Chapter 2: Cosmic Trading System

"Huh? I'm not dead..."

As Lin Yun opened his eyes, all he could see was blinding whiteness. A white figure bustled about him, making him mumble in confusion.

"Brother, you're awake?"

Hearing Lin Yun's voice, the white figure immediately stopped what it was doing and rushed to his side, uttering joyfully.

Only then did Lin Yun's vision begin to clear. He saw a girl dressed in a white down jacket, gripping his arm, her face filled with joy and relief.

Despite the thick down jacket, she couldn't hide her perfect figure. The white color of her jacket highlighted her exceptional elegance. Coupled with her delicate face, the girl looked like a pure white lotus blooming amidst the muck.

Beautiful, noble, and elegant.

"Qingqing, why are you here..."

Staring at this girl, Lin Yun asked in bemusement.

"Lin Yun! As you just said, Qingqing should not be here! Do you realize that you're not dead, huh? Downing three bottles of white wine altogether, good for you! Do you know if Qingqing hadn't searched for you frantically and found you in time, you might've ended up dead on the side of the road? The doctor said you had alcohol poisoning and you were lying on an icy cold road. If she had been a tiny bit later, you might not have survived..."

"You just got bankrupt, huh? Only a small workshop was gone, no big deal, right? You tried to kill yourself over this? You call yourself a man? I really don't know what Qingqing sees in you..."

From not too far away, a girl in a black down jacket was walking over. Hearing Lin Yun's words, she immediately pointed at him and spat out her words furiously.

"Yaoyao, what are you saying?" Xia Qingqing blushed furiously as she listened to her best friend, Zhang Yaoyao, speaking without restraint. She pushed Zhang Yaoyao's arm away while retorting angrily.

"Did I say something wrong? So many well-off and handsome guys chased after you, but you never even gave them the light of day. You only have eyes for him. Yet, he has no sense of responsibility, always dragging you along without acknowledging your feelings. Now, just because of a small workshop bankruptcy, he tried to kill himself, he..." Zhang Yaoyao didn't stop, she continued expressing her anger.

"Enough Yaoyao, stop talking now. Didn't Zhang Xuan just call you? You should hurry over there..." Xia Qingqing stopped her best friend from saying any more and pushed her to leave.

After sending off Zhang Yaoyao, Xia Qingqing returned. She looked at Lin Yun, her face apprehensive, "Brother, don't take Yaoyao's words to heart. She may have a sharp tongue, but she really is soft-hearted. Did you know that she was with me this whole time while I was searching for you? We ran all over the place, and she was the one who found you first..."

"Qingqing, you don't have to say anything more. I already know. You two went through a lot this time."

Lin Yun shook his head and gave a bitter smile.

Zhang Yaoyao, Xia Qingqing's best friend, was someone he had not met often, but he had heard Xia Qingqing mention her many times. Lin Yun knew Zhang Yaoyao was as soft-hearted as Xia Qingqing described. However, the blow he had received this time was huge, but not big enough to drive him to suicide as Zhang Yaoyao had assumed.

His slight chuckle served as his response, he didn't bother explaining.

Things had gotten to this point; what could explaining do? Especially, as he did not actually know Zhang Yaoyao that well.

Xia Qingqing. He had met this girl in his third year in Shen City. Back then, she had just come to Shen City to attend college at Shen University. She had lost her wallet at the train station, which contained not only her living expenses but also her tuition fees. She had been at the station, crying with all her luggage scattered around her.

That day, he happened to be at the train station to delivery goods.

The sight of this girl reminded him of his sister back at home, and he felt a surge of pity. On impulse, he gave her all the earnings from that delivery over ten thousand yuan.

Just as he was about to leave, Xia Qingqing stopped him. In the end, she decided to work at his small workshop.

Xia Qingqing's financial situation was not good. It was already tough for her family to support her through college. This was why she responded so intensely to losing her wallet. Her early arrival in Shen City was part of her plan to find a job and save up some living expenses.

While she was working at his small workshop, Lin Yun got to know this girl better. She was gentle, considerate, beautiful, and kind. The two of them got along well. Xia Qingqing came to know about the reason behind Lin Yun's help and began to call him "brother" with his agreement. Their relationship grew even more intimate.

Even after Xia Qingqing started school, she often came back to help. Over the two years, many workers at Lin Yun's workshop had come and gone.

Many people who didn't know the real story thought that they were siblings. While a few customers actually thought of them as a couple and would call Xia Qingqing the boss's wife.

Lin Yun had an inkling about Xia Qingqing's feelings for him.

He also had many tender feelings for this gentle, beautiful, and kind girl.

However, his decision to give up his studies might have appeared audacious, but deep down, he was still influenced by traditional ideologies.

Xia Qingqing was a college student at a prestigious university and exceedingly beautiful, whereas he was simply an ordinary man who didn't study in college. He only accumulated a small fortune through his slightly clever ways and death-defying efforts. But this wealth was insignificant in Shen City, a city full of the wealthy people.

The value of a regular city resident's property in Shen City far exceeded his earnings from these few agonizing years.

Once, when he went to Shen University to see Xia Qingqing, he saw a boy driving a luxury car, with a large bouquet of flowers, trying to woo Qingqing. That car alone was worth more than all his assets combined.

This feeling of inferiority stopped him from accepting Qingqing's feelings.

In fact, wasn't his recent desperation also related to Qingqing's feelings?

He was so desperate for success.

However, reality had dealt him a heavy blow.

"Big brother, I'm sorry. That day, I was going to meet you, but there was a traffic jam. By the time I got there, you were gone, and I couldn't reach you on your phone..." Seeing the bitter smile on Lin Yun's face, Qingqing was filled with heartache. She went forward and hugged Lin Yun, apologizing guiltily.

"Silly girl, the one who should say sorry is me, for making you worry yesterday..." Lin Yun stretched out his hand to fondle Qingqing's hair, sighing.

Zhang Yaoyao's previous words made him imagine Qingqing frantically searching for him on the streets. He was deeply moved. After five years of struggle in this unfamiliar city, he finally had something to show for it; this foolish girl... perhaps she was his greatest gain!

"The host has awakened...the Cosmic Trading System is activated...starting data transfer…"

At that moment, an electronic voice suddenly resounded in Lin Yun's mind.

Hearing this voice, Lin Yun hesitated.

The Cosmic Trading System?

Lin Yun wondered if he was hallucinating.

Wasn't that the name of the miraculous system in his dream?

Could it be...he was still dreaming? He hadn't woken up yet? Or...

A massive amount of information was transferred into his mind in an instant, using a special transmission method. He understood the content of the information immediately, without any discomfort.

However, the content of the information left Lin Yun shocked.

The Cosmic Trading System...it was real; he really obtained a powerful system.

"Big brother, what's wrong?"

Qingqing had been comfortably feeling Lin Yun's embrace when she noticed something was off. She immediately left his arms, looked up at him, and asked anxiously.

Zhang Yaoyao didn't understand the significance of the small workshop to Lin Yun or how much he had invested in it over the years. However, Qingqing did and she was worried that Lin Yun couldn't handle this blow. This was why she was so anxious when she couldn't find him yesterday.

"Qingqing, you underestimate me. Over the years, I've weathered so many storms, do you really think I'll be defeated by this setback? Don't worry, I haven't been wasting my time these past few years. I promise I'll get back on my feet soon!"

Lin Yun saw the worry in Qingqing's eyes and was moved. However, he lightly hooked his lips into a smile and reassured her.

Heaven was not blind after all; he had lucked into such good fortune. Now, it was time for him to make his riches.

The information from the Cosmic Trading System clarified its origin and operational methods. He had just swept it with his thoughts and found that the system had many high-tech products for sale that was similar to Earth's technological civilization but was more advanced.

With such a powerful system, if he didn't make a fortune, there was no justice in the world.

At that moment, Lin Yun was thrilled. However, he suppressed his emotions thanks to the years of hardship he had endured.

"Hmm, I believe in you, big brother!"

Hearing Lin Yun's confident words, Qingqing's eyes sparkled as if she was looking at the usual Lin Yun. She nodded her head seriously.

"Right, big brother, you must be hungry, right? Here's the porridge I just made, have some!"

Then Qingqing remembered something. She quickly turned around, picked up a small bowl from the table nearby, and handed it to Lin Yun, cheerfully.

"Hmm, it's been a while since I had porridge cooked by Qingqing..."

Lin Yun smiled.