The New Era Internet Cafe was a long-established internet cafe near Xinxi No. 1 High School. Although it had since been renovated and given an internet cafe sign, its prices still weren't particularly high.
Zhang Zhaomu was a regular, dropping by New Era practically every day.
The moment he entered, the smell of cigarette smoke and instant noodles hit him in the face.
Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help stopping in his tracks, his brows tightly furrowed.
"How could anyone stand being in a place like this?!"
Every other time he'd walked in, his heart had been full of excitement. Now, though, he felt an urge to turn around and leave.
In the end, his urge to play games won out over the disgust brought on by his [Refined] Persona. He picked a computer near a window, opened it, and only then sat down with a pained expression.
"I really wish I could buy a computer and put it at home."
Unfortunately, he couldn't afford one.
Zhang Zhaomu's monthly living allowance was only two thousand yuan. It sounded like a lot, but some of it had to go toward rent and utilities, food, and all sorts of daily necessities. Even with careful budgeting, he could save at most two or three hundred yuan a month to spend at the internet cafe.
If he wanted to save up enough for a computer that could run games, he'd probably have to keep saving until he graduated from high school.
As for asking his family for extra money?
Zhang Zhaomu had never entertained the thought.
Even when things were difficult, such as when the class had to pay its fees, Zhang Zhaomu had always chosen to save the money from his living allowance. At most, he'd eat a few more meals of instant noodles or steamed buns.
His parents each had their own families and lives, and Zhang Zhaomu didn't think there was any need to bother them. It wasn't as if he couldn't get by. He was a man, after all, and men had to be a little more independent.
"If only I could find a way to earn some money."
The thought suddenly popped into his head.
Zhang Zhaomu smiled self-mockingly. He was just an ordinary high school student. What avenues did he have to make money?
His only strong point was that he was pretty good at games, but unfortunately, he still wasn't good enough to make the cut as a paid game booster.
Today, though, he had gained a new skill thanks to his [Refined] Persona. He seemed to have done a pretty good job cutting his own hair, so perhaps he could work part-time at a hair salon or something.
"Hm? Wait!"
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind like lightning.
"The ability the Refined Persona gives me isn't as simple as just cutting hair."
Wasn't its most fundamental ability image makeovers?
Zhang Zhaomu had experienced the results firsthand. In a short time, it had turned him from an unremarkable, sloppy teenager into someone who now turned heads everywhere he went.
Such an earth-shaking transformation in so little time had only been possible thanks to the persona's built-in correction of his posture and demeanor. Other people would probably have a hard time changing so thoroughly at the root.
But even if he only adjusted their hairstyles and outfits, with the experience granted by the [Refined] Persona, his results probably wouldn't be any worse than those of the bloggers doing ordinary-person makeovers on Douyin.
"Those professional image makeover services charge several thousand yuan or even over ten thousand at the drop of a hat. I'm not well-known, so I'll try it out at school first. Charging one or two hundred yuan shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Those so-called directors at hair salons charge several hundred just to design a suitable hairstyle. Mine includes outfit styling and even makeup design. It's practically the bargain of a lifetime!"
The more Zhang Zhaomu thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
What was more, his own arts Class Nine was the perfect place to start. The girls in his class definitely had a need for it. Best of all, as students admitted for their special talents, they all came from well-off families. As long as the results were good, they definitely wouldn't begrudge that little bit of money.
"Still, school's only just started, and we don't know each other very well yet. If I suddenly bring up image makeovers, I probably won't be very convincing, and they might take me for a swindler."
Zhang Zhaomu rubbed his chin. "It'd be best if I had an example ready to show everyone the difference."
Chen Zhenzhen walked into the internet cafe and wandered around twice before finally finding Zhang Zhaomu, who was playing ARAM.
Chen Zhenzhen plopped down beside him and grumbled:
"I forgot you'd changed skins. I almost couldn't find you."
Zhang Zhaomu controlled the Noxian Hand as he charged into the crowd and brought a Guillotine chopping down, only to be crowd-controlled in midair. Several ranged skills came swarming at him, and the screen instantly turned black and white.
"Why is ARAM full of poke spammers now?! Bunch of cowards!"
He muttered under his breath before turning to Chen Zhenzhen. "Your class meeting only just ended? I've already played two games."
"Don't even mention it." Chen Zhenzhen looked utterly dejected. "Arranging seats and choosing class officers went pretty quickly, but our homeroom teacher went on about studying and discipline for over an hour."
"Tsk." Zhang Zhaomu gloated. "It is the prestigious Class One, after all. It's only natural you'd be a bit more competitive."
Chen Zhenzhen sighed. "Your class meeting seemed to end pretty early? I saw you walking past the stairwell with a group of girls just now."
"You noticed that?" Zhang Zhaomu said casually. "I happened to be taking my classmates to collect our textbooks."
"Don't make me laugh."
Chen Zhenzhen rolled her eyes. "What do you mean, you were taking them? Don't make it sound like you're someone important."
"Allow me to introduce myself again." Zhang Zhaomu put on a wistful expression. "I am the class monitor of arts Class Nine."
Chen Zhenzhen: "?"
"I know what you're thinking." Zhang Zhaomu sounded helpless. "Our homeroom teacher appointed me directly."
"Is your homeroom teacher... not very good at seeing?" Chen Zhenzhen raised a reasonable question. "What can you do as class monitor? Lead your whole class in booking every computer at New Era?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Zhang Zhaomu glared. "I have other talents besides playing games, you know."
"I'm cooking up a grand plan. If it succeeds, I'll give our Class Nine a whole new face and see it stand at the peak of Xinxi No. 1 High School."
"Oh." Chen Zhenzhen sounded perfunctory. "Let's hear it."
"As class monitor, I plan to help my classmates with image makeovers." Zhang Zhaomu made the gesture the stick country hated most. "Of course, I'll charge a tiny, insignificant fee."
"Even if it is Class Nine, I don't believe there are that many fools for you to swindle." Chen Zhenzhen's face was blank. "You? Giving other people image makeovers? We've known each other so long. Don't I know what you're made of?"
"After three days apart, you should look at a person with new eyes." Zhang Zhaomu leaned closer. "Is it possible that I really can do it, and that I'm pretty good at it, too?"
Chen Zhenzhen looked at the face so close to hers. His features were clearly familiar, yet at that moment, they suddenly felt a little strange. A fresh, vibrant youthful spirit shone in his eyes.
This guy... really is a bit too good-looking now.
Her heart involuntarily began to beat faster.
She turned her face slightly away in discomfort and averted her gaze, stumbling over her words:
"I-it's okay, I guess."
"So? How are you planning to start your grand plan?"
"With you, of course." The corners of Zhang Zhaomu's mouth curled up slightly.
"Don't say your buddy doesn't look out for you when there's something good."