June 9th, 2025.
The first day after the college entrance exam.
Graduating class 10, Jiangzhou First High School, Teacher Appreciation Banquet.
"Xu Lin, let's drink!"
Sun Tao handed a bottle of Eastroc Super Drink to Xu Lin.
Xu Lin took a glance.
[A regular energy drink.]
This was the text floating above the Eastroc Super Drink bottle, visible only to Xu Lin.
Xu Lin was an ordinary man
He had no money, no success, no love—only endless overtime, instant noodles, and regret. Regret for the chances he didn't take, the dreams he didn't chase, and the life he never lived.
Until one night, while crossing the street after another exhausting day of work, a speeding truck ended his life.
But when Xu Lin opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the past—twenty years before everything went wrong.
When he woke up, his world had a few extra things.
Cheat skills?
"System?"
___
[Life Experience Game System at your service.]
[System Purpose: To assist the Host in experiencing a rich and fulfilling life.]
[World Type: Highly Free World – Real World Mode.]
[In this world, the Host is free to choose any life path: Wealth, Career, Romance, Fame, Power, or Leisure.]
[The System will provide guidance, missions, and rewards to help the Host achieve the life they desire.]
[Host Life Protection Protocol is active. The System will ensure the Host does not die prematurely.]
[Please enjoy your new life, Host.]
[Name: Xu Lin]
Age: 17
Wealth: 1,328.24 yuan
Reputation: None
Status: None
Skills: None (for now, but ready to learn and grow)
Items: None
Physical Fitness: Exceptional — strong, agile, and remarkably resilient.
Charm: 99.4/100 — A striking and androgynous allure that captivates effortlessly; both men and women find it difficult to discern gender, drawn instead to the sheer magnetism and beauty.
Intelligence: 70/100 – (Average)
Overall Evaluation: Aside from an exceptional physique, piercing looks, and natural charisma, nothing else stands out as extraordinary.]
___
Lin thought he was merely confused from staying up too late, which was why he was seeing things.
But it was real.
Incredibly real.
"Unbelievable."
This world was exactly the same as his previous life—same cities, same cars, same aircraft, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. On the surface, he would still be that same loser, even with memories of the future etched into his mind. But this time was different. With the guidance of the System, every weakness, every missed opportunity, every regret could be rewritten… and his life could finally change.
Everyone he knew—his family, his friends, and all the people from his past—remained unchanged. Only he was different: reborn, carrying memories of the future, and given a chance to reshape his own fate.
Xu Lin was at the Teacher Appreciation Banquet when his friend Sun Tao handed him a can of Eastroc Super Drink. He glanced at it briefly and opened it, the cold fizz hissing softly as he took a sip.
Xu Lin's high school grades were far from impressive. In his key high school, which boasted a 95.6% university admission rate, he ranked near the bottom of his class. Most of the time, his scores were only enough for second-tier universities, and occasionally he barely scraped into the first-tier range.
Of course, Xu Lin knew he was headed for a second-tier, and that seemed beyond doubt.
Gulp...
Xu Lin downed the whole Eastroc Super Drink bottle in no time.
[You drank a bottle of energy drink, energy +2.]
[Energy (80/100): Energized.]
"Energy +2… doesn't feel any different, does it?"
Xu Lin tried speaking to the System, but there was no response. He frowned, thinking it over. Maybe that's just how it's programmed.
"Xu Lin, Li Yue is here!"
At this moment, Sun Tao nudged Xu Lin's shoulder.
The two of them sat side by side at a long table, surrounded by their classmates, in a private banquet hall of the hotel. Soft lighting cast a warm glow over the polished table, and the murmur of conversation and clinking glasses filled the air.
When Xu Lin followed Sun Tao's gesture, his eyes fell on a tall girl entering the room.
She had an oval face, delicate willow-like eyebrows, and a calm, slightly distant expression. Stunningly beautiful, she carried a quiet charm, like a solitary orchid hidden deep in a valley—elegant, refined, and seemingly untouchable.
Li Yue stood barefoot at 1.75 meters, striking and graceful. She naturally drew attention, making not only the girls feel a little inferior but also many of the boys pause in admiration.
Her figure was exceptional, one of the most beautiful girls in the entire school. As she entered, nearly every eye in the room turned toward her.
"Xu Lin, it's my first time seeing Li Yue in anything other than her school uniform!"
Xu Lin simply nodded, taking in her outfit: a short-sleeve top paired with gray tie-dye jeans. She looked vibrant and youthful, her exquisite profile, fair swan-like neck, and elegant collarbones only adding to her presence.
She was, without a doubt, a true goddess.
The boys in the class couldn't take their eyes off her. Many other girls were also stunning, having dressed up for the banquet now that the college entrance exams were over, but Li Yue's natural charm made her stand out. The room buzzed with admiration, and the boys felt dizzy from the display of beauty.
After Li Yue arrived, all the boys' attention was instantly on her.
Tall, beautiful, with an enviable figure—and a top student to boot.
No one could understand how such a perfect girl existed, or find the words to describe her.
Even when compared to other top female students in the class, Li Yue stood apart. Beauty and brains rarely came together, yet she effortlessly broke that rule.
As she moved through the room, she greeted everyone politely while her eyes casually scanned the crowd.
In his past life, Li Yue was a top student—beautiful, intelligent, and elegant—always admired from afar, excelling in school and later in a prestigious career, yet never noticing Xu Lin, who had always been an ordinary classmate in her eyes.
As she scanned the crowd, Li Yue noticed a vacant seat at the front of the long table. But her eyes immediately caught the man sitting next to it—a man with black hair, a sharp-but-not-striking face, an average build, and a black suit. The empty seat beside him seemed deliberately reserved for her, as if carefully arranged in advance.
The man's name was Han Bo. He came from a successful family and ranked second in the class, just behind Li Yue. Unlike Xu Lin, who languished near the bottom, Han Bo had all the advantages—wealth, status, and academic talent. Yet despite this, he could not compare to Xu Lin's striking, androgynous allure. Xu Lin's presence captivated effortlessly; both men and women found it difficult to discern his gender, drawn instead to the sheer magnetism and beauty he radiated.
The first time Han Bo laid eyes on Li Yue, he was instantly captivated by her beauty. He had long desired her and had countless times considered confessing—after all, with his status, any girl would be lucky to accept him. But reality was different. Li Yue had rejected him repeatedly, and each refusal felt like a blow, leaving him on the verge of collapse every single time.
Han Bo had been planning this moment for days. At today's banquet, he intended to confess his feelings to Li Yue, and he had long ensured the seat next to him would remain vacant—leaving her no choice but to sit beside him. He even instructed all his classmates not to leave any empty chairs at the table.
But reality had other plans. Xu Lin's friend, Sun Tao, found his seat uncomfortable, so he grabbed a chair from the reserve—and in the rush, completely forgot to remove it. Han Bo's carefully laid scheme was about to be disrupted.
Li Yue immediately saw through Han Bo's scheme and felt a pang of disgust toward him. Just then, her eyes landed on another seat at the back, away from the front, where Xu Lin and Sun Tao were chatting. Choosing to avoid the schemer, she naturally walked over and sat there instead, moving gracefully toward Xu Lin and Sun Tao.
Sun Tao, sitting in the back and chatting with Xu Lin, suddenly noticed the school goddess, Li Yue, approaching them. His body tensed instantly.
Xu Lin noticed his friend's reaction and realized something was happening—but he didn't bother getting involved. He simply leaned back, holding his can of Eastroc Super Drink, and watched quietly.
Li Yue slid into the chair beside Xu Lin without a word, as if he and Sun Tao didn't even exist. Yet he noticed her eyes occasionally flicking toward him.
Xu Lin didn't care. He knew his handsomeness was absurd, and as for her manners—he, and the rest of the class, had long since grown numb to the attitude of their cold, untouchable goddess.
"Xu Lin, don't fool yourself. At best, you've only ever just touched the first-tier line. Even if you manage it this time, the schools you can apply to are still essentially second-tier. And in three years of high school, how many times have you actually reached it? I can only remember three! This exam is tougher than usual—you might even score lower than your normal grades."
A mocking voice rang out, and naturally, it was Han Bo—class scholar, class president, and all too proud of it. Sun Tao, Xu Lin, and even Li Yue couldn't help but notice him.
He was standing with his back to them, but upon seeing his plan fail—Li Yue taking the seat at the back instead—he immediately stood up. Fury surged inside him, but he forced himself to hide it, maintaining the mask of a gentleman. Naturally, in his mind, he imagined Li Yue admiring him, as he had always expected she would.
___
[SYSTEM TASK INTERFACE]
[Mission Name: Subtle Slap – Indirect Domination]
[Objective: Deliver an indirect "slap" to Han Bo. Let him show off or boast—through skills, talent, or social posturing—and turn the moment around to subtly highlight his flaws or inferiority. Ensure the impact is felt without engaging in direct confrontation.]
[Description: Han Bo will naturally try to demonstrate his superiority—flaunting his grades, or displaying charm. Use the environment, timing, and your abilities to turn the situation to your advantage. The goal is to leave him visibly frustrated while maintaining your own composure.]
[Required Skills / Resources:
Any skills necessary to complete the mission will be granted by the System temporarily.]
Temporary boosts in charm, intelligence, or influence may appear if needed.
Resources such as wealth, social leverage, or knowledge of the future may be applied strategically.]
[Reward: The Host may choose one Skill, Trait, Item, or Special Assistance provided by the System. The selected reward will be granted permanently and can be used by the host anytime.]
[Mission failure penalty : None]
[ACCEPT] <> [REJECT]
___