After determining the cause for the high number of program uses, Chu Tian opened his e-wallet. His breath caught when he saw the balance.
Approx. $588,000 USD
Chu Tian bit his lip to contain his excitement. This was more money than he'd ever dared imagine having. With this amount, he could buy a decent apartment outright in Haicheng.
Despite his excitement, Chu Tian remembered his more pressing mission for the day: Yang Rong. He needed to subtly question his classmate. At this point, he was certain there was more to her than met the eye.
After reviewing his program's usage statistics, Chu Tian shut down his computer and left his apartment.
---
7:20 AM - Breakfast Shop Near Campus
Chu Tian sipped his soy milk while strategizing how to approach Yang Rong when two women in their early thirties entered the shop. One had stylish beach wave hair, the other a sleek black ponytail. Both wore form-fitting outfits that accentuated their figures.
They took the table next to Chu Tian's. The beach-wave woman tossed her hair back dramatically. "Ugh, I just don't get it. Lu Jing's husband is perfect successful, stable, completely devoted. Why is she messing around with that Sun guy? He's average looking and broke! If her husband finds out she's cheating, he'll divorce her immediately. Then where will she be?"
Chu Tian's ears perked up. While not normally one for gossip, he couldn't help but listen.
The ponytailed woman nodded vigorously. "Exactly! Half our friend group envies her marriage. Instead of appreciating what she has, she's risking it all for... what?"
"I seriously don't understand," Beach wave continued, shaking her head. "Is she crazy? What's the appeal?"
The ponytailed woman suddenly giggled, biting her lip. "You really don't know?"
"Know what?"
"Well..." Ponytail leaned in conspiratorially. "Liu Jing told me - Sun is exceptionally... gifted. Like, life-changingly so."
Beach wave's jaw dropped. "No way!"
"I swear it's true."
The two burst into hushed, knowing laughter.
Chu Tian, sitting barely a meter away, heard every word.
'Sigh. Modern women...' he thought, shaking his head. 'First men need money. Then they need time. Now even being handsome and successful isn't enough? You need to be... that too? Being a man is impossible these days.'
Just as he returned to his breakfast, a strange sensation made him glance downward. His eyes widened.
What. The. Hell.
Something was... changing.
Realization struck. Chu Tian's head snapped toward the gossiping women before he bolted for the restroom.
---
Five Minutes Later
Staring into the restroom mirror, Chu Tian's face paled with shock.
The truth was clear now it wasn't Yang Rong with special abilities. It was him.
Yang Rong didn't have word-realization powers. He did. Or rather, his body adapted based on what he overheard. Those women's conversation had triggered... physical modifications.
'So that's how it works,' he thought numbly. After a few more seconds of stunned reflection, he left the restroom. On his way out of the restaurant, he discreetly pocketed a single chopstick.
Chapter 6
Nursing Department - Third Class
When Chu Tian entered the classroom carrying a cup of milk tea, nearly all the students had already arrived. Spotting Yang Rong organizing her study materials, he took his seat and slid the drink toward her.
Yang Rong blinked at the offering. "Classmate, what's this for?"
"No special reason," Chu Tian smiled. "I bought an extra. It's yours."
"Really?" Yang Rong's eyes lit up as she grabbed the cup. "Xiang Piao Milk Tea?! This premium blend costs ¥45! [$6.50 USD] You're living large, classmate!"
[Note: Xiang Piao Piao is a popular Chinese milk tea brand. "Xiang" means fragrant, "Piao" means floating - implying an airy, delightful aroma. At ¥45, this is equivalent to a high-end Starbucks specialty drink.]
For university students, ¥45 for milk tea was a modest splurge. Of course, Haicheng University of Medicine had its share of wealthy students some even drove sports cars to class. To them, ¥45 was pocket change. But for ordinary students like Chu Tian and Yang Rong, it was a rare indulgence.
"Would I lie? Drink up before class starts." As he spoke, Chu Tian retrieved the stolen chopstick from his pocket.
Yang Rong paused mid-sip, straw dangling from her lips. "Uh... why are you holding a chopstick?"
"No reason." He hesitated. "Actually, do you have a ruler? I want to measure this."
"Measure... a chopstick?" Yang Rong frowned but handed over her ruler.
Chu Tian carefully measured: 22 cm exactly [8.66 inches].
Yang Rong peered at the measurement. "Standard length. What's so special about it?"
"Not special?" Chu Tian's lips twitched. "This is terrifyingly long. Any longer and there'd be accidents."
"Accidents...?" Yang Rong shook her head, baffled, then brightened. "Okay, enough pretending. Spill it which girl are you trying to impress with this bribe?"
Chu Tian groaned. "I'm serious! No ulterior motives."
"Really?" She leaned in, skeptical. "With six or seven 9/10 beauties in our class, you're not interested in *anyone*?"
"It's not about interest it's reality." Chu Tian flipped open his textbook. "Though... have you seen this one girl? Black hair, knockout figure, face like a goddess? Probably from Nursing."
Yang Rong burst out laughing. "You mean Bai Xiaochun from Sixth Class! She's my dormmate!"
"Wait, really?"
"Of course! Bai Xiaochun isn't just the prettiest in our department she's the university's top beauty." Yang Rong's voice dropped to a gossipy whisper. "She does yoga too. That 167cm [5'6"], 58kg [128lb] frame? Legs that split 180 degrees? She looks like she stepped out of a fantasy novel."
Chu Tian's grin widened. "That's her! So she's in Sixth Class..."
Yang Rong nudged him. "Want me to put in a good word?"
"Nah, someone like her must be taken." Chu Tian waved it off, then smirked. "But since you're drinking my ¥45 tea... how about praising me properly?"
Yang Rong slurped loudly, thinking. "You're... a good person? Handsome? Tall? Academically gifted?"
No effect.
Chu Tian sighed. "Too generic. Be specific."
"Hmm..." She tapped her chin. "You're scholarly, musical, versed in the four arts how's that?"
[The four traditional Chinese arts: qin (zither), qi (strategy games), shu (calligraphy), hua (painting)]
Still nothing.
"Good enough," Chu Tian muttered, pretending to study while his mind raced. 'Why isn't it working this time?'