Luo Tian stared at the glowing screen hovering in front of his eyes.
> [Task complete. +$150 credited to host's account.]
[Balance: $420]
Four hundred and twenty bucks in just two days. For someone who had been surviving on instant noodles and hand-me-down clothes, it was like winning the lottery — except his "lottery" involved shamelessness and risk.
He grinned, leaning back against the headboard of his bed. "System, what's next?"
> [New Optional Task: Escort a VIP. Reward: $500. Penalty: -50 Reputation Points if failed.]
"VIP?" Luo Tian muttered. "Is this some 'bodyguard-for-hire' thing or…"
The System didn't answer — as usual. It just threw the mission into his log with a countdown timer: 6 hours to accept.
He checked the task details and froze. The location was the most expensive club in the city, Velvet Horizon. The kind of place he'd only seen in magazines — where drinks cost more than his rent and the customers were rich enough to buy his entire neighborhood.
Luo Tian rubbed his chin. "Alright, rich people, here I come. If I can handle push-ups for a hundred bucks and hug random joggers for fifty, I can do this."
---
Later That Evening
He had to admit… walking into Velvet Horizon felt like stepping into another world. Crystal chandeliers dripped light across the room, live jazz hummed in the background, and every person looked like they'd stepped out of a fashion ad.
The hostess barely glanced at him before saying, "Sir, this is a members-only establishment. Do you—"
Luo Tian flashed the QR code from the System. She scanned it, and her smile instantly sharpened. "Ah… Mr. Luo. Please, right this way. Your guest is expecting you."
Guest?
When they led him to the VIP booth upstairs, Luo Tian was already bracing for something strange. But nothing prepared him for her.
She was stunning — tall, in a crimson cheongsam with a slit that could start wars, her hair pinned up with silver ornaments. Her eyes were sharp, dangerous, like a predator sizing up prey.
"You're late," she said, her voice low and smooth, like velvet wrapping around a blade.
Luo Tian raised an eyebrow. "Traffic."
She studied him for a long moment… then smiled faintly. "Good. You're not too afraid to lie. That will make this easier."
Before he could ask what "this" was, two bulky men in suits entered the booth. They stood there silently, but their eyes kept darting toward her — and occasionally, toward him, as if measuring whether they could break him in half.
The woman poured herself a drink. "My name is Mei Ruo. Tonight, I need you to walk me out of here in one piece."
"That's it?" Luo Tian asked.
"That's it," she said, sipping her wine. "But the men downstairs will try to stop us. Some might even try to kill us."
Luo Tian blinked. "You're just casually dropping death threats over cocktails?"
Mei Ruo smiled again, this time with a flash of teeth. "Are you scared?"
His heart rate spiked, but he shrugged. "Scared doesn't pay the bills. Let's go."
---
The Walk
It started off simple. They left the booth, descended the grand staircase, and headed for the door. Then the music stopped.
Five men blocked the entrance, all dressed too neatly to be random thugs. One of them, a tall man with a scar running from his temple to his jaw, stepped forward. "She's not leaving."
Mei Ruo's hand brushed Luo Tian's arm — a subtle signal, but enough to make him step in front of her.
"Listen," Luo Tian said, forcing a grin. "I don't know what beef you have with her, but I'm just here to escort her out. How about you step aside and we all go home?"
Scarface smirked. "And if we don't?"
The System chimed in.
> [Hidden Task: Defend VIP. Bonus: +$300 if no injuries.]
Luo Tian's grin widened. "Then I'll have to earn my paycheck the hard way."
The first punch came fast — faster than Luo Tian expected — but adrenaline and desperation made him quicker. He ducked, slammed his shoulder into the guy's chest, and sent him stumbling back into his friends.
One of the suits from Mei Ruo's booth joined in, throwing punches like a trained fighter. Luo Tian wasn't great at fighting, but he was fast, and more importantly, he was stubborn.
Two minutes later, the thugs were groaning on the floor. Luo Tian was panting, his knuckles aching, but he was still standing.
---
Outside the Club
Mei Ruo lit a cigarette, her eyes gleaming in the streetlight. "Not bad," she said. "For someone with no training."
Luo Tian was about to reply when the System chimed:
> [Task complete. +$500 credited. Hidden Task complete. +$300 bonus.]
[Balance: $1,220]
Over a thousand dollars. In less than a week.
Mei Ruo took a drag and exhaled slowly. "Tell me, Luo Tian… have you ever thought about making real money?"
He frowned. "Define 'real.'"
She smiled, but this time, it wasn't just dangerous — it was knowing. "I'm part of something… bigger. You have potential. Strength, quick thinking, and just enough shamelessness. If you're willing to take bigger risks, I can take you somewhere you've never imagined."
Luo Tian hesitated. The System remained silent, as if waiting for him to decide.
He didn't know why, but deep down, he could feel it — whatever she was offering wasn't just about money. This was the first step toward something far larger, something… otherworldly.
And for some reason, that thought didn't scare him.
It excited him.