The next morning, Li Kai woke up feeling unstoppable. His Aventador gleamed under the sunlight outside, a silent reminder of how far he had come in a single day.
Chen Yuna was sitting at the rooftop, sipping tea. Lin Xiaorou arrived shortly after, dressed in her signature business suit, but her eyes had a faint curiosity now – less cold than before.
Li Kai checked the system panel briefly.
Chen Yuna – Favorability: 100 (Absolute Loyalty)
Lin Xiaorou – Favorability: 90
A grin spread across his face.
Time to… accelerate things.
Li Kai started with Lin Xiaorou.
Lin Xiaorou, he said calmly, I know you like luxury watches.
She blinked, surprised.
I… do.
Li Kai held up a sleek black box. Inside lay a limited edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, worth over $400,000.
Her eyes widened. She tried to remain composed, but the faintest blush appeared on her cheeks.
DING.
Favorability Increase
90 to 95
You didn't… have to, she whispered.
Li Kai smirked.
I know. But I wanted to.
Next, he turned to Chen Yuna, who had been quietly observing him.
Yuna, you've been amazing. I think you deserve something special too.
Li Kai tapped his phone. Minutes later, a delivery arrived - a designer handbag and matching shoes, each worth tens of thousands.
Chen Yuna stared in disbelief.
I… I can't accept this…
You already did,Li Kai replied lightly.
DING!
Chen Yuna's Favorability flickered but remained at 100, her loyalty unshakable.
Even as they opened their gifts, Li Kai noticed movement from a shadowed alleyway across the street.
A tall woman stepped out, her long black hair like ink in the sun. Her presence alone made the air feel heavy.
SYSTEM ALERT — NEW TARGET DETECTED
Name: Selene Voss
Age: 28
Favorability: 0
Threat Level: Extreme
Li Kai's grin widened.
Ah… Selene. Let's see what you're made of.
He turned back to the two women. Lin Xiaorou, now more visibly intrigued, quietly slipped his number into her phone. Chen Yuna, loyal as ever, simply smiled.
Li Kai leaned back, his mind already planning.
Alright… first the gifts. Then, we see how dangerous our new friend really is.
That afternoon, Li Kai visited the city's most exclusive boutiques.
For Lin Xiaorou: another luxury watch, a custom-tailored suit, and a sports car upgrade.
For Chen Yuna: designer jewelry, spa packages, and a luxury apartment upgrade.
DING!
Lin Xiaorou — Favorability: 95 to 97
Chen Yuna — Favorability remains 100
Both women now practically hung on his words and gestures. Lin Xiaorou's curiosity was turning into genuine admiration, while Chen Yuna remained utterly loyal, a steadfast ally in everything he did.
And somewhere across the city, in darkness, Selene Voss silently observed the spree, her Favorability at 0, her expression unreadablebut her interest in Li Kai growing… dangerously.
Li Kai slid into the driver's seat of his Aventador, gifts loaded in the back.
Time to show this city what happens when money meets strategy, he muttered.
The engine roared, echoing across the skyscrapers.
The game was only beginning.