Early September.
It was the start of a new semester for universities across the country.
On a high-speed train bound for Haicheng, nearly half the passengers were students and their parents.
Freshmen heading off to college—only a few were traveling alone.
Jiang Ning was one of them.
Seated by the window, he listened to the rushing wind and watched the scenery flash by.
He came from a small prefecture-level city in the south.
After working two of the three summer months, Jiang Ning was finally enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Right after the college entrance exams, his parents—whose marriage had long been falling apart—went straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau and got a divorce.
In this era where the divorce rate remained high, parents splitting up after their child's exams wasn't uncommon.
Jiang Ning had simply been one of the unlucky ones.
Before parting ways, his parents agreed to cover his tuition for four years and his first year's living expenses.
Everything else, he'd have to handle on his own.
Born from his parents' impulsive teenage hormones, Jiang Ning had never felt secure at home.
They fought constantly throughout his childhood, leaving the household in perpetual chaos.
So while most graduates were enjoying the longest vacation of their lives, Jiang Ning went straight to work in a factory after the exams.
Two months later, he had saved just over nine thousand yuan.
But the money felt pitiful to him—hard-earned and hardly enough.
Even the gaming laptop he wanted cost ten thousand!
His dream wasn't to work himself to death—it was to drive a supercar and have beautiful older women by his side.
Yes, Jiang Ning—eighteen years old—had a very clear preference.
He only liked mature, charming older sisters.
"When I get to university, I'm definitely finding an older girl to date!"
"Oh, right… I also need to make money. But how?"
"Start a business?"
"How does one even start a business?"
Watching the scenery blur by, Jiang Ning couldn't help but frown in thought.
The train entered a tunnel, and the window turned pitch-black.
He suddenly saw his own reflection.
He touched his face.
Thanks to his good-looking parents, Jiang Ning's features were naturally handsome.
His face was youthful, full of collagen, and undeniably charming.
He also stood tall at 1.86 meters.
Handsome, tall, and rich—the three essential traits.
Jiang Ning had two out of three.
If only he weren't broke.
"Maybe I should become a streamer?"
He mused to himself.
With the booming influencer economy, the combination of looks and internet exposure could be quite profitable.
Add a bit of a unique twist, and success might even come faster.
Lately, a trend called "Replica Streamers" had gone viral—people who earned tens of thousands a month simply by mimicking others.
Still, Jiang Ning quickly dismissed the idea.
The internet was oversaturated.
Without something absurdly unique, breaking through was nearly impossible.
He didn't want to be a clown online—he wanted to be a boss.
A rich one.
The train exited the tunnel and soon arrived at the next stop.
"Excuse me, classmate?"
"Classmate?"
A clear, pleasant voice rang out beside him.
Jiang Ning turned around and saw a girl pulling a suitcase.
She wore a loose pink T-shirt and a pair of gray-white denim shorts that revealed a pair of long, slender legs.
She stood at least 1.74 meters tall.
And girls with that kind of height rarely had a bad figure.
Even though her oversized T-shirt hid her curves, Jiang Ning could tell she was stunning.
Her fair, delicate face was radiant with youthful charm.
He guessed she was definitely among the most beautiful girls in her future university.
But eighteen-year-old Jiang Ning only liked mature women—gentle, alluring, confident older sisters.
It was a conviction, almost a creed.
His first love had to be an older woman.
"What is it?"
The girl bent slightly, smiling sweetly.
"My suitcase is a bit heavy. Could you help me put it up on the rack?"
A beauty like this—most guys wouldn't stand a chance.
Even the entire male population would crumble before that kind of charm.
But Jiang Ning wasn't "most guys."
He was about to decline when suddenly—
A voice echoed in his mind, and a translucent panel appeared before his eyes.
[Beautiful women often possess a natural privilege in society. Inferior males instinctively bow to them. The girl before you has already begun learning how to use her beauty to influence men for her benefit.]
[But you… are a Player!]
[A true Player lives for the game, moves through the world as he pleases, surrounded by flowers yet untouched by any—an expert of love, a master of the game!]
[Go forth, young man!]
[Player System: Activated!]
[Player: Jiang Ning]
[Age: 18]
[Status: Broke. Handsome but otherwise useless.]
[Skills: None]
[Wealth: ¥56,368.29]
[Assets: One old two-bedroom apartment left by parents]
[Bound Goddess: None]
[Overall Rating: Rookie — you haven't even started the game yet!]
[Note 1: Women rated above 9.0 are considered Goddesses. 9.5 — Top-tier Goddess. 9.8 — Peerless Goddess. 10.0 — Mythic Goddess, one in a billion.]
[Note 2: Goddess rating includes appearance, figure, temperament, and ability. Superficial or low-quality women are automatically excluded.]
[Detected: Goddess rated 9.2!]
[Name: Rong Shuyao]
[Age: 18]
[Height: 174 cm]
[Appearance: Top-tier]
[Figure: Excellent]
[Temperament: Average]
[Skills: None]
[Comprehensive Rating: 9.2]
[Would you like to bind Rong Shuyao?]
"What's the benefit of binding her?"
Jiang Ning was a pure pragmatist—his life philosophy was simple: if it benefits me, I'm in; if not, don't waste my time.
[As a Player, you will possess everything!]
"That's way too vague. Be specific."
He wasn't about to fall for sweet talk.
Show him the money first.
[Assist Rong Shuyao in lifting her suitcase. Establish initial contact. Reward: ¥3,000.]
"What the—three thousand?!"
Jiang Ning's eyes widened.
Working at the electronics factory had paid him less than two hundred yuan for a ten-hour day—before the middleman took his cut.
Now, lifting a suitcase could earn him three thousand?
"Classmate, um, let me help you with that," a boy with glasses behind Rong Shuyao suddenly offered, standing up timidly.
In truth, many men in the carriage—young and old alike—had been sneaking glances at her.
With that tall, slender figure and those legs, how could anyone stay calm?
Humans are visual creatures, and the world runs on appearances.
For a girl like Rong Shuyao, it was impossible for men not to have thoughts.
The only reason they hadn't acted was simple—cowardice.
True gentlemen? They were rarer than pandas these days.
"Oh, no need!"
Rong Shuyao turned, smiled politely, and shook her head.
She had high standards—average-looking guys, like the one in glasses, were simply not her type.
The boy flushed red, scratched his head awkwardly, and sat back down.
At that moment, Jiang Ning stood up.
"I'll do it."
He reached out and grabbed her suitcase.
It was a bit heavy, but Jiang Ning wasn't weak.
He'd played basketball throughout high school, constantly clashing with muscular players.
Physically, he was strong.
With little effort, he lifted the case and placed it on the luggage rack.
"Thank you," Rong Shuyao said, smiling sincerely.
Jiang Ning nodded calmly, saying nothing.
Then his phone buzzed.
He glanced down—and couldn't help but grin.
Three thousand yuan.
Deposited instantly.