Rain poured over the city like it had a personal vendetta. My hoodie was soaked through, shoes squelching with every step, and my backpack felt like it contained half the universe in it.
I was weaving through puddles, potholes, and the occasional cyclist who clearly thought sidewalks didn't exist for me. Another delivery, another tip barely enough for noodles. Same old routine, same old misery.
"Luo Tian!"
I glanced up. Of course. Chen Hao. Standing there, perfectly dry, hair annoyingly stylish, and the kind of smirk that could ruin a person's day with just a look.
"Late again, Luo Tian?" he said, voice dripping with amusement. "I didn't think someone like you could even make it down this street without tripping over a puddle."
I forced a polite smile. "Just… trying to do my job."
He laughed, sharp and cruel. "Your job? Delivering food? Pathetic. Maybe one day you'll earn enough to buy shoes that don't leak."
I opened my mouth to snap back, but experience had taught me that sarcasm wasn't worth it. Fighting the rich never ended well. I ran the rest of the way in silence, letting his laughter chase me like an unwanted shadow.
By the time I reached the apartment, I was soaked through. The resident, an older woman, handed me a small tip — barely enough for noodles. I leaned against the wall, chest heaving, muttering to myself. Life was exhausting, unfair, and apparently, still raining.
Then my phone chimed. Not the delivery app, not a tutoring notification. Something else entirely.
I stared at the screen. A golden emblem hovered there like it had walked straight out of a sci-fi movie.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED
HIDDEN FORTUNE PROTOCOL INITIATED
Welcome, Luo Tian.
I blinked. "Okay… I'm either hallucinating or this is some kind of weird scam."
Another message popped up:
Your first mission awaits. Success will alter your fortune. Fail, and your current path remains unchanged.
I laughed nervously. "Right. Alter my fortune. Totally believable."
Then the phone vibrated violently. A holographic map expanded above the screen, highlighting locations and routes in soft golden light. The dots blinked as if impatient.
MISSION 1: Earn 500 RMB in 24 hours
Constraints and bonuses scrolled below: don't beg or steal, don't reveal the system, rewards for creativity and efficiency. I rubbed my eyes. Maybe I was just too tired. Maybe if I slept for a week, it would all disappear.
But my stomach growled. Noodles weren't going to pay for themselves.
By midnight, I was out in the rain again. The city streets were quiet, neon signs reflecting on puddles like tiny fractured mirrors. The night market was my first stop. Most vendors were packing up, grumbling, but a few lingered, selling snacks and cheap electronics. I approached a small stall selling used phone chargers.
"Can I resell a few of these?" I asked, trying not to sound desperate.
The vendor squinted. "Resell? Who are you?"
I shrugged. "Student… trying to survive."
Somehow, it worked. Three chargers sold. Forty RMB in cash. Not much, but it was something.
MISSION 1 PROGRESS: 10% COMPLETE
I muttered to myself, "Either this thing is real… or I'm officially losing it."
Next, I headed toward the university campus. A few students lingered, cramming for exams, and I offered short tutoring sessions. Pacing nervously, trying to remember formulas I hadn't used in months, I managed to make another eighty RMB.
MISSION 1 PROGRESS: 30% COMPLETE
Exhausted but still moving, I wandered past a lamp post-lit street corner, glancing at my phone to double-check the next location. A shadow shifted near a nearby café window. At first, I thought it was just someone finishing a cigarette. But then I noticed him: leaning casually, eyes flicking toward me every few seconds. Broad-shouldered, relaxed, like he was exactly where he wanted to be.
I frowned. Did he just… keep looking at me?
When I slowed to tie my soaked shoelace, he stepped closer, still casual. "Hey," he called out, but not in a threatening way. "You were the one handling the vendor back there, right?"
I blinked. "Uh… yeah. That was me."
He smiled, shrugging. "Not bad. Most people panic or flail in this rain. You handled it… well."
I laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Thanks… I guess?"
He nodded. "I'm Zhang Wei. I don't usually just talk to strangers in the middle of a wet city night, but… well, you seemed interesting. Mind if I walk with you for a bit?"
I hesitated, eyeing him suspiciously. Then, after a moment, I shrugged. "Sure, I guess."
We walked together in silence for a few minutes, occasionally nodding toward vendors or dodging puddles. He didn't reveal much, just casual observations, hints about city shortcuts, and jokes about people slipping in the rain. By the time we reached the next stall, it felt… normal. Not like a random plot device. Just two people moving through the city at night.
"Here," he said, pointing to a small stack of electronics that I could resell. "You might want to try these next. Not too crowded yet."
I blinked. "Uh… thanks. I guess you know your way around."
He grinned. "City's been my playground for a while. Think of me as… someone who's got your back, if you don't mess it up."
By dawn, I had earned nearly 300 RMB. Exhaustion weighed on me, but a grin spread across my face. The city that had always made me feel small now felt… manageable.
MISSION 1 PROGRESS: 65% COMPLETE
Walking back to my tiny apartment, rain droplets sparkling in the early light, I realized this wasn't just about money. It wasn't just survival. It was a game, and I was finally playing. Maybe, just maybe, I was going to win.