The air outside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel was thick with the scent of wealth and expensive perfume. David stood awkwardly by the entrance, his hand clammy around the small red velvet box. His suit, bought three years ago on clearance, felt thin and cheap against the backdrop of the city's most luxurious hotel.
"Lily, just wait a minute. Tonight… I wanted to give you a surprise." David's voice was strained, a mixture of nerves and shame.
Lily, his girlfriend, was stunningly dressed, but her eyes held a cold impatience. She glanced at the cheap box in his hand.
"A surprise? David, do you even know where we are? The parking fee here is probably more than your ring is worth! I'm done, I'm truly done with this poverty!" Lily's tone was sharp, laced with a bitter resentment toward his meager finances.
David felt a sharp, agonizing squeeze in his chest. He had saved for six months, even taking out a small loan, just for that two-thousand-dollar ($2000) engagement ring. He wanted a perfect moment, but all he got was outright disdain.
Just as the humiliation peaked, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided silently to a stop right beside them. The powerful vehicle was a sleek, black predator, radiating authority and limitless cash.
The tinted window rolled down, revealing Jason Locke, a local tech scion and the last person David ever wanted to see. Jason wore a tailored suit and a condescending smile.
"Well, well, isn't it David?" Jason smirked, his eyes sweeping over David before settling on Lily with open desire. "Lily, why are you still standing with this loser? Come on, I'm hosting a party in the penthouse. We have real champagne up there, not the cheap soda your boyfriend can afford."
Lily's expression instantly switched from annoyance to fierce ambition. She immediately pulled her hand away from David's, her decision finalized.
"I'm sorry, David." Lily didn't even look at him. She walked straight toward the Rolls-Royce. Her voice was ice. "You're a nice guy, but poverty is a sin. I'm tired of taxis and takeout. Jason, let's go."
Jason gave David a triumphant look as Lily settled comfortably into the luxurious leather seat. The massive car sped off, leaving David alone, abandoned, and shattered.
The red velvet ring box slipped from his numb fingers and clattered onto the cold marble sidewalk.
Humiliation, fury, and crushing despair boiled inside him. He bent down, trembling, and picked up the ring that represented his entire savings. He threw it—box and all—into a nearby public trash can.
"Garbage! It's all garbage!" he choked out a furious whisper.
In that instant, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind, cutting through the noise of the city, a voice from another dimension.
[BEEP! Host David detected. Emotional Stress Level: 99%. Initializing...] [Binding Successful! The 10,000x Cashback & Tech Evolution System has been activated!]
David froze, his mind reeling. Was he hallucinating?
[System Prompt: Welcome, Host. Your current Balance is $43.90. Spend money to earn money. Let's see how much you dare to spend!]
He couldn't believe it, but he had to test it. Driven by a desperate need for validation—or just a need to numb the pain—David stumbled into a nearby 24-hour convenience store.
He grabbed the most expensive bottle of whiskey he could find, priced at $20.
He swiped his card, watching his balance drop to $23.90.
"Let's see, system. Prove it," he muttered.
The instant he grabbed the bottle, the prompt exploded in his head.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You spent $20. Cashback Multiplier Triggered: 100x!] [You have received $2,000.00 cash back!]
David's breath hitched. He snatched his phone, his eyes wide as he looked at the bank notification.
His account balance now clearly read: $2,023.90.
The pain was instantly overpowered by a terrifying, giddy excitement. $20 for a return of $2,000. The system wasn't letting him lose!
A cold, ruthless smile spread across David's face. He looked toward the glittering lights of the Ritz-Carlton. A terrifying thought took root: "I need to spend everything."