After reviewing the betting agreement, Tang Song thought for a moment and quickly understood the rules. [Zhao Yaqian] referred to the beautician currently trimming his eyebrows. If their "relationship progress" was considered a project, the "betting fund" would be the investment. The project had three milestone goals: when they became WeChat friends, the investment would multiply to 1.5 times; when they became actual friends, it would multiply to 3 times; and if he gained her favor, it would multiply to 6 times. The multiplied investment could then be cashed out, similar to real-world investment agreements but with a much simpler exit process.

He entered the Personal Center to check his assets.

Balance: 51,020.80 yuan

If he invested 50,000 yuan and managed to win Zhao Yaqian's favor within a month, he could cash out 300,000 yuan. For him, this was a significant sum, likely increasing his charisma score as well, making it hard to resist.

With this in mind, Tang Song slightly opened his eyes. He was met with the sight of a pair of slender hands, nails rounded and smooth, with no calluses or dead skin—very beautiful. Through the clean makeup mirror, he could see Zhao Yaqian working diligently. She appeared to be around 20 years old, full of vitality, well-dressed, tall, and graceful, with her hair tied back in a black net.

From her appearance alone, she was an outstanding young woman. A week ago, Tang Song wouldn’t have had the courage to approach her. At most, he would awkwardly add her on WeChat and slowly try to befriend her with sincerity and warmth. Any thought of a romantic relationship would have been impossible. But now, as he became more accomplished and his life was about to take off, he was filled with ambition.

Without much hesitation, he entered 50000.00 yuan into the [Enter Betting Amount:] field with his mind.

"Ding! Betting agreement signed, event in progress."

Immediately, Tang Song's phone vibrated in his pocket. He checked his assets again.

Balance: 1,020.80 yuan

He felt an emptiness in his heart, a slight panic. After working in the capital for over two years, he had initially used his earnings to pay off family debts, and the remaining 40,000 yuan had been hard-earned. He feared the system might take the money and run.

"Sir, I’ve roughly trimmed your eyebrows. Do you have any specific requests for your brow shape?" Zhao Yaqian paused her work.

Tang Song looked at his now neat eyebrows, feeling quite pleased. He smiled and said, "I’m not really sure. Why don't you decide? As long as it looks good."

"Alright, I’ll give you a standard men’s eyebrow shape that suits your face." Zhao Yaqian began working with small scissors, though she appeared hesitant. If her mentor, Sister Li, were here, she would be chatting with the client nonstop, discussing work and life, building a relationship, and gradually guiding him to buy membership packages. But Zhao Yaqian was tongue-tied, unable to master such scripts, which was why her interviews often failed.

As she mentally prepared herself, Tang Song suddenly asked, "Miss, I want to improve my skin. Where should I start?"

Hearing that he initiated a conversation about skincare, Zhao Yaqian was so excited she almost cried out. Her face lit up with animation. "First of all, cleansing is crucial. You have typically oily skin with rich sebaceous glands and a thick stratum corneum, which can easily cause dull skin and clogged pores."

"Any recommendations?"

"You can use an amino acid blend APG cleanser. It’s only a few dozen yuan online and lasts a long time!"

"Got it. Besides cleansing, what else should I pay attention to?"

"Hydration!" Zhao Yaqian touched Tang Song's face. "I recommend a toner that soothes acne and regulates oil production. The pricier ones can provide secondary cleansing and pH balance."

Feeling the warmth of her touch on his cheeks, Tang Song’s eyelashes fluttered. They chatted casually for a while. Zhao Yaqian suddenly realized she should be promoting the salon’s services instead of showing off her knowledge and giving advice! She bit her lip and awkwardly shifted the topic, saying, "Um, we offer professional skincare services here. One treatment shows results. If you're interested, we have a special offer on memberships right now."

"How about we add each other on WeChat, and you can send me the details?" Tang Song saw his chance and proposed.

"Sure! I'll scan your code in a moment." Zhao Yaqian finally relaxed, wiping his brows with a moist cotton towel. She smiled, "All done! Check the results."

Tang Song opened his eyes, seeing his previously unruly brows now neatly shaped. They were just the right thickness, with a fine beginning and an upward curve at the ends, making his eyes look more spirited.

"Very satisfied!" Tang Song sincerely praised her and successfully added her on WeChat.

"Ding! [Betting Agreement] Condition 1 achieved! Current betting fund: 75,000.00 yuan."

The system notification sounded as expected, making Tang Song feel elated. In less than half an hour, he had netted 25,000 yuan! The power of game items was terrifying! His gaze at Zhao Yaqian grew even more fervent—she was a goldmine. The rightful source is novel·fire.net

After paying 367 yuan at the counter and chatting briefly with Zhao Yaqian, Tang Song left the salon and headed straight to the mall's shoe section. He quickly spent 399 yuan on a pair of light-colored Converse canvas shoes, reducing his balance to 254.80 yuan. Considering the long journey ahead with Zhao Yaqian’s betting agreement, which would require expenses, Tang Song opened Alipay and checked his borrowing limit—20,000 yuan. Without hesitation, he withdrew it.

"Good, Jack Ma to the rescue in times of need!"

He reopened the Personal Information interface.

Balance: 20,254.80 yuan (20,000 yuan loan)

The word "Loan" was highlighted in red, clearly indicating that such funds wouldn’t contribute to his charisma score.

...

Back at his rental in Qingxin Homestead, Tang Song stood before the full-length mirror, examining himself seriously. His weight was down to 84 kg, his energy was high, his outfit was decent, and his hairstyle was voluminous. Compared to a week ago, he had improved significantly. The only regret was his still poor complexion. Besides being overweight, his biggest issue was his skin.

In fact, skin quality significantly impacts one's appearance. Having clear, fine skin is like applying a beauty filter in real life, covering many flaws. Perhaps this was why the Betting Agreement had chosen Zhao Yaqian, a beautician. Everyone’s skin is different, and as skin issues improve, skincare methods must be adjusted. It’s hard to quickly master this through self-study, requiring a wealth of experience. Having a beautician friend would definitely smooth his path to transformation.

"Ding dong—" WeChat notification sounded.

[Zhao Yaqian: promotional poster.jpg]

[Zhao Yaqian: "I've sent you the promotional details. Let me know if you have any questions (#smileyface)."]

Opening the poster, Tang Song saw: [1998 yuan membership card: 20% discount on all services, three basic facials, one VIP facial, and a choice of a product worth 998 yuan.]

Without hesitation, Tang Song transferred 2,000 yuan to her.

Message: "Please make a card for me. When I have time, I'll come to the store to get it."

You're a friend I must keep!