Shared Snack Fund
The system has changed its approach again.
The next day, Lin Jingshang found an aroma diffuser next to the glass jar of lemon candy on his workstation. It was uniquely designed and contained a pale green liquid that emitted a faint herbal scent.
There was a card underneath the jar with the following text printed on it: "This fragrance contains attraction-enhancing factors, helping you subtly bridge the gap with those important to you."
Lin Jingshang picked up the card, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Is this system some kind of part-time pyramid scheme? It even has an attraction-enhancing factor.
He took the photo and sent it to Xie Dang.
[Lin Jingshang]: It's starting to get into metaphysics... (Attached photos: aromatherapy and cards)
【Xie Dang】: Preliminary assessment indicates it is a mixture of ordinary pine wood and peppermint essential oil. It has no special effects, but the scent is acceptable. If you do not like it, you can remove it.
Lin Jingshang took a sniff; the smell was indeed pleasant, somewhat like a forest after the rain, crisp and refreshing. He thought for a moment, then decided not to throw it away, instead tearing the card to shreds and tossing it into the trash can.
During his lunch break, he went to the small terrace as usual.
Xie Dang arrived early today and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest. Lin Jingshang sat down next to him, and the crisp, refreshing scent of herbs seemed to drift over on the breeze.
Xie Dang opened his eyes, his gaze falling on him, his nostrils twitching slightly: "You used that?"
Lin Jingshang shook his head: "No, it was just left on my workstation, so it might have gotten a little on it." He paused, a little embarrassed, "The taste... was it alright?"
Xie Dang hummed in agreement and closed his eyes again: "It's better than the cheap perfume you recommended before."
Lin Jingshang recalled that the system had indeed tried to forcefully push a "man-slaying" fragrance before, which Xie Dang commented was "excessive chemical synthesis, which may cause respiratory discomfort."
He couldn't help but laugh.
In Xie Dang's case, everything seems to be deconstructed into components and data.
The warm sunlight shone down, and the air between the two was filled with the scent of the system's assistance.
Although I know this stuff has no scientific basis, in this quiet afternoon, the smell has become part of the environment and is not unpleasant.
"Thank you, Dang." Lin Jingshang suddenly spoke softly, breaking the silence.
He wasn't quite used to the title yet, and his heart would skip a beat every time he said it.
"Hmm?" Xie Dang did not open his eyes.
"It's nothing, just calling out." Lin Jingshang smiled and leaned back in his chair.
Let's confirm whether this spell has actually worked.
Xie Dang's lips seemed to curve upwards slightly.
---
As the year draws to a close, summaries, budgets, and planning documents are piling up, and overtime has become the norm. Xie Dang's office has become his second home, and Lin Jingshang, as a key support staff member, naturally can't escape it either.
That night, the two of them stayed up very late again.
After finishing the last report, Lin Jingshang felt his eyes were dry. He stretched and looked towards the president's office, where the lights were still on.
He hesitated for a moment, then walked over without sending a message.
The glass door wasn't closed properly, so he gently pushed it open a crack.
Xie Dang was facing the computer screen, rubbing his temples with his fingers. Several documents were spread out on his desk, and the coffee cup next to him was empty.
"Xie Dang," Lin Jingshang said softly, "Is it not over yet?"
Xie Dang looked up, saw it was him, and relaxed a little.
"It'll be soon, how about you?"
"I just finished." Lin Jingshang walked in. "Did you eat anything for dinner?"
Xie paused for a moment, clearly having forgotten about it.
I'm not hungry.
Lin Jingshang glanced at the time; it was almost nine o'clock.
"No, I need to eat something. I'll order takeout, what do you want to eat?"
Xie Dang watched him skillfully open the food delivery app, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said, "Whatever, the same as yours is fine."
Lin Jingshang nodded, quickly selected a well-reviewed congee shop, and ordered two servings of their signature seafood congee and some light side dishes.
While waiting for his takeout, Lin Jingshang sat down on the sofa and casually browsed his phone.
Xie Dang continued with his work.
After a while, he suddenly spoke, his gaze still fixed on the screen: "The aromatherapy on your desk seems to have faded."
Lin Jingshang was taken aback for a moment, then looked up at him: "Really? I didn't notice."
He didn't expect Xie Dang to notice this.
"Mm," Xie Dang responded, and said nothing more.
The food delivery arrived quickly.
Lin Jingshang laid out the lunchboxes on the coffee table, and the aroma of seafood porridge immediately filled the office.
"Have something to eat first." He handed Xie Dang a bowl of porridge and chopsticks.
Xie Dang walked over and sat down next to him, savoring the food.
"It tastes good," he commented.
"Right? I've had this place saved for a long time." Lin Jingshang was a little smug.
The two ate their late-night snack in silence.
Just then, Lin Jingshang's phone screen suddenly lit up automatically, and a system notification popped up.
[Collaboration with working overtime and sharing food detected! Partner compatibility +5! Current level: LV2]
[New benefit unlocked: Shared overtime snack fund (monthly limit of 100 yuan) has been deposited into your account. Please check.]
Lin Jingshang almost choked on his porridge when he saw this line of text.
This system is truly ubiquitous.
Even having a meal together while working overtime requires a rating system, and they even give out snack allowances?
He turned his phone screen towards Xie Dang, both amused and exasperated: "Look at this..."
Xie Dang glanced at it, his face expressionless: "The credit limit is too low and does not match the actual spending level."
Lin Jingshang: "..."
Is the credit limit the key factor?!
He reluctantly turned off the notification and continued drinking his porridge.
After finishing their late-night snack, Lin Jingshang packed up the lunchboxes, and Xie Dang returned to his desk to finish the last bit of work.
"Then I'll head back now?" Lin Jingshang said.
"Okay." Xie Dang nodded, shifting his gaze from the screen to him. "Be careful on the road."
"You too, don't stay out too late." After saying that, Lin Jingshang turned and left the office.
When he reached the elevator, he took out his phone and looked at the shared snack fund account. There was indeed an extra 100 yuan in it.
He couldn't help but smile.
It's not all bad. Next time we work overtime and order takeout together, we can use this fund without any qualms.
The system seemed to have tasted success and began to escalate its actions.
That night, before going to bed, Lin Jingshang habitually checked a fresh food app, intending to replenish the refrigerator's inventory.
He added his usual milk, bread, and eggs to his shopping cart, and just as he was about to checkout, he was surprised to find a few oddly placed items at the bottom of the cart.
A bag of expensive-looking specialty coffee beans, a bottle of sugar-free Greek yogurt with a clean ingredient list, and a small box of fresh rosemary.
Lin Jingshang was stunned.
He never drinks black coffee because he finds it too bitter, he only buys fruit-flavored yogurt, and rosemary is never on his list.
An absurd thought flashed through his mind. He exited the app and opened his chat window with Xie Dang.
[Lin Jingshang]: Are you using a fresh food app?
[Xie Dang]: Hmm, let's replenish the coffee beans.
[Lin Jingshang]: Your shopping cart seems to have been synced to mine. (Attached: Screenshot of shopping cart)
[Xie Dang]: Same shipping address detected. The system has merged the shopping carts by default and has canceled sharing.
Lin Jingshang looked at the message Xie Dang sent, then at the items in his shopping cart, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
This system goes to great lengths to create the illusion of living together.
He thought for a moment and began studying the description of the bag of coffee beans. Origin: Ethiopia; Processed: Washed; Flavor profile: Citrus, Jasmine…
He opened a search engine and typed in "how to brew pour-over coffee".
A few days later, it was another night of working overtime.
With a try-it-out mentality, Lin Jingshang brought his newly purchased simple pour-over equipment and the bag of coffee beans that had arrived at the same time, and knocked on the door of the president's office.
"Enter."
Lin Jingshang pushed open the door and entered, waving the thing in his hand: "Xie Dang, would you like to try the coffee I made?"
Xie Dang looked up from the document, his gaze falling on the coffee beans and equipment in his hand. He paused for two seconds, then nodded: "Okay."
When Lin Jingshang started operating the machine, grinding beans, boiling water, warming the cup, pouring water... he had only learned the steps at the last minute, so his technique was clumsy and his control over the water flow was not stable.
Xie Dang neither urged nor instructed him, but quietly watched him work with focused eyes.
When Lin Jingshang handed him the coffee, he looked a little embarrassed: "It's my first time making it, so it might not be very successful..."
Xie Dang took it, thanked him, and took a bite.
Lin Jingshang looked at him nervously.
Xie Dang carefully tasted it and objectively commented: "The water temperature was too high, the extraction was excessive, the acidity was prominent, and the bitterness was obvious."
Lin Jingshang's shoulders slumped.
“...But,” Xie Dang looked up at him, “the coffee beans themselves still have their flavor, so it’s not bad.”
After he finished speaking, he took another sip.
Lin Jingshang watched him calmly accept and drink the cup of coffee, and the slight sense of defeat in his heart instantly disappeared.
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