Chapter 3: Unite All Forces That Can Be United
"Alright, Mr. Gu, my tutor has given me a bottom line of 3%. You really know how to make an offer!"
Qin Feifei didn't argue much. After all, Gu Ziming's stance was firm.
Liu Xiaoxiang had already mentioned to her that if she could get 5%, she should push for it. If not, 3% would be the lowest acceptable offer.
Once the business terms were settled, the tense atmosphere in the private room began to relax.
"Miss Qin, Professor Liu has spoken highly of you, mentioning that you're very talented in chemistry, especially organic chemistry."
Gu Ziming casually remarked as he continued eating.
Qin Feifei was a little surprised. "Did the professor mention me to you?"
She smiled shyly and added, "It's all thanks to the teacher's excellent guidance."
Although Liu Xiaoxiang never directly praised Qin Feifei in front of Gu Ziming, he had quietly recognized her talents. The plot in the original story involved Qin Feifei using some materials to help Lin Fan and his family, even though, from the protagonist's perspective, it was more like she was just taking over his house.
"I studied under Professor Liu for a while, so it looks like I'm your senior brother," Gu Ziming continued.
"Really? Mr. Gu, you're also a student of Donghai University?" Qin Feifei asked, her curiosity piqued as her eyes sparkled with interest.
Donghai University was the most prestigious university in Qin Province, and Donghai City itself was famous for its scenic beauty—a towering hundred-meter cliff overlooking the sea.
Gu Ziming smiled. "I only spent some time in Professor Liu's lab, but I didn't attend Donghai University. If you don't mind, feel free to call me Senior Brother Gu."
"Of course, I don't mind! Since you studied under Professor Liu, I'm honored," Qin Feifei replied with a smile, nodding in agreement.
The atmosphere became more relaxed after that, and the two of them chatted while eating. Qin Feifei shared funny stories from school, occasionally complaining about various professors.
Gu Ziming quietly listened, offering the occasional comment, as their rapport deepened.
After the meal, Gu Ziming asked her to take the remaining food with her as a midnight snack for her roommates and personally saw her off to the school gate.
Watching Qin Feifei walk through the school gates, Gu Ziming opened his villain system interface.
---
[Name: Qin Feifei]
Identity Camp: Neutral (Original Female Protagonist)
Favorability: 30 (Acquaintance)
Main Ability: Advanced Chemistry]
Favorability Scale:
0 – Stranger
30 – Acquaintance
60 – Friend
90 – Lover/Relative
100 – Eternal Love
Negative numbers – Antagonism
---
Gu Ziming reviewed the day's events and felt pleased. He had avoided conflict with the protagonist early on, secured the patent for special graphene, and established a connection with the original female protagonist, Qin Feifei. Every step had been carefully calculated.
If he had confronted the protagonist too soon, it would have been difficult to defeat Lin Fan with his current strength. Recklessness could easily alert the enemy and throw off Lin Fan's future plans.
The graphene patent was essential for future development and personal security.
As for Qin Feifei, her involvement served two purposes: limiting the protagonist's luck and satisfying his personal desires. Ahem. It's all about balancing everything, after all!
---
Back at the dormitory.
Qin Feifei returned with a few bags of food, the delicious scent wafting through the air.
Her roommates were already there, and upon seeing the food, they erupted in excitement.
"Did you remember us after your date today?"
"Feifei, you're the best, you didn't forget us in the name of romance!"
"I'm starving—did an angel come to save me?"
Although the relationships in the dorm were a bit complicated, Qin Feifei had a good rapport with her roommates, and they often joked around when there was nothing else to do.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she hurried to explain. "It's not what you think, I was helping my teacher with business negotiations. These are leftovers from the dinner, and I brought them back for you. Feel free to eat, don't worry about calories."
"Haha, we misunderstood! Let's see what leftovers you brought back!" Several roommates eagerly gathered around.
They immediately dug in, laughing and enjoying the late-night snack. Qin Feifei couldn't help but smile as she watched them, shaking her head in amusement.
She still thought of Gu Ziming as a good person, someone she could be friends with, but romance or dating seemed far off.
---
[Ding! The host has altered the heroine's perception of the villain. Luck +120]
Gu Ziming paused as the system prompt appeared.
It was odd. He had kept his distance from Qin Feifei, hadn't done anything special, yet the luck points had increased?
He soon realized the mechanism behind the system.
There were two ways to gain luck: by diminishing the protagonist's luck or increasing your own.
Weaken the protagonist's luck, and you gain points. Align yourself with characters from the protagonist's camp, and you also gain luck.
Gu Ziming reflected, as he considered the future.
In apocalyptic stories, the protagonist is typically a male lead, but the supporting roles often include female characters—just like Lin Fan's many encounters.
It was fine in the early stages when the protagonist focused on hoarding supplies, but as time went on, the collection of allies expanded. From goddess neighbors to school beauties, there was no shortage of potential relationships.
Gu Ziming thought, Don't blame me for being ruthless when the time comes.
His motto, especially now that he had traveled through time, was clear: "Unite all forces that can be united. Make more friends, fewer enemies."
---
The following morning.
Gu Ziming woke up early.
Today was crucial to the original storyline: the 200 million lottery was about to be drawn, and the deadline for purchasing tickets was noon.
In the original plot, this lottery ticket was key to the protagonist's success. After his rebirth, Lin Fan bought the winning ticket, which allowed him to obtain essential supplies for the apocalyptic world.
Gu Ziming had to ensure that the lottery wouldn't solely benefit Lin Fan. This prize money was a strategic asset.
At 6 a.m., he left for the neighboring city, where he knew a lottery shop awaited.
He used 10 system points to buy a disguise mask, effectively altering his appearance. He entered the shop with a hoarse voice, blending in with his new persona.
"Boss, I'll take 20,000 of these five consecutive numbers," Gu Ziming said, handing the shop owner a note.
He repeated the purchase at several other shops, spreading out the bets. In total, he bought 100,000 tickets with the number Lin Fan would eventually win, ensuring that he would take a substantial portion of the prize money should the numbers be drawn.
At noon, the deadline passed, and everything was set.
---
That evening, Lin Fan sat at home, waiting for the lottery results.
With just 15 minutes remaining until the draw, Lin Fan, freshly showered, sat on his couch, his eyes glued to the computer screen.
The seconds ticked by slowly. As the numbers rolled in, Lin Fan's heartbeat quickened.
It was 9:15 p.m. when the final number flashed on the screen.
He won!!!
Lin Fan couldn't contain his excitement and shouted in disbelief, his veins bulging with emotion.
Author: I have already written 100 chapter for this novel. I will publish it all based on the readers response. So lemme know if you want more free chapters.