Chapter 2: This Is What Love Feels Like

Chapter 2: This is the Feeling of Love

As a fitness coach, Gao Yun lived a highly disciplined life. Even though he had been staying up late lately due to his crude oil trading, and despite the fact that his position had been liquidated just last night, his powerful internal clock remained unaffected.

At 6:30 AM, he opened his eyes and caught the first rays of morning sun filtering through the curtains. Drowsily, he got up, pulled back the covers, and opened the bedroom window for ventilation. He reached for the phone on his bed and checked it; many friends had left comments on his social media post, asking if he had run into some kind of trouble.

There were also a few unread WeChat messages—greetings from friends he was close with, mostly women.

These expressions of concern eased the grim mood caused by his debt. A smile touched his lips, but he didn't rush to reply. He slid into his slippers and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

He went through the motions—grabbing the cup, filling it with water, applying toothpaste—and faced the mirror with squinted eyes to begin his daily ritual. However, today felt a little different.

His reflection in the mirror was the same: handsome features, a chiseled jawline, and an awe-inspiring, explosive physique that radiated masculine pheromones, making one want to reach out and touch it.

But where did that game-like attribute panel on the left come from? A hallucination?

The text on the panel was dense and minuscule, like ants, making it impossible to read. Just as Gao Yun leaned in to get a closer look, the panel seemed to possess a life of its own, suddenly expanding to fill his entire field of vision.

【The "I'm Not Interested in Money" System is binding to the host.】
【Do you accept?】
【If there is no response for a long period, the system will default to acceptance.】
【Binding successful.】

Gao Yun frowned, trying to recall. It seemed a voice had indeed echoed in his ears while he was asleep, but he had been so deeply unconscious that he hadn't reacted.

Besides, wasn't this system name a bit of a joke? "I'm not interested in money"?
I’m extremely interested, okay?!
This system doesn't seem to suit me at all. Can I get a refund?

Gao Yun felt a bit frustrated, but since he had acquired the system for free, he had to check its specific functions. He continued to observe the information on the panel.

【Name: Gao Yun】
【Relationship Status: Single】
【Cumulative rewards from four indicators—Attributes, Skills, Honors, and Relationships: 264,711,200 RMB. Would you like to claim it?】
【"I have never touched money. I'm not interested in money. My happiest times were when I broke through my physical limits, learned new skills, won an honor, or started a new relationship." — Mr. Ma】

"..."
With his toothbrush still in his mouth, Gao Yun stared in disbelief. So that’s what "not interested in money" means?
Don't try to fool me just because I'm not well-read!!

"Claim! Claim!"
"Is it deposited directly into my card?"
"Come on! I trust that you, as a system with mysterious powers, won't attract the bank's attention."

Gao Yun was impatient. He didn't have time to wonder why he could receive such a large reward immediately after binding the system. Who cares? Getting the money was what mattered.

*Ding-dong~*

Almost the moment Gao Yun confirmed the claim, he heard a text message notification. He raced to the bedroom and opened his phone.

"Account credit: Income amount +264,711,200 RMB. Transaction description: Bank transfer. Account information..."

Gao Yun quickly switched apps, opened his banking app, logged in, and looked at the nine-digit figure in his balance. Including the 325 yuan he already had in the card, it was accurate to the penny.

"RMB Balance: 264,711,525 RMB."

Just then, a spring breeze blew in through the bedroom window. Carried by this breeze, he felt as if he were soaring through the sky. A tingling, numbing sensation washed over his chest, as if all things were reviving and plants were sprouting.

"Hiss."

After what seemed like an eternity, Gao Yun snapped out of it, took a deep breath, and was stunned.

"Terrifying! I actually experienced the feeling of love!"

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Gao Yun quickly used the money in his card to pay off his 200,000 yuan debt across his various credit lines.

"Phew~~"

Seeing the repayment notifications, Gao Yun let out a long breath, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart.

"It's stable now!"
"It's real money! Truly real!"

Only then did he confirm it wasn't a hallucination and fully believe in the system's existence. He carefully studied the usage instructions on the panel.

【This system rewards different amounts of money based on four indicators: improving attributes, mastering skills, obtaining honors, and engaging in romantic relationships.】
【Attributes are divided into: Strength, Endurance, Speed, Flexibility, and Agility.】
【10 points or below is the average for a normal person; no reward is given.】
【11-20: For every point increased, receive a reward of (Attribute Value * 20,000) RMB.】
【21-25: Receive (Attribute Value * 50,000) RMB.】
【26-30: Receive (Attribute Value squared * 10,000) RMB.】
【31-x: Receive (Attribute Value cubed * 10,000) RMB.】

Gao Yun glanced at his attribute values and finally understood why he had been rewarded so much money right after binding the system: because of his years of fitness training and combat, his attribute points were far higher than those of an average person.

【Strength: 25 (10) 98%】
【Endurance: 22 (10) 51%】
【Speed: 20 (10) 23%】
【Flexibility: 21 (10) 12%】
【Agility: 18 (10) 62%】
【Claimable reward: 24,670,000 RMB (Already claimed)】

"Sweet!"
"The percentage behind it must be the upgrade progress. Once it hits 100%, it will break through and level up."
"Roads? What roads? Pumping iron is the way to wealth! Pumping iron is the only way out!"

Gao Yun felt like he had just downed a large glass of ice-cold cola on a summer day. He continued to check the next page of instructions.

【Skills are divided into eight levels.】
【King Level: 100 billion reward; Authority Level: 10 billion; Master Level: 1 billion; Expert Level: 100 million; Professional Level: 10 million; Advanced Level: 5 million; Intermediate Level: 1 million; Primary Level: 100,000.】
【Skills cannot be ranked without systematic study and the application of knowledge into practice.】

"The levels are quite detailed, and the payouts are generous."

Gao Yun shifted his thoughts and looked at his skill list, which was dense with twelve items.

【Fitness: (Expert Level) 52%】
【Dating: (Professional Level) 3%】
【Flirting: (Advanced Level) 10%】
【MMA: (Advanced Level) 2%】
【Street Dance: (Intermediate Level) 76%】
【Guitar: (Intermediate Level) 70%】
【Video Editing: (Intermediate Level) 42%】
【Cinematography: (Intermediate Level) 40%】
【Russian: (Intermediate Level) 38%】
【Writing: (Primary Level) 38%】
【English: (Primary Level) 36%】
【Singing: (Primary Level) 22%】
【Claimable reward: 125,300,000 RMB (Already claimed)】

"Having many skills doesn't weigh you down!"
Gao Yun couldn't help but sigh; luckily, he had a wide range of hobbies, otherwise, where would he get so much money?

Upon closer inspection, Gao Yun noticed some inconspicuous skills at the bottom of the panel that didn't qualify for ranking, such as cooking, operating vehicles, cleaning, and computer office software.

These were life skills learned naturally through daily life rather than systematic study from books or teachers. For example, with cooking, most people learn by watching their parents or finding recipes online, so they don't qualify for a rank. Only through formal culinary training—mastering knife work, heat control, and tossing the wok—does it become a true skill.

As for dating and flirting, it made sense that they were considered skills, as Gao Yun had genuinely studied under masters, practiced diligently, and gained mastery through several relationships.

There were exceptions, however. For instance, operating vehicles; technically, driving is a skill that involves theoretical training and extensive practice. But the system had a good reason for excluding it: in this era, driving is almost a necessity, much like literacy or basic arithmetic—it’s foundational knowledge. Only when you pursue deep study—turning driving into professional racing, or applying academic knowledge to industries like finance, IT, or the humanities—does it count as a mastered skill.

"Study to get rich. Looks like I need to learn more skills in the future."
"Honestly, I love learning! As long as there's money!"

Gao Yun mused that reaching the Authority or King levels would be extremely difficult, but Expert level was achievable if he immersed himself in a skill for three to five years.

【Honors are divided into five levels.】
【World Class: 5-10 billion reward; National Level: 1-5 billion; Provincial Level: 50-100 million; Municipal Level: 5-10 million; County Level: 500,000-1 million.】
【Awards like 'Advanced Individual' or 'Outstanding Individual' carry no weight and receive a consolation reward of 200 RMB.】

As usual, Gao Yun checked the honors he had received—another long list.

【First Place in the Provincial Fitness Coach National Vocational Certification Exam】
【Second Place in the Ace Fighting Club MMA Tournament】
【Third Place in the LJ Dance Club Ozone Cup Street Dance Competition】
【2019 Outstanding Youth League Cadre of Hu City】
【2018 Outstanding Youth League Cadre of Hu City】
...
【Claimable reward: 101,301,200 RMB (Already claimed)】

Gao Yun nodded silently. Excluding his top three honors, the others were basically mass-produced certificates; anyone working in a government office for two or three years would have half a dozen of them. They truly held no weight.

After contemplating it, Gao Yun felt this system was quite different from others. Other "God-tier" systems gave money for breathing, checking in, or bragging. His system gave money for exercising, learning, and winning honors—it was full of positive energy!

"It suits a positive person like me perfectly!"
"System, you chose the right person. I really am such an upwardly mobile, good young man!"
"I won't dream of World Class, but I can easily grind for Provincial level, and with some effort, National level is within reach!"

Gao Yun drifted into a state of intoxication as he read the final page of instructions.

【Relationships】
【Reward for the 1st partner = 10,000 * Person's Attractiveness Rating】
【Reward for the 2nd partner = 20,000 * Person's Attractiveness Rating】
【Reward for the Xth partner = X * 10,000 * Person's Attractiveness Rating】
...
【The prerequisite for issuing rewards is that both parties have mutual feelings and acknowledge the romantic relationship.】
【Please treat every relationship seriously, Host. Any acts of infidelity, such as cheating, will result in the deduction of rewards.】

Seeing this, Gao Yun put on a serious face: "Rest assured! I am a famously good man! The 823 girls I have on my WeChat from seven different countries—China, Russia, England, America, Japan, Korea, and Germany—can all testify to that!"

"I, Gao Yun, will absolutely not go out and intentionally date hundreds of people just for money!"
"Even if I starve to death or die poor, I will never do such a low-class thing!"