Because her father had fallen ill, Chen Lili took leave and went home.
On the third day after she left, another 100,000 yuan of “filial piety pocket money” was deposited into Lu Changfu’s account right on schedule.
On the system panel, his parents’ happiness level remained at 75%. It wasn’t particularly high, but it was enough to maintain the system’s basic monthly reward.
Lu Changfu knew this was because his parents were still immersed in the happiness of knowing that he had “a girlfriend.” Although they occasionally asked, “Why doesn’t Lili answer the video calls?” overall, the old couple was happy.
That happiness was worth 100,000 yuan every month.
Lu Changfu sat alone in the empty dormitory, staring out at the gloomy sky.
The factory had already entered its final countdown. Most of the machines had been shut down, and the workers were anxious about their futures. Only a few veteran workers were still there, finishing up the last remaining tasks.
Old Wang had already found another job two days ago, at another small hardware factory. His salary there was even 500 yuan lower.
“Changfu, you really aren’t in a hurry to find another job?” Old Wang asked before leaving.
“Not yet. I’ll take a break first,” Lu Changfu replied.
He really wasn’t in a hurry.
There was nearly 1.2 million yuan in his account, and another 100,000 yuan came in every month. As long as his parents were happy, the money would keep coming.
What he needed to think about now was how to make his parents even “happier.”
His phone vibrated.
It was a WeChat message from Song Liyuan:
“Brother Lu, come over for dinner tonight? I learned how to make some new dishes. I want you to try them~”
Attached was a selfie of Song Liyuan standing in her kitchen wearing an apron. The apron was tied tightly around her waist, accentuating her slender figure, while the neckline of her clothes was slightly open.
Lu Changfu stared at the photo for several seconds.
Ever since that day when she had come to “comfort” him at the factory gate, Song Liyuan’s advances had become increasingly aggressive.
She greeted him every morning, noon, and night. After learning that his factory was shutting down, she showered him with all kinds of “comfort” and “encouragement,” constantly hinting that he was talented, that she admired him, and that the two of them could work hard together.
Compared to her, Chen Lili’s side was frighteningly quiet.
Ever since she had taken the 100,000 yuan home for her father’s treatment, she had sent nothing except a single “thank you” on the day the money arrived.
Lu Changfu had tried sending her two WeChat messages asking about her father’s condition, but neither received a reply.
[System Notification: The host’s parents have recently asked about “Lili” several times. Their happiness level shows signs of fluctuation. It is recommended that the host strengthen the “romantic relationship” as soon as possible to maintain his parents’ emotional stability.]
The cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind, sounding almost like a reminder urging him to act.
Lu Changfu took a deep breath and replied to Song Liyuan:
“Sure. What time?”
“Seven! I’ll be waiting for you!” Song Liyuan replied almost instantly, adding a cheering emoji.
At 6:50 that evening, Lu Changfu followed the address Song Liyuan had sent and arrived at the residential complex where she rented an apartment.
It was a decent mid-range residential complex, with an environment considerably better than the factory dormitory.
The apartment had one bedroom and one living room, covering more than forty square meters. It was clean and tidy, with a warm, feminine atmosphere.
Three dishes and a soup had already been prepared on the dining table. There were even candles and soft music playing in the background.
“Brother Lu, you’re here!” Song Liyuan opened the door.
She had changed into comfortable home clothes—a light pink silk pajama top with a camisole underneath. Her long hair was loosely tied up, revealing her fair neck.
She naturally took Lu Changfu’s coat and hung it up.
“Go wash your hands and eat. The food was just finished.”
The food tasted good, and Song Liyuan was very good at creating a pleasant atmosphere. She kept putting food into Lu Changfu’s bowl while telling him amusing stories about things that happened at the store.
After a few glasses of red wine, her cheeks flushed and her eyes became slightly hazy.
“Brother Lu…”
She put down her wineglass and moved to the chair beside Lu Changfu, leaning closer to him.
“Actually… I’ve always envied people who can write stories. You can create such wonderful worlds. That’s really amazing…”
Her arm pressed against his, the warmth passing through the thin fabric of their clothes.
“Has Zhao Feng been looking for you lately?” Lu Changfu suddenly asked.
Song Liyuan froze for a moment before pouting.
“Don’t mention him. He’s always bragging and never actually does anything. I already made it clear to him that we’re not compatible.”
She looked up at Lu Changfu, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
“Brother Lu, I know you probably don’t want to think about relationships right now. The factory just shut down, and you’ve got a lot on your mind. But I… I just want to tell you that I like you. I’m serious. I’m not after anything from you. I just think you’re a good person.”
She gently placed her hand on the back of Lu Changfu’s hand.
Lu Changfu didn’t move.
He looked at Song Liyuan’s face at such close range—the delicate makeup, the expectant eyes, and the undisguised admiration in her gaze.
He knew how much of what she was saying might not be genuine. But at this moment, he needed that “admiration.”
He needed someone to make him feel that the million yuan he had gained represented more than cold numbers and the pressure of the system.
His parents needed to be happy, and for that, he needed to have a “girlfriend.”
Things with Chen Lili were still unresolved, and she was too far away to solve his immediate problem.
But the woman in front of him was enthusiastic, proactive, and beautiful. If he brought her home, his parents would probably be happy too.
“Liyuan,” Lu Changfu said calmly, “there are some things I need to make clear first.”
“Go ahead.” Song Liyuan’s eyes lit up.
“I might not be as good as you think I am,” Lu Changfu slowly said. “I’m young and impulsive. There are some things… I’m not exactly the faithful type. And right now, I really do need a ‘girlfriend’ to reassure my parents.”
He paused.
“If you can accept that, we can give it a try. But I can’t guarantee that you’ll be the only one.”
He was being extremely straightforward, even cruelly so.
He wanted to see how she would react.
The smile on Song Liyuan’s face froze for a moment, but soon it blossomed again, even sweeter than before.
Instead of pulling away, she moved closer, almost nestling into Lu Changfu’s arms.
“Brother Lu, you’re really something…” Her voice was soft and coquettish. “Nowadays, what outstanding man doesn’t have a past or a bit of personality? What I like about you is how genuine you are. Don’t worry, I know what to do…”
“As long as I can stay by your side, that’s enough. I don’t mind only seeing you occasionally. And as for meeting your parents, I can do it anytime. I’m actually a really good actress. I guarantee I’ll make Uncle and Auntie happy!”
She tilted her face upward and closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
Lu Changfu looked at her.
The faint trace of guilt in his heart was replaced by a much stronger sense of control.
That was right.
He had the system. He had money.
He could make his parents happy, and he could make himself happy too.
Why should he insist on clinging to Chen Lili, who clearly wasn’t willing?
He lowered his head and kissed her red lips.
Song Liyuan let out a soft moan and wrapped her arms around his neck, responding passionately.
That night, Lu Changfu did not return to the dormitory.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains.
When Lu Changfu woke up, Song Liyuan was still curled up in his arms like a little cat, fast asleep.
The lingering atmosphere of intimacy from the previous night still filled the room.
Lu Changfu gently pulled his arm free and sat up, intending to wash up.
Just as he sat upright, Song Liyuan’s phone on the bedside table suddenly lit up and began vibrating.
Incoming call: Zhao Feng.
Lu Changfu froze.