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Jian Chen leaned against the balcony railing of the dormitory, a cigarette lazily resting between his fingers. The night air was crisp, carrying with it the faint hum of the city beyond the campus walls. Below, the dimly lit streets stretched out like veins through the sprawling metropolis, neon signs flickering with a soft glow.

He exhaled slowly, watching the smoke dissipate into the night sky. The events of the evening replayed in his mind—Gu Xinyue's reactions, the system notifications, and most notably, the absurd yet exhilarating rewards he had just received.

A five-star hotel in Tianhai City.

It wasn't just some random building—it was prime real estate, located in one of the wealthiest districts. Owning it was no small feat, and yet, it had landed in his lap just because of a dinner conversation.

He chuckled to himself.

"This system is ridiculous."

He tapped open the system interface in his mind, navigating through the newly unlocked assets. A detailed blueprint of the Imperial Crest Hotel unfolded before him, along with financial reports, employee structures, and even current VIP bookings. Everything was seamlessly integrated, as if he had been the owner for years.

'This is insane…'

Even though he had accepted the reality of the system, the sheer scale of its rewards was beginning to sink in. It was no longer just about free meals or luxury spending money—this was generational wealth.

And then there was the language mastery.

Jian Chen closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the newfound knowledge within him. It was like an entire archive of linguistic patterns had been injected into his brain. He instinctively muttered a phrase in Italian, then in fluent German, and finally in French.

"Parfait."

The words rolled off his tongue effortlessly. If he hadn't known better, he'd think he had spent years studying them.

A slow smirk formed on his lips.

With this kind of advantage, the possibilities were endless.

Just then, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from an unknown number.

[Gu Xinyue: Are you still awake?]

Jian Chen raised an eyebrow before typing a simple reply.

[Jian Chen: Should I not be?]

A few moments passed before another message came through.

[Gu Xinyue: I just… wanted to thank you again for tonight. It was unexpected, but not unpleasant.]

He chuckled softly.

[Jian Chen: So you're saying you had a good time?]

[Gu Xinyue: …Something like that.]

He could almost picture her hesitating before sending that last message. It was subtle, but the system's notifications had already proven she was reacting to him more than she was letting on.

[Jian Chen: That's good. You should get some rest.]

She didn't reply immediately, but just as he was about to pocket his phone, another message popped up.

[Gu Xinyue: Goodnight, Jian Chen.]

He stared at the screen for a second before locking his phone and exhaling with amusement.

"Interesting."

As he turned to head back inside, he made a mental note.

Gu Xinyue was just the beginning.

The Next Morning.

Along with the sharp chime of an alarm echoed through the dimly lit dorm room. It was early—far earlier than most college students would consider reasonable.

Jian Chen's eyes snapped open, adjusting instantly to the darkness. He didn't linger in bed. Instead, with a single smooth motion, he swung his legs over the edge and stood up, his bare feet pressing against the cold wooden floor.

The silence of the morning was absolute. Outside the window, the sky was still a shade of deep blue, the city lights flickering like scattered stars in the distance. Most of the campus was still asleep, wrapped in the warmth of their beds. But Jian Chen was already awake—just as he always had been.

Old habits die hard.

Back in his past life, he had trained his body and mind through rigorous cultivation, forcing himself to adapt to harsh conditions. Here, in this world of luxury and excess, such discipline seemed almost unnecessary.

Almost.

Stretching his limbs, he felt the residual tension from yesterday's events melt away. His first night at Xinghai University had been nothing short of enlightening—a glimpse into the world of the elite, a preview of what awaited him if he played his cards right.

And play, he would.

With a slow exhale, he stepped into the small shared bathroom, twisting the knob of the sink. Cool water rushed forth, and he splashed it over his face, letting the sensation jolt him fully awake. He examined his reflection in the mirror. The same sharp features, the same deep, calculating gaze. But there was something different in his eyes now—a spark of confidence, of control. He wasn't just a struggling student anymore. He was someone with power.

A low beep vibrated in his pocket.

[System Notification: Daily Mission Completed—Waking Up Before 6 AM.]

[Reward: +1 Charisma Stat.]

Jian Chen smirked. "Well, that's a decent way to start the day."

Just then, the rustling of sheets caught his attention.

Luo Ming, the rich roommate, groaned as he turned over, pulling the high-thread-count covers over his head. Zhang Lei, on the other hand, snored lightly, his arm draped over a pile of instant noodle wrappers. The contrast between them was almost amusing.

Moving soundlessly, Jian Chen dressed himself in a fitted black shirt and dark jeans—simple, but well-worn to his comfort. He wasn't interested in brand names or logos. A man didn't need designer labels to command presence. It was the way he carried himself that mattered.

Just as he fastened his watch, a sleepy voice grumbled from across the room. "Damn, bro… why are you up so early?" Zhang Lei's face peeked from under his blanket, eyes barely open.

"Habit," Jian Chen replied casually, running a hand through his slightly messy hair. "First day of class. Thought I'd get a head start."

Luo Ming shifted as well, though he didn't bother opening his eyes. "Tch. Overachievers."

Jian Chen only chuckled, slipping on his sneakers before heading toward the door.

Stepping out into the crisp morning air, he found the university grounds nearly deserted. The sun had only just begun to rise, casting a soft golden hue over the prestigious campus. A few joggers passed by, their expensive running shoes barely making a sound against the pavement.

Xinghai University was a place where wealth dripped from every corner. Even at this early hour, luxury cars lined the parking lot, and the distant hum of a private helicopter could be heard from the executive dormitories.

Jian Chen took it all in with a quiet smirk.

"This place really is a different world."

His first stop was a small café near the main academic building. While the thought of an extravagant breakfast at the VIP lounge was tempting, he wasn't in the mood to deal with pretentious rich kids this early.

He pushed open the glass door, and a small chime rang above him. The café was modest compared to the rest of the campus—a warm, inviting space with dark wood interiors and the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

The barista, a petite girl with wavy brown hair, looked up and blinked at him.

"Oh… you're early."

Jian Chen raised an eyebrow. "You know me?"

She chuckled, wiping her hands on her apron. "You were kind of the talk of the dorms last night. Not every day does someone drop a million on dinner with Gu Xinyue."

Jian Chen smirked. News travelled fast.

She leaned on the counter, studying him with interest. "So? What'll it be?"

"Black coffee. No sugar."

She whistled. "Straight to the point, huh?"

He chuckled, sliding his card across the counter. The Black Diamond Card shimmered slightly under the light. The barista's gaze flickered down, and her lips parted slightly in surprise before she quickly masked it.

"Coming right up."

As he waited, a familiar voice called out behind him.

"You really do wake up early, huh?"

Jian Chen turned to see Gu Xinyue standing at the entrance, dressed in an oversized hoodie and leggings, her hair loosely tied up.

She looked… different. Less composed, less guarded. More like a normal college girl.

Jian Chen gave her an amused glance. "Didn't peg you for an early riser."

She shrugged, stepping forward. "Couldn't sleep. Figured I'd grab a coffee before class."

Their gazes met briefly, and for a moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them. The events of last night still lingered in the air, subtly shifting the dynamic between them.

Jian Chen took his coffee from the counter, lifting it slightly in a mock toast. "Well then. Here's to the first day of university."

Gu Xinyue smirked. "Let's see if you can keep up."