Chapter Four: The First Customer

"Thank you, class monitor. Once I have money, I'll pay you back immediately."
"Mm."
Qin Nuanyu merely nodded, not even glancing at Yang Xiaofan, her large eyes fixed intently on the toys inside the shooting game machine.

Yang Xiaofan looked over, puzzled. "Class monitor, what are you staring at?"

Qin Nuanyu replied quietly, "The prizes in the shooting machine have been updated, and they're limited editions. But you have to hit the bullseye a hundred times in a row to get one."

"Oh! So that's how it is."

This shooting game wasn't like those found in small cities; the manufacturers collaborated with anime franchises and internet celebrities to produce chain products. Many classmates enjoyed collecting the toys and prizes inside.

Although it was cheap to get started, once you really played, small change turned into big money, burning through cash like water.

Seeing Qin Nuanyu's eager gaze at the toys, Yang Xiaofan frowned. He'd already spent tens of thousands this morning to buy memory ability, with only a little money left. Maybe... he could help her?

Yang Xiaofan decided to spend his last bit of money to boost his shooting ability by two levels, making him a beginner shooter.

Though it was just beginner level, compared to formal shooting standards, it was more than enough for a game like this.

"Class monitor, let me help you," he said.

"You? Can you really do it?" Qin Nuanyu was somewhat skeptical.

Yang Xiaofan patted his chest. "Don't worry, I'm great at shooting. Every shot hits the mark."

Qin Nuanyu's cheeks flushed slightly as she rolled her eyes at him. "All right, give it a try."

With that, she scanned a hundred yuan.

Yang Xiaofan muttered inwardly, no wonder this game was a money pit—one yuan per shot, a hundred yuan barely lasted two minutes.

But with his improved shooting ability, this was no challenge at all.

He picked up the shooting gun and checked it; the sights had been deliberately skewed by the vendor, probably to trip up students.

Yang Xiaofan couldn't help but complain to himself again. He raised the gun, aimed, and began shooting without hesitation.

Bang, bang, bang...

Electronic sound effects rang out, and the screen lit up with a series of red marks.

Qin Nuanyu, who had thought Yang Xiaofan was just bluffing, was instantly astonished when she saw his skill, her mouth opened so wide she could swallow a mushroom.

"Done!"

Before she could recover from her shock, Yang Xiaofan had already put down the gun, and the shooting machine played celebratory music, dispensing a limited edition Mikoto Misaka figurine.

"That's amazing!" Qin Nuanyu's breathing quickened with excitement, her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling as she gazed at Yang Xiaofan.

Yang Xiaofan felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze and cleared his throat. "It's nothing. Well... if there's nothing else, I'll head off."

"Don't go! There are still several limited edition toys left, help me win them all!"

"Well... all right."

There was no helping it; having just borrowed a thousand yuan from the class monitor, he couldn't refuse her request.

He picked up the gun again. Rat-a-tat-tat...

The machine sounded with each hit, and more limited edition figurines dropped out one after another.

Qin Nuanyu clapped her hands with delight, bouncing up and down, her long ponytail swishing back and forth, entirely different from her usual dignified self, resembling a young girl.

With Yang Xiaofan's handsome shooting posture beside her, the two looked just like a couple.

A few minutes later.

"Class monitor, that should be enough, right?"

"Not yet, I want more."

A few more minutes passed.

"Class monitor, surely this is enough now? I'm running out of steam."

"Come on, just a bit more!"

Yang Xiaofan was inwardly groaning in misery.

He'd dug his own grave.

Looking at the class monitor, she was like a starving wolf who hadn't tasted meat in ages; he had no idea how long he'd have to keep at this.

But just then, suddenly, the shooting machine's power was switched off.

Yang Xiaofan's gunfire stopped abruptly.

Qin Nuanyu, as if doused with cold water, rushed forward to check the machine.

"What's going on? Why is there no power?"

Meanwhile, Yang Xiaofan was pulled aside by the shop owner, who said bitterly, "Listen, man, leave some wiggle room—it's good for future encounters! You can't bankrupt me just to impress a girl, can you? Each limited edition figurine costs several hundred, and you've already won so many, I'm losing thousands!"

Yang Xiaofan rolled his eyes. "Is it any of your business? When you skewed the sights to cheat students, why didn't you say anything?"

Realizing his trick had been exposed, the owner awkwardly rubbed his nose and cleared his throat. "Didn't expect you'd notice. Look, this is just a small token, please take your girlfriend and leave."

With that, the owner slipped Yang Xiaofan a wad of red bills.

Yang Xiaofan glanced at it—it was quite thick.

"Fine, I'll let you off this time. But if you keep cheating students, don't blame me for not being so polite next time."

"Yes, yes, absolutely."

Yang Xiaofan returned to Qin Nuanyu, who was still inspecting the machine, and said, "The owner says the fuse probably blew, so we can't play today."

Qin Nuanyu immediately felt a wave of disappointment and regret.

"That's such a shame. I finally found an ace shooter today; if I came alone, I'd never have won a single prize."

"No worries, once it's fixed, I'll come back and help you again."

"Really? Thank you so much!"

"Don't mention it. I have something to do, so I'll head off now."

With that, Yang Xiaofan hurried away, his handsome retreating figure leaving Qin Nuanyu momentarily dazed.

...

Yang Xiaofan dashed back to the art supply store, slapping down 1,400 yuan on the glass counter.

"Art supplies, the cheapest you have!"

The bald owner, who had just been rude, instantly put on a smiling face when he saw the money.

"Ah, student, you've raised the funds so quickly! I'll get them for you right away."

He quickly pocketed the cash and handed Yang Xiaofan a set of the lowest quality traditional painting supplies.

"This is my first time buying art supplies—aren't you going to throw in some paper?"

"Of course! It's only right."

The owner beamed as he handed Yang Xiaofan a stack of paper. Yang Xiaofan picked up his things and left without a backward glance.

The owner called after him, "Take care, student! Now that you've bought once, you're a regular. Next time, I'll give you a ten percent discount!"

Yang Xiaofan turned his back and raised a middle finger.

Leaving the university district, Yang Xiaofan's phone rang. He pulled it out—it was his new WeChat account.

Someone had added him!

He clicked accept without hesitation. The other person's profile picture was a woman with an exceptionally gentle and refined air, wearing a black veil that obscured her face. Even from the photo, one could sense a transcendent aura.

Still, with all the beauty filters nowadays, Yang Xiaofan wouldn't believe it so easily.