The rain fell in sheets, soaking through Lian Wei's threadbare jacket as he trudged down the neon-lit streets of Xinshou City. The skyscrapers loomed like judgmental giants, their glowing billboards mocking him with ads for luxury cars and diamond-encrusted watches—things he once owned, now distant memories. Just three months ago, he was the heir to the Lian Tech empire, a 24-year-old prodigy with a penthouse, a private jet, and a fiancée who swore she'd love him forever. Then the scandal hit. His father's shady deals came to light, the company crumbled, and the vultures—creditors, rivals, and even his fiancée, Mei Ling—picked the carcass clean.
Mei Ling's parting words still stung. "You're nothing without your money, Wei. Don't call me again." She'd tossed her engagement ring into the gutter, right where he stood now, and walked away with a crypto tycoon twice her age.
Lian Wei stopped under a flickering streetlamp, his reflection distorted in a puddle. His once-sharp features were gaunt, his designer stubble now a scruffy mess. "Pathetic," he muttered, kicking a pebble into the storm drain. He had 300 yuan left in his account, barely enough for a week's worth of instant noodles. No job, no prospects, no hope. The world had chewed him up and spat him out.
*Ping.*
A strange chime cut through the rain's drone. Lian Wei frowned, fishing his cracked phone from his pocket. No notifications. Weird. He glanced around, but the street was empty except for a stray cat glaring from an alley. Shrugging, he kept walking.
*Ping. Ping. PING.*
The sound grew insistent, like a heartbeat in his skull. Before he could curse, a translucent blue panel materialized in front of him, floating mid-air like a holographic ad. Golden text pulsed across it:
**Congratulations, Lian Wei! You have been selected as the sole inheritor of the [Fortune's Gambit] System!**
"What the hell?" Wei blinked, swiping at the panel. His hand passed through it, but the text shifted, rippling like water.
**System Objective: Build an empire, win hearts, and live the ultimate life. Spend on those with a Favorability of 50+ to unlock rewards. The more you invest, the greater the return! Accept? [Y/N]**
Wei stared, his heart pounding. A scam? A prank? He glanced around again, half-expecting paparazzi to jump out, but the street remained deserted. The panel hovered, unyielding, its golden glow warm against the cold rain.
"This is insane," he muttered. But what did he have to lose? His life was already a dumpster fire. With a shaky breath, he reached out and tapped the air where the "Y" glowed.
A surge of warmth flooded his body, like sunlight breaking through clouds. The panel vanished, replaced by a sleek interface in his vision, like augmented reality without the glasses. A status screen appeared:
**User: Lian Wei**
**Wealth: 300 yuan**
**Charm: 65/100 (Above Average)**
**Influence: 0/100 (Nobody)**
**System Balance: 0 Fortune Points**
**Active Quest: First Impression – Spend 100 yuan on someone with Favorability 50+ to unlock your first reward. Reward: 200% cashback + 10 Fortune Points.**
Wei's jaw dropped. "Two hundred percent cashback? Is this a cosmic Ponzi scheme?" He squinted at the fine print: *Favorability can be increased through genuine interaction, charm, or shared interests. System will not reward manipulation or coercion.*
"Great, so I can't just bribe people," he grumbled. But the idea of doubling his money by spending it was too wild to ignore. He needed a target—someone with at least a 50 Favorability score, whatever that meant.
The rain slowed to a drizzle as Wei wandered toward a late-night diner, its warm lights beckoning. Inside, the smell of fried dumplings and coffee hit him like a hug. The place was nearly empty, save for a waitress wiping down tables. She looked about his age, with jet-black hair tied in a messy bun and eyes that sparkled with quiet resilience. Her nametag read "Xiao Lan."
Wei hesitated at the counter. The system's interface flickered, and a small gauge appeared above Xiao Lan's head: **Favorability: 55**. A tooltip noted, *Based on neutral first impression and your current Charm score.*
"Close enough," Wei muttered. He slid onto a stool, his last 300 yuan burning a hole in his pocket. "Hey, uh, Xiao Lan? Can I get a coffee? And… maybe a plate of dumplings?"
She glanced up, offering a tired but genuine smile. "Rough night, huh? Coffee's on the house if you tell me why you look like a drowned cat."
Wei chuckled, surprised by her warmth. "Long story. Let's just say life's been playing me like a cheap arcade game."
She laughed, setting a steaming mug in front of him. "Sounds like you need more than coffee. Dumplings coming up."
As she turned to the kitchen, Wei's system pinged: **Opportunity Detected! Spend 100 yuan on Xiao Lan to complete First Impression quest. Tip generously or offer a kind gesture to boost Favorability.**
Wei's mind raced. A tip? That was easy enough. He only had 300 yuan, but if the system was real, spending 100 would net him 200 back. Worth a shot. When Xiao Lan returned with a plate of golden dumplings, he slid 150 yuan across the counter—100 for the meal, 50 as a tip.
Her eyes widened. "Whoa, this is… too much. You sure?"
"You're keeping me sane on a lousy night," Wei said, mustering his old charm. "Keep it."
Her Favorability gauge ticked up to 60. The system chimed: **Quest Complete! 200 yuan deposited to your account. +10 Fortune Points. New Quest Unlocked: Heart's Wager – Spend 500 yuan on someone with Favorability 60+ to unlock a mystery reward.**
Wei's phone buzzed. He checked his bank app, heart skipping. His balance now read 500 yuan. "No way," he whispered. The system was real.
Xiao Lan leaned on the counter, studying him. "You're not like the usual late-night crowd. What's your deal, mystery guy?"
Wei grinned, a spark of his old confidence reigniting. "Just a guy betting on a new start. You free to chat when your shift ends?"
She raised an eyebrow, but her smile didn't fade. "Maybe. Depends if you're still this interesting in an hour."
As she walked away, the system flashed a new message: **Fortune's Gambit has begun. Spend wisely, win boldly, and rise to the top.**
Wei leaned back, sipping his coffee. For the first time in months, the future didn't look so bleak.