Leveling up to Lv.2 felt like a warm surge coursing through his body. Alex sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen, but his mind was elsewhere. The system panel materialized subtly, visible only to him:
**[Level Up: Lv.2. EXP: 50/200. New Feature Unlocked: Basic Attribute View. Current Attributes: Charm 7/10, Stamina 6/10, Fantasy 4/10.]**
**[Desira: Congratulations, Host. Mind Reading (Beginner) is now available, allowing perception of a target's basic desires. But use it sparingly—overuse may trigger backlash.]**
Alex tested the skill mentally. In the office, colleagues bustled about. He casually glanced at the intern nearby, and the panel displayed: [Desire: Caffeine craving.] Simple, but useful. It was like having a debug tool for human interactions, but he reminded himself to keep it secret—no one else could know about the system.
His thoughts drifted back to Lily. The kiss from last night lingered, warm and tentative, but her doubts nagged at him. As a former hacker, she'd picked up on an odd signal, though she hadn't pressed. It was like a thorn in his side. The system had warned: Secrecy was paramount.
During work hours, Alex mechanically typed code. Suddenly, a new task popped up:
**[Side Quest: Workplace Seduction. Attract colleague Amy's attention in the office and complete an intimate interaction (e.g., a hug). Reward: EXP+150, Unlock Mind Reading (Intermediate). Failure Penalty: EXP-100, Social Debuff (one week). Hint: Face competitors strategically.]**
Amy? Alex turned his head to the adjacent desk. Amy Ross, 26, with golden blonde hair, blue eyes, and a balanced figure, was the team's coordinator. She was smart and capable, always in professional attire that exuded confidence. But she had a boyfriend—Jack, the arrogant sales manager in the company, who often bragged in the break room.
The system locked on: [Target: Amy Ross. Match Rate: 78%. Desires: Professional recognition, hidden fantasy: The thrill of being pursued. Note: Office concerns and competitor Jack will increase difficulty. Multiple attempts, utilize Mind Reading.]
Alex swallowed. Flirting at work? High risk—if HR found out, he could lose his job. But the rewards were tempting, so he decided to try.
During lunch break, he carried his coffee over to Amy: "Hey, Amy. What do you think of that project report?"
Amy looked up and smiled: "It's okay, but the data section has bugs. You're the expert—maybe you can help me take a look?"
Opportunity seized. Alex sat down and activated Mind Reading: [Desire: Professional assistance, slight attraction.] He explained the code issues, and they chatted productively. But Jack walked over, draping an arm around Amy's shoulder: "Babe, need my help? This guy's just a code monkey."
The jealousy element surfaced. Alex felt a twinge of discomfort, but the system prompted: [Progress: 20%. Ignore the competitor, continue interaction.]
In the afternoon, Alex emailed Amy some optimization suggestions. She replied with thanks and suggested discussing in the break room. When he arrived, she was there, wearing a fitted blouse that accentuated her curves.
"Thanks for the help, Alex. You're pretty reliable," Amy said with a smile.
Mind Reading showed: [Desire: Appreciation, potential flirt.] He boldly replied: "No problem. Honestly, you're always so standout in the team."
Amy blushed: "Oh? Is that a compliment?" But she glanced at the door: "Careful, Jack is possessive."
The first attempt was interrupted. Jack appeared, glaring at Alex: "Buddy, don't get too close."
**[Progress: 40%. Hint: Find a private opportunity, avoid direct confrontation.]**
Alex backed off but didn't give up. The next day, he suggested a VR meeting to review the report—the company's new tool, a virtual space that was private.
In the meeting, it was just their avatars. Alex used Mind Reading: [Desire: Curiosity, excitement.] He steered the conversation from work to personal: "How do you unwind? Work stress getting to you?"
Amy sighed: "Yeah, Jack's always busy, and I feel lonely sometimes."
Opportunity. Alex's avatar moved closer: "Maybe I can help share the load." Their avatars touched—equivalent to a real hug.
But Amy hesitated: "This isn't appropriate... office rules."
A slight system glitch flared, the screen flickering. Alex steadied it and pushed: "It's just virtual, no one knows."
Mind Reading shifted: [Fantasy: Taboo thrill.] Amy finally relaxed, allowing more intimate contact. In virtual space, they hugged, the sensation feeding back to reality—warm and tantalizing.
But Jack suddenly joined the meeting! "What are you guys doing?" Jealousy exploded.
Alex thought quickly, pretending it was report discussion. Jack was suspicious but had no proof.
After the meeting, Amy messaged privately: "That felt... nice. But we have to be careful."
**[Quest Completed! Rewards Issued: EXP+150 (Current EXP: 200/200, Leveled Up to Lv.3), Mind Reading Upgraded to Intermediate. Can perceive deeper desires.]**
The upgrade brought new power, but the jealousy seed was planted. Alex sensed the office undercurrents would surge more fiercely.
In the following days, the task escalated to a threesome dynamic. The system issued: [Advanced Quest: Incorporate Lily in a VR meeting and complete a consensual threesome intimacy. Reward: EXP+300, Unlock New Skill.]
Alex contacted Lily, who agreed to join a "work discussion." In the VR space, the three avatars met. Lily noticed Amy's appeal, jealousy flaring: "Who's she?"
Amy was wary too, but Mind Reading showed both's hidden desires: [Lily: Competitive excitement. Amy: Curious exploration.]
Alex mediated, guiding the atmosphere from discussion to flirtation. Virtual touches began, gentle and tentative. Lily hesitated but consented: "As long as it's voluntary."
The scene heated up: the three entangled, senses heightened—kisses, caresses, intense in VR as if real. Jealousy turned to stimulation, adding tension. But the system remained secret, everything concealed.
After the climax, they exited. In reality, Alex panted. Rewards flooded in, but a backlash loomed: mild hallucinations, making him question if this was an upgrade or a trap?