Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
On this night.
Tang Hong suffered from insomnia.
He laid in the smallest bedroom in this villa, his heart a mess. Tossing and turning, he had trouble falling asleep. He was still a little blank even now.
“A dream-like opening…”
“What happened to the sci-fi style, where was the invasion of the gods, why did this feel like an urban drama about an extremely rich domineering CEO…”
Tang Hong closed his eyes, he groped among the few buttons at the head of the bed, found the corresponding button and lowered the blinds, to avoid the sunlight blinding his eyes.
Swoosh swoosh.
The curtains fell and the bedroom became dim. He quietly counted his individual value.
The system information prompts in the early hours of the morning flickered three times, adding four points of individual value. This caused the restlessness in Tang Hong’s heart to gradually disperse and turn into tranquil delight.
[Ding dong!]
[First experience of single life, individual value+1]
[Ding dong!]
[First experience of insomnia alone, you felt slight loneliness, individual value+1]
[Ding dong!]
[First experience of a night home alone, you felt slight loneliness, individual value+2]
“Individual value plus two!”
“Is it because this house is very valuable, or because I know that this house is really expensive.” Tang Hong pondered inwardly.
There was one more reference subject for the second class increment.
The addition of individual value was very substantial, it gave him a sense of surefootedness.
Tang Hong fell asleep unknowingly. He only woke up at noon, the headache that felt like pins pricking put a frown on his face. He instantly recalled that he had lost sleep throughout the night even before he recovered from the cold, his body would probably find it too much to take.
“Cough cough.”
Tang Hong coughed twice and brought out the system interface.
He was wondering whether increasing strength would lessen the negative state of his cold, or even directly cure it. But Tang Hong was worried that problems might arise if he increased strength too quickly.
“Forget it.”
“I’ll keep them for now.”
Mortal: Extremely small and weak creature.
Willpower: 50%
Strength: 35%
Realm: 0.00
Individual value: 6
Putting away the system interface, Tang Hong leaped out and jumped off the bed. His feet landed on the ground and gave off a dull thump.
Rumble!
The fancy vegas yellow streamlined super car slowly drove out of the estate. The engine roared, the sound reverberating through the peaceful and secluded streets.
Tang Hong instantly did want to drive anymore, the clamor was huge and was seemingly a disturbance.
“How strange…”
“It probably has been modified…”
Tang Hong brought out his phone for a glance, it was almost his turn in the Haodilao queue, there were about a dozen tables in front of him.
He did not get to eat the dormitory’s little hotpot yesterday, so he planned to have hotpot alone today and verify whether he could trigger individual value while he was at it.
Even though Yunhai City was a Tier 1 city, super cars were a rare sight, not to mention that this yellow was truly striking.
Tang Hong gritted his teeth, stepped lightly on the accelerator and drove past the traffic junction. Throughout the journey, he sensed that everyone’s gazes were indistinctly surveying him. Fortunately, the windows on both sides of this car had been tinted. He had specially tested it yesterday, the interior of the car could not be seen from outside.
‘No wonder those local tyrants online all claim that super cars aren’t nice to drive, low chassis, bad visibility and uncomfortable when seated.’
‘I cannot rush, I’ve got to try my best to drive slowly, I won’t be able to pay compensation if I crash this.’
‘The back press feeling1 is too strong…’
‘This is virtually dope, this feels amazing, I’m at the top of the world…”
“Accelerating is so cool, the noise is exhilarating too, is it a waste to be cutting the throttle… I have to keep calm, keep calm, keep calm… alright, just once, I’ll just try it once and it’ll be enough, I swear!”
[Ding dong!]
[First time experiencing driving a sports car alone, individual value+3]
This was the first time a three-point addition had appeared.
Taking advantage of the little traffic on the overhead expressway, Tang Hong tried stepping on the accelerator a dozen more times, fearfully and carefully accelerating. He suddenly realized that he seemed to have missed the exit and hurriedly searched for one. He fussed around for another 20 minutes after leaving the expressway and was finally close to Haodilao, he still had a few hundred meters to go.
This was one way street.
In any case, his number had passed, Tang Hong was in no rush and he drove leisurely. A zebra crossing appeared ahead, two couples holding hands stood at the edge. There were also several girls whose appearances could not be seen clearly but outfits were very attractive.
He recalled the topic of his driving test: give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings.
He tapped lightly on the brakes. The speed slowed but the roar of the engine became even louder.
Vroom vroom.
The yellow Audi R8 stopped in front of the zebra crossing. Those pedestrians by the zebra crossing looked over, they took a few tentative steps forward and seemed to be surprised. Some buried their heads and crossed quickly but there were also others who lifted their hands with a smile to give their thanks.
A line of cars queued behind…
There was no tooting of horns…
Tang Hong felt that the world was so quiet and so vibrant for the first time in his life. He was now some inexplicable anticipation towards the special training camp in the capital.
Money symbolized desire and greed, it could also be motivation.
Glory, steadfastness, faith and responsibility were indeed moving. However, these were accumulated over a long period through unconscious influence, they were nothing like the massive shock and impact from a super car that was directly thrown at him.
Youth, do you want to save the world?
Youth, do you want this car?
The facts proved that Fang Nanxun’s considerations were very accurate.
At this moment.
Tang Hong wanted to become a Transcendent, very badly.
He hardly realized that the gift given by fate had long been labeled with a price.
…
Strong willpower allowed Tang Hong to return to normal very quickly and park his car outside. This was because the security uncle at the entrance to the basement carpark told him that the chassis of this car was too low that it would be easily bumped and scratched. It was best to park it on above ground.
When he entered Haidilao, his number had long passed.
Many people were seated, waiting for their turn.
‘Makes sense.’
‘Today is a Saturday.”
Tang Hong looked towards the Haidilao server who welcomed him with a smile and took a new number. People who’d missed their number were allowed to cut the queue.
Three more tables and it would be his turn.
The server scratched her head, trying hard to conceal the astonishment in her gaze. “You are alone?”
She had seen a considerable number of people who ate hotpot alone, but all of them were girls.
“Mm.”
Tang Hong nodded. He sat at the side and waited patiently.
He was working up the sense of loneliness. On his right and left, there were many people waiting for their table. Tang Hong swept a glance and even saw four or five pretty attractive young ladies, as well as a few graceful back views whose faces could not be seen.
He retracted his gaze.
The server handed him a glass of water. “This is lemon water, please have some to quench your thirst.”
“Thank you.”
Tang Hong took the lemon water and continued working up the sense of loneliness of eating hotpot alone.
The server then brought a plate of snacks. “Would you like some?”
“Thank you.”
The corner of Tang Hong’s mouth twitched for a moment.
The server passed him a sheet of paper next. “You can print photos if you scan the QR code with your phone.”
Tang Hong was speechless.
After waiting for three minutes, it reached Tang Hong’s number. He was about to get up when he saw two rather pretty young ladies, they looked a little familiar. The two people approached the server who had given him water, snacks and the QR code and enquired something in a whisper.
Then.
He saw the server walking towards him with the two young ladies, they were grinning.
“Hi.”
One of them was wearing a camisole and shorts with a jacket hanging on her left arm. She said smilingly to Tang Hong, “We still need to queue for a long time… cute guy, let’s eat together.”
Tang Hong was a little stunned, “How can we do that.”
“It’s fine, we’ll go dutch.” Another person added, “It’s just joining tables at the last minute.”
Tang Hong shook his head. “Sorry.”
The two people exchanged glances, there was regret in their eyes but they no longer insisted… Meanwhile that server led Tang Hong to a four-person table. The table was very clean… However she was just about to leave when she heard Tang Hong’s question.
“Um.”
“I heard that you do give solo customers a bear, right?” asked Tang Hong.
What chest1?
The server did not hear him clearly, it was a little noisy in the restaurant.
Tang Hong raised his volume and said, “The big toy bear that accompanies people to eat.”
“Ah, we do, we do.”
The server nodded repeatedly and turned to retrieve one. Her expression instantly became unusually splendid——you rejected having two girls eat with you but insisted on having a bear?!
Big brother… that’s a toy, not a living bear!
I… ah pui, people are feeling anxious for you!
At the same time.
Tang Hong, who was in his seat, was expressionless. He could vaguely sense the strange gazes coming from all directions.
When everyone was looking in his direction, the average man would feel that he was very pitiful.
But Tang Hong was different.
“Look all you like!”
“I am the pitiful son that the heavens have cruelly disregarded!”
“The temperatures have dipped today, the cicadas sing dolefully in the cold… I’ve cried, what about you people, where is your individual value.”
I heard that Shuangxi is beautiful in Spring, I would drift there alone in a light boat1.
[Ding dong!]
[First time experiencing eating hotpot alone, individual value+1]