The scorching July sun blazed mercilessly overhead.
"Hello there, you must be Cheng Mu? Please sign for this admission letter."
The mail carrier handed over the EMS envelope.
"Thank you."
Cheng Mu accepted it with a gentle smile.
As the clean-cut young man disappeared into the small courtyard, a group of middle-aged women huddled together just beyond the wall, whispering among themselves.
"Look at how well Cheng Mu did on his exams!"
"Shanghai University's Academy of Fine Arts—that's a top-tier 211 university!"
"If only his parents were still here, they'd be so proud."
"But I wonder how he'll manage those steep tuition fees for an art major all on his own..."
Back inside, Cheng Mu carefully placed the admission letter in front of his parents' portrait before lighting three sticks of incense with quiet reverence.
He clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and stood in silent prayer.
Though orphaned at a young age, he had always strived to honor his parents through his achievements.
Now, despite securing a place at a prestigious university, the looming burden of tuition weighed heavily on his mind.
Just as his brow furrowed with worry, his phone suddenly pinged with a notification.
The message was from his good buddy Gong Hao.
"Fang Jin's throwing a college acceptance party next week. You coming? Wanna split a red envelope gift?"
"Not going."
"Seriously, man? I thought you two were super close. How could you skip her celebration?"
"Cut the crap. I said I'm not going, end of story!"
Cheng Mu fired off the reply irritably and tossed his phone aside, flopping onto the bed with a heavy thud.
Just the mention of Fang Jin made him feel a surge of frustration.
Back in high school, she had been the undisputed campus belle—radiant, captivating.
She'd always found excuses to get close to him, the top-ranked student in their grade. Study sessions, problem discussions, even art lessons—their closeness had sparked endless whispers among classmates.
For a while, Cheng Mu had believed their ambiguous, on-and-off connection would eventually blossom into something more.
But right after the college entrance exams, just as he was gearing up to confess, Fang Jin had already started dating Shi Liang.
And who was Shi Liang?
Nothing but a spoiled rich kid who threw his weight around.
Apart from having a gold mine for a family, the guy was utterly worthless.
Yet it was precisely this kind of person who effortlessly won Fang Jin's favor.
This incident made Cheng Mu see with brutal clarity how cruel reality could be. In this world, money was the master key that unlocked every door.
Just as Cheng Mu sank into deep despair, a crisp notification tone suddenly chimed in his mind.
**[Joyful Life System successfully bound!]**
**[Host information confirming...]**
A system interface projected before his eyes, making his heart race instantly.
**[Name: Cheng Mu]**
**[Age: 18]**
**[Wealth: 2,687]**
**[Joy Points: 0]**
**[System Notification: Special ability "Money Rain" acquired!]**
**[Special Ability: Money Rain
Beginner/Upgrade Requirement: 0/100 Emotion Points
]**
**[Activation Effect: Host will receive random rewards while experiencing happiness! Additionally, account balance increases by 0.1 yuan per second!]**
**[Special Note: All funds provided by this system originate from the host's offshore family trust fund. All financial transactions comply with international regulations—spend with confidence!]**
Cheng Mu's hands trembled slightly, his eyes widened to the size of saucers, his mind a tempest of shock and disbelief.
He rubbed his eyes vigorously, even pinched his thigh hard—the sharp pain confirmed this wasn't a dream.
"No freaking way..." he muttered under his breath, his entire being engulfed in euphoria.
His mind raced with calculations: 0.1 yuan per second in passive income meant 6 yuan a minute, 360 yuan an hour just for existing.
If this kept running nonstop for 24 hours, that'd be a cool 8,640 yuan a day without lifting a finger.
"Wait, that's over 200 grand a month?"
Cheng Mu sucked in a sharp breath. Pure, effortless cash!
And this was just the baseline effect!
The realization sent an uncontrollable grin spreading across his face, his lips curling into a manic, gleeful smile.
"System, you're saying I earn Joy Points just by being happy?"
[Ding!]
[Correct! This is the Joyful Life System, designed around the host's happiness. Whether it's savoring gourmet food, taking a nap, enjoying entertainment, or falling in love—any activity that brings you joy converts into Joy Points.]
[Joy Points can upgrade your attributes and abilities, crafting the ultimate life!]
"Now we're talking."
Cheng Mu examined the system interface before him with keen interest, then pulled up his personal stats panel.
——【Personal Attributes】
【Looks: 90
Devastatingly handsome/Adonis-tier
】
【Physique: 60
Underweight/Malnourished/Subpar health
】
【Charisma: 71
Above average/Unremarkable
】
【Special: 60
Basic/Newbie
】
【Talent: Money Printer Lv1】
——【Skills】
【Cooking: 60/Painting: 85/Sports: 50/Driving...】
Studying the data, Cheng Mu's face lit up with sudden understanding. "So this is how the system works."
"That 'Special' stat... Don't tell me it's..."
*Ding!* "Host guessed correctly—it’s exactly *that* kind of special stat!"
"Damn..." Cheng Mu's lip twitched slightly. "This system’s got a sense of humor."
Seems these so-called "tycoon systems" all love running the same playbook.
But hey, if there were perks to reap, he wasn’t about to complain.
[Ding! The system detects the host's joy upon first binding, triggering the "Money Rolls In Daily" talent! You've earned a lottery draw!]
[Would you like to draw now?]
"Absolutely!"
Without hesitation, Cheng Mu confirmed his choice.
[Congratulations, host! You've received a special reward: Travel Spending Critical Cashback!]
[Summer break is just around the corner—why not seize the moment for a spontaneous trip? Books can teach you much, but the world teaches you more. Young man, it's time to spread your wings!]
[Travel Critical Cashback: All travel-related expenses will be refunded at a random multiplier!]
"Cashback for traveling?" Cheng Mu's eyes lit up. "This is a total win!"
Honestly, who would say no to a good trip?
Especially one where spending money actually makes you money.
He immediately pulled out his phone and eagerly opened the TripEase app, ready to plan his adventure.
After a moment's thought, Cheng Mu decided to start small—just a test run.
He selected a high-speed rail ticket to Lanzhou, priced at 35 yuan—a modest expense for him.
As the payment confirmation chimed, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
[Travel expense successfully triggered a 10x critical cashback!]
Just then, a bank notification popped up on his phone screen:
[Postal Savings Bank: Your account ending in 566 has received a deposit of 350.00 yuan. Current balance: 3002.00 yuan.]
"No way! Is this for real?"
Cheng Mu nearly tripped over the corner of his desk in his excitement, flailing around the room like a kid on a sugar rush. After confirming the system wasn’t pulling his leg, his confidence skyrocketed.
He stood in front of his computer, staring blankly at the destination list on the booking website. On a whim, he grabbed a suction-cup dart from his desk and hurled it at the yellowed map pinned to his wall.
*Thwack.* The dart landed dead center on a random spot.
"Lucheng? Huh. Interesting."
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he swiftly booked a flight to Longhai Lucheng without a second thought. Including all the extra fees, the total came to 2,150 yuan.
The moment the payment went through, another bank alert chimed. Cheng Mu’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull as he read the screen:
[This travel expense has successfully triggered a 15x cashback multiplier!]
Another notification flashed immediately after:
[Postal Savings Bank: Your account ending in 566 has received a deposit of 32,250.00 yuan. Current balance: 33,102.00 yuan.]
Thirty thousand yuan!
To many people, this sum might seem insignificant, but for Cheng Mu, who had struggled through life since childhood, it was the first time he'd ever seen such a staggering figure in his bank account.
Just as he was basking in this newfound joy, a familiar system chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Successfully obtained 50 points of Joy Value—first experience of the thrill brought by financial abundance!]
[Young man, the road ahead shimmers with boundless possibilities. Embrace this brand-new chapter of your life with open arms!]