"Rhine... Rhine Cat?"

Is that it? That simple? That casual? The colleagues buzzed with discussion.

"Isn't Rhine Cat perfectly fine?" Linden explained. "Since it's a brand image, it should primarily serve to promote the brand. I don't think there's a more suitable name than Rhine Cat."

"Rhine Cat, indeed, it's good." Zhao Yingjun nodded. "From the company's perspective, for you to willingly link this cat with the brand name is naturally a godsend."

"Of course, for such a significant contribution to the company, we will certainly not shortchange talent."

Clap, clap.

Zhao Yingjun clapped her hands, signaling for quiet. "Now, I announce a new personnel appointment!"

Personnel appointment? At the mention of changes, everyone immediately quieted down, sitting up straight.

Zhao Yingjun picked up the Rhine Cat design, looking at everyone. "I believe everyone can see the potential value and development prospects of this Rhine Cat designed by Linden. So, as I just said, simply using it as a promotional mascot would be a bit too wasteful."

"Therefore, I plan to establish a brand-new department, specifically responsible for the IP development of Rhine Cat. In the future, Rhine Cat will not just be the mascot for Rhine Cosmetics, but an independent IP image."

"We can produce Rhine Cat merchandise, animations, plushies, apparel, and various licensed products. This will better enhance the influence of our Rhine brand, thereby feeding back into the cosmetics market."

"This new department will temporarily be named the Rhine Cat IP Development and Operations Team. It will be on the same level as other official departments, reporting directly to me. And the leader of this team... will be Linden!"

Boom!

Lin... Linden?

Such a high-level, important department under CEO Zhao's direct supervision, to be led by a young, inexperienced person like Linden?

But after the initial shock, everyone thought it over... Wasn't this exactly what Linden deserved? He could design Rhine Cat, and he proved with his ability that he was fully capable of the position.

Immediately, thunderous applause erupted! Colleagues enthusiastically congratulated Linden:

"Amazing, Linden! Group leader already! Why don't you transfer me to your department! I'll be your soldier!"

"You definitely have to treat us to dinner tonight, Linden? Your rank and benefits are now the same as Juan's, your salary has at least tripled!"

"At the group leader level, who cares about salary anymore! Just the performance commission alone... crushes the base salary several times over! Not to mention, according to our company's rules, Linden also gets copyright royalties! So, say no more, Linden, tonight you have to splurge!"

"Group Leader Lin! Don't forget us when you're rich and famous! You're the youngest group leader in our company now, with boundless prospects!"

...

Excited colleagues surrounded Linden, almost ready to toss him in the air in celebration.

"Alright, alright, I'll treat you, stop shouting."

Honestly... Zhao Yingjun's personnel appointment even surprised Linden greatly. After all, his experience was truly shallow; he'd been with the company for less than a year.

"Do well, Linden."

Zhao Yingjun walked up to Linden, smiling at him. "I really like the cat you designed, and I have high hopes for your talent. I hope you can help our MX Company expand its commercial territory even further."

"Cosmetics are ultimately just replaceable fast-moving consumer goods; only culture and art can endure through history."

"Perhaps in a few hundred years, people will no longer use MX Company's cosmetics, but they will still remember Rhine Cat."

With that, Zhao Yingjun turned and left. "I look forward to your work, good luck."

...

He got home late that night, already past ten. Everyone had been happy at dinner. Linden was usually well-liked, so everyone was genuinely pleased about his promotion. During the conversation, a few senior colleagues told Linden that CEO Zhao Yingjun's approach to hiring and promotion was always bold and aggressive:

"Our MX Company has grown so well, becoming well-known nationwide in just two years... it's inseparable from CEO Zhao's unconventional approach to nurturing talent!"

"However, ahem, our CEO Zhao is equally decisive when firing people! You'll need to be careful in the future..."

After showering, Linden poured himself a cup of yogurt. It was a hangover cure, and drinking it made him feel much better.

"I never thought... that things from my dreams could actually be useful."

For so many years, Linden had only thought about living it up in his dreams; he had never actually tried to extract anything useful from them.

"Although things in dreams are fake, art and design don't have a true or false distinction."

He remembered what Zhao Yingjun had said. Mendeleev invented the Periodic Table in a dream; Einstein was inspired to the theory of Special Relativity in a dream. So, it made perfect sense that he created Rhine Cat in his dream.

"Wait, in the dream, it was called Keke Cat."

Linden yawned. "Rhine Cat actually sounds better..."

Brushed his teeth, washed his face.

Got into bed.

...

...

Whoosh!

The familiar dry summer wind, the familiar fresh scent of tender leaves. Linden opened his eyes. It was still the familiar plaza. Everything was as it always was, unchanged.

Only today, he had gone to bed too late. There were no children running and playing in the plaza; they had probably all gone home to sleep. Linden looked back at the road. The Big-faced Cat's van wasn't there either. At this hour... he had probably already met CC and set off for the bank.

"What should I do?"

Linden looked around and noticed that the toy store he had visited before was still open.

"I'll go check out the Keke Cat plushies again, see if they have other styles."

Since Zhao Yingjun held him in such high regard, he couldn't let her down at work. That toy store had an entire shelf of Keke Cat plushies. There were many large and small ones, as well as keychains, pendants, stationery, and other merchandise. As the leader of the IP Development and Operations Team... how could he miss such a good "sourcing" opportunity?

Linden walked straight into the toy store, heading directly for the Keke Cat shelf.

However—

"Where's Keke Cat?"

On the shelf before him, there was no sign of any Keke Cat! It was all unfamiliar dolls.

Instantly, a chill ran down Linden's spine. An indescribable sense of fear spread throughout his body.

It had changed...

The dream had actually changed!

For over twenty years, through thousands of nights, all his dreams had been absolutely identical. Children always fell at the same time and place... The broadcast always played the same news... Even the leaves blown down by the wind always landed in the same spot, not an inch off.

But now. The toy store was still the same toy store. The shelf was still the same shelf. But the Keke Cat plushies that should have been there were all gone!

The sudden sense of unfamiliarity made Linden feel a little suffocated:

"Is this still my dream?"

Linden abruptly turned around. He found the salesclerk standing behind him, smiling.

"Sir, can I help you with something?"

"...I'm looking for a Keke Cat plushie; they used to be displayed right here."

"Keke Cat?"

The salesclerk tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Sir, are you mistaken?"

"Our store... has never sold any 'Keke Cat'!"