Seeing Wu Guangming wasn't saying anything, Li Zhiyi didn't plan on staying either. After all, she had work to get back to.
"I have to get back to work, so I can't stay and chat. I'm heading off."
"Okay, you go on ahead," Wu Guangming said dejectedly.
'Huh?'
Wu Guangming's attitude took Li Zhiyi by surprise.
She had expected him to persist, to keep asking her out to dinner or a movie. She never thought he'd let her go so easily.
"Alright, I'm off then. We'll talk again when we have the chance," Li Zhiyi said with a small smile.
"I'm sorry for bothering you all this time. I'll be going now. I wish you happiness."
Wu Guangming turned, got into his car, and left, decisive and final.
Li Zhiyi was completely bewildered.
'Did he misunderstand something because I had lunch with Brother Jiang?'
'If I'd known this would solve the problem, I would have just asked another male colleague for help.'
「...」
Driving away from the 4S dealership, Lin Jiang gave Xu Lin a call.
"What are you up to?" Lin Jiang asked, breaking the ice.
"I'm at my shop," Xu Lin said.
"I was going to stop by your place for noodles at lunch, but it was too crowded, so I couldn't get a seat. If I remember correctly, the person helping you watch the shop is your ex-wife's older sister, right?"
"I had some things to take care of this morning, so I asked her to come and help out."
"You're already divorced, yet you're on such good terms with her sister. Are you getting any funny ideas?" Xu Lin said with a laugh.
"She's really pretty, though. Most importantly, she has a kind face—much better than your ex-wife."
Since the divorce was final and Lin Jiang had no lingering feelings for the marriage, Xu Lin didn't feel the need to hold back.
"Where is your mind going? She has a class nearby tonight and was just helping me out. Don't get the wrong idea," Lin Jiang said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Hey, I was just kidding." Xu Lin laughed, then changed the subject. "Are you calling at this hour because you need something?"
"It's about the parking garage. I'd like to use your spots."
"Give me your license plate number, and I'll call building management. It needs to be entered into the system, so you'll have to wait about half an hour before you can park there."
"No problem. I'll text it to you in a bit so you don't have to remember it."
"Alright. You should know where my spots are, right? The three connected ones. You can park in any of them."
"OK."
After settling the matter, Lin Jiang hung up and sent her the temporary license plate number.
He'd have to register it again once he got his official plates, but that wasn't a big deal.
After hanging up with Xu Lin, Lin Jiang called Chen Jingxian to check on the shop and let her know he was heading back.
Coincidentally, right after he hung up with Chen Jingxian, a notification tone sounded in his mind.
[Task Complete: Reward: Bad Luck Card x1, 30 EXP]
'It worked!'
'My ultimate move is still pretty effective.'
'As long as the guy isn't a total simp, this trick is foolproof.'
'After all, a true simp would just double down.'
He glanced at his experience points. He now had 110. Time to pick a treasure when he got back!
'I wonder what I'll get this time.'
[You have gained the favor of the 4S dealership saleswoman. Charm +1]
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ—
Lin Jiang's phone vibrated. It was a message from Li Zhiyi.
Li Zhiyi: "Brother Jiang, Wu Guangming really stopped pursuing me! Your method actually worked!"
Since he was driving and couldn't type, Lin Jiang sent a voice message back.
Lin Jiang: ▶︎ı||ııı||ı|ı||ııı||ı| 15s
Li Zhiyi: "Mhm, thank you so much, Brother Jiang! When you have time, you have to give me a chance to treat you to a meal."
Lin Jiang: ▶︎ı||ııı||ı|ı| 4s
Li Zhiyi: "Mhm."
After the brief exchange, Lin Jiang put his phone away, and a new notification appeared in his mind.
[NPC: Li Zhiyi]
[Affinity: 20]
A 20-point increase in Affinity was quite satisfactory to Lin Jiang. That wasn't a small amount.
After all, Xu Lin had only given him 10 points the first time.
Leisurely, Lin Jiang drove back to his residential complex.
He tested it at the main gate. The temporary plate was recognized, and the gate opened automatically. Lin Jiang drove into the underground garage and circled once before finding Xu Lin's parking spots.
To make it easier for Xu Lin to park, Lin Jiang parked in the middle spot, leaving the easier-to-access spots on either side for her.
Once the car was parked, Lin Jiang looked at the 110 experience points on his panel, rubbing his hands together in anticipation of choosing his treasure.
'Choose treasure.'
His mind went dark, and three flashy beams of light appeared, which then transformed into Treasure Chests.
After the Treasure Chests opened, they transformed into three certificates.
A closer look revealed three property deeds!
Treasure Chest 1: Brocade Splendor City, one 77-square-meter apartment (fully furnished, includes one parking space).
Treasure Chest 2: Jiangnan Imperial Mansion, one 102-square-meter apartment (fully furnished, includes two parking spaces).
Treasure Chest 3: Century Triumph, one 681-square-meter apartment (fully furnished, includes three parking spaces).
'The reward is this?!'
When he was looking to buy a house before, he had researched all the residential complexes in Zhonghai, big and small.
In terms of quality and environment, Brocade Splendor City was a slight step down from his current place, but it was in a good school district, so its price was a bit higher.
Jiangnan Imperial Mansion, however, was a whole level higher. Not only was the complex's environment excellent, but its associated school district was also prestigious. Many middle-class families chose this complex.
But compared to Century Triumph, both of those complexes were small fry.
Because Brocade Splendor City and Jiangnan Imperial Mansion were within reach for ordinary people if they worked hard enough. When you mentioned them to others, no one would be particularly envious; they didn't have much of a presence.
But Century Triumph was a different story!
This was one of Zhonghai's top-tier luxury residences! Not only was it in the city's CBD, but it also had a view of the river at night. Even many celebrities and business tycoons bought property here!
In terms of luxury and class, it ranked in the top three in Zhonghai and was a nationally famous luxury residence!
It was also the kind of place where an ordinary person could work their entire life and still not afford a single bathroom.
Most importantly, the 681-square-meter size seemed to be the largest floor plan available!
Faced with such a floor plan, it would be a lie to say he wasn't drooling.
But since it appeared as a treasure-selection option, he could only look from afar and not touch.
As things stood, it was possible for him to draw Brocade Splendor City or Jiangnan Imperial Mansion.
But a luxury residence like Century Triumph? He shouldn't even think about it. The probability was lower than in Tencent's gacha games.
Lin Jiang's brow furrowed.
'Can't panic now. I have to stay calm!'
'I'm a top-tier, die-hard player. There's no such thing as a perfect program in this world; there's bound to be an unknown bug!'
'It's just a matter of whether I can find it!'
Brainstorming...
Suddenly!
Lin Jiang's eyes lit up.
'What does the Bad Luck Card do?'
[After using the Bad Luck Card, the target's bad luck will be magnified 100 times for five minutes.]
'Just as I thought. Its use is similar to the Lucky Card, but the effect is the complete opposite.'
'According to your description, it can be used on any target, right?'
[Yes.]
'If I were to use this Bad Luck Card on you, how would you handle it, my good sir?'
Tongzi: ???
'Are you even human?'
The system didn't reply, but Lin Jiang felt this was a viable path. At the very least, he could take a gamble.
'Proof: The opponent's bad luck has increased. Therefore, according to the Pythagorean theorem, the Daliyuan Effect, the axiom that a lonely boy must have a beautiful female neighbor, and the theory that Zelda is the greatest game of all time, it can be proven that my own luck has increased.'
'Conclusion: Bad Luck Card ≈ Lucky Card.'
'Time to roll the dice. Turn this bicycle into a motorcycle.'
'This is no time to hesitate!'
'Use Bad Luck Card.'
[Please select a target.]
'Game of Life System.'
This time, there was no immediate response from the system.
'Tongzi, say something! Don't scare me! Tongzi, don't go! How will I live without you...'
[Target selected successfully. Bad Luck Card is now in effect: 4:59:59...]
'It worked!'
'Sorry to put you through that. I swear, next time I'll follow the rules and won't exploit any more bugs.'
'Choose treasure!'
An ostentatiously dazzling light flickered back and forth over the three Treasure Chests before finally settling on one.
[Treasure Selection Successful. You have obtained: one 681-square-meter apartment at Century Triumph (fully furnished, includes three parking spaces).]
'Holy crap!'
'Big Brother Tongzi, thanks for doing me a solid.'
'Tonight, I'll definitely go to a crossroads and burn some offerings for you.'
[190 million in dedicated housing funds has been transferred to the player's account. Please check your balance.]
Lin Jiang took out his phone and glanced at it. The dedicated housing funds had arrived instantly.
*Phew...*
Leaning back against the seat, Lin Jiang let out a breath. An unprecedented sense of relaxation washed over him.
This feeling was different from when he bought the car.
It was as if roots had suddenly sprouted from his feet, burrowing deep into the soil of this city...