Chapter 1

The rental house was dead quiet until a cold voice sliced through the air.

"Chu Fan, let's break up."

The words hit like a slap—beautiful in tone, brutal in meaning. Chu Fan's head buzzed as he stared at the woman in front of him. Lin Xiaobei, his girlfriend, the one he knew inside and out, now looked at him like he was a stranger. Her stunning face—those fluttering brows, bright eyes, rosy lips—was ice-cold, no trace of a joke in her gaze.

He fumbled for words, his chest tightening. "Lin Xiaobei, stop messing around, okay?"

But her expression didn't crack. "I'm serious, Chu Fan. Zhao Tianhao, the boss of Shengyi Film and TV, wants to sign me. He'll make me a star. One catch: no boyfriends."

Her beauty hit him harder now—those delicate features, that perfect nose, lips so soft he'd dreamed about them. Her white T-shirt strained against her curves, and her miniskirt showed off legs that could stop traffic. (Picture idea: Lin Xiaobei standing confidently, light catching her figure, a mix of allure and cold determination—would you like me to generate this image?) But her words? They gutted him.

"So you're dumping me for fame?" he asked, clinging to a shred of hope.

She nodded, unflinching. "Being a star's my dream since film school. You get it."

His voice shook. "No background, no connections—why's Zhao Tianhao picking you? Does he want you to sleep with him?"

Her eyes flickered, just for a second, then went flat. "If he makes me famous, it's worth it. You're just a broke painter, Chu Fan. You've got nothing to offer me."

"Rubbish painter." The phrase stabbed deep. Painting was his passion since he was a kid, even if he sucked at it. Hearing it from her, the girl he loved, broke something in him. He studied her one last time—sculpted cheeks, glowing skin, that body. She could be a star. Maybe he'd never been good enough.

A bitter smirk tugged at his lips. He opened his mouth to speak when—bam—his vision blurred. A glowing panel popped up in front of him.

[DING!]

[GODLY DATING SYSTEM ACTIVATED!]

[DATE GIRLS, RAISE THEIR FAVORABILITY. AT 50 POINTS, CLAIM A TALENT FROM THEM.]

[USE TALENT POINTS TO LEVEL UP SKILLS.]

Chu Fan's jaw dropped. A dating system? Cash rewards? Stealing talents at 50 points? This was insane.

Lin Xiaobei waved a hand in his face, frowning. "Hey, stop spacing out. You make 4,000 yuan a month and have a paralyzed dad to drag you down. I'm out of your league. Sign this confidentiality deal—300,000 yuan to keep quiet about us." She slid a paper across the table, her tone sharp.

[DING!]

[TARGET: LIN XIAOBEI]

[LOOKS: 92/100]

[STATS: 89C-57-89, HEIGHT: 167 CM]

[FAVORABILITY: 49]

[PURITY: 100%—UNTOUCHED]

[TALENTS: PAINTING (PURPLE), SINGING (PURPLE), ACTING (BLUE)]

Forty-nine points. Two years of chasing her, and he was that close. One more push, and he could snag a talent—like her purple-rarity painting skill, the dream he'd never dared hope for.

"If you agree to one thing, I'll sign," he said, voice steady despite his racing heart.

Her brows shot up. "You'll sign? What's the catch?"

She'd expected him to beg, not bargain. It threw her off.

[DING!]

[LIN XIAOBEI FAVORABILITY +1! NOW: 50]

[CHOOSE A TALENT: PAINTING (PURPLE), SINGING (PURPLE), ACTING (BLUE)]

He picked painting without a blink.

[DING! TALENT ACQUIRED: PAINTING (PURPLE)]

[FIRST TALENT BONUS: 10 MILLION YUAN + LEVEL 1 MONOPOLY ACQUISITION CARD]

[UNLOCKED SKILL: FREE FIGHTING, LEVEL 1]

Chu Fan's mind reeled. Ten million yuan. A takeover card. Painting skills he'd kill for. This system was a goldmine.

Lin Xiaobei leaned in, masking her relief. "Alright, what do you want?"

He met her eyes, cold as hers now. "Sleep with me. One time before we're done."

Her jaw dropped, those gorgeous eyes wide. "You're trading my first time for a signature?"

Two years together, and he'd never gotten that far. Now, with the system humming in his head and her talents in his pocket, he wasn't just the "rubbish painter" anymore. He was playing a whole new game.