In the afternoon, police officers from the local station paid a visit. They confirmed Han Lie's intention to settle and then helped arrange for a lawyer. The settlement agreement was flawless; Old Pan was very meticulous. After signing, it was a clean break.
Then just sign it!
The officer also helped contact the school to request a leave of absence for Han Lie. The school confirmed that Han Lie hadn't been fighting but was unprovokedly attacked by a suspect who had "lost his mind," and readily approved fifteen days of leave.
Perfect, I even get to skip military training, Han Lie thought.
Honestly, the humanities program at SISU was known for its personal touch. Unless a student committed some heinous offense, they would never expel or pressure anyone to drop out. If someone expressed a desire to leave, the department head would personally intervene to offer guidance and support, giving them whatever they needed. That was how Han Lie had become a student union officer. And in the most coveted Literature and Arts Department, no less—always bustling with charming young women. He took every opportunity to enjoy their company, completely forgetting everything else...
Graduating wasn't an issue either. There was a legend in Han Lie's class who had failed over forty subjects. Even after the make-up exams in his senior year, he still had six failures, yet he was issued a graduation certificate nonetheless.
—This time, it really wasn't Han Lie.
Brother Lie had failed fewer than twenty subjects; he was nowhere near that god-tier student.
Thinking of all the perks of the humanities program, Han Lie suddenly felt that this kind of college life wasn't half bad.
Alright, I'll spend the next half month figuring out how to spend this money, he mused. Then, with brand new attributes, I'll charge back to that campus full of regrets and truly live it up!
The next day, Han Lie signed his name on the triplicate agreement, and Old Pan transferred the money on the spot. With 950,000 yuan in cash, plus the 200,000 yuan for medical expenses already in the hospital's account, Han Lie instantly became a millionaire.
Although he had dabbled in finance in his past life, Han Lie had never actually possessed such a "huge sum." He had nearly bled his parents dry during his four years of university. Afterward, Han Lie struggled bitterly in the Magic Capital for eight years. By the end of 2025, Huaxia's economy was on the verge of becoming number one in the world, yet Han Lie was still cooped up in a 12-square-meter single room, his savings insufficient to even buy that tiny bedroom.
My apologies, I've been a drag on the motherland, he thought ruefully.
But in this life, I should be able to make some contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Huaxia nation, Han Lie felt. This sudden good fortune put him in an unexpectedly great mood.
In the afternoon, Old Pan and his wife arrived with the recently released Pan Shaohang to apologize to Han Lie. Two days in detention had significantly curbed the arrogance of the number one big spender.
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you!" Pan Shaohang said. "I was too impulsive at the time and didn't control my emotions. Han Lie, I formally apologize to you now. I hope you can forgive me!"
Young Pan wasn't pulling any stunts; it seemed he had been thoroughly humbled by the fist of justice.
Although it wasn't strictly necessary, Han Lie replied very formally, "I forgive you. You have good parents. I hope you will cherish them and not cause them any more worry."
Little Pan felt so disgusted he wanted to vomit. Who the hell do you think you are, lecturing me?!
Old Pan and his wife, on the other hand, were deeply moved.
What a good kid! they thought. Why couldn't he be friends with Shaohang... Sigh!
After a friendly farewell, the matter was officially closed.
Truthfully, Han Lie could have dragged things out, making Old Pan and his wife jump through a few more hoops just to annoy them and vent his own frustrations. They would still have had to grit their teeth and pay up. But there was really no need. Old Pan was smart and smooth, likely successful in his career, and possessed a high degree of social acumen. Why create such an enemy? Although Han Lie didn't frequent Dream City, his parents still lived in their hometown.
This is great, isn't it? Han Lie mused. He received the full sum, and Old Pan and his wife even had to be grateful for his magnanimity. He'd well and truly come out on top.
If Little Pan dares to trouble me again, Old Pan himself will beat him senseless.
Hmm, maybe I could test that theory when I go back to Dream City for winter break?
With such wicked ideas running through his head, Han Lie giggled foolishly to himself for a good while.
Once he'd had his fill of laughter, he began to ponder the real issue—how to spend the money.
First, he needed to calculate the total experience required to upgrade all attributes to 69 points. The final figure was 370,000. Adding the experience needed to replace all his teeth, 500,000 should suffice.
Han Lie jotted down two key phrases in his notebook: Half a month, 500,000 consumption.
Pondering this, he suddenly felt it was a bit of a headache. Five hundred thousand was a rather awkward sum. If it were less, he could easily spend it on necessities: a phone, a computer, clothes, rent, a meal card... If it were two or three times more, Han Lie could buy a house in his hometown, Dream City. Purchasing a residential property counted as personal consumption, and buying multiple residences was considered investment consumption; both yielded experience points. However, buying a commercial property was classified as [Personal Investment] and offered no experience. So, buying a house was the best option for large-scale consumption.
Current housing prices in Dream City ranged from about 15,000 to 20,000 yuan per square meter. Around 2016, they would briefly surge to just over 40,000 yuan before gradually declining. Selling the house then would at least double his money.
The idea is great, but a 500,000 budget really isn't enough to buy a house, he thought. As a university student, getting a mortgage would require his parents to co-sign. But since his first pot of gold had come about so violently, how could he dare let his parents know? The combination of his father's 'Seven Wolves' cigarette pack (as a makeshift rod) and a feather duster was truly a terrifying prospect.
After dismissing the idea of buying a house, not many options remained.
Buying a car? Unnecessary. Other than showing off, what's the point? A watch? Same reasoning. A bunch of luxury clothes... even less practical.
It's not that I don't like those things, he thought, but my current capital is simply too meager. I don't want to just spend for the sake of spending, using up all the money and having nothing to show for it. I'd prefer to find a way to gain consumption experience *and* turn a profit.
That's quite troublesome. Most money-making activities are investments, which don't give experience. And activities that provide experience don't really make money...
After much thought, I'm pretty much out of options.
If there's no other way, I might just have to burn through the million-plus and go back to Dream City to buy a small school-district apartment outright. When the bull market arrives next year, I could mortgage it, cash out, and enter the market. If I did that, the capital utilization rate would be highest, and I'd get plenty of experience points. After maxing out my attributes, I could also upgrade several skills. It's just that life during my freshman year might be rather tough, living like a broke loser.
Han Lie was somewhat undecided for a moment.
As he was pondering, Nurse Liu Yue came in to change his dressing.
"How are you feeling, Tycoooon?" she teased.
What tycoon... Han Lie had just managed a self-deprecating smile when he suddenly saw the medicine bottle in her hand. His expression changed dramatically, and he hastily crossed his arms over his chest.
"Stop! Hold it!"
"Huh?!" Liu Yue was startled.
Han Lie waved his hand decisively. "Take it away, take it away! Switch it all to domestic medicine! Starting today, Pan Shaohang isn't footing the bill anymore..."
"PFFT!" The young nurse caught on and almost died laughing.
"You- you're hilarious... Dream on! It's too late for that! Today's medicine has already been prescribed. I'll switch it to domestic for you tomorrow, okay? Be good!"
Han Lie, seeing the experience points skyrocketing on his panel, felt his heart ache at the expense.
No, no matter how I'm going to spend the money next, staying in the hospital any longer is not an option. Almost 5,000 a day? Who can bear that!
It's not that I don't care about my Health, he thought, but with the system, I don't need to be hospitalized to recover. Spending money in the hospital is a pure waste.
"Alright then. Finish today's medication. I'll be discharged tomorrow."
"What?!" The young nurse looked up in surprise. "Your inflammation hasn't even subsided..."
Han Lie quickly waved his hands. "I can't afford to get better at these prices! I'll go to an off-campus clinic for IV drips; it's only 200 yuan a day..."
"Heh, you're such a penny-pincher, it's ridiculous!" Liu Yue chuckled, rolling her eyes with a mischievous smile. "Alright, you earned your money the hard way, so save where you can. I'll notify the doctor, and we'll process your discharge tomorrow."
"Thanks, thanks a lot! It's a wide world out there; may our paths cross again!"
"Sure! Let's exchange contact info. Next time you're in Jinling, you can come find me for fun."
Find you for fun? Fun doing what? Han Lie really wanted to ask for clarification, but glancing at the needle in her hand, he didn't dare get cocky.
The nurse is quite nice, he thought. Genuinely nice, not a manipulative 'green tea' type nor overtly catty, just outgoing and lively. Worth befriending.
The two exchanged QQ contacts. Liu Yue deftly finished changing the dressing, and with a flick of her waist, she left as lightly as a passing cloud.
Their connection, spanning just over two days, came to an abrupt end. Han Lie had never even seen her true face, without a mask.
That's just how life is; people, like the spring breeze, are merely passersby. All that's left are fleeting impressions, and paths that won't cross again. You just get used to it.