Friend System

Late at night, on the rooftop of Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe.

A light rain began to fall, but the three of us were holding beer and munching on duck necks in the cold wind.

"What are your plans or arrangements for the next step?" I asked.

"With the immense popularity of the Ordinary Road,' the time is ripe to release an album."

Milo looked down at the scene below and smiled, "Nine Heavens Music Network is providing the manpower and funding to shoot a short road movie in the Northwest as the music video for 'The Ordinary Road'."

"This is a good thing."

I nodded. "Having a music video will make it easier to promote the song. Once it's in karaoke, its popularity will increase even further, making you even more famous and a true star in the Crimson Dragon Country."

"Xiao Bei, come with me," Milo suddenly said.

"Ah?"

I was taken aback.

Beside me, Lu Xiaobei tilted his head and looked at me, smiling, "Surprised?"

"It was quite unexpected."

"Don't be surprised."

She smiled and said, "The MV producer from Nine Heavens Music Network had dinner with me in BH City. He said my appearance and temperament are particularly suitable for playing the female lead in the Ordinary Road' MV, which I meet by chance. So I've agreed to take some time to go to Northwest China, which is also a way of helping Milo out."

"Yes, very good!"

I chuckled and said, "What if you two become famous together and become big stars in the future?"

"Maybe."

Lu Xiaobei laughed and said, "When I become a big star, I'll give you my autograph."

"Okay, I'll wait for your autograph."

"So..."

Milo said, "Ding Han, for the next period of time, the three of us will probably be busy with work and it will be difficult to get together."

He turned around, took a guitar out of the packaging, and said with a smile, "How about singing 'The Ordinary Road'?"

"Good."

I nodded.

So, Milo played the instrument, and the three of us—me, him, and Lu Xiaobei —sat on the edge of the rooftop and sang the song together.

There was an inevitable sense of melancholy in the song.

In the drizzle, I saw Lu Xiaobei, who was singing, turn around and look at me, her eyes filled with tears.

The next day, Lu Xiaobei and Milo returned to BH City by plane, and Feiyang Internet Cafe's Huaining Flagship Store also opened smoothly.

In the afternoon, Luo Mei.

I quickly disassembled and reassembled a laptop, completing the repair in the shortest possible time. My movements were so skillful, as if divinely inspired, that Xu Hao, who was standing to the side, was dumbfounded and exclaimed that I was a genius.

"Drop!"

Suddenly, a WeChat arrived from Ruolin: "Ding Han, make time for yourself tonight. I'd like to invite you and Ying'er to dinner."

"Ying'er?"

I was stunned for a few seconds.

"It's Lin Qingying."

Ruolin said, "Stop talking nonsense. I'll treat you to dinner tonight. I've already talked to Ying'er; she'll pick you up after work, and then we'll come over together."

"Alright."

I don't know how Ruolin and Lin Qingying started chatting, but it seems like they have a pretty good relationship. But that's normal. Lin Qingying hardly has any social circle outside of work, while Ruolin is a social butterfly. After Ruolin added Lin Qingying on WeChat last time, they talked about a lot of things, so they quickly became closer.

"Drop!"

At that moment, Lin Qingying sent me a message: "Tell me when you get off work, and I'll pick you up."

"Good."

I was a little confused, wondering what Ruolin was up to.

Shortly after, at five o'clock, I clocked out.

I declined Fatty's invitation to have dinner together and headed to the roadside. Soon, Lin Qingying's white Bentley drove up from the underground parking garage of Yue Ning Group and parked steadily on the roadside.

After getting in the car, I fastened my seatbelt and asked, "Where are we going to eat?"

"A music restaurant."

Soon after, the car entered the Old City District and parked in a parking lot. Then, Lin Qingying and I walked side by side in the old town.

Soon, we arrived at a music restaurant that seemed familiar.

Lakeside Paradise Music Bar!

That's right, it's the music restaurant where Lin Qingying me up after I got drunk at Fatty's birthday party last time!

"Ying'er, Ding Han!"

Ruolin came out of the restaurant, dressed very fashionably and appropriately, and she looked very beautiful.

"Over here!"

She led us into the restaurant, sat us down at a corner table, and then ordered quite a few dishes and mixed some drinks, looking very artsy.

"Ruolin?"

I was filled with questions. "You invited Xiaoying and me here... it wasn't just for dinner, was it?"

"Right."

Zhang Ruolin nodded and smiled, "I would like to ask you two for some advice."

She pointed to the restaurant behind her and said, "This music restaurant isn't doing very well. The owner is selling it for 500,000 yuan. I happen to have 500,000 yuan of spare cash, so I'm thinking of taking over the restaurant, changing its name, and altering its style to see if I can revive it."

"This restaurant has a good location."

Lin Qingying said, "Located within a scenic area of Old City District, it attracts a considerable number of tourists. I believe the reason for the previous poor management was a flaw in the overall strategy. I wonder Sister Ruolin, have any thoughts on this? Or perhaps a plan or management strategy?"

"Change the name first."

Zhang Ruolin said, "I plan to take an artistic approach and rename this restaurant 'Flowers Blooming on the Path on the Road.' Coincidentally, the restaurant also has a garden, which fits the theme perfectly. In addition, I will change the singer's style from rock to folk music, which will attract more tourists."

"Hmm, not a bad name."

Lin Qingying smiled and said, "I like it very much."

"Ding Han."

Ruolin looked at me. "Don't you have any ideas?"

"I have many more ideas."

I sat up straight and said, "First of all, since the name is 'Flowers Blooming on the Path,' the theme leans towards women. You could consider giving each female customer a flower. Also, if the restaurant's theme is 'Flowers Blooming on the Path,' I think we could incorporate a traditional Chinese style theme, but it shouldn't be too commercialized. In addition, we could have the bartender design a special set menu for women, featuring desserts and low-alcohol drinks, to cater to female consumers' psychology. We could also promote it on mainstream media, hire people to advertise, and even introduce entertainment such as card games and board games to make the business more diverse."

"..."

Beside me, Lin Qingying in astonishment.

She probably didn't expect me to have so many ideas.

"Holy crap..."

Ruolin stared in disbelief. "You kid... you're really something, you've got a lot of ideas, I'll write them down!"

I repeated it, and this time not only Zhang Ruolin, but also Lin Qingying listened attentively.

"Sister Ruolin, do you have sufficient operating funds?"

Suddenly, Lin Qingying spoke up, "If that's not enough, I'd like to contribute 300,000 as an investment. It depends on what you think."

"Sure!"

Ruolin exclaimed with delight, "I was just worried about not having enough money! Ying'er, if you invest 300,000, I'll give you a 30% share!"

"Need not."

Lin Qingying smiled and said, "No need for such a high price. The restaurant is yours, just give me a 20% share."

"We'll see..."

Ruolin looked at me and said, "Ding Han, why don't you want to get involved a little? How about investing a bit?"

"Forget it..."

I said helplessly, "I only invested a little bit in Lu Xiaobei's Feiyang Internet Cafe, and it completely drained my savings. This restaurant is aimed at women, so I won't get involved. You and Xiaoying can run it together."

"All right."

After the three finished their meal, Zhang Ruolin found the restaurant owner and drafted and signed the contract on the spot. Lin Qingying oversaw the entire process, so naturally there were no mistakes.

We finally had a chance to be alone when Lin Qingying went out of the restaurant to answer a phone call.

"Holy crap..."

I glared at her and said, "You've invested all 500,000 in a restaurant? Are you not going to buy bullets anymore? Are you even trying to get by, you wasteful, debauched woman...?"

"Isn't it a bit too much?"

Zhang Ruolin laughed, "I have plenty of ammunition in my storage space, don't worry, I definitely won't hold the team back. I've thought this through very clearly. Besides, you have a job, and you and Fatty are always all lovey-dovey, but what about me? I'm all alone in my room every day, how lonely... Taking over this restaurant means I have my own business in <Star Abyss>, something to hold onto. It makes me feel at peace. Do you understand this feeling, you brat?"

"I understand, that's why I fully support you opening a shop."

I smiled and said, "That's good. People like us do need some spiritual support, otherwise it would be too unbearable in <Star Abyss>. But don't get too involved, we'll have to leave sooner or later."

"I know."

Zhang Ruolin said, "That's why, despite so many men pursuing me, I haven't been interested in any of them."

"Really? Are you sure that many men are pursuing you? Are you just bragging?" I asked, half believing and half doubting.

"Ding Han, I'll fight you to the death!"

Zhang Ruolin angrily grabbed my neck.

Just then, Lin Qingying walked in from outside. Seeing our appearance, she couldn't help but smile, "Alright, you've finished the call, Sister Ruolin. I'll have my assistant transfer the 300,000 to your account tomorrow."

"OK!"

Zhang Ruolin said, "I will have my lawyer draft the contract for the 20% stake."

"There's no rush."

Lin Qingying smiled and said, "If there's nothing else, Ding Han and I will go home first."

"OK."

After saying goodbye to Zhang Ruolin, Lin Qingying drove to the residential area and, unsurprisingly, took out a skateboard from the trunk. Sure enough, she was still unconvinced; she wondered why Li Xiang could do those cool and stylish moves while she couldn't.

I bought a serving of stinky tofu and sat beside her watching her practice, cheering her on as I ate.

"Ying, you can do it! Keep going!"

"It's okay to fall once, you will definitely become a woman who conquers skateboarding!"

And so, she successfully mastered one of the techniques today, which made her very happy.

After sweating profusely, I returned to my lodgings, washed up, did some more work, and then went to sleep.

It's midnight.

I was lying in bed when suddenly my mind was filled with a deafening roar, as if a deep blue door was slowly opening, followed by several lines of text floating into my mind!

[Update: Units within the dungeon will no longer drop Ability Crystal; all rewards will now be concentrated in the completed dungeon rewards!]

[Update Content: The Friend System is now available!]

[Update Content: The Charm Value System is now available!]

Friend, Charm Value?!

I took a deep breath, and the next second, a system ringtone sounded in my ear—

[Please note that player "Left Hand" has requested to add you as a friend. Do you accept?]