Chapter 10: The Weight of Opportunity

Lin Feng sat on a bench outside the café, fingers wrapped tightly around his phone as he looked at the system message.

[Mysterious Black Card]

One-time-use card granting access to a hidden opportunity.

A hidden opportunity?

Lin Feng's first instinct was to use it immediately, but he held back.

His system wasn't a game—it was life.

Rushing in blindly may lead to lost opportunities.

He needed to think, strategize, and decide judiciously.

Therefore, instead of acting impulsively, he took a deep breath, placed his phone inside his pocket, and stood up.

For the time being, he would go back to the campus and deliberate.

The Aftermath of a Successful Sale

Lin Feng reached his dormitory by late afternoon.

His roommate Zhao Peng was lounging back in his chair, scrolling through his phone. The smell of instant noodles lingered in the air.

"Oh? You're back." Zhao Peng gazed at Lin Feng. "Where'd you go?"

"Just taking care of some business."

Zhao Peng extended his arms. "Man, you don't want to go out and party with us tonight? Some rich guys from my department are booking a VIP table at Blue Moon Club. It's going to be wild. Free drinks, babes, the whole thing."

Lin Feng knew just what kind of scene that would be.

He had been there before—not as a guest, but as a bystander.

Guys from wealthy families showing off, ordering ¥20,000 bottles of alcohol just to pour them out. Girls acting friendly while subtly gauging a guy's status. Every conversation was a hidden power struggle.

Lin Feng had no place in that world.

"I'll pass," he said.

Zhao Peng clicked his tongue. "Tch, suit yourself." He grinned. "Then don't regret it when you're still single at 30."

Lin Feng did not respond, just pulled out his laptop and started looking into what he was going to do next.

Considering His Choices

After completing his first successful flip, he had ¥2,800 cash and ¥500 from the system reward.

Total: ¥3,300.

It was more money than he had ever had at one time.

But he better than squander it.

He needed to reinvest.

With a more discerning hunt, he located an even superior deal than previous—a ThinkPad X1 Carbon, an ultrabook brand—was ¥2,500. If he cleaned it up and sold it effectively, he could readily charge ¥4,000 for it.

It was a greater risk—a superior quality item, therefore fewer buyers—but a greater gain.

As he was about to make a choice, the system beeped again.

[New Quest Unlocked: The Snowball Effect]

Mission: Successfully reinvest your profits and resell again (profit needs to be over ¥1,000).

Reward: ¥800 + System Upgrade.

Time Limit: 5 Days.

Lin Feng's breath came faster.

A system upgrade?

Until today, the system had been motionless, with only daily reward and random quest. But if it could be upgraded… what would that do?

Would it unlock more functions? Better reward? More ability to control his potential?

Only one way to find out.

He had to complete the quest.

Making the Deal

Lin Feng contacted the seller of ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

Lin Feng: "I'll buy it. Can we meet tonight?"

Seller: "Alright. University Metro Station, 7 o'clock."

Good.

Lin Feng took out his Mysterious Black Card and inspected it.

He still did not know what it could do. But he was certain—it wasn't something to use on such a small transaction as this.

For now, he would keep it.

Taking his bag, he left.

A Different Kind of Negotiation

The middle-aged man selling was dressed in a tacky business suit. His face was drawn, his eyes wildly scanning.

Lin Feng recognized it immediately.

A debtor.

Which meant…

He needed money immediately.

Lin Feng cooled his head. "This is the X1 Carbon?"

The man nodded and handed over the laptop. "Yes. I used it for work, but I need to sell it quickly."

Lin Feng inspected it thoroughly—keyboard, screen, battery life. It was in perfect condition.

But he noticed something.

Desperation.

This guy wasn't selling—he was desperate to sell.

Lin Feng closed the laptop and let out a sigh. "I like it, but ¥2,500 is too expensive."

The man frowned. "It's already low."

Lin Feng said nothing, just watching him.

Silence was a powerful tool.

The man halted. "All right. ¥2,300."

Lin Feng took a risk. "¥2,100, and I take it now."

The man clenched his teeth. He was torn.

Lin Feng stood up. "Otherwise, I'll go look for another one."

"…Alright. ¥2,100."

Deal.

Lin Feng paid cash and walked away.

Calculating the Profit

Back at his dorm, Lin Feng sat down and calculated.

He just shelled out ¥2,100 for the laptop.

Market value? ¥4,000.

If he played his cards just right, he could profit ¥1,800.

And that meant—

He would complete the quest.

But he wasn't exactly rushing.

He would spruce it up, optimize the listing, and sell at the opportune moment.

He was learning.

This was no longer about getting rich quick. This was playing the long game.

Lin Feng breathed in deeply, a small smirk spreading across his mouth.

This was merely the beginning.