He held multiple roles, independently completing everything from requirements analysis and system architecture to functional development and code deployment.

After the system went live, it greatly improved work efficiency and effectively reduced procurement costs, earning high praise from the company's top leadership.

This filled Tang Song, a new employee, with a sense of accomplishment, and he fantasized about the promotion and raise the leadership had promised.

However, reality dealt him a heavy blow.

The success of the SCM system ultimately became the credit of the department's Director Chen, complete with public commendations, a promotion in rank, and rumored stock options.

The project's maintenance work was also transferred to Du Shaokai, a colleague with connections.

Tang Song was assigned to the development of a new project, continuing to burn himself out for the company.

A series of unfair treatments made him feel terribly miserable, and he began to consider resigning.

Perhaps sensing his thoughts.

During today's team-building, Director Chen privately indicated that he would apply for a 10% raise for him next month.

He told him to work steadily and promised he wouldn't be treated unfairly in the future.

After struggling for a while, Tang Song finally accepted it.

He had only been made a permanent employee for a month, had rented a place near the company, bought an electric scooter, and had gotten to know his colleagues well.

Resigning now would mean the sunk costs were too high.

Moreover, the overall economic environment was poor, and Jinxiu Trading was already his most ideal choice.

Two days ago, his mother called to say a new residential project had opened in their hometown and asked him to find time to go back and take a look.

While he was deep in thought, Zhao Yue in the back seat suddenly patted his shoulder, "Brother Song! You seem so listless today, don't tell me you're heartbroken?"

Tang Song reined in his emotions and mocked himself, "First of all, I'd need to have a partner."

Zhao Yue covered her mouth and giggled, "Brother Song, you're actually quite excellent—outstanding ability, handsome features, and tall, it's just that your weight is a bit over the limit. Hurry up and lose weight and build muscle; the young girls in our company would definitely be lining up to chase you!"

Tang Song touched the thick fat on his stomach and said helplessly, "Then I'll work hard."

"Go for it!" Zhao Yue made a cute expression while clenching her fist.

Hu Mingli beside her blinked and teased, "Little Yue, Tang Song is such a good potential stock, why haven't you snatched him up yet?"

"Sister Mingli, I suspect you're testing me—don't tell me you have ideas about Brother Song!?"

"Haha, how about we compete fairly?"

"Then I have to admit defeat, after all, you've got a bigger chest!"

The two slightly tipsy female colleagues pushed and teased each other, but neither took it seriously.

Tang Song was indeed a very good person—enthusiastic, sincere, and motivated, with impeccable work ability; he had previously worked at a large internet company in the Imperial Capital and was recognized as the best backend developer in their department.

However, his family background was a bit poor, a typical rural youth, and buying a house in Yancheng was indefinitely far off.

There were no highlights in his appearance either; his style was casual, his hairstyle sloppy, and he was a bit fat.

As a colleague or friend, he was absolutely fine.

As for a deeper relationship? Better forget it.

Qingxin Jiayuan Residential Community.

Tang Song tossed his backpack aside and collapsed onto the bed.

The alcohol gradually surged up, and exhaustion, disappointment, and helplessness instantly swallowed him.

After a long while, he turned on his side, opened WeChat, and said in the department group: "Home now."

Then he clicked on the "luck-based red packet" sent by Director Chen, claimed three yuan and twenty cents, and sent a "Thank you, boss" sticker.

He opened his Moments and scrolled aimlessly through the screen.

Like an outsider, he silently browsed the updates of his "friends," both familiar and strange.

Some showed off their daily lives, some showed off their partners, some lived peaceful lives, and some were striving for success.

It seemed that everyone except him was living very happily.

Without realizing it, a familiar photo caught his eye.

【Deng Yazi: "Accidentally dug out our high school graduation photo, old classmates, are you all doing well?"】

His scrolling finger stopped involuntarily.

Tang Song quickly found himself in the photo, his gaze slightly dazed.

At that time, he was about to enter university, full of youth, optimistic and cheerful, with his "white moonlight" by his side, feeling that life was full of hope.

And the 25-year-old him? Single, overweight, no car, no house, his work and life a complete mess.

He casually liked the post, put his phone down, sat at his computer desk, put on his headphones, and prepared to play some games to relax.

Every stage of life has things that can only be understood at that stage.

In the few years since graduation, he had recognized reality and had his edges smoothed down by life.

To put it more nicely, he had matured.

He still liked the things he liked, but he no longer forced them, which is why he left the Imperial Capital and said goodbye to his "white moonlight."

He still hated the things he hated, but he could endure them, which is why he blended into the group and accepted unfairness.

The game "Male God Growth Plan" suddenly appeared on Tang Song's computer during his senior year.

It was possible he had accidentally downloaded it while browsing study materials.

Because the icon was large and white, Tang Song clicked into it with a critical attitude, wanting to see what it was all about.

He didn't expect to play it for three years, and it was also a major factor in his weight gain.

This was a male god cultivation game with simulation management as its core.

The art style was beautiful, the sound effects top-tier, the settings complete, the gameplay extremely unique, and it didn't require spending money.

The game's plot was set against the backdrop of the real world.

Including maps, events, financial markets, enterprises, policies, environment, etc., all remained consistent with the real world.

More importantly, the timeline in the game started from 2016.

Living in 2020, Tang Song, holding a search engine, possessed a golden finger of foresight in the game.

He knew the trends of stocks and futures, knew the upcoming industry hotspots, knew which companies would become unicorns, knew which future movies, songs, and artists would become huge hits...

Moreover, every character in the game had their own storyline, and players could see their growth, life, and joys and sorrows.

The immersion was directly maxed out!

The Tang Song in the game fulfilled his male god dream and also fully experienced the fun of being a billionaire, surrounded by beauties, at the pinnacle of power.

But a game is a game after all.

In reality, he was just a miserable wage slave, with no house, no car, no girlfriend, his life a mess, and he had to swallow his pride at work.

Tang Song shook his head, no longer letting his mind wander.

He entered the game, checked unread notifications, claimed mission rewards, bought new items...

After some skilled operations, he returned to the main interface.

The mouse in Tang Song's hand paused, his gaze fixed on the timeline within the game.

【April 1, 2023】

And the current internet time was 23:50 on April 1, 2023.

Due to the difference in time flow, the timelines of the game and reality were about to overlap.

As a game set against the backdrop of the real world, Tang Song was very curious about how the plot would develop next.

He licked his dry lips.

He casually picked up a bottle of "fatty happy water" (soda).

He called his beloved Secretary Jin over to report on work.

While drinking the happy water, he admired the silk-stockinged beautiful legs and slender waist and curvy hips on the screen.

All his worries dissipated, and his mood instantly brightened.

Although everything in the game was fake, the happiness it brought him was real.

As time crossed midnight, the rhythmic BGM in the headphones suddenly stopped.

The date in the game changed accordingly.

【April 2, 2023】

Immediately after, beautiful game animations began to play automatically on the screen.

Starting from the story in 2016, one game character after another appeared, one wonderful plot after another unfolded, and the achievements, titles, badges, and items obtained flashed by from time to time.

Reviewing the entire game journey.

The screen gradually fell silent, with only the sound of "tap, tap, tap" footsteps approaching from afar.

The player "Tang Song" slowly walked in from outside the frame.

Dressed in a sharp suit, his posture elegant and upright, his gait confident and calm.

He stood still in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor of the building, overlooking the brilliant city night scene beneath his feet, carrying an indescribable charm.

The camera panned from top to bottom, and the screen finally froze on his back.

A line of striking text appeared in the middle of the screen.

【The story seems to have ended here; you have awakened from a long dream and embraced the real world once again. Congratulations, player!】

"Holy crap! Don't tell me I cleared the game? It's over just like this!?"

Tang Song was shocked, leaned forward, grabbed the mouse and clicked frantically, and then heavily tapped the keyboard.

The game screen didn't change at all.

Tang Song felt a chill in his heart.

He had invested deep emotions into this game.

The realistic background and unique immersion made him feel as if he were truly cultivating elites, developing enterprises, gathering wealth, and improving himself.

And from now on, the ups and downs of the story in the game came to an abrupt end, and one vivid character after another disconnected from him.

A strong sense of loss and detachment surged in.

Tang Song's breathing became heavy.

"Ding—" A crisp notification sound suddenly rang out.

The game on the computer screen disappeared directly, and the interface turned into the Windows desktop.

Tang Song's vision blurred for a moment.

Whoosh! A light screen full of sci-fi colors unfolded before him.

【Player Confirmed】

【System Resources Loading... 1%... 50%... 100%】

【Completed】