Joshua Lim stood before the worn-down apartment building, his heart pounding. Tonight was supposed to be perfect.
He clutched a small velvet box in his hand. Inside was a delicate silver bracelet, a gift for his girlfriend, Xiao Rou. He had spent months working four part-time jobs just to afford it.
Three years together.
She was his everything.
But as he raised his hand to knock, laughter—a deep, unfamiliar voice—echoed from inside.
His heart skipped a beat.
Slowly, he pushed the door open.
The scene inside shattered him.
Xiao Rou sat closely beside another man, her eyes shimmering with admiration. The man, effortlessly confident, wore a custom-tailored suit and an exquisite Rolex—the kind of wealth Joshua could never dream of having.
Xiao Rou's smile faded when she saw Joshua.
For a second, a flicker of guilt crossed her face—but then her expression turned cold.
"Joshua," she said, her voice unreadable. "You shouldn't be here."
Joshua's heart pounded. "Who is he?"
The man smirked, his posture relaxed as he ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair. "Li Wei," he said smoothly. "And you are…?"
Joshua's breath caught. He knew that name.
Li Wei was a rising businessman from a powerful family, known for his wealth and influence.
Xiao Rou exhaled as if she was tired of explaining. "Joshua, I was going to tell you… but I didn't know how."
"Tell me what?" His voice was hoarse.
She stood, moving closer to Li Wei. "We're over."
Joshua felt like the ground had disappeared beneath him.
Li Wei chuckled, placing a possessive hand on her waist. "You heard her. Be smart—move on."
Xiao Rou hesitated for a brief moment before adding softly, "Li Wei can offer me the life I deserve."
Her words cut deeper than any blade.
Joshua stood frozen, his mind refusing to accept what was happening.
Li Wei guided her out the door, leaving Joshua standing alone in the silence—the silver bracelet slipping from his fingers, hitting the floor with a soft thud.
THE SYSTEM THAT WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING
Hours later.
Joshua sat alone on a park bench, the distant glow of the city reflecting the emptiness in his chest.
People walked past him, laughing, chatting—living their lives, completely oblivious to his heartbreak.
His fists clenched. Was he really that worthless?
Then—something impossible happened.
A soft chime echoed in his ears, and suddenly, a translucent screen appeared before him.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Congratulations, Joshua Lin. You have been selected.
Mission: Increase the favorability of selected individuals. Expand your influence and claim your rewards.
Rewards: Wealth, power, and exclusive system perks.
Failure: The system will abandon you.
Joshua stared at the floating text.
Was this… some kind of cruel joke?
Then, a new notification popped up.
[NEW ITEM ACQUIRED: BLACK DIAMOND VIP CARD]
— Unlimited credit.
— No spending limits.
— Only 40 in existence worldwide.
A sleek black card materialized in his hand—cool to the touch, its engraved platinum numbers gleaming under the park's dim lighting.
Joshua's mind raced.
Xiao Rou had chosen wealth over him.
Fine.
If the world only valued money and power, then he'd become someone even Li Wei couldn't compare to.
As the first light of dawn pierced the horizon, Joshua stood up—the weight in his chest replaced with something far more potent.
Determination.
The world had shifted. And this time, he would be the one holding all the cards.
SYSTEM UPDATE
Favorability Points: N/A
Rewards: Black Diamond VIP Card
Next Objective: Engage with potential individuals to increase favorability.
System Note: Rewards will be dispensed upon favorability milestones and quest completions.
Joshua smirked. The game had begun.