Great-Grandfather's small house... no, big house, with four floors: two above ground plus an attic, and a cellar storage room underground.
Simon's bedroom was arranged on the second floor. This floor had a hallway in the middle, running north-south. The master bedroom was on the east, and two guest bedrooms were on the west, but they were used to hoard miscellaneous items. Lu Xuefeng spent an hour and three minutes tidying up one of them into a presentable room. Simon even saw a pile of fat, round rats in a corner when he first entered. In the dark room, their glowing green eyes stared unblinkingly at the grandfather and grandson, completely unafraid of people.
After tidying up the bedroom, Lu Xuefeng buried the rat corpses along with the thick layer of dust in the muddy ground by the entrance.
While the old man was busy, Simon noticed a colorful tattoo on his back. His sweat-soaked white shirt was translucent, and large areas of the tattoo were faintly visible.
Lu Xuefeng turned and smiled at him, "Xiao Lu, wait a little longer, I'll get you a mattress."
Simon was stunned, a bit bewildered, with countless thoughts swirling in his mind.
What kind of person is this Great-Grandfather?
Lu Xuefeng retrieved a mattress from the attic. It was an old-fashioned mattress, not exactly rare, but not something you'd see everywhere either. Nowadays, people use high-tech mattresses at home, which are not only temperature-controlled but also have massage functions and can contour to the body's curves, making the sleeper feel as if they're floating on clouds. The one Lu Xuefeng held had a camouflage pattern, likely a traveler's sleeping pad. It rolled up into a short bundle and could accommodate one or two people when unrolled.
This kind of thing was quite popular twenty years ago, when people became affluent and the number of backpackers increased.
The twenty-square-meter guest room, after being tidied up, with torn wallpaper patched, furniture meticulously wiped with a damp cloth, and the air conditioner ventilated and dusted, looked quite nice under the soft light.
Simon officially moved in with his bag.
Today was January 16, 2082, the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, a Friday.
Simon lay on the bed for a while. The bedding was cool, but thankfully not damp; it must have been dried. As long as it wasn't damp, it could always be warmed up. There was an air conditioner in the room, but the heating wasn't very strong. It seemed the air conditioner also had some issues, humming loudly when operating, making one suspect a thousand bees were buzzing around their ears.
Checking the time, it was almost two in the afternoon. Simon opened his inbox, no messages.
Why?
Did his friends forget him? Oh, they're traveling, maybe they're in the middle of their trip and quite busy.
But what about his parents? They didn't even comfort him! Could it be that they drank 'forget-the-kid' milk?
Simon started laughing to himself as he thought about it. Since he had nothing to do, he took out his VR equipment and started his online class.
He had enrolled in an art class that used virtual drawing boards online, which required VR, or virtual reality equipment: a head-mounted display and a pair of controllers. This technology had been developing for over half a century, but it still hadn't broken free from its limitations.
With VR, the biggest concern is the user's environmental constraints. Although current algorithms incorporate non-Euclidean geometry, allowing for the compression of large virtual spaces so users can explore vast areas in relatively confined environments, this is still a temporary solution.
People now say that the breakthrough for VR lies in neural connections, directly converting digital signals into neural signals for the brain, allowing people to enjoy immersive experiences even in their sleep.
Unfortunately, the VR simulation pod scam, which shocked the world, severely eroded public confidence, leading to widespread underinvestment in tech companies specializing in this field. Many went out of business, others transitioned, and some even reportedly moved into the food industry.
However, some larger companies are still persevering. Almost every three to five days, one hears about a new breakthrough in VR from a certain lab, and the hype remains high. Perhaps one day, you'll wake up to find simulation pods officially on sale.
Simon put on the lightweight VR glasses, and before his eyes appeared a morning beach. There was a hazy white light on the distant horizon, and the sky above showed a soft-simulated deep space tableau. The famous Crab Nebula drifted in the southeastern sky, and the Milky Way hung high, vibrant and splendid.
This was his custom-set operating interface. He opened the online class software and began another day of learning.
Learning is truly joyful... not really.
Simon repeatedly sketched lines, then deleted them and started over.
How great would it be if his system was a foolproof one that allowed him to learn without studying? Alas, even with insight points for learning, he still had to practice diligently again and again. And talent truly matters; without that aptitude, no amount of practice would yield significant results.
The only advantage was that skills acquired with insight points would not be forgotten by the body. This meant that after Simon learned modern combat, even if he didn't practice for ten years, he would still be just as agile when fighting—provided his physical fitness was sufficient. The techniques wouldn't be forgotten, but physical functions would still decline.
Similarly, if he used insight points to learn a language, even if he didn't practice for years, he would still be able to speak fluently—as long as his throat wasn't damaged and his tongue wasn't cut.
Ding—
Simon was absentmindedly drawing lines when the system suddenly popped up a message. Checking the system in VR gave him a feeling of a Russian nesting doll.
Let's check the message. He didn't expect that in this day and age, a broken system would be the one that cared about him most.
"You have a new specialty."
Oh, a pleasant surprise! Let me see what good things my most considerate little system can bring...
[Daydreaming (Rare)]: You often have thoughts that are out of sync with the times. Combined with your unusual precociousness, this gives people the impression that you are an imaginative daydreamer.
Effect: Personality charm slightly increased, non-linear thinking strengthened.
Simon: I really thank you, you bastard!
Xiao Lu was so angry his hands trembled. The smooth curve he was drawing suddenly turned into a Picasso abstract painting. He angrily threw the virtual drawing board far into the sea. You little broken system, who gave you this bad habit? Why are all your comments so sarcastic? Is the legendary Maoming Onmyoji hiding in the system?
Online class software warning: "Please continue learning. Your behavior will be recorded by the system."
Simon paused for a moment, then brought up another drawing board.
Learning is a very high-pressure thing.
Throughout the afternoon, Simon practiced drawing basics for two hours, then watched a popular science drama for an hour and a half. By half past five, Great-Grandfather knocked on the door.
Lu Xuefeng didn't wait for Simon to open the door; he just said it was time to eat, then went downstairs.
Simon obediently ran into the living room, only to find that there was a guest.
A tall, thin young man with a scruffy beard was already sitting at the dining table. His greasy long hair covered his head like a deerstalker hat. He held a rice bowl and was using chopsticks to stir something in the induction cooker. The rich aroma of mushrooms wafted into Simon's nose. He swore he had never seen such a hateful and impolite person.
What kind of guest starts eating without waiting for the host?
The young man turned and smiled at Simon, looking a bit shy, which completely contradicted his bold actions. However, as soon as he spoke, his manners were exposed, "Hey kid, come eat. Let's eat first and let your Great-Grandfather starve."
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