This machine was right next to the vending machine, and its interface was also very simple, divided into two parts: [Basic Data Query] and [Special Data Query].
After tapping on the basic data query interface, it looked like this:
[Community 17 - Zheng Jie]
[Current 'Likes' owned: *]
[Current 'Dislikes' owned: *]
[Current 'Likes' received: *]
[Current 'Dislikes' received: *]
There was a difference between 'Likes' owned and 'Likes' received, and the machine provided a clear explanation:
The 'Likes' and 'Dislikes' automatically obtained every hour could only be used to operate the corresponding buttons in the meeting room to evaluate the other person, and could not be used for any other purpose.
Only the likes or dislikes given to oneself by others might be related to certain unactivated game mechanics.
Zheng Jie checked immediately because he wanted to know if Lu Xinyi had actually given him a like, or if she was really that malicious, saying they'd exchange likes but secretly giving him a dislike instead.
However, only one sentence appeared on the query interface.
[Query results are refreshed once per hour.]
Zheng Jie was a bit deflated, not expecting this query function to be non-real-time.
This meant he had to wait an hour, after all three meetings were over, to check how many 'Likes' or 'Dislikes' he had actually received.
Zheng Jie then tapped on the [Special Data Query] page.
[Players can use voice commands to freely query all data related to 'ratios' within the game.]
[Each query costs 1 'Like'. (First query is free.)]
[Queried data can be broadcast on the big screen at any time. (The same piece of data can be broadcast a maximum of 2 times, with an interval of more than 10 minutes.)]
[After accumulating 5 queries and broadcasts, you can cut in line to initiate a draft and freely designate any player as your draft opponent.]
[Note: Data related to changes in an individual player's 'Like' or 'Dislike' count cannot be queried.]
Zheng Jie was stunned for a moment: "What's the use of this?
"It even costs 'Likes'. Does this mean the only use for hard-earned 'Likes' is this? To check data?
"Cutting in line for a second draft seems a bit useful, but the prerequisite is spending 5 likes to check data. The draft definitely won't earn back 5 likes, so it's still a loss."
He was a bit baffled, so he could only close the page and return to the sofa in the rest area to think.
"No matter what, likes are definitely the most important resource in this game.
"The final 'Final Selection Vote' is also completed by liking each other.
"So does that mean I just need to like people I have a good impression of, dislike people I hate, and then try my best to perform well and get the other person to give me a like? Is this a game that tests personal charm?
"Considering there's a 'Final Selection Vote' at the end, this game is really like real-life matchmaking. After all the dates, you find the most trustworthy person to marry."
...
Amidst Zheng Jie's confusion, the second meeting began.
He arrived at the meeting room. This time, sitting opposite him was a woman with exquisite makeup, but her figure and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes showed she was no longer young.
She wore a pair of large, gold-rimmed glasses and was already sitting upright in her seat, sizing Zheng Jie up and down with her arms crossed.
He glanced at the nameplate: [Community 12 - Liu Lin].
Zheng Jie also sat down in his seat and said casually without much thought, "Should we split the room fee?"
Liu Lin's eyes widened in shock, her voice suddenly rising: "What did you say?
"Split? Aren't you ashamed of yourself as a man?"
Zheng Jie was taken aback for a moment, but then he reacted and retorted, "What does this have to do with being a man or a woman?
"This isn't a real date, and I haven't taken a single cent from you. We're just meeting. Isn't it normal to split the room fee according to the game rules?"
Liu Lin questioned, "Oh, so you know the game rules?
"Then let me ask you, isn't there another rule? All male players get 30,000 minutes of visa time indiscriminately after leaving the game!
"And what about the female players? Not only do we not get this visa time reward, but our visa time also gets deducted over time!
"The rules of this game are inherently unfair. You're about to get 30,000 minutes of visa time, and you want to split the 200 for the room fee with me?
"Do you hear yourself? Does that sound like something a human would say?"
Liu Lin's words actually stumped Zheng Jie. He thought about it, and it seemed the game rules did mention this.
Male players unconditionally receive 30,000 minutes of visa time after the game ends, while female players not only get none but also have their visa time continuously and randomly deducted.
As for how much was deducted, the game rules didn't say.
"Alright, I'll pay."
Zheng Jie was instinctively a little reluctant, but seeing her attitude, he would most likely get a dislike if he refused.
Although he could also give her a dislike, but...
After thinking it over, he finally pressed the [I'll Pay] button.
Liu Lin also slapped the [You Pay] button: "You should have paid in the first place!"
[200 minutes of visa time have been deducted from Zheng Jie.]
[The room usage fee has been paid. We wish you both a pleasant meeting!]
Zheng Jie sighed silently. A pleasant meeting was unlikely. The atmosphere in the meeting room had been off from the very beginning.
"So, should we just chat casually?" Zheng Jie wasn't happy, but he still tried to proceed with the normal process.
Liu Lin nodded: "Fine."
...
After this meeting ended, Zheng Jie was a bit dejected.
He had been trying hard to find topics the whole time, but he wasn't a particularly humorous or witty person, so her reactions were also very cold. There were several instances of awkward silence that lasted for more than a minute.
If they had their phones, both of them would definitely be playing on them.
But without phones, this kind of awkward silence felt even more embarrassing.
When it ended, Zheng Jie was still a little worried that she might suggest exchanging likes, since he had no more likes left.
But she didn't seem to have that intention either. She didn't even move her hand towards the buttons, just got up and left.
Zheng Jie thought about it and decided there was no need to give her a dislike over this. After all, dislikes were also only one per hour, and she hadn't been that malicious.
So, it was as if nothing had happened.
"On the bright side, at least she didn't give me a dislike either."
Although he couldn't see what she specifically pressed, it was easy to tell whether she had pressed a button or not.
Returning to the rest area, Zheng Jie looked at the big screen. No new notifications had appeared, nor had the draft screen.
Because according to the game rules, the draft would only officially begin after the game had been running for 1 hour, which was equivalent to after the 3rd meeting.
Zheng Jie waited on the sofa, feeling a bit bored.
Just then, a new message appeared on the big screen.
[Qian Li from Community 1 has broadcast a piece of data to all players.]
[As of the current time, the percentage of players who have actively brought an item into the meeting room is: '35%'.]
Zheng Jie was stunned for a moment: "Huh?"
He hadn't expected someone to use the broadcast function this early, only after the second meeting.
Although the first query was free, the second one would cost a 'Like'. Did they really not think it through before broadcasting?
Shouldn't the free uses be cherished?
Zheng Jie didn't get it, but after waiting a while, another broadcast appeared on the big screen.
[Lu Xinyi from Community 3 has broadcast a piece of data to all players.]
[As of the current time, among all male players, the percentage of male players who have pressed the 'I'll Pay' button is: '75%'.]
Zheng Jie stared at the two broadcasts on the big screen for a while and suddenly had a moment of realization.
"Ah? So this is how the broadcast is supposed to be used?"
These two pieces of data, one 75% and one 35%, seemed high and low respectively, but they actually had the same intention.
To put it bluntly, it was to pressure the male players to cough up more cash.