11:55 PM.
In a cramped rental room in an old neighborhood of Yuhong District.
Jiang Ye had just finished an intense and thrilling "deep exploration of the aerospace field," and was now in a state of serene detachment, a "sage time" of peace within.
He picked up the cup of cold coffee on the table, took a big gulp, and turned his gaze to the bottom right corner of the screen.
23:55... 23:56... 23:57...
With each tick of the clock, his heart raced faster and faster.
A whole year! An entire year!
Do you know how I've spent this year?
Braving the elements every day, watching the station master's mood, outsmarting the security guards, and even performing that damn money-grabbing dance!
Tomorrow! Just a few minutes from now! All of this will become history!
His demands weren't high, just a monthly income of over 5000, and he'd be satisfied!
Don't underestimate this 5000 yuan; with this amount, he'd beat over 90% of the fresh graduates nationwide!
Jiang Ye just wanted to solve his basic needs first, then talk about a moderately prosperous life.
Of course, if that bottled water talent showed up again, he might just leap straight to wealth.
Time crawled by, second by second, in the anxious wait.
23:58......
23:59......
As the numbers finally flipped to midnight—
Jiang Ye sat up straight, held his breath, and solemnly awaited the arrival of this sacred moment.
[Ding! Future Insight (Single-Event Version) has expired, current talent has been refreshed, please choose your talent ability for the next year:]
It's here!
Jiang Ye quickly closed his eyes, immersing his entire mind into his consciousness.
In that illusory space of awareness, three options with different glows appeared again, like a skill selection screen in a game.
He looked at them with anticipation, but his expression quickly turned from joy to astonishment, his mouth twitching uncontrollably.
[Option One: Livestream Heartbeat Tipping System (Quality Content Version).]
[For positive energy streamers such as knowledge broadcasters, craft bloggers, and public welfare sharers on the platform, receive double cashback on tips, but cashback can only be used for further tipping within the platform.]
[Option Two: Persona Development System (Gentleman Version).]
[Weekly gentleman missions will be issued by the system, complete them to receive rewards, with reward types varying.]
[Option Three: Spending Cashback System (Hard-Earned Soft Rice Version).]
[Receive 1000% cashback to the host's account for proactive and voluntary monetary contributions from women.]
[Please choose, and feel free to inquire for details on any option.]
Jiang Ye: "......"
Silence, like the calm of the night.
After a full ten seconds, a roar of indignation exploded in his heart:
Damn it!
What the hell is all this?!
Where's my bottled water?! Give me back my bottled water! Is this a joke?!
After a bout of impotent rage, Jiang Ye could only tearfully toss his grand dream of becoming the "king of bottled water" into the trash, forcing himself to calm down and analyze these seemingly unreliable "new pits."
Option One: Livestream double cashback on tips.
This thing has been overused in those tycoon novels; if he got this system, he'd only need to worry about whether his kidneys could handle it.
But those two damn restrictions—"cashback can only be used for tipping," "only for positive energy streamers"...
Pass!
Besides helping TikTok dominate the world, what's in it for me?!
Decisively pass!
The second one, Persona Development System, and it's even the gentleman version...
Jiang Ye frowned; the name alone exuded a sense of impropriety.
"System, tell me more about this 'gentleman mission' and what kind of rewards it might offer?"
The system immediately provided examples:
[Example Mission One: Escort a single woman safely for 3000 meters during a quiet night, maintaining an effective distance of 30 meters, ensuring anonymity and not being detected by the target. Mission reward: 5000 yuan.]
[Example Mission Two: Evaluate ten pairs of second-hand stockings of different types, accurately identifying their main material, texture, and scent. Mission reward: One bottle of high-efficiency lung antibacterial spray.]
[Example Mission Three: Successfully apply for a position as a massage therapist and...]
"Stop! Alright! I get it! Thanks!"
Jiang Ye, his head full of black lines, quickly raised his hand to stop.
Good grief!
It really is this 'gentleman'!
They even put it so damn delicately, calling it 'escort,' isn't that just stalking?!
And that second-hand stockings task, why not just say original scent?
Oh wow, they even thought of providing antibacterial spray, so let me ask—where the hell did the bacteria come from?!
With this option, managing not to get picked up by the authorities for a month would be a blessing!
"Sigh..."
Jiang Ye sighed heavily, his gaze returning to the first option.
"System, um... my mom has worked in hotel housekeeping for over a decade, accumulating a wealth of knowledge on different cleaning cloth materials and efficient cleaning techniques. She's always wanted to start a livestream to share with fellow housewives, does this count as quality..."
[Ding! Detected host's intent to conduct related tipping, such behavior does not trigger double cashback, and the tip amount is deemed invalid.]
"What if I work at a positive energy broadcaster's company, and I..."
[Ding! Detected host's intent to conduct profit-driven tipping, such behavior does not trigger double cashback, and the tip amount is deemed invalid.]
Jiang Ye: "......"
Alright, got it, pure charity, no loopholes to exploit.
With no other choice, he could only pin his last hope on the third option.
"System, explain the rules for option three in detail."
[Core Rule: Host receives 1000% cashback for proactive and voluntary material contributions from women (including but not limited to daily allowances, holiday gifts, career investment support, etc.), with no restrictions on the use of cashback funds.]
[Trigger Requirements:]
[1. Female's overall charm score must exceed 80 points.]
[2. The spending behavior must stem from appreciation, gratitude, gifting, or emotional expression towards the host, with no solicitation by the host, or it will be deemed a violation, not triggering cashback.]
[Special Restriction: To ensure the host maintains the necessary 'gentleman' demeanor, at least two 'gentleman missions' (same source as option two) must be completed monthly; failure to complete the tasks will render the system ineffective the following month.]
Jiang Ye listened, expressionless, while reaching for a brand-new, barely opened copy of "CET-4 Vocabulary" from the cluttered table beside him.
He solemnly opened the book on his lap, his finger tracing the first word.
Studying, it's never too late to start...
Or maybe...
I should just honestly study and prepare for the postgraduate entrance exam?
abandon...
aband...
ab...
Damn it!
These restrictions are way too many, aren't they?!
Other people's systems, by the second chapter they're already living it up, by the fourth chapter they're punching rich second-gens and kicking gangsters.
And here I am, having spent hundreds on lottery tickets, waited an entire year, and this is what I get?!
And why does the third option also have to be tied to 'gentleman missions'?!
Do they just refuse to let go of the word 'gentleman'?!
Are they forcing me down some bizarre path?!
Jiang Ye's mind was a whirlwind of rage, his mouth twitching as if powered by a motor.
After a while, he barely managed to suppress the urge to curse, taking several deep breaths.
Reality is harsh, the system is a scam, but life must go on.
Cough, maybe not the postgraduate exam...
He pushed the vocabulary book back to the corner of the table, resting his chin in his hands, his eyes refocusing on the three options, using the clarity of sage time to weigh the pros and cons.
Option One, purely for love, making clothes for others, and getting nothing for himself, must pass.
"Option Two... it's not entirely unfeasible.
As long as I manage it well, like that second-hand stockings task, there are plenty of people selling those online, it's not hard to do.
But... the rewards are just too damn lousy.
First, get a fungal infection, then get a spray to cure it, why not just skip the damn task altogether? Who's going to reimburse me for the cost of the socks?
Hmm... that leaves only Option Three.
Getting a beautiful woman to voluntarily spend money...
Though the conditions are absurdly stringent, the tenfold cashback is real, and if handled well, it might actually pay off.
At least in these few short minutes, the clever Jiang Ye had already thought of several "wild ways" that might earn him money.
Like working as a male model in a club? Being a doorman at a star-rated hotel collecting tips? Or pretending to be a lost puppy at the entrance of a high-end community?
Though there's a charm score threshold, if you're willing to try, you're bound to run into a few top-notch wealthy women, right?
Once the ideas started flowing, Jiang Ye realized that if he was thick-skinned enough and clever enough, making a few thousand to ten thousand a month seemed... not entirely impossible?
Sigh...
Who isn't driven to desperate measures by life's pressures...
Jiang Ye sighed long and deeply, filled with helplessness and bitterness, making his decision in his mind: "I choose... the third option."
[Ding! Talent locked successfully! Current talent: Spending Cashback System (Hard-Earned Soft Rice Version) (valid until November 26, 2026).]
[Current Monthly Gentleman Mission activated, please check.]
[Mission content: Collect three items worn by different women with a charm score of 85 or above.]
[Mission completion deadline: 30 days.]
[Current cycle, remaining mission refreshes: 3.]
"......"
Jiang Ye's mouth twitched violently again.
He knew it!
This damn system would never let him off easy! Just bound and already hitting him with such a hardcore "grand opening"?
Items worn by women are one thing, but where the hell is he supposed to find three women with a charm score of 85 or above?!
Though he didn't know the system's scoring standard, that 85 sounded ridiculously high, even the campus belle who blocked him might not reach that score!
"System, give me a refre..."
He was about to shout "refresh mission!" in his mind when the system's additional prompt followed:
[Kind reminder: Comprehensive evaluation of the host's current total assets, each refresh of the gentleman mission costs 300 Dragon Yuan.]
Jiang Ye's words got stuck in his throat.
He picked up his phone, opened the WeChat wallet, and stared at the "900.35" balance on the screen, his vision going dark.
"So..."
A wave of desolation washed over him: "Refreshing three times, and I'd be bankrupt and homeless, right?!"
In the cramped rental room, only Jiang Ye remained, staring at the computer screen, with a face full of despair.