novelraw Chapter 363: Sleep Again, [Dream System]
Chapter 363: Sleep Again, [Dream System]
"Hey, Tang Song, are you okay?"
Liu Qingning waved a hand in front of his face, then reached out and pinched his cheek.
"Uh…" Tang Song shuddered and slowly returned to his senses. "What’s wrong?"
"You suddenly spaced out, just staring at that earphone. It’s been almost half a minute—you looked like you were asleep. Are you too exhausted from studying?"
Tang Song blinked blankly, then said awkwardly, "Maybe a little."
He had only been looking at the earphone for a moment, but somehow, he had drifted off.
Maybe he really was too tired.
Ever since June 6, 2015, when Liu Qingning wrote him that letter with the words "See you at the top," he had buried all his distracting thoughts.
Every day, he immersed himself in studying, working tirelessly, pushing forward, catching up—
His grades had started skyrocketing.Now, with just four months left until the college entrance exams, he wanted to give it his all and see if he could get into Beijing.
Because he knew that Liu Qingning had always dreamed of attending Imperial University, and with her grades, it was practically guaranteed.
Unlike high school, college wasn’t just about endless studying.
If they could go to Beijing together, they could have the kind of romantic stories straight out of a novel.
For 18-year-old Tang Song,
Careers, money, housing—those were all distant, vague concepts.
He hadn’t given any thought to where his future might lead.
The only thing that had ever truly driven him forward was Liu Qingning.
The collision of hormones and youthful passion had filled his entire adolescence with longing.
Seeing Tang Song spacing out again, Liu Qingning bit her lip and said softly, "After dinner, wanna go for a walk around the track together?"
"Yeah, sure!" Tang Song instantly brightened. "Let me put up a lost-and-found notice at the bulletin board first. I wanna see who else has such great taste to buy the exact same earphones as mine."
Afternoon Classes
The afternoon classes were long and monotonous.
Tang Song forced himself to focus and immerse himself completely.
The school year had just started after the New Year, and technically, school wasn’t even officially open yet.
But as seniors, they had been forced to end their vacation early and return to school.
5:40 PM - Dismissal
"Ding ding ding—dong—"
The pleasant sound of the dismissal bell rang out.
The once-quiet classroom, where only the rustling of pages and scribbling of pens could be heard, instantly erupted into noise.
Students flooded out, rushing toward the cafeteria like a tidal wave.
The sun was already sinking, and the crimson glow of the sunset painted the sky.
The entire campus was draped in a dreamlike veil of golden light.
Tang Song held a small vocabulary book in his hand, his head tilted slightly as he admired Liu Qingning’s stunning side profile up close.
His lips curled into a subtle, happy smile.
As the top student of Jing County No. 1 High School, coupled with her gorgeous looks and perfect figure, Liu Qingning was the kind of girl everyone admired from afar.
No matter where she went, she attracted countless gazes of admiration.
But the only boy who could walk beside her, chat with her, and joke around like this—
Was him.
That special privilege greatly satisfied his vanity.
Cafeteria
Entering the East Cafeteria, a wave of noise and chatter hit them instantly.
Liu Qingning raised her voice over the crowd. "Tang Song, you go find a seat first. I’ll queue up for food—don’t waste time! Use the extra minutes to memorize some more vocabulary words!"
"Got it!" Tang Song pulled out his meal card and handed it to her. "Here, use mine."
"Next time! Today, I’ll use mine." Liu Qingning winked at him playfully before dashing off toward the food counter.
Her high ponytail bounced with each step, her entire being radiating an unstoppable youthful energy.
Tang Song tucked away his meal card, still holding his vocabulary book, and started walking toward a less crowded area.
After just a few steps, his eyes locked onto a familiar figure.
A girl stood in a corner of the cafeteria, wearing a red puffer jacket, dark jeans, and a pair of slightly worn-out sneakers.
Her head was lowered slightly.
Her neatly trimmed short hair and perfectly straight bangs reflected her precise, meticulous personality.
Tang Song paused for a moment before grinning and waving. "Hey, Zhang Yan! Long time no see. Visiting No. 1 High again?"
"Ah…" Zhang Yan lifted her head. Her cheeks were flushed red from the cold.
"T-Tang Song, good evening. Uh… Our school doesn’t start until next Monday, so I came back early. Since I had nothing to do, I decided to visit some friends here."
"Wow, students at No. 2 High are so lucky. You get an extra week of vacation."
"It’s not bad." Zhang Yan nodded slightly, then her gaze drifted toward his chest. "By the way, Tang Song… How did you score on your last mock exam?"
Tang Song smiled brightly. "560 points—my best score yet."
"That’s amazing."
In Jing County, all the top students were funneled into No. 1 High.
No. 2 High’s overall academic performance was a tier lower.
"Alright, gotta grab a seat before it gets too crowded. See you!" Tang Song pointed toward the cafeteria’s interior.
"Um…" Zhang Yan hesitated, her lips parting slightly.
Tang Song paused. "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing. Bye." Zhang Yan lowered her head, tucking her nose and mouth into the collar of her puffer jacket.
Tang Song waved goodbye, then strode toward an empty seat.
As he waited for Liu Qingning, his eyes drifted back to Zhang Yan’s spot.
Her friend hadn’t arrived yet.
With the final semester of senior year beginning, the countdown to the college entrance exam had started.
Everyone was in full battle mode.
This might be the last time Zhang Yan had the chance to visit her friends here.
As the cafeteria got busier and noisier, her figure gradually faded into the crowd.
Post-Dinner Walk
After dinner, Tang Song and Liu Qingning walked to the school’s track field.
The night was deep and dark, with the cold wind nipping at their faces.
A few dim street lights cast a soft, golden glow, creating a warm yet tranquil atmosphere.
There were very few people on the track.
With their hands in their pockets, they walked along the rubberized running track at a slow, relaxed pace.
Tang Song was all smiles, enthusiastically recounting funny stories from the boys' dormitory, throwing in exaggerated jokes and self-mocking humor that made Liu Qingning giggle.
The atmosphere was light and cheerful.
They finished two laps before Liu Qingning suddenly spoke up.
"Tang Song."
She turned her head slightly, her breath visible in the cold air.
"Have you ever thought about what kind of life you want in the future? What job you’ll have? What kind of house you’ll live in?" Fresh chapters posted on novelꞁire.net
Tang Song hesitated. "I… I haven’t thought much about it. Right now, I just want to get into a good college and find a decent-paying job later."
Liu Qingning pursed her lips, then suddenly slipped her left hand into his pocket, tightly gripping his larger hand.
The smooth warmth of her palm, paired with the faint scent of her shampoo, made Tang Song’s heart race.
Even though this wasn’t the first time they held hands,
The feeling of sharing a pocket, hands intertwined so closely, was simply magical.
"Nice!"
Liu Qingning patted Tang Song’s broad shoulder before skipping ahead a few steps.
After a few paces, she turned back, winked playfully, and smiled. "Such a smart and handsome guy—you’re bound to have a bright future. I have high hopes for you! Don’t disappoint me, okay? Keep going!"
The bright moonlight cast a glow upon her, and her dense bangs swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Her clear, shining eyes twinkled like the brightest stars in the night sky.
Tang Song’s heart raced violently, engraving this moment deeply into his mind.
8 PM – Evening Study Session
Tang Song rubbed his forehead, which was beginning to feel heavy, then glanced at Liu Qingning’s silhouette ahead of him.
Reaching into his desk, he pulled out an MP3 player and the Hi-Fi earphones he had picked up earlier that afternoon.
Half a day had passed, and still, no one had claimed the earphones.
He figured he might as well use them for now—after all, the sound quality was amazing, and they’d be perfect for practicing listening comprehension.
"Welcome to this English listening comprehension test. Now…"
A crisp, articulate voice echoed through the earphones. Tang Song sat up straight, carefully listening.
But just as he finished the first passage,
A sudden wave of drowsiness crashed over him.
His eyelids grew heavy, his mind fogged up, and he let out a long yawn.
Before he knew it, his arms had crossed over, and he was quietly resting his head on the desk.
A Dream Unlike Any Other
In the dream…
He had successfully gotten into Yan City University of Technology, majoring in Computer Science.
During his junior year, on a national holiday, he visited Imperial University, walking hand in hand with Liu Qingning along the shores of Weiming Lake.
Beside him was his gorgeous, youthful white moonlight.
Overcome with excitement, he suddenly hugged her and kissed her.
Liu Qingning didn’t resist.
She simply closed her eyes, shy and quiet.
Since it was his first kiss, Tang Song just froze there, his lips pressed against hers, staring at her flushed cheeks.
He didn’t dare to move.
"Mmm…"
A soft murmur escaped as Tang Song slowly woke up.
The classroom was quiet, and as he recalled the dream, his face heated up.
That kiss… It was so beautiful.
Shaking his head, Tang Song forced down his restlessness.
He reopened the listening test and resumed practicing.
But after a while, his vision blurred again, and his head dropped forward into another deep sleep.
Another Vivid Dream
After graduating from university,
He landed a job at an ordinary internet company in Beijing, earning 10,000 yuan a month after passing probation.
Meanwhile, Liu Qingning joined a top-tier tech giant, working in AI development, with an annual salary of 500,000 yuan.
In her rented apartment, he pinned her down on the bed, finally experiencing intimate physical contact with her.
Though they didn’t go too far, he was immensely satisfied.
The sound of pen strokes scraping against paper echoed around him, and Tang Song snapped awake.
What the hell is going on today?!
Every time he listens to English, he gets sleepy—
And every dream is a steamy fantasy?!
Recalling the soft sensations in his dream and Liu Qingning’s enticing figure, Tang Song felt his throat go dry.
He glanced at his white moonlight, who was sitting beside him, quietly solving math problems while listening to music.
Tang Song took a deep breath and reopened his English listening.
One more sleep!
Maybe next time, things will go even further!
The Dream Took a Dark Turn
After settling down in Beijing,
Work life became hectic and exhausting.
Six months later, the company suddenly collapsed.
Through Liu Qingning’s connections, he found a job at a fintech firm, where the CTO was one of her senior classmates.
A year later,
One of his projects had a critical bug, resulting in financial losses for the company.
He was fired.
The job market was grim, and his bad record made it even worse.
Plus, he had no savings, as his mother’s illness had drained his finances.
His living expenses relied entirely on Liu Qingning.
Liu Qingning never complained—she simply told him not to worry, assuring him that her salary could support them both.
Her friends and colleagues, though polite, looked down on him.
Three years after graduation,
Liu Qingning’s salary had risen to 600,000 yuan, and she had company stock options.
Tang Song was stuck at an ordinary tech company, earning 15,000 yuan a month.
Their social circles, topics of conversation, and status grew further apart.
Because of his insecurities, they started having frequent arguments.
Under relentless work pressure and emotional strain, Liu Qingning fell seriously ill.
Outside the hospital room, her mother confronted him angrily—
“Let her go! You two aren’t suited for each other! You can’t give her the life she deserves, and instead, she has to take care of you! Let her go!”
Tang Song felt like a parasite, overwhelmed by guilt and pain.
Shortly after, he left Beijing—and left Liu Qingning.
He found a stable but uninspiring job in Yan City.
Despite being apart, they kept in touch.
Liu Qingning’s work was still demanding, and she never dated again.
At 30 years old,
She was earning over a million yuan a year, had bought her own 120-square-meter apartment in Beijing, and even obtained a Beijing residency permit.
Meanwhile, Tang Song was laid off again.
Finding a job at his age was even harder.
Liu Qingning offered to help him return to Beijing, using her connections to secure him a well-paid position.
But his pride and self-doubt held him back—he declined.
That same night, his mother called, saying she had found him a match for an arranged marriage.
The woman was his old middle school classmate, Zhang Yan.
She had recently landed a stable government job in Yan City.
Thinking about his white moonlight and his pathetic situation,
Tang Song refused the matchmaking proposal.
He didn’t want Zhang Yan to see the failure he had become.
Tang Song snapped awake once again.
But this time, his emotions were crushingly low.
Before he even realized it, tears had blurred his vision.
Three lifetimes' worth of memories had flashed by—yet only ten minutes had passed.
Some details had already started to fade,
But the fear, frustration, and regret were seared into his soul.
He finally understood what Liu Qingning meant when she spoke about the reality of life.
She was far smarter, far more mature than he was now.
And if he didn’t change, his future would be just as tragic as the dream foretold.
But how could he change?
How could he avoid such a miserable fate?
A deep sense of helplessness and dread gripped his chest.
Tang Song clawed at his hair.
If only I could be as outstanding as Qingning… or even surpass her!
Then I could stand beside her, shield her from hardships.
But he knew it was impossible.
Talent was something you couldn't change.
Then suddenly—
His expression froze.
The pink earphones he had been wearing had disappeared.
He distinctly remembered them being in his ears when he woke up—they were even still playing English audio!
How the hell did they vanish into thin air?!
Just then—
A mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
"Ding! You have acquired the [Dream System]."
A dazzling system interface appeared before him.
One by one, lines of text started flashing.
["I" crossed dimensions in my sleep, glimpsing a hazy future. "I" was filled with confusion and fear. "I" desperately wanted to improve myself. "I" wanted a life without regrets.]
["I" connected to my future self through the dream.]
At the same time, Tang Song’s mind was flooded with an overwhelming stream of complex and indecipherable information.
It was so vast, intricate, and chaotic that his thoughts became sluggish, and his head felt heavy and foggy.
[To prevent emotional overload and cognitive overwhelm, "I" will temporarily enter a dream state, suppress memories, and filter out unnecessary information.]
[Once the excess data is processed, "I" will awaken from the dream and gradually regain these memories.]
Suddenly, Tang Song found himself in a bizarre state—
It felt like he was half-dreaming, half-awake.
But within this dream, he was incredibly powerful—almost unreal.
Like a fantasy.
Like the idealized version of himself.
His mind was unnaturally calm, no longer swayed by fear, anxiety, or anger.
His thoughts were sharp, his spirit refreshed, his confidence unwavering, and his judgment razor-sharp.
His imagination soared, bursting with creativity, insight, and precision.
And in an instant—
All those indecipherable pieces of knowledge were seamlessly absorbed and understood.
He saw the stock market trends for the next few years.
He knew the rise and fall of industries before they even happened.
He recognized which startups would become unicorns.
He even foresaw which movies, songs, and artists would explode in popularity.
And just like that, he accepted his new reality.
Because he understood one thing clearly—
His life would never follow the same tragic path he had dreamed about.
That pathetic future he had seen?
It would never happen.
Tang Song's eyes brightened as he eagerly explored this newly acquired [Dream System].
It felt like a highly complex game interface, filled with extraordinary functions.
A system that could interact with reality, helping him manage businesses, assets, talents, and information with unparalleled efficiency.
After a quick scan of the system's features—
A crisp notification chime echoed in his mind.
"Ding! You have received the [Guidance Gift Pack]."
A golden treasure chest shimmered into existence.
[Guidance Gift Pack] – Opening the First Reward
Without hesitation, Tang Song opened it immediately.
"Ding! You have obtained the [Dream Character Recruitment Card (UR)]."
【Dream Character Recruitment Card (UR)】
A highly rare recruitment card. Upon use, the system will recruit a top-tier talent best suited to your needs, granting you their initial favorability and loyalty.
This character will be fully integrated into the Dream System, allowing you to interact with them seamlessly and gain deep insights into their abilities.
Tang Song didn’t hesitate.
He immediately activated the Recruitment Card—
And entered his requirements for this mystery character.
If this person was going to be his strongest ally, they needed to be perfect.
For many aspects, he directly modeled them after Liu Qingning.
But he added even more—
Higher intelligence, greater wealth, stronger connections.
At this moment, he was still just a student.
Even though he had future knowledge, making his first pot of gold wouldn’t be easy.
So why not recruit someone who already had immense financial and social resources?
That way, he could skip the early grind and accelerate straight to success.
After all—
He understood his current state.
To prevent emotional overload, his real self had entered this dream state.
Right now, the Tang Song in this dream was his idealized version—the ultimate "peak" version of himself.
But when he eventually woke up…
His memories would blur.
Some details would be forgotten.
Some insights would fade.
If he wanted to ensure his future remained intact, he needed to set everything up now—before April 1, 2023.
He needed to prepare key allies who wouldn’t be surprised by his transformation.
That way, even if his mind reset, the people around him would remain unchanged.
With a deep breath, he clicked [Confirm].
[Recruitment Successful]
"Ding! The [Dream Character Recruitment Card] has been successfully used."
[Searching for the perfect match…]
[Character locked!]
[Congratulations! You have successfully recruited the UR-tier talent, 'Secretary Jin.'"]
A Perfect Character
A beautifully crafted character card appeared in the system interface.
Her face—breathtakingly delicate, yet exuding elegance.
Her figure—a perfect golden ratio, with curves that could rival a sculpted masterpiece.
Her skin—flawless, glowing like porcelain in moonlight.
But what stood out most of all—
Were her eyes.
Clear and piercing, bright and profound.
A woman who seemed close to perfection—
The ideal character that Tang Song had envisioned.
This was his first step.
His path to changing his fate had begun.