Watching Zhao Yaqian disappear from sight, Li Jingzhong shook his head in disappointment. He sized up Tang Song before suddenly laughing, "You're Zhao Yaqian's friend, right? Try to persuade her. Suitable jobs aren't easy to find, especially for someone like her who hasn't attended college."

Tang Song frowned, coldly asking, "What kind of job are you referring to?"

From their conversation, it was clear that the job he was hinting at wasn't straightforward. Zhao Yaqian was a simple-hearted person, and if he genuinely wanted to help her, his attitude wouldn't be so dismissive.

Li Jingzhong met Tang Song's gaze and casually replied, "The job most suitable for her, of course. But never mind, I won't argue with someone young like you. You'll understand in time."

With that, he sneered, brushing past Tang Song as he walked to his cobalt blue Mercedes parked by the roadside.

"Beep beep beep—" The car horn blared as the black tires spun, splashing rainwater, and the Mercedes vanished into the rainy streets.

Tang Song withdrew his gaze, contemplating whether to go inside and talk to Zhao Yaqian. However, after a moment's hesitation, he decided against it. They hadn't known each other for long, and their mutual understanding was shallow. Asking such questions might be too forward.

Back at Qingxin Homestead, Tang Song opened the umbrella and carefully hung it on the balcony to dry. He sent a message to Zhao Yaqian: "Today's skewers were delicious. Thank you. Once I successfully lose weight, I’ll treat you to a big meal."

Putting down his phone, Tang Song sat on the sofa, staring at the rainy night outside the window. He opened the system interface to check the details of the newly triggered task.

[Side Quest: My First Car]

[Task Content: Use your savings from working, according to your preferences, to purchase your first car and take a female friend to three landmarks.]

*[Task Reward: Vehicle Gift Package 1]

[Note 1: The car's price must not exceed 45,220.31 yuan.]

[Note 2: Owning your first car has been your dream since graduation. It doesn't have to be luxurious, expensive, or beautiful, but it can shelter you from the elements, transport dates, expand your living radius, and provide the joy of driving.]

Checking the reward details.

*[Vehicle Gift Package 1]: Upon opening, a car worth up to 500,000 yuan will be randomly awarded.

Reading the task description and reward, Tang Song jumped up in excitement.

What a deal! A car worth up to 500,000 yuan! As a young man interested in technology, cars, sneakers, and music, he was quite knowledgeable. Owning his own car had always been a dream, but he had suppressed this desire to save for a house. Now, not only could he buy a car, but the system would also gift him one. Even if it was a random selection, a car worth 200,000 to 300,000 yuan would be amazing!

The task wasn’t difficult; in fact, it was quite simple. The restriction that the car's price couldn't exceed 45,220.31 yuan was likely because this amount reflected his true savings before obtaining the system, earned through his hard work. Even though this money was now invested in the Betting Agreement, it hadn't disappeared. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel·fire·net

Taking a deep breath, Tang Song sat at his computer and opened an automotive information website to start searching for a suitable car. Cars under 45,000 yuan were limited, mostly microcars and small vans, which didn't interest him. However, a familiar and well-maintained second-hand car was worth considering, offering many more choices.

...

Meanwhile, at Tiankuo Garden, Zhao Yaqian entered her home, immediately kicking off her flat shoes and hanging up her bag. She walked barefoot into the living room, her long legs leading the way. She unbuttoned her blazer and plopped onto the sofa to grab a fruit plate from the coffee table.

Her roommate, He Liting, looked up from her TV show and, seeing Zhao Yaqian's tearful eyes, quickly comforted her. "Alright, don't cry. I know you're broke. I was just joking."

Zhao Yaqian quickly ate the fruit, then leaned against He Liting, her eyes vacant. "It's too hard, Tingzi, way too hard."

He Liting responded sarcastically, "Can you stop being so defeated? It's not that bad. You just haven't bought new clothes for a month, can't pay off your credit card or Huabei, can't afford rent, have a family debt, never attended college, and your boss owes you two months' salary while constantly PUA-ing you... Okay, I can't keep going. You really are in a bad spot."

Zhao Yaqian pouted, holding back tears, and quickly finished the fruit. She lay on He Liting's lap, looking blankly at her phone. She had no idea how to respond to Tang Song's earlier message.

He Liting glanced over and asked curiously, "Is that the kind customer who gave you Swarovski earrings? You guys went on a date and had handmade skewers? Not bad! You've only treated me to that three times!"

Zhao Yaqian's tears welled up again, "But I feel like I deceived him. Knowing Yizi Beauty is going out of business, I still charged him 2,000 yuan for a membership card."

He Liting was indifferent, "Why are you upset? You're just an employee doing your job. The store closing isn't your fault."

"But... But... We're friends. He’ll probably be mad at me."

He Liting laughed, "You idiot, he’s clearly into you! He won’t get mad over something like this. He’ll probably comfort you and help you find a new job!"

Blushing, Zhao Yaqian stammered, "You... you’re talking nonsense!"

"Well, you know best!" He Liting teased. "If you two hit it off, you could escape all this misery."

Blushing even more, Zhao Yaqian fought back with tickles, eventually settling down.

He Liting removed her face mask and, out of curiosity, asked about Tang Song's situation. Zhao Yaqian reluctantly described him as a gentle and considerate programmer who rented a place at Qingxin Homestead, without a car, and was likely not wealthy based on his attire.

Unimpressed, He Liting asked for a photo. Zhao Yaqian showed her a picture taken at the skewer shop, where Tang Song happened to be in the background.

After scrutinizing the photo, He Liting concluded, "He doesn’t look particularly outstanding, and based on his financial situation, you two aren’t a good match."

"Can you stop saying that?" Zhao Yaqian retorted, annoyed, then sighed, looking at Tang Song's photo. She composed a reply to his earlier message:

"Song Ge, I'm really sorry. Yizi Beauty is indeed facing operational issues, and I didn’t explain this clearly when you bought the membership. That was my mistake."