His phone vibrated a few times before stopping.
Immediately afterward, WeChat notification sounds rang out one after another. The screen kept lighting up, and several message previews appeared on the lock screen:
“Liyuan, why didn’t you reply to my messages yesterday?”
“I got my salary. How about I treat you to that Japanese restaurant?”
“Are you mad at me? If I did something wrong, just tell me…”
One message after another, each filled with cautious flattery and urgency.
Lu Changfu stared at the notifications popping up one after another, a complicated feeling rising in his heart.
Zhao Feng was one of the colleagues he got along with fairly well at the factory. Although he liked to brag a little, he was a genuinely warm-hearted person…
Now that things had turned out this way… could this be considered stealing the woman his friend “liked”?
Although Song Liyuan had already said that there was nothing between her and Zhao Feng, judging from Zhao Feng’s behavior, it was obvious that he still hadn’t given up.
“Hmm… Brother Lu, you’re awake?” Song Liyuan was awakened by the phone vibrating. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, the silk blanket slipping down.
When she saw Lu Changfu staring at her phone, she also noticed the messages on the screen. Her expression changed slightly, and she quickly took the phone and immediately held down the power button to shut it off.
“So annoying, this guy…” she muttered, tossing the phone aside. Then she smiled and moved closer, wrapping her arms around Lu Changfu’s neck.
“Don’t mind him. There’s really nothing between us. He’s just pestering me on his own.”
Looking at her charming face, the slight discomfort in Lu Changfu’s heart was quickly pushed aside by more practical considerations.
It didn’t matter what Zhao Feng thought.
What mattered was that Song Liyuan was now his “girlfriend,” and she could help him keep his parents reassured and maintain his system rewards.
That was enough.
“It’s fine.” Lu Changfu patted her back. “Go back to sleep. I’m going to wash up.”
“No, I’ll get up too.” Song Liyuan jumped out of bed and ran barefoot over to him. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him lightly, her eyes sparkling.
“Brother Lu, I’m off today. I’ll spend the whole day with you, okay?”
Breakfast was fried eggs and milk prepared by Song Liyuan.
While they were eating, her phone vibrated several times again. It was probably another message from Zhao Feng. She didn’t even look at it and simply switched her phone to silent mode.
“Brother Lu, how about we go shopping later? I want to buy you some clothes. Your work clothes are all worn out,” Song Liyuan said enthusiastically.
Lu Changfu neither agreed nor disagreed.
Actually, he wanted to return to the dormitory to see whether Chen Lili was back and whether she had sent any messages…
Her father had undergone surgery, and he didn’t know how things were going.
“Oh, right, Brother Lu.” As if she had suddenly remembered something, Song Liyuan casually asked, “That… colleague from the factory you mentioned before, the one named Chen Lili—did she take leave and go back to her hometown?”
Lu Changfu’s hand paused while holding his milk.
“Yeah. Something happened at home.”
“Oh… What happened? Is it serious?” Song Liyuan blinked, looking concerned.
“Nothing much. Just a minor issue.” Lu Changfu didn’t want to say more.
Song Liyuan tactfully stopped asking and changed the subject, but Lu Changfu could sense that she seemed quite concerned about Chen Lili.
After breakfast, Lu Changfu still used an excuse that he had something to do and left Song Liyuan’s place.
As he walked back toward the factory, the cold wind blew against his face, clearing his head somewhat.
He took out his phone and opened his chat with Chen Lili.
The latest message was still the one she had sent three days ago:
“Received it. Thank you.”
After hesitating for a moment, he typed:
“How did your father’s surgery go? Was everything okay? If the money isn’t enough, let me know.”
He sent the message.
Ten minutes passed without a reply.
Lu Changfu put his phone away, feeling somewhat irritated.
He knew that he had Song Liyuan now. Technically, there was no reason for him to keep worrying about Chen Lili.
But the 100,000 yuan he had given her, along with the image of her crying and pleading with him, kept lingering in his mind.
More importantly, the system’s requirement to “make his parents happy” had originally been triggered because of that phone call with Chen Lili.
His parents now believed that the girl was “Lili.”
If he suddenly switched to Song Liyuan, how would he explain it?
Would his parents become suspicious?
Would his happiness level drop?
When he returned to the quiet, empty dormitory, Lu Changfu turned on his computer and tried to write, but he couldn’t produce a single word.
In the afternoon, Song Liyuan sent him another message, inviting him to watch a movie that evening.
Lu Changfu turned her down, saying he needed to finish his manuscript.
He needed some time alone to think carefully about what he should do next.
At dusk, his phone rang. It was his mother.
“Changfu, have you eaten?” Peng Jiali’s voice was full of excitement. “Let me tell you, your dad went to the county today and happened to run into your Uncle Li. Uncle Li said he has a relative who’s a department director at a provincial hospital! I told him about Lili’s father being sick, and he said he could help ask around! Send me Lili’s father’s medical records and the name of the hospital he’s in. I’ll have your dad go talk to Uncle Li!”
Lu Changfu felt a warmth in his heart, followed immediately by a wave of guilt.
“Mom… there’s really no need to trouble Uncle Li. Lili…”
“Why would it be a trouble? We’re family!” Peng Jiali interrupted him. “Lili’s father is your father now. Of course we have to help if we can! You really should have told us about something like this sooner! Lili is just a young woman taking care of him over there. It must be exhausting! And you—you should pay more attention to her and help her more…”
His mother continued talking, her words filled with genuine concern.
Listening to her, Lu Changfu felt as though something had lodged itself in his throat.
“Mom…” he struggled to say. “Actually, Lili and I…”
The words reached his lips, but he swallowed them back.
He didn’t dare say it.
He was afraid of seeing the disappointment in his mother’s eyes, afraid of hearing his father sigh, and even more afraid that the system would report a sharp drop in his parents’ happiness level, causing him to lose the 100,000 yuan monthly reward.
“You and Lili what?” Peng Jiali immediately became alert. “Did you two have a fight? Changfu, let me tell you, couples have to be understanding toward each other! Lili’s father is sick, so she’s probably in a bad mood. You need to be more patient with her and help her more, understand?”
“…I understand.” Lu Changfu answered hoarsely.
“Good. Then send me the medical records quickly. Oh, right, when exactly are you two coming home for the New Year? I need to prepare in advance…”
After hanging up, Lu Changfu leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.
The system panel silently appeared.
His parents’ happiness level flickered slightly before changing to 76%, probably because his mother was happy that she could help her future in-laws.
Lu Changfu gave a bitter smile.
He now had two paths in front of him.
One was Song Liyuan—warm and proactive, and willing to play the role of his “girlfriend” whenever necessary. But he would have to put effort into explaining things to his parents, and there was a risk to his happiness level.
The other was Chen Lili—already accepted by his parents, but their relationship was fragile. Her family was also facing a crisis, and her future remained uncertain.
Or…
What if he kept both options open?
The moment the thought appeared, it began growing wildly like a vine.
He had the system. He needed to keep his parents happy in the long term.
Having one more “backup” meant having another layer of security.
As for morality…
In the face of a monthly reward of 100,000 yuan, and possibly even 10 million yuan, it seemed less important.
His phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a selfie from Song Liyuan. She was standing outside the cinema, pouting.
“The movie is about to start. You’re really not coming? Then I’ll watch it alone~ (Poor me)”
Lu Changfu looked at the photo and replied:
“I suddenly got some inspiration and need to work on my manuscript. I’ll accompany you next time.”
Then he found Chen Lili’s WeChat and sent another message:
“My mom said she has a contact who can help get in touch with hospital specialists. She needs your father’s medical records. Reply when you see this.”
After sending it, he placed his phone face down on the desk and opened his document.
This time, inspiration came pouring out.
He wrote a story about a protagonist with money and abilities who was caught between several women. The words flowed unusually smoothly.
At the end, the male protagonist stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of a high-rise building, overlooking the city at night, surrounded by beautiful women, yet thinking about the woman he could never have.
Lu Changfu stopped typing.
Outside the window, the night had grown deep, and the last few lights in the factory had gone out.
His phone screen lit up in the darkness.
It was Chen Lili’s reply.
Only two words:
“Thank you.”