Just as Xia Xiaomo uttered this sentence, it was as if she had recited a spell that could open the door to a new world, and her phone rang instantly.
Normally, she wouldn't be in the mood at such a time, but for some reason, her phone was like a giant magnet, crazily grabbing her attention, forcing her to pick it up.
The phone's light flashed, truly like a person who had been walking in the dark for a long time, on the verge of collapse, discovering a brilliant ray of light, which made her have a strong expectation for a text message for the first time.
"DiDi Matchmaking System is at your service. Are you still worried about not finding a boyfriend? Or lamenting that in this vast world, no one is on the same frequency as you? Or do you need to borrow a stable and reliable shoulder to cry on and share your feelings? DiDi Matchmaking can fulfill all of this for you. If interested, please click the link below. Just fill in your boyfriend standards, click send, and to unsubscribe, please reply td."
"DiDi Matchmaking?"
Xia Xiaomo instinctively glanced at the sender's number. It definitely didn't look like a prank text from her brother or sister. Without any hesitation, she clicked on the link.
"Boyfriend standards~ Actually, there aren't too many standards. Reliable, sunny, and positive is fine."
...
After an unknown amount of time, Ren Yuanhao felt his legs go numb from sitting in a coiled position, almost causing him to fall off the bed.
He suddenly came back to his senses, rubbed his eyes, and found himself in a very unfamiliar environment. The cold stone walls had ancient patterns; a single chandelier emitted a cold light; and the refrigerator, still bearing the handprint of the previous tenant, stood there. There was no hot soup, no bread, no gentle and virtuous landlady's greeting. Everything was like a dream.
From the beginning, Ren Yuanhao had not realized that he would be drawn into one bizarre and eerie life-or-death game after another. At least, before the system, he thought that in his life, as long as he had a stable job, a wife who wasn't overly attractive but was family-oriented, one or two mischievous and well-behaved children, and preferably a dog, the breed wouldn't matter. After work and on holidays, he'd walk the kids and the dog, have some one-on-one time with his wife every now and then.
Such a life, how good would that be?
—Pah, pah, pah, damn it, look at your lack of ambition. Once you settle down a bit, you start to slack off!
Just as Ren Yuanhao was about to slap himself twice, the system's voice instantly resounded in his mind.
"Host, you have a new order, please check it."
Ren Yuanhao looked at the conditions displayed on the large screen and couldn't help but smile.
"These conditions are quite simple. It seems the point reward won't be too high."
But the system quickly slapped him.
"Base reward points: 500. However, the host can change the earned points based on the task difficulty. Difficulty can be divided into three levels: Easy, Difficult, Hell."
Ren Yuanhao didn't want to be fooled this time. He remembered that the 'Qingfeng Sect' mission last time, although it brought many points, had wasted too much time. He desperately needed points now, so he had made up his mind to choose the simplest option.
"Ok, Host chooses Easy. You will receive 500 points upon completion of the order. Mission objective: Protect the employer from bullying. Time limit: 4 hours."
"Deal. Earning 500 points in four hours, this kind of mission suits me better."
At this moment, the system let out a strange, sinister laugh, and then displayed the employer and the designated meeting place in a highlighted form on the mission map.
"Yun Jin City, East District, diagonally opposite Sea of Flowers Park, Xia Family Residence. Got it!"
Ren Yuanhao casually dressed up. Since the order mentioned that formal attire was required, he immediately redeemed 100,000 to buy clothes and accessories. After a slight makeover, his noble aura was instantly evident.
At this time, the sky gradually darkened. The stone city under the night sky gave people a sense of post-apocalyptic desolation. Maple trees swayed, and even the people walking among them seemed like fleeing survivors in the apocalypse, hurrying and full of confusion.
Only the floating, pervasive fragrance seemed to add a touch of vitality to this city.
After Ren Yuanhao had everything ready, he got into the jeep.
The scent of three women still lingered in the car, making Ren Yuanhao feel melancholic again, as if a large piece was missing from his heart.
He checked the time. It was enough for him to smoke a cigarette. Just then, his phone, which had been lying in his bag, rang.
He excitedly grabbed his phone and answered. Just as he was about to call out Ye Lan's name, Chen Tao's voice came from the other end.
"Brother Ren, the banquet is about to start. Do you want to come? I can come pick you up."
"No, I have something to do."
"That's a real shame. Many celebrities are gathered at the Xia Family Residence."
As soon as Ren Yuanhao heard "Xia Family," his mind went into overdrive.
"Is it the Xia Family near Sea of Flowers Park?"
"Eh? Brother Ren already knows?"
"No, I'm actually heading there. You don't need to pick me up. I'll be there shortly."
Ren Yuanhao hung up the phone, and the jeep streaked away in the night breeze like a bluish-black arc.
About ten minutes later, Ren Yuanhao met Chen Tao. The two chatted and laughed as they slowly entered the rather opulent Xia Family Residence along with the socialites from all walks of life.
The venue for the banquet was the Xia family's back garden. On the east side was a swimming pool, its water a deep blue. Under the constant temperature system, five or six bikini-clad beauties were playing and chatting with a few men while holding wine glasses. At the entrance, two tall and burly servants seemed to be checking invitations.
Ren Yuanhao looked troubled, but seeing Chen Tao's calm expression, he whispered, "Big Brother, it's alright. These banquets are meant to be lively, they won't make things difficult for us."
Hearing this, Ren Yuanhao calmed down a little, his mind searching for the exact location of his employer.
Just then, a servant, who had appeared to be very polite, suddenly extended his hand to block Chen Tao and Ren Yuanhao.
"One invitation admits only one person. Only one of you can enter."
The servant's voice immediately drew a lot of attention. Among these people, a man dressed in white, looking like a noble young master, slowly walked towards them.
"What's the matter?"
The servant bowed and said, "Young Master, these two only have one invitation, so..."
"Rules are made by people. As a servant of the Xia family, you should have some discerning eyes, shouldn't you?" The young master, addressed as 'Young Master,' placed his hand on the servant's shoulder, his tone changing slightly, "Don't tell me your dog eyes can't see that this young brother has an extraordinary presence and refined demeanor?"
"Y-yes, it was my oversight..."
"Take this money and get lost. The Xia family doesn't keep people like you who lack discernment."
The young master took out a stack of money and threw it at the servant's face. It instantly scattered like snowflakes. Then, he bowed to Ren Yuanhao in an extremely gentlemanly manner, with a disarmingly charming smile, and said, "I apologize. My subordinate was rude to you, young brother. I, Xia Yu, offer my apologies here."