nucmednet Chapter 17 Compound Interest
Chapter 17 Compound Interest
The meeting concluded with Zhou Botao's calm and measured "Good."
Version 0.7's goals are clearly laid out: First priority is to devote all resources to optimizing the core communication experience; second, to adopt "enhanced delivery receipts" and start exploring "quick status markers"; third, to start technical research on group chat functionality.
His gaze swept over everyone one last time, his voice clear with the clarity of a decision: From this version onward, Light must consciously shape itself—to become a faster, more reliable, more considerate, and less stressful communication tool.
The tension that had been building for so long seemed to ease a little at this moment.
Li Ting nodded silently. Although the initial proposal had been adjusted, a clear direction was itself a strength. A hint of relief flashed across Chen Mo's face, quickly replaced by preparations for the upcoming battle.
Lin Shen, on the other hand, achieved the result he wanted most.
"Furthermore," Zhou Botao added formally, "given the importance and urgency of this 'Core Experience Optimization' project, a special task force is now formally established. Chen Mo will be in charge, and Zhang Wei will serve as the technical deputy." He turned his gaze to Lin Shen: "Lin Shen has joined as a major contributor to the solution and a core member, and will be deeply involved in tackling key technical challenges."
At this moment, Lin Shen raised his hand and said in a steady voice, "President Zhou, Teacher Chen, I have a suggestion." He mentioned the outstanding performance of intern Lu Chuan in the past three days of auxiliary technology research and testing, and suggested that he be added to the team as an auxiliary staff member. He had good reasons and the role was clearly defined.
Zhou Botao looked at Chen Mo and Li Ting, and after receiving their tacit approval, he finally made the decision: "Okay. Lu Chuan will join the special task force as an assistant member, and Chen Mo and Lin Shen will arrange the specific work."
After the meeting, Chen Mo called Lin Shen to a stop in the corridor. "The plan is finalized, and the pressure is more concrete now." Chen Mo's eyes held both expectation and sternness. "Zhang Wei is responsible for specific coordination and implementation, and you are the core force in tackling this challenge. The design blueprints for the 'modern supermarket' must be transformed into constructible drawings, acceptable code, and quantifiable data improvements as quickly as possible."
"Understood, Teacher Chen," Lin Shen replied in a deep voice.
"Also," Chen Mo's tone softened, "I recommended Lu Chuan; he did a good job. The team needs fresh blood, and it also needs people who are good at discovering and mentoring. Keep this up, but remember, the primary task is to ensure the success of the project."
"I see."
Back at his workstation, Lu Chuan excitedly rushed over: "Brother Shen! Thank you! I... I'll definitely do my best!"
"I've given you this opportunity; whether you seize it is up to you." Lin Shen patted him on the shoulder. "From now on, the tasks will be heavier, and the requirements will be higher."
"no problem!"
Lin Shen turned on his computer and pulled up the detailed implementation plan, which was already seven or eight tenths complete.
Now, it's the official battle blueprint...
The afternoon sun shone warmly on the workstation. Lin Shen turned his chair towards the window, his gaze falling on the clouds drifting between the buildings in the distance, his fingers unconsciously tapping a rhythm on his knees.
Lu Chuan leaned closer with a water glass in his hand and lowered his voice: "Brother Shen, you... have you entered 'Thinker' mode again? I've noticed you have a pattern. Every day you always set aside some time, as if you're completely emptying your mind. You don't code or read documents, you just sit there... lost in thought."
Lin Shen withdrew his gaze: "Is there a problem?"
"No, absolutely not!" Lu Chuan quickly waved his hand, pulled over a chair and sat down, leaning forward. "I just feel... your state is very similar to what a senior student once told me."
He said that an excellent engineer must set aside pure "deep thinking time" every day to sort out the system's structure and predict technical risks. This is called "cognitive investment," and it's the kind of work with the highest return. He glanced at Chen Mo's closed office door and lowered his voice, "I've seen Professor Chen do this sometimes. Are you also doing this kind of 'cognitive investment'? It seems that every time you 'empty your mind' like this, your thinking becomes particularly clear."
Lin Shen's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. Lu Chuan's observation skills and ability to fill in the blanks were excellent. To him, this was a very reasonable and useful interpretation. Moreover, he believed that Lu Chuan would spread this information.
"I guess so," Lin Shen didn't deny it. "Staring at lines of code all the time can easily get you lost in the details. Sometimes you need to step back and look at the overall 'city' planning to see if there are any problems, whether the road network is blocked, or whether the sewers are adequate."
"Brilliant!" Lu Chuan returned with a satisfied expression, having learned something.
Lin Shen turned his gaze back to the window, his mind clear. Lu Chuan was right, but not entirely right. This daily "deep thinking time" was indeed something he deliberately reserved. But its value went far beyond that.
In the lower right corner of his field of vision, the system interface was quietly flashing a faint light.
[Valid time spent slacking off detected: 0.1 hours...]
[Current environment coefficient: 3.5 (Tencent Headquarters Core Area - Light Project Team)]
[Slacking off coins +0.35]
[Cumulative "Slacking Off" Coins: 2.15]
At Tencent, in the Light project team, in this "golden environment" with a coefficient as high as 3.5, his seemingly "daydreaming" deep thinking is being transformed into real "slacking-off coins" with astonishing efficiency. This is no longer the sneaky "freebie hunting" he did at Feixun, but a kind of self-nourishment that is deeply tied to core work and almost like "photosynthesis".
While honing their thinking through cutting-edge real-world problems, they also enjoy the system's high-reward benefits. Work and "slacking off" achieve a perfect symbiosis and cycle here.
He glanced at the slowly but steadily increasing number on the system interface.
"Cognitive investing?" he murmured to himself. "No, this is 'super compound growth powered by a system'."
A breeze blew in through the window, carrying the unique warmth and vitality of early summer in Shenzhen. He stretched, temporarily putting aside his grand visions of the future, and refocused his gaze on the code editor in front of him.
Two weeks passed just like that...
It was seven minutes past midnight.
When the last line of code passed the automated test, when the status light of the build server turned from red to green, and when Zhou Botao posted the words "Version 0.7, released" in the RTX group, suppressed cheers, long sighs, and the sound of chair wheels rolling echoed almost simultaneously from the twenty-odd workstations of the Light project team.
It became.
Lin Shen leaned back in his chair, his fingers slightly numb from typing, but a strange, calm excitement surged in his chest.
"Brother Shen! The user activation curve for the new version is starting to climb steeply! It's twice as fast as the same period in history!" Lu Chuan practically pressed his face against the screen.
"The average frame rate for list scrolling is stable at 57! The stuttering rate has decreased by 70%!" Cheng Xiangdong stared at the performance dashboard, a smile appearing on his usually serious face.
"The arrival time of the first message packet in a weak network environment has been reduced by an average of 22%." Zhang Wei reported another key indicator, his tone calm but his eyes shining.
The office was filled with an atmosphere that blended fatigue, release, and a hint of pride.
Chen Mo walked to the center of the office area and clapped his hands. "Version 0.7 was a tough nut to crack together." His voice was steady and strong. "Every item on the optimization list represents a real improvement in user experience. We've cracked the nut, but how it tastes is up to the users. My colleagues on duty tonight worked hard; everyone else can go home and get a good night's sleep. Starting tomorrow, we'll analyze the data and prepare for the next round."
Lin Shen closed all his work windows and packed his bag. Lu Chuan leaned closer, his eyes still sparkling: "Brother Shen, do you think users will realize that our 'supermarket' is so much better to browse than other people's 'convenience stores'?"
"Yes, they will." Lin Shen slung his bag over his shoulder, smiled, and said, "They may not be able to articulate 'asynchronous pipeline' or 'skeleton screen preloading,' but they'll find it 'smooth' and 'lag-free.' That's enough."
As Lin stepped out of the Tencent building, the Shenzhen night breeze carried a slight chill. He took a deep breath and looked up at the still brightly lit Kexing Science Park. He truly felt that he had participated in shaping the brightness and warmth of one of its beams of light.
The next day, morning meeting.
The beta test data for version 0.7 continues to be positive, and the atmosphere is completely different from before.
Zhou Botao stood at the front, without opening the PowerPoint presentation.
"The first-day data for version 0.7 has just been synced to the group. The core retention metrics for test users improved by more than 20 percentage points, and positive feedback regarding smoothness and stability reached 68%." He paused, "This means we made the right bet. User experience can truly be a moat."
"The company's senior management has noticed the changes in Light's data. Late last night, I received a call from Pony's office." The conference room was deathly quiet. "He only asked one question: 'Is this improvement a random version fluctuation, or have you found a sustainable method?'"
"I answered him: 'It's about the method,'" Zhou Botao said slowly. "Going forward, the group will pay more attention to Light, and there may also be... more resources available."
"Chen Mo, the initial planning for version 0.8 can be launched now. Optimizing the core experience cannot stop; it needs to become a habit. At the same time, the full launch of the group chat function must be put on the agenda."
"clear."
"Furthermore," Zhou Botao changed the subject, looking at Lin Shen, "Lin Shen, starting today, you officially join the core architecture technology discussion group of the Light project, participating in the preliminary discussions of all major technical decisions. Your mentor remains Chen Mo."
Breaking the rules, breaking the rules again.
Lu Chuan blushed with excitement. Li Ting looked at Lin Shen with a complicated expression, but finally nodded slightly.
Lin Shen stood up, meeting everyone's gaze, and said calmly and firmly, "Thank you, President Zhou and Teacher Chen. I will continue to work hard."
He knew this was just the beginning.
As the morning meeting ended, Chen Mo walked up to Lin Shen and whispered, "Come with me to Guangzhou this afternoon."
Lin Shen was taken aback: "Guangzhou?"
"Hmm." Chen Mo's face was expressionless, but there was a hint of seriousness deep in his eyes. "President Zhang Xiaolong has convened a closed-door meeting with the core members of the 'Micro Email' and 'Light' projects to discuss the next steps for mobile communication products."
Micromail...Light...Zhang Xiaolong...
Lin Shen's heart skipped a beat.
2 PM, Guangzhou, TIT Creative Park.
Lin Shen followed Zhou Botao and Chen Mo into a small but minimalist conference room and sat down at the back. In this closed-door meeting of this level, his unfamiliar young face was as transparent as air.
The meeting began with both sides taking turns giving reports.
The email team showcased their architecture design and planning, with "read receipts" listed as one of the core features.
When it was the Light team's turn, Chen Mo reported on the data breakthroughs of version 0.7 and the concepts of "experience first" and "lightweight connection," and explicitly mentioned that the forced "read" status would be temporarily suspended.
This disagreement immediately sparked a discussion, which proceeded in a professional and restrained manner.
Lin Shen listened quietly, without uttering a word. His gaze occasionally swept across the projector, but mostly remained fixed on his laptop, his mind racing. He compared the differences in their approaches, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of their structures, and deduced market reactions…
In the lower right corner of the field of view, the system notification is flashing at an unprecedented frequency:
[Valid time spent slacking off detected: 0.2 hours...]
[Current environmental coefficient: 4.1 (Special Meeting - High-Dimensional Decision Field)]
[Slacking off coins +0.82]
[Cumulative "Slacking Off" Coins: 14.7]
The coefficient is 4.1! The system identifies this high-level closed-door meeting as a "battleground of ideas" of extremely high value.
Lin Shen's heart stirred, and he deliberately focused his thoughts on a grander question: In the battle of mobile communications, what is the underlying logic that truly determines victory or defeat?
Just as he was pondering at the deepest moment—
[The host has been detected to be continuously in a high-value thinking environment]
[Host's mental activity and information processing density have exceeded the threshold.]
[New Skill Unlocked]
Unlocking a new skill requires 10 "Slacking Off Coins".
Current Moyu Coin Balance: 14.7
[Unlock now?]
coming!
"Unlock".
[Confirmed consumption of 10 "Slacking Off Coins"...]
[Moyu Coin Balance: 4.7]
[New module loading...]
A brand new icon has quietly lit up.
[Inspiration Capture (Active Skill, consumes Lazy Coins to activate): After activation, it will greatly enhance the host's ability to capture, organize, and deepen inspiration and key connections... Can be used in conjunction with [Bullet Time]... Each activation consumes at least 2 Lazy Coins...]
An active skill! It can stack with Bullet Time! This will be a powerful tool for solving complex problems, predicting trends, and devising breakthroughs.
"Bang."
The meeting room door was gently pushed open.
The discussion abruptly stopped. Everyone stood up as if by unspoken agreement.
A slender man wearing glasses and a simple polo shirt walked in.
Zhang Xiaolong.
"Sit down." His voice wasn't loud, and it had a slight Cantonese accent. He casually pulled up a chair and sat down.
"I overheard some of the discussion outside," Zhang Xiaolong said, getting straight to the point. His gaze first fell on the WeChat team. "The functionality needs to be solid... As for the 'read' feature, since users have a clear need for it, WeChat can implement it, but the technical implementation must be done well so as not to affect the core communication experience."
The person in charge of WeChat nodded quickly: "Understood, Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Xiaolong nodded, then turned to Chen Mo.
"I've used Light version 0.7," Zhang Xiaolong said calmly. "List scrolling is indeed smooth. Delivery under weak network conditions is also more stable than before."
Chen Mo: "It's the result of the team working together to refine it."
"Hmm." Zhang Xiaolong paused for a few seconds. "Regarding 'read,' I've read the analysis report on Light's choice." He raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over Lin Shen, who was standing behind Chen Mo with his head down, before returning to Chen Mo's face.
"I agree with the idea of temporarily suspending mandatory read confirmation and exploring lighter feedback methods," Zhang Xiaolong said slowly. "When making products, you can't just look at what users say; you have to understand what they want."
The meeting room was extremely quiet.
"However," Zhang Xiaolong changed his tone, but his voice remained unchanged, "marking it as 'read' on WeChat emails is also correct."
Even Chen Mo looked a little puzzled.
"The market needs to validate it." Zhang Xiaolong picked up a pen from the table and slowly twirled it between his fingers. "Two solutions to the same problem, launched to the market simultaneously, will be voted on by users, and the data will tell us the answer."
Horse racing has moved from the shadows to the open.
"Light, continue along your lines. Perfect the user experience, fully realize the essence of 'lightweight connectivity.'" Zhang Xiaolong looked at Chen Mo. "Version 0.8, group chat is a must, but the user experience can't be compromised. Can you manage that?"
Chen Mo took a deep breath: "Yes."
"Okay." Zhang Xiaolong put down his pen, stood up, and said, "That's all for today. Both teams, keep up the good work. Zhou Botao, come to my office."
Without saying anything more, he left the meeting room.
On the way back to Shenzhen, Chen Mo silently looked out the car window, and Lin Shen also remained silent, digesting the information from the meeting and the new possibilities brought about by the system upgrade.
But then, Chen Mo's words made Lin Shen suddenly feel much more pressured.