By the time the clock struck four, the sky had softened into that golden color that made everything look cinematic—almost too perfect to be real.
I walked across the street to a quiet café near campus, a different one this time. The kind of place that smelled faintly of roasted beans and paper receipts, tucked between a flower shop and a stationery store.
Emma was already there.
She sat by the window, phone in one hand, a slim folder in the other. Her dark brown hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and that same calm aura surrounded her—composed, deliberate, impossible to ignore.
"Right on time," she said, setting her phone down as I approached. "I half-expected a college student to be late."
"I'm a responsible college student," I said, taking the seat opposite her.
"Is that so?" Her lips curved faintly. "You looked more like a daydreamer when I met you."
"Maybe both," I admitted. "Depends on the day."
She chuckled softly. "Honest answer. I like that."
The waiter came by, and before she could reach for her purse, I spoke up.
"I'll get this."
She tilted her head. "Again?"
"Call it… consistency."
That earned me a quiet smile. "All right, Mr. Consistent. But I warn you—I drink overpriced coffee."
"I'll take that risk."
As I ordered, the familiar shimmer flickered again—pale blue light only I could see.
[Transaction Detected: $18.40]
[Target: Emma Vale]
[Processing… Emotional Amplifier Active.]
[Return delayed. Condition pending: Mutual rapport.]
"Mutual rapport?" I thought, suppressing a grin. "You really want me to socialize, huh?"
Emma flipped open the folder as the waiter left. "You mentioned you're a freshman, right? What's your major?"
"Economics," I said. "Mostly because I didn't know what else to pick."
"That's still better than half the interns I've met," she said, glancing up at me. "At least you admit it."
She took a sip of her coffee and studied me with quiet curiosity. "So, what's your long-term goal, Alex?"
I hesitated.
I couldn't exactly say 'using a mysterious system that gives me tenfold returns for buying things for women'.
"…Still figuring that out," I said finally. "But I'd like to do something where effort actually pays off."
Her expression softened—barely, but enough to notice.
"That's a good start," she said. "Most people pretend to have it all planned out. You'd be surprised how many successful people started from that same answer."
[Emotional Resonance +4%.]
The soft pulse of blue light at the edge of my vision made me almost smile. It was like watching invisible gears start to turn.
We talked for nearly an hour.
About college life, her job, the way the city never quite slows down. She wasn't overly talkative, but she listened—really listened. Every time she looked at me, I felt like she was measuring something quietly, as though she could sense there was more to me than I said aloud.
Maybe she could.
When our drinks were done, she glanced at her watch and gathered her folder.
"I should head back. But… this was nice," she said.
"Likewise," I replied.
She paused, then smiled faintly. "You know, if you ever want to learn about investments, our firm offers mentorship programs. You could apply when you're done with your first year."
"Are you offering to be my mentor?"
Her expression shifted—half amusement, half challenge. "Would you take me seriously if I did?"
"I'd be a fool not to."
Her laugh was quiet, genuine. "You're interesting, Alex. Keep it that way."
As she stood to leave, the system's faint hum returned.
[Emotional Resonance: 10%.]
[Return Processing… Complete.]
[+$5,400 credited.]
[System Note: Emotional resonance yields exponential growth potential.]
The moment she stepped out the door, my phone vibrated—new balance confirmed.
I leaned back, staring at the glowing numbers on the screen.
"Five thousand… just from coffee and conversation."
No tricks. No effort. Just time, sincerity, and maybe a little charm.
But the strange part wasn't the money.
It was the quiet feeling in my chest—a sense that something real had started to take shape.
Not romance. Not yet.
Just connection.
As the café emptied and sunlight turned amber through the windows, I whispered under my breath, "This system might just teach me more about people than money ever could."
A soft chime answered.
[New Feature Unlocked: Emotional Projection — minor intuitive insight into targets' moods.]
I blinked. "You've got to be kidding me."
The words faded from the air, but the faint warmth they left behind stayed.
Somehow, I knew this was only the beginning.