September's sunlight splashed onto Jiangcheng University's asphalt road as if it didn't cost money, roasting the air until it slightly distorted.
Lin Feng carried a heavy guitar bag on his back, a layer of fine sweat beads seeping out on his forehead. He was a sophomore student, his appearance belonging to the type that wouldn't immediately shine if thrown into a crowd, but if looked at carefully for two glances would feel quite distinct—provided you were willing to linger for more than two seconds on his face that perennially lacked expression.
Today was a big day.
The band organized by his bro Ren Yichen lacked a rhythm guitarist. After about ten minutes of soft grinding and hard soaking[1], Lin Feng agreed to go make up the number. Saying it was to make up the number, actually Lin Feng's heart still had a bit of wild hope. Who doesn't yet have a dream of sweeping strings under the spotlight, attracting the young girls off-stage to scream?
Just as he passed that fountain pool that looked like it was in perennial disrepair, a light blue semi-transparent interface suddenly popped out before his eyes.
[Top-tier Music Superstar System, binding...]
[Binding successful.]
Lin Feng stopped his footsteps.
The surrounding students were still hurriedly rushing on their way; no one noticed this guitar-carrying boy staring at the void in a daze.
If it were an ordinary person, at this time they would probably be panic-stricken, or think they had heatstroke and produced hallucinations. But Lin Feng did not. As a senior zhainan [2]who has read countless books and is deeply familiar with internet literature clichés, his heart did not even have a thread of waves, only a type of "finally it's my turn" dust-settled feeling.
"Top-tier Music Superstar?" Lin Feng silently recited once in his heart. "Sounds not bad, hope it's not that kind of pitfall that makes people go to the street corner to sell singing in exchange for steamed buns."
He skillfully used his mind to click open the interface.
There was no tedious newbie guide, only a simple and crude popup window:
[Congratulations Host for obtaining Newbie Grand Gift Pack: Lucky Wheel Draw Times x10.]
"Ten consecutive draws?" The corners of Lin Feng's mouth rarely pulled upward by about five degrees. "Quite generous."
As a soon-to-be-rhythm guitarist with a quasi-clear career plan, he looked forward to being able to draw out something practical. For example "Absolute Pitch," or "God-level Fingering," and if nothing else, a Legendary-level Fender guitar would also do.
[Do you want to start the lottery immediately?]
"Yes."
The wheel began to rotate at high speed, multicolored rays of light flashing on the retina, creating an illusion of being about to walk onto the peak of life.
First shot.
[Thank you for your patronage.]
Lin Feng was expressionless. Normal, just padding the blade[3].
Second shot.
[Thank you for your patronage.]
Lin Feng adjusted the guitar bag's shoulder strap a bit. I have studied probability, it is understandable.
Third shot.
[Thank you for your patronage.]
...
Until the ninth shot.
[Thank you for your patronage.]
Lin Feng looked at that string of neat and tidy consolation prizes, his heart had no fluctuations, he even wanted to laugh a little. This system not only had a tacky name, even the drop rate was authentic enough to be touching, perfectly replicating the essence of a certain Goose Factory.
"Last shot." Lin Feng read monotonously without emotion in his heart. "Give me a miracle."
The wheel slowly stopped. A flash of golden light!
It came out!
Lin Feng's spirit lifted, fixing his eyes to look.
[Congratulations on obtaining item: Eternal Padlock (Bronze Level) x1.]
Lin Feng: "..."
If you give me a pick, I can understand. If you give me a guitar string, I can also accept it.
What is the meaning of giving a lock?
Could it be that in this system's eyes, the first step to becoming a top-tier superstar is to first lock the mouth and not sing?
The system's mechanical sound with no ups and downs sounded at the right time:
[Item Description: Eternal Padlock. This item is an auxiliary profession promotion tool. Please Host go to "Interpersonal Relationships" page to view details.]
"Profession promotion needs a lock?" Although Lin Feng was full of suspicion, he still clicked open that tab named "Interpersonal Relationships."
The interface switched, a row of avatars and data listed out. It looked like a crude social software friend list.
[Ren Yichen (Friend): 37/100 (Friendly)]
This is that bro who pulled him into the group. 37 points, looks like this is the friendship of "although we are brothers, it is limited to borrowing money and not returning it is also fine."
[Lu Mingxuan (Acquaintance): 14/100 (Casual Acquaintance)]
Met a few times, a nodding acquaintance.
[Shen Linyin (Stranger): 7/100 (Passerby)]
Lin Feng raised his eyebrows. This is Ren Yichen's girlfriend, said to be a campus flower level goddess, and also the band's drummer. 7 points? Looks like in her eyes, he himself is roughly equivalent to "that guitar-carrying one brought by my boyfriend."
Scrolling down, parents' favorability was stable at 60 something, belonging to the level where kinship blood is thicker than water but occasionally they will also disdain him. Other classmates and friends mostly floated between 30 to 40.
[System Prompt: This padlock can be used to lock the Host and any target's current favorability/relationship value.]
[After locking, no matter what event occurs, this value will no longer decrease, only rise.]
[Function: In order to build a stable career development environment, avoid band dissolution, contract disputes, or scandal outbreaks caused by interpersonal relationship rupture.]
Lin Feng stood under the sun, staring at this line of explanation for a full three seconds.
This system... how to say it, although called "Music Superstar System," the angle of looking at problems is unusually tricky and realistic.
It didn't give him a god-level voice, but instead gave him a "prevent relationship collapse" insurance.
"That is to say," Lin Feng analyzed in his heart, "If I use this lock on Ren Yichen, even if I smash his guitar in front of the whole school's teachers and students, although he will be angry, the column for his brotherhood and loyalty toward me deep in his heart will still be dead stuck at 37 points?"
[System: Correct answer. A stable background is the cornerstone of the superstar road.]
Lin Feng nodded.
Logic flows smoothly, impeccable.
Compared to those systems that want to defy heaven and change fate at every turn, this system clearly understands workplace politics and the importance of maintaining stability better. Although this lock looks like it doesn't have the slightest bit of relationship with music, from a long-term perspective, this is indeed a god skill.
After all, how many bands disbanded because of "due to incompatible musical philosophies" (usually stealing girls or uneven distribution of money)?
"Alright, better than nothing."
Lin Feng's thought moved, throwing that [Eternal Padlock] flashing with weak copper light into the system backpack.
Although he hasn't thought well who to lock yet, having a lock in hand, the heart doesn't panic.
He lifted his wrist and looked at his watch.
"Bad, I'm going to be late."
That kind of sense of superiority of just having obtained a Gold Finger was instantly washed away by reality's sense of urgency. Lin Feng steadied the guitar behind his back, striding out steps to trot towards the direction of the rehearsal room.
As for that so-called "Superstar Road," better to first start from not being scolded by his bro.
[1] An idiom meaning persistent pestering, cajoling, or wearing someone down until they agree.
[2] "Otaku" or homebody.
[3] A gaming term (often from upgrading equipment). Refers to intentionally failing on low-value items to "consume" the bad luck before attempting the real goal, based on gambler's fallacy.