Xiao Fan returned to his dorm—a cramped, dusty room shared with three other "trash-tier" students. He sat on his creaky bed, staring at the Marrow Washing Essence he had "confiscated" from the bully.
"Okay, System," Xiao Fan whispered, his comedic charm returning. "I'm a 1-Star Low talent right now. If I drink this, do I turn into a Golden God immediately? Or is this going to be one of those painful 'bone-breaking' montages?"
[Ding! Host's current constitution is too weak for instant evolution. The System recommends a 'Slow-Burn' approach. Talent will improve by 0.1% per hour during sleep.]
"Efficient and lazy. I love it," Xiao Fan grinned. He downed the liquid—it tasted like sour grapes and battery acid—and laid back.
The Academy Morning
The next morning, Xiao Fan woke up feeling... slightly less like a wet noodle.
Status Update: > Aptitude: 1-Star (Low-Middle) — Progress: 12%
Current Luck Event: "The Morning Commute Bonus."
As he walked toward the Basic Qi Gathering class, he noticed a crowd gathered near the training field. In the center stood Lin Xinyue.
She was the academy's "Ice Beauty," a 3-Star High Talent genius who was only at this school because of a family political dispute. She was currently practicing a Silver-rank sword technique, her movements fluid and sharp.
"Bro, look at her," one of Xiao Fan's classmates whispered, drooling. "She's at Black Iron 9-Star. One more step and she hits Bronze. She wouldn't even look at a 1-star insect like us."
Xiao Fan shrugged. "She looks stressed. Maybe she needs a hobby. Or a sandwich."
The "Accidental" Encounter
As Lin Xinyue performed a high-speed dash, her foot hit a patch of loose gravel—the same gravel that a maintenance worker had "forgotten" to sweep only because he had been distracted by a butterfly.
She stumbled, her expensive Jade Sword flying out of her hand. It spun through the air like a lethal propeller, heading straight for the crowd.
"Look out!" someone screamed.
Students scrambled, tripping over each other. Xiao Fan, however, was busy tying his shoelace. He leaned down at the exact millisecond the sword whistled over his head.
The sword struck a nearby "Strength Testing Stone" with such force that it cracked the stone open. Out fell a dusty, glowing red fruit that had been embedded inside the rock for decades.
The fruit bounced once, twice, and landed right in Xiao Fan's open backpack as he stood up.
"Huh? Did something happen?" Xiao Fan asked, looking around blankly.
Lin Xinyue rushed over, her face flushed with embarrassment. She ignored the other students and walked straight up to Xiao Fan. She was tall, smelling of cold lotus, and her eyes were piercing.
"You," she said, her voice like ice. "How did you know to duck?"
"Duck? Bro, I was just tying my shoe," Xiao Fan said, flashing a shameless grin. "Safety first, you know? By the way, your sword skills are... very explosive. You literally broke the scenery."
She looked at the cracked stone, then back at him. She felt a strange, inexplicable pull—not love, not even friendship, but a deep curiosity. In a world where everyone calculated every move, this guy seemed to be moving in sync with the universe itself.
"I am Lin Xinyue," she said stiffly. "You didn't get hurt because of my mistake. I owe you a favor."
"A favor? Cool. Can you buy me lunch? I'm starving," Xiao Fan replied.
The crowd gasped. A 1-star trash asking the Ice Beauty for a lunch date? He was asking for death!
But instead of slapping him, Lin Xinyue paused. "Fine. Meet me at the cafeteria at noon. Don't be late, 1-star."
The Result
As she walked away, Xiao Fan peeked into his bag.
[Item Found: Vermillion Blood Fruit (Middle-Grade)]
[Effect: Dramatically boosts Qi recovery and strengthens veins.]
"No girlfriend yet, but a free meal with the hottest girl in school and a rare treasure just for tying my shoes?" Xiao Fan chuckled, heading toward class. "If this is being a 'loser,' I never want to be a winner.