"You know what? Today, I stumbled upon a math problem that was absolutely mind-boggling."

"What kind of question could possibly be that tough? Tell me about it."

"It's your figure—the proportions are beyond comprehension. And especially… that mesmerizing curve—it defies all logic no matter how hard I try to analyze it."

"Oh? Are you referring to… my chest?"

"I'm trying my best to stay gentlemanly, but honestly, it keeps distracting me to no end."

"So you're saying you can't focus during class or work because of it?"

"Not just distracted—it's constantly on my mind, haunting me. I'm starting to think there's something magical about it; my eyes are irresistibly drawn to it every time."

"Are you complimenting me, or just finding excuses to stare?"

"A bit of both, perhaps. But if you'd permit me, I'd love to do more than just look—I'd like to feel its warmth."

"Hmm, bold words. Do you realize the greater the audacity, the tougher the challenge becomes?"

"I thrive on challenges—especially ones where I make you utterly surrender."

As Zhou Yi was still lost in his reverie with Chu First love, a cacophony of jeering voices jolted him back to reality.

"Look at this clown dreaming of winning over the queen bee. Has he even seen himself in the mirror?"

"Exactly! How dare he lust after the campus beauty? He's nothing but a walking joke, hahaha!"

"Su Ning looks furious."

"No wonder she's mad. Being pursued by the lowest-ranked guy in class? If I were her, I'd slap him silly just to knock some sense into him."

"Poor Su Ning. She has my sympathy for a moment."

Zhou Yi's ears rang with the clamor of ridicule. When he opened his eyes, he found himself cornered by a mob of people. Not far away stood a group of stylishly dressed young men and women, clearly college students. In their midst was a breathtakingly beautiful girl. Her features were flawlessly sculpted, her gaze icy yet piercing, her skin luminous like porcelain bathed in sunlight. Her presence commanded attention, impossible to ignore. And not only was her face exquisite, but her figure rivaled that of a runway model—her slender legs extending endlessly beneath a pristine white skirt, evoking images of characters from anime brought to life.

At that moment, the girl glared at him with an air of disdainful superiority. In the past, Zhou Yi would have instantly tried to charm her. But now, still reeling from the shock of his own death, he felt disoriented and unsure.

He had been an ordinary college student until recently. After rejecting the confession of a deranged admirer who had long harbored feelings for him, she had stabbed him out of rage. When he awoke again, he found himself trapped in this unfamiliar situation.

Zhou Yi's silence only fueled the anger of those around him.

"Hey, are you deaf? We're talking to you!"

"Go take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Do you really think someone like you deserves to even glance at the campus belle?"

"And writing such disgusting things—have you no shame?"

A punk with dyed yellow hair shoved Zhou Yi aggressively. Zhou Yi immediately locked eyes with him, his gaze sharp enough to make the punk flinch.

"What's with that look? You asking for trouble?"

The yellow-haired thug raised his fist, ready to teach Zhou Yi a lesson, but before anyone realized what happened, Zhou Yi effortlessly flipped him onto the ground.

"Holy crap! Did Zhou Yi just take down Ah Hui?"

"Looks like Zhou Yi's grown a backbone—he actually dared to hit Brother Hui!"

"Maybe being humiliated pushed him too far."

"Heh, even a cornered dog will bite. Zhou Yi's the ultimate desperate loser."

"Stop kidding yourselves—he's nothing but a pathetic toad."

"Hahaha!"

Everyone mocked Zhou Yi, their eyes filled with contempt. It dawned on him then—the "pathetic toad" and "loser" they were referring to was none other than him.

A toad? A desperate loser?

He had dated more goddesses than these idiots had ever dreamed of! Women queued up for him, holding metaphorical tickets, waiting for his call. And now they dared to label him with such ridiculous terms?

When he glanced down and noticed the hideous black skinny jeans and faded canvas shoes he was wearing, realization struck him. This Zhou Yi wasn't the Zhou Yi he knew. The person everyone was mocking wasn't truly him.

Zhou Yi remained composed. Lowering his head, he stayed silent, pondering the bizarre circumstances and how to navigate them. Had he somehow traveled through time? Such a clichéd scenario seemed absurd—but then again, if being murdered by a crazed stalker was possible, why not time travel?

As the yellow-haired punk lay sprawled on the ground, Su Ning, visibly seething, strode toward Zhou Yi with her entourage. Before he could fully process the situation, one of the girls slapped him across the face.

Her voice, clear and frosty, cut through the air: "Enough, Zhou Yi! Let me spell this out for you—even if every man on Earth vanished, I'd never give you a second glance!"

Her tone was as chilling as winter snow melting under the pale sun, pure but biting. Su Ning's gaze was frigid, her demeanor aloof, as though she were looking at something repulsive. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Zhou Yi and the yellow-haired punk behind.

Zhou Yi stood frozen in shock. Never in his life had he experienced such humiliation. Women had always chased him—not the other way around.

The yellow-haired punk, regaining his composure, sneered maliciously.

"You little punk, daring to embarrass me in front of Su Ning. You'll pay for this. Come on, boys."

With that, Zhang Hui and his lackeys left the scene.

Finally alone, Zhou Yi took a moment to collect his thoughts. As he furrowed his brow in deep contemplation, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

"Greetings, Host Zhou Yi. This is System 077, here to assist you."

Startled, Zhou Yi hesitated before asking, "Who—or what—are you? Did you bring me here?"

"Yes," the voice replied. "Through the system's power, you've been reborn into this body. If you're ready, I'll transfer your memories. Further explanations will follow shortly."

Zhou Yi nodded. "Alright."

A wave of dizziness washed over him as countless memories flooded his consciousness.

The original host shared his name and gender—Zhou Yi.

He grew up in an orphanage and was now a sophomore in college, infamous as the school's most pitiful pushover.

Every girl he ever liked never returned his feelings.

The first half of his life could only be described as the ultimate example of self-abasement, evoking both pity and disdain.

Since childhood, he had been hopelessly devoted to Xia Qiuzhi, his childhood friend. From elementary school through university, he followed her everywhere.

To avoid being separated from her, he even applied to the same university. But she treated him like a servant, viewing him as nothing more than a source of shame.

At school, she never acknowledged their long-standing connection.

After Xia Qiuzhi got a boyfriend in college, things worsened.

Despite being in a relationship, she still demanded that Zhou Yi deliver late-night snacks to her and her boyfriend, Wang Xuan, fetch items for them, and even complete their assignments.

Wang Xuan, aware of Zhou Yi's existence, regarded him with contempt, seeing him as little more than a pathetic figure of ridicule. On the surface, however, he feigned camaraderie, pretending to defend Zhou Yi in front of Xia Qiuzhi. He would tell her not to treat him too harshly, claiming to see Zhou Yi as a brother or friend.

In reality, it was Wang Xuan who manipulated Xia Qiuzhi into despising Zhou Yi further—all while maintaining his own facade of kindness.

Despite Xia Qiuzhi's unreasonable demands, Zhou Yi obeyed without question. No matter what she asked, he complied without hesitation.

In her presence, he had no dignity left, convinced that Wang Xuan was superior and that he himself was unworthy of her love.

After she started dating Wang Xuan, Zhou Yi resigned himself to the role of a protective older brother, never daring to dream of anything more.

Later, during his freshman year, he fell for his ex-girlfriend, Chu Han, who also happened to be his first love.

This romance, if it could even be called that, was one-sided at best. Though they were supposedly together, Chu Han barely acknowledged him, using him mainly for convenience. She never publicly admitted their relationship and forbade Zhou Yi from telling anyone about it.

While they were "together," Zhou Yi spent every penny he earned on gifts for her—clothes, bags, meals, and entertainment. Whatever she desired, he did his utmost to provide, even if it meant surviving on instant noodles in his dormitory while giving her everything he had.

By all accounts, he was the perfect boyfriend, yet in Chu Han's eyes, Zhou Yi was nothing more than a pathetic doormat.

Even while dating Zhou Yi, she maintained ambiguous relationships with other men, constantly surrounded by admirers. Zhou Yi, deeply in love, noticed but chose to ignore it, silently enduring her behavior.

In the second semester of their freshman year, Chu Han met Gao Wenhao, a wealthy heir, and promptly discarded Zhou Yi, deeming him useless. Initially, Zhou Yi refused to give up, believing that continued devotion might win her back. But when Gao Wenhao discovered this, he had Zhou Yi beaten and threatened to expose his status as an orphan to everyone. He even vowed to demolish the orphanage where Zhou Yi had grown up, turning him into a pariah.

Forced to accept reality, Zhou Yi finally let go of Chu Han.

During this incident, a classmate named Su Ning happened to pass by. Perhaps disgusted by Gao Wenhao's cruelty, she intervened on Zhou Yi's behalf. From that moment on, he developed a quiet admiration for her. But knowing that someone like Su Ning was far beyond his reach, he kept his feelings hidden, quietly helping her whenever possible without expecting anything in return.

Once, when Su Ning collapsed and nearly died, it was Zhou Yi who rushed her to the hospital. Later, when she tried to find the person who saved her life, Zhou Yi lacked the courage to reveal it was him.

Zhou Yi was introverted and had few friends, so he poured his emotions into his diary. Little did he know, his desk mate snooped through his writings and exposed his crush on Su Ning, leading to the humiliation he faced today—the scene that unfolded on the sports field.

Looking back at Zhou Yi's entire life, "tragic" barely scratched the surface.

"This is just too tragic," Zhou Yi muttered, his brow furrowed in a heavy sigh.

077: "So you need to fulfill his wishes, make these three women regret their choices, and overturn the original host's 'simp' life to stage a comeback."

"I can provide assistance for this. As long as you gain affection points from the opposite sex around you, the system will reward you with corresponding money and Attribute Points."

The system then displayed the status panel in front of Zhou Yi:

Character Attributes:

[Name: Zhou Yi]

[Level: lv1 (Rookie)]

[Wealth: $528 (Poor)]

[Appearance: 30 (Average)]

[Combat Power: 30 (Average)]

[IQ: 60 (Average)]

[Reputation: 0 (Unknown)]

[Attribute Points: 0]

Mission Progress Panel:

[Xia Qiuzhi Regret Value: 0]

[Chu Han Regret Value: 0]

[Su Ning Regret Value: 0]

[Comeback Progress: 1]

[Affection Level Earned: 0]

[Admirers: 0]

[Achievements Unlocked: None]

[Items/Skills Acquired: None]

[Current Ranking: Not on the Leaderboard]

[System store locked – Level too low]

"At minimum, 1 Affection Level can be exchanged for $1,000 and 1 Attribute Point."

"'Affection Level Earned' means someone's affection for you has reached 100 points (max), and the count increases by 1. 100 points \= full value."

"The system store will unlock automatically once your level increases."

"Do you understand, Host?"

Zhou Yi nodded. He roughly grasped how the system worked.

"But if my appearance changes, won't people find it strange?"

"Once your appearance increases, their memories will adjust accordingly. No one will notice."

"Good."

Being reborn into this body wasn't so bad after all. Gaining affection from the opposite sex would be effortless for him.

With this system, couldn't he easily climb to the pinnacle of life?

Zhou Yi studied at Huaihai University, a mid-tier institution known for its practical focus rather than academic prestige.

Having grown up in Huaihai, he opted not to venture far from home and instead enrolled locally.

The majority of students at Huaihai University hailed from the surrounding area, with only a small proportion coming from other regions.

Today happened to be the monthly holiday at Huaihai University.

After reviewing the system panel and grasping how it functioned, Zhou Yi hurried off to his part-time job.

The original host had been an orphan, raised without parents, which forced him into a semi-work-study lifestyle at an early age.

During winter breaks, summer vacations, and weekends, he worked near the university town to earn money.

Fortunately, his workplace provided a rest area, making it a convenient refuge for homeless Zhou Yi during holidays when he had nowhere else to go.

"Sister Wen, my break has started," Zhou Yi said.

After putting down his backpack, Zhou Yi headed straight to the kitchen, where a woman was busy preparing food in the cramped space. Hearing his voice, she turned around with a soft smile. "Xiao Yi, you're here. Have something to eat first."

The sound of her voice sent a subtle warmth coursing through Zhou Yi's body—a mix of allure and the distinct grace of a mature woman.

He glanced at her; she wore a simple blouse paired with fitted jeans, leaning slightly over the chopping board as she sliced vegetables.

Even in such understated clothing, her figure commanded attention: curvaceous and poised, her silhouette alone exuded quiet confidence that stirred admiration.

Her hair was loosely tied back into a bun, with a strand gently resting against her cheek.

When she spoke, her head tilted downward, radiating gentleness. The rhythmic chopping of the knife brought Zhou Yi back to reality.

Zhou Yi worked at a small fast-food restaurant owned by Jing Wen, the very woman standing before him now.

Sister Wen was both kind-hearted and strikingly beautiful, her features captivating at first glance while her demeanor remained warm and grounded.

Widowed at a young age, she had taken on the responsibility of running this establishment alone.

She became renowned along the street as the "beauty with a heart," attracting customers who came not just for the meals but also to see her.

Though widowed, Jing Wen still drew admirers aplenty.

However, after enduring one marriage and losing her husband, she resolved never to remarry.

She understood well that most men were drawn to her physical beauty, but what she truly sought was solitude and independence.

She preferred to dedicate herself to managing her humble eatery, earning a living honestly and spending her days in peace.

Her rejection of advances only fueled more interest, including from wealthy businessmen eager to win her affection. Yet none of these pursuits swayed her resolve.

Material wealth held no appeal for her; she refused to become someone's trophy.

Zhou Yi's employment at the restaurant was somewhat coincidental.

Jing Wen hired him partly because she needed extra help, partly because of his honest nature, and partly because his hardships reminded her of her own struggles.

Thus, she offered him a position as a waiter.

Over the past year, Jing Wen treated Zhou Yi kindly, almost like a younger brother. She was innately compassionate, often offering him unsolicited raises—her way of supporting him discreetly without damaging his pride.

In Zhou Yi's life, Jing Wen stood out as one of the few people who genuinely cared for him.

"Detected a Level B target available for bonding," the system announced.

Zhou Yi glanced toward Jing Wen and silently asked, "Are you referring to Sister Wen as the Level B target?"

077: "Yes, she is a potential bondable character."

Reflecting on the original host's experiences, Zhou Yi reasoned that if he ever rose to prominence, he would likely feel indebted to Jing Wen and wish to repay her kindness. Pursuing her wouldn't contradict the original host's intentions.

He then inquired further: "What does Level B mean? Are there different tiers for bondable characters?"

The system explained the hierarchy: 

- C-Level: 1 Affection Level \= $1,000 + 1 Attribute Point 

- B-Level: 1 Affection Level \= $5,000 + 5 Attribute Points 

- A-Level: 1 Affection Level \= $10,000 + 10 Attribute Points 

- S-Level: 1 Affection Level \= $50,000 + 15 Attribute Points 

- SS-Level: 1 Affection Level \= $100,000 + 20 Attribute Points 

- SSS-Level: 1 Affection Level \= $200,000 + 30 Attribute Points 

As Zhou Yi listened, astonishment grew within him. "If an SSS-level woman were to fall for me, wouldn't I instantly become a millionaire?"

077: "SSS-level targets are exceedingly rare and unlikely to appear until you reach Level 50. The higher the tier, the rarer and more challenging the pursuit."

Disappointed but resolute, Zhou Yi realized he must continue working diligently. Still, a Level B target like Jing Wen wasn't bad either, especially since he harbored no moral qualms about pursuing her.

Jing Wen emerged from the kitchen carrying freshly prepared dishes.

With a warm smile, she invited Zhou Yi and Chef Lao Hai to join her for dinner. This intimate trio formed the entirety of the restaurant staff. Conversation flowed naturally between Jing Wen and Zhou Yi, with the former asking about his studies and offering maternal concern.

"How have things been at school recently?" 

"They've been fine, Sister Wen." 

"You've only just entered your second year—don't put too much pressure on yourself. Look at you, so thin! I bet you haven't been eating properly at school. Here, have some meat." 

"Thank you, Sister Wen." 

"No need to thank me. By the way, if any customers come later, you handle them first. I don't want you staying up too late—it's tough on your body."

Typically, Jing Wen and Zhou Yi alternated shifts. Zhou Yi worked from 5 PM to 9 PM, while Jing Wen covered the hours from 9 PM to midnight.

Knowing that Zhou Yi was still young and needed time for his studies, she proposed swapping their schedules to allow him earlier rest.

What she didn't know was that many of Zhou Yi's assignments weren't solely his own—he often helped others complete theirs.

Initially, according to Jing Wen's hiring standards, Zhou Yi should have worked until midnight.

However, recognizing his academic burden, she generously adjusted his hours to ease his workload.

Zhou Yi paused mid-bite. "That won't do, Sister Wen. I can't let you work such late hours alone—I'll worry about you. Please don't push yourself too hard for my sake. If I can't even serve a few plates of food, how will I survive in the real world once I graduate?"

In the past, drunken men occasionally visited the restaurant, attempting to harass Jing Wen.

Since hiring Lao Hai and Zhou Yi, however, such incidents had decreased significantly. Amused by Zhou Yi's earnestness, Jing Wen chuckled softly, her alluring eyes crinkling at the corners.

There was a certain magnetism in her gaze—a blend of sensuality and wisdom born from life's trials.

Her beauty wasn't merely skin-deep; it was her aura of resilience and tenderness that truly captivated those around her.

Zhou Yi felt his cheeks flush—he hadn't interacted much with women in their thirties before, and he found himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

Seeing his sincerity, Jing Wen accepted his offer with a grateful smile. "Alright, we'll finish together. If it's quiet later, you can do your homework here. It shouldn't be too busy."

Smiling, Zhou Yi nodded. "I'm done eating, Sister Wen. Take your time—I'll wash the dishes in the meantime."

Jing Wen hesitated, intending to stop him, but Lao Hai interjected quietly, "Let him do it. He wants to show his gratitude. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words."

Realizing this, Jing Wen looked thoughtfully at her hands, roughened by years of labor. Perhaps Zhou Yi noticed this too, choosing to take on the dishwashing duties as a gesture of appreciation.

A tender warmth spread across her face, softening her smile further.

Today, Xiao Yi seemed particularly thoughtful.

Back in the kitchen, Zhou Yi busied himself with the task, ensuring everything was spotless.

Watching him, Jing Wen felt a sense of fulfillment she hadn't experienced in years. His care wasn't rooted in ulterior motives or superficial attraction—it stemmed purely from genuine concern, akin to familial love.

For Jing Wen, this was a long-overdue reminder that she mattered beyond her beauty or status.

With a contented sigh, she observed Zhou Yi's industrious movements, her lips curling into a serene smile.

In caring for another person, she rediscovered purpose in her own life.

[Jing Wen Affection Level + 1, Wealth + $5,000, Attribute Points + 5. ]