Chapter 10
Lin Fei messed around with his roommates for a while, then went to the bathroom alone to take a shower. After taking off his clothes, he was surprised to find that his formerly skinny frame now had an unexpected amount of muscle. His limbs were noticeably thicker, and he had a clear outline of abs.
"The System's enhancement points are so useful. If this were any normal person, they'd have to train for at least a year to get a body like this, right?" Lin Fei thought to himself.
He had just successfully won over Zhou Xinyi, gaining 5 points of Strength. If he were to win over Zhang Yuning, that would be 25 attribute points. If he kept this up, wouldn't he become a superman?
The biggest pity was the refunded amount this time. It was only 5,000 yuan. "If I knew Zhou Xinyi was that easy, I should have spent more on her back then," Lin Fei thought regretfully.
A short while ago, he had checked his personal account and sure enough, an extra five thousand yuan had appeared. For Lin Fei, this five thousand yuan was his own money, to spend however he wished. For an ordinary third-year university student, this was a 'considerable' fortune!
Although his Reserve Fund was large, he couldn't use it on himself. It was this five thousand yuan that made Lin Fei feel secure.
After washing up, Lin Fei lay down on his bed and opened his unread WeChat messages.
"Goodnight, my number-one supporter! 😉" This was a message from Zhang Yuning.
"Lin Fei, I know what I did in the past completely hurt you, but what happened tonight proved that there's still a small place for me in your heart. I know no matter what I say now, you can't completely forgive me, but I beg you, please don't push me away. Even if it's just when you need me, just let me know. I'm willing to satisfy any of your requests." This was Zhou Xinyi's message.
"Brother Tianshen (God Descends), are you coming to see me tonight?" This was a message from Velociraptor Theresa.
"Honey, I've run into some trouble. Can you lend me some money..." This one was from Zhao Xiaoxuan.
Lin Fei replied to Zhang Yuning with a "Goodnight." He didn't bother replying to Zhou Xinyi or Velociraptor Theresa at all.
Then he looked at Zhao Xiaoxuan's message again. He felt that their relationship was purely one of mutual use. From the moment they met until now, all Zhao Xiaoxuan ever talked about was money. Her affection for him was entirely built on a pile of cash. He had already spent over a hundred thousand on her last time, not to mention giving her a supreme VIP card with a million yuan credit, and now she was proactively asking for money?
Lin Fei felt that Zhao Xiaoxuan's way of asking was a bit shameless.
He knew her reputation wasn't great. She not only flirted with rich second-generation kids everywhere, but it seemed that as long as a guy at school was willing to spend money on her, she wouldn't refuse anyone.
If Zhou Xinyi was a typical 'green tea bitch,' then Zhao Xiaoxuan was a gold-digging slut. Not only was she a gold digger, but she was shamelessly and openly so.
But the person Lin Fei needed right now was someone just like Zhao Xiaoxuan. Otherwise, it would probably take him ten thousand years to spend his Reserve Fund.
So, he had to increase his spending.
Thinking this, Lin Fei decisively replied, "How much do you need?"
---
On the other side.
In a rented apartment in Longcheng International Community, when Zhao Xiaoxuan saw Lin Fei's reply, a glimmer of light seemed to appear in her despairing eyes.
For the past two days, she had been hounded by a loan shark company, scaring her so much she didn't even dare to go to school.
"Lin Fei, I'm not trying to trick you into giving me money. My dad's business lost money and he owes a lot to loan sharks. Are you willing to help me?"
Zhao Xiaoxuan wasn't lying. Her father, Zhao Tiancheng, was in the internet cafe business. He used to own over a dozen internet cafes in the city, and their family was well-off. However, due to the pandemic, the internet cafe business took a nosedive, and her family went bankrupt. The pressure from bank loans and various small loan companies in society came one after another. At first, she didn't know about her family's troubles until today, when someone from the underworld called and threatened her. Only then did she go home to ask, and her mother, in tears, told her the truth. With no other choice, she started asking her good girlfriends and friends for money.
But after everyone learned about her situation, they all kept their distance. Zhao Xiaoxuan had asked almost all of her friends, especially the rich second-generation kids who had pursued her. However, when they heard the amount she needed to borrow, they immediately came up with various excuses, and some even tried to take advantage of her misfortune.
Left with no other choice, she thought of Lin Fei. If it hadn't been for the incident with Wang Feng last time, and given that she thought Lin Fei was so rich, she would have definitely gone to him first. But she knew that the more prominent the family, the higher their standards for their women. Although Lin Fei said he forgave her, she knew there must be a rift between them now. Otherwise, why wouldn't he take the initiative to contact her? So, she wasn't confident. Her last resort was to ask Lin Fei if she could sell the VIP card in her possession for some money. It wouldn't be enough, but it could last her for a while.
"How much do you need?" Lin Fei replied again.
"I need three million. I can write you an IOU. I guarantee I'll find a way to pay you back." Zhao Xiaoxuan, mustering her courage, sent the message.
"Send me your bank account number." Lin Fei didn't waste a single word.
Zhao Xiaoxuan, in disbelief, sent her bank account number.
Soon, Zhao Xiaoxuan received a text message from the bank: "Your account ending in 6895 has received a transfer of 5,000,000 yuan (700,000 USD$)."
After checking the message repeatedly, Zhao Xiaoxuan tentatively sent a voice message. "Lin Fei, three million was enough. Why did you transfer so much..."
"Oh, it's fine. Take care of your family's matters and don't worry about money."
Seeing this message, Zhao Xiaoxuan burst into tears. This time, she was truly moved. In just one day, her life had fallen from heaven to hell. Looking at her helpless mother and her father, full of sorrow, she truly felt what it meant to be powerless. After borrowing money from everyone and receiving all kinds of cold stares and ridicule, she had accumulated too much grievance. At this moment, it all erupted. Endless tears streamed from her eyes.
It was Lin Fei. In an instant, he had dispelled all the pressure on her family. And he was afraid she would feel awkward, so he had transferred an extra two million. So much money, and he didn't even ask for an IOU, let alone a repayment date. At this moment, Zhao Xiaoxuan was completely moved. Lin Fei's figure became incredibly tall and mighty in her mind.
But she automatically ignored the few boys who upon hearing about her situation, had transferred her every last cent of their months' meal money without reservation. That's just how reality is. Sometimes, giving your all doesn't compare to a mere pittance from others. The fairest thing about this world is that it has never been fair to anyone.
[Name: Zhao Xiaoxuan. Favorability: 3. Total Value: 94.]
Lin Fei listened to the prompt in his mind and thought, *As expected, the higher the favorability, the harder it is to increase. Before, spending tens of thousands would raise it by dozens of points at a time. Now, five million only increased it by 3 points. But it doesn't matter. I'm just a little bit away from breaking through. Damn it, I should have just transferred ten million.*
"Thank you, thank you, honey. I miss you. I want to see you right now. Can you come out tonight?" Zhao Xiaoxuan replied.
Lin Fei had just been with Zhou Xinyi, so his desires had subsided quite a bit. He didn't plan on going out again. He thought for a moment and replied, "I'm too tired today. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, honey. I'll love you forever." Zhao Xiaoxuan replied immediately.
---
The next morning, downstairs at the men's dormitory.
A rather pretty girl, holding a delicate breakfast, had already been waiting for ten minutes.
"Damn, this chick is hot! And she's holding breakfast? I wonder which lucky bastard is so awesome that a girl is bringing him breakfast?"
"I've seen guys bringing girls breakfast before, but this is the first time I've seen a girl bringing a guy breakfast!"
"Sigh! All the good cabbages are being rooted by pigs. A handsome guy like me has been single for over twenty years!"
Just as a group of guys were pointing and whispering, Lin Fei walked out of the dormitory building with Hu Dahai, Zhang Qingshan, and Qin Zhiyuan.
"Lin Fei, I made this breakfast for you. Let's go to class together," Zhou Xinyi said, walking up quickly with a fawning expression.
"Thanks, but you can have it yourself. I don't think our relationship needs this," Lin Fei refused Zhou Xinyi with a serious face.
When Lin Fei said this, the few guys who had been watching Zhou Xinyi, including his three roommates, were so shocked they almost spat blood on the spot.
"Damn it, such a hot girl brings him breakfast, and he looks disgusted? He's not even that handsome. I'm better-looking than him. Is the girl blind?" a guy with glasses couldn't help but mutter.
Just as Hu Dahai was about to step forward and say a few words to Lin Fei, another beautifully dressed, tall, and stunningly beautiful girl walked over.
She glanced at Zhou Xinyi, her eyes full of hostility. "Honey, I brought you breakfast. It's still warm. Eat it quickly!" she said in a sweet, syrupy voice that made many of the otaku guys' bones go weak.
"Holy shit! Another top-tier girl is bringing him breakfast. Am I hearing things? Did she just call him honey? What kind of god is this guy?"
"He must have a family that owns a mine!"
Aside from the onlookers, the roommate trio, who were closest to Lin Fei, were once again struck by lightning as if from a clear sky. They dumbstruck. Could it be that the Fourth Brother wasn't just bragging all this time? Could he really have been a low-key master all along?
Not just Zhou Xinyi, but now Zhao Xiaoxuan too. And judging by the looks of it, neither woman was backing down. What was this situation? Were they both pursuing Lin Fei?
The atmosphere at the scene had now turned bizarre. Two girls, both with good figures and looks, each holding a breakfast, offered them to Lin Fei. Everyone was watching to see which one he would choose.
"Isn't that the King of Simps, Lin Fei? When did he get so badass?" More and more people were gathering to watch, some still in their pajamas, having just run out of their dorms. By now, someone in the crowd had recognized Lin Fei.
"Hahahaha, it seems I've been working hard in the right direction. Look, even that simp Lin Fei has succeeded. No, he's my role model, the true King of Simps. I need to learn from him. As long as I keep confessing to Liu Suxue, maybe I'll succeed one day too?" a short guy said, looking at Lin Fei with admiration.
"Liu Suxue? The number one campus belle of our school? Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?"
"Bro, how many bottles of Beer did you have this early in the morning to be so high?"
"Fourth Brother, we haven't had breakfast yet. If you're not eating, let us have it!" At this point, Qin Zhiyuan, seeing how awkward the atmosphere was, spoke up to ease the tension.
"Alright, you can have it," Lin Fei said. He took the breakfasts from Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan at the same time, then immediately stuffed them into the hands of Qin Zhiyuan and Zhang Qingshan.
Although Lin Fei's action disappointed both women, they also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They both thought to themselves, Luckily, Lin Fei didn't accept the other's breakfast in front of me. Otherwise, I would have been completely humiliated.
Just as the atmosphere had eased up a little, there was a commotion among the male students in the distance. Zhang Yuning, the second-ranked campus belle, was walking over with a packed soy milk and fried dough sticks.
With light steps, she walked gracefully, unstained by the dust of the world, and slowly stopped in front of Lin Fei.
"Here. This is your breakfast!"
For a moment, the world fell completely silent. The crowd was hushed, and all the male students were collectively petrified, their jaws on the floor.
"So... I'm still dreaming... This must be a hallucination. Impossible, absolutely impossible. How could Zhang Yuning bring someone breakfast..." A fan of Zhang Yuning stumbled back toward the dormitory, unable to face the scene.
"No, I don't believe it. My goddess, she's my goddess. This is impossible!"
"What the hell did that bastard Lin Fei do?! Did he learn black magic or something?! I just saw him delivering food last week. This... what's going on?!"
"Brother Fei! You are my god! I will worship you forever!" It was the same short guy who had been admiring Lin Fei just now.
Most people just stood there with confused looks on their faces. This was Zhang Yuning! This was the goddess they had secretly crushed on for three years.
Zhang Qingshan stared at Lin Fei with wide eyes. Was this still the Lin Fei he had lived with for three years?
So he bought a few new sets of clothes and got a new hairstyle recently?
Was that enough to get possessed by the God of Love!?
Compared to the confused boys on site, Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan knew very well why Zhang Yuning was being so nice to Lin Fei. A ten-million-yuan gift! Not to mention that Zhang Yuning's name, like Xiao Miao Dou's before her, had recently trended on social media, gaining over a million followers in just two days. As long as Lin Fei continued to support her, she was bound to become a superstar on her path as an influencer. For those reasons alone, let alone one breakfast, a year's worth of breakfasts wouldn't be too much.
"Oh, and this is for you. Last time I saw your phone was old. I don't know if you'll like this one," Zhang Yuning said, taking a brand-new, unopened phone out of her bag and handing it to Lin Fei.
"Fuck, that's the latest iPhone 13 Pro! It costs over ten thousand yuan!"
"Zhang Yuning is giving Lin Fei a phone? What the hell did this asshole do to deserve this from the goddess?"
"Why? I don't understand. Where did I lose? Goddess, are you blind? What's so good about this Lin Fei?"
"I can't take this anymore. I'm going to expose this shameless bastard, Lin Fei. He's not only a kept man, but he's also two-timing. No, three-timing! See you on the campus forum!" A large group of people had already become indignant.
Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan looked at the phone in Zhang Yuning's fair, jade-like hand, and both of them felt awkward. One of them had broken up with Lin Fei over this very model of phone, and the other had casually accepted a phone from Lin Fei right after they met, without a second thought.
Under the gaze of everyone, Lin Fei shamelessly and happily took the phone from Zhang Yuning. It was a gift worth over ten thousand yuan, after all. Of course, he couldn't refuse it. Then he took her breakfast and started eating and drinking, taking a bite of the fried dough stick and a sip of the soy milk. At this moment, Lin Fei was bursting with satisfaction. He smugly thought to himself, No wonder people say it's not that goddesses don't take the initiative, it's just that you've never seen them do it.
[Name: Zhang Yuning. Favorability: 5. Total Value: 45.]
Hearing the prompt, Lin Fei was a little surprised. He could understand that giving gifts would increase favorability, but he didn't expect receiving gifts would also increase it.
In reality, this was only because Zhang Yuning saw that Lin Fei only accepted her breakfast, making her feel that she was the one he cared about most. Besides, Lin Fei was so rich, how could he care about a phone worth just over ten thousand yuan? He must have been happy to accept it because it was from her. He valued the sentiment.
But on this point, Zhang Yuning was overthinking it. Lin Fei was simply being shallow and thought the gift was very valuable, and he had no reason to refuse it.
"Thank you for the breakfast and the gift. I like them very much," Lin Fei said happily.
"I'm glad you like it. I have a livestream event tonight. It's the first time I've been invited to something like this, so I'm a little nervous. I hope you can be in my stream then. I'll get going now, bye-bye!" Zhang Yuning waved to Lin Fei.
Watching her back as she turned to leave, Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan both silently cursed in their hearts, "Scheming bitch."
At this moment, Lin Fei also understood why she had come to deliver breakfast and a phone today.
It was just to get him to support her livestream tonight. She was just using him to build hype again. This woman was very calm. On the surface, it seemed like she was being ambiguous with Lin Fei, but her goal was very clear. And today, when she saw Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan, she didn't seem the least bit awkward or flustered. Instead, she calmly and composedly suppressed the two of them, to make them back off. She also created the illusion that she was competing with the other two for Lin Fei's affection.
If Lin Fei didn't think that a value of 45 was nowhere near enough to make her pursue him, he might have actually thought Zhang Yuning had fallen in love with him. In reality, Zhang Yuning was just testing him. If a simple flirtation like this made him lose his head and recklessly pursue Zhang Yuning, then in the end, he would still just become a simp.
Brilliant. Truly brilliant. This woman was no simple character either. Strip away the goddess halo, and she was just an ordinary pretty girl. How many pure, otherworldly fairies were there in this world? Most were just ordinary women with seven emotions, six desires, and a healthy dose of vanity.
"Don't worry, I'll be there to support you," Lin Fei said to Zhang Yuning, who had only taken a few steps.
After speaking, Lin Fei took a bite of each of the breakfasts from Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan. "Mmm, these are delicious too. I don't want the rest of the fried dough stick and soy milk. Boss, you can have them. Don't mind," Lin Fei said, handing them to Hu Dahai.
"Fourth Brother, but these are from them..." Hu Dahai said, a little embarrassed.
"It's fine. It's just breakfast. I'll just have a taste of each."
"Boss, actually, I love fried dough sticks and soy milk the most. If you don't want them, give them to me," Qin Zhiyuan said with a sly grin. Zhang Qingshan beside him also looked eager.
"Get lost. I won't even waste it," Hu Dahai said, clutching the breakfast from Zhang Yuning and running back into the dormitory.
Zhang Yuning, who hadn't gone far, saw that Lin Fei had given away the breakfast she brought him, and her face immediately darkened. For the longest time, she had been the center of attention, the moon surrounded by stars. Although Lin Fei was rich, she took it for granted that he would treat her the same way. But now she discovered that in his eyes, she was no different from Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan. Zhang Yuning hated this feeling. With a bad taste in her heart, she quickened her pace and left.
After Zhao Xiaoxuan left, Zhou Xinyi and Zhao Xiaoxuan saw that Lin Fei had also eaten their breakfasts and, feeling satisfied, left one after another.
This was the first clash between the three women.
*****
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