Thursday, May 4, 2023. Light rain transitioning to overcast, 15~19°C.

A light rain drizzled, falling onto the damp stone pavement. Two black business sedans slowly approached and steadily came to a stop at the drop-off zone in front of Linjin Tower.

"Click—Click—"

The car doors opened in sequence, and five people stepped out. They were all 40 years old, dressed in neatly pressed suits and impeccably groomed hair. Each carried the distinct air of elite professionals.

Several company leaders quickly came forward to greet them. After shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, the group walked into the building with smiles.

Today was a significant day for Jinxiu Commerce. Following the company's recent equity restructuring, this marked the first board meeting with all five current directors in attendance. The meeting would determine the company's strategic direction, financial decisions, appointment and dismissal of senior management, and revision of company policies.

As the executives entered the conference room, the employees outside couldn't hide their excitement and anticipation. The news had spread rapidly this morning—Smile Capital, a CVC institution under Smile Holdings, had invested in their company, propelling them to become employees of a major corporation practically overnight.

Although the office remained quiet on the surface, the company's WeChat groups buzzed as if it were New Year's.

In the small chat group of the tech department:

Frontend Developer Li Song: "I heard from Brother Wen that our Tech Support Department will be upgraded to a Business Unit!"

Developer Du Shaokai: "It's true! Besides the existing roles, there will be new positions for livestreaming, design, and editing tech staff, all integrated into the Tech Support Business Unit. Our General Manager Chen will be promoted to Chief Technology Officer (CTO)."

Developer Wang Chaoyang: "Another perk—our department will have its own management and decision-making powers. For instance, reimbursements and travel expenses can be set according to actual needs."

…

As the discussion continued, everyone grew increasingly excited. Many began whispering amongst themselves, their faces flushed with enthusiasm.

Returning to work after the May Day holiday and suddenly becoming employees of a major corporation, with their department elevated to a core function, felt like a windfall. Even the usually dreaded Monday seemed pleasant, with the rhythmic patter of rain outside adding a poetic touch.

…

When Tang Song opened his eyes, it was close to 10 a.m. He had come home late the night before, and after unlocking some rewards, he had been too excited to sleep. Fortunately, the special effects of the [Heartthrob Aura (LV2)] left him feeling refreshed after just one night's rest.

He checked his WeChat, where many unread messages awaited him. Most were from former colleagues discussing the company's board meeting today. Seeing the familiar "Smile Holdings," Tang Song couldn't help but smile.

He had a hunch that this investment in Jinxiu Commerce was somehow connected to Secretary Jin, much like how he had given her a gift in a different way through the [Dream Gift Box]. It was a subtle connection, but one he could sense.

Scrolling further, he saw a message from Gao Mengting. Today was the first workday after the May Day holiday, and the HR and finance departments were back in the office, resuming normal operations. The legal advisor they had scheduled would arrive at 2 p.m., and she reminded him not to miss it.

Tang Song responded briefly, got up, ate, and prepared himself.

…

By 11 a.m., the rain had gradually stopped. At the east gate of Yanjing Tiancheng Residence, after verifying his identity with the property management, Tang Song smoothly drove into the underground parking garage. Following the security guard's directions, he parked his BMW 330 in spot A1-002.

He thanked the security guard and handed him a bottle of drink. Tang Song's gaze shifted to the silver Mercedes-Benz S450L parked in spot A1-001. The classic combination of a silver Mercedes, a white horse, and a black Audi never failed to impress.

The silver hue was a legendary color for the Mercedes brand. The sleekness of this model's "Timeless Silver" finish gave it an advanced, mirror-like quality, with a flowing shimmer that was truly captivating. The wide front bumper and exquisitely designed headlights created a strong visual impact. The car's body lines were smooth and elegant, exuding a sense of stability without being ostentatious. Under the garage lights, its luxury and grandeur were undeniable, stirring excitement within anyone who saw it.

In comparison, the BMW 330i parked beside it seemed rather inconspicuous.

After gently touching the Mercedes emblem, Tang Song turned and walked into the spacious, well-lit lobby. With the help of the property staff, he took the elevator to the 20th floor. The hallway was brightly lit, with glossy, warm-colored tiles adorning the floor and walls.

Turning a corner, he saw a pair of brown armored double fire doors exuding simplicity and grandeur.

Standing before the door, Tang Song took a deep breath, entered the passcode, pulled the door open, and stepped inside.

The lights inside the house were instantly illuminated. The space was designed with no main lights; instead, it used a combination of linear lights, magnetic track lights, and spotlights. The lighting was soft, with rich layers and a strong sense of dimension.

The decor was primarily warm coffee tones, complemented by shades of gray, white, and natural wood. The floor was made of textured marble tiles. At a glance, the space had a grand, high-end apartment feel.

To the left was a spacious south-facing living room, and to the right was a separate foyer with a cloakroom. The cloakroom held several pairs of brand-new slippers in various sizes and colors. The wall also featured an intelligent control system for adjusting the lighting, central air conditioning, and more.

After a brief look around the foyer, Tang Song turned left into the expansive living room. The combined living and dining area spanned over 100 square meters, showcasing a refined, Italian-inspired luxury design that blended classic and modern elements, creating an overwhelming sense of sophistication.

He soon found the switch for the surrounding gray electric curtains and slowly opened them. Daylight instantly poured into the room.

Tang Song took a deep breath and stood by the south-facing floor-to-ceiling window. The sky was a deep, somber gray, with heavy, low-hanging clouds that seemed almost within reach.

Through the 270-degree panoramic glass curtain wall, he could see the towering buildings, bustling traffic, and the throngs of people coming and going below. The city's noise and busyness seemed magnified on this rainy day.

His gaze fell on Yunxi Tower, which stood tall under the gloomy clouds. He owned an entire floor there, too.

Closing his eyes gently, Tang Song spread his arms wide, embracing the stunning view. The realization of his lifelong goal, achieved so perfectly, filled him with indescribable excitement.

He did a 360-degree turn in the living room before exploring his large house.

There were double kitchens for Chinese and Western cooking, an artistically designed island, wrap-around fabric sofas, a full set of kitchenware and appliances, an independent study, a bookshelf filled with books, high-end bathroom facilities…

The 390-square-meter apartment had five bedrooms and five bathrooms, with a wide frontage, panoramic views, and exquisite decoration. The perfect blend of comfort and aesthetics showcased the luxury of this high-end apartment in every detail.

Finally, Tang Song pushed open the door to the master bedroom.

It had floor-to-ceiling windows, a continuous balcony, hardwood floors, and exquisite bedding… The neutral color palette created a warm and serene atmosphere.

After admiring the room, Tang Song entered the master bedroom's walk-in closet.

It had a U-shaped design with an open-space layout. He turned on the lights. The closet featured tea-colored glass doors styled in the same Italian-inspired luxury design. There were double rows of hanging areas with warm-colored light strips embedded, creating an unbeatable ambiance.

The island in the center had varying heights, and the black leather dressing bench added a touch of luxury. Inside the dark-colored wardrobe hung many men's garments—shirts, suits, casual jackets, and more. There were also dedicated sections for bags, shoes, and hats, all neatly arranged. The overall look was comparable to a luxury boutique, exuding understated opulence.

Tang Song picked up a piece of clothing and examined it. The fabric quality was excellent, with no brand markings, and every item was tailored to his measurements.

Considering the spotless room and the Mercedes-Benz parked downstairs, it was clear that this apartment had been meticulously prepared before he moved in.

He opened each closed wardrobe door to inspect the contents, discovering many more valuable items: scarves, gloves, belts, ties—each with at least ten pieces, all neatly arranged in drawers.

Finally, he found a safe in the corner of one cabinet. Gripping the handle, his thumb touched the fingerprint scanner.

"Click—Click—" Find the newest release on novel•fire.net

After a few crisp sounds, the safe opened smoothly, revealing a three-layer structure lined with leather.

The top layer held two thick document folders. One contained the paperwork for this large apartment, including the property deed, keys, access cards, and so on. The other folder had all the documents for the Mercedes-Benz S450 in perfect order.

Tang Song took out the keys and cards, carefully placing them aside, and then continued to the second layer. It held a fairly heavy wooden box without a lock.

He gently lifted the lid, and a golden glow instantly illuminated his face. His expression turned into one of sheer delight.

Inside the box were gleaming gold bars.

Tang Song picked one up and inspected it closely. Each bar was a standard 100g bank-issued gold bar, with 30 bars in the box.

Compared to diamonds, which are largely marketing-driven, gold is truly valuable, almost equivalent to currency.

Based on current gold prices, the total value exceeded 1.3 million yuan, with potential for further appreciation.

For him, at this stage, it was a substantial fortune.

The game never disappoints me! Please give me more of these in the future!

After playing with the gold bars, Tang Song carefully placed the box back. His gaze shifted to the bottom layer.

It was nearly empty, with only a single A4 sheet of paper. When he picked it up, he found a photograph underneath.

Seeing the image, Tang Song's expression softened.

The photo captured Secretary Jin sitting by a window, wearing a white silk blouse, holding a copy of The Interpretation of Dreams. The sunlight highlighted her profile, gilding her with a golden edge. Her gentle curves were like dunes shaped by the wind in the desert—smooth, beautiful, and masterfully crafted.

Tang Song stared at the photo for a long time before finally putting it back.

He then looked at the A4 sheet, which appeared to be a screenshot of an email interface. However, the sender and recipient were blurred out, and the content was entirely in English.

His curiosity was piqued, and Tang Song carefully examined the document.

His English was decent, having passed CET-6 in college, but to avoid any mistakes, he took out his phone to translate it.

Soon, line after line of text appeared on his screen:

"Dear Sir or Madam, although I know this is abrupt, I have decided to send this email anyway.

I must clarify that I am a staunch atheist. I do not know your name, gender, nationality, or beliefs, nor do I intend to find out.

For a long time, I have had the same dream every night, seeing the same person.

They tell me many things in the dream, but when I wake up, I only remember this email address.

In The Interpretation of Dreams, Freud said there is no such thing as coincidence in this world, only inevitability. The same applies to dreams.

He also said that dreams are a way to fulfill wishes.

I am currently at a crossroads in my life, and my subconscious, during sleep, is telling me that the owner of this email will give me the right answer.

After much hesitation, I have decided to give it a try.

Today is April Fool's Day, so consider this a stranger's prank.

But if you have experienced something similar, please respond.

—April 1, 2016"