Simon didn't know how others evaluated those bewildering behaviors, but he thought they were really silly.
Especially among elementary school students, there were many such bewildering acts. Simon could see four or five in a day just sitting in the classroom, such as competing in handstands, competing in kissing, a group of people performing web dramas, some smashing apples with their heads, some biting orange peels with their teeth, and some having a durian candy eating contest to see who had the worst breath.
Many of them were considered games, but they were too absurd. Simon knew there was a generation gap between him and these children. It wasn't that their actions were incomprehensible, because Simon had gone through the same things himself back then.
He simply couldn't find any joy in them anymore.
Compared to Simon's time, there were many more popular things among children now, especially some simplified electronic products for kids. They could even raise AI pets. As long as there was a screen, or even a projector, many games could be played. The appearance of these products varied greatly, from projection pens disguised as normal ballpoint pens to transparent flexible sheets that could be clipped between book pages.
Elementary school students would secretly play whenever they had free time, and teachers were constantly frustrated, unable to stop them.
The risk of playing electronic products was, after all, a bit higher; once caught by a teacher, it meant a self-criticism and punishment. So, other non-virtual toys were also very popular. Things like miniature drones had been popular for at least ten years. As soon as class was dismissed, colorful drones would collectively take off, shuttling back and forth in the classroom, a spectacular sight that for a moment gave people the illusion of being at an air force base or in Star Wars.
Drone flying competitions were a global, Popularization entertainment activity, with national-level competitions. In some countries, it was even considered an exam subject, and many universities had drone operation majors. One could say they really knew how to have fun.
Of course, there were also those "ancient era" toys, such as marbles, string games, and spinning tops.
However, these still couldn't bring Simon joy. Playing with his friends was quite fun, but Simon always won, and gradually he lost interest in small games.
He tried raising an AI pet, but the wholesale goods from the convenience store were just that. The little sprite he raised was very stupid; after two days, its data crashed and it died.
Simon was even a little sad about it for two minutes.
Today was Christmas, and last night was Christmas Eve. Simon now recalled his experience from last night: staying up late to rush a manuscript, which didn't sound very peaceful or happy.
When he came to school in the morning, Simon found thirteen gift boxes in his drawer, all containing apples. They must have been from close classmates.
Speaking of which, giving apples on Christmas Eve is a unique Chinese custom, and Christmas and Christmas Eve themselves are foreign holidays. So, shouldn't one respect their cultural customs? In that case, thirteen isn't a good number...
Simon casually opened one gift box, took out an apple, wiped it with his sleeve, and began to bite into it. It was again that "qualified" inferior product from the convenience store. What a pity, the school only had one convenience store, didn't it?
After eating an apple, Simon felt somewhat invigorated. The fresh, juicy fruit stimulated his stomach and cerebral cortex, but unfortunately, this joy didn't last long. Soon, a strong wave of drowsiness washed over him again.
It was now morning self-study time. After submitting their paper assignments, the students began to recite texts, Chinese Language and English. One was two ancient poems, the other a short essay. They would have a dictation test after class.
Simon spread the high-quality printed textbook on his desk. The comfortable, heavy paper made him feel like he was stroking a down comforter. The words and pictures, the mixed colors, the carefully arranged information, made him dizzy.
Ancient poems, I've memorized many of them, so I can finish quickly. The English short essay is also just that; once I understand the meaning, I can translate it, so why not take a nap?
Simon drowsily lay on his desk and began to dream.
In his dream, he was digging brain holes, various bubbles, within which lay portals to the next layer. Simon had already reached the ninety-eighth layer.
Speaking of which, clicking so many attribute bubbles hasn't been of any use; he's still clumsy, not at all like a genius.
Simon looked at his action points: 30/130, almost at the bottom. Well, today's task only involved making the draft.
Compared to the game, digging brain holes in reality was harder because each layer was very large, with a huge number of initial bubbles. Clicking one bubble only unlocked bubbles in a 3x3 range around it. Compared to the vast number of bubbles, it really gave one the illusion of the Foolish Old Man moving mountains.
Simon knew that these thirty attribute points would just be a drop in the bucket.
The progress of digging brain holes was not cumulative. It didn't matter how much of a layer was dug; if he didn't enter the next layer, it would reset at midnight.
Simon had been digging brain holes for many years now, and he had never successfully cleared a layer. The best time, he cleared about a third through many exploding bubbles. Every time he entered the next layer, it was by luck, stumbling upon a portal.
Today, his luck was very good. After using up thirty action points, he just happened to find a portal. Entering the next layer would reward him with fifty action points. Thus, upon reaching the ninety-ninth layer, he would again have 50/130 action points.
Simon tried his best to click on insight bubbles, being meticulous and accumulating bit by bit. This was a habit from playing games back then. In fact, for a first-generation player like him, attributes were still quite useful, after all, those advanced skills required a large amount of basic attributes to reduce insight point consumption...
Simon's thoughts retreated from that time. He realized he needed to dig brain holes...
Ah, truly good luck, another portal.
It was the hundredth layer.
Before his eyes were not bubbles, but brilliant phantoms.
Light and scent, intense tactile sensations, space confused and inverted. Simon felt his cerebral cortex glowing, like fine energy radiating from his scalp. As heat was carried away, an intense sensation of coolness also surged forth from the deep layers of his brain.
Simon woke up.
Looking at the time, only two minutes had passed.
Sigh, it's time to recite the text. Simon glanced at his textbook. The familiar article suddenly evoked different feelings; those words, they were alive.
"Thin mist, dense clouds, grieving the endless day; fragrant incense burned in the golden beast..."
These words had a scent, a complex sandalwood fragrance, and form and color. Bronze lions rolled in the mist, carrying a rosewood bed. Their vibrant life force whispered in Simon's ear, a woman's voice, as clear and cold as the thin ice crystals on branches in early spring.
Simon clutched his head. Now he understood, the attribute points were finally working!
IQ, EQ, imagination, memory... these things were hard to quantify, but that didn't mean quantitative changes didn't exist. With quantitative change, there was qualitative change, and Simon had waited for this moment.
I'm a genius now!
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