"From Broke to Baller: Thanks, System?"

The following week, Jin stood outside his new property, eyes scanning the old building in front of him. The structure was worn, the paint peeling in some areas, but it had potential. It was exactly what he needed—an opportunity to turn something old into something new, just like his life.

The renovation process wasn't going to be easy, but Jin had a clear vision. He'd saved up a decent amount of money from his side trading efforts, and with his system offering some bonuses, he felt more confident than ever.

He checked his phone, the list of contractors he'd contacted now visible on the screen. Jin had already spoken to a few, but today was the day he'd finally meet with the team. The contractors would be in charge of the heavy lifting, but Jin was determined to be hands-on in every aspect. He had learned a lot over the past few weeks—thanks to the system and his own research—on how to manage construction and renovations.

The contractors arrived shortly after, a group of three men in their thirties, dressed in worn-out but functional clothing. They were led by Marco, a burly man with a thick beard who looked as though he could lift a small truck with ease.

"Mr. Cortez," Marco greeted him, shaking Jin's hand firmly. "We're ready to get started. Where do you want us to begin?"

Jin gestured toward the entrance of the building. "First, we'll need to do a complete assessment of the structure. Make sure everything's safe. After that, we can talk about the layout and the design plans."

Marco nodded, taking out a tablet and beginning to make notes. "We'll take care of that. We'll have a structural engineer come by tomorrow to give a full report. In the meantime, we can start clearing out the space."

Jin felt a sense of satisfaction at the speed with which things were moving. He had done his research, and now it was time to put it into practice.

Over the next few days, the property slowly started to transform. Walls were torn down, old fixtures replaced, and the dust and debris slowly cleared away. Jin would visit the site every afternoon after class, checking in on the progress. He kept a close eye on the details, making sure everything was running smoothly.

One afternoon, as he was walking through the building, he received a message from Mika.

Mika R.:

"Jin, do you have time to meet after class? We should go over the project one last time before the presentation."

Jin glanced at the time. He had just enough time to meet them, and it would be good to clear his head for a bit. The stress of the renovation had been building, but he knew his friends would help him unwind.

Jin C.:

"Sure, I'll meet you guys at the café after class."

The group met at their usual spot, Yssa and Calix already sitting at a corner booth when Jin arrived. The café had a comfortable atmosphere, perfect for their study sessions and brainstorming.

"Jin!" Yssa waved him over. "You look like you've been busy."

Jin chuckled as he sat down. "Yeah, it's been crazy. The renovations are moving forward, but it's a lot to manage."

Mika leaned in, intrigued. "That's awesome. So how's it going? Everything on track?"

Jin nodded. "Yeah, the contractors are good. It's just more paperwork and decisions than I expected. But it'll be worth it."

Yssa smiled. "I'm sure it will. But right now, we need to focus on this project. We're almost done with the research. Now, we just need to make sure we have a solid presentation."

Calix raised an eyebrow. "You mean a presentation that'll blow the professor away?"

Mika grinned. "Exactly. Let's take a look at what we have so far."

Jin pulled out his laptop, opening up the slides they'd been working on. They had spent weeks on the research, diving into the complexities of digital finance trends, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency. The topic had been both broad and interesting, and Jin's contributions had helped shape their direction.

"Okay," Jin said, "we're going to start with a brief overview of the digital finance landscape. Then we'll dive into the major trends, followed by a case study of a popular e-wallet platform. We'll finish with projections for the next few years."

Mika looked impressed. "You've really thought this through."

Jin shrugged modestly. "I've been keeping up with the topic for a while. I think it'll make for an interesting presentation."

The group spent the next hour refining the presentation, discussing the best ways to present their ideas, how to make their visuals more engaging, and the timing of their speaking parts. By the time they were done, the presentation was well-organized and polished.

The day of the presentation arrived faster than Jin had anticipated. His nerves were surprisingly calm as he stood in front of the class, his friends beside him. They had practiced their parts over and over, and now it was time to deliver.

Yssa went first, introducing the topic with confidence. Jin followed, explaining the digital finance landscape and breaking down the major trends. Mika took over for the case study, detailing a popular e-wallet platform, while Calix wrapped things up with their projections.

The professor seemed impressed, nodding along and taking notes. Jin felt a small sense of pride as they finished, the final slide transitioning into the "Thank You" screen.

"Well done," the professor said as the class applauded. "You've clearly put a lot of effort into this presentation."

As the group made their way back to their seats, Yssa bumped Jin's shoulder with a grin. "That went better than I expected."

Jin smiled. "Yeah, it did. Thanks for working with me on this."

Mika nodded. "We make a pretty good team."

Calix leaned back in his chair. "Now, let's hope the professor thinks so, too."

After the class ended, Jin headed back to the café to meet with his contractor. He was eager to see how the property was progressing. As he approached the building, Marco was already there, discussing some final touches with the crew.

"We're just about done," Marco said, wiping his hands on a rag. "The final inspection is tomorrow. After that, you can start moving things in."

Jin nodded, feeling the weight of it all starting to sink in. "Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished."

That night, Jin sat in his room, reflecting on everything that had happened. The renovation, the project, the way he had been pushing himself further and further. It was a lot, but it felt right. The hard work was starting to pay off, and he knew that this was only the beginning.

Tomorrow, he'd see the final result of the renovation. Tomorrow, his new life would begin.

End of Chapter 30