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### Chapter 5: Hard Queens, New York, April 10, 2025
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Lin Chen's bedroom was a battlefield of code and ambition, the glow of his laptop warring with the faint shimmer of the [God-Tech System] interface. It was 2:12 AM, and the Queens street outside was a quiet hum of distant traffic and flickering streetlights. His desk was a mess—SAT prep books buried under empty Red Bull cans, a half-eaten bag of dumplings, and a notebook scrawled with circuit diagrams. The [System]'s Tech Tree hovered in his vision, its newest node pulsing: [*Smart Hardware Prototype – Wearable Study Device*]. The counter read: [*Impact Points: 4,500/5,000*].
*LearnSphere* was a phenomenon now—400,000 downloads, $300,000 in revenue, and a feature on a national tech podcast. Lin Chen, as NovaDev, was no longer a secret. Last week's impulsive reveal at the restaurant had spread like wildfire. Classmates whispered about him in the halls, X posts speculated about "the Queens kid who built *LearnSphere*," and a local news outlet had emailed for an interview. The freedom to take credit—granted by the [System]'s lack of restrictions—felt like a superpower, but it also came with pressure. Everyone was watching, and Lin Chen wasn't sure he was ready.
The new hardware node was his boldest move yet. The [System] promised a wearable device—a wristband that synced with *LearnSphere* to monitor focus, track biometrics, and deliver real-time study tips via haptic feedback. It was light-years beyond Fitbits or Apple Watches, using nanotechnology from Civilization X-9. Lin Chen had spent days sketching designs, the [System] downloading knowledge of microcircuits and biomaterials into his brain. It was thrilling but overwhelming, like trying to hold a galaxy in his head.
He leaned back, rubbing his glasses-free eyes—he'd upgraded to contacts after his latest *LearnSphere* payout. "This is insane," he muttered, sketching a sleek wristband design. "A study watch that reads your brain?"
[*Not your brain, Host,*] Zeta's voice cut in, dry and slightly condescending. [*Your biometrics—heart rate, stress levels, cognitive engagement. The Smart Hardware Prototype enhances LearnSphere's efficacy. Release it, and you'll unlock the next tier. Fail, and you know the drill—a mild headache or skill freeze.*]
Lin Chen sighed. "Yeah, yeah, perfection or bust. I'm on it."
[*Good. But there's a glitch in LearnSphere's encryption. A small data leak—user settings exposed, no sensitive information. Fix it within 24 hours, or face a 6-hour skill freeze.*]
"Another one?" Lin Chen groaned, but he was used to the [System]'s relentless standards. The light penalties were annoying but manageable, like a teacher docking points for sloppy handwriting. He opened his laptop, diving into *LearnSphere*'s code to patch the leak. By 3 AM, he'd fixed it, the [System] confirming: [*Glitch resolved. Impact Points: 4,600/5,000.*]
He turned back to the wristband, coding the firmware that would link it to *LearnSphere*. The [System]'s knowledge made it feel like assembling a puzzle he'd already solved, but the hardware required physical components—microchips, sensors, a 3D printer to prototype. He'd need to order parts, which meant dipping into his NovaDev funds. The thought of spending thousands made his stomach twist, but so did the idea of letting his parents slave away in the restaurant forever.
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Morning hit with the usual chaos of the dim sum restaurant. Lin Chen stumbled downstairs, his head buzzing from lack of sleep. His mother, Mei, was steaming buns, her hands quick and precise, while his father, Wei, prepped the cash register. The restaurant smelled of soy sauce and jasmine tea, a comforting constant in Lin Chen's spiraling life.
"You're famous now, Chen," Wei said, his tone half-proud, half-skeptical. He held up his phone, showing a local news article: *"Queens Teen Behind Viral Study App."* "Customers won't shut up about it. You sure this won't mess up your SATs?"
Lin Chen grabbed a broom, forcing a smile. "It's under control, Dad." He'd transferred another $20,000 to their account, claiming it was a "tech grant," but Wei's worry lingered. Fame was new, and Lin Chen wasn't sure how to navigate it. Mei slid him a plate of siu mai, her eyes warm but searching. "We're proud, Chen, but don't forget your sister's coming tomorrow. She wants to see her big-shot brother."
Lin Chen nodded, guilt prickling. Amy had texted him last night—a meme of a cat coding, with *"Is this you now, NovaDev?"* He'd laughed but hadn't replied, too buried in the [System]. "I'll be there," he said, popping a dumpling in his mouth. The savory burst grounded him, but his mind was on the wristband. If he could pull it off, it could change everything—not just for him, but for his family.
At Flushing High, the halls were electric with gossip. Lin Chen's reveal as NovaDev had turned him from invisible to infamous overnight. Kids he'd never spoken to nodded at him, and a freshman asked for his autograph. It was weird but exhilarating. In AP Physics, Jake plopped down beside him, grinning. "Dude, you're a legend. *LearnSphere Voice* is, like, my personal professor. You gonna make a million bucks or what?"
Lin Chen shrugged, his face heating. "Just trying to help people study." He glanced at Sarah Kim, who was scribbling notes across the room. She'd been friendlier since his reveal, even saying "nice job" in the hall yesterday. His heart raced at the memory. Could he ask her to study together? The [System] gave him freedom to be NovaDev, but it didn't give him courage.
Trouble brewed in Calculus. Tyler Tran, the football star who'd been trashing *LearnSphere*, cornered Lin Chen after class. "So, you're the big-shot app guy," Tyler sneered, his buddies snickering. "Doesn't make you less of a nerd. Bet you're still bombing the SATs."
Lin Chen's jaw tightened. He could've ignored it, but something snapped. "At least I'm doing something with my brain, Tyler. What's your plan? Throwing balls till you peak at prom?"
The hallway went quiet. Tyler's face reddened, but Sarah was there, her eyes wide. "Lin, that was… savage," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. Tyler stormed off, muttering, but Lin Chen felt a rush. Sarah had noticed him—really noticed him. He mumbled a "thanks" and hurried to the library, his heart pounding. Maybe being NovaDev could make him someone worth seeing.
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At lunch, Lin Chen worked on the wristband in the library, ordering microchips and a 3D printer with his NovaDev funds. The [System] downloaded schematics, and he sketched a prototype: a sleek band with a touchscreen and sensors that glowed faintly, like something from a sci-fi movie. He'd need to assemble it at home, but the idea of a physical device—his first step beyond software—lit a fire in him.
His phone buzzed with an X notification: *"NovaDev's LearnSphere unhackable? We'll see. #HackChallenge"* A hacker group, "QuantumGhosts," was targeting *LearnSphere*'s servers, testing his encryption. Lin Chen's stomach churned. The [System] pinged: [*Warning: Unauthorized server probes detected. Neutralize within 24 hours, or face a penalty—mild headache.*]
He dove into the code, his [System]-enhanced skills tracing the hackers' attempts. They were good, but his encryption was better—a wall of math no Earth tech could crack. By the end of lunch, he'd blocked them, the [System] confirming: [*Threat neutralized. Impact Points: 4,800/5,000.*]
After school, he helped at the restaurant, the dinner rush a blur of steaming trays and chattering customers. A group of college kids at a corner table was raving about *LearnSphere*. "This NovaDev guy's a genius," one said. "He's from Queens, right?" Lin Chen smiled, carrying a tray of char siu bao. Being known felt good, but it also felt like a tightrope.
Mei caught him grinning. "You're happy, Chen," she evokes. "Because of that app?"
"Maybe a little," he admitted, setting the tray down. "It's just… nice to see people happy."
Wei overheard, his voice gruff. "Focus on your studies, not fame. MIT won't care about your app if you fail the SATs." But there was a softness in his eyes, like he was starting to believe in his son. Lin Chen nodded, his chest tight. He wanted to tell them about the wristband, about the [System], but even with the freedom to be NovaDev, some secrets were too big.
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That night, Lin Chen assembled the wristband prototype, the 3D printer humming in his room. The device was sleek, lightweight, with a touchscreen that synced flawlessly with *LearnSphere*. He tested it, the band vibrating gently to signal a study break. It was perfect. He uploaded the design to a small test group, and the [System] updated: [*Smart Hardware Prototype beta released. Impact Points: 5,000/5,000. Smart Hardware Tier unlocked. Next node: Renewable Energy Module.*]
But Zeta had one last jab: [*Minor calibration issue in wristband sensors. Fix within 24 hours, or face a 6-hour skill freeze.*]
Lin Chen sighed, but he was ready. He was NovaDev, a name on everyone's lips. Sarah was noticing him, his parents were proud, and the [System] was pushing him toward greatness. He opened his SAT book, the wristband glowing on his wrist. He'd fix the glitch, ace the exams, and keep climbing. The world was his to shape, one tech at a time.
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