When Chen Zhi returned home, the house was quiet.
Lao Chen and Comrade Zhang Guifang hadn't gotten off work yet.
These days, although being a bank teller and a civil servant were respectable jobs, overtime was the norm. Especially during the end-of-month inventory, Zhang Guifang often had to work late into the night.
Chen Zhi took off his T-shirt, which was full of greasy smoke smell, threw it into the washing machine, and ducked into the bathroom for a cold shower.
The cold water washed over his body, taking away the heat and making his mind clearer.
Handing the barbecue stall over to Li Zhiyi was a well-thought-out decision.
First, he really didn't care for that little bit of money.
For him now, there were too many ways to make money.
The appreciation of Bitcoin and the equity in NoteDance would yield far more than selling skewers in the smoky night market.
Second, Li Zhiyi was too weak.
This weakness wasn't just financial, but also in her personality.
If he didn't push her, she might spend her whole life hiding in her shell, letting others bully her.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Giving her a way to make a living and letting her navigate society would change her fate far more than just giving her money directly.
As for that twenty percent profit...
It was purely an excuse to let the girl accept it with peace of mind.
Chen Zhi walked out of the bathroom rubbing his hair and took a can of cola from the fridge.
With a pop, he pulled the tab.
Bubbles surged.
He walked to the desk and turned on the computer.
The screen flickered, reflecting his slightly youthful face.
The current stock market was on the eve of a massive bull market.
Although he didn't plan to focus mainly on stock trading, using his advantage of foresight to make a few swing trades and earn some pocket money would be a breeze.
He skillfully opened the stock trading software and entered the codes.
Several candlestick charts popped up.
They were all massive growth stocks that would multiply in value by over ten times in the coming years.
Chen Zhi narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping on the keyboard as he formulated his next plan.
Just then, the sound of a key turning came from outside the door.
Oh, I'm exhausted. Day in and day out, my back is about to break.
Zhang Guifang's voice floated in, accompanied by the clicking of high heels.
Alright, alright, hurry up and cook. Our son must be hungry.
Chen Jun's voice followed closely behind.
Chen Zhi closed the stock software, switched to the desktop, and casually opened a game of Minesweeper.
The bedroom door was pushed open.
Zhang Guifang poked her head in. Seeing Chen Zhi sitting in front of the computer, her brows immediately furrowed.
Chen Zhi! Why are you playing on the computer again? Have you finished your homework?
Chen Zhi clicked the mouse without looking back.
Finished.
Finished? Bring it here for me to check!
Zhang Guifang walked in wearing slippers, rubbing her sore shoulder while reaching to rummage through Chen Zhi's backpack.
Chen Jun followed behind, carrying a bag of freshly bought steamed buns and cold dishes.
Come on, Guifang, the kid is on summer vacation. What's wrong with letting him play for a bit?
Lao Chen was a typical henpecked husband. He usually had no status at home, and it was only at times like this that he dared to speak up slightly for his son.
Keep spoiling him, why don't you!
Zhang Guifang glared at her husband, but she didn't actually rummage through the bag. Instead, she sat down next to Chen Zhi, her nose suddenly twitching.
Hmm? What's that smell?
She leaned in and sniffed Chen Zhi.
Why do you smell like cumin? And greasy smoke?
Chen Zhi's heart skipped a beat.
Did he forget to use body wash when he showered just now?
Oh, I was hungry earlier, so I went downstairs and bought a grilled gluten skewer to eat.
Chen Zhi lied without changing his expression.
The food outside is so dirty! It's all gutter oil!
Zhang Guifang immediately blew her top. She poked Chen Zhi's forehead and scolded, Is there no food at home? You just had to go eat that junk food! I think you just have too much money burning a hole in your pocket!
Chen Zhi let her poke him without arguing back.
He couldn't avoid this scolding anyway.
Alright, Mom, I'm hungry. When are we eating?
He used the ultimate subject-changing technique.
Zhang Guifang then remembered she hadn't cooked yet. She sighed and stood up.
Eat, eat, eat, that's all you know! If you can't get into college later on, you'll be feeding on the cold northwest wind!
She walked into the kitchen, grumbling.
Chen Jun winked at his son and secretly slipped him a sausage he was holding.
Pad your stomach with this first. Your mom's inventory was short by five hundred yuan today, so she's full of anger. Don't provoke her.
Chen Zhi took the sausage, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Although Lao Chen was a bit of a pushover, he was truly good to him.
Dad, I want to get a new computer.
Chen Zhi tore open the sausage wrapper and said while eating.
This computer was bought a few years ago, and its specs were a bit outdated.
Chen Jun's hands, which were untying his tie, paused.
A new computer? It's perfectly fine, why do you want to change it?
He looked toward the kitchen in a tough spot and lowered his voice, You know your mom manages all the money in the house...
I have money.
Chen Zhi took a bank card out of his drawer.
It was the money left over from selling his Bitcoin earlier. Aside from the part he invested in NoteDance, there were still hundreds of thousands sitting in the card.
Chen Jun froze.
He looked at the card, then at his son.
Where did you get money? Didn't your mom take all your New Year's money?
Chen Zhi had already prepared an excuse.
I won it on a scratch-off ticket.
A scratch-off ticket?
Chen Jun looked completely bewildered.
I went out to play with Wanwan before, bought a scratch-off, and won a hundred thousand yuan.
Chen Zhi didn't want to explain too much; explaining too much would just bring trouble.
Anyway, this money is enough to buy a computer. Just help me tell Mom so she doesn't think I'm doing anything bad.
Holding the card, Chen Jun's hand trembled slightly.
Al... alright.
Chen Jun swallowed hard and shoved the card back into Chen Zhi's hand.
But we have to find the right time to tell your mom about this, otherwise she'll definitely think you robbed a bank.
Just as they were talking, Zhang Guifang's roar came from the kitchen.
Chen Jun! Are you done peeling the garlic yet! What are you dawdling for!
Coming, coming!
Chen Jun replied like a conditioned reflex, threw his tie aside, and eagerly trotted into the kitchen to peel garlic.
Chen Zhi watched his dad's back and shook his head helplessly.
With this kind of status in the family, he could basically kiss any chance of turning things around goodbye.
After dinner.
Chen Zhi returned to his room and lay on his bed.
The continuous chirping of cicadas outside the window was a bit annoying.
He took out his phone and checked the time.
9:30 PM.
At this hour, Li Zhiyi should still be preparing those ingredients.
He wondered if that timid girl could handle it.
Chen Zhi rolled over and stared at the chandelier on the ceiling.
Forget it.
Since he decided to let her fly on her own, he shouldn't worry blindly.
Taking a couple of falls wouldn't be a bad thing.
Just then, his phone suddenly vibrated.
It was a text message.
From an unknown number.
[Chen Zhi, thank you. I will work hard.]
No signature.
But Chen Zhi knew who it was.
He looked at that short line of text on the screen, and Li Zhiyi's timid face appeared in his mind, along with those eyes that grew exceptionally bright amidst the smoky fire.
The corners of Chen Zhi's mouth turned up slightly.
His fingers quickly typed a few words on the keyboard, and he hit send.
[Cut the crap, just remember to split the money.]

with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!

agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)

he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...

ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"