Zhou Yi attended Huaihai University, a relatively ordinary second-tier institution.
Having grown up in Huaihai, he didn’t apply to universities far from home and chose to stay local for his studies.
Most of the students at Huaihai University were locals, with only a handful coming from other provinces.
Today happened to be the day Huaihai University started its monthly break.
After reviewing the system interface and understanding how it worked, Zhou Yi headed toward his part-time job.
The original Zhou Yi was an orphan, with no parents or family to rely on. As a result, he adopted a work-study lifestyle at an early age.
During winter and summer vacations, as well as on weekends, he worked near the university town to earn money. The workplace provided a rest area, so Zhou Yi, who had no home to return to, chose to stay there. This way, he wouldn’t be left without a place to go during breaks.
“Sister Man, I’m on break now.”
After putting down his backpack, Zhou Yi walked straight into the kitchen. In the somewhat cramped kitchen, a woman was busy cooking.
Hearing Zhou Yi’s voice, the woman turned her head and smiled warmly. “You’re here, Xiao Yi. Have something to eat first.”
The moment Zhou Yi heard her voice, a tingling sensation spread through him.
Her voice was alluring, carrying the charm unique to a mature woman.
Zhou Yi looked up at her. She was dressed simply in a shirt and fitted denim skirt, slightly bent over the cutting board as she chopped vegetables.
Even in such simple attire, her stunning figure was impossible to hide. The woman had a curvaceous body that could make anyone’s heart race and imagination run wild, even just from her silhouette.
Her hair was casually tied into a loose bun, with a strand of hair softly falling by her ear. When she lowered her head to speak, she exuded an air of unparalleled gentleness.
The rhythmic sound of chopping vegetables on the cutting board brought Zhou Yi back to his senses.
The place where Zhou Yi worked part-time was a fast-food restaurant, and the owner, You Man, was the woman standing before him.
You Man was a gentle and beautiful woman. Her looks were stunningly attractive, with delicate features that could captivate anyone at first glance. Yet, her personality was down-to-earth and kind.
She had lost her husband at an early age, becoming a widow while she was still young. Alone, she managed the fast-food restaurant, earning her the title of the "Goddess of Beauty" on this street.
In the past, there were tales of tofu vendors famed for their beauty; now, there was the gorgeous restaurant owner, drawing crowds of people just to catch a glimpse of her.
Even as a widow, a woman like You Man continued to attract countless admirers.
However, after experiencing the loss of her husband, she had no intention of remarrying.
She understood clearly that what those men admired was merely her outward appearance. She only wanted to live a simple life, running her small restaurant. She rejected every man’s advances without hesitation.
Ironically, her rejections only seemed to attract more admirers.
Among them were wealthy individuals and prominent businessmen, all eager to conquer this stunning beauty.
But You Man didn’t care about any of that. She wasn’t interested in money, nor did she want to become someone’s plaything.
She preferred to guard her modest fast-food restaurant. At least the money she earned was clean, and spending it brought her peace of mind.
Zhou Yi’s arrival at the restaurant had been somewhat of a coincidence.
You Man hired him partly because she was short-staffed, partly because Zhou Yi was honest and reliable, and partly because his hardships reminded her of her own past. And so, she decided to keep him on as a waiter at her restaurant.
Zhou Yi had been working at her shop for over a year, and You Man treated him well, almost like a younger brother.
She was a kind-hearted woman.
Back then, Zhou Yi had just finished his college entrance exams and was out earning money for his university tuition.
Seeing Zhou Yi, a fresh high school graduate, working hard to earn his tuition, You Man would occasionally give him a raise out of kindness.
When she said she was giving him a raise, it was actually just her way of providing him with extra support.
What kind of raise could a waiter at a fast-food restaurant expect?
So Zhou Yi understood that this was You Man taking care of his pride and self-esteem, offering him help under the guise of a pay raise.
In Zhou Yi's world, You Man was one of the few people who treated him well.
“Detected a B-level target character.”
The system's voice chimed in at the right moment.
Zhou Yi glanced at You Man's silhouette and asked silently, "Are you referring to Sister Man as the B-level character?"
077: "Yes, she is a target character."
Zhou Yi thought about the experiences of the original protagonist. If he were the original protagonist and had the chance to soar in the future, he would probably feel grateful to You Man and repay her.
So pursuing her wouldn't be against the original protagonist's wishes, right?
Zhou Yi asked again, "What does this B-level mean? Are target characters ranked by level?"
"C-level characters: 1 Affection Point can be exchanged for 1000 yuan, attribute points increased by 1."
"B-level characters: 1 Affection Point can be exchanged for 5000 yuan, attribute points increased by 5."
"A-level characters: 1 Affection Point can be exchanged for yuan, attribute points increased by 10."
"S-level characters: 1 Affection Point can be exchanged for yuan, attribute points increased by 15."
"SS-level characters: 1 Affection Point can be exchanged for yuan, attribute points increased by 20."
"SSS-level characters: 1 Affection Point can be exchanged for yuan, attribute points increased by 30."
Zhou Yi was increasingly astonished: "If I could make an SSS-level girl fall in love with me, wouldn't I become a millionaire?"
077: "SSS-level hosts are hard to come by, and you're unlikely to encounter them until you reach level 50. The higher the quality of the target character, the harder they are to encounter, and the more difficult they are to pursue."
Zhou Yi lowered his head in disappointment. It seemed he still had to work diligently, but a B-level character wasn't bad, especially since the person was You Man, so he felt no psychological burden.
Zhou Yi pondered the daily interactions between the original protagonist and You Man and came to a decision.
You Man wiped her hands and emerged from the kitchen, carrying the prepared dishes to the table, gently inviting Zhou Yi and the cook, Old Hai, to come and eat.
This small fast-food restaurant only had the three of them; more people weren't needed. Old Hai was a quiet and reserved man, honest and steady, and at the dining table, it was mostly You Man and Zhou Yi who talked.
Usually, it was You Man asking questions and Zhou Yi answering.
The woman was like a gentle older sister, concerned about Zhou Yi's school life.
"How's Xiao Yi doing at school lately?"
"I'm doing well, Sister You."
"You're just a sophomore now, don't put too much pressure on yourself. You're too thin; you must not be eating well at school. Here, have some meat."
"Thank you, Sister You."
"Why are you being polite with me? Oh, by the way, if any customers come later, you take care of them first. I'm worried you won't be able to handle working late into the night."
In the shop, You Man and Zhou Yi usually took turns working shifts.
Zhou Yi worked the 5 PM to 9 PM shift, while You Man handled the 9 PM to midnight shift.
You Man thought Zhou Yi was still young, and staying up too late might be bad for his health. Plus, he was still in college and probably had plenty of assignments to complete. So, she suggested switching shifts with him.
What she didn’t know was that many of Zhou Yi’s assignments weren’t just for himself.
According to You Man’s original hiring standards, Zhou Yi was supposed to work from 5 PM to midnight. But she had relaxed the requirement to ease his burden.
Zhou Yi paused while eating: "How could I let that happen? I wouldn’t feel comfortable with you working such late hours alone, Sister Man. Don’t worry about me; I’ll be fine. If I can’t even handle carrying a few plates, then what good would I be when I graduate and start working?"
In the past, some drunk men would come to the shop late at night and try to harass You Man. She had no choice but to call the police. After hiring Old Hai and Zhou Yi, those incidents became less frequent.
You Man was amused by Zhou Yi’s words, her alluring eyes curving into a smile, the corners slightly upturned. Her gaze was like a spring stream, captivating and enchanting.
You Man was undeniably beautiful, but it wasn’t just her face that drew people in. It was her unique charm—a blend of gentleness and the mature allure shaped by her life experiences.
It was a kind of elegance that only a mature woman possessed.
Zhou Yi’s face flushed slightly. In his previous life, he hadn’t interacted much with women of this age. He hadn’t expected a 30-year-old woman to be so captivating.
Seeing Zhou Yi’s insistence, You Man didn’t reject his offer. She smiled softly and said, "Alright, let’s finish the shift together then. If it’s not too busy later at night, you can work on your assignments in the shop. It shouldn’t be too hectic."
He nodded with a grin. "Alright, I’m done eating. Sister Man, take your time. I’ll head to the kitchen to wash the dishes."
You Man was about to stop Zhou Yi, but Old Hai suddenly interjected, "Let him go. He wants to help you out, so don’t stop him. This kid can only express his gratitude to you this way."
You Man froze for a moment. So, was this his way of showing appreciation—helping her with the dishwashing?
She glanced at her slightly rough hands. Perhaps Zhou Yi had noticed them too.
The warmth in You Man’s eyes deepened, as if Zhou Yi seemed especially gentle today.
In the past, it was usually You Man who handled the dishwashing in the shop. This time, Zhou Yi not only worried about her safety working alone late at night but also insisted on helping her with the chores. It had been a long time since You Man felt this kind of heartfelt care.
It wasn’t driven by her looks or her body, nor was it motivated by any ulterior motives. It was simply genuine concern for her as a person—like family.
For You Man, it was a rare kind of warmth.
She looked at Zhou Yi busy in the kitchen and a happy smile appeared on her face.
Having someone to care for her wasn’t so bad after all. At least it kept her from feeling like she was living as an empty shell.
Her kindness toward Zhou Yi wasn’t just because she saw a reflection of her younger self in him; it was also a way for her to rediscover a sense of purpose in life.
At least she was helping others, making her life not entirely meaningless.
[You Man's heart value increased by 1, wealth increased by 5000, attribute points increased by 5.]
le for a sister-in-law. But Xu Mu couldn’t bring himself to rejoice. The reason? He had transmigrated into the brainless villain of a novel—one who abused his wife, forced the Dragon King’s sister to live in a doghouse, and ended up having his ashes scattered upon the Dragon King’s return. Fortunately, Xu Mu awakened the "Justice System," and he was determined to rewrite his doomed fate. A wife should be cherished, and of course, his sister-in-law deserved to sleep in the villa’s cozy bed. When the Dragon King finally returned, he was greeted by a loving and harmonious family. Xu Mu soon realized that aside from the Dragon King, countless other protagonists began emerging—all targeting him—forcing him to fight back. You have a few breathtakingly beautiful senior sisters? Sorry, but they’re my senior sisters now. You’re a retired soldier king searching for your first love? Too bad—your "white moonlight" already sees me as hers. …
m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!
For the sake of his unrequited love, his ex-girlfriend abandoned him at the altar, indirectly causing the death of his parents. Just when he thought his life was plunged into darkness, a clueless yet beautiful girl unexpectedly took him in. Looking back, he realized how many hidden gems had always been by his side. A childhood friend who had secretly loved him for over a decade, a stunning but socially clueless school beauty, a mischievous and playful girl who lived for chaos... His ex, filled with regret, pleaded: "I was wrong—can we go back to how things were?" Before he could respond, the girl stepped in front of Ye Shuang and coldly declared, "If you didn’t cherish him, then he’s mine now." Also known as: "After Losing My Job, I Was Picked Up by a Hidden Gem," "The School Beauty I Raised," and "Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Rich Girls."
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.