The rain drummed against the windows, a steady rhythm that filled the dimly lit apartment. Inside, four young men huddled around their computers, their faces illuminated by the glow of their screens. The sound of furious typing and rapid mouse clicks echoed through the small room, accompanied by occasional bursts of laughter and frustrated groans.
"Damn it! Who stole my kill?" one of them shouted, slamming his desk.
"Not my fault you're too slow," another replied smugly, leaning back in his chair.
In the corner, Ye Fan, the protagonist, sat quietly, his fingers dancing across the keyboard. Unlike his friends, who were fully immersed in the game, his mind was elsewhere.
"Hey, Ye Fan, wake up! Stop thinking about Lu Ruiyan. She's just a gold digger, not worth wasting time on. Get in the game!"
"But why did she choose that rich fatty over me?" Ye Fan muttered, gripping his mouse tightly. "I only lack a bit of money…"
"In this world, only money matters," a friend scoffed. "You can just make her regret it in the future by becoming rich. Don't waste your talent on her."
Ye Fan suddenly froze. "Hey… did you hear a voice?"
"No, you're probably just hallucinating," a guy named Fatty said.
"Was it really my imagination?" Ye Fan mumbled.
"You might not be feeling well. Just go home and rest. Stop thinking about Lu Ruiyan," a guy named Monkey said.
The others kept playing, but Ye Fan left the internet café. He felt sad, angry, but mostly helpless. He knew he couldn't do anything—all his efforts had been wasted.
Then, suddenly, he heard the voice again.
[Does the host want to bind the system?]
Ye Fan froze for a second. His heart pounded.
"I knew it… it wasn't my imagination! I got the key to my future success—I can finally become rich!" Ye Fan shouted.
Passersby gave him strange looks. One of them even approached him. "Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?"
Embarrassed, Ye Fan quickly waved his hands. "No need, thank you for your concern!" Then, he ran away.
He rushed back to his apartment, closed the door, and took a deep breath. "Alright, system. What do you really do?"
[Ding! System binding successful.]
[Ding! Host, the more you spend, the more you earn.]
Ye Fan's eyes lit up. "What does that mean? Is it like a multiplier system?"
[It's more than that. I provide you with 1 yuan every second. When you spend money, I will add that amount to your earnings per second.]
"So… if I spend 100 yuan, I'll start earning 101 yuan every second?" Ye Fan asked excitedly.
[Ding! Yes, host. You can check your balance and stats by tapping the button in the top-right corner or simply thinking about it. To transfer money to any bank account—including your own—just think about it. The money is completely legal. Enjoy.]
Ye Fan took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. This was it. His path to wealth had just begun.