C12 The Era Meeting

Stepping into the electronics city, a refreshing cool breeze greeted Situ Yu. It was a welcome relief from the stuffy bus ride. The place was bustling with people milling about, their eyes glued to the smartphones displayed in the counters.

Situ Yu was completely clueless about these phones. He couldn't fathom why the high-priced ones were so expensive.

For him, the only criterion for a good phone was its appearance. Whether there was any correlation between looks and price was anyone's guess.

He noticed a less crowded counter adorned with a logo that looked like an apple nibbled by a mouse. A young woman stood there, her slender figure accentuated by a black business suit and sheer stockings. Her beauty was so striking that it dazzled Situ Yu's "24K titanium alloy dog eyes."

Having encountered two stunning women that day had somewhat bolstered his composure; he wasn't as dumbstruck as he had been earlier in the morning.

The girl, spotting Situ Yu's threadbare attire, had her initial smile cool into a more professional demeanor.

"Hey handsome, looking for something specific? All our phones are genuine and come with a warranty. I'm sure we can find the perfect match for you, guaranteed satisfaction," she said with a practiced calm, her eyes scanning for other potential customers.

Situ Yu wasn't put off by her attitude. It was a far cry from the gruffness of his coworkers back at the mines.

Perusing the phones behind the counter, Situ Yu felt bewildered. How to choose? They all looked similar—some with larger screens, others smaller, a few a bit longer.

"Are these really different models?" Situ Yu asked, his confusion evident.

The girl, barely suppressing a chuckle at his question, composed herself and explained, "Absolutely. The one on the far left is the Fruit 4, next to it is the Fruit 5, followed by the Fruit 6, and on the far right is the Fruit 7. The larger-screen versions are the Plus models. They offer bigger displays, enhanced performance, and are just a tad pricier."

Now it clicked for him—the larger the screen, the better the performance. Why all the fuss with the confusing array?

The saleswoman went on, "We recommend this latest model with the largest screen. It boasts top-notch performance, crystal-clear visuals, and the camera is second to none." She was just passing the time, amusing herself with the young man's naiveté.

Certainly, there was no malice in her demeanor; she simply seemed to look down on him a bit. Yet, her professionalism prevented her from being outright dismissive.

Situ Yu reflected on the day's earnings, combined with his previous wages, realizing he had a tidy sum of around 80,000 yuan on his card.

With a generous air, he declared, "Alright, I'll go with this one." Casually, he pulled out his bank card and passed it to her.

The sales associate paused, momentarily caught off guard, then took the card from him. She glanced at Situ Yu, a hint of uncertainty in her voice, "Are you sure you want this model?"

Situ Yu shot her a peculiar look, thinking, "Isn't this the one you recommended as the best?"

He nodded affirmatively.

A grin spread across the clerk's face, delight shining in her eyes. She was pleasantly surprised by the young man's unassuming appearance and his unexpectedly decisive manner.

She processed the transaction, swiped the card, entered the password, and then handed it back to him, taking a quick peek at the receipt.

"Damn, that's pricey. It's like a whole year's salary," he thought, feeling as though he'd just lost a chunk of his soul. The sting was real, yet he maintained a stoic facade.

The clerk retrieved a brand-new Apple 7P phone from behind the counter. She carefully applied a screen protector and walked him through the basics of its operation.

Holding the sizable phone, Situ Yu experienced a mix of discomfort and elation. After all these years, he was finally upgrading his phone. The ancient one his grandfather had given him could now be honorably discharged.

He extracted the old relic and its SIM card. The clerk trimmed the card to fit and inserted it into the new device. All set.

As he prepared to leave, he inquired, "Do you know where I can find computers for sale around here?"

The clerk replied with a smile, "We sell them right here."

"This is a phone store, isn't it?" Situ Yu asked, puzzled.

"This is an Apple store; we carry phones, tablets, and computers," she explained.

Situ Yu nodded, now understanding.

"Show me the computers, please."

"Right this way," she said, her demeanor noticeably warmer than before.

He followed her to another display, where several laptops were showcased. Their screens varied in size, but the technical specs were beyond his comprehension.

"How much for the biggest screen?" Situ Yu mused, assuming that the largest would naturally offer the best performance.

True enough, it was top-notch, and the price reflected that.

"This is our latest model for the year, priced at 12,000 yuan," the salesperson said, her smile growing even sweeter.

The price made Situ Yu's heart race—damn, it cost twice as much as a phone.

After taking a deep breath and considering his future need to stay informed about market trends, he decided to make the purchase.

"I'll take it."

He pulled out his card and completed the familiar transaction. With the laptop purchased, he left the specialty store.

The salesperson beamed at him as he left. "We look forward to seeing you again."

"Yeah, right. I'd have to mine for years to afford another visit," Situ Yu grumbled as he exited the computer mall with a look of dismay.

With his errands complete—seeds, phone, and laptop acquired—it was time to rush home and set up the internet.

It was already past two in the afternoon; he needed to hurry.

Opting out of the bus, which would delay him further, he hailed a cab. Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at the minibus station, paid the driver, and boarded the minibus. He found a seat in the back, and the half-hour journey flew by.

Arriving at the telecommunications office, Situ Yu took a number and waited a few minutes. When his number was called, he approached the counter and, with the help of the staff, filled out the necessary forms, chose a service package, and paid. He was informed that installation would occur the following day.

Afterward, he headed to the market to buy some groceries—not too much, just enough for a day, since he had no appliances at home.

This realization led Situ Yu to an electronics store, where, on the owner's recommendation, he purchased an air conditioner, television, refrigerator, washing machine, and gas stove—essentially all the household appliances he needed. And just like that, another ten thousand yuan was spent. With only fifty thousand yuan remaining, he knew he had to be frugal and carefully plan his money-making strategies.

The shop owner, beaming with joy, assured him that the electrical appliances would be delivered straight to his home.

After providing his address, Situ Yu headed back on his own.

Braving the blistering sun, he made his way home to find it eerily empty – to the uninformed, it might seem like a burglary had taken place.

He set his belongings down, placed the computer in his room, and the seeds on the table. After a good stretch, he grabbed a bottle of mineral water and took a few sips, feeling somewhat refreshed. He then examined his old phone before storing it in his grandfather's room as a keepsake.

Surveying the sparse decor, Situ Yu anticipated the arrival of the new appliances.

He tidied up, shifting furniture around, and reimagined the space.

Time flew, and before long, the delivery arrived.

Situ Yu pitched in, positioning the appliances just right. The air conditioner found its spot in his room – thankfully not upstairs, as the old house might have posed installation challenges.

Within half an hour, everything was set up. He expressed his gratitude to the delivery driver and began exploring how to operate his phone.

Unbeknownst to him, two Devour Chains silently extended behind him, drifting towards an electrical outlet.

Inside his head, the little loli, Ke Lianna, was chuckling to herself. Pouting, she complained, "You're all about your meal and forget about my hunger. I'll just sneak a little low-level energy, consider it a snack," as her impish tail swayed.

An hour slipped by.

Situ Yu had mostly figured out the phone's basic functions. Massaging his stiff neck, he glanced up and caught sight of the Devour Chain at the socket, which startled him. He frantically checked himself for any signs of electrocution.

Once assured he was unharmed, he growled, "Ke! Li! Anna! Show yourself!"

Startled by his tone, Ke Lianna's voice quivered, "Wh-what's wrong?" The little loli felt a twinge of guilt; she had devoured quite a bit of electricity in just half an hour, and she wondered how the electric meter managed to handle such a surge without frying.

Seeing Ke Lianna's projection emerge, trembling, Situ Yu realized she had lost her usual air of superiority.

Situ Yu's irritation had significantly subsided. It just didn't seem right to scowl at such an adorable little girl.

With a fatherly expression, he advised, "No more sneaking around like that in the future. What if you get caught? Once I have some money, I'll buy you plenty of tasty ores and you can feast on energy." He finished speaking and gently patted the holographic image of Ke Lianna's head.

A sly smile flickered across little Ke Lianna's face as she felt the touch. She had been playing the part of the pitiful child all along. Aware that she'd be reprimanded for secretly consuming energy, she had put on a woeful act to deceive Situ Yu. And it had worked like a charm, Ke Lianna mused with self-satisfaction.

Seeing her look so forlorn, Situ Yu found he no longer had the heart to lecture her.

To ward off any further admonishment, Ke Lianna pointed at the surrounding electronics and inquired, "What's the purpose of buying these ancient, primitive tools?"

Situ Yu's face fell. He explained, "We all need to get by. These old-fashioned tools help me live a somewhat normal life without becoming too detached from society."

He then gestured to the seeds on the table and asked, "And these?"

"These are seeds. These two types are edible—I'm not sure if they'll still grow. The other two are ginseng, which could be quite valuable if they take root."

Hearing the word 'valuable,' Ke Lianna's eyes sparkled with greed. This was her meal ticket, after all.