Chen Lulu thanked Lin Wei excitedly after handing him the watch. Not only would she receive her standard 1% commission on the sale, but Lin Wei had also refused the usual customer discount — instead, he let her keep the full margin, which added up to nearly 40,000 credits, the equivalent of three to four months of her regular income at the store.
Shen Yiran didn't say anything this time.
She understood that this kind of generosity wasn't recklessness — it was a deliberate gesture. A quiet strength. And in her eyes, it only added to Lin Wei's character. There was no need to comment further.
After that, the two of them left the store and headed for the sweets shop. Once they had found everything they needed, they arranged for the delivery themselves.
The sheer volume of items made it difficult to carry, and given how generously Lin Wei had paid earlier, the shop staff were more than happy to offer extra service, treating him with visible enthusiasm.
By the time they returned home, the day had stretched longer than either of them expected — yet, something had subtly changed.
Shen Yiran was beginning to get a clearer sense of Lin Wei's character: open-minded, kind, and yes — a little extravagant. But with the way he handled money and the confidence he had in his abilities, it didn't seem reckless.
If anything, it showed that he trusted himself to earn back whatever he spent — and more. There was something refreshing about that.
"They'll be coming over soon," Lin Wei said, setting the bags down. "So, shall we go and greet the neighbors? I know it's a bit of a hassle to visit their apartments, but I plan to live here long-term. Might as well build some good relationships while we're at it."
Shen Yiran nodded in agreement. She had already done her homework — the residents of this building were well-off professionals from various fields. Establishing ties with them could open many doors, especially for someone in Lin Wei's position.
"Yes. I agree completely," she said, smoothing her skirt.
Lin Wei gave a thoughtful hum, then glanced at her. "So… is there anything I should know? This is kind of my first time doing the whole 'neighbor diplomacy' thing."
Shen Yiran smiled slightly. "It will be fine. I already looked into everyone through my private channels. You should have no trouble getting along with them, Mr. Lin."
"Yeah, yeah—'Mr. Lin' is fine. Just don't call me 'Master Lin.' That sounds way too dramatic." Lin Wei gave a half-laugh and shook his head.
"Understood, Mr. Lin," she replied with a teasing glint in her eyes.
She really did investigate them... Lin Wei thought to himself, casting a quick glance at Shen Yiran. A quiet realization settled in — having her around might truly make things a lot easier.
She was capable, thoughtful, and always two steps ahead. In just a few minutes, as the two of them shared a quiet drink, the sweets they had ordered earlier were delivered to his apartment.
Lin Wei moved to pack a portion of them by hand. Though he could've easily used the application's inventory feature — which could store solid items and retrieve them with a simple tap — he avoided it this time.
For two reasons: one, because Shen Yiran would be accompanying him, and he couldn't risk exposing that secret just yet; and two, because every floor had surveillance cameras, and pulling things out of thin air was the kind of thing that raised red flags.
"Yes, I'll help Master carry a few," Shen Yiran offered with a pleasant smile. "I'll come back for the rest. You should go ahead to the next floor in case we need to return."
"It's alright," Lin Wei replied, standing up straighter. "If you want to help, that's fine. But I'll carry them myself and come back for the rest. I'm the guy here — I can't just let a beautiful woman run up and down the building while I stand by."
He looked her straight in the eye, his tone turning firm. "Am I making myself clear?"
Shen Yiran paused, then gave a soft nod. "Okay. But I'm still going with you. I can't let you do all the running around alone either."
They both stood by their principles, unwilling to budge completely — and in the end, they compromised by acting together, each with their own unspoken reasons.
After that, they visited from the 1st floor all the way up to the 4th. Each level welcomed them warmly — from kind old gentlemen to a cheerful granny who handed them homemade cookies with a beaming smile. By the time they finished, both Lin Wei and Shen Yiran had their arms full of snacks, small gifts, and warm regards.
They eventually returned home to drop everything off in the kitchen. Lin Wei, in particular, was delighted by the cookies; not having grandparents himself, he found the affection and kindness of these elderly neighbors touching.
What stood out even more was how naturally everything fell into place. Lin Wei's respectful attitude and genuine warmth left a strong impression on the neighbors. His sincerity wasn't an act — it reached people, and they responded in kind. Even Shen Yiran could feel the shift, noticing how much his personality shined in moments like these.
Standing beside him, she realized why they were receiving so much goodwill — Lin Wei came across as someone raised with care and value, yet without arrogance.
And with her by his side, neighbors likely assumed he was from a respectable and well-off family, making his humble and polite manner all the more striking. In this era, such traits were rare — and they appreciated it deeply.
"These are way too much," Shen Yiran said with a small laugh, looking at the kitchen counter stacked with cookies and treats. But what caught her attention more was the quiet strength in Lin Wei's approach — conscious, kind, and unguarded. She admired that.
'As for his back… I'll keep it clean for him,' she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly with determination. 'Maybe it's time to hire more people. With a personality like his, he's bound to attract both the good and the bad. But I'll make sure he's okay.'
With that, they started heading upstairs again. Their apartment was on the fifth floor, and only a few more neighbors remained — their own floor and the single level above.
Having visited nearly every apartment from the first to the fourth floor, Lin Wei returned with more than just cookies and goodwill — he'd learned something important.
Nearly every resident he met belonged to a wealthy, influential background, and more interestingly, many had complex personal situations.
These weren't just well-off neighbors; their lives were tangled in stories that, unbeknownst to them, were quietly registered by Lin Wei's mysterious app.
And just like that, the moment they returned to his apartment, a new notification popped up on his phone:
[Access Unlocked: "Interpersonal Dynamics - Tier 1 List"]
"You have made meaningful contact with 20+ unique residents. Access to hidden relationship markers and influence threads has been granted."
Lin Wei's eyes narrowed slightly as he tapped through the app's new feature. A web of connections spread before him — subtle indicators, emotional wavelengths, power imbalances, and hidden potential.
This wasn't just about relationships; it was about influence.
The system had started mapping emotional vulnerabilities and opportunities around him.
'So this is what it really does…' Lin Wei mused to himself, both intrigued and a little uneasy.
As Lin Wei stepped out of his apartment with the gift box in hand, Shen Yiran followed beside him with a composed smile. The hallway outside was quiet, save for the faint hum of an elevator somewhere above. He stopped at the door right next to his, took a steady breath, and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong.
Moments later, the door opened with a soft creak. Standing there was a young boy, no more than five years old, with bright, curious eyes and a soft wisp of hair that was slightly tousled from whatever cartoon he must have been watching. He blinked up at Lin Wei, then tilted his head.
"Mommy, someone's here!" the boy called out in a cheerful voice, dashing back into the apartment.
Lin Wei chuckled lightly. Just as he was about to announce himself, the sound of slippers on tile grew louder — and then she appeared.
The woman who came to the door looked far too youthful to be a mother of three. With clear, glowing skin, elegant features, and a slender figure wrapped in a soft beige knit sweater and house pants, she looked to be in her mid-twenties at most. Her long chestnut hair was tied up in a casual bun, and there was an effortless charm in the way she smiled.
"Ah, hello! You must be the new neighbor." Her voice was soft but warm, instantly welcoming.
Lin Wei nodded politely. "Yes, I'm Lin Wei. I just moved in yesterday, and I thought I'd stop by to greet everyone properly. These are some sweets — just a small token." He lifted the box with both hands.
"Oh, that's so kind of you!" she said, a touch surprised. "Please, come in!"
Before Lin Wei could even respond, two more figures appeared in the hallway behind her. One was a tall girl who looked to be in her third year of college— slim, sharp-eyed, and slightly aloof. The other was clearly her younger sister, somewhere in her middle year in college, with bright, expressive eyes and twin braids. Both of them looked at Lin Wei curiously, then smiled shyly when they saw Shen Yiran beside him.
"These are my daughters, Yuxin and Yuhan," the mother said, gesturing with a gentle hand. "And I'm Jiang Qinghe. My little boy is Doudou."
"I'm Shen Yiran," his companion introduced herself politely, with a slight bow of the head. "We didn't mean to intrude — just wanted to greet our neighbors properly."
"Not at all! It's rare to have such courteous young people these days. Please, come in for a moment. We just brewed some jasmine tea."
"No, it's alright! We will be leaving, maybe next time." Lin Wei excused himself silently.