The buzzing of students filled the lecture hall as the professor scribbled formulas across the blackboard. Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, dust motes swirling lazily in the air.
Lin Feng leaned back in his seat, staring blankly at the half-finished notes on his desk. His pen hung loosely between his fingers, the ink pooling into a small blot on the page.
"Lin Feng, are you even listening?"
The voice came from his deskmate, Zhang Wei, who shot him an annoyed look. "If you fail this class again, you'll have to repeat the semester. Do you want to graduate or not?"
Lin Feng gave a weak laugh. "Graduate? Sure… if my wallet doesn't collapse before then."
Zhang Wei rolled his eyes. "Again with the money. Just get a part-time job."
"Already have three," Lin Feng muttered, glancing at his worn-out shoes. His stomach growled softly, betraying the fact he had skipped breakfast again. He quickly covered it up with a cough, hoping no one heard.
At the front of the class, the professor's voice droned on about economics and market principles—words that felt painfully ironic to Lin Feng, who could barely manage his own living expenses. To the other students, this was just another boring lecture. To Lin Feng, it was a reminder of how far he was from the life he wanted.
And yet, somewhere deep inside, he felt it—that today was going to be different.
The sound of the bell echoed through the lecture hall, signaling the end of class. Chairs scraped against the floor as students gathered their books and shuffled toward the exit.
Lin Feng lazily packed his things, not in a rush to join the crowd. His gaze, however, was fixed on a figure near the front rows.
Zhao Xue.
Her long black hair cascaded gently over her shoulders, catching the sunlight as she laughed softly at something. Her smile was the kind that could brighten even the dullest classroom, and Lin Feng felt the familiar tug in his chest—the same one he had felt since their first year.
But his smile quickly faded.
Beside her walked another classmate, Li Hao, tall and sharp-featured, wearing the kind of expensive watch that could pay Lin Feng's rent for months. He leaned slightly toward Zhao Xue as they spoke, their shoulders almost brushing. She didn't seem to mind.
Lin Feng's hand tightened around his pen until the cap cracked.
Li Hao.
The son of a wealthy businessman, smug and arrogant, the type who looked down on people like Lin Feng as if they were born to crawl at his feet.
Lin Feng forced his eyes away, shoving his pen into his bag. He told himself it didn't matter, that he wasn't in a position to compete with someone like Li Hao anyway. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, his gaze drifted back to Zhao Xue's retreating figure, walking farther and farther away at Li Hao's side.
A bitter smile tugged at Lin Feng's lips.
"Sigh! Forget it, man; she's beyond your grasp."
Zhang Wei slung his bag over his shoulder and gave Lin Feng a sympathetic look. "A goddess like Zhao Xue? Guys like us can only watch from afar. That Li Hao brat might be annoying, but at least he's rich. What do you have? Instant noodles and overdue rent?"
Lin Feng smirked faintly, closing his notebook. "Thanks for the encouragement."
"Hey, I'm just being realistic!" Zhang Wei grinned, elbowing him lightly. "But don't worry, bro. Even if you don't get the girl, you've still got me."
"Yeah, lucky me," Lin Feng said dryly, though the corner of his lips curved up.
The two walked out of the lecture hall, the late-afternoon sun casting long shadows across the campus. The chatter of students filled the air, couples walking hand in hand, and groups laughing as they made their way to the cafeteria.
By the time they arrived, the smell of fried rice and soy sauce chicken wafted through the air. The cafeteria was noisy, packed with students lining up for their meals. Lin Feng joined the line with Zhang Wei, fishing out his wallet. Only a few crumpled bills stared back at him.
As he handed the money to the cashier, a soft chime suddenly echoed in his mind.
Ding! Scumbag System binding successful.
First skill unlocked: [Rebate].
Lin Feng blinked once, then calmly took his tray of food. He walked toward an empty table as if nothing had happened.
He wasn't surprised.
After all, this was his second life.
Reincarnating had already broken the boundaries of what he once thought possible. Compared to waking up in the past with all his memories intact, hearing a mechanical voice in his head was barely worth a raised eyebrow.
If anything, Lin Feng almost found it amusing. So this life came with a bonus cheat, huh?
He sat down, opened his chopsticks, and let a small, knowing smile play across his face.
Then let's see how much use this so-called system has.
Lin Feng lifted a piece of fried chicken with his chopsticks, the savory aroma teasing his empty stomach. Just as he was about to take a bite, his phone buzzed on the table.
Ding!
A bank notification appeared on his screen.
[Bank Alert]
Your account **** **** **** 3827 has received a deposit.
Amount: ¥47
Date: 14/09/2025
Time: 12:46 PM
Transaction ID: 8F3KX2L9Q4
Balance: ¥233.90
Lin Feng's eyes flickered as he glanced at the number. It was exactly double the amount he had just paid at the cashier, down to the last decimal.
He chuckled under his breath.
Guess I do have some little luck with me.
Zhang Wei, already chewing on a steamed bun, looked up. "What are you grinning at?"
"Nothing," Lin Feng said casually, locking his phone and finally taking his bite. The crispy chicken skin cracked under his teeth, but the satisfaction came less from the flavor and more from the line of numbers quietly sitting in his bank account.
While others only lost money by eating, Lin Feng had just earned his meal for free.
Lin Feng chewed slowly, savoring the crisp chicken skin as he leaned back in his chair. The cafeteria was noisy as ever—students laughing, trays clattering, and Zhang Wei ranting about the unfairness of campus food prices—but Lin Feng's mind was elsewhere.
Scumbag System, huh… What a ridiculous name.
He stirred the rice on his plate absentmindedly, his thoughts lingering on the strange notification earlier. So, you're the reason behind that deposit?
No answer came. The system didn't speak and didn't explain itself. It just existed—silent, cold, mechanical.
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. Fine, then. If you won't talk, how about this—tell me about the skill you just gave me.
At once, a flat, monotone voice rang directly in his mind.
[Skill: Rebate]
Effect: Refunds money spent.
Minimum: 200% (double the amount).
Additional Chance: Randomly up to ×3, ×5, or higher depending on the luck factor.
Trigger: Activates automatically after each monetary transaction.
Limitations: Only applies to money personally spent by the host. Transactions such as gifts, loans, or debts are excluded.
The voice cut off instantly, leaving nothing but the hum of the cafeteria around him.
Lin Feng tapped his chopsticks lightly against his bowl, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"So it's luck-based, is it?" he muttered under his breath, though Zhang Wei, sitting across from him, only heard him and frowned.
"What luck-based?"
"Nothing." Lin Feng shook his head, taking another bite of rice.
Inside, however, his heart was beating faster. In his past life, he had struggled endlessly with money, clawing desperately just to survive. But now…
This time, even spending becomes profit.
As Lin Feng ate, his expression stayed calm, but his mind was racing.
The [Rebate] skill sounded heaven-defying on the surface, but there was a catch—his wallet.
Right now, with only a few hundred yuan in his account, the system's effect was laughable. A free meal here, some refunded pocket change there… it wasn't enough.
If he wanted to truly test the system's limits, he needed to spend bigger. And to spend bigger, he needed capital.
So… I'll just borrow it.
By the time he and Zhang Wei finished their meal and walked out of the cafeteria, Lin Feng had already made up his mind.
"Heading to your shift?" Zhang Wei asked, stretching his arms.
"Not today," Lin Feng replied casually, flashing a grin. "Got something else to do."
Before Zhang Wei could question him, Lin Feng waved and turned in the opposite direction. His steps quickened as he made his way across campus, heading straight for the small branch of the college-affiliated bank.
If there was anywhere he could get a quick loan, it was here. College students were always short on money, and these banks were more than happy to bait them with easy credit and "student-friendly" loan offers.
On the way, Lin Feng pulled out his phone, scrolling through various loan applications. Each screen glowed with promises—"Instant Approval!", "Quick Transfer!", "No collateral needed!"
He smirked. Perfect. Whether it's banks or apps, as long as they hand me money, they're basically paying me to take it.
His fingers danced across the screen as he filled out forms, uploaded his ID, and set loan limits as high as he could push them.
With my first life's experience, I know exactly which of these are safe, which are scams, and which will give the fastest payout.
By the time he reached the bank doors, his eyes were already gleaming with a dangerous light.
This was no longer about surviving on scraps.
This was about multiplying everything he touched.