The skewers on the grill were completely cooked, and Wu Wei picked up a lamb skewer, savoring it with relish.
It had to be said, the taste was really good.
It had a flavor all its own.
As Wu Wei ate, he opened his social media feed.
The status he had posted earlier already had quite a few likes and comments.
Wu Wei glanced through them, his gaze lingering on one comment in particular.
Sun Yi: "Looks like there are still a lot of people."
Wu Wei couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart, followed by a spark of excitement in his eyes.
Every man has an unforgettable 'White Moonlight' in his heart.
And Sun Yi was his 'White Moonlight'.
In junior high, because of a class reshuffle, the two became classmates and desk mates for most of the semester.
Not only did Sun Yi have excellent academic performance, consistently ranking in the top ten of her grade in every monthly exam, but she was also remarkably beautiful.
As they spent each day together, their relationship grew increasingly close, to the point where there was virtually nothing they couldn't talk about.
Wu Wei, who was experiencing the first stirrings of young love, gradually fell for this innocent and adorable girl.
However, as a student and child respected by teachers and parents, he had no thoughts of "early romance" in his mind.
Furthermore, not being sure of the other's feelings, he didn't dare confess, so he kept his feelings buried deep in his heart.
Latter, though both were admitted to the best high school in the county, they drifted apart as they were not in the same class.
But Wu Wei's affection for her didn't diminish because of this.
A casual meeting in the campus, walking together for a while, exchanging a few words—all were enough to make his day.
He planned to confess his feelings to her after the college entrance exam. If she agreed, they would be together; if not, he would pursue her until she did.
However, disaster struck in the second semester of their senior year.
His parents and brother were in a car accident while working in Jiangnan Province, and none of them survived.
The once happy family of four was suddenly reduced to just him.
This devastating blow caused his grades to plummet.
In the end, he only managed to get into the ordinary second-tier Weicheng College.
Meanwhile, Sun Yi was admitted to the prestigious Qilu University, where she pursued a direct doctoral program in medicine; upon graduation, she would be a doctor.
This vast disparity made Wu Wei feel very inferior, and he could never bring himself to confess his love.
After starting college, he still couldn't get her out of his mind.
So, even though he was good-looking and had many female classmates interested in him, he never dated.
Because he always unconsciously compared those girls with Sun Yi, and then, there was no 'then'.
So, it is true what they say: one should never meet someone too stunning in their youth!
After graduating from college, Wu Wei left Weicheng to work in the second provincial capital of his home province, Nanjin City.
Learning that Sun Yi would continue her studies at Qilu University for another four years and that she did not have a boyfriend rekindled hope in his heart and filled him with drive.
He wanted to take advantage of those four years to work hard, earn money, and become a rich man!
That way, he could use his wealth to bridge the gap between him and Sun Yi and confidently stand before her to express his feelings.
However, for a second-tier college graduate alone in a big city, simply surviving was already a full effort.
The idea of making a fortune was nothing short of a fool's dream!
So, after being brutally beaten down by society time and again, he bitterly abandoned this unrealistic fantasy.
He also completely gave up on all thoughts of Sun Yi...
But now, everything was different!
He had the system, and he really had money!
Thus, the desires and aspirations he had suppressed in his heart surged forth once again...
"Sun Yi's attractiveness is definitely above 80 points!"
As Wu Wei thought this, he clicked into her social media feed.
After finding a picture, he started the scan.
Name: Sun Yi
Age: 25
Attractiveness: 82
Body: 85
Dual cultivation partners: 0
Her attractiveness really was above 80 points!
And, the number of dual cultivation partners was actually 0!
Wu Wei, overjoyed upon seeing Sun Yi's information, couldn't believe it!
After all these years, she was still a virgin!
This was a truly pleasant surprise!
You see, out of all the women he had scanned, nearly all somewhat attractive ones had dual cultivation experience.
Indeed, she was worthy of being his 'White Moonlight'!
Wu Wei exited Sun Yi's social media feed and returned to his own status, replying:
"Yeah, there are quite a few people. Only now got to eat."
After replying, Wu Wei opened his camera and took a picture of the barbecue on the table.
Then he opened his chat with her.
Their last conversation had been three years ago when he had reached out to express concern for her during her residency training at the hospital during a special period.
After that, they never talked again.
Their only interactions were the occasional likes and comments on their social media profiles.
Wu Wei sent the picture he had just taken.
Then he waited for a reply, somewhat anxious, his heart suddenly starting to thump wildly.
[You're trying to make me jealous, aren't you?]
Sun Yi's message arrived shortly after.
Reading this text, Wu Wei couldn't help but smile. Her tone was the same as before, unchanged.
He immediately felt much more relaxed and replied right away: [Hahaha, yeah [grin]]
Sun Yi: [It looks really good. How is it, tasty?]
Wu Wei: [Definitely delicious. Otherwise, how could I make you jealous [smirk]]
Sun Yi: [Ahhhh [frustrated][frustrated]]
Sun Yi: [I just got back to the dorm, and my takeout won't arrive for another half an hour. I'm starving to death [bitter][bitter]]
Back to the dorm?
Wu Wei frowned in confusion.
Sun Yi was in an eight-year program. She should have graduated in the first half of this year, so why was she still living in the dorm?
Wu Wei thought for a moment, then typed: [Are you still in Jicheng?]
Sun Yi: [Yeah.]
Wu Wei was delighted.
Jicheng was right next to Zibo, just half an hour away by high-speed rail!
Sun Yi: [I've been so fed up with it. I was supposed to leave this year, but I had to do a resit and now I must stay another year [sigh]]
So she had to do a resit. No wonder she was still living in the dorm.
But that was to be expected. Getting a PhD was incredibly challenging, and most students couldn't graduate on time. Delays were all too common.
Wu Wei: [Do you dislike Jicheng that much? I think it's pretty nice.]
Sun Yi: [It's not that I dislike Jicheng, but I just don't want to study anymore. It's too hard to endure.]
Sun Yi: [I've been depressed for several years now, and I can hardly take it anymore.]
Sun Yi: [Studying medicine was a wrong decision, and pursuing a PhD is like having your head, already filled with water, squeezed by a door.]
Reading this series of messages, Wu Wei felt somewhat surprised.
Although Sun Yi looked cute, her inner strength was actually very strong.
The fact that she was sharing these feelings with him meant that she was facing significant difficulties and setbacks in her studies.
Wu Wei: [Medicine indeed is tough. You're amazing to have made it to PhD already!]
Sun Yi: [Not amazing at all. If I were, I wouldn't have been so depressed and wouldn't have had to do a resit.]
Sun Yi: [I really don't want to continue. Even after graduating, work won't be easy. This isn't the life I want, but I can't just not study after coming this far.]
Reading her words, Wu Wei felt a pang in his heart.
He hadn't realized the hardships she had faced over the years; her social media profile revealed none of it.
However, for him, this was good news.
If she was having difficulties, the effort it would take to spend money and increase her favor towards him would be much less.
Wu Wei immediately replied:
[Don't be down. I'll come to Jicheng tomorrow. Let's have fun for a day, relax and be happy.]
[Tomorrow is Saturday, so you should have time, right?]
Sun Yi: [Sure, we also haven't seen each other in a long time, four or five years, right?]
Wu Wei: [Yeah, over five years. The last time we met was during the winter break of our junior year.]
Sun Yi: [Then let's meet tomorrow at 11 am at Quancheng Square. I'll treat you to lunch [grin]]
Sun Yi: [But I've been really poor lately since my resit means no salary, and my supervisor pays me so little. I can't afford anything expensive, so don't look down on me.]
Poor?
Poor is good!
When she's poor, that's when it's easier for me to spend money!
But still, he had to test whether the funds in the system account could be used.
Although he trusted the system, he needed to test it to be sure.
Wu Wei considered it for a moment and replied:
[Haha, you're still studying, I can't let you pay.]
[You're familiar with Jicheng, you can be my tour guide tomorrow, and leave everything else to me!]
He then immediately clicked on the red envelope, entered the maximum amount of 200.
He left a message: [This is for a milk tea, consider it a fee for being my guide tomorrow.]
After inserting money into the red envelope and choosing to pay with the system's bank card, he sent it.
The system account immediately showed an expenditure of 200, with a current balance of 9800.
Meanwhile, the balance in WeChat wallet and salary card remained unchanged.
Seeing all of this, Wu Wei finally felt a weight off his shoulders.
Now, he could finally spend money confidently and without worry!
Sun Yi: [It's not hard work, and I don't need a fee, but since you're treating me to a milk tea, I won't be shy, hehe.]
The next second, Sun Yi accepted the red envelope.
A few seconds later, she sent him a red envelope in return.
Sun Yi: [Milk tea doesn't cost that much. 20 yuan is more than enough; I'm refunding you the rest.]
Looking at this message, Wu Wei smiled knowingly.
The reason he chose to send her a red envelope of 200 yuan, instead of transferring a large sum, was because he knew Sun Yi well enough that she wouldn't accept too much money.
It would only make their relationship awkward and counterproductive.
But he hadn't expected that even then, she would still insist on returning most of it to him.
It had to be said, in this respect, Sun Yi was worlds apart from Liu Lili.
Wu Wei: [Okay, see you tomorrow!]
Wu Wei didn't quibble over it. After all, it was only a bit more than a hundred yuan.
What he was planning to spend on her later on would be far more than that, much, much more!