Chapter 69: Dungeon Cleared

Yancheng.

Tian’s Barbecue Shop.

Tang Song patted his hot face and spat out a turbid breath with the smell of alcohol.

.C〇

Turning on the faucet, he cupped the cold tap water and wiped his face.

Taking out his phone to check the time.

[22:02]

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

Returning to the private room.

Pretending to quickly integrate into the colleagues' topics.

Tang Song had a harmless smile on his face, occasionally echoing a few words.

The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Director Chen Yunteng raised his glass, said a few scene words with a glowing face, casually drew a big pie, and also drew a perfect end to today's team building.

Walking out of the barbecue shop door.

The slightly cold evening breeze blew on his face, and colleagues said goodbye to each other.

"See you Monday, bye~"

"Remember to say something in the group when you get home."

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

"Let's go together, Tang Song, we're just on the way!"

…

In the black Nissan Teana.

Two female colleagues were chatting enthusiastically in the back row.

Tang Song leaned on the back of the passenger seat, half-closing his eyes, expressionless.

Having joined Jinxiu Trading for more than four months, all his energy had been invested in the development of the company's new SCM (Supply Chain Management) system.

He held multiple positions alone, from requirement analysis and system architecture to functional development and code deployment, all completed independently by him.

After the system went online, it greatly improved work efficiency, effectively reduced procurement costs, and received high praise from the company's top leaders.

This made Tang Song, as a new employee, full of a sense of achievement, imagining the promotion and salary increase promised by the leader.

However, reality dealt him a heavy blow.

The success of the SCM system eventually became the credit of Director Chen of the department; commendations, rank promotion, and reportedly even stock option incentives.

The maintenance work of the project was also transferred to Du Shaokai, a colleague with a background.

Tang Song was arranged to develop new projects, continuing to shine for the company.

A series of unfair treatments made him feel terrible, and he had thoughts of resigning.

Perhaps seeing his thoughts.

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

Telling him to work steadily and that he would definitely not treat him badly in the future.

After struggling for a long time, Tang Song finally accepted it.

He had only been regularized for more than a month, rented a house near the company, bought an electric scooter, and got familiar with his colleagues.

If he resigned now, the sunk cost was too high.

Moreover, the general environment was not good, and Jinxiu Trading was already his most ideal choice.

Two days ago, his mother called and said that a new real estate project had opened in his hometown, asking him to find time to go back and take a look.

While deep in thought, Zhao Yue in the back row suddenly patted his shoulder: "Brother Song! You look listless today, you wouldn't be heartbroken, would you?"

Tang Song restrained his emotions and mocked himself: "First of all, I need to have a partner."

Zhao Yue covered her mouth and chuckled: "Brother Song, you are actually quite excellent, capable, handsome, and tall; it's just that your weight is a bit over the limit. Hurry up and lose weight and build muscle; the girls in our company will definitely 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 with her fist.

Hu Mingli next to her blinked and teased: "Little Yue, Tang Song is such a good potential stock, why don't you hurry up and take him?"

"Sister Mingli, I suspect you are testing me; you wouldn't have ideas about Brother Song, would you!?"

"Haha, how about we compete fairly?"

"Then I have to admit defeat, after all, you have big breasts!"

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; his work ability was also impeccable. He once worked in a large internet company in the Imperial Capital and was recognized as the best backend technician in their department.

However, his family conditions were a bit poor; he was an ordinary rural youth, and buying a house in Yancheng was a long way off.

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

As a colleague or friend, that was absolutely no problem.

As for deeper development? Forget it.

……

Qingxin Garden residential area.

Tang Song threw his backpack aside and fell onto the bed.

The alcohol gradually surged, and fatigue, 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 "lucky red packet" sent by Director Chen, claimed three yuan and two cents, and sent a "Thank you, boss" sticker.

Opening Moments, he scrolled aimlessly across the screen.

He was like an outsider, silently browsing the updates of familiar and unfamiliar "friends."

Some were showing off their daily lives, some were showing off their partners, some were living a quiet life, and some were striving for success.

It seemed that except for him, everyone was living very happily.

Before he knew it, a familiar photo caught his eye.

[Deng Yazi: "Accidentally found the graduation photo from high school, old classmates, are you all okay?"]

His scrolling finger stopped involuntarily.

Tang Song quickly found his own figure in it, his eyes slightly lost.

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

And the 25-year-old him? Single, overweight, no car, no house, life in a mess.

Casually liking this update, Tang Song put down his phone, sat at the computer desk, put on his headphones, and prepared to play a game to relax.

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

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

To put it more nicely, he had matured.

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

He still hated the things he hated, but he could endure them, so he integrated into the group and accepted unfairness.

……

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

It might have been downloaded accidentally while browsing study materials.

Because the icon was big and white, Tang Song clicked in with a critical attitude, wanting to find out.

Unexpectedly, he played it for three years, which was also a major factor in his weight gain.

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

The art style was beautiful, the sound effects were top-notch, the settings were perfect, the gameplay was extremely unique, and there was no need to spend money.

The game plot was based on the real world.

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

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

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

He knew the trends of stocks and futures, knew the next industrial outlets, knew which companies would become unicorns, knew which movies, songs, and artists would become popular in the future...

And every character in the game had their own story line; players could see their growth, life, and joys and sorrows.

The sense of immersion was directly maxed out!

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

But a game is a game after all.

The real him was just a miserable wage earner, no house, no car, no girlfriend, life was a mess, and he had to swallow his anger at work.

Tang Song shook his head, no longer letting his imagination run wild.

Entering the game, checking unread notifications, claiming task rewards, buying new items...

After operating skillfully, he returned to the main interface.

The mouse in Tang Song’s hand stopped, and his gaze turned to the timeline in the game.

[April 1, 2023]

And the current network 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 based on the real world, Tang Song was very curious about how the plot would develop next.

Licking his dry lips.

Casually picking up a bottle of "fat house happy water" (cola).

Calling his beloved Secretary Jin over to report on work.

While "gulping" the happy water, he admired the silk-stocking beautiful legs and slender waist on the screen.

All worries dissipated, and his mood instantly brightened.

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

…

As time crossed 0 o'clock, the rhythmic BGM in the headphones suddenly stopped.

The date in the game changed accordingly.

[April 2, 2023]

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

Starting from the story of 2016, one game character after another appeared, one wonderful plot after another was performed, and the achievements, titles, badges, and items obtained slid by from time to time.

Reviewing the entire game journey.

The screen gradually quieted down, with only the sound of "tap-tap-tap" footsteps approaching from afar.

Player "Tang Song" walked slowly from outside the lens.

Dressed in a suit, with an elegant and upright posture, walking confidently and calmly.

He stood still in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor of the building, overlooking the dazzling city night view under his feet, with an indescribable charm on him.

The lens flowed from top to bottom, and the screen finally froze on his back.

An eye-catching line of text appeared in the middle of the screen.

[The story seems to have ended here; you woke up from a long dream and embraced the real world once again, congratulations player!]

"Damn! Did I clear the game? Is it over just like this!?"

Tang Song was shocked, leaned forward, picked up the mouse and clicked wildly, and then knocked heavily on the keyboard.

The game screen didn't change at all.

Tang Song felt a chill in his heart.

He had invested deep feelings in this game.

The realistic background and unique sense of 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 in the game came to an abrupt end, and one vivid character after another disconnected from him.

A strong sense of loss and fragmentation surged in.

Tang Song’s breathing became heavy.

"Ding—" A crisp prompt sounded suddenly.

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

Tang Song’s vision blurred for a moment.

Swish! A light screen full of sci-fi colors unfolded in front of him.

[Player confirmed]

[System resources loading... 1%... 50%... 100%]

[Completed]