The moment Kobe spoke, the woman in sunglasses tilted her head, studying him with open suspicion.
"Seriously?" she said. "That line? Isn't that a bit outdated?"
She slipped off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of bright, lively eyes. Her lips, soft and slightly glossy, curved into the faintest hint of a smirk, though there was clear irritation behind it.
Kobe felt a flicker of guilt under her gaze. Before he could respond, the system in his mind quietly pulled up her details.
[Name: Sophia Laurent]
[Age: 19]
[Affinity: 25]
[Identity: Dance student, Oxford Academy of Arts]
[Height: 168 cm]
[Weight: 49 kg]
He couldn't help it, his eyes lingered for a moment. Long legs wrapped in black stockings, a slim waist, a figure that carried itself with effortless grace.
'So she's a dancer… that explains it,' he murmured under his breath.
The silence stretched just a little too long.
Sophia's brows drew together as she noticed him looking her over, her expression cooling further. As one of the most sought-after girls in her department, she was used to attention, especially from rich, confident men. Someone like Kobe? He didn't even seem to belong in that category.
[ Sophia Laurent: Favorability -10 ]
[ Sophia Laurent: Favorability -10 ]
Kobe blinked.
The number in his mind dropped sharply, from 25 to just 5.
He almost choked.
'All I did was look… how did it drop this much?'
'Does she hate guys spending money on her or something?'
He straightened quickly.
"Miss, I think you've misunderstood."
His tone turned earnest, almost hurried.
"I just got admitted to Oxford High. Today's actually my first day in the city."
"I don't really know my way around yet, so I thought… maybe I could make a friend. Ask you about places worth visiting."
His eyes were sincere, completely unguarded.
But Sophia didn't buy it.
It wasn't arrogance. It was experience. Over the years, every guy who approached her had some hidden agenda. Flirting, confessing, showing off, it always led somewhere.
"You can find places like that online," she replied coolly.
A brief pause.
"I don't need friends. Sorry."
She left the harsher part unsaid, especially not someone like you. Still, the meaning lingered in the air.
Most people would've backed off by now.
Kobe didn't.
Glancing at the stubborn little "5" still floating in his mind, he decided to push once more.
"Alright… maybe I came on too strong," he said with an awkward smile. "Let me at least buy you a coffee. I'll leave after that."
Before she could refuse again, he had already pulled out his phone, scrolling quickly through the café's menu.
He wasn't here to make friends anyway.
This was a test.
Sophia tapped her fingers lightly against the table, watching him. Her initial annoyance softened, replaced by mild curiosity, and a trace of amusement.
"You really want to buy me coffee?" she asked.
Kobe nodded.
"Fine then," she said, leaning back slightly. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"There's one here that costs 2,888. I've never tried it."
She tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Can you afford that?"
It was a trap, plain and simple. She expected him to hesitate, to laugh it off, or quietly retreat.
Instead, Kobe froze for a split second.
'That expensive?'
Shock flashed across his face, then, unexpectedly, it melted into something else.
Excitement.
"That's… perfect," he muttered, almost to himself.
He hadn't expected the price to be this high. In his mind, coffee was something cheap, twenty, maybe thirty at most. But this?
This was exactly what he needed.
Without wasting another second, he found the item and placed the order.
"Alright," he said quickly, almost afraid she'd change her mind. "Let's go with that."
[ Transaction complete. ]
[ Target favorability: 5. ]
[ Generating cashback multiplier… ]
[ Multiplier: 3x ]
[ Cashback: 866 credited. ]
Kobe's phone vibrated.
He glanced down, and there it was.
A fresh deposit notification.
His heart skipped.
'It's real.'
A grin spread across his face before he could stop it.
"This is insane…" he whispered. "It actually works."
In that moment, something shifted inside him.
If this kept going, if he kept spending, then money, real money, would never be a problem again.
"What's so funny?"
Sophia's voice pulled him back.
He waved it off quickly.
"Nothing, nothing."
He stood up, smoothing his shirt.
"It was nice meeting you. Your coffee's already on the way, so… I won't disturb you anymore."
And just like that, he left.
No hesitation. No lingering.
Sophia blinked, caught slightly off guard as she watched him walk away.
On his way out, Kobe paused at the counter, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Same one," he told the cashier. "For me."
If he was going to test this system, he might as well enjoy it a little.
A few minutes later, both drinks were ready.
He took his and stepped outside, the afternoon heat pressing down as he lifted the cup and took a sip.
"…That's it?"
He smacked his lips, unimpressed.
"No different from regular coffee."
With a shrug, he tossed the half-finished cup straight into a nearby trash bin.
No hesitation. No regret.
Inside the café, Sophia had seen everything.
She stared, momentarily stunned.
That drink alone cost more than what most students spent in two months, and he had just… thrown it away.
If he were pretending, he would've forced himself to finish it.
But there was no act. No reluctance.
Only indifference.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
'He's rich…'
[ Sophia Laurent: Favorability +10 ]
[ Sophia Laurent: Favorability +10 ]
[ Sophia Laurent: Favorability +10 ]
The number shot up.
A flicker of regret crossed her face.
'He approached me first… and I pushed him away just like that?'
Without thinking further, she grabbed her bag and the untouched coffee, hurrying toward the door.
She couldn't let this chance slip away.
"Hey!"
She stepped out into the sunlight, scanning the street before spotting his figure.
"Classmate! Wait!"