The morning sun streamed through the small window of my cramped room, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. I stretched my aching back and glanced at the clock—7:15 AM. The graduation ceremony would begin in less than an hour, and I still needed to catch the bus to Yunhua University.
"Aunt Zhao, I have to go now! Our ceremony starts at 8 AM," I called out as I rushed down the narrow staircase, my worn sneakers squeaking against the steps.
"Okay, take care, Tianyu!" came her warm reply from the kitchen.
I paused at the doorway, looking back at the woman who had become my guardian angel. Zhao Meiling—Aunt Zhao as I called her—was a beautiful woman in her early forties with kind eyes and a gentle smile. Her husband was successful and wealthy, but I had made it clear from the beginning that I wouldn't accept their charity. My pride wouldn't allow it. Every yuan I earned came from my own sweat and hard work through part-time jobs.
The weight of my situation pressed down on me as I walked to the bus stop. At nineteen, I was already carrying the burden of a broken family. My father had abandoned us when I was fourteen, and my mother... well, she followed suit not long after. If it weren't for Aunt Zhao—my mother's old friend who took pity on me—I'd probably be living on the streets.
I caught my reflection in a shop window and grimaced. My round face stared back at me, puffy cheeks and double chin making me look younger than my age. At 5'5" and weighing far more than I cared to admit, I was the stereotypical overweight college student living on instant noodles and government scholarships.
But today was different. Today, I would finally see Qin Yuxi again.
The memory of our first meeting still made my heart skip a beat. It was during my summer part-time job at a small café near the university district. She had walked in like a ray of sunshine, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her smile so radiant it could light up the entire room. She looked like she belonged on magazine covers, not in a cramped café where I was awkwardly fumbling with coffee orders.
Against all odds, we had started talking. She was kind, or at least I thought she was. She laughed at my jokes, listened to my stories about working multiple jobs to support myself, and even seemed impressed by my dedication to my studies. When I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings at the end of summer, she had said yes.
Yes! Qin Yuxi, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, had agreed to be my girlfriend.
The bus ride to Yunhua University felt like a dream. The campus was magnificent—sprawling lawns, modern buildings that gleamed in the morning sun, and luxury cars parked in the student lot. This was where the children of the wealthy and powerful came to study, where future CEOs and politicians honed their skills. I often wondered how someone like me, with my government scholarships and part-time jobs, had managed to secure a spot here.
The graduation ceremony was held in the main auditorium, a massive space that could hold thousands of students and their families. I sat in the back, as usual, listening to speeches about bright futures and limitless possibilities. My stomach churned with nervous excitement as I scanned the crowd for Yuxi.
After the ceremony concluded, I pushed through the sea of graduating students and their families, searching for that familiar face. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it over the chatter and celebration around me.
Then I saw her.
But she wasn't alone.
"What!?" The word tore from my throat before I could stop it. "What are you two doing?"
Qin Yuxi was standing near the east entrance of the auditorium, but she was in the arms of another man. He was everything I wasn't—tall, handsome, well-dressed in an expensive suit that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. His arm was wrapped possessively around her waist, and she was leaning into him with a familiarity that made my stomach drop.
The man looked at me with undisguised disdain, his eyes taking in my cheap clothes and overweight frame with obvious disgust. "Oh, is this the poor bastard you're currently dating?" he asked, his voice dripping with condescension.
"Yes, he is," Yuxi replied, her voice so quiet I almost didn't hear her.
"Didn't I tell you to break up with him?" The man's grip on her waist tightened, and I noticed the expensive watch on his wrist, the designer shoes on his feet. Everything about him screamed wealth and privilege.
Yuxi looked at me then, and for a moment, I saw something in her eyes that might have been regret. But when she spoke, her words cut through me like a blade.
"Li Tianyu, I'm sorry, but let's break up. I want everything in life, but you... you couldn't give it to me. I'm sorry."
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The sounds of celebration around us faded into white noise. I stood there, frozen, as the reality of the situation crashed over me like a cold wave.
I wanted to scream, to rage, to demand answers. But what came out instead was a calm, measured response that surprised even me.
"Okay," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos in my chest. "I know I'm not good enough for you. I'm just this poor, fat guy." I looked directly at her, memorizing her face one last time. "Thank you for dating me. It was a wonderful experience."
I bowed deeply, the way my aunt had taught me to show respect, and then I turned and walked away.
I didn't look back, but I could feel her eyes on me. Part of me hoped she would call out, would run after me and say it was all a mistake. But her silence was answer enough.
The walk home was a blur of city streets and painful thoughts. My legs carried me automatically through the familiar routes while my mind replayed every moment of our relationship, searching for signs I had missed. Had she been planning this all along? Had she ever really cared about me, or was I just entertainment until something better came along?
The sun was setting by the time I reached the quieter residential streets near Aunt Zhao's house. My feet ached, and my heart felt like it had been put through a meat grinder. I was so lost in my misery that I didn't notice the figure in front of me until it was too late.
"Oof!" I collided with someone, sending both of us stumbling.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—" I began, reaching out to help steady the person I had bumped into.
But when I looked up, my words died in my throat.
The man standing before me looked like he had stepped out of a classical painting or mythology textbook. He was elderly but dignified, with a long white beard that reached his chest and wearing flowing red robes that seemed to shimmer in the fading light. Most striking of all was the ornate sword hanging at his side, its handle gleaming with what looked like precious gems.
"What the... Shangdi? No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to assume—" I stammered, helping him regain his balance.
"HO HO HO!" The old man's laughter was rich and deep, filling the air around us. "I like you, child! It seems like you've been through something significant today. I'm here to help you. What do you want?"
I stared at him, wondering if I had finally snapped from the stress of the day. This couldn't be real. People didn't just encounter mythological figures on random street corners. But something about his presence, his knowing eyes, made me play along.
"Uhm..." I chuckled awkwardly, but decided to humor what was obviously a delusion brought on by heartbreak. "I want to be handsome, tall, with an aesthetic physique, and rich too."
"HOHOHO!" His laughter grew even louder. "What an interesting fellow! Well then, here it is!"
Suddenly, a translucent yellow screen materialized in the air in front of me, glowing with soft light and covered in text that seemed to float and pulse.
"WHAT!" I jumped back, not from fear but from pure surprise. "What is this?"
"This is the Ultimate Inheritance System," the old man explained, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Before you can unlock the money functionality, you must complete the glow-up functionality first! Good luck, young fellow!"
Before I could ask any more questions, the old man suddenly lifted off the ground, his robes billowing as he rose into the darkening sky with impossible speed.
"Where are you going!?" I called after him, craning my neck to follow his ascent.
"I'm going back to heaven!" his voice echoed down to me, growing fainter as he disappeared into the clouds. "Thank you, young fellow, for making my day! I will now finally live in peace!"
I stood there, mouth agape, staring at the empty sky. What did he mean by that? Was I hallucinating? Had the stress of the breakup finally caused me to have a complete mental breakdown?
But the glowing screen was still there, floating in front of me with patient persistence.
[Would you like to start the system?][Y/N]
I looked around the empty street, half-expecting someone to jump out and tell me this was all an elaborate prank. But there was no one. Just me, the setting sun, and this impossible interface that defied all logic.
"What the hell," I muttered. "Yes!"
VWOOOSH
The screen flashed brightly, and suddenly new text appeared with a pleasant chiming sound.
[Ding!][System has successfully bound to host! Host name: Li Tianyu. Revealing stats!]
A detailed interface opened up, displaying information about me that was both accurate and brutally honest:
Name: Li Tianyu
Age: 19 Money:
100 Yuan
Physique: Fat (Lol)
Height: 5'5"
Strength: 3/100
Stamina: 2/100
Durability: 1/100
Intelligence: 50/100 (You're smart!)
Current Goal: Make you handsome! Reward: Money Functionality!
"What the hell! The system is mocking me for being fat!" I protested to the empty street. "So what do I do now?"
The screen shifted, displaying a new message:
[Task #1: Be what you want to be.]
[Lose 50 Kg]
[Rewards: 6'5" Height, Money Functionality, Plus 5 to all stats]
"What? Fifty kilograms? In one day?" I sputtered.
[Deadline: 6 Months]
"Six months?" I did some quick mental math. That was a lot of weight to lose, but it wasn't impossible. I had seen people do it before with dedication and hard work. "I think I can do this! But where do I start?"
[Side Task #1: The Beginning]
[Just walk home, don't use taxi]
[Current Progress: 1.5/10Km]
[Reward: 5000 Yuan]
"I can do this!" I declared, my earlier depression beginning to transform into determination.
The walk home became my first real test. I watched as the progress bar slowly filled: 3km, 5km, 7km. My legs burned, my lungs gasped for air, and sweat poured down my face despite the cool evening air.
[Current Progress: 3Km]
[Lol, are you tired already? Keep going!]
"What are you? Why are you mocking me!" I panted, leaning against a lamp post. "I'm about to pass out!"
But I didn't stop. Something deep inside me, something that had been dormant for years, began to stir. Maybe it was the humiliation of the breakup, maybe it was the impossible promise of this system, or maybe it was just finally time to stop being a victim of my circumstances.
Step by step, I made my way home. When I finally reached Aunt Zhao's house, I collapsed on the front steps, gasping for air.
"HAA... HAA..." I wheezed, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. "It was so tiring."
"What are you doing here, fatty?"
I looked up to see Zhao Ruoxi standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and her expression one of mild annoyance. She was Aunt Zhao's daughter, two years younger than me, and had inherited all of her mother's beauty. With her long legs, perfect figure, and flawless skin, she was the kind of girl who would never give someone like me a second glance.
"I'm sorry," I said, bowing my head respectfully. I had learned long ago to show proper respect to the family that had taken me in, even if their daughter seemed to barely tolerate my presence.
"Hmph," she snorted, then paused to look at me more carefully. "What are you doing out here?"
"N-Nothing, just resting," I replied, still trying to catch my breath.
"Okay..." She shrugged and went back inside, her interest already fading.
As soon as she was gone, my phone buzzed with a notification.
[Side Task Completed! The reward will arrive shortly]
[Ding!]
I fumbled for my phone, my hands shaking with exhaustion and excitement. The message that greeted me made my heart skip a beat:
[You have received 5000 Yuan]
"Woah! This system is real!" I whispered, staring at the notification in disbelief.
[Side Task #2: Lose more weight!]
[Daily Requirements: Only eat healthy foods, jog 10km, do 100 push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.]
[Reward: 500 Yuan]
[Note: This is a daily task, basically free money! Though the rewards are smaller.]
"Really!" I exclaimed, my fatigue forgotten in the face of this incredible opportunity.
That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. Was this really happening? Had I actually encountered some kind of divine being who had given me a magical system that could change my life? Or was I having some sort of elaborate stress-induced hallucination?
But the money in my account was real. The aching in my legs from the long walk was real. And most importantly, the spark of hope that had been ignited in my chest was real.
For the first time in years, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
The next morning, I woke up before my alarm, energized in a way I hadn't felt in months. I started my day with a healthy breakfast—no more instant noodles or convenience store snacks. Then I headed out for my first official 10km jog.
It was brutal. My body wasn't used to this kind of exercise, and I had to stop multiple times to catch my breath. But I didn't quit. Every time I wanted to give up, I thought about Qin Yuxi's face when she chose that other man over me, and I pushed forward.
This routine became my new life: sleep, healthy meals, school, exercise, more healthy meals, study, sleep. Every day, I completed the system's tasks, and every day, I received my reward. The money was nice, but more importantly, I could feel changes happening in my body.
After two weeks of this routine, I noticed my classmates starting to look at me differently. During literature class, the girl sitting next to me—someone I had never spoken to before—suddenly turned and spoke to me.
"Are you working out?" she asked, her voice curious and friendly.
"Yeah, I have been," I replied, surprised by the attention.
"You look a bit skinnier now!" she said with a genuine smile.
"Thank you," I replied, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. I couldn't remember the last time a girl had complimented me on my appearance.
"My name is Gu Yuxuan, by the way. How about you?"
"I'm Li Tianyu, nice to meet you!" I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady.
Gu Yuxuan was beautiful in a different way than Qin Yuxi. Where Yuxi was glamorous and model-like, Yuxuan had a more natural, approachable beauty. Her eyes were kind, and when she smiled, it reached all the way to her eyes.
"I'm excited to see your glow-up! What made you decide to start working out?"
"Just a personal goal, you know," I lied smoothly. I could hardly tell her about the mystical system that was rewarding me with money for losing weight.
"Oh really? Well, good luck then," she said, her smile widening. "I think it's really admirable when someone commits to improving themselves."
"Thank you," I said, feeling a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with exercise.
After class, as I was packing my books, Professor Wang called out to me.
"Hey, Li Tianyu, please come to my office later, okay?"
"Yes, sir!" I replied, wondering what this could be about.
An hour later, I found myself sitting across from Professor Wang in his cluttered office, surrounded by stacks of papers and academic journals.
"Li Tianyu, you're currently working part-time, correct?" he asked, adjusting his glasses.
"Yes, sir! Why do you ask?"
"The letter you submitted requesting to take modular classes—it's been approved. You can now attend classes only when there are modules you need to complete or exams to take."
My heart leaped. "Wow, really!? Thank you, sir!"
This was perfect. With fewer required class hours, I could dedicate more time to the system's tasks and my part-time work. I could focus entirely on my transformation without worrying about attendance requirements.
As I left the professor's office, I couldn't help but feel like everything was falling into place. The system, the changes in my body, the new flexibility in my schedule—it all felt like the universe was finally giving me a chance to rewrite my story.
Walking across campus, I caught my reflection in a window and paused. The face looking back at me was still round, still heavy, but there was something different about it. There was determination in those eyes, a spark that hadn't been there before.
Qin Yuxi had chosen wealth and status over whatever we had shared. But maybe, just maybe, that was exactly the wake-up call I needed.
As I pulled out my phone to check my daily progress, I made a silent promise to myself: I would become the man I was meant to be. Not for her, not for anyone else, but for me.
The system chimed softly, displaying my updated stats:
Current Weight Loss: 8kg
Days Completed: 14
Money Earned: 12,000 Yuan
Progress to Goal: 16%
I smiled and started jogging home.