Chapter 2 – A Treat for the Brothers
By the time I dragged myself back to campus, the rain had slowed to a drizzle. The path lights glowed faintly along the wet pavement, reflecting in the puddles like fragments of shattered stars.
Strangely, though, my steps felt lighter than they had in years.
Yes, my heart still throbbed with the sting of Zhao Qinghe's words. Yes, I still replayed the way she turned her back on me, the perfume she left lingering in the air. But underneath the pain, something else pulsed in my chest.
Excitement.
A secret no one else in this world knew. A system, granting me rewards for life's moments. And a bank account so large it felt like a dream.
By the time I reached the dormitory, I was smiling. Not the bitter, empty smile from earlier, but a genuine grin that I couldn't hold back.
The door creaked open, and warm light spilled out from inside.
My dormitory room wasn't large — just four bunk beds squeezed into a rectangular space, with clotheslines of laundry stretched near the window and the faint smell of instant noodles lingering in the air. But it was home, and the three people inside were more like brothers than strangers.
"Yo, Wei!" Chen Hao, the loudest of my roommates, was sprawled across his bed, scrolling through his phone. His hair was always a mess, his voice always half a shout. "What's with that stupid grin? Did your goddess finally text you back?"
"Or did you win the lottery?" Zhang Rui, the tallest among us, snorted as he adjusted his glasses. He was the 'serious' one, the type who actually ironed his shirts even for class.
Meanwhile, Wang Lei, the youngest, peered up from his laptop. His eyes were round with curiosity. "You… look different, Wei-ge. Did something good happen?"
I laughed, wiping droplets of rain from my hair. "Something like that."
Chen Hao squinted at me. "Wait, weren't you meeting Qinghe just now? Don't tell me she actually kissed you in the rain or something cliché like that—"
The smile on my face faltered for just a second. I shook my head. "We broke up."
The room went silent.
"...Oh." Chen Hao sat up straight, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Shit. Sorry, man."
Zhang Rui closed his laptop with a soft thud, his expression softening. "Wei, if you need anything—"
But before he could finish, I clapped my hands together. "No need to worry! Actually… tonight's on me. Let's go out and eat. A real meal. No cafeteria junk, no instant noodles. I'll treat you guys."
Three sets of eyes widened.
"You?" Chen Hao blinked. "Treat us? What, to fried dumplings from the corner shop?"
"Nope," I said, my grin widening. "Hotpot. The good kind."
"...Hotpot?" Wang Lei's voice cracked in disbelief. "Wei-ge, are you serious? That's, like… three hundred yuan minimum for four people!"
"Relax." I waved my hand dismissively. "I said it's on me."
The three of them exchanged looks. For years, they'd known me as the thrifty one, the guy who hesitated even to order milk tea because it was "too expensive." For me to suddenly suggest hotpot? It was like a panda deciding to take a joyride in a Ferrari.
Chen Hao's jaw dropped. "Did—did you rob a bank or something?"
I laughed, shaking my head. "No crimes committed. I just… got lucky, let's put it that way."
Zhang Rui narrowed his eyes. "Lucky? What do you mean—"
Before he could press further, I grabbed my jacket again. "Come on, brothers. Don't overthink it. Let's go. Tonight, we eat until our stomachs explode!"
The hotpot restaurant I led them to wasn't the shabby one near campus, but one of the top-rated places in Jiangcheng. Golden lighting spilled across polished wooden tables, and the spicy aroma of Sichuan broth filled the air so thickly it made our mouths water instantly.
"Holy shit…" Chen Hao whispered as he glanced around at the neatly dressed couples and businessmen. "Wei, are you sure we can afford this? I feel like just breathing the air in here costs money."
I only smiled and waved for the waiter. "Don't worry. Order whatever you want. No holding back."
Their eyes widened again, but they didn't need further convincing. Soon enough, plates piled high with thinly sliced beef, lamb, shrimp, mushrooms, tofu, and vegetables filled our table. The boiling broth bubbled in the center, the steam carrying a mouthwatering fragrance.
The first bite silenced them.
And then Chen Hao slammed his chopsticks down. "Wei, I don't know what happened to you today, but brother—! I f***ing love you! This is the best meal I've had since entering university!"
Wang Lei nodded furiously, cheeks stuffed with beef. "Mhm! I thought I was dreaming when you said hotpot, but—mm—this is real! Wei-ge, you're amazing!"
Even Zhang Rui, usually the reserved one, sighed in satisfaction after dipping a piece of lamb into sesame sauce. "I'll admit… this is impressive."
I leaned back in my chair, watching them devour the feast with childlike joy. My own chopsticks moved absently, but my mind was elsewhere.
So this was it. The first test of the system's reward.
Spending money without fear. Watching my brothers enjoy themselves. Tasting freedom.
The guilt of the breakup still lingered like an ache in my chest, but for the first time, I realized something: Zhao Qinghe's words didn't matter anymore. She said I had no future, no resources, no ambition.
But tonight proved her wrong.
I wasn't just Li Wei, the invisible boy behind glasses anymore.
I was Li Wei, the man with a system.
And this was only the beginning.