Chapter 2: A Ray of Hope

Lin Feng stared at the resplendent blue screen before him, his mind immobilized by shock. The dimly lit room, the receding echoes of Zhang Hao's laughter down the corridor, the gnawing stab of hunger in his stomach—none of these felt as solid as the suspended interface in front of him.

[Login Reward System Activated]

Congratulations! You've logged in for the first time. Collect your reward now?

[Yes] [No]

His fingers trembled a little. Was it some kind of hallucination? A trick of his overworked mind? His heart pounding, he hesitated, the weight of doubt pressing down on him.

He stretched out instinctively, but hesitated. Could it really be real? If so… what did it mean?

The system. Something he had read of in web novels. A metaphysical power that bestowed a chosen individual with power, wealth, or wisdom. But those were web novels. The real world was not so kind.

Nevertheless, the screen simply sat there, unwavering, waiting for his response.

Lin Feng swallowed. If it was true, then everything would be different. And if not. well, he had nothing to lose.

He took a deep breath and focused his mind on the gleaming [Yes] button.

[Congratulations! You have obtained your first daily login reward.]

Reward: ¥100

[Funds have been added to your account.]

Lin Feng's phone buzzed on his desk. His breath stilled. He picked it up with shaking hands and opened the screen, his heart pounding in his chest.

His banking app showed a bigger balance—exactly ¥100 more than before.

His grip on the gadget tightened as the emotions washed over him. It was real.

A hundred yuan. It wasn't a king's ransom, but to him, it was a lifeline. It was evidence the system worked.

He breathed slowly, trying to tamp down his wild thoughts. What did this mean? Would money come every day? Would each day's payment be greater? Was there an upper limit?

A maelstrom of questions ran through his head, but nothing was forthcoming. He would have to wait. The system had paid out this first reward—there would be more in due course.

For the first time in many months, a glimmer of hope sparkled in his heart.

The Next Morning

The gentle morning light streamed through the thin slits in his curtain as Lin Feng woke up. His stomach still grumbled with hunger, but today, there was a difference. He had options.

He stretched out and refreshed himself in a hurry, grabbing his backpack. He had class tomorrow morning, and then a part-time shift at the café close to campus. He still had to work—one hundred yuan would not change his life—but it provided him with time. He would not go hungry today.

Spending beyond the dorm, the frigid air seeped through his clothes. The campus remained empty save for the lone jogger or maintenance man. Lin Feng headed in the direction of the nearest convenience store, the cold cash in his wallet nearly surreal.

On the inside, he walked the aisles slowly, relishing the indulgence of finally having the option. He picked up a simple breakfast—a hot bun and a carton of milk—a couple of things he had long skipped to avoid spending money. When he reached the counter, he paused for a moment before adding a bottle of vitamin pills. His nutrition had been awful for too many years; he needed to improve.

The cashier scanned them, and Lin Feng paid with his eyes unwinking for the first time in weeks.

Striding out into the sunlight of morning, he drank the milk slowly, and the heat radiated through his body. It was such a little thing, but today it was like an indulgence.

An afterthought entered his head. If the system kept rewarding him, even minimally, then what was the best way he could use it? He couldn't just spend without thinking; he needed to look ahead, plan.

For today, at least, though, he would hold back. Wait and see what tomorrow brought in reward.

At University

By the time he arrived at his first class, the university campus was alive and buzzing. Students dressed in expensive designer clothes were standing in clusters, discussing their latest purchases, future vacations, or expensive internships arranged by their parents.

Lin Feng sat at the back of the lecture hall to himself. He dressed in plain clothes—clean, but not new. He didn't have the confidence to sit in on discussions where people casually spoke of spending tens of thousands on a weekend break.

Just as he was going to take out his notebook, there was a laugh from the front row.

Zhang Hao.

He was accompanied by a batch of rich second-generation heirs, as per usual. This time, he was waving a pair of car keys, swinging them back and forth between his fingers with a wide smile.

"Guess what, guys?" Zhang Hao bellowed, his voice ringing out in the hallway. "My dad finally agreed to organize for me to collect the Maserati. It is arriving next week."

Gasps and admiration.

"Damn, bro, that's insane! What model?

"Of course, the GranTurismo. Nothing flashy—just a school ride." Zhang Hao chuckled.

Lin Feng remained silent, pretending to read his notes. But he felt the atmosphere shift as some students looked in his direction.

Someone snorted. "Man, some people can only dream of owning a car, much less a Maserati."

Lin Feng's hands gripped his pen tightly. He knew that comment was for him. Zhang Hao's group always made sure to remind him of the disparity in status.

"Discussing dreams," Zhang Hao went on, his eyes flicking over Lin Feng. "Feng, you ought to ride with us when it arrives. Oh wait—you probably wouldn't feel comfortable in something so expensive."

Laughter erupted once again. Lin Feng kept his cool, but in the depths of his heart, there was a fire burning slowly.

One day…

One day, he would no longer be the joke.

Afternoon Break: Another Surprise

After school, Lin Feng headed to the isolated corner of campus where few students passed through. He took out his mobile phone and opened up his banking app again. The ¥100 from yesterday was still there, but it wasn't sufficient to do anything significant.

Then he remembered something. What if the system had more functions?

He focused his mind. "System… show more options."

To his astonishment, the blue screen reappeared.

[Login Reward System]

Daily reward: ¥100 (Received)

Missions: [New Assignments Available]

Investment: [Locked]

Lin Feng's heart throbbed. Missions?

He instinctively touched it.

[New Mission: Earning Your First Investment Capital]

Task: Accumulate ¥500 within a week of doing work or own effort.

Reward: Find out the Investment System.

Lin Feng's eyes sparkled. Investment System?

He thought madly. If only he could turn it on, perhaps he would really have a window to escape this predicament.

He clenched his fists. He had to complete this assignment.

Determined anew, he departed the abandoned corner, ideas churning with what could be done.

Come tomorrow, he would cash in his next prize. And after that…

He would painstakingly start shaping his fate.