Jiang Wei was thoroughly enjoying his meal. The pasta was rich and savory, and the lemon soda was perfectly fizzy. It was the kind of meal he wouldn't have dared to order just a week ago—but now, it tasted even better under the warm glow of system-funded luxury.
He was halfway through twirling his next forkful when the entrance bell chimed lightly.
A trio of girls stepped into the café, immediately drawing a few glances—not just from Jiang Wei, but from several tables nearby.
It was the café's peak hour, and unsurprisingly, the place was packed. Every table was occupied, and a short queue had already formed at the counter.
"Ugh! It's already filled to the brim..." said the first girl, a petite brunette with a playful pout. She adjusted her crossbody bag and looked around the room with narrowed eyes. Her youthful look and expressive face made her hard to miss.
This was Chen Yumi—cheerful, chatty, and easily the loudest of the three.
"We can wait a bit. It's too hot outside, anyway," replied the second girl, fanning herself with her phone. Her long, straight black hair framed a calm, composed face, and her smile was gentle, almost patient. She walked with a quiet elegance.
Her name was Liang Ruo—soft-spoken and thoughtful, the type who always played mediator.
Behind the two stood the third girl—taller, strikingly attractive, and clearly the attention magnet in the group. She wore a loose, off-shoulder white top, paired with high-waisted jeans and sneakers. Her look was effortless, confident, and slightly wild, like she didn't care how many heads turned in her direction—yet they all did.
That was Su Qian, the one who stood out even among beauties.
"Hmm... wait, isn't that guy over there from our class?" Su Qian asked casually, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as she tilted her head toward the window seat.
Yumi followed her gaze and blinked. "Oh! Yeah, I think you're right! Isn't that... what's-his-name? Jiang... Jiang Wei?"
Liang Ruo nodded. "He's sitting alone. Maybe we can ask to share the table? It's not like there's anywhere else to sit right now."
The three exchanged glances.
Yumi grinned, already enjoying the idea. "Let's go. I'm starving, and my feet are killing me. Besides, he seems harmless."
Jiang Wei, still savoring his pasta, casually glanced up—only to freeze for a moment.
His eyes landed on Su Qian.
Even in a crowd, she stood out like a spotlight on a stage.
Among the students in their class, Su Qian was a well-known figure—charismatic, effortlessly beautiful, and approachable in a way that made guys fall even faster. She wasn't cold or aloof like some campus goddesses. She smiled, she talked, and she existed like a named character out of a story.
And in just a month? The number of boys she had gracefully turned down was rumored to have crossed fifty.
'Ah… so that's why they're standing,' Jiang Wei mused as he noticed the fully packed café. One look at the three girls standing by the door and it was obvious—they were stuck without seats.
But then—to his surprise—they began walking toward him.
His fork froze mid-air.
"Hello, classmate Jiang!" came the bubbly voice of Chen Yumi, the petite brunette with sparkling eyes. "It's so crowded... would you mind if we shared your table?"
Beside her, Liang Ruo smiled politely, and Su Qian gave him a small nod, her eyes observing him carefully but silently.
Jiang Wei blinked, then nodded with a relaxed smile. "Sure. It's pretty packed today."
He shifted slightly, making room—especially for Su Qian—who quietly slid in beside him. Yumi happily grabbed the menu and began flipping through it, chatting with Liang Ruo.
The table itself was a cozy booth: two benches pressed against the walls, each able to hold three at most. Now, with the four of them, it was completely full—suddenly drawing attention from nearby tables. Some students were already whispering.
And with Yumi's cheerful voice echoing now and then, there was no hiding the shift in energy.
Jiang Wei didn't mind. He kept his cool and continued eating like nothing was out of the ordinary.
"So… pasta, huh?" Yumi asked, peeking into his plate.
Jiang Wei smiled, wiping his lips with a napkin. "Yeah, I remember this dish from the freshman welcome party. Thought I'd try it again."
"Ah, me too!" Yumi pouted. "But it's soooo expensive."
Even though she wore stylish, brand-name clothes, Jiang Wei could tell from her tone she wasn't exactly rich. Just trying to keep up appearances, maybe.
Liang Ruo, always the gentle one, chuckled and ruffled Yumi's hair lightly. "You've got expensive taste, little one."
Su Qian said nothing at first, just smiled at her friends with a calm, unreadable look. She hadn't touched the menu yet.
Then Jiang Wei spoke again.
"Well, it'd be a shame to miss out. The food really is good here." He paused, then added smoothly, "How about I treat all three of you? My treat—order whatever you'd like."
The table went quiet for a moment.
All three girls looked at him, reactions mixed—but subtle.
Liang Ruo raised her brow but stayed graceful. Yumi's mouth opened a little, surprised. And Su Qian… blinked once, her gaze tightening just slightly.
Before anyone could respond, Jiang Wei leaned in with a confident grin.
"Of course, if you're worried about returning the favor... I'd be happy with just a small date tonight. Nothing serious—just a walk, maybe a drink."
That caught them completely off guard.
Yumi's eyes lit up immediately. "Ohhh? That's all? That's easy!" she laughed, nudging Su Qian and Liang Ruo. "Come on, let's say yes. He's offering food!"
Liang Ruo pinched her cheek playfully. "You're too easy sometimes."
Yumi pouted. "Food is food!"
Su Qian, on the other hand, remained quiet. Her mind wandered for a moment as she studied Jiang Wei again.
Up until now, her impression of him had been plain. A background character—average looks, quiet, nothing worth noting.
But today… he didn't feel like a background character.
His smile, his calmness, his timing—it all seemed a little too polished.
Was he acting? Or had he always been like this?
Before she could decide, Yumi raised her hand. "We accept! Dragging the other two along if I must. So, classmate Jiang—mind ordering for us too?"
Jiang Wei leaned back, smug but not arrogant. "Of course. Leave it to me."
Inside, his heart thumped—not from nervousness, but from excitement.
"Alright! Leave it to me."
Jiang Wei waved over the waiter with practiced ease and placed the order for all three girls, casually ticking off a few of the café's top-selling dishes. He spoke with a calm confidence that didn't go unnoticed by the girls—or by a few eavesdropping tables nearby.
As the waiter left, Jiang glanced at the glowing notification flashing in the corner of his vision.
[System Notification]
Payment Verified.
Total expense attributed to Su Qian—Intent to Chase Confirmed.
Eligible Expenditures (Yumi, Liang Ruo) covered under Primary Target Influence Zone.
Jiang chuckled inwardly.
So the system was smart enough to categorize indirect efforts, too. Even though he'd treated all three of them, the system understood that his main objective was Su Qian. Because his intent was clearly focused on her, the spending on her friends was counted toward her overall favorability progress.
'Efficient…' Jiang thought, satisfied.
Not that Yumi and Liang Ruo weren't impressive in their own right. Both had appearance ratings of 7.1 and 7.4 respectively—well within the system's "target-worthy" range. But Su Qian was on a different level.
8.4.
Even among top-tier internet idols that Jiang had just browsed earlier, this was elite-tier.
And yet, the system had noted that appearance scores weren't purely objective. They were based on his personal preferences. It was less about social ranking and more about individual taste. That's why a "7" rating meant someone was already stunning—and anything beyond that signaled a personal weakness for that type.
And Su Qian? She was exactly his type.
Still, he couldn't deny that both Yumi and Liang Ruo were well-loved by many in their class. They each had their own charm: Yumi with her lively energy and Liang Ruo with her calming elegance. Both had fan clubs forming already.
Back at the table, things felt more relaxed.
Su Qian didn't look uncomfortable at all. She wasn't cold, nor did she try to downplay the offer. She simply accepted it, thanked him politely, and joined in the conversation like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Jiang had expected at least some hesitation—or a playful rejection—but none came. The only condition?
All three girls would be joining the so-called "date" tonight.
Not that Jiang minded.
It might not be a one-on-one romantic date, but considering this was probably the first real conversation he'd had with them since entering the university, he wasn't complaining. Getting invited along, even in a group setting, was a win.
He wasn't in their inner circle yet—but he was close enough to reach.
So for now, Jiang Wei leaned back in his seat, sipping his lemon soda as the three girls chatted animatedly in front of him.
He didn't rush. He didn't press.
Ding!
The system confirmed the payment as Jiang Wei calmly settled the bill, his face showing not even a ripple of hesitation. His movements were smooth and unbothered, as if spending a few hundred RMB on three girls at a luxury café was something he did every other day.
From across the café, Chen Yumi noticed it.
As they stepped outside after the meal, she leaned toward her friends and whispered, "He's really calm about paying, huh? Almost like it didn't even affect him."
"Hmm... so?" Liang Ruo raised an eyebrow, already sensing where this was going. "What? Don't tell me our little Yumi is interested in him now?"
Yumi clicked her tongue and flipped her hair with mock pride. "Hmph, don't misunderstand. I'm just saying—if Jiang Wei has this kind of monetary backing, and he keeps this attitude up, he could become very popular in the girls' circle. That's all."
Then she smirked and threw the real jab.
"But anyway, I'm not the one who should be worried. Clearly, Jiang Wei's attention is all on Qianqian… Maybe he'll even eat her up one day."
Su Qian, who had been quietly walking beside them, let out a soft laugh.
She could feel it too—Jiang Wei's subtle but unmistakable interest in her. It wasn't just flattery or playful flirting. There was a deliberate intention behind his actions today.
But...
"If he really is…" Su Qian said lightly, her voice steady, "I might just end up rejecting him. Like all the others."
Her tone wasn't bitter—just honest.
The other two girls fell silent for a moment. Then they smiled faintly, a bit of concern in their expressions.
They knew Su Qian's situation.
Behind her charm and carefree image, she carried a clear goal. As an aspiring actress, she wasn't just looking for love—she was aiming for security. For a future that could support her ambitions. A family with solid background, strong enough to help her stand tall in the entertainment world.
And while Jiang Wei had surprised them today, he was still... new. Unproven.
Even so, both girls would support her no matter what.
Meanwhile…
Back in his dorm, Jiang Wei dropped his bag on the chair and collapsed onto his bed.
The afternoon sun streamed through the window, warm and sleep-inducing. He closed his eyes and let himself doze off for an hour, his system silently humming in the background like a battery charging.
Then—beep beep—his alarm rang.
But this time, it wasn't for studying.
It was for chasing.
He sat up, stretched, and started changing into something more casual, yet stylish. Just presentable enough to walk the line between laid-back and charming.
As he buttoned his shirt, the door suddenly flew open.
"BOSS!" a loud voice rang out.
Wu Han, his dormmate and one of the most energetic guys in class, barged in with an exaggerated expression. He held up his phone dramatically.
"What the hell, man? What are you doing sitting with Goddess Su?!"
Jiang Wei turned, brows raised.
Wu Han waved his phone with the class group chat wide open, showing a photo someone had snapped of Jiang Wei seated at the café—with Su Qian beside him, Yumi and Liang Ruo across the table.
The group was already in an uproar.
Jiang just chuckled and explained smoothly, "Relax. The café was packed. They saw I was alone and asked if they could share the table. We're classmates—it's normal."
His tone was calm, composed—almost bored.
Wu Han stared at him for a second, then nodded slowly. "Yeah... yeah, that makes sense actually."
Still, a moment later, he jumped onto his bed and typed furiously into the class group chat:
[Wu Han]
"ALL CLEAR. JIANG WEI'S TABLE WAS JUST NEARBY. SITUATION UNDER CONTROL."
Jiang glanced at the group chat and nearly rolled his eyes.
["Ah, that explains it."]
["Damn, I thought our boy turned into a prince overnight."]
["That makes sense. He's not that lucky."]
["Lmao, that scared me for a second."]
Jiang Wei read the messages, smirking to himself.
'Bastards…'
He leaned back in his chair, still grinning.
'Let's see what their reaction will be… when they find out we're going on a date tonight.'