Lin Feng walked down the street, the hundred-yuan bill still in his hand.
It had been a while now, but nothing had happened.
Actually, he had taken the money instead of refusing entirely because he was curious - would this count as "earned" income? Would it add to his Total System Balance?
He glanced at the bill again, then sighed.
It seemed it didn't count.
It makes sense, he thought. Even the ¥1000 his mother had sent him hadn't increased the system balance. Received money didn't work.
So it must mean he had to actually work - provide something, a product or service, and receive payment or profit in return.
He needed to test this theory soon.
But how?
He pondered the question as he walked, his reflection catching in one of the shop windows he passed.
He stopped.
Is that... me?
He stared at his reflection. The clothes he wore were faded and worn. The shirt was slightly too big, the pants a little too short. Everything about his appearance screamed "broke college student."
No wonder even the teller had trouble believing he was the owner of that special account.
He smiled bitterly.
If he wanted to start earning money - networking, making connections, presenting himself as someone worth doing business with - he needed to look the part first.
He needed to upgrade his wardrobe.
…
Lin Feng walked into a clothing store nearby.
A saleswoman noticed him immediately and approached with a warm smile.
"Welcome! Looking for anything in particular today?"
"Just some basics," he said. "Something decent but affordable."
She nodded and began guiding him through the racks, pulling out options and holding them up for his approval.
He tried on a few things, checked the prices, and made his selections carefully.
A while later, he walked out of the store dressed in his new clothes.
The difference was immediate. He looked like an entirely different person compared to before.
He had picked up a pair of cheap but decent-looking sneakers for ¥100. Two plain t-shirts that fit well - ¥40 each. And two pairs of pants that looked presentable without breaking the bank - ¥60 each.
In total, he had spent ¥300. The hundred-yuan bill from the manager and an extra ¥200 from his own pocket.
It wasn't much, but at least he looked somewhat presentable now.
I should slowly expand my wardrobe over time, he thought as he continued walking.
…
As he strolled down the street, a storefront caught his eye.
A phone shop.
He looked down at the flip phone in his pocket - the same one he'd been using since... well, forever.
Should I buy a smartphone?
He considered it carefully.
Surviving college with just a flip phone would be a struggle. He wouldn't be able to coordinate with others on platforms like WeChat. He'd be left out of group chats, class announcements, social events.
In his previous life, he hadn't minded. He'd kept his head down, focused on his studies, and ignored everything else.
But now?
If he really wanted to get where he wanted to go, he needed to network. Make connections. Build relationships.
He couldn't do that with a flip phone.
He steeled himself and walked toward the store.
…
As he approached the entrance, a figure emerged from inside.
A young woman, probably around his age, dressed in the store's uniform. She had long black hair tied back in a ponytail, delicate features, and bright eyes that sparkled with enthusiasm.
"Good morning!" she said with a smile. "Are you interested in purchasing a phone today?"
Lin Feng felt his heart rate quicken.
He placed a hand on his chest, confused.
What's happening?
And then he recognized her.
Su Yue.
He had liked her back then. Back in his previous life. She had been in the same major as him, and he had admired her from afar for years - too afraid to ever speak to her.
He sighed internally.
Those feelings... I gave up on them a long time ago.
It seemed his teenage body was just reacting on instinct, surprised by the sudden encounter.
He lowered his hand and let his heartbeat settle.
Then he smiled at her.
"Hello, classmate Su"
She blinked, tilting her head slightly. "You know me?"
Lin Feng felt a flash of panic.
That's right - we shouldn't know each other yet.
But he recovered quickly.
"We were in the same group during military training," he said smoothly. "I'm Lin Feng."
"Oh!" Her eyes widened slightly, and she extended her hand. "I'm Su Yue. Nice to meet you properly."
He shook her hand.
He could tell she didn't actually recognize him. And why would she? It wasn't necessarily because he had been invisible - more that social circles among freshmen hadn't really formed yet. Military training left no room for that. Sure, friendships were developing within dorm rooms, but across the entire class? Not yet. That would only begin once official lessons started.
Su Yue slipped back into her professional demeanor.
"So, are you looking for a new phone?" she asked.
"Just browsing," Lin Feng said. "I'd love to see what you have."
"Perfect! Follow me."
She led him inside and began her pitch.
"This is our flagship model," she said, gesturing to a sleek device under glass. "The Wawei Mate 2X 5G. Released earlier this year. Top-of-the-line specs, incredible camera, blazing fast connectivity." She smiled. "It's going for ¥6000."
Lin Feng nodded politely.
She was good at this.
"I'm looking for something a bit more... budget-friendly," he said.
She didn't miss a beat.
"Of course! Let me show you our mid-range option." She moved to another display. "The Pollo Run4 Pro. Excellent performance, great battery life, and a fantastic screen. Normally ¥3799, but..." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "For you, I can do ¥3700."
Lin Feng smiled appreciatively.
"That's a good offer," he admitted. "But still a bit much for me right now."
Although he was gaining money every day through the system, it still took time to accumulate. ¥3700 was almost ten days' worth of passive income.
"Do you have anything even cheaper?"
Su Yue maintained her smile without faltering.
"Absolutely." She guided him to a third display. "The Pollo Run4 SE. Same brand as the Pro, and honestly? It doesn't lose much in comparison. It's currently our most budget-friendly smartphone - great value for the price." She tapped the screen beside it. "Normally ¥2499, but for a fellow classmate, I'll let it go for ¥2400."
She looked at him expectantly.
"At this price point, it's the best yuan-to-performance ratio you'll find."
Lin Feng considered for a moment.
It was still a significant chunk of his savings. But he needed this.
"Alright," he said. "I'll take it."
"Excellent choice!" Su Yue beamed. "Let me set it up for you."
She disappeared into the back and returned about a minute later with a box. She handed him the phone, already powered on and ready to go.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Lin Feng turned it over in his hands, testing the weight, swiping through the interface.
"It's nice," he said honestly.
"Great!" She clasped her hands together. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"No, this is perfect." He looked at her and smiled. "Thank you."
For a moment, Su Yue's professional composure flickered. A faint blush crept across her cheeks.
"Um," she said, suddenly looking a bit nervous. "Since we'll most likely be classmates... is it okay if we add each other on WeChat?"
Lin Feng was stunned for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Sure."
…
A while later, Lin Feng stood outside the building.
He pulled up his system.
[Personal Balance: ¥2,475.00]
He winced.
He was almost completely broke.
I need to watch how I spend my money.
He looked around at the city stretching out before him - shops and restaurants and entertainment venues in every direction, each one designed to separate him from his 'hard-earned' cash.
The city was dangerous.
One glance in any direction and you were instantly hooked, tempted to spend money on something you didn't need.
He quickly turned and hurried back toward the dormitory.
Before something else caught his eye.