"This sucks…"
Staring at the painfully slow loading bar on his laptop, a teenage boy groaned and pushed the aging device to the side. The game he'd worked hard to find—one that should have been compatible with low-end systems like his—was still crawling through setup.
"Guess I can't run this one either," he muttered, frustration brewing. The graphics looked amazing in the previews, and he'd had high hopes. But reality had struck again: his junk laptop couldn't even download the setup, let alone run the game.
Jiang Hai sighed, rubbing his temples.
Maybe I should start looking for a part-time job. If I save for five or six months, I might afford a new laptop…
His allowance from his parents barely covered his meals, and with his current diet and student life, saving was nearly impossible. Realistically, getting a decent laptop in a year was a stretch.
His eyes drifted to the dormitory window. Outside, a guy lounged on the hood of a shiny sports car, grinning ear to ear.
[Shining look: Just Jiang Hai's delusion. The guy wasn't literally glowing.]
Moments later, a group of girls and other guys gathered around, all laughing as they piled into the car. The engine roared to life, and they sped off—leaving Jiang Hai behind with only his envy and bitter thoughts.
"That guy better go impotent for life," Jiang Hai muttered with a fake curse, then scoffed at himself. Who am I kidding...?
He flopped back onto his bed.
"I need a drink."
He rarely allowed himself to indulge. Being a reincarnator in this Earth-like world, Jiang Hai had ambitions—big ones. He knew how easy it was to fall into the trap of bad habits, and he wasn't about to derail his plans for a bit of alcohol-fueled relief.
Then it happened.
A burst of blue light filled the room.
Eyes instinctively shutting, Jiang Hai flinched—but the light didn't hurt. Instead, it felt... soothing. Even with his eyes closed, a screen floated clearly in his vision.
'How…?'
No pain. No noise. Just a sudden, calming glow—and then a message appeared:
// Quest: Go and have a drink at the bar. Reward: 10,000 RMB.
His eyes widened as bold letters burned themselves into his sight:
[Desire-Tycoon System]
Jiang Hai stared, stunned.
A cheat?
Not entirely surprised—after all, he'd been reincarnated—but this was new. Real. His heartbeat quickened. Excitement bloomed in his chest.
Without wasting another second, he grabbed his wallet and phone. Between them, he had barely 3,000 RMB to his name.
Sitting at a small bar.
The bar was dimly lit, washed in amber tones and quiet jazz hummed through hidden speakers. The clink of glasses and low chatter created a warm haze around the room.
Jiang Hai sat alone at the counter, a half-full wine glass in hand. The taste was smoother than he expected, leaving a subtle burn in his throat—but it wasn't the drink that had his attention.
His eyes were locked on the glowing screen of his smartphone. The moment felt surreal.
There it was.
A notification banner hovered at the top of the screen:
📥 Bank of Huaxia
You have received a payment of ¥10,000.00
Time: 20:46
Available Balance: ¥13,287.43
He blinked.
No sender name. No extra notes. Just a clean deposit—simple and professional, like any salary or transfer someone might get. He tapped the notification and stared at the numbers again. A sense of thrill running within his body, tingling with excitement.
His grip tightened slightly around the phone. A breath he didn't know he was holding finally left his chest. He looked at the wine. "Tastes better already," he muttered silently with a smile.
"This is already getting exciting..."
He was muttering to himself when a group of college students entered the bar, laughing and chatting as they made their way to a nearby table. Jiang Hai sat in silence, swirling the last sip of wine in his glass as his mind wandered.
Will I get another quest?
The thought lingered. After all, this kind of easy money was no small thing. People would kill for it. Some already do, in the real world. So why shouldn't he enjoy this strange, thrilling opportunity?
The group consisted of seven students—three guys and four girls. Beautiful girls. The kind Jiang Hai had always avoided, not because he didn't admire them, but because he simply couldn't afford to date someone like that. Their outfits were stylish and tight-fitting, subtly showing off their curves in a way that screamed confidence and money.
Jiang Hai's eyes lingered for a moment before returning to his glass.
They're out of my league.
He watched the group place their orders and overheard the name of the wine they chose—Arnos Vint. He glanced at the menu and felt a small sting of helplessness.
One glass: ¥3,000. A full bottle: ¥20,000.
Definitely not for me.
// Quest: Order Arnos Vint Wine. Reward: 25 thousand RMB. //
📥 Bank of Huaxia
You have received a payment of ¥25,000.00
Time: 20:52
Available Balance: ¥35,287.43
Jiang Hai froze. His eyes slowly lifted from the screen as a wave of clarity hit him. The system... it responds to my desire.
The first quest was the same. And now, this one—it was like the system wanted him to embrace what he wanted most, without fear or guilt.
He raised his hand. A waiter promptly approached.
With a calm voice, Jiang Hai said, "Can I also get... a glass of Arnos Vint Wine?"
The waiter smiled knowingly, glancing toward the group that had ordered the same. "Of course, sir." He walked off toward the bar, prepping the request along with a complimentary side dish—the bar's way of rewarding customers who made high-value orders.
A few minutes later, the drink arrived with an elegant flourish.
"Here you go, sir."
Jiang Hai nodded. At that exact moment, his phone vibrated again, and he glanced at the screen.
The same plain banking notification. No dramatics. Just numbers. Just proof.
He took a sip. The taste was deep, bittersweet, and refined. It hit differently—not just because of the price, but because it tasted like victory.
What he didn't notice, however, was how the group had turned to look at him. Their chatter had paused the moment he ordered the same wine. One of the boys scowled.
"Tch. Look at that guy, trying to copy us," he muttered.
"Is he trying to attract attention from the girls?" another sneered.
"To think he only ordered one glass—such a poser."
A third leaned in closer to Han Mo, the guy with the strongest presence in their group, and whispered with mock concern, "Looks like he wants to show off in front of Brother Han."
Han Mo's expression remained unreadable, but his gaze shifted subtly toward Jiang Hai.
// Quest: Order XXXXXXXXX Wine. Reward: 100 thousand RMB. //
Another prompt. Another drink. Another temptation.
Jiang Hai saw it flash across his vision and this time pointed at the new listing on the menu.
"I'll take this one."
The waiter's eyes sparkled. "Excellent choice, sir." This time, there was real enthusiasm in his voice. The new order cost ¥5,000 for a single glass—people who ordered that were rarely one-time visitors. Jiang Hai was being marked as a VIP.
As the glass arrived, Jiang Hai lifted it to his nose. The aroma danced lightly in the air—fruity, aged, and elegant.
In his previous life, Jiang Hai had tasted over a thousand wines. He knew quality when he smelled it.
And this?
This was a gentle one. He knocked it back in a single sip, letting the aftertaste bloom across his tongue, leaving behind a faint, almost floral richness. He smiled, lips barely parting, enjoying the moment in silence.
The college group watched carefully. That wine—the one he just downed—wasn't something even Han Mo would casually order.
// Quest: Order Harlan Cold Chain Wine. Reward: 100 thousand RMB + 10 X Rebate for all the costs the host uses in this bar. //
📥 Bank of Huaxia
You have received a payment of ¥100,000.00
Time: 20:53
Available Balance: ¥130,287.43
Jiang Hai's fingers tapped the table lightly.
"Hmm. I like this."
He raised his hand again.
"Bring me the whole bottle."
The waiter beamed. "Certainly, sir! And yes—buying the full bottle is more economical."
Across the room, Han Mo's eyes sharpened. His friends grew quiet. Even the girls, until now more interested in selfies and side conversations, had turned their attention toward the calm, simply dressed young man enjoying a premium wine like it was routine.
There's something different about him... Han Mo thought.
As if sensing their attention, Jiang Hai looked up and smiled faintly.
"Hello," he said.
Han Mo stood from his seat and walked over, offering his hand. "I was just thinking—you really seem to be enjoying that drink."
Jiang Hai shook his hand with a steady grip. "I don't drink often. So when I do, I try to enjoy it properly."
Han Mo chuckled. "I figured—I haven't seen you around here before. I'm Han Mo."
"Jiang Hai," he replied, smiling.
Though he had overheard some of their earlier mockery, he didn't care. The system, the wine, the atmosphere—everything felt aligned.
And in this moment, he wasn't pretending.
He was the kind of man who could afford to sit here.