novelraw Chapter 364: Miracle
Chapter 364: Miracle
The system interface shimmered with flowing halos.
A dazzling golden card hovered at the center of the Character Management Center, exuding a mysterious and captivating glow. The card’s illustration was surrounded by intricate and delicate patterns, each line pulsating with a strange energy. Golden light coursed along these patterns, weaving a dreamlike interplay of brilliance and shadow.
With a mere thought, he lightly touched the Secretary Jin character card.
Immediately, lines of information surfaced in his mind:
[Secretary Jin (UR)]
[Status: Calm and Gentle]
[Location: Harvard University .map]
[Special Skill: Dream Link (Passive, Currently Unavailable)]
[Age: 20 | Height: 170 cm | Weight: 52 kg]
[Overall Rating: 93.7 - Excellent (Upgradeable)][Character Compatibility: 100 - Perfect]
[Character Background: Born in 1995 into an academically rich family. Nickname: "Smile"…]
This was a true prodigy, far surpassing the prototype he had referenced—Liu Qingning.
Both of her parents were renowned scholars in the field of economics, and under their influence, she had developed a strong passion for numbers and finance from an early age.
By middle school, she was already demonstrating an extraordinary talent for mathematics, finance, and economics. She also self-studied multiple languages and participated in various academic competitions.
At 17, she was admitted to Harvard University, pursuing dual degrees in Economics and Mathematics.
Beyond her outstanding academic achievements, she also made remarkable strides in financial investment.
Relying on her own abilities, she earned over a hundred million dollars through stocks, futures, and other financial derivatives while still in university.
Leveraging her family background and exceptional emotional intelligence, she built a vast social network spanning both academia and finance—one that included heirs of business empires, descendants of political elites, and top talents across various fields.
Now, she held core position offers from Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, two of the world’s leading investment banks, along with invitations from numerous prestigious consulting firms and hedge funds.
Reading through the extensive background story, Tang Song carefully pieced together a clearer image of her in his mind.
His expectations for his "secretary" soared to the highest level—he couldn't wait to meet her.
However, Harvard University was currently in the 7-8 AM time zone.
And the Dream Link passive skill could only activate when she was asleep.
The UR Dream Character Recruitment Card was undoubtedly an incredibly rare item.
The attached passive skill was even more astonishing.
Essentially, it created an interface that allowed him to communicate and interact with Jin Meixiao in the real world through dreams.
Through subconscious suggestion, he could make her fully accept him—forming trust, goodwill, and even loyalty.
A Fateful Encounter
Time slowly ticked by.
Tang Song was now in a state of half-sleep, half-awake.
In his perception, everything felt the same as reality, except he instinctively ignored anything related to the Dream System.
It was like being in a dream—if he believed he could fly, he would start flying in the next second.
And the moment he doubted it, he would immediately find himself walking again.
Mysterious yet perfectly logical.
On February 20th, Saturday morning, still in his dormitory, Tang Song finally found the right opportunity.
[Secretary Jin (UR)]
[Status: Asleep...]
[Location: Harvard University - Off-campus Dormitory .map]
[Special Skill: Dream Link (Passive, Currently Available)]
Lying down calmly on his bed, he activated Dream Link.
A hazy mist soon enveloped him.
On the walls, artistic paintings hung elegantly. Plush sofas and rustic furniture were arranged in a natural yet harmonious layout.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee.
Sunlight poured in warmly, casting a tranquil and cozy ambiance over the dormitory’s common lounge.
And in this dream, Tang Song saw her for the first time.
She sat quietly by the window, holding a steaming cup of coffee.
Her tall, slender figure was poised with an almost flawless balance. Her long, elegant legs crossed effortlessly, exuding both grace and aesthetic charm.
Sensing his gaze, Secretary Jin gently set down her coffee and turned her head.
Her lips curved into a confident, captivating smile.
Her eyes were like deep, serene lakes—clear, bright, yet shimmering with a lively brilliance. A single glance carried an aura of wisdom and intelligence.
Despite his sudden appearance, she displayed no signs of surprise, as if it were perfectly natural.
In this special state, Tang Song remained exceptionally composed and observant, revealing no unnecessary emotions.
Sitting across from her, he suddenly found an identical cup of coffee in his own hands.
"Hello, I'm Tang Song."
"Hello, I'm Jin Meixiao. Or perhaps you could call me... Secretary Jin." She smiled warmly, exuding an elegant and refined charm.
"Alright, Secretary Jin."
And so, a long and delightful conversation began.
From profound mathematical theories to intricate economic models...
They analyzed macroeconomic policies through Keynesian theory and dissected corporate production decisions using microeconomic cost theory.
Tang Song displayed remarkable knowledge and keen insight, effortlessly navigating both classical and modern economic theories.
As their conversation drew to a close, he learned that Secretary Jin was currently involved in London Gold Trading.
Using this as a reference, he outlined the market trends for late February 2016, providing detailed insights into support levels and upper resistance points.
Dreaming of Wealth
Over the next month, they frequently met in the dream world.
As her affection and loyalty toward him grew, Tang Song subtly implanted subconscious hints about major upcoming shifts in gold, stock, and futures markets.
With these intuitive premonitions, Secretary Jin navigated the financial markets with almost supernatural precision—seizing every optimal opportunity.
Her initial million-dollar capital began expanding at an astonishing rate.
But as her wealth, ambition, and confidence soared, so did the changes within her.
The once idolized Wall Street lost its allure.
The top investment bank offers she once coveted now seemed insignificant.
She sought greater challenges, larger achievements—she wanted to push her limits and craft a legendary tale of wealth, orchestrated by her own hands.
As graduation approached, multiple paths lay before her.
Deep in her subconscious, a voice reminded her—her success was not solely due to her talents and instincts.
There was another presence.
She recalled the frequent hazy dream meetings.
And the seemingly random email address that kept surfacing in her mind.
Sitting before her laptop, she typed the address.
TAP. TAP. TAP. Each keystroke is deliberate, steady.
"Sir or Madam, I know this may seem abrupt, but I’ve decided to send this email regardless.
Today happens to be April Fool’s Day, so you can treat this as a stranger’s joke.
But if you've ever had a similar experience, please respond."
— April 1, 2016
Preparing for his college entrance exams, Tang Song suddenly received an unexpected system notification.
Reading the email, a brilliant smile formed on his lips.
"Secretary Jin, our story begins today."
Seven years.
A completely sufficient amount of time to craft a grand financial legend.
The Turning Point
In the following weeks, their email correspondence transitioned their connection into the real world.
With the mystical dream link as a foundation, Secretary Jin’s trust and fondness for him were abnormally high.
Now armed with precise information and guidance, she dominated the international financial markets—her name rising to prominence.
June 10, 2016—the day after Tang Song’s college entrance exams and the second day of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
In Quancheng, for the very first time, Secretary Jin met her mysterious benefactor in person.
Tang Song, at eighteen, still carried the youthful aura of a teenager—tall, lean, and with an upright posture that exuded a scholarly air.
His speech was articulate, his thoughts meticulous, and his words carried an infectious charm.
His deep, sharp gaze seemed to penetrate people's hearts, leaving a profound impression on her.
At the same time, Tang Song also experienced the sheer elegance and sensuality of a woman in its most refined form.
She embodied the very essence of the golden ratio, a beauty so precise and harmonious that even in his special state, he found himself momentarily dazed.
After all, she was the ideal choice that the system had recruited according to his desires.
The Birth of an Empire
Over the next six months, Smile Investments was officially established, laying the foundation for industries destined to thrive—
short-form video platforms, cross-border e-commerce, the sharing economy, and new energy sectors.
Tang Song proceeded to recruit several other crucial early-game characters.
Among them was Annie Kate—Secretary Jin’s close friend and a member of the American Kate Family’s inheritance line.
Unlike the UR Dream Character Recruitment Card, these new recruits lacked the passive Dream Link feature.
Tang Song had merely established a connection with them through dreams, leaving them with an initial level of goodwill and loyalty.
But true interactions and understanding only began in the real world.
Meanwhile, overseas private equity firm Jingwu Capital was quietly founded.
Under Tang Song’s guidance, with Wu Kezhi’s leadership and Annie Kate’s influence, they began aggressively harvesting profits from the international capital markets.
A business empire meticulously woven by Dream-Tang Song was silently taking shape.
A New Card Appears
January 1, 2017.
With the help of a lucky item, a brand-new SSR Character Card appeared before Tang Song—
Ouyang Xianyue, a woman with extensive political connections and resources.
Included in her initial assets was a struggling consumer electronics company on the verge of bankruptcy and a pressing employment crisis waiting to be solved.
Awakening from a Dream
"Rustle—"
The tide of youth gradually receded.
On the second floor of the senior-year teaching building at Jing County No.1 High School, an empty corridor stretched before him.
Tang Song opened his eyes.
His arm was still raised as if reaching for something—
But the Feather of Memory had already vanished before his eyes.
Everything had returned to normal.
Dreams were mysterious things.
In them, one could fearlessly conjure up the impossible—soaring through the skies, traveling through time—without a hint of discord.
Yet, upon waking, the sheer density, complexity, or strangeness of the dream often caused the brain to discard much of the information.
It was akin to flashing hundreds of images before someone in mere moments and expecting them to remember every detail—an impossible feat.
The brain simply couldn’t process and retain everything from the dream world.
For a long time, Tang Song had been stuck in such a state of forgetfulness.
But now, as his mind gradually refocused, his past memories became strikingly clear.
"Huff—huff—"
Leaning against the wall, Tang Song took several deep breaths.
An inexplicable sense of loss and longing surged through him.
2016…
That was seven years ago.
So much had happened back then.
White Moonlight, the Dream System, Secretary Jin, Annie, Wu Kezhi…
And then there was Liu Qingning.
Her words echoed in his ears:
"Take love, for example… I believe it can only be pure, safe, and fulfilling when financial freedom is achieved."
Compared to her, his past self had been utterly immature.
A mature Liu Qingning had always been quietly protecting him—
Encouraging him in high school.
Helping him choose and apply for university majors.
Even her decision to start a business and plan to buy a home in Yan City…
Looking back, she had been laying the groundwork for their future all along.
Tang Song understood her well enough to know that she had likely kept her feelings hidden to shield him from pressure.
She had chosen to fight alone, believing it was her way of protecting him.
In her clear and beautiful eyes, she had always held a kindness and determination he hadn’t seen before.
That was who she was.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have become his White Moonlight—hanging high in the sky, illuminating his entire youth.
The Bitter Truth
Every man has a moment of reckless, all-consuming passion.
For Tang Song, his devotion had been for White Moonlight.
But in the three years after graduation, living in Beijing, he had felt the enormous gap between him and Liu Qingning.
He saw no future for them.
His passion slowly faded.
He stopped chasing their relationship.
Instead, he let her pursue the career she loved.
At the time, he felt wronged—as if he were the one who had silently given everything, only to be abandoned.
But then the game turned real.
Wealth, ambition, power—his desires spiraled out of control.
He became a complete scumbag.
Surrounded by Zhao Yaqian, Wen Ruan, Lin Muxue…
The real him was, in truth, never emotionally steadfast.
Nor was he as pure as Liu Qingning.
Now, thinking about his White Moonlight, far away in Shenzhen, Tang Song felt a torrent of emotions.
He could never truly let go.
After all, he had gained the Dream System to rewrite his future and undo his regrets.
But…
How should he face her now?
How should he make her understand and accept the person he had become?
A Call Across Time
After a long silence, Tang Song pulled out his phone.
Finding Liu Qingning’s contact, he dialed the number.
"Beep—beep—"
The phone rang for a while before she finally picked up.
A slightly tired voice came through the receiver:
"I was just busy, so I took a while to answer. Calling me at this hour—what’s wrong? Something urgent?"
Tang Song licked his dry lips. His mouth tasted bitter.
"Qingning."
"What’s wrong? Your voice sounds off. Are you sick?"
"I’m fine. I’m perfectly healthy."
He took a deep breath, then said softly:
"I went back to No.1 High today. I’m standing outside Senior Year, Class 3."
"Wow!" Liu Qingning’s voice brightened with delight.
"You went back secretly? I was planning to go with you next time. Seriously!"
"Do you remember the start of our final semester? The pink HiFi headphones, the evening walks on the track…"
Holding the phone, Tang Song spoke gently, recounting the memory.
From the other end, Liu Qingning listened silently.
Only her soft breathing proved she was still there.
When he finished, she chuckled:
"So you really remembered all that, huh?"
"Back then, a senior at Quancheng jumped because of stress. I noticed you weren’t in a good state, and I was scared you’d do something reckless."
"That’s why I kept talking to you—just to lift your spirits. Senior year was brutal."
"I know." Tang Song’s eyes stung.
"I miss you."
"I miss you too."
After a pause, her voice softened.
"It’s nothing. Everything will pass."
Meanwhile, in Shenzhen
At Nanshan Science Park, Liu Qingning lowered her phone and took a deep breath.
Her expression quickly returned to calmness.
Walking briskly, she knocked on the glass door of the meeting room.
Stepping inside, she said, "Sorry, Professor Wang. Had an urgent call just now."
"No worries. Let’s continue."
"Alright." The source of this content ɪs novel⟡fire.net
She sat down quietly.
Professor Wang’s expression was serious:
"Qingning, you already understand most of this—I don’t need to spell everything out."
"The decision is always yours. But coming all the way from Beijing this time… I’m here to back you up."
"I understand." Liu Qingning nodded. "I’m willing to sell my shares and accept Changyun Investment’s offer."
From the moment she received the news, she had already anticipated this outcome.
Ever since she arrived in Shenzhen, the company's CEO had been replaced by a professional manager hired by the investors—a skilled operator in the business world.
Their original startup team, which had come from Imperial Capital University, had been solely focused on research and development.
However, in the commercial world, the frontline always belongs to the market, customers, and demand—only then comes product and R&D.
This fundamental information asymmetry meant that, in an ideal team, everyone would collaborate on business decisions.
But as the company evolved and strategies shifted, conflicts and misalignments were inevitable.
Now, with their self-developed AI model and educational software already launched, the company had pivoted toward hardware development.
The marginalization of software co-founders was something she had long foreseen.
Even if she chose to stay, her shares would eventually be diluted and she’d be pushed out of the management team.
There were many ways to squeeze out a founder—
Issuing new shares, introducing strategic investors, conducting equity refinancing…
But in truth, she had always planned to cash out once Century Zhixue was on the right track.
It was just that the timing came earlier than expected, and the money was less than she had originally hoped for.
Still…
Recalling Tang Song’s voice from their recent call, Liu Qingning’s gaze softened.
Going back to Yan City to find him… might not be such a bad choice.
A New Beginning in Yan City
Two years of university effort plus over three years of entrepreneurship had earned her 3.6 million yuan in cash.
In cities like Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, that wasn’t much.
But in Yan City, she could buy a nice apartment and still have over 2 million in savings.
Even if she chose to settle down there, they could still live comfortably.
"You got this, Qingning! I believe you’ll only get better from here!"
Professor Wang Chang stood up, walked over, and gave her a light hug.
"Thank you, Professor Wang. I truly appreciate all your help and guidance over the years." Liu Qingning bowed sincerely.
Professor Wang was a female professor at Imperial Capital Normal University and had been their advisor during the Internet+ Entrepreneurship Competition.
It was thanks to her that Liu Qingning had joined the Century Zhixue project.
She had guided her into the promising field of AI, helped them win the national gold award, secured angel investment from Changyun Investment, and landed lucrative business deals.
After all, Professor Wang was a well-respected expert in the AI industry.
Of course, she was also a shareholder in the company and a technical consultant for both software and hardware.
Observing Liu Qingning, Professor Wang suddenly asked,
"Now that you're leaving Century Zhixue, are you planning to return to Yan City?"
Liu Qingning hesitated for a moment before nodding honestly. "Yes. I love the vibrance of big cities, but… you always have to make trade-offs."
Professor Wang smiled knowingly. She casually remarked, "Is it because of that childhood friend of yours? Tang Song, right?"
"Uh…" Liu Qingning’s face turned slightly red. "Yes, his name is Tang Song."
Professor Wang had watched her grow, so she knew many details about her life.
Back when Liu Qingning was unsure about her future, it was Professor Wang who had advised her to set aside emotions temporarily and focus on her career.
Century Zhixue was supposed to secure a better future for her.
Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, Professor Wang asked,
"Qingning, have you ever considered… what if he falls for someone else?"
"You told me yourself—when you decided to move to Shenzhen, he didn’t stop you. Instead, he accepted it quite openly."
Hearing this, Liu Qingning froze.
A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes.
Then, she lowered her gaze and said softly,
"If he finds someone better… if he can be happier… then I guess… I can accept that."
"Really?" Professor Wang’s eyes gleamed.
"Qingning, you’ve said it yourself—people always have to make choices.
When the time comes, I hope you make the right one."
"Thank you, Professor Wang."
"Alright, I have something to attend to. Let’s talk next time. Bye!"
"Bye-bye."
A Hidden Agenda
Leaving Century Zhixue’s office, Professor Wang pulled out her phone and made a call.
Her voice lowered. "Assistant Cheng, I tried convincing Qingning, but she’s made up her mind. She’s selling her shares and going back to Yan City. I couldn’t stop her."
"Mm, it’s her decision."
"Understood. Goodbye."
Hanging up, Professor Wang smiled faintly.
Taking the elevator, she ascended from the 14th floor to the 29th floor.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
The break room door opened softly.
A poised woman greeted her with a smile. "Professor Wang, please come in."
Stepping into the warm and tranquil break room, Professor Wang turned her gaze to the figure seated in the rattan chair.
Her expression became respectful.
"Director Jin, Su Yu’s assistant, Cheng Xiaoxi, just called me. I responded as you instructed. I also planted a seed of doubt regarding Tang Song."
"Mm."
Secretary Jin lifted her brilliant eyes and asked indifferently, "What did Liu Qingning say?"
"She said…"
"If he finds someone better… if he can be happier… then I guess… I can accept that."
The grip on Secretary Jin’s teacup tightened slightly.
Her voice remained soft. "Such a lovely girl."
"Yes." Professor Wang sighed. "Qingning is truly special. Among the people I’ve met, she’s one of the rare, remarkable ones."
"Oh?" Secretary Jin glanced up at her.
"Then tell me… between her and me—who is more remarkable?"
Professor Wang stiffened, momentarily at a loss for words.
Secretary Jin took a sip of tea. "What’s wrong? Hard to say?"
Regaining her composure, Professor Wang spoke seriously,
"Director Jin, you must be joking. I can’t imagine anyone more outstanding than you."
The corners of Secretary Jin’s lips lifted slightly.
She crossed her legs gracefully and said, "Good. Soon, Liu Qingning will be joining ‘Qingning Technology’. I’ll need you to assist her when the time comes."
"Understood. Thank you for your trust, Director Jin!"
"Alright, you may go now."
As the break room doors closed again, Secretary Jin leaned back into her rattan chair.
Her mind drifted back to Tang Song.
If miracles truly existed in this world, then their mysterious connection—spanning across half the globe—was undeniably one of them.
So what if she’s his White Moonlight?