I had exactly twelve dollars and seventy-three cents in my bank account.
I knew that number by heart, because I had checked it three times that day. Once in the morning, once at noon, and once just now, standing under a broken streetlight while rain soaked my shoes.
The city at night always looked expensive. Neon signs. Glass buildings. Cars that cost more than my entire life. It was funny how none of it belonged to people like me.
I pulled my jacket tighter and glanced at my phone again. Same number. No miracle. No sudden transfer from a long-lost relative. Just twelve dollars and seventy-three cents, and rent due in five days.
I sighed and slipped the phone back into my pocket.
The café on the corner was still open. Warm yellow light spilled through the windows, fogging the glass. Inside, a few people sat quietly, scrolling on their phones, hiding from the rain.
I told myself I would just stand there for a second. Just to feel the warmth through the glass.
That was when I noticed her.
She was standing just outside the café entrance, under the narrow awning. She wore a thin hoodie that had clearly lost its fight against the weather. Her hair was damp, sticking to her cheeks, and she kept rubbing her hands together as if friction alone could create heat.
She wasn't asking for money. She wasn't looking at anyone, either. Just staring at the ground, biting her lip, like she was arguing with herself.
I recognized that look.
It was the look you had when you wanted something you couldn't afford, and you hated yourself for wanting it anyway.
I hesitated.
Buying coffee for a stranger was not part of my budget. My budget barely included eating tomorrow. Five dollars might not mean much to the people inside the café, but to me, it was dinner.
I turned away.
Took two steps.
Stopped.
I don't know why I stopped. Maybe because the rain was getting heavier. Maybe because she shivered, just slightly, like she was trying not to show it. Or maybe because I was tired of feeling like the world only worked for people with money.
I walked back.
She didn't notice me at first. I cleared my throat.
"Um."
She looked up, startled. Her eyes were dark, cautious, and tired.
"Sorry," I said quickly. "I just… are you waiting for someone?"
She shook her head. "No. I was just… thinking."
Awkward silence.
Great. Now I looked like a creep.
I gestured toward the café. "It's cold. If you want, I can buy you a coffee."
The words came out before my brain finished calculating the consequences.
She blinked. "You don't have to."
"I know." I scratched the back of my head. "But I want to."
She studied my face, probably trying to decide if I had bad intentions. I didn't blame her. In this city, kindness usually came with strings attached.
After a moment, she nodded. "Okay. Thank you."
Her voice was soft. A little embarrassed.
We went inside together. The warmth hit me immediately, and my glasses fogged up. The smell of coffee was almost painful. I hadn't had any in days.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Just a small latte," she said quickly. "Nothing fancy."
Of course she said that.
I ordered two small lattes before I could overthink it. The barista gave me a bored look and told me the price.
Five dollars.
Exactly.
My phone buzzed as soon as the payment went through.
I frowned. Probably a notification from my banking app reminding me how poor I was.
Then I looked at the screen.
A blue interface filled it. Clean. Sharp. Completely unfamiliar.
A soft chime sounded in my ears.
Ding.
Text appeared.
Affection-Based Cashback System Activated.
I froze.
For a second, I honestly thought I was hallucinating. Stress did strange things to the brain. I rubbed my eyes and looked again.
The screen didn't change.
New text scrolled down.
Target Identified
Name: Lin Yue
Relationship Status: Stranger
Spending Amount: $5.00
Evaluating intent…
My heart started beating faster.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
I looked up. Lin Yue. That was her name.
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just… phone stuff."
She nodded, clearly not interested in my problems.
The screen updated again.
Emotional Sincerity: 81 percent
Situational Value: Appropriate
Intent: Non-malicious
Cashback Multiplier: x100
I swallowed.
Then the final line appeared.
Cashback Received: $500.00
My banking app notification popped up immediately after.
Deposit: $500.00
Available Balance: $512.73
I stared at the number.
My hands started shaking.
This wasn't a prank. This wasn't a pop-up ad. This was my actual bank balance. I opened the app manually, half-expecting it to crash or correct itself.
It didn't.
The money was there.
Real. Solid. Unbelievable.
"Here you go," the barista said, placing the cups on the counter.
I took them on autopilot. My mind was spinning so fast it felt unreal, like I had stepped out of my body.
I handed one cup to her.
"Thank you," she said, wrapping both hands around it. Her shoulders relaxed almost instantly. "I really needed this."
She smiled. Not a big smile. Just a small one, but it felt genuine.
My phone buzzed again.
New notification.
Affection Value Increased.
I nearly dropped the cup in my hand.
We sat at a small table by the window. Rain streaked down the glass, blurring the city lights into soft colors.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
"Are you a student?" she asked.
"Was," I said. "Dropped out."
"Oh." She hesitated. "Me too. Well, sort of. I'm working part-time right now."
She glanced down at her cup. "Money's been tight."
I laughed quietly. "Yeah. Same."
I didn't tell her that five minutes ago, I had been choosing between coffee and dinner. I didn't tell her that somehow, buying her this drink had just changed everything.
We talked for a while. Nothing deep. Just small things. Work. The weather. How annoying public transport was when it rained.
But every time she laughed, my phone buzzed softly.
Affection Value Increased.
Affection Value Stabilizing.
I felt like I was standing on the edge of something massive, something dangerous.
When we finished our drinks, she stood up.
"I should go," she said. "Thank you again. Really."
"No problem," I replied.
She hesitated, then smiled again. "I'm glad I met you."
She left, disappearing into the rain.
I sat there long after she was gone, staring at my phone.
The blue interface was still there.
A final line appeared.
Remember: Sincerity is the foundation.
Greed will be punished.
I leaned back in my chair and let out a shaky breath.
Five dollars.
That was all it took.
And somehow, my entire life had just changed.
***