Title: Can You Make Money In The Blink Of An Eye?
2010.
Starmark County, Millbrook Town.
It had been three months since Ryan arrived in this parallel world, a place strikingly similar to his own yet with subtle differences that intrigued him.
Millbrook Town, nestled in the heart of the countryside, seemed to have been engulfed in a relentless heatwave. The sun blazed overhead, casting rippling waves of heat that distorted the air and made the asphalt roads appear as if they were melting underfoot.
Cicadas filled the air with their ceaseless symphony, their chorus rising and falling in sync with the scorching temperatures. For pedestrians navigating the town's streets, the heat was not just uncomfortable but downright oppressive.
In a roadside diner, modestly adorned and offering respite from the sweltering heat outside, Ryan sat behind the cash register. He found himself blinking rapidly, a reflexive action that soon left his eyes feeling sore and his eye sockets tinged with a hint of red.
Yet, amidst the discomfort, Ryan couldn't help but feel astonished...
Could he really make money in the blink of an eye?
The idea seemed almost too fantastical to comprehend.
Rows of data flashed through his mind...
Host: Ryan
Level: LV1
LV1 privilege reward: Earn $0.1 every time you blink
Upgrade experience: 0/10000 (Experience can only be obtained through spending, not earning!)
System store: Not open
Props: [LV1 Privilege Package]*1
Skills: None
Balance: $23.3
...
The $23 was the result of Ryan's quick blinking just moments ago.
Earning a dime per blink...
Ryan's mind raced. For an adult, the average blink lasted about three seconds. That amounted to roughly 20 blinks per minute, excluding 8 hours of sleep, resulting in approximately 19,200 blinks a day.
Rounded down, that's 19,000 blinks!
Ten cents each time!
In other words, Ryan could earn $1,900 a day without lifting a finger.
That's $57,000 a month, $684,000 a year!
Hmm... it didn't seem like much.
To be honest, an annual income of hundreds of thousands didn't have a significant impact on Ryan.
After all, this diner was owned by his family.
Located conveniently near the town entrance with several office buildings nearby, the diner attracted a steady flow of customers.
Moreover, his father, Mark, was a skilled chef who offered fair prices, ensuring good business every day and easily earning hundreds of thousands annually.
Additionally, Ryan's father was quite generous. He usually gave Ryan a lot of pocket money, and there were plenty of holiday bonuses. Therefore, while Ryan was pleased with the system's income potential for the year, he wasn't exactly thrilled.
Of course, this was only the benefit from LV1.
With higher levels, the earnings from each blink would undoubtedly increase, though by how much, Ryan couldn't say.
"Should I upgrade to LV2 first?"
Experience points could only be obtained through spending, and it would cost $10,000 to upgrade to LV2. Ryan had nearly $100,000 saved up, so he wasn't worried about running out of money.
Just as he pondered upgrading to LV2, his mother, Lisa, suddenly voiced her concern from beside him.
"Son, why are your eyes so red? Are you feeling alright?"
At that moment, Ryan's father, Mark, emerged from the kitchen, lighting a cigarette as he asked, "What's going on? Is little Ryan feeling unwell?"
"I'm fine, my eyes were a bit itchy earlier, so I rubbed them a few times," Ryan waved off, fibbing. Seeing Mark smoking, he couldn't resist adding, "Dad, pass me a cigarette!"
Lisa immediately objected, "No!"
"How old are you? Already asking for cigarettes? Why not just ask for trouble? Ryan, it seems you need a lesson. Just wait until I get back home tonight."
Listening to his mother's scolding, Ryan nonchalantly shrugged and turned to Mark.
Mark's personality could be summed up in two words: laid-back.
Indeed, Mark was a laid-back person.
He didn't chase after money, adhering to the principle of having just enough without any excess.
Several opportunities had arisen in the past to expand the diner or open new branches, but Mark had turned them all down. Otherwise, the family's assets would have multiplied several times over by now.
This laid-back attitude greatly influenced Ryan, allowing him to maintain a relatively calm demeanor even after gaining the system and not shouting with excitement.
True to form, Mark didn't disappoint.
After a few moments of thought, Mark pulled out a cigarette and handed it over, saying seriously, "Ryan's growing up and heading to college soon. Smoking a cigarette isn't a big deal. But you're still young, so smoking is bad for your health. Smoke less."
"You smoke so much every day knowing it's bad for your health!" Lisa huffed indignantly.
Clearly, such concerns were typical of women.
Mark was immediately displeased, retorting, "What? This is my only little hobby left, and you want to take it away from me?"
Indeed, Mark could be considered a model of moderation. He didn't gamble, drink excessively, or indulge in wild activities. Smoking was his only hobby.
Seeing Mark play his trump card, Lisa could only sigh and say, "Fine, Mark, just let it go."
Ryan took a small drag on his cigarette, watching his parents bicker with a smile, feeling warm inside.
He felt no pressure. While he wasn't top of his class, he had been accepted to a decent university. The family wasn't wealthy, but they had enough to get by comfortably, with no worries about housing or cars after graduation.
And now, with the system, he was earning even more money every day.
Influenced by Mark's laid-back mentality, Ryan felt content with the idea of living a peaceful life.
Buy a few comfortable houses, pick a couple of favorite cars, travel in his spare time, flirt with girls, and do what he enjoyed.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Ah! The life of the rich is often so simple and boring!"
...
Restaurants were usually busy only at lunch and dinner, with afternoons being slow.
After tidying up the kitchen, Mark went next door to the hardware store to chat with a cigarette in hand. Lisa took over the cash register and counted the bills for lunch.
Ryan found a spot to sit, pretending to look at his phone while secretly checking the system interface, ready to open the privilege package.
"Ding!"
"Congratulations to the host for opening the [LV1 Privileged Gift Pack] and gaining skills."
Ryan glanced at the notification and realized he had received a new item.
[Stock Trading Mastery]: Gain proficiency in stock trading and earn money through reasonable investments. Funds will be deposited directly into your bank account.
A smile tugged at Ryan's lips.
Now, making money in the blink of an eye seemed not only possible but also within reach.
He looked forward to exploring the opportunities this new skill would bring.