[But, Host, are you seriously planning on sleeping with them?]
’If it’s for the cash, then one hundred percent,’ I replied without hesitation. ’And as long as I don’t end up in jail for it.’
A grin spread across my face.
’Besides, you might not know this, but the gods blessed me with a platinum dick. So what’s three MILFs I can’t handle?’
[So we’re really going with the sugar mommy route? You’re absolutely cooked.]
’Hey! Stop making it sound worse than it is.’
[Sigh... Whatever helps you sleep at night, Host.]
I turned away from the women and headed for the door.
The next moment, a soft, gentle hand wrapped around my forearm.
"Wait..." she mumbled. "Please wait."
Tilting my head, I found Anna standing there. She wasn’t exactly petite, but next to me, she looked downright tiny.
Her head hung low, as though she wished the floor would swallow her whole.
Even that wasn’t enough to hide the blush creeping from her neck to her cheeks.
"Just... forget what I said, okay?" she mumbled, letting go of my arm before giving it a timid little punch.
"I was only trying to tease you too. Why’d you have to take it so seriously when it was my turn?"
She slowly raised her gaze to meet mine, and something about the look in her eyes stirred a strange feeling within me.
Her face was practically crimson, tiny tears clinging to the corners of her eyes while her cheeks puffed out into a sulky pout.
I knew she was old enough to be someone’s mother, yet at that moment, she looked so unbelievably adorable.
I dragged a hand down my face.
’Is it because I have a little sister? I can’t even bring myself to get mad at someone acting this cute.’
"Okay, I get it," I said, patting her on the head. "So don’t cry."
Anna lowered her head again before suddenly throwing herself into my arms, wrapping them tightly around my waist.
My own hands hovered awkwardly in the air for a moment before I finally sighed and returned the embrace.
I let her hold me for as long as she wanted, though for some reason, she kept nuzzling against me like a golden retriever trying to memorize its owner’s scent.
Eventually, she pulled away and shyly held out a hand, looking more like a bashful high school girl than a grown woman.
"Can I get your number?"
I stared at her outstretched hand, feeling every ounce of my determination to teach this teasing MILF a lesson melt away.
’Why am I so damned soft?’
Sighing, I pulled out my phone.
Anna’s eyes lit up, but the moment she looked at the screen, her expression froze.
"Why are you in your banking app?" she asked, tilting her head.
My gaze dropped to my phone.
"...Oh, shit."
Somehow, I’d opened my banking app instead of YChat?!
I quickly looked away, refusing to meet her eyes.
’Damn. I was hoping she’d just scan it without noticing.’
[Wow... are we taking the scammer route now? I like it.]
Anna stared at me for a second before letting out a quiet laugh.
"Are you really that short on money?"
I scratched my cheek and gave a sheepish nod.
Her smile softened.
"In that case..." She held up her phone. "I’ll pay you for your number."
Ding!
[Note, Host. Not all money earned through sales or hard work can be transferred into the System.]
[If the item sold by the user isn’t valuable to the buyer, the System will only accept an amount equivalent to the value the buyer places on that item.]
’Wait! What kind of bullshit rule is that?!’
[Rules are rules, Host.]
I swallowed hard as Anna first scanned the QR code on my banking app, then the one for my YChat account.
Almost instantly, my phone chimed.
+$3,000
My eyes widened. "Three thousand?"
Anna answered with a shy smile before rising onto her tiptoes and planting a quick peck on my cheek.
"Um... I’ll see you later then."
Without waiting another second, she waved at her two friends before hurrying out of the room.
I remained rooted to the spot, wondering how I’d just sold my phone number for three freaking thousand dollars.
’Was this what the System meant by an item being sold for more than its actual value?’
I was about to curse my luck when the System chimed loudly in my ear.
Ding!
[Host has received: $3,000 from love interest Anna Sherlock. Would you like to transfer the full amount into the System?]
’Huh? Is my number really worth that much?’
[No, it isn’t. But to Ms. Anna, your number is worth far more than that.]
The System paused for a moment before continuing in a dejected tone.
[You don’t seem to understand just how attractive you are, Host. Even within my database, I can barely find ten other users who can match your looks and physique.]
I scoffed. ’Looks can’t feed me or keep me alive in a world full of Awakened.’
[Actually, they can.]
’Well, I don’t plan on becoming some sick Awakened’s plaything or trophy, and I like being the cool, amazing main character!’
The System let out what sounded like a weary sigh before falling silent.
It seemed I didn’t even need to physically transfer the money to the System for it to register.
’I guess thinking about it is enough.’
Yumi, who had been quietly enjoying Anna’s and my little exchange, rose to her feet. She slipped on her overcoat before strolling over to me.
A teasing glint flickered in her eyes. "Do I have to buy your number too?"
"If you want to."
Her brows lifted ever so slightly, clearly amused by my answer. "Then I’ll just take it for free."
She raised a hand and gently cupped my cheek.
"Whenever I have some free time, I’ll call you." Her thumb brushed lightly against my skin. "Maybe I’ll even pay you for something else... something we’d both enjoy."
Without another word, she stepped past me.
Only then did my attention drift from her distractingly sexy figure to the back of her left hand, where a mark resembling a shield with a hammer at its center rested.
My expression hardened.
As she reached the door, she glanced back over her shoulder, a knowing look in her eyes as she murmured something only the two of us could hear.
Even after the door closed behind her, I remained staring at it, as though it might somehow answer the question running through my mind.
Who the hell was that woman?
Another figure soon stepped into my peripheral vision.
"What happened?" Aunt Mary asked, leaning forward with a raised brow.
I took a slow breath to steady myself before shaking my head.
"Nothing. She just seemed... strangely familiar."
Aunt Mary nodded as if that answer made perfect sense, then gave me a light shove.
"Hey, want to do something fun?"
Before I could answer, a phone began ringing through the quiet karaoke room.
Aunt Mary glanced at the screen and let out a disappointed sigh.
"Looks like we won’t be getting any alone time."
She tapped her phone, and a notification appeared on mine.
+$600
"I’ll be heading out now," she said, smoothing the hem of her dress. "Whenever you’re free, call your favorite auntie, okay?"
I gave a small nod.
Her face immediately lit up.
"Then I’ll see you later."
With that, she left as well, leaving me alone at last.
After a long moment, I walked over to a chair and collapsed into it.
"That was... fucking exhausting."
I closed my eyes and sat there for a while, enjoying the silence before finally speaking again.
"System, pull up my stats and the System Shop."
Ding!
[Host has reached the $500 threshold required to unlock the System Shop.]
Ding!
[Loading Status Panel...]
[Loading System Shop (Beginner Tier)...]