The car came to a sudden stop.
Lin Wanyu went from snuggling against Gao Yuan's shoulder to sprawling directly across his lap.
It was a very misleading position.
Gao Yuan might have been able to accept it, considering how drunk she was, but her hands were restless, stirring something within him.
The most crucial part was that this pose made the driver, who was sneaking peeks in the rearview mirror, drop his jaw.
As Gao Yuan took off his suit jacket to cover Lin Wanyu, the driver couldn't hold back any longer, his voice thick with envy. "Bro, I'm so jealous of you!"
Gao Yuan, a bit embarrassed and completely baffled, stared at the driver. "Jealous of what?"
"I've seen plenty of guys get lucky picking up drunk girls at bars, but I've never seen anyone score a perfect ten like her. Remember to eat a couple of extra eggs tomorrow."
Just as Gao Yuan was about to protest, Lin Wanyu suddenly ripped off the suit jacket and sat bolt upright. She glared at the driver and declared, "I'm not drunk! And for the record, I'm the one who picked him up!"
Now it was Gao Yuan and the driver's turn to be embarrassed.
The driver was mortified at being called out by the very person he was gossiping about.
Gao Yuan's embarrassment came from seeing the look in the driver's eyes shift back to one of disdain.
'Looks like the driver thinks I'm some kind of gigolo now...'
Having vented her frustration, Lin Wanyu said no more. She simply draped Gao Yuan's suit jacket over her shoulders again and snuggled back into his embrace.
...
When the taxi arrived at their destination, Lin Wanyu got out right away, leaving Gao Yuan to pay the fare.
Before Gao Yuan got out, the driver gave him a meaningful look and chuckled. "Lust is a knife over a man's head, you know."
"All the more reason to rise to the challenge!"
He shut the car door, and Lin Wanyu, who had been waiting in the cold, immediately grabbed him and pulled him into the residential complex.
As they passed the main gate with its diligent guard, he figured this must be one of Hang City's more upscale neighborhoods. They hurried down the quiet paths, like a pair of illicit lovers.
Soon, they arrived at an apartment. Lin Wanyu entered the passcode, dragged Gao Yuan inside, and slammed the door shut—all in one fluid motion.
Before Gao Yuan could adjust to the darkness, he felt a hand grab his shirt and his lips were covered by a warm, wet kiss.
'Was I just played?'
'What happened to coming back for another drink?'
Before Gao Yuan could process it, Lin Wanyu wrapped her arms around his neck and locked her long, slender legs around his waist.
Fearing she would slip, Gao Yuan instinctively supported her full, round bottom, preventing her from crashing to the floor.
A sliver of tranquil moonlight spilled into the dark room.
Two shadows intertwined. The room filled with the sound of shuffling feet, the rustle of clothes being shed, and the occasional soft, alluring moan.
In the dead of night, utterly exhausted, Gao Yuan held the silky-smooth Lin Wanyu in his arms and drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, Gao Yuan woke groggily, rubbing his eyes.
A sweet fragrance tickled his nose—the scent of Lin Wanyu's hair.
He was suddenly wide awake as memories of the previous night came flooding back.
He looked at the sleeping Lin Wanyu beside him. Her face, fair with a rosy blush, was exquisitely beautiful. Her long lashes were perfectly curled, and she looked languid even in sleep.
This woman might seem cold and aloof, but once you got to know her, she was passionate as a wildfire.
And yet, a stunning woman like her had still been left uncherished.
He, on the other hand, was thirty and still single, unable to find a woman who wanted to marry him, or even a long-term friend with benefits.
Meanwhile, some people were constantly upgrading and replacing their partners.
This thought reminded Gao Yuan of his system's novice mission.
The next moment, his hand slid back under the covers, and the blanket trembled slightly...
"Stop it," Lin Wanyu murmured, her eyes still closed, squirming slightly.
Her protest only made Gao Yuan's movements bolder.
Clearly, her words were useless. The morning is the best time for plans, and Gao Yuan had a very specific plan in mind.
A moment later, Lin Wanyu's breathing grew heavy. She opened her bright eyes, now clouded with desire.
Glancing at Gao Yuan's wicked grin, Lin Wanyu pinched him hard. As he yelped, she flipped over and pinned him underneath her.
"What? I didn't squeeze you dry last night?"
"That was just a warmup."
"Is that so?"
As soon as the words left her lips, she ducked under the covers.
Gao Yuan once again felt that intoxicating, head-spinning sensation, but he didn't forget his goal.
As the mood between them intensified, he stroked Lin Wanyu's hair. "Do you want to be my girlfriend?"
Gao Yuan felt a distinct pause from under the covers. He knew the question was sudden. Their connection was more of a fleeting affair; bringing the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing into it was pushing his luck.
But to complete the system's mission, Gao Yuan decided to go for broke.
"What... are the... benefits... of being... your... girlfriend?"
Lin Wanyu's broken voice came from under the covers.
"The immediate benefit? Double the pleasure!"
The next moment, Lin Wanyu's head emerged from the blanket and she rested it on Gao Yuan's chest. "You said it. If it's not double the pleasure, we're breaking up instantly."
Hearing Lin Wanyu's words, Gao Yuan grew excited.
Because at that exact moment, a notification chimed in his mind.
[DING! You have a Newbie Gift Pack to claim.]
'I finally completed the mission!'
Gao Yuan had no time to linger with Lin Wanyu. While they were kissing, he closed his eyes to carefully study the system.
First, he claimed the fifty-minute mission reward.
'I need to use this reward right away. I have to satisfy Wanyu, otherwise she might actually break up with me. If the system then revokes the mission completion, I'll be screwed.'
Next, Gao Yuan watched his system panel change.
[Host]: Gao Yuan
[Level]: 1 (0/30)
Current Daily Rebate Limit: 100.
Seeing that his daily rebate limit after leveling up was a mere one hundred yuan, Gao Yuan was instantly unhappy.
He had expected too much from the system, and now disappointment washed over him. He even stopped kissing Lin Wanyu.
Sensing his mood shift, Lin Wanyu pulled back and looked at him with dissatisfaction. "You woke me up at the crack of dawn just to give me this 'double pleasure'?"
With a cry of surprise from Lin Wanyu, the battle began.
「One hour later.」
Gao Yuan quietly went to wash up. With the system updated, he had no interest in anything else. Now that Lin Wanyu was placated, it was time to properly study his system.
After he finished washing up, he saw Lin Wanyu was still sleeping soundly and stepped out onto her balcony.
The window offered a direct, sweeping view of the Qiantang River, which greatly improved his mood. A cool breeze blew as Gao Yuan lit a cigarette.
In his mind, he focused on the upgraded system.