After An Hua hurriedly left and ducked into a nearby cold drink shop, ordering an iced milk tea and sitting down, Xu Bin couldn't wait to check the system task's progress.
"Congratulations, Host, for completing the monthly task. You are rewarded with one skill roulette spin."
"New Monthly Task: Host must earn 40,000 yuan within one Earth month. Reward: one skill roulette spin. Penalty for failure: one instance of Natural Disaster Punishment."
"Main Quest Released: Build brand recognition for Shuangquan Appliances. Note: must achieve moderate popularity within the provincial capital. Deadline: three months. Reward: one practical-use automobile. Penalty: system will deduct 70% of total benefits gained; if insufficient in cash, system will issue a loan to cover the difference."
Xu Bin had been dying to try the skill roulette spin. A single main quest reward had already granted him a godlike skill that lifted him out of his cowardly, humble state. While he'd spun the attribute roulette multiple times, it never felt as thrilling or magical as the skill roulette.
The same enormous roulette appeared again—without dazzling lights, just a calm, refined elegance. But the meanings behind those words on the wheel far outshined any dazzling display.
Xu Bin stared at the spinning wheel with cautious anticipation, eyes fixed on both the pointer and the rotating segments. Although the text had become a blur, he mumbled a string of half-wishes and hopeful prayers. He'd noticed skill names like Iron Bones, Extraordinary Physique, Musician's Touch, Voice of Heaven, Never Drunk, and Fluent English—all sounding miraculous. Any one of them would have thrilled him. But none stood out as a must-have in this moment; there was no time to overthink it anyway. As the wheel slowed, both the pointer and the wheel aligned, and finally, it stopped on four large characters:
"Gluttonous Constitution"
Skill Description: Reaches the upper limits of human digestive energy. Essentially: eat without gaining weight. Automatically breaks down and expels harmful substances without absorbing them—including, within prescribed limits, cigarettes, drugs, and even poisons. Host gains insatiable appetite and drools at the thought of food.
"Damn!!"
This was insane! Xu Bin slammed the table in excitement, startling the cold drink shop owner who had just brought over his iced milk tea. The owner looked nervously at this disheveled man, face bruised, eyes bloodshot, wondering if he was about to snap. Xu Bin quickly flashed an apologetic smile and took a big gulp of milk tea, pulling out a 100-yuan bill.
"Hot milk, coffee—just keep it coming until the money runs out."
The moment the skill integrated into his body, Xu Bin felt an overwhelming hunger erupt from within. He sensed leftover food and unabsorbed fats rapidly breaking down—not that he felt hungry, but his taste buds and appetite were begging for more. One gulp of milk tea left him wanting another—so refreshing!
That day, the shop owner saw a true legend. With 100 yuan, Xu Bin ordered over a dozen large cups of hot milk and coffee—and drank them all without even pausing for breath. No one could figure out where it all went in such a small body.
Xu Bin was ecstatic. This skill wasn't just about enhanced appetite or toxin immunity. The simple fact that he could now eat without gaining weight made the entire month of hard work and the spin completely worthwhile. In fact, this skill's long-term value might be the highest of all. After all, to make use of the system's power, energy intake was essential—and most of that came from food. But high-calorie foods are notoriously fattening. He used to struggle with limiting his intake. Whenever he tried to eat more to push his abilities, he'd end up nauseated, unable to continue—an efficiency killer for recycling and refurbishing tasks.
Now? Problem solved. As long as he had the money to buy food, he could keep going. If he had the drive, wealth would follow. The 40,000-yuan monthly goal didn't worry him one bit. The main quest, though, was more complicated. Branding the small shop meant expansion, consistent quality, staying under the radar, and increasing visibility—quite the challenge.
"Whew…"
But the system would never give him a task he couldn't accomplish. With effort, focus, and sweat, he could make it. Now, armed with the system, a godlike skill, and this Gluttonous Constitution, and with all the added attributes—he could do it. No challenge was too great.
🎵 "The common folk, oh, we're so happy today…" 🎵
Nearing noon, Xu Bin walked into the shop with two big supermarket bags, humming a tune and hurrying over to Zhong Yu.
"Perfect timing—no customers. Let's go out for a fancy meal! Pick any Western restaurant and go crazy on me today."
Zhong Yu looked up at him curiously. "Did you find some money or something?"
Xu Bin set the bags down with flair. "Something like that. A certain comrade has performed admirably recently—helping this great one manage the shop—and will now be rewarded with a gift and a feast!" With hands behind his back, chin lifted like a proud leader, he played the part of a boss praising a subordinate. Zhong Yu couldn't help laughing, pinching his nose and twisting his arm, which ended in a mock "submission hug."
As their relationship progressed, physical intimacy had increased. Hand-holding was no longer an issue. Hugs were frequent, and Xu Bin's boldness had already broken the cheek-kissing barrier.
Even slight brushes of more sensitive areas during playful scuffles no longer caused awkwardness. Zhong Yu sometimes felt that even though she was two years older, Xu Bin often came off as more mature—direct and assertive.
"Let's not go. Too expensive. Let's just have spicy boiled pork slices for lunch."
There were no customers anyway, so Xu Bin insisted, clinging to her like glue. She leaned into his embrace. When young couples spend every day together, it's not enough just to be around each other—they want to cling. Time flies, and even doing nothing but hugging feels sweet and precious.
"No worries. I also delivered a few machines to Meng-ge's place this morning. After costs, I'll still earn over a thousand."
In recent weeks, Xu Bin had also completed two weekly tasks—selling eight TVs and four phones. Those rewards gave him a one-centimeter height boost and dental/mouth reinforcement. For someone who lived on chocolate, cream, and cigarettes, those were vital bonuses.
Things were looking up. For the first time since getting the system, his savings exceeded 15,000 yuan. He had 3,000 yuan in inventory and over 2,000 in his pocket. In just over a month, even after spending thousands (much of it on food), he felt he was finally in a position to do something thoughtful.
He hadn't officially declared his feelings to Zhong Yu, nor given her a real gift. But now, with the joyful high of completing the monthly quest, he decided to go all out.
After all, they were still just dating—still in the honeymoon phase. Romance mattered. A Western restaurant and a thoughtful gift went a long way. Zhong Yu was genuinely happy.
After the meal, Xu Bin upgraded an iPhone 5s to like-new condition. When Zhong Yu came out of the bathroom, he handed her the phone with a brand-new charger, headphones, and accessories—all original. He even got a 5s box from a friend.
"It's not new, but once it's been through my hands—it's as good as new. Hope you like it."
Zhong Yu didn't refuse. She did like the iPhone 5s. A little materialism isn't wrong—it's natural to want a boyfriend who can spend money on you to show he cares. Otherwise, why would anyone just hand over a phone worth thousands?
In reality, the cost was only a few hundred. A shattered screen and water damage are serious issues, and repairing them often isn't cost-effective. But for Xu Bin, this was more than worth it.
And just like that, his first gift led to their first real kiss—lips meeting lips. If a customer hadn't walked in, they'd have stayed wrapped up in that moment, with each other's taste still lingering. Zhong Yu rolled her eyes seductively and returned to her side of the store, leaving Xu Bin to greet the new customer.