After Xia Yanchun returned home, Shen Nian took out all the toys from the toy box and played with each one.
In the end, no more collection items were triggered, so he gave up.
Hidden tasks seemed mostly luck-based—from the tear of clouds and sea to the fate goddess mom, to the plastic toy of the wind and song bell, each one was unexpected. Actively searching for clues left him clueless, but somehow he stumbled into completing them.
Ah, system, take flight!
The next day.
The holiday was ending, and boarding students had to attend evening self-study tonight, but Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun didn’t need to. There was no rush to return to school.
By 10 a.m., Shen Nian was already packed and ready. He, Shen Yue, and Xia Yanchun took a bus to the town entrance.
Shen Nian had only finished eight test papers. He needed two more to advance to an intermediate adventurer. Thankfully, he had [High Spirits], or else he’d be completely drained.
[High Spirits] is carrying hard, bro.
[Glimmer Training] is also a decent title, but experience is abstract. Without controlled variables, it’s hard to gauge how strong [Glimmer Training] really is.
As for [Miraculous Recovery]… there was no chance to test it yet. Shen Nian wasn’t about to self-harm—maybe he’d try it if he scraped his knee someday.
Skills are never a burden. Like in games, some skills you might not use, but it’s good to have them.
On the bus, Shen Yue and Xia Yanchun sat together, chatting like close sisters about everything—recently popular dating shows, Shen Yue’s workplace complaints—never running out of topics.
Shen Nian sat behind them, resting his head on his hands, listening with a forced smile.
Hah, sis stealing her brother’s spot—what kind of sister is this?
Then who’s gonna make up for the affection I’m missing?
Leaning against the back of Xia Yanchun’s seat, Shen Nian secretly breathed in her scent. It felt a bit creepy, but he liked doing it openly when sitting with her too. Since she allowed it, sneaking a whiff was even more acceptable.
Remembering how Xia Yanchun had embarrassingly rushed downstairs yesterday, Shen Nian smirked, feeling warm inside. His hand reached forward to play with her soft, fluffy hair.
Xia Yanchun glanced back at him but ignored it, continuing her chatter with Shen Yue.
…
They arrived at the neighborhood in the afternoon.
A cool breeze swept through. The ground swept clean in the morning was now covered in fallen leaves.
Autumn had truly arrived. Cinan wasn’t as scorching as before—Shen Nian’s favorite crisp autumn days!
Autumn girl, please let me misbehave.
Following the two girls into the neighborhood, Shen Nian took a few steps before leisurely backtracking. He picked up two withered leaves and draped them over the sleeping stray cat by the security booth.
Huh? Aren’t cats supposed to be alert? Why isn’t it waking up?
If not for its little belly rising and falling, Shen Nian would’ve thought it was dead.
So he piled a dozen more leaves on the cat, turning it into a leafy scarecrow.
The security guard who witnessed it all: …
Met a real character today. What even to say about this kid.
By the twentieth leaf, the cat finally woke up. It instinctively tensed to hiss, but seeing Shen Nian, it couldn’t even be bothered. It just dashed into the bushes and flopped down.
Now Shen Nian was satisfied. If the cat didn’t get up and sleep again, he’d feel unsettled.
“Why do you always mess with this cat?” the guard finally spoke up.
This cat was well-behaved—never scratched tires or bike seats, didn’t yowl during mating season, and though it hissed if strangers got too close, it was practically a refined gentleman if left alone.
“Dunno. Developed a bond. Withdrawal symptoms now.”
“You’re something else.” The guard gave a thumbs-up.
Shen Nian chuckled, exchanged a few words, then went back to his room to organize his things.
Dinner was takeout. Seizing the last day of the holiday, Shen Nian rushed to finish his ninth test paper.
Before he knew it, night fell. Shen Nian stretched his neck at the desk.
Just one more paper to become an intermediate adventurer!
Two charm points, two stamina points.
Not that he really needed them anymore.
If only stamina could be converted into mental stats.
Stamina could be infinitely replenished with [High Spirits], and though mental energy could too, Shen Nian’s marathon study sessions sometimes left his brain exhausted. A higher mental cap would’ve been nice.
Charm was even more useless.
Bro’s charm was already maxed out. What now? If attack maxes make you a nuke, defense maxes make you a tank, does charm max turn you into a succubus?
Shen Nian was a kind soul. If possible, he’d gladly share the [Intermediate Adventurer]’s two stamina points with those in need.
For the average high school boy, two stamina points could be life-saving.
Imagine cramming all holiday, then returning to a 1000-meter P.E. test like:
Sound familiar?
This was the reality for countless boys post-holiday.
You wouldn’t want the girls in class to see you gasping after one kilometer, collapsing in defeat, right?
But with those two stamina points? Everything changes.
The delinquent’s hot girlfriend eyes you differently. The quiet, pretty class rep blushes at you. Your childhood friend who usually hates you starts reevaluating…
For some guys, this would be god-tier.
Not you, Ma Mingfan.
Wait, you actually want it? I was joking.
Leaving his room after speedrunning six subjects (essays included), Shen Nian’s head spun. He needed a ten-minute break to recharge.
Shen Yue, as usual, was sprawled on the couch. At least she wasn’t too lazy to shower, or the couch would’ve been filthy by now.
“If you really never get married, are we just gonna live together forever?”
“Huh?” Shen Yue peeked over like a curious kitten. “I’d like that, but you’ll marry someday, right? If it’s Xia Yanchun, I wouldn’t overstay. Just visit occasionally so I don’t die alone out there.”
“What? Since when am I marrying Xia Yanchun?”
“Relax, just an example. Anyone works. Right now, she’s the closest to you, no?” Shen Yue waved it off. “Don’t overthink it.”
“Can you buy life insurance? With me as beneficiary.”
“You’re asking for a beating.” Shen Yue laughed angrily. Disrespecting your elder sister? That’s a death sentence.
Just cut off his monthly gaming pass—that’ll tame him.
Speaking of which, Shen Yue glanced at him. “You really quit gaming?”
“Dropped Naruto. Playing Three Kingdoms Kill now.”
“…Just go back to Naruto.”
“What, disrespecting Three Kingdoms Kill players??” Shen Nian fumed.
“Alright, alright, go play, child.”
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for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?

s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."

to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”

his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…