The hum of silence settled over Lucian's apartment like a lazy fog. For once, it didn't suffocate him.
He sat quietly on the couch, phone in hand, fingers scrolling through the new tabs the system had unlocked—Skills, Targets, Rewards, even a strange one called Affinity Chart.
But he didn't tap any of them.
His mind was still stuck on Mia. The sway of her hips when she turned, the soft curve of her neck when she looked over her shoulder, the hint of challenge in her eyes when she asked if he was flirting.
It wasn't much.
But it was enough.
The system hadn't lied.
Somehow, she'd responded. Even if it was just a flicker, it meant something. Something he could build on.
And now?
He had seventy-one hours left to turn that flicker into a flame.
---
The next day came with a gray sky and a low drizzle that made the streets shimmer. Lucian didn't bother with an umbrella. His hair was already wet by the time he stepped out of the building. He made his way across the block and into the corner convenience store—the one with flickering lights and a cracked tile near the entrance.
SevenMart.
He walked through the sliding doors, head low, eyes scanning.
There she was.
Mia stood behind the counter, tying her apron, earbuds in, head bobbing slightly to whatever she was listening to. Her hair was damp too, a few loose strands sticking to her cheek. No makeup. Tired eyes. Still beautiful.
Lucian walked up, grabbed a drink he didn't need, and stepped to the register.
She looked up. Paused. One earbud came out.
"…Hey."
There it was again—that little hesitation. She hadn't expected to see him.
"You stalking me now?" she asked with a smirk.
Lucian gave her an easy grin. "I could say the same. This is my favorite overpriced gas station."
Mia chuckled under her breath as she scanned the bottle. "You live off instant noodles and whiskey. Don't act like you buy this stuff for fun."
> [Flirt Successful. Seduction Progress: 12%]
"Caught me," Lucian said, leaning on the counter. "Guess I'll have to pay with charm instead."
She raised an eyebrow. "Good luck with that."
He could've pushed harder, but he didn't. Not yet. That wasn't how this game worked.
Real pleasure.
Real desire.
This wasn't about forcing a moment—it was about making her want it just as much as he did.
So he pulled back, grabbed his drink, and gave a half-smile.
"Don't work too hard, Mia."
She tilted her head slightly. "You remembered my name?"
"Hard to forget something that sounds nice."
And with that, he walked out.
> [Progress Saved. Affection Level: Warming. Time Remaining: 66 Hours]
---
That night, the rain hadn't stopped. It fell harder now, drumming steadily against the windows of the apartment complex.
Lucian sat near the open window, shirt off, drink in hand again—but he wasn't drowning himself this time.
He was thinking.
Planning.
Learning.
The system had a Skill tab now. He opened it.
> [Skills Unlocked: Basic Massage – Touch Sensitivity Increased, Knack for Soothing Contact. Enables non-sexual pleasure buildup.]
[Next Skill Unlock: Dirty Talk – Unlocked at 25% Seduction on any target.]
He smirked. "So it's not just about shoving my dick in everything, huh."
The system was cruel, but not mindless. It wanted real progress. Real emotion. And that… was oddly exciting.
He wasn't just going to fuck his way to the top. He was going to learn how to seduce, manipulate, and dominate.
Slowly.
Intimately.
Deliciously.
---
The following evening, the hallway was dim when Lucian heard her door open.
He stepped out just in time to see Mia locking up, earbuds in, ponytail swinging.
He walked up casually, hands in pockets.
"Late shift again?"
She glanced over, lips curling into a faint smile. "You really are stalking me."
"Just wanted to see if you made it home safe last night," he said.
"…I took a cab."
"Still counts."
She looked at him for a moment, unreadable. Then shrugged. "Well, thanks, I guess."
Lucian leaned against the wall. "You know, I make a pretty decent massage therapist when I'm not poor."
She gave him a sideways glance. "Really."
"Yep. Magic hands. Certified by the streets of suffering."
"…I am sore, actually."
Lucian didn't move. "Invite me in."
It hung in the air. Not a demand. Not a plea. Just... a quiet suggestion, spoken like a secret.
Mia didn't say anything for a few seconds.
Then, wordlessly, she unlocked her door and stepped inside.
Lucian followed.
> [Affection Threshold Reached. Seduction Progress: 22%]
[New Skill Acquired: Dirty Talk]