System Logs and Smoke-like Memories

"Pretty much. Treating you to lunch is no problem—just help me smooth things over with Luo Xi." Ye Chuan chatted casually with An Shiyu, though he didn’t mention anything about the system. He only said that he’d successfully rented out one of his properties at a pretty good rate.

"So, you really got dumped?" An Shiyu swayed slightly as she walked beside him. She’d overheard Luo Xi’s conversation with Ye Chuan earlier and couldn’t resist asking.

"What else?" Ye Chuan replied.

"True. A man with nothing going for him except his face." An Shiyu nodded in agreement. In her eyes, Ye Chuan’s only redeeming quality was his looks.

Oh, right—he was also a decent cook. Both she and Luo Xi had tried his food before.

Ye Chuan smirked. "I’m this handsome and single. Why don’t you take me off the market? Just treat me to meals every day."

"Tch. I already have someone," An Shiyu said, shoving her hands into her pockets.

"Who?" Ye Chuan was surprised. How could someone with her terrible personality have a partner?

"The top student in our grade."

Ye Chuan seemed to recognize the guy and frowned. "Doesn’t he already have a girlfriend? Some rich girl, right?"

"I’m the side chick."

"Huh?" Sometimes, Ye Chuan couldn’t follow An Shiyu’s train of thought, even though they’d known each other since middle school.

As they walked back to the classroom side by side, Ye Chuan immediately spotted Luo Xi sitting at her desk, arranging her textbooks. The moment their eyes met, she stuck out her tongue at him and turned her head away, ignoring him.

Clearly, she was still upset.

The classroom was mostly empty. Ye Chuan took his seat and pulled out his phone, opening the Universal Landlord APP before tapping into Bai Qianshuang’s room.

Inside a miniature room model, a chibi version of Bai Qianshuang sat cross-legged on the bed, her big eyes blinking—adorable beyond words. In the corner, Ye Chuan noticed a log recording recent events:

[Bai Qianshuang practiced cultivation for a while, then got hungry.]

[Bai Qianshuang practiced cultivation for a while, then got even hungrier.]

[Bai Qianshuang resisted temptation and focused on cultivation.]

[Bai Qianshuang achieved mental clarity.]

[Bai Qianshuang ate all the breakfast on the table.]

...

[Bai Qianshuang is still hungry.]

...

Ye Chuan: "..."

If she was hungry, she should just eat properly. But her appetite was way beyond what he’d expected.

Maybe her body burned energy too fast, and without spiritual energy to replenish it, she got hungrier more easily?

[You have obtained an item related to Bai Qianshuang. Would you like to retrieve it?] A pop-up appeared.

Ye Chuan was surprised he’d gotten another item related to Bai Qianshuang today. He wondered what would happen if he didn’t retrieve it.

After tapping "No," he noticed a backpack icon in the app. Inside, a golden pill had appeared.

Ye Chuan’s eyes lit up.

Could this be… medicine to cure his condition?

He tapped on it, and a detailed window popped up:

[Item: Tiger Strength Pill

Low-grade elixir. Consuming one permanently increases physical strength. Effects diminish with repeated use.]

[Note: Increasing Bai Qianshuang’s favorability will unlock rarer related items.]

Seeing that it wasn’t a cure, Ye Chuan felt a pang of disappointment. But since it promised a permanent strength boost, it was still way better than yesterday’s belt.

He clicked "Retrieve," and a golden pill materialized in his palm, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

Tossing it into his mouth, an indescribable, revolting stench hit him—like week-old kitchen garbage left to rot. But the taste quickly transformed into a mild herbal sweetness, spreading warmth throughout his body.

"Crack." Ye Chuan flexed his arm, unsure how much stronger he’d actually gotten. He glanced at the short-haired girl nearby. "Oi, Shiyu, let me lift you."

"Not interested."

He turned to Luo Xi. "Luo, my beauty, can I carry you?"

"Hmph." Luo Xi snorted, still ignoring him. Clearly, she hadn’t forgiven him yet.

With both friends refusing, Ye Chuan rubbed his chin and eyed his desk, stuffed with university textbooks. It wasn’t light, but lifting it with one hand should’ve been impossible.

He gripped the edge and—whoosh—the desk rose effortlessly, as if it were made of foam.

"No way?!" The sudden surge in strength stunned him.

"What’s with the freakout?" An Shiyu asked.

"I don’t eat beef."

An Shiyu: "?"

Are you stupid?

Just as Ye Chuan set the desk down and took his seat, a group entered the classroom. Leading them was a curly-haired woman with bright red lips, arms crossed, followed by three or four guys.

Their eyes immediately locked onto Ye Chuan by the window.

"..." The woman frowned but strode toward him anyway.

"Did you hear? Zhao Ruyan broke up with Ye Chuan. Rumor has it she’s with Huang Haotian now."

"Who knows? Where do you guys even get this gossip?"

"Whatever. Grab the popcorn—this’ll be fun."

Whispers spread as the classmates turned to watch. Zhao Ruyan stopped at Ye Chuan’s desk, her frown deepening.

Meanwhile, Ye Chuan propped his chin on his hand, gazing melancholically out the window at a perfect 45-degree angle.

"Ye Chuan! Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?!" Zhao Ruyan kicked his desk.

Ye Chuan withdrew his gaze, plucking an imaginary strand of wind from the air.

"Our fate has run its course, fair lady. Why cling to what’s already gone? Let the wind carry it away."

Silence.

"Bullshit! I dumped you, you hear me?!" Zhao Ruyan exploded. His words made it sound like she was the one heartbroken and chasing after him.

"Give back everything I ever gave you!"

"Feelings?"

"Money! You mooched off me for a whole month!" Zhao Ruyan snapped. "I thought you actually owned a building, but it’s just some rundown place in the slums. You liar! I want ten times back!"

Ye Chuan scratched his head. "A month’s worth of meals… probably in the toilet by now. You might find some leftovers if you dig around. Ten times might be tough, but I can send you the toilet’s GPS coordinates later?"

Zhao Ruyan’s fists clenched—hard.

Just then, a familiar ponytail, carrying the scent of shampoo, stepped in front of Ye Chuan.

Luo Xi shielded him, glaring at Zhao Ruyan and her entourage. "Zhao Ruyan, you never had pure intentions with Ye Chuan from the start. How can you call him a liar?"

"And he treated you well, didn’t he? Ran errands, did your assignments, wrote reports for you!"

"You’re the one who cheated. That’s the real problem here."

"I don’t care! Luo Xi, get out of my way!"