The city felt quieter in the early morning, the kind of quiet that makes every dripping puddle sound like a drumbeat. I was exhausted, my hoodie still damp from last night's rain, but the system's mission reminder pulsed softly on my phone.
MISSION 1: Earn 500 RMB in 24 hours
PROGRESS: 65% COMPLETE
"Eight hours left," I muttered. Eight hours to make almost half my goal. Great. Just… great.
Zhang Wei walked beside me, chewing gum and occasionally glancing around as if the streets were a game board only he could see. "You've got potential," he said casually. "But you move too stiff. Relax, the city's not gonna eat you. Usually."
I snorted. "You call dodging puddles and being ignored by delivery apps relaxing?"
He laughed. "Exactly. Keep that attitude. Makes the losses hurt less."
We split up briefly — Zhang Wei had a few contacts he wanted to check on, and I had to hustle with my own plan. My first stop was a tiny electronics shop near the subway station. I'd sold a few old phone cases online the night before, and the system hinted there was more potential here.
"Okay, Luo Tian," I muttered to myself, "time to actually act like a competent human being."
I approached the counter, trying to look confident even though my legs felt like lead. "Hi, um… I'm looking to buy some older electronics. Something I can resell online."
The shopkeeper squinted, probably wondering if I was a scammer. "You resell?"
"Yes," I said quickly, "I… tutor online and sometimes sell old items. Extra cash."
A flash of the system's interface flickered in my mind. Timing suggestions, potential outcomes — subtle, helpful nudges. I followed them instinctively. By the time I left, I had four small gadgets and 120 RMB in cash. My progress ticked up on the system quietly, almost like a nudge rather than a scoreboard.
MISSION 1 PROGRESS: 80% COMPLETE
I let out a short laugh, partly from relief, partly from disbelief. "Okay, this… might actually work."
Then, as I turned a corner, I almost ran into a delivery van. Slamming to a stop, I muttered under my breath. "Great, city's trying to kill me now."
"Watch out!" someone called. I looked up and saw a girl struggling with a stack of folders, dripping wet from the earlier rain. Without thinking, I stepped forward and grabbed the top folder before it slid onto the wet street.
"Thanks!" she exclaimed, slightly out of breath. Her eyes sparkled despite the rain. "I… I don't know what I would have done without you."
I shrugged awkwardly. "No problem. City's dangerous. Just… part of surviving it."
She laughed softly, and I noticed the small warmth that came from helping someone, even if briefly. Maybe this whole "game" wasn't just about money. Maybe there was a little life tucked into it too.
By the time I met back with Zhang Wei, my progress had nudged further thanks to the resales and tutoring leads I managed to wrap up.
"Not bad," he said, eyeing my haul. "But the system likes creativity. Don't just follow instructions. Make it yours."
I frowned. "Make it mine? I'm barely keeping my shoes dry here."
He smirked. "Exactly. That's where the fun begins."
Hours passed as we moved across the city, dodging early morning traffic, negotiating with reluctant vendors, and occasionally laughing at the absurdity of the situation — two soaked students trying to turn a profit while a glowing map hovered invisibly above my phone.
By late morning, I had finally hit the 500 RMB mark. My chest swelled with a mix of relief and disbelief. I had survived the first mission. Somehow, I had actually succeeded.
The system chimed softly.
MISSION COMPLETE: 500 RMB EARNED
REWARD UNLOCKED: 200 EXP / Hidden Fortune Points + New Opportunities
I stared at the screen. "Wait… did that just happen?"
Zhang Wei laughed, clapping me on the shoulder. "Yep. You didn't crash and burn. First mission down. Now you're officially in the game."
I grinned, exhausted but buzzing with a strange thrill. Maybe, just maybe, this game — this weird, impossible, ridiculous game — was exactly what I needed.
As we walked back through the city streets, still glistening from rain, I realized something important: life had always felt unfair. But now, it felt like… a challenge I could actually play. And maybe, just maybe, I was ready to win.