All Li Wei had planned for the day was a little shopping.
Nothing dramatic. No glowing screens, no strange system pop-ups, no bizarre "quests." Just him, a list of things to buy, and the hope of blending back into something resembling a normal life.
But fate—or perhaps EdenLink—had other ideas.
The mall was lively that afternoon, sunlight spilling through glass ceilings and scattering across polished floors. Music drifted faintly from hidden speakers, mingling with laughter and the soft murmur of crowds. Li Wei moved between displays, scanning racks of casual shirts, wondering when his wardrobe had become so hopelessly formal.
He paused in front of a boutique that glimmered with color and energy. A digital sign flashed above the entrance: "Su Mei's Style Studio—Stream Live Fashion!"
Inside, a girl waved energetically at a hovering camera drone.
"Hello everyone! Welcome back to the stream!" she chirped. Her voice was bright and melodic, effortlessly pulling attention. Her name tag read Su Mei, and she looked every bit the part—sharp eyes, flawless hair, and that natural confidence that made people stop and stare.
When Li Wei stepped in, her gaze flicked toward him, and her smile widened instantly. "Oh! Look what we have here. Hello there, handsome stranger!" she called, waving playfully. "Are you here for a job interview or just to charm us all?"
Her chat feed immediately exploded on the holo-display beside her:
💬 "Who's that guy? Damn, he's cute!"
💬 "Interview? No, no, he's here for Su Mei!"
💬 "Someone clip this—our girl's got competition!"
Li Wei blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the attention. Then he chuckled, slipping easily into his usual calm. "Well, hello there, beauty," he said, his tone teasing but polite.
The chat went wild again.
💬 "He called her beauty?? Oh my god—bold!"
💬 "Smooth talker alert 🚨"
Su Mei raised a brow, intrigued. "Oh? Confident, aren't we?" she replied, tilting her head slightly, the corner of her mouth curving.
"Not every day I meet someone who brightens the whole room," he said lightly. The words came smoother than he expected, surprising even himself. Maybe the system's "Charm +2" was doing its job.
Su Mei giggled, covering her mouth with a manicured hand. "Flattery and confidence? Dangerous combo," she said. "So what brings you here, Mr. Compliment?"
Li Wei gestured at his outfit—an overly formal shirt tucked neatly into pressed slacks. "Shopping for casual wear, apparently. My wardrobe says 'office drone,' but my new lifestyle disagrees."
The girl laughed softly. "Then you came to the right place. I specialize in rescuing lost souls in bad dress shirts."
💬 "LOL office drone 😂"
💬 "He's so chill, I love it!"
💬 "Su Mei better get his number before chat does!"
She held up a few outfits, then winked at the camera. "Chat, what do we think? Does he look more like a denim guy or a minimalist streetwear type?"
A flood of emojis and hearts filled the air. Li Wei couldn't help but chuckle. It felt surreal—like being an extra in someone else's show.
As Su Mei handed him a shirt to try, she leaned closer, whispering playfully, "You know, brother, a few of my viewers are asking for your number. Should I share it? Might get you a date tonight."
Her grin was mischievous, eyes glinting beneath the store lights.
Li Wei smirked, meeting her gaze. "Of course," he said easily. "But tell them to get it from you later. I'll be waiting for that message."
The chat exploded again.
💬 "HE SAID HE'LL WAIT?!? 😭🔥"
💬 "Bro's playing the long game."
💬 "Ship them NOW!"
Su Mei blinked, momentarily thrown off by his smoothness. Then she laughed, genuinely amused. "You're trouble," she said, shaking her head. "I like that."
Li Wei pulled a small business card from his pocket and twirled it between his fingers before flicking it toward her. "Just don't hand it to any guys," he added with mock seriousness. "I really don't swing that way."
Her laughter filled the boutique, bright and warm. The camera drone caught every second, and the comment feed flooded with hearts.
💬 "This man's a legend 💀."
💬 "Protect him at all costs."
💬 "Su Mei is BLUSHING, I repeat, BLUSHING!"
Taking the card, Su Mei gave a small, graceful bow. "Well, Brother Li, I'll see if fate—or my chat—decides to text you first."
He smiled, giving a casual wave as he turned toward the exit. "Then I'll look forward to it."
The automatic doors slid open, and the noise of the mall washed over him again. He took a deep breath, exhaling a faint laugh. It had all felt lighthearted and spontaneous—just playful banter between strangers.
But as his phone buzzed in his pocket, a familiar chill ran down his spine.
[Quest: Increase the favorability of host girl Su Mei by at least 5 points—Completed.]
Reward: 10,000 RMB + 200 Cp + 1 Random Reward.
[Quest: Flirt with twenty college girls within the allotted time—Completed.]
Reward: 2,000 RMB + 1 Ability Point.
Li Wei stared at the glowing text on his screen, his breath catching slightly. The familiar white interface shimmered faintly against the reflection of the mall lights, the words pulsing as though alive.
'Two quests… in one go?' he thought, a half-disbelieving smile tugging at his lips. 'All that from a casual chat?'
He let out a quiet laugh under his breath, shaking his head as the realization sank in. Whatever this "system" was, it didn't just observe—it rewarded even the most spontaneous of moments.
When he looked up, his gaze drifted back toward the boutique window. Through the glass, Su Mei was still laughing animatedly to her audience, her gestures lively, her voice warm and bright. The camera drones hovered around her like curious fireflies, capturing every movement.
For a fleeting second, their eyes met through the glass. She flashed him a playful smile before turning back to her stream.
Li Wei slipped his phone into his pocket, the faint vibration of the completed quests still echoing in his mind. "Guess shopping isn't so boring after all," he murmured with a crooked grin, stepping into the flow of the crowd as the sunlight spilled across the mall floor.
A soft chime echoed from his phone.
Li Wei glanced down, the glow of the screen reflecting in his eyes.
[Transaction Complete: 12,000 RMB transferred to your account.]
He blinked. This time, the payment wasn't in credits—it was RMB, the highest denomination of currency in this world. Here, a single yuan was equal to ten thousand credits. Most people in top-tier professions earned that much only after a full month of work. Yet, he had received it instantly—for little more than casual banter and a bit of charm.
"Unreal," he muttered, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
Still, he reminded himself he had come for something ordinary. Shopping.
Li Wei wandered through the boutique, choosing a few sets of casual wear—soft shirts, training pants, and a pair of comfortable sneakers. The digital price tags shimmered faintly under the light as the clerk scanned them at checkout. When the total appeared, it was barely a few RMB.
He raised an eyebrow. "That's all?"
The clerk smiled politely. "Yes, sir. Your payment mode qualifies for the premium-tier discount. Congratulations."
Premium-tier, he thought. The words carried a quiet authority, as if the system itself had nudged reality to make life easier for him.
He paid without hesitation. The credits deducted from his balance barely made a dent. In truth, he could have bought the entire store and still had more wealth left than he'd ever imagined possible.
As he folded the new clothes into a neat bag, his gaze drifted to his reflection in the polished wall. The man staring back no longer looked like the weary technician he once was. His shoulders were relaxed, his eyes steady, and there was an easy confidence in the way he moved.
The world had changed around him—and he was changing with it.
Stepping out into the corridor, Li Wei felt the afternoon air wash over him, carrying the faint scent of roasted coffee and perfume from passing shoppers. The mall buzzed with life, yet all he could hear was the soft pulse from his phone—EdenLink, still glowing faintly in the background.
He had money. He had power.
And all he had to do was play the game.
As long as that strange application stayed with him, life wouldn't just be comfortable.
It would be limitless.
Status
Name: Li Wei
Level: 1
Physique: 2 [Low]
Vigor: 1 [Low]
Charm: 2 [Low]
Spirit: 3 [Low]
Intellect: 2 [Low]
Ability Points: 7
Currency: 320 Cp
Item: Gacha Ticket.
[Shop: Locked] [Quest: Open]
Li Wei smiled faintly as he stepped out of the mall, the hum of the crowd fading behind him. The sunlight had begun to mellow, gilding the streets in soft gold. By the time he returned to his apartment, the bags of new clothes felt light in his hands—a pleasant kind of weight that spoke of comfort, not necessity.
He tossed them onto the couch, loosened his collar, and stretched lazily. Life had started to feel different. Easier. Controlled.
Leaning against the railing of his small balcony, he took a sip of chilled juice. The city below moved at its usual rhythm—traffic, chatter, the occasional street vendor shouting deals—but Li Wei's focus was elsewhere.
The familiar white glow appeared in his mind's eye as he summoned the interface. His eyes scanned the floating window, stopping on a single unfamiliar word.
Item: Gacha Ticket.
He blinked. "Right… that random reward from the Su Mei quest."
Curiosity stirred. With a simple mental command, he selected it.
A ripple of golden light danced before his eyes—like sunlight through glass. The screen shimmered, and a soft chime resonated in his ears, followed by a line of text that glowed brighter than the rest.
[Title: Book Eater]
[Detail: Wisdom is the core of man's charisma; gain ability points and random skills by reading books while this title is equipped.]
Li Wei stared at the notification for a long moment, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upward. "Book Eater…?"
It wasn't flashy. No dramatic combat skill, no supernatural ability. But it was smart—a quiet kind of power. The system rewarded him for learning, for feeding his mind.
He chuckled softly to himself. "Not bad at all."
In a world where EdenLink could turn life into a game, the ability to grow stronger through knowledge was priceless. Besides, he wasn't about to spend every day chasing quests that required charm or seduction. That road, while tempting, was a little too unpredictable.
This, however—this he could control.
He swirled the juice in his glass, watching the reflections of neon lights dance across its surface. His mind was already racing ahead—thinking of libraries, e-books, and old philosophy texts he'd never had time for. If every page could bring him closer to real improvement, then perhaps he could balance the system's strange design with his own path.
"Reading for rewards," he murmured with a grin. "That's one habit I can live with."
The last glow from the interface dimmed, fading back into his consciousness. The hum of the city returned, distant but comforting.