"Another 67.64 tickets to go... no, let's just round it up to a hundred!"
Shen Xiao thought as he glanced at his remaining balance.
Relying on Lu Zihao to gain Fate Tickets through admiration points was simply too slow.
That guy gave out chump change far too often.
Shen Xiao decided to focus on the Empress instead.
Just one more "heart-fluttering" moment, and he would break the 1,000-ticket mark for his first-ever 100-Draw!
He was beyond impatient.
The 10-Draw button on his system looked boring now.
He wanted the extra bonuses from pulling a hundred at once.
Who knew?
Maybe he could snag an auto-cultivation technique so he wouldn't have to break a sweat to get stronger.
"Let's eat first. This noodle stall looks good. After that, we'll rest so we can search for the target fresh tomorrow," Shen Xiao suggested.
...
The next morning, at a roadside breakfast stall.
Shen Xiao was enjoying his meal, while Lu Qingyue appeared restless.
Her mind was fixed on a paper map of Qinghe County spread across the table.
Her tofu pudding was nearly cold.
"Try this bun. It tastes great, like a real bun should," Shen Xiao said, handing her a warm meat bun.
"Ah... yes," Qingyue accepted it, taking small, dainty bites.
Despite only being together for a day, Qingyue found Shen Xiao incredibly approachable.
He wasn't like the arrogant rich kids she had encountered before.
After eating, she returned to studying the map, trying to analyze the hiding spots of Hao Xian, the barber.
"Finish your food first, then I'll give the map back," Shen Xiao interrupted, pulling the map away. "After this, I'm taking you to the shopping center."
Qingyue was confused.
A shopping center?
Was there a hidden clue there?
She racked her brain, trying to find a link between a bald barber and a shopping mall.
I must be too stupid to see the logic, she thought resignedly.
...
The county's shopping center was quite simple, more like a pop-up market with tents and street vendors.
The cold morning made Lu Qingyue's ears turn bright red.
She refused to put up her hood, fearing it would obstruct her vision if the target suddenly appeared.
Suddenly, Shen Xiao stopped at a stall. "Qingyue, wait a moment."
Before long, Shen Xiao returned carrying a pair of fluffy, warm rabbit-ear earmuffs and a thick red scarf.
Without waiting for her consent, he placed the headband on Qingyue's head and wrapped the scarf gently around her neck.
Shen Xiao smiled with satisfaction. "There, that's better. Now you look like a local out for a stroll, not suspicious at all."
Qingyue's face flushed beneath the scarf, not from the cold, but from their sudden proximity.
"I... I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to buy these."
"It's nothing. Are you warmer now?"
"Mm-hm!" Qingyue nodded shyly.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100]
Perfect!
The 1,000-ticket target has been reached!
Shen Xiao cheered internally.
Suddenly, Qingyue trotted back to the stall, bought an identical red scarf, and stood on her tiptoes to wrap it around Shen Xiao's neck.
"The... the mission has to look natural, right? You should wear one too so we don't look like strangers lurking about."
Shen Xiao inhaled the lingering scent of Qingyue's fingers on his scarf.
"Not bad. But why didn't you get me the rabbit ears too?"
"That's... that's for girls! I'll buy you a different hat later," Qingyue blurted out.
Walking quickly ahead of him to hide her embarrassment."
Shen Xiao, can you explain what clue led you here?" Qingyue asked later.
Shen Xiao put on a mysterious face.
"You'll find out soon enough."
In reality, Shen Xiao just wanted to take a walk while harvesting tickets.
As for the target?
He had a Hint Card from the system.
Finding a criminal was as easy as flipping his palm.
...
Meanwhile, in a warm internet cafe.
"A-choo!" Lu Zihao sneezed loudly, nearly dropping his phone.
"Focus! Move up already, I've already provided support!"
Su Qiao snapped, staring intensely at her phone screen.
"Patience, babe! My screen is grey, I'm dead!" Zihao complained.
Su Qiao glanced at the clock.
"We're on a mission, is it right for us to be playing games in a cafe?"
"Don't worry. Trust my Boss," Zihao said nonchalantly.
"He's the type who can complete a mission while on a date. If we followed them, we'd just be third wheels and ruin his plans."
"Better for us to stay here, waiting for instructions while we rank up. Catching a fugitive is a brain task, and the brain of our team is Shen Xiao."
Su Qiao sighed.
"Qingyue is so lucky to have a teammate like him... and I'm lucky I don't have to freeze outside. Come on, one more game!"
...
Shen Xiao didn't have manual clues, but he had something much better.
A Hint Card.
Qinghe County wasn't that large.
Once they reached the city center, the detection range of the card covered almost the entire area.
Shen Xiao decided to use it now to save time.
He could have used it yesterday, but completing the mission on the first day would look too suspicious and might invite an investigation from the academy.
Two or three days is a reasonable timeframe for a genius, he thought.
Besides, seeing Lu Qingyue exhausted from worrying about the mission all night, Shen Xiao wanted to give her some certainty.
The Empress had already given him thousands of gacha tickets, it was time he repaid the favor.
Use [Hint Card]!
Instantly, a transparent pulse visible only to Shen Xiao appeared in his vision.
The pulse pointed toward a street near the shopping center. Shen Xiao led Qingyue on a casual stroll, following the guide.
"Qingyue, try to sharpen your gaze. Look around, the clue is near here," Shen Xiao signaled.
Lu Qingyue stood on her tiptoes, her eyes scanning every corner meticulously.
Suddenly, she tugged on Shen Xiao's sleeve with excitement.
"Shen Xiao, look! That motorcycle under the tent!" Qingyue pointed at an old bike parked nearby.
"The shape is just like the one the target rode in the CCTV footage. Even though the license plate has been changed, there's a distinct scratch on the side that I remember clearly from that blurry video."
Shen Xiao smiled proudly.
"Impressive. You're very thorough."
"Shen Xiao, you're the amazing one! You knew exactly which area to check!" Qingyue exclaimed in awe.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100]
Shen Xiao touched the motorcycle's engine, it was still warm
"He just left. He likely went into this shopping center."
He pulled out a mini-tracking device and attached it to a hidden spot on the bike.
"Let's go sit in the bubble tea shop across the street while we wait for him to come out," Shen Xiao invited.
...
Inside the warm shop filled with soft music, Lu Qingyue felt the weight in her heart suddenly evaporate.
Finding a lead on the second day was an incredible start.
However, that relief brought with it an overwhelming wave of sleepiness from her sleepless night.
Her eyes grew heavy.
She tried to fight it, but her head slowly tilted until it finally fell onto Shen Xiao's shoulder.
"S-sorry!" Qingyue jolted awake, her face flushing.
"It's okay, sleep for a bit. I'll keep an eye on the bike," Shen Xiao said softly.
"Lean on me so it looks more natural, like a couple on a date. The target won't suspect a thing."
Qingyue hesitated for a moment, but Shen Xiao gently pulled her head back to his shoulder.
Shen Xiao then hugged the girl so that she wouldn't feel too cold.
Would anyone mind?
After all, this is my future wife!
The masculine scent from Shen Xiao's jacket made her feel incredibly safe.
Being on his embrace... it feels so comfortable.
I wish it could be like this forever, Qingyue thought before drifting into a deep sleep.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100]
[Current Status: 1232.36 Fate Tickets]
Finally!
Time for the 1,000-Draw!
Shen Xiao closed his eyes, letting the system work within his mind while Qingyue slept on his shoulder.
[System: Perform 1,000 Consecutive Draws?] Confirm!
A barrage of blue and purple lights exploded in Shen Xiao's mind.
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have received:]
[Rare Reward: Fire-Type Ability - Low Grade]
[Rare Reward: Water-Type Ability - Low Grade]
[Items: 1 Spatial Ring, 1 Spatial Bracelet, 1 Bone-Cleansing Fruit (Fragment).]
[Resources: 250 Spirit Stones, 20 bottles of High-Grade Recovery Potion, 15 Double EXP Cards.]
[Bonus: 9 additional Hint Cards, 10 Novice Proficiency Experience Packs.]
Ding!
[Since this is your first 1,000-Draw, you receive a Special Extra Reward: Cultivation Technique: Heaven-Seizing Fortune-Changing Technique]
Shen Xiao's eyes widened behind his closed lids.
The Heaven-Seizing Fortune-Changing Technique?
The name alone sounded dominating.
With this, his strength would no longer depend solely on gacha, he could develop independently at a breakneck speed.
He glanced at the soundly sleeping Qingyue.
Your luck really is rubbing off on me, my Empress….