The hum of Jiangcheng's tech scene was shifting.
News of QuickBox Jiangcheng's delivery miracle was spreading like wildfire.
Within days, online forums buzzed:
"How did QuickBox cut delivery delays by over 75% overnight?"
"Is this some new AI tech? Someone linked a mysterious flash drive on a student forum…"
"If this is real, it could change the entire logistics game in the city."
Lin Yi stayed silent, watching from the shadows.
That afternoon, as he sipped weak instant coffee in the cramped dorm, his phone buzzed with a message:
[Unknown Number]: "Meet me tomorrow. Noon. Parkside Café. We need to talk."
No name. No signature.
Lin Yi frowned.
A test?
An opportunity?
He didn't know.
But he was sure of one thing: he couldn't ignore it.
The next day, the Parkside Café buzzed with midday crowds.
Lin Yi arrived early, settling into a corner table with a clear view of the entrance.
Minutes passed.
Then a woman appeared.
Smartly dressed, her sharp eyes scanning the room before locking onto Lin Yi.
She moved with the confident stride of someone used to power.
"Lin Yi?" she asked smoothly.
He nodded.
"Good. I'm Mei Ling, a private investor specializing in tech startups. I've been watching QuickBox's growth—and more specifically, the AI behind it."
Lin Yi stayed calm.
"I'm just a student," he said.
Mei Ling smiled. "That's what they all say. But the data doesn't lie. Your system transformed QuickBox's operations."
She slid a tablet across the table.
"It's not just QuickBox. I've tracked usage spikes in other small businesses too. Someone's quietly changing the game."
Lin Yi glanced at the data—growth curves, customer feedback, efficiency indexes.
"Yes, it's impressive," Mei Ling said. "And you're sitting on a goldmine."
Lin Yi considered his options.
Accept Mei Ling's backing, and he'd gain resources, protection, and rapid expansion.
Reject her, and he remained alone, vulnerable.
Mei Ling seemed to read his thoughts.
"I'm offering you a partnership," she said. "You keep control. I provide capital and connections. We grow together."
But the question lingered:
Could he trust her?
"Why come to me?" Lin Yi asked.
"Because," Mei Ling replied, "I see potential. And because there are people at Jiangcheng Tech who want to stop this quietly before it gets out of hand."
Her eyes hardened.
"Your 'ghost' project threatens established interests."
Lin Yi's heart quickened.
[System Alert: Possible Threat Detection – Increased Risk Level]
The conversation shifted to logistics and legalities.
Mei Ling laid out terms:
Seed funding to build GhostNet's infrastructure.
Introduction to key clients and tech partners.
Legal support against corporate interference.
In exchange?
A small equity share.
Advisory rights on major decisions.
Lin Yi listened carefully.
No coercion. No demands for control.
But the implied pressure was there.
After hours, Lin Yi finally spoke.
"I appreciate the offer."
"But I have conditions."
Mei Ling raised an eyebrow.
"First, no interference with my vision."
"Second, full transparency on all investments and decisions."
"Third, I want a clear exit option in five years."
She smiled, impressed.
"Fair. I like a man who knows his worth."
As they shook hands, Lin Yi felt a flicker of excitement—but also unease.
This was a new battlefield.
No longer just coding and quiet hacking.
Now, the stakes were real.
Back in his dorm that night, Lin Yi opened the Shenhao system.
[Mission Update: Build Your Own Empire – Phase 2 Initiated]
[Reward: Legal and Financial Support Modules Unlocked]
[System Note: External forces increasing. Recommend cautious expansion.]
He stared at the screen, mind racing.
His empire was growing.
But so were the shadows chasing it.