Chapter 9: The First Quest – A Test of Patience
Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, gazing at the freshly cleaned and prepped laptop he had just sat down in front of. His desk lamp lit softly, making shadows dance upon the walls of his dormitory. Far in the distance, the quiet buzzing of late-returning students who had stayed out until late hours echoed down the hallway.
It was well past midnight, but he wasn't tired. Adrenaline still ran through his veins.
He had taken his first serious investment, risking nearly everything he had.
Now, the real test started.
A New Notification
As Lin Feng reached for his phone, an unexpected ding rang in his mind.
His heart skipped a beat.
[Ding! The System has issued your first quest.]
A new interface materialized in his mind, showing a slim, blue panel.
[Quest: First Successful Flip]
Mission: Sell something (profit will be ¥500+).
Reward: ¥500 + special item.
72-hour Time Limit.
Lin Feng's heart raced.
A mission?.
This wasn't the same as his daily login reward—those were passive, small benefits. But this… this was an active challenge.
And the reward—¥500 and a special item?.
It wasn't all for the profit. If the system was giving "special items," they were going to change everything.
But first, he had to succeed at the mission.
Preparing to Sell
Lin Feng focused on the laptop in front of him. The ThinkPad T480.
Now, he had to sell it.
He opened his browser and navigated to the biggest second-hand trading platforms—Xianyu and Pinduoduo's second-hand platform.
He had to craft the ideal listing.
A messy or confusing description would make people doubt something. A poorly shot photo would make the item appear subpar.
Lin Feng removed his phone and took photos from various angles—the keyboard, the screen, the black case. Wiped the surface clear again so there would be no smudges.
He then wrote out the listing:
[Lenovo ThinkPad T480 – High-Performance Business Laptop]
i5-8250U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD – Fast performance for students & professionals.
Minimal Wear & Tear – Used, but well maintained.
New OS Installed – Windows 10 activated, ready to go.
???? ¥2,900 (Negotiable)
## Best for online lessons, office use, or general use.
Serious buyers only. Pickup or delivery.
Lin Feng double-checked the information before clicking Post.
Now, he had to wait.
72 hours.
Would he be successful, or would he fail his first mission?
The Anxiety of Selling
The first hour passed with no messages.
Then two.
His eyelids became heavy at 2 AM, but his mind refused to rest.
Would anyone even buy it?
He priced it at ¥2,900, a bit higher than market price, but this provided some room to haggle. And still, doubts crept in. What if nobody wanted it? What if he overestimated?
Shaking his head. No. He had done his calculations. He just needed to keep a clear head.
Sighing, he turned off the desk light and climbed into bed.
He would check back in the morning.
A Torrent of Interest
The following morning, the minute Lin Feng awakened, he got his phone.
9 new messages.
His heart pounded.
Buyer 1: "Hello, is it still available?"
Buyer 2: "Can you drop the price? I can offer ¥2,600."
Buyer 3: "Interested. Can I see it today?"
Thrills of delight spread in his breast.
He had interest.
But he knew enough not to behave rashly and make a stupid deal.
He brushed off the lowball offers and responded to the serious ones.
Lin Feng: "Yes, still available. If you're serious, I can meet today."
At lunchtime, he had an appointment with a buyer at a campus-district coffee shop.
The Buyer – A Test of Patience
The coffee shop was a modest, mid-market one—not too expensive, not fancy. Just pricely enough for students to feel slightly sophisticated.
Lin Feng arrived ten minutes early, with his laptop bag in hand.
A young man in his twenties walked in a few minutes later, wearing a casual hoodie and jeans. He looked nervous—his eyes flicked back and forth between Lin Feng and the bag he held.
"You're selling the ThinkPad, right?" he asked.
Lin Feng nodded. "Yeah. You're Zhang Wei?"
"Yeah. Can I have a look?"
Lin Feng handed over the laptop, watching as Zhang Wei switched it on and touched the keys.
"Looks good," Zhang Wei said after a couple of minutes. "But, uh… could you do ¥2,500?"
Lin Feng's expression didn't change.
Haggling.
He had expected this.
"Sorry, lowest I can do is ¥2,800."
Zhang Wei frowned. "I saw one exactly the same price for ¥2,600."
Lin Feng shrugged. "Then you should buy that one."
Silence.
Zhang Wei hesitated, his eyes on the laptop again. He clearly coveted it.
Following a momentary hesitation, he sighed. "¥2,800."
Lin Feng kept a poker face but was grinning in his mind.
They conducted the transaction—cash, not online transfer. Lin Feng carefully counted the cash before handing over the laptop.
Deal sealed.
System Notification – The First Success
As soon as Lin Feng exited the café, his system beeped.
[Quest Completed: First Successful Flip]
Objective: Sell something (profit needs to be over ¥500).
Done – ¥1,000 profit earned.
Reward: ¥500 + Special Item: [Mysterious Black Card]
Lin Feng's breath bated.
A Mysterious Black Card?
"What is this?" he whispered.
A new info panel was displayed.
[Mysterious Black Card]
A one-time-use card that opens a secret chance.