"I want to do another simulation." Tony Snow, who had just finished a simulation, was already looking into the requirements for the next one.
\[Do you want to use the life simulator? Complete the following task to use it once.]
\[Task Details: Strengthen your body. You, who have great ambitions, were shot and killed in the last simulation because your body was not strong enough. From this, it can be seen that knowledge alone is not enough; a weak body cannot protect a strong brain. Start exercising to protect your brain! Insist on running ten kilometers every day for thirty consecutive days to complete this task. (0/30).]
\[Note: This task can be interrupted a maximum of three times. After each interruption, the count will restart. The fourth interruption will be considered a task failure. Starting from the day of task failure, you will not be allowed to use the life simulator for ninety days.]
The task explicitly stated that Tony had been assassinated in the last simulation—not the ridiculous claim of suicide by being shot in the back.
Reading it, Tony felt like a million thoughts were stampeding through his mind. What did physical fitness have to do with surviving a gunshot? Did the simulator believe he'd become bulletproof by running every day? Or fast enough to dodge bullets? Ridiculous.
Still, complaints aside, he had no choice but to do the task. Luckily, he had developed a habit of morning runs since last year. Though that task only required ten days, he'd continued for half a year. He was confident he could complete this thirty-day challenge without interruption.
The task duration was also short—just one month, far better than the grueling paper submission task he'd recently finished.
"Hey, Tony." Zach Letner pulled back Tony's bed curtain and stared. "What's with the dazed look? We've called you like three times already. Don't tell me you're too cool for us now."
Tony dismissed the life simulator's panel from view. "Oh, didn't I tell you? Try not to admire me too much. I'm being humble here."
"Tony, did you really publish a paper on that math journal Zach mentioned?"
"Tony's a legend! Turns out it wasn't my math that sucked, it was Tony who was just way too good."
Liam Carter and Drew Steele also turned their attention toward him.
"Yeah, it got published before New Year's. I didn't think it would be accepted so quickly, honestly. I even checked the status earlier today at the library, thought it would take at least until next month. But then I got an email notification just now and confirmed it." Tony explained calmly.
"Still, keep it between us, alright? I don't want this news spreading yet," he added.
Tony then noticed Drew had a strange expression—he still had an earbud in.
"Wait, are you still on a call with your girlfriend?"
"Yeah, I was on a call when Zach shouted your name. I didn't hang up... but don't worry, no one in her dorm will say anything."
Great. Not even ten minutes had passed, and now two dormitories knew.
Tony sighed but clarified, "The real reason I don't want this going public is to avoid drawing too much attention right now."
"If the Math Department finds out, they'll definitely want to snatch you up," Liam added.
"Wait... do we even have a Math Department?" Zach asked.
"No? Or maybe yes?" Liam responded, now uncertain.
"Is our Math Department even... math?" Drew joked.
Zach suddenly climbed onto Tony's bed and opened his phone camera. "Tony, let's take a picture. When you become famous, I need proof. If I tell people I used to be your roommate, they'll think I'm making it up."
Liam and Drew soon followed, taking group photos with Tony like he was a celebrity.
"You basically have a golden ticket to any top university now. Got one in mind?" Drew asked, now off the bed and leaning against his desk.
"This isn't just domestic. You've got access to universities worldwide," Liam chimed in.
"I'll think about it. Initially, I was aiming for Northbridge Tech. But now? It depends on what the schools offer me," Tony replied.
"Wait—what do you mean?" Zach looked puzzled.
"The paper was in mathematics, so most schools will want me in their Math Department. But I want to pursue biology."
Liam snapped his fingers. "Ah, that explains why you were so quiet about your original goal. So you've been targeting Northbridge this whole time? You'd barely started studying seriously when you made that decision. Talk about confidence! I half-suspect you've been possessed by a genius."
"Possession? Nah, it's gotta be a system. He's still himself—just swapped his game addiction for academic obsession," Zach speculated.
Drew rolled his eyes. "You two need to stop reading so many web novels. Possession, systems... should I throw in a digestive system too?"
Then he turned to Tony. "So you're still planning to study biology in grad school? Even though barely anyone from our major seems interested in staying in the field?"
"It depends on what the school offers," Tony said.
"What do you mean by that?"
Tony gave them an analogy: "Doing research is like a potluck dinner. There's only so much food in the pot. If I eat more, others eat less. If a school wants me to work in math, they better be willing to give me the resources I need to keep biology on the table too."
All three roommates nodded in understanding, and for a while, no one said anything. The night had somehow turned deep with talk—not of classes or games, but of ambition and the future.
Outside, the campus was quiet. Inside, the dormitory buzzed with low voices and quiet awe.
And for Tony, another chapter was just beginning.