At the start, I tricked the school beauty, and ended up with twins?

The two of them ran all the way to Haidong West Gate, then looked at each other and burst into laughter.

The happiness of men is just that simple!

Gu Yu looked up at the apartment building where Lin Xinyue lived,

then glanced at the time, and it was already eleven twenty.

After hesitating for a moment, he still sent Lin Xinyue a "Good night" message.

Unexpectedly, just as he put his phone in his pocket and was about to head back to the dorm with Laoer, Lin Xinyue replied to his message.

[Xinyue: Have you come back? /question]

[Gu Yu: I'm back. I'm right below your building now! /rubs head]

[Xinyue: Wait for me a moment! I'll come downstairs right away! /pinches face]

Seeing the last message, Gu Yu had no choice but to let Laoer go back to the dorm alone.

"Alright, I'll head back first. It's no problem if you don't come back tonight, hehe!"

Yu Shutong's face revealed a lewd smirk, as if hinting at something to Gu Yu.

"Get lost! Wishing that I won't come back, are you hoping to conveniently go solo in the dorm?"

Gu Yu expressed his disdain with a snort, shooing Yu Laoer away.

It was a bit cold at night, and Gu Yu squatted by the roadside, staring blankly at the barbecue stand across the street.

In such a time, under such an atmosphere, squatting by the roadside, one inevitably falls into a whirlwind of thoughts.

Gazing at the smoke billowing from the busy barbecue stand and the sweating proprietor, Gu Yu began to ponder what his true aspirations were.

He had once lived in poverty, and his greatest wish was to study well, get into a big internet company, have a decent monthly salary, and then lead a life of affluence and busyness.

But now, everything had been turned upside down by the system.

That ordinary dream had disappeared as well.

Because Gu Yu knew, from the moment he activated the System Mall, he was no longer ordinary.

He could no longer lead an ordinary life!

But now, he was clueless about what he was really after.

Money?

If he wished, he could exchange all his remaining hundreds of thousands of Check-in Points for shops in Modu, and just the money from renting them out each month would be enough for him to splurge!

Power and status?

If he wished, he could level up his medical skills to max, level up his Treasure Appraisal Skill to max, or even his combat skills!

There were too many! With any of the skills in the system maxed out, he could achieve a status and power beyond what ordinary people could reach!

Or was it to seek immortality and longevity?

Honestly, Gu Yu didn't want to take that path, at least not for now, perhaps because he was still young and not so acutely aware of the length of life.

Besides, cultivating immortality was too dangerous, wasn't it?

If one failed during tribulation, wouldn't they turn to ashes?

He hadn't seen any complete cultivation package in the Exchange Mall, nor any magical treasures that could help block heavenly tribulations!

So, that path was not viable either!

Then what should he do?

Something that would reflect the value of life...

These thoughts gave him a severe headache.

Or should he just work for the officials? Aren't there many novels like that recently?

To secure a recommendation for research, the protagonist revealed nuclear fusion technology or researched some sort of cosmic armor!?

But the System Mall didn't have these completely tech-oriented things!

While Gu Yu was scratching his head in frustration, a phone suddenly rang at the barbecue stand across the street.

A man in a white plaid shirt answered the call with a bitter smile on his face, occasionally nodding his head and clenching his fists, looking as if he was being scolded.

The buddies who had been drinking and chatting loudly also suddenly fell silent.

Then, Gu Yu witnessed a scene he would probably never forget in his lifetime!

Six men, setting aside the barbecue that they had only eaten half of.

They actually took out their laptop bags from the side, placed their computers on the table, and started working right there!

All six seemed to be in their late twenties, five of them wearing glasses, with two of them already having thinning hair on top!

It was obvious! They were all programmers!

Probably the boss had called them to urgently resolve issues with their project.

That's what led to this scene of impromptu overtime work.

Every one of them had a look of misery, finally having the chance to gather for a meal at night only to encounter such a problem.

One of them angrily chugged a bottle of beer and then continued to code.

There was no choice; for the sake of their salary, for the sake of living, they had to do this.

For programmers, 996 is actually a luxury, 8127 is the norm!

Watching the six programming elders struggle at the barbecue stand across the way, Gu Yu just felt his scalp itch incessantly.

He quietly pulled out his phone and took a photo of the scene.

After saving the photo, Gu Yu slipped his phone into his pocket.

It was just now that he suddenly had an epiphany!

He wanted to use his own strength to improve or change this situation as much as possible!

Fight against the 996 culture, starting with himself!

He had the system, and he was sure he could do it!

Just at that moment, a voice from the system suddenly filled his mind.

[Detected a strong desire in the host! New items available in the mall! Please check in time!]

Gu Yu's heart stirred, and he quickly checked the new items in the mall.

[Anti-996 Business Package (including a full set of corporate construction templates, system-targeted financing, revenue management systems, etc.)]

[Exchange Points: 180,000 points]

"..."

After viewing the new items, Gu Yu was silent.

Not because of the contents of the package, but because of the exchange points!

One hundred and eighty thousand points! That was just too much!

But as they say, a system-produced item must be a fine product, and Gu Yu knew the system wouldn't cheat him!

Just as he was pondering whether to exchange or not,

a figure floated up behind him, covering his eyes with her hands.

"What are you thinking about, my treasure~ Why so melancholic~"

Gu Yu's fists clenched, ready to land a heavy punch on whoever had sneak-attacked him.

But upon hearing the familiar, cutesy voice, he quickly concealed his fists.

Goodness! He almost knocked out his own girlfriend with a punch!

"Ah, just pondering life."

Gu Yu sighed deeply.

"Pondering life? Did you think about me at all? Here, this is for you!"

Lin Xinyue smiled as she squatted beside Gu Yu, taking out a beige thermos from her bosom and handing it to him.

"Uh, to be honest, I didn't think of you just now... What is this? I have a thermos."

Gu Yu's expression was awkward as he took the thermos Lin Xinyue passed to him, which was quite heavy; it must have been filled with something.

"Hmph! And here I thought you weren't a typical guy! You'd die if you just played along with me?"

Lin Xinyue pinched her little fist and hit Gu Yu on the shoulder indignantly, but the force was so light it couldn't even pass for a massage.

"Who said the thermos is for you! After you drink the rock sugar pear inside, you have to give the cup back to me!"

"Rock sugar pear?"

Gu Yu was stunned, quickly opening the lid, and immediately a sweet, fragrant smell wafted out, seemingly mixed with the scent of jasmine flowers.

"Yes! You were so busy today, you probably didn't have a proper meal, did you? I specially made this for you! Aunt Bai says that one should eat more pears in autumn!"

Lin Xinyue explained with her lips pouted, clearly dissatisfied with Gu Yu's initial response!

"Oh! You've really gone to so much trouble! I adore you!"

Gu Yu had intended to say that he had eaten at the hospital, but swallowed the words before they left his lips; he didn't want to disappoint Lin Xinyue again!

"That's more like it! A kiss!"

Lin Xinyue nodded in satisfaction and then, taking advantage of Gu Yu's unpreparedness, pecked him on the cheek.

By the time Gu Yu realized, she had already turned her head away bashfully.

"!!!"

The scene on the screen saver appeared once more!

Gu Yu felt an excitement he couldn't express in words.

But this time, he decided he couldn't be at a loss!

"Lin Xinyue."

Gu Yu softly called out her name.

"Huh?"

Lin Xinyue turned her head in confusion, her face as red as a monkey's behind.

The next second, her eyes widened in shock.

Because Gu Yu's lips were already pressing against hers.

"Mmm~"

Lin Xinyue silently closed her eyes.

At the very last moment before her eyes were completely shut,

Gu Yu's phone slipped from his pocket onto the ground with a clatter, and the screen saver from their first stolen kiss suddenly lit up.

Lin Xinyue felt as if Modu's sky, where fireworks were forbidden, was suddenly ablaze with them.