"System, seriously—please recommend something. I'm getting nowhere."
[Fine. I don't want you dying this soon anyway. I can provide the top three high-return investment options.]
"Oh, thank God."
[But…]
Li Tianyi's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare say it—"
[…It'll cost 1 year of your lifespan.]
He facepalmed so hard the impact echoed.
"…System. You're robbing me without a mask at this point."
[Correction: I am offering you premium financial advice.]
Li Tianyi choked on air. "A year?! For financial advice? Why don't you just take my kidneys while you're at it?"
[Not interested in black market deals. Only lifespan.]
"Seriously… have you really taken me for life farming?"
[It's just the payment Host. PAY. MENT. The one that you can AFFORD.]
He almost vomited blood. He felt rage but no hatred. "You're a bloodsucking capitalist AI, that's what you are."
[I prefer 'visionary financial strategist.']
"Fine! Take the damn year, you vampire in binary. But you better not give me stock tips like 'invest in crypto memes' or I'll make sure you're rebooted into a toaster."
[Ding! 1 year of lifespan deducted. Displaying top three investment suggestions…]
Next moment, a screen flashed before his eyes, revealing three stock recommendations:
1. Qinxue Constructions – A subsidiary of a massive multinational conglomerate, currently declining.
2. Fan National Technologies – A robust but slow-growing energy titan, slowly rising.
3. Rongheng Real Estate – One of the most controversial but resource-heavy real estate giants, toppling up-down.
"Wait… why is Qinxue dropping?" Tianyi raised an eyebrow, suspicious. "You're not tricking me, right?"
[It will cost 6 months of your lifespan. Want to know the reason now?]
[It will cost 6 months of your lifespan. Want to know the reason of Qinxue falling now?]
He snorted. "No, thank you very much." The sarcasm dripped off his voice like cheap soy sauce.
[Here's the short version: Qinxue is bleeding because of a perfect storm—the rival company sabotaged, failed urban megaprojects, and a public image crisis after a scandal. Basically the rival company is putting all the nails to the coffin. To remove it from its path.]
"Huh? You told me for free?" He was slightly shocked.
He thought his System only know how to farm his lifespan. He didn't think the System will help him this soon.
He'd gotten so used to the System behaving like a sarcastic tax collector with a caffeine addiction, he almost forgot it could be… supportive.
[Free? Do you think your 1 year of lifespan is worth only this much? You really have low esteem for yourself. Better increase it soon.]
"I-I—" Tianyi stammered. Praise from the System was so rare it felt like getting a compliment from a tax auditor.
Still, his chest puffed up a bit. Just a bit.
[Aw~ my Host is feely shy. No need to be shy.]
"I am not!" His cheeks turned slightly red.
[Anyway let's focus. If you invest in all three, returns will be maximized. But the biggest gain lies in Qinxue. With proper stimulus, it will rise sharply. It has the greatest rebound potential which is why it's the first recommendation.]
"So I'm gonna save a dying giant and make it thank me later, huh?" His grin returned, recovering. "I like it."
[A temporary god complex is normal. Please do not try to walk on water.]
"Too late. I'm already halfway to writing my billionaire autobiography."
[Working title: 'How to Lose Lifespan and Gain Stress.']
He rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. Just let me enjoy the moment!"
[Very well. While you're at it—remember: you must invest anonymously. Billionaires never act under their real name. Using your real name may expose your identity.]
[Please choose an alias. System will handle it.]
"You are right. I hadn't thought about that. Thank God that you're here to help me. So, what do I call myself then?"
[Anything is fine. But better be one upholding my reputation.]
He leaned back dramatically, one hand stroking an imaginary beard, the other tapping the air like he was naming his firstborn, or an empire.
"Hmm… I am investigating billions, so, it has to be powerful. Unforgettable. Maybe something that sounds like I'm allergic to poverty."
He thought for a moment, eyes gleaming with immature glory. A smirk spread across across his face.
He snapped his fingers. "Write this down: Richest in the World."
[Host, I've to say—it's classy and befitting for you.]
"Right?" He felt proud, head held high like a noble whose family crest was just a golden dollar sign.
[Though reality always differs from the imagination.]
His ego deflated like a sad balloon at a rejected birthday party.
[Alias confirmed: 'Richest in the World.' Uploading identity to all necessary System nodes, spoofing credentials, laundering fingerprints, cleaning IP traces…]
"Whoa, whoa, what did you just say?"
[Just kidding. Only three of those were real.]
He blinked. "You're gonna get me arrested one day."
[Incorrect. You'll get yourself arrested. I'll just be the narrator.]
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Whatever. Let's just move on. I've chosen my alias, I've emotionally adopted Qinxue like it's my wayward stock-child, and I've already been robbed of a year of my life."
[Technically, you gave it willingly. Like a donation to the Cult of Capitalism.]
"…That's dark even for you."
[Darkness is free. Enlightenment costs lifespan.]
"Great. Buddha 2.0 has logged in," Tianyi muttered.
He sighed, checked-up the list of stocks again, and cracked his knuckles.
"Alright. Let's drop some metaphysical dollars. It's time to play with the big boys."
[Reminder: If even $1 remains uninvested you will lose 1 years of your life. Including possibly bladder control.]
"…You really know how to kill the mood," he paused.
[That's why I am here. Mood assassination: S-tier.]
He ignored the System's sass, turning his focus to the phone screen. His fingers flew over the app as he hunted down the stocks.
He found them. One by one, he added Qinxue, Fan National, and Rongheng into his personal list like assembling his personal financial Avengers.
He stared at the screen for a moment. With a deep breath and irrational confidence, he made his decision.
"I'm putting $5 billion into Qinxue. $3 billion into Fan National. And $2 billion into Rongheng."
[Bold. Reckless. Mildly stupid. I approve.]
With newfound confidence, he nodded. "Now, let's shake the market."
As he hit the payment button, the app flickered and redirected him to the System panel.
No turning back now.
Without hesitation, he clicked 'Yes'.
[Confirmed. Initiating fund injection. Allocating: 5 billion to Qinxue Constructions, 3 billion to Fan National Technologies, 2 billion to Rongheng Real Estate.]
[Processing…]
[Investment complete. Remaining capital: $0. All funds invested successfully. No lifespan penalty.]
---
And just like that, with system-aided stealth accounts, offshore shell companies, and System's illegal-in-38-countries-level expertise, Li Tianyi pumped 5 billion into Qinxue, 3 billion into Fan National, and 2 billion into Rongheng.
---
And like that—the entire stock market of Lingyun shuddered. Within minutes, the market convulsed like it had been hit by a financial earthquake.
Qinxue Holdings, which had been free-falling like a noodle in cold soup, suddenly spiked like it had chugged six cans of spiritual energy drinks. Hard. Numbers shot up like fireworks, and traders across the city collectively spat their coffee.
Within thirty minutes. Every finance group chat exploded.
#RichestInTheWorld #GhostInvestor #QinxueMiracle
Social media was on fire. Reddit, Weibo, StockTalk—it was everywhere. Every channel was flooded with wild speculations.
People were going nuts online. Conspiracy theories ranged from a hidden royal heir to an AI gaining sentience and investing money to impress a stock-market goddess. Memes were made. Even his classmate posted a TikTok theorizing it was Elon Musk in disguise.
His phone buzzed nonstop like an electric toothbrush possessed by demons. Notifications poured in.
Tianyi blinked, staring at the barrage of unlimited notifications.
Even News sites weren't behind. They fired up headlines faster than gossip at a family reunion.
BREAKING NEWS:
"MYSTERIOUS BILLIONAIRE INVESTS IN QINXUE – STOCK SOARS!"
"QINXUE HOLDINGS SKYROCKETS AFTER BILLIONAIRE BACKING!"
"WHO IS 'RICHEST IN THE WORLD'?!"
"FINANCIAL GOD DESCENDS INTO MARKET"
Tianyi, sitting on his bed in his small Lingyun apartment, snorted with laughter. "Damn, I'm famous. And no one knows it's me!"
Elsewhere, Inside Qinxue Holdings Headquarters – Shanghai
The sharp click of high heels echoed through the long, marble-lined corridor.
BAM!
The frosted double doors flew open as a sharply dressed secretary stormed into the sleek executive office, her breath ragged as if she'd just sprinted through the halls.
The office was sleek and modern. One wall was all glass, showing a wide view of the city below. Sunlight poured in, making the space feel bright and open, while the glass walls and frosted doors still kept things private.
"Ma'am!"
Inside, behind a massive blackwood desk, sat a tall, slender, stunning woman. Her long, black, silky hair cascaded down to her waist. Her skin was pale, her lips glossed in crimson and pressed into a tight line. A stylish pair of vintage round glasses perched perfectly on her nose as she skimmed a document, pen gliding across the page with practiced ease. Her long legs were crossed with effortless grace, her posture upright, exuding cool authority.
She radiated the aura of an ice queen—powerful, precise, and absolutely in control. Her entire presence practically screamed don't mess with me.
"What is it, Lin?" she asked coolly, not looking up.
"Ma'am!" The secretary, Lin gasped for breaths. "W-We just received an investment… over 5 billion!"
"It's just 5 billion. What's there to get so worked up about?"
"Ma'am it's not the main HQ, but one of the subsidiary. The Qinxue Constructions."
The secretary clarified, excitedly. She hurried to the woman holding the tablet.
"Our falling shares suddenly spiked up. It started an upward chain reaction. We're trending now."
The woman's hand froze mid-signature. She slowly looked up, sharp eyes narrowing.
"5 billion? Are you sure?"
"Yes! Someone just injected 5 billion into us."
"…From who?"
"We don't know who. It was an anonymous investment. All we got is the alias the investor used… and…"
"And?"
"The alias that person used is a bit… if I had to say… it's kind of childish."
"Childish?" Her interest was piqued.
"Yes, ma'am. The alias we got. It's... Richest in the World."
A moment of stunned silence spread throughout the room. The woman, still seated, stayed calm.
"If I recall correctly, that company is in Lingyun. Its value started to fall after some issue with the rival company last month, right?"
"Yes, ma'am. Although it didn't impact HQ. If the situation continued within a year it would've been shut. And this sudden investment revived its value. It also affected the HQ. Our current value increased by 5%, and it's only been about half an hour after the investment."
Lin was feeling excited.
The woman stared at the tablet, silent. Then leaned back slowly in her chair, eyes narrowing.
"Could this be a strategic move by the rival company? A targeted strike to undermine us?"
"That… we don't know." Lin's face filled with worry.
Another beat of silence passed. The woman's mind churned, countless scenarios playing out. Was it a rival? A buyout? A trap?
The woman stood up slowly, walking to the floor-length window. She stared out over the city, lips slightly pursed.
"Investigate it," she said calmly. "I want every detail. Who this person is and what they're after."
As Lin bowed and left, the woman remained at the window, deep in thought. Her gaze lingered at the scenery.
"…Richest in the World, huh? Who exactly are you?"
----
Back in Lingyun… in Li Tianyi's tiny rented apartment…
Li Tianyi lay on his bed, grinning ear to ear as he scrolled through the digital wildfire he started. He was giggling. Like, full-on giggling like a maniacal villain in a comic.
His phone buzzed nonstop. Not with official news—but with chaotic, unfiltered social media posts:
@CampusTeaSister:
"WHO TF IS THIS RICH DUDE??? 5 BILLION INTO Qinxue Constructions??? Hello??? Where's he hiding??? Can I apply to be his girlfriend???"
@Stocks4Dummies:
"Bro just shook the market like a snow globe and dipped. Legend behavior."
@ThirstyInLingyun:
"Call him Unknown Rich Daddy all you want, I call him husband."
@FakeFinanceGuru:
"This the same guy I saw in the cafeteria eating expired instant noodles???"
Tianyi laughed so hard he nearly choked on air.
"I caused a market quake… me! Li Tianyi, a literal nobody, now the internet's secret sugar daddy?! I LOVE this!"
He threw his head back, grinning like a devil.
"'Unknown Rich Daddy'? They think I'm some shadow investor sent by the heavens? Hell yeah."
He refreshed the feed again.
@ConspiracyQueen:
"I bet it's that guy from Finance Dept… you know, the weird quiet hot one? He gives off 'secret tycoon' vibes."
His eyes widened.
"Wait. That's me. I am the weird quiet hot one."
He cackled. "Fame… without the pain. This is the best timeline."
His phone buzzed again. A notification from his banking app popped up.
[New Message: $10,000 deposited successfully in USER account.]
Followed by System's.
[Ding! The task reward has been successfully sent to host's bank account.]
He checked. The balance was real.
"Hot damn! I just made money by giving up a year worth of life while choosing an option?!"
He jumped up. "Bless the system! Let's go celebrate with some drinks!"
He looked like he'd just won Miss Universe.