The evening came quickly.
Jiang Hai had already contacted Lin Yanyan, and by the time he arrived at the meeting spot, he found her surrounded by a few classmates. Her expression was slightly bothered, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.
"Yanyan, let's go," Jiang Hai called out, stepping straight into the group with a calm but direct tone.
The moment she heard his voice, Yanyan's face lit up with a smile. Without hesitation, she reached out and held his hand a bit more intimately than expected, causing a stir among the gathered students.
All eyes turned to Jiang Hai, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Brother Jiang looks quite good today," Lin Yanyan whispered, her keen eyes immediately noticing the change in his appearance. It was true—Jiang Hai looked much sharper with his new haircut and clothes.
"You look beautiful too," Jiang Hai responded, his gaze taking in her fresh look. Though she was always attractive, her current outfit and styling gave her a refreshing charm that made it hard not to stare.
"Excuse us. Hope you all don't mind giving us a little space," Jiang Hai added calmly, shielding Yanyan slightly as he gently guided her out of the circle.
His calm demeanor and protective posture made the guys back off without a word, though some gritted their teeth and cursed him under their breath. A few even pulled out their phones to snap photos and post them online.
"They can be rather hard to deal with…" Yanyan muttered, walking closely beside him, her tone a little sulky as she glanced back at the crowd.
After passing through the group of guys, Jiang Hai and Lin Yanyan made their way to a Japanese restaurant—one Jiang had already booked a private room in. The place was rather expensive, but that was exactly what Jiang wanted tonight.
The more he spent, the greater the refund he'd earn later. He had already checked off several of the restaurant's most popular dishes in advance—ones he had heard rave reviews about.
The restaurant's traditional Japanese-style architecture immediately appealed to Yanyan. She smiled at the serene, warm atmosphere, clearly impressed.
It was exactly the kind of place she had wanted to visit for a while—something Jiang Hai had learned from a system feature he hadn't noticed the night before in his excitement.
The moment Yanyan had accepted his gift, she was automatically added to the "Harem List"—a tab within the system he'd finally taken a good look at earlier that morning after getting his haircut.
Inside, he found profiles of the girls, complete with their preferences, dislikes, and a list of recommended gifts or places to increase favorability. That's where he saw this exact restaurant listed as one of her favorites.
"You like this place?" Jiang Hai asked once they were seated in their private tatami room, watching the bright smile spread across her face.
"Yes! It's my first time coming to a restaurant like this," she said, her eyes meeting his with a rare glint of openness. "It must be really expensive to book a private room here."
"Yep, it is… but only for other people," Jiang replied with a smile. "I heard the food here is great, so let's enjoy it tonight together."
He didn't bother pretending or downplaying anything. Being upfront was his way of reassuring her—not to worry about the cost and just enjoy the evening. Lin Yanyan didn't argue. Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly, her expression shifting as if she were mulling something over.
"Thank you," she said softly. "But… I have a lot going on right now. So, for the time being, I don't think I can be in a relationship with anyone."
Jiang Hai only smiled, not at all surprised.
"That's okay," he said gently. "Just go out with me from time to time. I don't mind being used. If you ever feel like hanging out or need someone, think of me."
This was actually the ideal outcome for him. Casual dating meant he could still spend money on her and earn the system's 10% refund without being tied down—leaving room to approach other girls as well.
"You're sure about this…?" Yanyan asked, eyes wide, a strange flicker of warmth and uncertainty in them. "It's like I'm just using you."
"Yep. That's totally fine with me," Jiang Hai replied, his voice calm and sincere.
"Thank you..." With a silent whisper, Yanyan eats her dish.
Walking out of the restaurant, Jiang Hai paid the bill, including the private room reservation and the high-end wine they'd shared.
The total came to around 400,000 RMB—a staggering amount for one evening.
Though he kept his expression composed, Lin Yanyan's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the payment screen. With a knowing smile, she chose not to say anything.
"Let's go. I feel like doing a little shopping tonight. Won't you come with me?" she asked, tugging at his arm playfully.
Jiang Hai nodded and followed her into a nearby upscale mall. She led him straight to a men's fashion boutique, saying she wanted to style him personally. After browsing through several outfits, she made Jiang try on a few that caught her eye. When he finally stepped out in one of them, the transformation left even the store clerks speechless.
The girls working there stared at Jiang with wide eyes, clearly impressed by his new, polished look. Their gazes sparkled with surprise and admiration.
"You look so good in this," Yanyan said, clearly pleased. "Let me buy it for you."
At her words, Jiang smiled wryly, scratching his cheek. "Was that really necessary?" he asked, though he didn't push her away.
There was something strange about the feeling that settled over Jiang Hai. It was subtle, yet unfamiliar. After all, this was the first time someone had ever bought something for him—let alone clothes. Still slightly flustered, he scratched the back of his head and smiled.
"Well, um… thank you. This is the first time someone's ever given me a gift like this."
His awkward gratitude made Yanyan smile softly. Seeing him so genuinely touched made her feel like her small gesture had truly meant something. For once, her heart felt a little lighter.
'Wait… I like him?' she paused mid-thought, blinking as that sudden realization settled in. A quiet look took over her expression as she stared at him—this boy who had come out of nowhere, swept in to help her, acted boldly in front of others, and wasn't shy about treating her like someone important.
Even though their relationship had started off as a fake one just to chase away someone else, somewhere in between his casual kindness and sincere responses, something had shifted in her heart. And now, watching him light up from something so small, she finally understood.
"Ohh… that's why." Everything clicked.
Just as Yanyan was immersed in her thoughts, Jiang Hai was startled by a sudden string of system notifications flashing in front of his eyes:
[Lin Yanyan Favorability: +30]
[Total Favorability: 50]
[Host has reached first benchmark.]
[Rewarding Host with 20% ownership in Tianlan Hotel—Net Worth: ¥100 Billion]
[Rewarding Host with Pagani 240 Max Sport Car]
[Rewarding Host with Max-Level Driving & International Public Speaking Skills]
"What the hell…" Jiang Hai whispered under his breath, completely dumbfounded as his eyes went wide. His heart pounded—not just from the shock of the rewards but from the overwhelming reality that this system wasn't playing around.
At that moment, a wave of excitement surged through Jiang Hai. His heart raced, his thoughts spinning wildly as the weight of everything that just happened settled in. He felt the solid, metallic key resting in his pocket—a symbol of the absurd, luxurious reality he was stepping into. His eyes shifted to the girl beside him, and for a brief second, he felt a powerful urge to hug her slender frame and kiss her. After all, that one moment of kindness and connection had just transformed his entire world.
"I know a good bus line nearby," Lin Yanyan suddenly said with a practical smile. "It's fast and usually empty."
But Jiang Hai had other plans. He casually pointed toward a nearby parking lot. "I've got a car parked there. Let me drive you back to the dorm."
Yanyan blinked in slight surprise, but after the extravagant dinner and his overall vibe today, she didn't question it. "Oh, sure."
The two of them walked toward the parking area, side by side. As they approached, Jiang Hai noticed a small crowd had gathered around a particular section—right where his newly gifted car should be. A smug-looking boy sat on the hood of the very vehicle, talking loudly while a few others laughed and echoed his boasts.
"This baby right here is the latest Pagani model—top tier. I heard only a hundred of these were made, and you can't even buy one with just money. You need real power, real connections," the guy grinned as he thumped his hand on the sleek hood, soaking in the attention.
Jiang Hai nearly laughed. So this clown thinks it's his? He restrained a smirk as he came to a stop nearby. Lin Yanyan paused beside him, a bit confused.
"What's wrong?" she asked quietly. "Is your car not here?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but the moment she spoke, heads turned. A few guys in the group looked over, visibly stunned as they got a good look at Yanyan.
"Damn, Brother Han, she's gorgeous…" a pudgy guy muttered with a greasy grin, causing Yanyan to instinctively shift closer to Jiang Hai, subtly leaning against his back for comfort.
"Don't be scared, miss," the arrogant boy said with a half-hearted laugh. "My buddy just looks like that—he's harmless. But take a look at this beauty," he said, patting the car again. "Isn't it stunning?"
Jiang Hai stepped forward and spoke calmly. "Thanks for the commentary. But can you guys move? I need to take my girlfriend back to her dorm."
As he said it, he pulled the sleek key from his pocket and pressed the button.
Beep. Beep.
The car lights blinked. Everyone turned to watch in silence as the Pagani's doors unlocked. The smug expression on the arrogant boy's face froze, and his hand slid off the hood awkwardly as he stepped aside.
Jiang Hai opened the passenger door with a subtle, gentlemanly gesture. "After you," he said, looking at Yanyan.
Yanyan, still stunned, got into the car silently, her heart pounding. Jiang Hai circled around, slid into the driver's seat, and started the engine with practiced ease. The deep, thunderous purr of the engine echoed in the lot, drawing wide-eyed stares.
And with that, he pulled away—leaving behind a stunned, silent crowd, a cloud of dust, and a moment no one there would forget.