Early the next morning, Lin Yan arrived at the laboratory.

The laboratory was on the fifth floor of the Information Building, with a sign hanging at the entrance that read "Microelectronics Research Center."

He pushed open the door, and there were three people inside.

Senior Brother Li, a Ph.D. student in his forties wearing a white lab coat, was adjusting the equipment.

Senior Sister Zhao, a third-year graduate student in her twenties with a ponytail, was typing code at a computer.

Senior Brother Chen, a first-year graduate student in his early twenties wearing glasses, was reading research papers.

Senior Brother Li looked up and glanced at Lin Yan.

"The new guy? Professor Zhang's student?"

"Yes."

"What's your focus?"

"Chip design."

Senior Brother Li nodded and pointed to a desk nearby.

"Sit there. Senior Brother Chen will assign you some tasks."

Lin Yan sat down. Senior Brother Chen pushed a stack of materials over to him.

"Take a look at this first. It's chip test data; try to find some patterns."

Lin Yan took the materials and began to read.

The data was dry, but he could focus on it.

In his past life, he had worked in a factory. The first ten years were spent tightening screws, and the last few years were all data analysis—a job he literally died doing.

The work was monotonous, but for the sake of survival, he had to treat it like a hobby, like a first love.

Eventually, data analysis became his specialty.

Screw that specialty!

While cursing internally, Lin Yan continued to look at the data.

Half an hour later, he looked up.

"Senior Brother, there's an issue with this data."

Senior Brother Chen paused, taken aback.

"What kind of issue?"

"The data in the third and fifth columns don't match. It should be measurement error, but the deviation is too large; it doesn't follow a normal distribution."

Senior Brother Chen took the materials and examined them.

Then his eyes lit up.

"Holy crap, it really is. I've been looking at this for two days and didn't notice it."

Lin Yan thought to himself: Two days? Half an hour was enough for me!

He stood up and walked over to Senior Brother Li.

"Senior Brother, there's an issue with the data. The testing equipment might need calibration."

Senior Brother Li walked over, looked at the data, and then looked at Lin Yan.

"You found this?"

Lin Yan nodded.

"I just looked at it."

Senior Brother Li was silent for two seconds.

"Alright, you've got some skills. Keep going."

Lin Yan felt embarrassed to tell his senior brother that it wasn't that he was skilled, but that he had rested enough!

Over the next week, Lin Yan came to the laboratory for two hours every day.

He completed the tasks Senior Brother Chen assigned him very quickly.

It wasn't that he was exceptionally brilliant; the work really wasn't difficult.

Data analysis, report writing—you just had to do it carefully.

Senior Brother Chen started actively seeking him out for discussions.

"Lin Yan, how do you think we should handle this data?"

"Lin Yan, have you read this research paper?"

Senior Sister Zhao also started to notice him.

"You're a freshman?"

"Yes."

"You're quite impressive."

Lin Yan smiled but didn't say anything.

Impressive? He had only worked seriously for two hours.

Then he went back to lying flat.

A week later, the project concluded.

Professor Zhang came to the laboratory and looked at the final project report.

"Well done."

He turned to Lin Yan.

"You've only been here a week, and you're already keeping up with the progress?"

Lin Yan nodded.

"I had some foundation in data analysis and report writing before."

Professor Zhang smiled.

"You're modest. Alright, the 300-yuan stipend will be deposited into your card next week."

After saying this, Professor Zhang took another folder out of his bag.

"By the way, there's another project, a collaboration with a company, with a 2,000-yuan stipend."

Senior Brother Chen took the folder and glanced at it.

"Professor, this project has a tight deadline. I might not be able to handle it alone."

Professor Zhang frowned.

"Then find someone to help you."

Senior Brother Chen turned to Lin Yan.

"Lin Yan, do you have time?"

Before Lin Yan could speak, Professor Zhang spoke up.

"Alright, let's go with Lin Yan. You take him on and work together."

Lin Yan stood there.

The first project had just finished, and the second one arrived. And the stipend increased from 300 to 500.

He hadn't actively pursued anything, yet the projects came knocking on his door. And the pay even increased.

Is this winning while lying flat?

It seems so.

Back at the shared apartment, Wang Hao was practicing tying a tie in front of the mirror.

He was practicing very seriously, over and over again.

Lin Yan lay on the sofa and opened his phone.

News notification: A-shares plummeted, and the Shanghai Composite Index fell below 2,200 points.

He was stunned for a moment.

October 2008, the stock market crash.

In his past life, he had held 50,000 yuan from his graduation banquet, remembering his parents' repeated warnings not to spend it recklessly, while watching others make a killing by buying at the bottom.

In this life, his first step would be to turn that 50,000 into 100,000!

Buy at the bottom of the stock market and win while lying flat!

How many lots of stocks can that buy?

He turned off his phone and closed his eyes.

No rush. The stock market hasn't hit rock bottom yet. 1,664 points is the real bottom. When it gets there, that's when I'll buy.

Wang Hao finished practicing his tie and saw Lin Yan lying there.

"Lin Yan, what did you do today?"

"The laboratory."

"Doing what?"

"Helping the senior brother with data analysis."

Wang Hao looked disdainful.

"Data analyst? Is that thing useful? It's not as good as the Student Union. In the future, when entering a bank, connections are the most important thing."

Zhang Wei came out of his room to pour some water.

"Data analysis is quite useful; our major has to learn it too."

Wang Hao waved his hand.

"You computer science guys don't understand. In the finance industry, it's all about relationships. Look at me, three departments in the Student Union are fighting over me. My resume will look so good later."

He took out his phone and checked the time.

"I'm off to my second interview. I'll come back tonight and tell you the good news."

Wang Hao left. Zhang Wei went back to his room to continue coding. Li Qiang was playing games in the living room, the sound of the keyboard clattering.

Lin Yan lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

They didn't know. He had done a week of project work and received a 300-yuan stipend. The second project had already arrived, for 500 yuan. The scholarship would be issued soon too, 5,000 yuan.

Would they earn this money?

No.

They were busy grinding in the Student Union, grinding code, grinding games. And he, he was just winning while lying flat.

Lin Yan closed his eyes.

Tomorrow, continue the project.

The project is snowballing, and the money will come knocking on its own.

Evening.

Wang Hao came back, looking excited.

"Brothers! I got in! The External Relations Department!"

He opened his phone to show Lin Yan the chat history.

"Look, the minister said I performed very well and told me to attend the meeting tomorrow. From now on, I'm an official in the Student Union!"

Lin Yan nodded.

"Congratulations."

Wang Hao lay on the sofa, looking satisfied.

"From now on, I can build connections. In the finance industry, how far you go depends on how many people you know. You guys just wait, I'll definitely do better than you all later."

Zhang Wei came out of his room.

"Um, Lin Yan, could you teach me that data analysis of yours? I'm writing a game, and I don't really understand the data part."

Lin Yan nodded.

"Sure."

Zhang Wei's eyes lit up.

"Thanks. I'll treat you to a meal."

Wang Hao chimed in: "What's the use of data analysis? Better to learn how to socialize."

Zhang Wei ignored him and continued asking Lin Yan questions.

Lin Yan lay on the sofa, answering a few questions casually.

He knew very well that data analysis was just a tool. What was truly valuable was the information asymmetry.

He knew Microelectronics would explode, knew the stock market would fall to 1,664 points, knew bitcoin would rise to tens of thousands of dollars later.

These things, his roommates didn't know.

What he knew wasn't just information—it was money.

So he wins while lying flat.

Others grind.

The stock market, the first step to winning while lying flat.

Don't care if the method is old-fashioned. As long as it makes money!

Let's make a small goal first!