To Become Someone Everyone Looks Up To

Before going to the Song Family for dinner, Shen Qingling bought a gift as a courtesy for their first meeting.

He arrived at just the right time, neither early nor late.

Shen Qingling finally understood why Song Zhining had such a cheerful personality.

Song Zhining had a harmonious family, and her parents loved each other deeply.

Although Song Zhining's father was in business, he gave off the air of an intellectual. He wore glasses and had a refined manner. During their conversation, Shen Qingling learned that he had been a university professor in his younger days before going into business.

Song Zhining's mother was a dancer, elegant and witty. There was always a hint of a smile in her voice, making people feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze.

Song Zhining was clearly a child who had grown up surrounded by love.

Ever since Song Zhining's parents entered wealthy circles and saw too many spoiled children from rich families, they had been very strict with her upbringing.

Aside from better food and clothing, Song Zhining had never received any special treatment from childhood to adulthood.

She kept a low profile and had a bright personality. She even worried about not having enough spending money. No one could tell that she came from an extraordinary family. Like the other children in her class, she experienced setbacks and grew through them.

Song Zhining's parents had never gone to school to bribe teachers into looking after their daughter, nor had they considered sending her abroad to study. Whatever grades she got determined what school she attended. Yet Song Zhining proved exceptionally capable and got into Jiang University.

"This time, if it hadn't been for Qingling, who knows what might have happened. As her parents, we truly thank you. This is just a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."

Parents who disdained using money to buy off teachers were now using money to thank Shen Qingling.

They were not being high-minded. They knew how important money was, especially to a child like Shen Qingling.

Shen Qingling could tell they were sincere. From Song Zhining's parents' perspective, he might not need any other form of thanks. Only money could genuinely help him.

Yet Shen Qingling still chose to refuse.

Shen Qingling smiled faintly. "Thank you, Uncle and Auntie. I appreciate your kindness, but this reward is too generous for me. I only did what I should have done. I'm already very happy that you invited me to dinner at your home."

Since Shen Qingling had put it that way, Song Zhining's parents did not press him any further.

They could tell that Shen Qingling was a principled young man. He was humble and polite, measured in both speech and conduct. His future was boundless.

Watching Shen Qingling speak to her parents with a smile on his face, Song Zhining was practically entranced.

Shen Qingling was so adorable.

Song Zhining had a very special mindset toward Shen Qingling. She admired him as though he were her idol, yet she also felt for him like a mother would. She wanted to see him grow, see him reach greater heights, and see him obtain the future he wanted.

In the entertainment industry, fans like that were generally called mother fans.

Their affection was not about possessing someone. They wanted to see him happy, see him grow, have a better future, and achieve what he wanted. It was the mindset of a mother looking at her son.

Song Zhining was now very much like that kind of fan. Shen Qingling had completely won her over.

That evening, Shen Qingling and Song Zhining took a walk outside. The more they talked, the more excited Song Zhining became. She practically wanted to praise Shen Qingling from every angle. A mother fan looking at her child only grew more satisfied the longer she looked.

Shen Qingling returned the courtesy by complimenting Song Zhining a few times. The girl's Heart-Throb Score shot up, and her already well-filled progress bar instantly reached full.

Before Shen Qingling left, Song Zhining asked what he wanted to do in the future.

Under the starlit sky, the young man's eyes held a gentleness unlike before.

"I want to become someone everyone looks up to."

Song Zhining paused, suddenly understanding something.

Someone everyone looked up to meant that he would not belong to only one person.

She only paused briefly before smiling brightly. "You definitely can! You're Shen Qingling. You were born to be admired and worshipped, so I believe you can definitely become someone everyone looks up to."

Even if others forgot, she would always remember the young man who had saved her from that dark compartment... the young man everyone looked up to.

That photo was still her lock screen wallpaper, and she would never change it.

She knew they were not from the same world. He would fly toward skies farther away and more vast, but as long as she could still look up and see him, that was enough.

Song Zhining did not care about having him. She only wanted to see him. Being able to become his friend was already enough to make her completely content.

"Zhining."

"Mm?"

"You're the most cheerful person I've ever met. I envy you."

Shen Qingling envied her honesty. He envied how she could give her love and sincerity without reservation, without cautiously concealing herself or calculating gains and losses. All she had was a girl's pure admiration and clear sense of self.

Having grown up in love, she was more willing to offer sincere love herself. As long as the person she liked was happy, she would not become someone who clung obsessively. That would only trap herself in a cage, and Song Zhining would not do that.

Because she loved herself deeply too. She would not let herself become a prisoner trapped by love. She had a clear sense of self.

The girl laughed in surprise. "Wow, someone as outstanding as you envies me? But I don't think... there's anything about me worth envying?"

"You have many good qualities. It's just that you possess them yourself, so you don't notice them."

Song Zhining immediately grew shy and asked with a blush, "Does that count as complimenting me?"

"It does. I hope you can always keep this happiness."

"If my idol says so, then I definitely will."

"It's getting late. I should head back. You should rest early too."

"Mm-hmm. See you next time."

Shen Qingling had only taken two steps when Song Zhining ran after him again.

"What is it? Is there something else?"

"Can I ask you one last question?"

"Sure."

"Are we... are we friends now?"

"Of course we are."

"That's great! Bye, idol! See you, idol~"

Song Zhining returned home in high spirits, and Shen Qingling's mood changed as well.

Thinking of the girl in the Original Work who had been so despairing that she committed suicide, then seeing her lively self now, Shen Qingling suddenly felt that coming to this world had meaning. He had gained the ability to change other people's fates.

077 said, "Host, Song Zhining's Heart-Throb Score for you is already full. That girl's imagination is terrifying. Just like that, she'll love, love, love you endlessly."

Shen Qingling said, "She's a very pure person. Once a girl like her falls for someone, of course her Heart-Throb Score rises quickly."

077 said, "Congratulations, Host, on successfully conquering Song Zhining. You've been awarded points. Since Song Zhining is not a system-designated conquest target, there aren't many points."

Song Zhining was a B-rank character, someone who could be conquered or ignored. But she had imagined too much on her own, causing her Heart-Throb Score to soar and forcibly turning herself into a conquest target.

Shen Qingling opened the data panel and took a look.

Name: Shen Qingling

Age: 18

Height: 188 cm

Length: 25 cm

Looks: 93

Vitality: 60

Combat Power: 65

Reputation: 21

Heart-Throb Score: 245

Points:

Cheat Ability: None

Goddesses Conquered: 1

Expand

- Song Zhining Conquest Progress: 100%

- Chu Jiaojiao Conquest Progress: 35%

- Ruan Mingyi Conquest Progress: 50%

- Lin Xingmian Conquest Progress: 70%

Counterattack Progress: 12%

Main Quest Progress: 4%

Side Quests: Unlocked

Expand

- Side Quest 1: Obtain Chu Jiaojiao's Regret Score

- Progress: 20%

After looking over the progress bars, Shen Qingling raised an eyebrow. "Ruan Mingyi's Heart-Throb Score is only a little higher than Chu Jiaojiao's. This woman..."

077 said, "After all, Host, you haven't exactly treated her warmly. Compared to the other conquest targets, she's a little more complicated, so she won't be as easy to conquer."

Shen Qingling curled his lips into a smile. "It's fine. The Sheng Family banquet is coming up soon. I'll make her Heart-Throb Score start moving."

This banquet was destined to be anything but peaceful.