"Brother Li, you're suddenly rich now," Yunfei said with an amused smile as they walked away from the juice shop. Her tone was playful, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes that made Li Wei feel a little self-conscious.
Li Wei scratched his head, unsure how to explain it, but a quiet pride stirred in his chest. Praise felt good—especially coming from Yunfei. He had always admired her strength and confidence, and hearing her acknowledge him, even casually, made his chest tighten just a little.
"Well, it's thanks to that job I mentioned," he said calmly, trying to keep his voice steady. "It pays well, and I'd been saving for a while."
Yunfei tilted her head, studying him for a moment. There was a softness in her gaze that made his heart skip. This was the first time he had ever talked about his savings openly with her, and somehow that felt like a small bridge forming between them.
"That's great… If you want, you could join my workout club in your free time," she added, almost unconsciously, the words slipping out with her usual coach-like habit of encouraging others.
Li Wei grinned lightly, feeling an odd mix of excitement and nervousness. "Yeah! I'll go with that. How about it? I'll come by your gym later," he said casually, trying to sound confident.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yunfei realized she had spoken more freely than she normally would. She usually reserved that kind of openness for friends or the elderly regulars at the park.
Asking him so directly—especially after learning he was suddenly well-off—made a faint blush creep onto her cheeks. She had never meant to be this bold, and yet, something about his steady, calm presence made it feel easier.
Li Wei noticed her slight hesitation and the soft pink tint on her cheeks. He caught himself glancing at her ponytail swaying with each step, the sunlight catching the strands just so. She seemed effortlessly graceful, and even the smallest interaction with her felt like a little spark of something… more.
"Alright," he said softly, more to himself than to her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Looks like today's turning out to be interesting."
After seeing Yunfei safely back in her apartment, Li Wei stepped outside and pulled out a cigarette. He paused, staring at it for a long moment before quietly crushing it under his shoe. Maybe it's time to start a healthier routine, he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. After all, health is wealth.
As he walked back toward his apartment, a faint notification drew his attention. The EdenLink app pulsed softly on his phone, showing a new quest update.
[Quest In Progress]
Quest: Flirt with twenty college girls in the allotted time: 2 days. [1/20]
Reward: 2 K RMB + 1 Ability point
Quest: Raise the conquer value of the opposite sex by any point. [Completed]
Reward: 20 Cp
Total Currency: 120 Cp
[Target] [New]
Name: Li Yunfei [Conquer Value: 2]
[Shop] [New]
Random Skill Card: 100 points
Before he tapped, Li Wei's finger lingered over the screen. Immediately, comprehensive details about Yunfei appeared on the screen, including her address, phone number, chat ID, favorite foods, and even a subtly displayed log of her present feelings and moods.
He blinked, feeling both astonished and uneasy. He thought, This is a bit too exact. But beneath the uneasiness, a curiosity grew. Unquestionably useful, the information was detailed—almost unnervingly so. With this kind of insight, even someone who had no idea—or, as he joked, "a complete donkey"—could advance.
With a slow exhale, Li Wei felt a silent resolve build up in his chest. And if he uses it correctly, he may have a chance to finish his previous quest.
After changing into a fresh set of clothes, Li Wei stepped out of the building. Staying cooped up inside wasn't going to help him with his "quests." If he wanted to make progress, he needed to get out there—eat something, walk around, maybe even flirt a little. The system seemed to reward confidence, after all.
He also hadn't forgotten his promise to Yunfei. He'd visit her gym later, but for now, she was likely at college. Her gym shifts usually started around noon. That gave him time to explore—and perhaps, collect a few mission completions along the way.
A light breeze brushed against his face as he walked down the street. His crisp shirt and casual pants made him look sharper than usual, and for once, he actually felt it. Not bad, he thought with a grin, checking his reflection in a shop window. If I'm going to be living like this, I might as well look the part.
The shopping center ahead was massive—glass walls gleaming in the sunlight, filled with brands he'd never dared to step into before. Back when every yuan mattered, just walking past those stores had felt intimidating. But now, with the EdenLink system backing him, that hesitation was gone.
He strolled in confidently, looking around. Maybe some new shirts… or something light for the summer. No more office suits from now on.
As he passed the entrance, a cheerful voice called out beside him.
"Hello, brother! Are you here for a job interview or something?"
Li Wei turned his head to see a girl walking alongside him, holding a selfie stick and chatting animatedly into her phone camera. Her bright smile, big eyes, and playful tone made it clear she was a streamer—probably live on Newtube.
He chuckled softly. "Hmm, well, hello there, beauty."
The words slipped out smoothly, confident and relaxed. The girl blinked, momentarily flustered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. But she quickly recovered, giving a practiced smile to both him and the camera.
"Oh? Confident, aren't we?" she teased, tilting her head slightly as her chat began to spam reactions.
Before Li Wei could respond, a soft chime echoed in his head, and a familiar translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
[Situational Quest]
Quest: Increase the favorability of host girl Su Mei by at least 5 points.
Reward: 10 K RMB + 200 Cp + 1 Random Reward.
Li Wei's brows rose slightly. Su Mei, huh? Looks like my timing's perfect.
He smiled faintly, the gears already turning in his mind. This might be more interesting than he thought.