Chapter 2: The Future Enhancer
Wu Yifan closed the door behind him, fumbled for a cigarette, and lit it with a shake of his hand. The smoke curled around his face as he took two deep drags, trying to steady his racing heart. Before he could fully catch his breath, a sudden blur of movement sliced through the air—there, standing in front of him, was a stunning young woman with curves that seemed to defy gravity, her features sharp yet soft, like a brushstroke come to life.
"What the hell?" Wu Yifan hissed, stumbling back so fast he left a faint afterimage in his wake. He hit the wall, grabbed a beer bottle from the table, and clutched it like a weapon, every nerve screaming with alertness. Adrenaline flooded his veins, sharpening his senses to a razor's edge. Then, as his eyes focused, a chill ran down his spine—this woman was identical to the one from his dream.
The woman didn't flinch. Her voice, flat and mechanical, cut through the tension: "Do not be alarmed. I am the Intelligent Enhancer from the year 229 of the New Era. The image you perceive is a projection on your retina. Last night, I successfully integrated with your consciousness. This introduction should fall within your psychological tolerance. You have two minutes to recall the events of last night."
That dream… it was real? Wu Yifan wiped冷汗 from his brow.
Last night, whether in a dream or reality, this woman had spoken to him—rambling about the Wu family line, about a descendant named Wu Liang, a "perverted genius" scientist who'd failed at love and channeled his frustration into creating this device. Wu Liang, she'd explained, was determined to rewrite fate: his own life had ended in lonely regret, so he'd sent this enhancer back in time to ensure his ancestors "chased better partners, sired more children," and kept the Wu bloodline from dying out.
"Two minutes elapsed," the projection continued. "Choose to accept the Enhancer now, or it will self-destruct in ten seconds. Ten… nine…"
"Yes!" Wu Yifan blurted, cutting off the countdown.
Sure, he was content slacking off at the KTV, but who turns down a gift from the future? The rush of chasing that motorcycle thief earlier had been a taste of what this thing could do—and if it really was from his own descendant, how could he say no?
"Acceptance confirmed. Choose the Enhancer's form: Option one, a composite ion chip stored in your brain; Option two, a wristwatch for daily wear. Neither will harm you."
The chip in his brain sounded too invasive—like having a stranger camped in his thoughts. "The watch," he said without hesitation.
A blue light flickered, and in the next instant, a sleek silver watch clasped around his left wrist. It looked ordinary, like something from a corner store, but when he stared at it, a jolt of recognition hit—this was the same watch from his dream. His pulse skipped.
"The Enhancer is solar-powered, functional as long as there is sunlight," the projection explained. "It is now bonded to you; theft is impossible. Only task failure will trigger self-destruction. Current status: 2 initial enhancement points available. Basic attribute: agility. Would you like a demonstration?"
Wu Yifan nodded, still gripping the beer bottle.
"Focus on the watch. Visualize enhancing agility by 3x."
He did, and a voice popped into his head: *"Agility ×3 activated. Duration: 1 hour. Points remaining: 0."*
Suddenly, the room felt slower. Dust motes drifted like snowflakes; the hum of the air conditioner stretched into a low drone. When he shifted, his movements were fluid, almost weightless—a stark contrast to his usual clumsy slouch.
"Enhancement principles: Each attribute boost consumes points, calculated as (attribute level - 1) × duration. Example: Agility ×2 for 1 hour = 1 point. Agility ×3 for 2 hours = 2×2=4 points." The projection paused. "To gain more points, complete tasks. First task available now: Confess to Ye Xiwen within 24 hours—boldly, sincerely. Success rewards 2-10 points; failure… well."
Ye Xiwen? The KTV's owner? Wu Yifan groaned. He'd heard the rumors: she chewed up suitors and spat them out, a "black widow" who left men broke and bitter. Confessing to her? That wasn't courage—that was suicide.
But the watch glinted on his wrist, a silent reminder: this was no joke. The Enhancer was real, and its rules were clear.
Wu Yifan exhaled, stubbing out his cigarette. So this was his new normal: a future device in a cheap watch, pushing him to chase women he'd never dare approach, and a countdown ticking for a confession that might get him laughed out of his job—or worse.
He glanced at the watch again. The first task was already burning into his mind, and somehow, despite the absurdity, a smirk tugged at his lips.
"Bring it on," he muttered, though no one was listening.
The projection flickered, then vanished, leaving only the watch—and a world of trouble—behind.