By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the day's chaos finally settled into silence. Lin Feng leaned back on a bench just outside the campus gates, the glow of his phone illuminating his face.
Account Balance: ¥420,000.00
The number stared back at him, neat and orderly, yet to Lin Feng it glittered like a dragon's hoard. Hours of paperwork, signatures, and digital applications had paid off—a college bank loan, three quick-approval online apps, and even a cheeky credit line from a fintech service. Every bit had stacked together into this staggering sum.
To anyone else, it was crushing debt. To Lin Feng, it was opportunity.
The night air was cool, carrying the faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms from the campus garden. Neon lights flickered from across the street, where students queued eagerly at the small coffee stall famous for its overpriced drinks.
Lin Feng slipped into line, hands in his pockets, calm amidst the chatter. When his turn came, he ordered a latte—¥50, practically robbery for a cup of coffee. He paid without hesitation, sliding his card with the ease of a man who had just gained hundreds of thousands.
The barista handed him the cup, steam rising gently from the lid. Lin Feng walked back under a streetlamp, the warm paper cup in one hand, his phone in the other.
Then, his screen lit up.
[Bank Alert]
Your account **** **** **** 3827 has received a deposit.
Amount: ¥100.00
Date: 14/09/2025
Time: 9:42 PM
Transaction ID: 5K1LX7B8Z9
Balance: ¥420,050.00
The corner of Lin Feng's mouth curved into a smile as he took the first sip of his coffee. The rich bitterness spread across his tongue, warming his chest against the night's cool breeze.
Double rebate again. As expected…
He tilted his head back, watching the faint stars scattered across the sky. Most students around him were worrying about midterms, rent, or where their next meal would come from. Meanwhile, he had just turned a cup of overpriced coffee into profit.
The difference between him and everyone else was no longer just his second life's experience.
Now, he had a system that rewarded him for being a scumbag.
Lin Feng walked slowly down the quiet street, coffee cup still warm in his hand. The thought of returning to his dorm flickered in his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
Why would I go back to a room crammed with three snoring roommates when I'm practically a walking refund machine?
If spending money meant earning it back, then it made no sense to live frugally anymore.
Not long after, he arrived at a hotel near the city center. The building wasn't ostentatious; its exterior was simple glass and stone, with cleanly cut lines giving it an air of understated elegance. Inside, the lobby was bright and neatly polished, with soft lighting that reflected off marble floors. A faint scent of cedar lingered in the air.
At the reception desk, a young woman in uniform straightened when she saw him approach. She had been expecting businessmen or middle-aged couples, not a casually dressed college student with a backpack slung over his shoulder. Still, she kept her professional smile.
"Good evening, sir. Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
Lin Feng set down his empty coffee cup in a nearby bin, then rested a hand casually on the counter. "No reservation. Give me your best suit for the night."
The receptionist hesitated for half a second before checking her system. "The Executive Suite is available, sir. Thirty-six thousand RMB per night. It includes a spacious bedroom, study area, full dining service, and access to the private lounge. Would you like to include meals with your stay?"
"Yes. Everything included." Lin Feng's tone was even, as if the price meant nothing.
The receptionist gave him a longer look, though she quickly typed in the details. For a college-aged man to spend like this without batting an eye… it was unusual. Still, she processed the payment and handed him the keycard with both hands.
"Your room is on the thirty-second floor, sir. If you need anything, please dial the service line from the room phone."
Lin Feng accepted the card with a slight nod. His phone buzzed in his pocket almost immediately afterward. He didn't even need to pull it out to know what it was—his balance had just risen again.
With calm steps, he headed toward the elevators.
Dorm rooms? Crowded showers? Cheap takeout boxes? He smirked faintly. That part of my life is over.
Tonight, he would sleep in silence, space, and comfort—like a man meant to rise above the rest.
The elevator chimed softly as it carried Lin Feng upward. He leaned casually against the polished railing, his reflection staring back at him from the stainless steel walls.
By the time the doors slid open onto the thirty-second floor, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
[Bank Alert]
Your account **** **** **** 3827 has received a deposit.
Amount: ¥72,000.00
Date: 14/09/2025
Time: 10:17 PM
Transaction ID: 9T4HX6M2R7
Balance: ¥492,050.00
The corner of his lips tugged upward.
The suite had cost him ¥36,000, yet in less than a minute, he had nearly doubled his money. His "debt" was already paying him interest before the banks even processed their first installment.
Lin Feng slipped the phone back into his pocket and walked down the hushed corridor. The thick carpet muffled his footsteps, the wall sconces giving off a soft golden glow. Every detail spoke of quiet refinement—no excessive glamour, no flashy opulence. Just polished taste and understated wealth.
He stopped before his room, slid the keycard, and heard the satisfying click of the lock.
If every expense brings this kind of return, Lin Feng thought as he pushed the door open, then even a mountain of debt is nothing more than a ladder for me to climb higher.
The door opened with a soft chime, and Lin Feng stepped inside.
The suite was spacious, yet tastefully arranged. Warm lighting illuminated the polished wooden floors, and a soft beige carpet spread across the living area. A wide sofa, upholstered in smooth leather, sat near the center, its surface so finely treated it seemed to invite him to sink into it.
But what caught his eyes first was the view.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the far wall, revealing the city at night. The skyline shimmered with countless lights—towers and office buildings lit up against the dark sky like constellations scattered across the earth. Car headlights traced moving lines through the streets far below, flowing rivers of gold and white.
It was breathtaking.
On the kitchen counter, neatly arranged bottles of wine and fresh juices waited alongside crystal glasses, all complimentary. Their labels gleamed faintly under the soft overhead lights. Lin Feng walked past them, running his fingers over the counter's cool marble surface.
Further in, the bathroom was fitted with a state-of-the-art shower—streams spraying not only from above but also from three sides, designed to wash away fatigue in perfect symmetry. Beyond it, sliding doors opened onto a private balcony, where a small pool glistened in the night air. The water rippled faintly, reflecting the glow of the city lights like liquid stars.
Lin Feng stood there for a long moment, hands resting on the balcony railing, looking out at the city below.
In his first life, sights like this had been untouchable. A broke student working part-time jobs would never even step foot inside such a suite, let alone spend a night here.
Now, it was nothing more than an investment—money spent, money doubled.
After setting his bag down by the sofa, Lin Feng reached for the phone on the bedside table and dialed the service line.
"Room service," came the polite voice of the operator.
"Send up a full dinner set," Lin Feng said casually. "Steak, seafood… whatever's best on the menu. And bring a bottle of wine with it."
"Of course, sir. It will be delivered shortly."
Twenty minutes later, a knock came at the door. A server wheeled in a polished cart, laying out silver-domed plates on the dining table by the window. The aroma of grilled steak, garlic butter lobster, and freshly baked bread quickly filled the suite. Crystal glasses were set beside a chilled bottle of red wine, its cork popped with a soft thunk.
Lin Feng sat down, cutting into the steak. The meat was tender, juices seeping across the porcelain plate. He alternated between sips of wine and bites of seafood, eating unhurriedly as the city's lights flickered outside the glass wall.
For the first time in a long while, his stomach was full, and the thought of tomorrow wasn't heavy with worry.
When he was done, he set down his utensils, wiped his hands with the cloth provided, and drew the curtains closed. The bed was enormous, its sheets crisp and cool, pillows sinking softly beneath his head as he lay down.
The distant hum of the city was muffled to silence inside the suite. In that calm, Lin Feng closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting lazily between the day's events and the possibilities of tomorrow.
Within minutes, he was asleep, the glow of the skyline fading into dreams.