Chapter 3: The First Step Towards Change

The moment Lin Feng read the briefing for the mission, he knew this was his first real test.

[Mission: Earn ¥500 within seven days.]

[Reward: Unlock the Investment System.]

¥500 was not an enormous amount, yet to someone like him—constantly balancing life and debt—it was a difficult sum to earn within a week.

He sat in the quiet corner of the library, rubbing his temples.

His part-time work at the café paid ¥15 an hour. If he worked four hours a day, that was just ¥60 per shift. Even if he worked seven days a week, he'd still come up short.

No, he needed something else. A way to make some extra money.

His first consideration was to consider tutoring. The rich students in his school would pay others to do their work for them. He had heard of classmates asking ¥200 to ¥300 for a paper. It would be so much simpler if he could just get one or two of those.

But how did he find customers?

Lin Feng opened his notebook and started making a plan.

Notice and Find Potential Clients – Wealthy students who cared less about learning but more about passing.

Give Them Something They Can't Refuse – Price below the market to gain credibility and a reputation.

Get It Done Quick and Correct – If he could get some satisfied clients, word would spread.

He took a deep breath. It wasn't glamorous, but it was a start.

First Attempt at a Hustle

Lin Feng passed the rest of the hours in the library, observing.

Most of the students were studying intensely or lazing around on their phones. But later on, he noticed a group of well-dressed students sitting at the window. They weren't writing or reading—just talking and laughing.

He had met one of them.

Zhao Lei, Zhang Hao's buddy. He came from a wealthy family and preferred to go out than complete homework. If a paper-writing body was needed, it would be him.

Lin Feng got up and approached their table.

"Hey, don't mind me," he drawled.

Zhao Lei raised an eyebrow, gazing up at him. "What do you want?"

"I overheard you boys discussing earlier," Lin Feng stated, lying easily. "Having trouble with an assignment?"

Zhao Lei furrowed his brow. "Perhaps. Why?"

"I can assist. I do papers. Quickly and well. ¥100 per essay."

One of Zhao Lei's friends laughed. "Bro, you're selling homework like it's a designer good?"

Zhao Lei, though, appeared to be interested. He clicked his pen on the table. "What classes?"

"Business, economics, literature. No math or science," Lin Feng said.

Zhao Lei paused before smiling. "You're paying ¥100. Suppose I don't like the work?"

"Then I don't take it," Lin Feng said factually. "But if it's good, next time pay ahead."

Zhao Lei laughed. "Alright, agree." He texted the essay topic to Lin Feng's phone. "I want tomorrow."

Lin Feng smiled. "It'll be done."

Turning away, his phone rang. ¥100 received.

His first side hustle had begun.

The Grind Begins

Lin Feng spent the rest of the day working. Between classes and his shift at the café, he found time to sit in a quiet corner of the campus and start writing Zhao Lei's paper.

It was a simple business case study—something Lin Feng could handle easily. He spent hours refining it, ensuring the arguments were solid and well-structured.

By midnight, he was exhausted but satisfied.

The following day, he brought the paper to Zhao Lei.

Hours later, he got a message.

Zhao Lei: Not bad. Have more of these?

Lin Feng's lips curled into a smile. He had his first regular customer.

Expanding the Business

Lin Feng gradually built up his reputation over the next few days.

Zhao Lei referred another friend. Then another. Soon, he was juggling multiple assignments while balancing his job at the café.

By the fourth day, his earnings looked like this:

Essay 1 (Zhao Lei) – ¥100

Essay 2 (Zhao Lei's friend) – ¥120

Essay 3 (New customer) – ¥130

Café shifts – ¥180 (12 hours worked)

Total: ¥530

When he saw the number, he almost couldn't believe it.

He had done it.

That night, as he slept, he opened up the system window.

[Mission Completed: Get ¥500 Within Seven Days.]

[Reward: Investment System Unlocked.]

Lin Feng looked at the radiating words, his heart pounding.

This was it. The real game was finally about to begin.