The moment Mu Wanqing opened the first volume of classical Chinese literature, the confidence she had displayed only moments earlier began to crumble.
She stared at the densely printed ancient characters before her, and within minutes, her head began to ache.
Fifteen years.
It had been fifteen whole years since she had last seriously studied these texts.
In her previous life, after leaving school, life had swallowed her whole.
From morning until night, she had worked, survived, worried about money, and endured humiliation.
Ancient poetry, literary analysis, and classical prose had gradually disappeared from her life until they became nothing more than distant fragments of memory.
Now, looking at the pages before her, Mu Wanqing discovered something rather embarrassing.
She could no longer recognize some of the characters.
“…This is going to be troublesome.” She rubbed her forehead.
For the first twenty minutes, she made almost no real progress.
Instead of memorizing poems, she was forced to relearn characters she had once known.
Fortunately, she still remembered how to study.
Mu Wanqing pulled out a dictionary and began working through the material patiently.
Character by character.
Line by line.
She checked unfamiliar words, reviewed their meanings, and slowly reconstructed the knowledge she had lost over fifteen years.
Every few minutes, however, her gaze would drift toward the glowing countdown displayed by System 888.
The numbers continued to decrease without mercy.
Mu Wanqing felt her scalp tingle.
“How am I supposed to finish three years of classical literature in three hours?”
The task was absurd.
But than thinking about the reward her hands immediately became steady again.
With renewed determination, Mu Wanqing lowered her head and continued.
At first, her progress was painfully slow.
She relied heavily on the dictionary and her old study guides.
Every paragraph required careful reading.
Every unfamiliar phrase had to be checked and understood before she could move forward.
Yet gradually, something began to change.
Her speed increased and the information she read no longer disappeared from her mind as quickly as before.
Once she understood a passage, its meaning seemed to settle firmly within her memory.
A line she had read only once could be recalled several minutes later with surprising clarity.
By the time she reached the classical literature from her second year of high school, Mu Wanqing finally realized something.
She no longer needed to consult the dictionary as frequently.
Her mind was beginning to recognize patterns.
She could understand the relationship between certain characters.
She could infer meanings from context.
Some passages that had initially looked like incomprehensible strings of ancient symbols gradually began to make sense.
Mu Wanqing paused in the middle of a poem.
Her eyes widened slightly, “So this is the effect of the Memory Enhancement Potion?”
She had expected an improvement.
But she had not expected it to be this obvious.
The potion had not magically filled her mind with knowledge.
Once she understood something, it stayed with her.
Her mind felt sharper, more focused and strangely efficient.
For the next several hours, the only sounds inside the small bedroom were the rustling of pages, and Mu Wanqing’s quiet voice as she repeated ancient verses beneath her breath.
Time passed quickly.
Mu Wanqing finished another section and immediately moved on to the final collection.
Finally at 00:00:17.
Mu Wanqing reached the final poem.
She read the final line once and closed the book.
As soon as the countdown reached zero, the room was completely silent for several seconds.
Then…
[Analyzing Host’s learning progress…]
System 888’s voice suddenly sounded after three hours of complete silence.
Mu Wanqing immediately sat upright.
The blue panel once again flickered before her eyes.
[Analysis complete.]
[Ding!
Congratulations, Host.
You have successfully completed Mission One.]
Mu Wanqing’s eyes brightened.
Before she could celebrate, another notification appeared.
[Mission Reward: ¥500,000 has been legally transferred to the Host’s registered bank account.
Please check your available balance.]
Mu Wanqing immediately grabbed her phone.
[Bank of China] Your account ending in XXXX received a deposit of RMB 500,000.00 at 11:32PM on May 28.
Your balance after the transaction is RMB 500,030.00.
Please refer to your actual account information for details.
The moment she saw the message, she froze and her eyes suddenly turned red.
For a moment, Mu Wanqing simply stared at the screen.
She still couldn’t believe she now has such an amount in her personal bank account.
Afterall in her privious life, even if she had spent her entire life at that old woman’s noodle Shop, she wouldn’t earn even half of this amount.
The relief and excitement rose in her chest.
She immediately hugged her old phone tightly and took several deep breaths.
“Calm down.” She told herself, “Mu Wanqing, calm down.
It is only five hundred thousand yuan.” Then she looked at the balance again.
A smile immediately appeared on her face, “All right.
Maybe I can be excited for a little while.”
Before she could celebrate further, System 888 spoke again.
[System update initiated.
Initializing update…10%…32%…65%…82%…100%…]
[System 888 has completed its initialization.
All primary functions are now operational.]
[The Virtual Mastery Room has now been permanently activated.
From this moment onward, the Host may use the Virtual Mastery Room for future learning and skill development.]
[Ding!
Host Status Panel activated.]
A much larger panel unfolded before her.
Mu Wanqing stared as the information slowly appeared.
HOST STATUS
Name: Mu Wanqing
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 48 kg
Appearance: 72/100
Intelligence: 72/100
Temperament: Lower-Class Commoner
Current Wealth: ¥500,030
Private Property: None
Marital Status: Unmarried
Special Skills: None
Warehouse Items: None
Mu Wanqing’s expression immediately changed as she read through the panal.
Her eyes slowly narrowed, “…What did you just call me?”
Mu Wanqing pointed at the screen, “What exactly do you mean by ‘Lower-Class Commoner’?” Her voice rose.
“And another thing.” She pointed at the number beside her appearance rating, “Seventy-two?” Mu Wanqing immediately stood up.
She walked toward the small broken mirror hanging beside her bed.
The mirror was old, with a crack running through one corner, but it was enough for her to see her reflection clearly.
She leaned closer, then looked at herself carefully.
Her long dark hair was still somewhat messy from the events of the day, and her face was bare.
Even so, her features were exquisite.
Her skin was naturally pale and clear.
Her brows were delicate and finely shaped.
Her eyes were large and luminous, with an almost crystalline clarity that became particularly striking when she was angry.
Mu Wanqing stared at herself.
Then she turned toward the floating panel, “You gave this face seventy-two points?
This is a face that appears once in a generation.
Do you understand?
Even if I have nothing else worth boasting about, I can still boast about this face.
No one can deny that.
I insist that you reevaluate me.”
[Host…
The System evaluates individuals according to the Universal Standard.]
Mu Wanqing frowned, “What universal standard?”
[The highest standard established by the System’s civilization.
According to ordinary human standards, the Host’s appearance is indeed exceptional.
However, there is still considerable room for improvement.
True beauty is not determined solely by facial features.
Appearance includes physical health, posture, grooming, skin condition, body management, elegance, personal refinement, and overall presentation.
Furthermore, true beauty is closely connected to temperament.
A person’s presence, knowledge, confidence, education, artistic ability, manners, and personal accomplishments all influence how they are perceived.]
Mu Wanqing slowly lowered her hand.
System 888 added the final blow.
[A beautiful face alone is not enough to create a truly exceptional woman.]
Mu Wanqing stared at the panel.
For once, she could not immediately argue.
Because, annoyingly, it made sense.
Then her eyes fell upon another line.
Her face darkened again, “All right, I can accept the appearance rating for now.
But what about this?
A Lower-Class Commoner?”
System 888 immediately replied.
[Nothing is wrong with being a commoner, Host.
However, the Host’s current temperament is undeniably that of someone who has spent her entire life struggling for survival.
The Host is defensive, cautious, easily provoked, and accustomed to suppressing her true emotions.
You are constantly prepared to fight for what belongs to you.
There is nothing shameful about that.
You survived.
But the purpose of this system is not to mock the Host’s origins.
The purpose of System 888 is to help you transcend them.
You may have spent your life struggling as an ordinary person.
But in this life, you will have the opportunity to learn, grow and acquire knowledge, wealth, skills, refinement, and confidence.]
Then System 888 returned to its usual confident tone.
[Continue working hard, Host.
One day, you will no longer be described as a Lower-Class Commoner.
You will become a woman worthy of standing at the highest level of society.]
[Target: Supreme Aristocratic Heiress.]
Mu Wanqing stared at those words.
Then, slowly, the corners of her lips rose, “Supreme Aristocratic Heiress?”
[Correct.]
Mu Wanqing finally took a step back, “Fine.
I will work hard.” She paused for a moment before asking, “But tell me something first.
How exactly am I supposed to improve myself?”
System 888 immediately responded.
[Host, the purpose of this system is to cultivate you.
I will assist you in learning different skills, improving your knowledge, refining your temperament, and gradually enhancing your overall presence.
The Host may choose the skills she wishes to learn.
However, every skill must be developed progressively.]
A new panel appeared before her.
[Every skill has four major milestones.
Novice — 10%, Proficient — 25%, Master — 50% and Grandmaster — 80% and above]
Mu Wanqing raised an eyebrow, “Only eighty percent is considered Grandmaster?”
[Theoretically, yes.
At the Grandmaster level, the Host will have surpassed the vast majority of people in that field.]
Mu Wanqing nodded thoughtfully, that sounded reasonable.
System 888 continued.
[Whenever the Host reaches a milestone in a skill, the System will issue an appropriate reward.
The Host must reach at least the Proficient level in a each skill before she can consider that learning task completed and begin another learning task.
After reaching Proficient, the Host may decide whether to continue developing the skill toward Master or Grandmaster level.]
Mu Wanqing immediately understood, “So I don’t have to become a master of everything?”
[Correct.
The Host may choose to stop at Proficient if she believes further advancement is unnecessary.]
A faint smile appeared on Wanqing’s lips.
That was quite convenient.
However, System 888 quickly added another condition.
[Naturally, this does not apply to every skill.
Certain skills will be designated as Mandatory Mastery Skills.
For those skills, the Host must continue learning until the required level is reached.
The System will inform the Host whenever such a requirement is triggered.]
[The Virtual Mastery Room is one of the most important functions available to the Host.
Within the Virtual Mastery Room, the Host can study, practice, rest, and even engage in recreational activities.
Most importantly, the flow of time within the Virtual Mastery Room can be adjusted according to the Host’s requirements.
For example, if the Host spends one hour in the real world, the System can allow the Host to experience several hours, or even longer, within the Virtual Mastery Room.]
That was practically cheating.
With such an ability, she could study for days while only a few hours passed outside.
[Furthermore, each skill category contains the knowledge inheritance of the most outstanding masters from that particular field.
The Host can receive one-on-one instruction from these masters.
Therefore, the Host should make full use of this opportunity.]
Mu Wanqing frowned, “Wait, I cannot simply disappear from the real world whenever I enter this Virtual Mastery Room, right?
What if someone discovers that I have disappeared for several hours?
They will think I am some kind of ghost.”
Her imagination became increasingly outrageous, “And what if someone catches me while I do that and sends me to some laboratory?
What if they think I am some strange human experiment and decide to cut me open and study me?”
There was a brief silence.
Then System 888 replied in an unusually patient tone.
[Host, please do not worry.
The Host will not physically enter the Virtual Mastery Room.
Only the Host’s consciousness will enter the virtual space.
Her physical body will remain in the real world and will simply enter a natural state of sleep.]
Mu Wanqing nodded slowly, “That sounds much safer.”
[Furthermore, the Host will retain a certain degree of awareness of her surroundings.
If someone approaches the Host, attempts to wake her, or if an unusual situation occurs around her physical body, the Host will be able to sense it.]
Mu Wanqing thought for a moment before asking another question, “So there will not be any specific tasks?”
System 888 immediately responded.
[There will be other missions than learning mission.
the Host will receive them in real-time, from time to time.]
Mu Wanqing tilted her head, “What kind?”
[The purpose of real-time missions is to test the Host’s abilities in actual situations.
Learning a skill inside the Virtual Mastery Room is only the beginning.
The Host must eventually apply those skills in the real world.
Therefore, certain missions will require the Host to use her knowledge, judgment, social abilities, practical skills, or other acquired abilities in real-life situations.]
Mu Wanqing nodded, “And the rewards?” Her eyes immediately became brighter, “What will you give me?
Will there be money?”
[The rewards will be randomly triggered.
]
Mu Wanqing wasn’t depressed with that answer.
Infact she smiled excitedly.
Her first mission had already given her five hundred thousand yuan.
Now that System 888 had finally completed its initialization and all of its functions had been activated, who knew what kind of rewards would appear in the future?
Perhaps one day it would be ten million yuan, or even billion Yuan.
The possibilities were endless.
Mu Wanqing’s imagination immediately began running wild.
She could almost see stacks of money flowing toward her like a river.
Her eyes shone and she clenched her fists excitedly, “This system is not bad at all.”
She jumped lightly from her bed.
Then, as though she had suddenly remembered something extremely important, she turned toward the floating panel.
“System, What will my first learning mission be?”
System 888 fell silent for a moment before…
[Ding!
First Learning Mission has been triggered.]
Mu Wanqing immediately became attentive.
[A person who wishes to stand at the pinnacle of society cannot possess merely wealth and beauty.
Education determines far more than a person’s academic qualifications.
It shapes one’s knowledge, judgment, vision, and understanding of the world.
Education is not merely a means of changing one’s future.
It is the foundation upon which true status is built.]
[Mandatory Grandmaster-Level Mission Triggered.
Mission Objective: Achieve the best possible result in the College Entrance Examination and successfully gain admission to one of the most prestigious institutions in the country.]
[Reward: Rewards will be issued at every milestone.]
[Grand Reward: Upon successful completion of the mission, a Grand Reward will be triggered.]
Mu Wanqing’s eyes widened.
She stared at the mission panel in disbelief.
“What?” Her voice rose, “I have to take the college entrance examination this year?” She nearly jumped out of her skin.
“System, are you joking?
I had already decided to skip this year and prepare properly for next year!” Her face became bitter, “There are only ten days left!”
What can she prepare within just 10 days?
Countless students spent years preparing for it.
Some studied until midnight every day.
Others attended additional classes during weekends and holidays.
Their entire high-school lives were often built around those few examination papers.
And System 888 wanted her to achieve the best possible result with only ten days remaining.
That was simply unreasonable, “I cannot possibly prepare everything in ten days.”
System 888 responded calmly.
[Host has already consumed the Memory Enhancement Potion.
Furthermore, ten days is more than sufficient for the Host to prepare under the System’s assistance.
The Host possesses access to the finest instructors available through the System.
The Host also possesses the Virtual Mastery Room, where the flow of time can be significantly accelerated.
The Host can therefore complete a far greater amount of study within ten days than would normally be possible.]
Mu Wanqing’s eyes slowly brightened.
That was right, she had almost forgotten.
Ten days in the real world did not necessarily mean ten days inside the virtual room.
If she could spend far longer inside the Virtual Mastery Room, then perhaps, she actually had a chance.
However, the relief lasted only a few seconds.
Another problem immediately surfaced in her mind.
Mu Wanqing’s expression became serious.
Even if she could prepare for the collage entrance examination, where was she supposed to study?
She could not remain in this house.
Not after what had happened tonight.
Mu Qinglan and Shen Yucheng had already begun plotting against her.
After tonight’s failure, they would undoubtedly become even more lunatic.
People like them did not simply swallow a loss.
They would find more ways.
Leaving the house was also not a simple solution.
Mu Wanqing looked toward the closed bedroom door.
If she suddenly disappeared, what would happen to the this house?
She could not make the same mistake twice.
Most importantly, Mu Qinglan and Shen Yucheng were still her legal guardians.
As long as that remained the case, they had a way to drag her back.
If she ran away without making proper arrangements, she might only be walking straight into another trap.
She was completely trapped now, and couldn’t see a clear path at all.