If the Software Isn't Enough, Use Hardware to Make Up for It

The head of the External Relations Department, Shen Wanyu, was one year ahead of Jiang Linyuan; she was his senior and his direct superior.

She was very famous in school, a goddess in the hearts of countless people, and the definition of wealthy and beautiful.

Back when Jiang Linyuan first awakened his system, he joined the External Relations Department immediately.

After all, the External Relations Department had a wider social reach, which meant a higher probability of encountering Cha Cha.

But the biggest surprise for him was Shen Wanyu; the moment they first met, he was fiercely drawn to the bright A-Rank Reward Card hovering above her head.

This cool-tempered girl was an absolute gold mine!

With an A-Rank Reward Card dangling in front of him every day, who could resist?

Jiang Linyuan certainly couldn't hold back, naturally resorting to the same tactics he used to deal with Cha Cha to win her over.

However, the cold beauty Shen Wanyu was completely immune to his sweet talk and various date invitations, asking him straight away:

"Do you like me?"

Jiang Linyuan was stunned for a moment, but still managed to reply:

"I do, Senior. You're so beautiful."

She then stared straight at Jiang Linyuan for a long time before saying:

"You really are well-suited for the External Relations Department. Wait a year, and you can take over as deputy head."

Over the following year, Jiang Linyuan discovered that this gold mine was practically a robot, maintaining a strictly professional demeanor every single day.

She didn't give Jiang Linyuan a single chance to wedge himself into her life.

As time went on, he gave up—not because the A-Rank Card was unattainable, but because B-Rank Cards were more cost-effective.

If it wasn't a reward card he liked, he would simply discard it.

But as the saying goes, the things you can't get are the ones that stir your heart the most.

Jiang Linyuan still craved the rewards from Shen Wanyu.

The rewards in the A-Rank Card system pool were incredibly generous.

Even the worst ones were worth at least a million RMB.

Right now, if he had the help of Su Muzhi and played his cards right, he might just find a breakthrough.

"How about it, Senior Jiang?"

He paused, looked at the smiling Su Muzhi in front of him, and put on a serious face:

"You're joking, Junior Su. I love playing badminton with you the most."

Seeing this look on Jiang Linyuan's face, Su Muzhi didn't say much; she simply took her racket, stood on the opposite side, and began to prepare.

"However, Junior, if I win, is there any extra reward?"

At this moment, Jiang Linyuan suddenly asked another question.

Su Muzhi was taken aback and asked:

"Isn't me helping you set up a date with Shen Wanyu enough?"

"No."

Jiang Linyuan shook his head:

"That is the stake for agreeing to play badminton with you, not the reward."

"After all, not just anyone can play badminton with me."

Xiao Yun, who was observing from the side, was stunned upon hearing this.

What... what a narcissist!

Liu Tingting, on the other hand, had her eyes light up, feeling a secret thrill in her heart.

Regardless of whether Jiang Linyuan was being sincere or not, he had taken the initiative to come find her to play badminton.

And saying such things in front of a girl prettier than her was undoubtedly a way of saying that she was special to him.

Thinking of this, Liu Tingting curled her lips, clenched her fists, and smiled:

"Junior Jiang, good luck!"

Xiao Yun turned around abruptly, staring at her with wide eyes.

Green tea! I'm going to glare you to death!

Su Muzhi heard Jiang Linyuan's words, froze for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and smiled, speaking in a gentle, soft voice:

"Alright. If I win, I want to watch from the sidelines when Senior Jiang goes on a date with Shen Wanyu."

Isn't that supposed to be the reward for me winning? How did it become yours?

Su Muzhi seemed to see through Jiang Linyuan's confusion and subconsciously puffed out her chest:

"I don't think I'm going to lose."

Ugh! What a conceited girl!

Jiang Linyuan chuckled and waved the racket in his hand:

"Junior, if you're too narcissistic, no one will like you."

"Heh, Senior, are you qualified to say that?"

Su Muzhi retorted without showing any weakness.

Before the match even started, the air between them was already thick with gunpowder.

"How about this, if you win, Senior, you can make one little request of me?"

Su Muzhi smiled mischievously and gave Jiang Linyuan a wink.

"Who knows, if you confess to me, I might even agree."

This woman is hopeless.

As expected, people with A-Rank Cards aren't quite right in the head.

Jiang Linyuan smiled:

"Junior, if you like me, you can just say it. I'll reject you quite generously."

Although Su Muzhi was an A-Rank Card holder, Jiang Linyuan was not a tool of the system.

Not just anyone could become his card-swiping girl.

Therefore, he didn't mind offending Su Muzhi at the moment; in fact, he wanted to take this opportunity to build some favor with Liu Tingting.

Thinking this, he turned his head and gave a thumbs-up gesture to Liu Tingting, who had been cheering him on, as a response.

Watching their interaction, even Su Muzhi couldn't keep her expression composed anymore:

"Alright, classmate Jiang, let's see what you're really made of on the court."

As soon as she finished speaking, she served the shuttlecock.

At the start, both played by the book, but after one round of rallies, Su Muzhi saw Jiang Linyuan hit a high clear and seized the chance to smash!

She leaped high into the air, and with a bang, a sharp crack echoed across the court.

The onlookers around them gasped.

"Damn, who is this girl? Her explosive power is insane!"

"Tsk tsk, this shot definitely has some personal feelings behind it..."

Jiang Linyuan didn't hold back either, swinging his arm to counter-attack.

Bang, bang!!

The two began to trade blows on the court, with almost every shot being a smash.

Tit for tat.

The shuttlecock darted through the air like a bullet leaving a chamber, drawing gasps of amazement from the crowd.

"Are they... playing out of anger?"

Xiao Yun watched as Su Muzhi ran and leaped high again for another smash.

She could see the muscles bulging in Su Muzhi's arm under the lights and the way she gritted her teeth while smashing; it was clear she was genuinely fired up.

Jiang Linyuan was the same, not holding back at all, putting all his strength into his smashes.

"Seriously, what grudge do they have to play like this..."

"I feel like once the rackets give out, they're going to throw them aside and start brawling..."

"Is it a scorned woman beating up a scumbag? Must be exes!"

The confused bystanders discussed among themselves while watching the game.

But in reality, Jiang Linyuan and Su Muzhi had no grudge; they were simply caught up in the heat of the moment.

Trading high clears back and forth was truly satisfying; the dopamine from the aerobic exercise was pure.

Women? My eyes only see the ball!

Moreover, Jiang Linyuan could tell that Su Muzhi was also enjoying it. Both were having a great time, but they were both chasing a higher peak of intensity.

A man and a woman, high-intensity cardio... that description sounded a bit strange.

In short, the battle was exhilarating!

Extreme jump smashes, backcourt cannons, backhand smashes, consecutive jump smashes...

The two cycled through every possible move, showcasing ultimate offense and pressure!

Damn! This is intense!

Jiang Linyuan jumped high, gathered his strength, and sent another smash flying over.

Su Muzhi's badminton technique was indeed superb, higher than Jiang Linyuan's, but she seemed to have become addicted to the rhythm, abandoning tactics to compete with pure, raw smashes.

This gave him a significant advantage; after all, there was still a physical gap between men and women.

Besides...

[Renewed]!

I have a cheat code!

Jiang Linyuan looked at the drenched Su Muzhi before him, felt his own exhausted body, and directly activated this ability.

One more time! If the software isn't enough, make up for it with hardware!

Jiang Linyuan crossed his legs and retreated, his body leaping high into the air, left hand raised, right hand bracing the racket, drawing his arm back like a full crescent moon.

BANG!!

A tremendous roar accompanied the badminton shuttlecock as it flew off like a streak of lightning!

At this moment, Su Muzhi, whose stamina was severely depleted, could no longer keep up. A landing kill shot!