System: Master Your Life

Chapter 877 219: New Year's Eve and Game Launch (Career)

Years flow like water, time flies like an arrow.

This is the last night of 2026.

Xu Lin and his friend found a place to eat around five o'clock.

By the time they came out at half past six, all the restaurants seemed packed, with people lined up everywhere.

Xu Lin just planned to wander outside until ten in the evening. As for gathering around a big screen with a crowd to count down, he wasn't interested in such excitement.

Luckily, Ning Yuhuan wasn't interested either.

Rong Xiyi and Xia Xiyao sent messages saying they were heading to the Bund tonight.

Xu Lin advised them to stay safe and not linger if it got particularly crowded.

After they were full, Xu Lin and Ning Yuhuan just strolled through nearby malls and alleys.

They spent the most time, almost an hour, on a street dedicated to selling various pets.

There were many people here too, mostly young folks.

Little animals included cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, turtles, and even snakes, though they were quite niche.

Seeing Ning Yuhuan spend the most time looking at cats, Xu Lin asked her: "Do you want to have one?"

Ning Yuhuan shook her head, "Just looking."

Xu Lin hugged her shoulder: "Let's get one when we have time in the future."

"Mm-hmm."

Ning Yuhuan nodded. She did want to have a cat, but maintaining one requires time and energy, which her increasingly busy studies couldn't afford now.

Maybe she would consider it once she starts working.

After leaving the pet street, they strolled for another half an hour.

By then, the crowd had surged, making it feel like all of Jiangdu had come out, rubbing shoulders and elbows, making walking difficult.

As they were about to approach ten o'clock.

Xu Lin asked Ning Yuhuan: "Want to go anywhere else?"

"No, too crowded."

"Smart, let's head home then!"

"Mm-hmm."

"But before that, let's take a short ride."

"Where?"

"Just anywhere, aimlessly."

"Oh."

Under the night sky, Xu Lin rode his motorcycle, steering away from bustling areas, meandering through the streets.

The city roads had speed limits, cautioning against driving too fast, especially since Xu Lin was carrying Ning Yuhuan, so he couldn't speed.

After riding for an hour, they reached home at eleven forty.

While Ning Yuhuan took a bath, Xu Lin checked the messages from Rong Xiyi and Xia Xiyao on his phone.

There were pictures and videos.

On the Bund, throngs of people, and the night's foot traffic was estimated to reach tens of thousands.

Xu Lin: "Stay safe."

Rong Xiyi: "Got it, don't worry, I'm already nineteen!"

Xu Lin: "Safe, my ass. Come back right after counting down."

Rong Xiyi: "Roger that! I'll return with Yaoyao once the countdown ends!"

Xu Lin messaged Xia Xiyao: "Bring Yanyan back once the countdown ends."

Xia Xiyao: "Don't worry!"

Xia Xiyao was comparatively more mature than Rong Xiyi, and in terms of playfulness, Rong Xiyi was more playful.

Xu Lin took a quick shower in the second-floor bathroom.

Minutes later, the clock was nearing twelve.

As Rong Xiyi and others sent more pictures and videos showing the crowd gearing up for the New Year, the countdown had started five minutes earlier.

At that time, Xu Lin was at his computer, waiting for the stroke of midnight to send New Year's wishes to Chi Linyue and the others.

Though, Xu Lin wasn't enthusiastic about New Year celebrations; he personally believed New Year's Eve was the real celebration.

Tonight?

Simply put, hotels and inns were ablaze with celebrations, devoid of the festive essence, more like the scent of sallow flowers or seafood?

Yu Xinyan: "Happy 2027, Xu Lin! Love you!"

Xu Lin: "Same to you, love you back!"

Yu Xinyan: "Hmph!"

Director Pei: "Happy New Year! When are you coming to the Capital City?"

Xu Lin: "Clearly, I'm too busy right now, finals are coming soon, and I'm prepping for them! No point in heading over."

Xu Lin wouldn't leave Jiangdu unnecessarily; in a way, he's somewhat of a homebody.

Chi Linyue: "Happy New Year!"

Chi Linyue: "Crossing into the New Year feels lonely, what's my little man up to?"

Xu Lin: "Thinking about you!"

Chi Linyue: "Do you think I'll believe you? Chuckling.jpg"

Chi Linyue: "I saw your new game is online! Is this an ancient-themed game?"

"Cultivation, not exactly ancient."

"Well, technically, it is ancient."

"Pretty incredible, it's trending number one, everyone's buzzed!"

Chi Linyue browsed through trending topics, while the news continued spreading.

Pei Danqing: "Saw your new game trending."

Xu Lin: "Keeping an eye on it."

"Are you busy?"

"Yes, a bit."

"Let's talk tomorrow then, don't want to bother you."

Xu Lin sent an emoji, then logged out of WeChat.

In the room, Ning Yuhuan was on the bed reading, while Xu Lin sat by the computer.

It was now twelve eleven.

At precisely midnight, Xu Lin's second game launched, causing a sensation.

Strictly speaking, the news was still brewing, soon to whirl into a massive wave.

Additionally, the game was named: "Xian."

Just one word, no fancy embellishments, surely sharing a name with others.

But that wasn't a problem.

Games with similar names might date back twenty years.

And when I say twenty years, that's close to literal, like games older than Nokia, since the gaming industry has advanced for decades.

As the game went online, everyone downloaded it immediately.

It needed just 3GB of memory.

This spoke volumes about Xu Lin's coding prowess. If coded in English, it would exceed 3000GB due to its vast content.