This was a one-bedroom rental apartment with all necessary appliances and full internet access, ready for immediate move-in.
Xia Shuyi sat nearby, quietly watching Shen Lang sign the contract, occasionally pointing out where he needed to sign with her delicate fingers and making small talk.
Her tone was no longer as overbearing as before; instead, it had the feeling of a caring older sister.
After signing the contract, Shen Lang carefully reviewed the terms outlined in it.
Xia Shuyi then took Shen Lang around the apartment and the corridor to familiarize him with the surroundings.
After paying the rent, Shen Lang and Xia Shuyi added each other on WeChat.
"That's all for now. I need to pick up my daughter from school," Xia Shuyi said, taking the keys and a copy of the contract. "If you need anything, you can reach out to me on WeChat."
Shen Lang nodded, "Okay, take care, Sister Xia. Thank you."
After getting up, Xia Shuyi gave Shen Lang a thoughtful glance, looking like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Is there anything else, Sister Xia?" Shen Lang asked politely.
"Um..." Xia Shuyi tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, hesitated for a moment, and then shyly and expectantly asked, "Those words you said earlier about beautiful and young—aren't they a bit inappropriate for someone like me?"
Women always care deeply about their looks and age. Xia Shuyi had received compliments about her youth and beauty before. In her social circle, many people praised her, but she knew they often had ulterior motives, mostly aiming for her money or herself.
Shen Lang, however, didn't give off that kind of fawning vibe. Xia Shuyi had clearly seen his nervous expression when he complimented her, a genuine shyness typical of a fresh graduate, so she believed he was sincere.
Shen Lang hadn't expected the landlady to care about what he had said earlier; she had seemed nonchalant at the time. As he hesitated on how to respond, the system prompt appeared again.
1: "Old B, I only said you were young, when did I say you were beautiful? Are your ears failing with age?"
2: "It's true, sister. If you hadn't mentioned your age, I would've thought you were just 27 or 28."
3: "You are really beautiful, sister, and I like your body type—must be very cuddly!"
"It's true, sister. If you hadn't mentioned your age, I would've thought you were just 27 or 28," Shen Lang said sincerely. He added, "And, sister, I'm sure not just me, but your friends also often praise you for looking young and beautiful."
After answering, Shen Lang couldn't help but think how wrong the first and third options were. He couldn't imagine how Xia Shuyi would react to those.
[Ding! Xia Shuyi's favorability towards the host increased by 4 points, currently 10 points. Keep it up!]
"They're just teasing me," Xia Shuyi said, brushing a lock of hair and smiling with a hint of joy in her eyes. "You're probably the only one who genuinely thinks that about this old lady."
"No way, sister. I really think you look young and beautiful, and you have a great figure," Shen Lang replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment rather than the usual social anxiety.
So, this is what it feels like to genuinely make a woman happy...
"You're so sweet," Xia Shuyi laughed. "Well, I have to go now; the school principal keeps messaging me on WeChat."
Xia Shuyi walked away in her high heels, glancing back seductively at Shen Lang as she entered the elevator, making the solo-for-twenty-something Shen Lang breathe heavily.
Indeed, older sisters do have their charm.
After Xia Shuyi left, Shen Lang eagerly closed the door to explore the system.
"System, system!"
"Hello, host. The Love Assistance System is at your service!"
"Your name is so down-to-earth," Shen Lang chuckled, then eagerly asked, "What functions do you have?"
"As the name suggests, this system assists the host with social interactions. Whenever the host encounters tricky social situations, the system will provide response options based on the other party's personality traits. For every correct response that increases the other party's favorability towards the host, the host will receive a cash reward! 1 point of favorability equals a monetary reward! When the other party's favorability reaches 50, the host will receive detailed personal information about them and a mystery box. The mystery box can contain any item the host desires, and another box will be awarded when the favorability reaches 100!"
"1 point of favorability equals 10,000 yuan? So I now have 100,000 yuan in rewards?" Shen Lang asked excitedly, recalling that he had just increased Xia Shuyi's favorability by 10 points.
"The host has indeed received 10 points of favorability from Xia Shuyi, making you eligible for a 100,000 yuan cash reward. Would you like to withdraw?"
"Withdraw, withdraw!" Shen Lang said excitedly. This money came much faster than the hard work of writing, and it improved his social skills!
As soon as he spoke, his phone received a message.
"Your account ending in 6770 has been credited with 100,000 yuan. (CITIC Bank)"
"Chatting for a few minutes and earning a year's salary, this is amazing!" Shen Lang adjusted his glasses, suddenly finding socializing with women not so difficult. Even if it still felt awkward and shy, it was real money.
"System, what if I don't like the other person? Do I still have to increase their favorability?" Shen Lang asked curiously.
"Don't worry, host. For targets you dislike, reducing their favorability can also earn rewards. The system will provide responses to decrease their favorability."
"Good," Shen Lang sighed in relief. He didn't want to try to please everyone; that would be pathetic.