Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Quiet Moves, Loud Ripples
A few days had passed since Jin received the offer from Professor Lin. Campus life flowed steadily, but something inside Jin had shifted. He felt more aware of himself—his choices, his goals, his time.
It was a Saturday morning when Jin woke up earlier than usual, his system already chiming softly in his ear.
[System Notification – Daily Focus Boost Activated] — Effect: +2 Efficiency in Productivity Tasks
He sat at his desk, logged into his trading platform, and checked the market. The charts danced with patterns he had come to understand with ease. After analyzing a few setups, he typed out a detailed signal in his trading group.
[Jin – 8:02 AM | Signal Group – CryptoElite PH] BTC/USDT Update: Price action is aligning with a potential bullish breakout. Entry at 62,700 with SL at 61,000. TP 1: 64,500. TP 2: 66,000.
He sent it out, then followed it with another message.
[Jin – 8:03 AM] Also just wanna say thanks to everyone who's been following my signals. It's been a crazy few months. Made some solid moves, and yeah… life's changed a bit.
He attached a picture to the group—his new custom black matte motorbike parked in front of a café, with the caption: "Treating myself after the grind."
Messages immediately flooded the chat:
[Marco]: YO BRO THAT BIKE!!! [Kei]: Wait wait wait… this man is living now? [Lance]: You said before if you got rich you'd treat us… I'm watching you.
Jin smirked as he sipped his coffee. He replied:
[Jin]: Y'all remember that? Alright, let's do it. Send your wishlist. Let's meet next week. My treat.
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Later that afternoon, Jin grabbed his helmet and headed out. He had one more thing on his agenda.
The soft hum of his new motorbike filled the air as he cruised down the road toward the coast. The salty breeze hit his face as he approached the familiar path—his property.
It had been a while since he last visited, back in Chapter 30, when he first saw its potential. Now, fences had been fixed, the main hut was reinforced, and part of the shoreline was cleared for future expansion. He parked the bike and walked along the edge, his boots crunching against gravel and dried grass.
"Still rough," he muttered, "but it's coming together."
He pulled out his phone and took another picture, captioning it: "Phase 1 almost done. Can't wait for the full build."
He didn't post it on his public socials—just to the group chat and close friends. The reactions were the same: disbelief, curiosity, admiration.
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That night, lying on his bed, Jin opened his social media and finally made a full post:
[@jin.cortez – 9:12 PM] What started as a curiosity became a skill. Then a skill became profit. I just kept learning. I just kept going.
Attached were three pictures: the motorbike, a screenshot of one of his successful trades, and a photo of him at the Acquaintance Party, singing with eyes closed.
Caption: "Everything takes time, but the grind pays off. Be patient. Be obsessed."
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[System Notification – Achievement Unlocked: "Subtle Flex"] — Reward: +5 Reputation, +1 Charisma
[System Notification – Side Quest Completed: Update Inner Circle] — Reward: Loyalty Boost with Close Friends +10
Jin smiled as he placed the phone down. He didn't just dream it—he was living it. And for the first time, it felt real.
He wasn't done—not even close. But the difference was clear: now, he could move quietly and let the results speak.
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End of Chapter 45