Lin Feng sat alone in his cramped, dingy dorm room, staring at the faintly lit screen of his old laptop. The soft glow cast long shadows on the cracked walls, making the small room seem even more claustrophobic. The occasional hum of the overhead fluorescent tube interrupted the silence, a reminder that he still had electricity—at least for now.
The air smelled of instant noodles, the same food he had been eating for the past three consecutive days. His belly growled, but he didn't feel like it. There were more pressing matters at hand. Rent was due soon, his part-time job hardly paid him enough, and his classmates.
He exhaled hard, rubbing his temples.
Outside the door, laughter and loud talk echoed along the dorm corridor. It was Friday night, and his wealthier friends were preparing for another night on the town—dinner at costly eateries, dancing at nightclubs, rides home in pricey automobiles, and social media photos that flaunted their wealth.
Through his own window, Lin Feng saw the student parking lot, a row of sleek sports cars reflecting the city's neon lights. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches—cars he could hardly afford. He knew whose they belonged to. Sons of business giants, heirs to vast fortunes, trust-fund babies who never had to pay for college or dinner.
And then there was he. A poverty-stricken university student from the countryside, scraping along by the skin of his teeth.
He received a call on his phone. He answered and read his mother's message.
Mom: Xiao Feng, are you taking care of your meals? Don't overexert yourself, okay? Your father and I are both doing well, so don't worry about us.
Lin Feng gulped. He could picture her, sitting in their small country home, struggling to earn a living for him even when they were worse off. His father labored from sunrise until sunset in the fields, and his mother did whatever odd work she could find, all so he could study in the city.
He tapped out a rushed reply, trying to be positive.
Lin Feng: I'm doing great, Mom! School is going well. Don't worry about me.
A lie.
The truth was, he was barely getting by. Every day was a battle against hunger, stress, and the suffocating weight of poverty in a school full of the rich and privileged.
A sudden knock at the door broke his thoughts.
"Lin Feng, open up!"
He recognized the voice instantly. Zhang Hao.
One of his flatmates, and one of the people who never forgot to remind him where he came from. Lin Feng sighed and got up, opening the door a little way.
Zhang Hao stood there with a condescending smile, flanked by two other students—both of whom were clad in designer streetwear, whose watches cost more than Lin Feng's entire bank account.
We're off to Moonlight Club," Zhang Hao said with a grin. "VIP table, free drinks, girls aplenty. You in?
Lin Feng knew better. This wasn't an invitation—it was a joke at his expense. He had seen it happen before. If he went, they would expect him to sit in a corner and watch while they flaunted their wealth. Maybe they'd even make him do something humiliating, like buy drinks with money he didn't have.
He forced a polite smile. "Nah, I've got studying to do."
Zhang Hao clicked his tongue. "Always studying, eh? No wonder you're penniless. You know, some of us are already rich for life. What's the use of working so hard when you'll never be able to catch up?"
The others chuckled. Lin Feng's fingers clenched at his side, but he kept up the facade of calm.
Zhang Hao leaned in slightly. "Actually, you can come if you do us a favor.".
Go down and get us some drinks," Zhang Hao went on. "You don't even need to pay. Just be useful for once."
More laughter.
Lin Feng took a slow breath. A day ago, he might have swallowed his pride and done it. But something in him refused. He was tired of it—the humiliation, the feeling of being worthless.
"Let me pass," he said quietly, stepping back and closing the door before they could say anything further.
For a moment there was silence outside. Then Zhang Hao laughed.
"Suit yourself, beggar."
Their footsteps receded as they walked off.
Lin Feng plopped down on his bed, his fists clenched. This was his life. No money, no influence, always looked down on.
He took a shuddering breath and turned back to his laptop. No point dwelling on things beyond his control.
Then—
[Ding!]
A clear sound resonated in his ears, like crystal shattering. Otherworldly.
Lin Feng's eyes widened as a glass blue screen appeared before him, hovering in mid-air.
[Login Reward System Activated]
Congratulations! You have logged in for the first time. Claim your reward now?
[Yes] [No]
His breath was trapped in his throat.
"What… is this?"