In college, Daniel had the habit of getting up early to exercise, a routine he kept even after graduation. Living close to Jiangzhou University, he usually jogged on its track each morning.
When he arrived at the playground, there were already a few early risers working out, though not many. Few students could stick to early morning exercise routines, especially since the semester hadn't fully begun yet, so the area was still sparsely populated.
Daniel stretched and warmed up a bit before starting his run around the track. As he ran, his mind wandered to the unusual space he'd visited. If he could open his attribute panel and inventory in real life, could he also use the skills he'd learned there?
Curious, he decided to test his only skill so far—the Identification Skill—on a student running ahead of him.
Name: Rachel.
A sophomore majoring in civil engineering. 21 years old. 186 cm tall. Weighs 160 pounds. A key player on the college basketball team. Hobbies include basketball and dating.
As Daniel activated the Identification Skill, a series of details popped up before him. He also realized that no one else could see the information; it was only visible to him, so there was no worry about revealing his secret.
"Wow, that's a lot of detail," he muttered. The skill gave him comprehensive insights into Rachel's background, interests, and family situation.
Just as he marveled at the usefulness of this skill, a familiar, graceful figure ran past him, carrying a hint of a refreshing fragrance that made him pause.
"It's her!"
Daniel's eyes brightened. He recognized the girl in white sportswear immediately. Nearly every time he came here, he'd catch a glimpse of her. Sometimes, he'd even arrive a bit early just to ensure he'd see her. Despite how often he saw her, they had never spoken; he'd simply admired her from afar during his runs.
All he knew was that she was a student at Jiangzhou University. Driven by curiosity, Daniel used the Identification Skill on her as well.
Name: Sofia.
A junior majoring in economic management. Family is from the imperial capital. Peak bright strength.
"That's it?"
Daniel blinked, taken aback by the difference in the amount of information. Unlike Rachel, this time, the details were minimal. Was it possible that his Identification Skill had failed?
As he puzzled over this, he suddenly noticed that Sofia, who had just passed him, stopped, turned around, and looked directly at him.
Daniel felt a twinge of guilt; after all, using the Identification Skill on someone was essentially a form of invasion. It wasn't exactly polite.
"Wait!"
Just as Daniel was about to continue running and pass by her nonchalantly, Sofia's voice halted him.
He stopped, watching as she walked over, studying him intently. "What did you just do to me?" she asked.
"What?" Daniel looked at her, genuinely confused. He really didn't understand what she meant.
"What did you do behind my back just now?" she asked again, her eyes narrowed.
"I didn't do anything," he replied, feeling a bit awkward. "I just looked at you a couple of times."
"Just that?" Sofia's expression was doubtful, her brows furrowing slightly.
She knew the effect her appearance had; she was used to people looking at her, whether on campus or on the streets. But the gaze she'd felt just now was different, as though someone had seen right through her. Only a few elders she'd met before had such penetrating gazes, and they weren't ordinary people.
But when she looked back, she saw only an ordinary young man around her own age. This left her confused.
"Could I have been mistaken? Or was the intense gaze I sensed really from him?" she wondered. But no one else was around except him, and the next nearest person was at least twenty or thirty meters away.
"Just that," Daniel nodded. He wasn't lying; he really had only looked at her twice, albeit with the added use of his Identification Skill.
Sofia nodded, her expression unreadable as she processed his words. Just as Daniel assumed she was about to leave, she surprised him by asking, "You're not from our school, are you?"
"No, I'm not. I just live nearby," Daniel answered honestly.
But he was curious how she'd figured that out. He'd only graduated a year ago and, in terms of appearance, he didn't look that different from a college student. Some students here actually looked older than he did.
Sofia gave him one last thoughtful look before turning and leaving, leaving Daniel standing there, still slightly baffled.
After a moment, Daniel shrugged it off. He didn't know her personally, though he admired her beauty and the serene grace she carried on the track each morning. While he often noticed her, he'd never considered anything more than a passing glance.