Satisfied in One Go

He woke from a dream at midnight.

Sophia quickly climbed out of the little bed in her partitioned bedroom, opened the laptop on the small bedside table, and rapidly recorded the dream scenes that were fading away.

"That kid barged in again, saying something about completing a quest and hoping I would teach him a skill."

"As a powerful witch keeping a lonely vigil in a tower, I overlooked his rude intrusion and even wanted to talk with him for a bit."

"I don't remember what we talked about. I only remember that idiot wanting to learn skills, without the slightest consideration for my feelings, so I taught him a skill called 'Steel Lungs and Viscera.'"

At this point, Sophia stopped typing. The scenes in her dream were hazy and ethereal, yet they brought incomparable peace to her restless heart.

But once she woke, all she could record was a scant few lines.

Sophia had absolutely no idea what "Steel Lungs and Viscera" was. She only remembered that it was a little punishment she had given him in her annoyance.

"But that kid seemed pretty happy to get that skill."

"Could he be having the same dreams as me? Should I find a way to get his phone number and interact with him more in real life?"

"No, no, no. Reality is too frightening. It would destroy this sense of mystery. Hearing a little news about him now and then and keeping my distance is enough."

Her thoughts wandering, Sophia lay back down, wrapped herself into a ball in her thin blanket, and murmured with her eyes closed:

"What's happening to me? Broadway is full of handsome men of every kind, and there are plenty of beautiful women of my own sex, too. As long as I'm willing, I'll never lack a partner.

"But why was it a completely unfamiliar Chinese American kid who barged into my heart? What magic does he have?"

At that same moment, Lin Rui was happily pulling a cart loaded with several empty insulated containers, rattling his way out of the Gershwin Theatre.

"Steel Lungs and Viscera," the skill Sophia had taught him in Nightmare Space, greatly strengthened his cardiopulmonary function, ensuring his oxygen and blood supply.

Simply put, this ability would not directly improve his stats, but his body would be able to take more punishment, and his endurance and recovery would improve severalfold.

I should find somewhere to work out and turn my potential into actual strength.

Over the following week, Lin Rui's life followed a regular pattern. Central Park by day, the Gershwin Theatre by night. He stayed until midnight each time, then exchanged a few words with Sophia in her dreams.

Although he triggered no further quests, and Sophia was extremely tsundere in her dreams, the peace within those dreams was quite enjoyable.

On the weekend, Lin Rui and Linda went to the Joneses' home to calculate the food cart's profits and expenses for the week, then divide the money.

So far, all three parties in their partnership had more or less followed the rules, without sacrificing the greater good for small gains or secretly pulling tricks that would destroy their trust in one another.

"Leon, now I'm certain you're a born salesman. That face of yours brings in plenty of customers every time."

Mrs. Jones had calculated the takings for each day's three shifts, and Lin Rui's shifts clearly brought in the most. Under the same circumstances, where others sold a hundred orders, he could sell a hundred and thirty or even a hundred and fifty.

He could also always get customers to casually spend another two or three dollars, adding a drink or a snack or the like. His ability to turn a profit was exceptional.

"Here, this is your fifty-four hundred dollars." Mrs. Jones took out a stack of dollar bills and a receipt to sign. "Including what you collected earlier, you've made over eight thousand dollars in one week."

When the figures came out, gasps filled the Joneses' dining room. Everyone was enormously shocked by that number.

Samantha, who worked as a cashier at the mall, took it the hardest and cried out frantically, "I'm jealous! I'm seriously dying of jealousy.

"I don't even make four thousand dollars in a month. This kid made more than twice my monthly pay in a week."

Of the Joneses' three daughters, their second daughter, Samantha, had the least education. She had barely graduated high school before going to work and had refused to attend even community college, so her income was the lowest.

The others present were not much better off, however.

Linda was still a student and earned some pocket money through "social practice" between classes. She had previously volunteered at the little church because it offered a monthly stipend of four hundred dollars.

Four hundred dollars was enough to make a female college student endure nausea and discomfort to hand out aid to homeless people in New York's most dangerous neighborhood.

As for Mrs. Jones, she worked two jobs and took home less than six thousand dollars a month after taxes. That paid her husband's medical bills, the mortgage, and the car loan, keeping their family of six afloat.

"All right, time to pay everyone else." Mrs. Jones pushed the second bundle of cash toward Linda.

Linda still had classes and could not work full-time. Besides, her enthusiasm for the tedious business lasted only three days, and she soon grew sick of being run off her feet at the register.

But she had still made over five thousand dollars that week. When she received the money, her hands shook, and she laughed and shrieked extravagantly.

As for the Jones family, they received over ten thousand in total, though the amount was smaller once split among them. Still, everyone was satisfied.

Then came a few miscellaneous matters...

Linda said she had missed quite a few classes and would no longer be able to run the food cart; Samantha took the opportunity to step in, willing to quit her mall job and partner with Lin Rui full-time.

The Jones family had money now, and Mr. Jones had booked a doctor's appointment for the following month so he could receive follow-up treatment. And then there was... Toby.

The black kid, who stood over six foot three, had undergone an enormous change that week. He left early for school, worked out at school in the afternoon, and did large amounts of homework at home in the evening.

"I got Bs on my tests this week." Toby placed several test papers on the dining table. "My teacher even praised me. She said she could see the change in me and encouraged me to keep going."

Deafening cheers erupted in the Joneses' dining room, even more excited than when the money had been handed out. Mr. and Mrs. Jones held their youngest son's face and showered him with kisses, praising his transformation over and over.

Lin Rui, however, glanced over the test papers. Judging by the handwriting and answers, Toby had not learned much in a week. His foundations were terrible, after all.

There was only one reason he had earned Bs: the black kid's attitude toward studying really had changed enormously-before, he had not even done his homework and had handed in blank test papers. Now, at least, he looked something like a student.

This showed that the "Suggestion Technique" Sophia had provided was quite effective.

"Toby, have you lost weight?" Lin Rui asked. He still had a "Fond of Teaching Others" quest involving Toby-supervise him in losing at least twenty kilograms.

"I have. This week, I've only been eating half as much at every meal, and I've been exercising more. I've lost ten pounds," Toby replied.

"Very good. Keep it up." Lin Rui was happy, too. "I hope you can get down from three hundred pounds to two hundred."

At this point, Cynthia exchanged a few looks with her two older sisters, then gave Lin Rui a seductive smile. "Leon, remember the reward I told you about? As long as Toby got a B, I'd give you..."

Lin Rui immediately grew a little bashful. "Well... weren't you joking? I didn't take it seriously. It doesn't matter whether you follow through."

The dining room immediately erupted in laughter.

Only Linda, who had no idea what was going on, asked curiously what this "reward" was.

Cynthia, however, stepped forward, grabbed Lin Rui by the collar, and hauled him up from the dining table.

In principle, it was rather humiliating for a grown man to be grabbed like this by a woman. He ought to have put up at least a little resistance.

But Lin Rui only protested verbally. "Cynthia, um... everyone's here. How about... another time...

"Where are you dragging me? The bathroom? The bathroom isn't out of the question, but I think..."

Just like that, Lin Rui was dragged, all reluctance, to the upstairs bathroom by Cynthia.

A dozen or so minutes later, he returned with a glowing face and a grin he could not suppress, showing only a little awkwardness when facing Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

"How was he?" Samantha asked her younger sister.

"All right. Just wore my hand out." Cynthia shook out her arm as she answered.

"You need to use some lubricant, or baby oil," Samantha instructed her briefly. Then she stood up as well and grabbed Lin Rui. "Kid, I'll make good on my reward, too."

Lin Rui was a little dumbfounded. "Could I redeem it tomorrow?" he asked quietly. "I've already been very happy today."

"Don't tell me you can't manage already? What normal guy your age doesn't go three or four times a day?" Samantha teased.

Three or four times was a bit of an exaggeration.

But a man could not say he "couldn't manage."

With his pride at stake, Lin Rui had to grit his teeth and go through with it. And so he entered the bathroom again. A dozen or so minutes later, his face was still glowing, though he was a little tired.

He inwardly counted himself lucky-he had completed some quests recently, improved his constitution, and strengthened his cardiopulmonary function. His endurance and recovery had improved even more, and he was no longer in a state of suboptimal health.

Otherwise, two rounds in a row really would have been a bit much.

Yet he had still celebrated too soon.

Andrea walked over, her smile enchanting, and said merrily, "Leon, triple the happiness. Let's satisfy you in one go tonight!"

"Wait..." Realizing things were going very wrong, Lin Rui refused firmly. "No. I need to rest now."

Andrea ignored him, grabbed his collar, and forcibly took him to the upstairs bathroom. While everyone else snickered, only Linda sat at the dining table, gritting her teeth and silently cursing:

Bastard. This is outrageous!