This person is clearly a male protagonist in a female-oriented novel, yet he is excessively lucid.

"Congratulations, host, for maintaining your sanity and successfully avoiding emotional turmoil. You are rewarded with one chance to draw a prize."

The moment Yu Chenzhou closed the door, the system notification sounded in his mind right on time. Although it was already familiar, the sound still invigorated him.

He raised his hand to rub his temples, and after thinking that he had two more chances to win the lottery, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

But when her thoughts drifted back to the bedroom, she remembered that there was a beautiful woman with long legs and a slender waist waiting for her there.

Yu Chenzhou's steps became even lighter, and he hummed an old song that the two of them often listened to in college, the tune so cheerful that it was a little off-key.

But when Yu Chenzhou practically ran back to the bedroom, the scene he had been expecting did not appear.

He stood at the doorway and scanned the area:

Xiao Yilin's off-white silk dress and black stockings were casually draped over the soft bed sheet. The decorations on the hem of the dress shimmered in the sunlight, but the person who should have been wearing the dress was nowhere to be seen.

He took two steps forward, the scent of gardenia perfume that Xiao Yilin often used still lingering around his nose.

Turning my gaze, I found my wardrobe door wide open, my neatly folded shirts were in disarray, and the drawers were pulled out half an inch, clearly indicating that someone had tampered with them.

An idea instantly formed in Yu Chenzhou's mind. He subconsciously slowed his steps and walked towards the bathroom at the end of the corridor.

I just got close to the door.

The sound of rushing water grew clearer, mingling with Xiao Yilin's cheerful singing voice.

The frosted glass of the bathroom was fogged up by the hot water, vaguely outlining a curvaceous figure. As she raised her hand to wipe her long hair, the curves of her shoulders and neck, and the waist were breathtakingly beautiful.

Yu Chenzhou's Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously swallowed. His fingertips tingled, and he gripped the cold metal doorknob.

He desperately wanted to go inside, to wrap his arms around her slender waist from behind, and to whisper sweet nothings in her ear, just like he had done countless times before.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated; the door had already been locked from the inside.

"Pfft."

A crisp laugh echoed from the bathroom, carrying the warmth of the steam.

"Little brother, what's the rush?"

"Trying to barge in without knocking? Have you forgotten the rules?"

Xiao Yilin's voice came through the door, carrying a hint of lazy coquettishness.

"Once my sister has rinsed off the foam and smells nice, she'll naturally come to find you."

"Xiao Yilin, you never used to restrain me like this."

Yu Chenzhou slapped the door panel in an annoyed tone, her voice carrying a hint of coquetry.

Memories of my university days flooded back:

Back then, Xiao Yilin always liked to drag him to her rented apartment, and the two of them indulged in the passionate love of their youth.

During those years of passionate love, the two were inseparable, wanting to be together every minute and every second. There was never such a "strange" moment between them.

"Now you know how to complain?"

The sound of running water gradually subsided, and it seemed that Xiao Yilin was filling the bathtub with water.

"You heartless bastard, when you were chasing after Su Qinghuan, why didn't you ever think of me, your ex?"

You used to be so sweet-talking, always calling me "Little Linlin," and I even answered your questions for you in your elective classes. Now, you've become my kept man, and you've distanced yourself from me.

Her voice carried a hint of deliberate grievance, but the last syllable rose slightly, making it clear she was teasing him.

Yu Chenzhou laughed at her words and leaned against the wall, slowly retorting:

"The problem is that I used to be your official boyfriend, but now our status is different."

"I'm being 'kept' by you, Miss Xiao, at your expense. How dare I overstep my bounds?"

He deliberately dragged out his words.

"A qualified gigolo knows to only talk about service, not feelings, otherwise the boss will be unhappy."

The bathroom fell completely silent; even the sound of dripping water had disappeared, clearly indicating that Xiao Yilin had already soaked in the bathtub.

Yu Chenzhou glanced down at the watch on his wrist; the hands pointed to 12:30 noon.

He suddenly remembered that Xiao Yilin had a habit of taking baths, and she would soak for a full hour each time. She also liked to apply a face mask while taking a bath, and no amount of urging could change that.

Although there are no face masks here, Xiao Yilin's long-standing habit is unlikely to change easily.

Yu Chenzhou shook his head helplessly, smiled, and then leaned against the wall on the side of the bathroom.

I picked up my phone to check the messages in the game group.

"I heard you've been pursuing Su Qinghuan for four whole years?"

The water in the bathtub seemed to be stirred, and Xiao Yilin's voice came through the crack in the door, less playful and more serious.

Yu Chenzhou didn't hide anything, leaning against the cold bathroom door frame, his voice frank:

"Well, to be precise, it should be about four years."

I pursued her from my junior year of college until she graduated with her master's degree, bringing her breakfast for three years and helping her revise countless papers, but in the end, I was still rejected.

She only agreed to date me after I graduated and got a stable job.

He said these things without feeling the slightest bit emotional.

After all, Yu Chenzhou, who pursued Su Qinghuan, wasn't him, even though this embarrassing history had already landed on his head.

Therefore, when Yu Chenzhou brought up this past event again, his tone was calm, as if he were telling someone else's story.

"Thinking about it this way, I've really lost out."

Xiao Yilin's voice carried a hint of amusement.

"I used to be the one pursuing you. I would brave the rain to bring you an umbrella, and when you got injured playing basketball, I would take time off to accompany you to the hospital. I even leveled up your game account for you."

She paused, her tone becoming serious.

"But I'm not unreasonable. If I want you to make it up to me, then pursue me for three months."

"Do your best for these three months, and after three months I'll 'make you official,' upgrading you from gigolo to boyfriend."

"It's a deal!"

Yu Chenzhou's eyes lit up, and he agreed almost immediately.

He would be willing to endure not just three months, but six months or a year.

After all, only he knew that Xiao Yilin's long legs were truly irresistible.

As the female lead, Xiao Yilin is a person who dares to love and hate, and always acts decisively and efficiently, never dragging things out in relationships.

Therefore, in the original story, it was she who took the initiative to pursue Yu Chenzhou intensely.

She took the initiative to hold hands for the first time, she tiptoed to kiss him for the first time, and even the confession that confirmed their relationship was made by her waiting outside the boys' dormitory with roses.

The subsequent movie outings, hotel stays, and cohabitation were all initiated by Xiao Yilin.

The tactics Yu Chenzhou used to pursue Su Qinghuan later.

For example, sending him different breakfasts every day and having Yu Chenzhou prepare brown sugar ginger tea in advance during his menstrual period were all "tricks" that Xiao Yilin used on him back then.

Yu Chenzhou's decisiveness put Xiao Yilin in a great mood. She leaned over the edge of the bathtub, her fingertips tracing the water's surface, splashing tiny droplets, her tone revealing a barely perceptible expectation.

"Speaking of which, in these past few years, besides Su Qinghuan, haven't you ever had feelings for any other woman?"

Xiao Yilin's voice became light and cheerful again, and she asked casually.

"And also, I'm not the first woman to use your bathtub, am I?"

"No! — Yes."

Yu Chenzhou's answer was as concise as could be, yet it was like a pebble thrown into Xiao Yilin's heart lake, creating ripples.

Xiao Yilin had actually guessed it long ago.

There was only one set of men's toiletries on the bathroom sink. There was nothing in the room related to women. There were no women's clothes in the wardrobe, and even the towels were all plain-colored.

Clearly, there had never been another woman in this house.

However, "guessing it yourself" and "the other party admitting it personally" are two different things. The sense of security that the latter brings is far greater than that of the former.

"Since you've done well, I'll give you a chance to test yourself."

Xiao Yilin raised her fair arm and gently blew away the foam clinging to her skin, the water droplets sliding down her smooth arm into the bathtub.

"I haven't eaten anything since this morning, and I'm starving."

Go buy me lunch. If you like it, I'll let you sleep in my bed tonight.

If it's not to my liking, or if I'm hungry because it's late, you can just take your pillow and sleep on the sofa.

"Yes, Your Majesty! Rest assured, I guarantee I'll bring the food back before you have to wait any longer!"

Yu Chenzhou immediately switched to a fawning tone, the same tone he used when the two of them played role-playing games in college.

Sure enough, Xiao Yilin's cheerful laughter came from the bathroom. The familiar voice warmed Yu Chenzhou's heart, and he turned around to go to the bedroom to change his clothes.

What Xiao Yilin wanted to eat wasn't complicated; it was the "chicken pot" that the two of them often ate during their university years, with a slightly spicy flavor and an extra serving of potatoes and enoki mushrooms.

But she doesn't like ordering takeout; she insists that Yu Chenzhou buy it for her before she'll eat.

Given Xiao Yilin's habits, it usually takes him at least an hour to get out of the bath after he starts taking a bath. It's only 12:40 now, so he has plenty of time.

So Yu Chenzhou changed into a casual short-sleeved shirt and jeans, and went to the supermarket to buy Xiao Yilin's favorite strawberry-flavored yogurt and dried mango.

Passing by the ingredients section, Yu Chenzhou thought of the taste of the magical Mapo Tofu and bought some soybeans and soft tofu.

When checking out, Yu Chenzhou glanced at the shelf next to the cashier and casually grabbed a few boxes of "little gadgets" that hadn't been seen at home for a long time.

Then she went to the snack shop next door and picked out some of her favorite snacks.

After all, if you're trying to woo a girlfriend, you need to create the right atmosphere.

After putting everything into his backpack, he leisurely walked towards the chicken hotpot shop, packed up the steaming hot meal, and hurried home.

When Yu Chenzhou returned home carrying large bags and small packages, he had just taken out his keys to open the door when he saw Xiao Yilin walking out of the bedroom.

She was wearing Yu Chenzhou's loose black pajamas, the hem of which reached her knees, making her legs appear even more slender and long.

Her long, black hair was still dripping wet, and she was wiping it as she walked, holding a towel in her hand.

When she saw Yu Chenzhou return, her eyes lit up, and her gaze unconsciously fell on the chicken stew takeout bag in his hand.

"At least you have a conscience; you haven't forgotten my hobby."

Xiao Yilin walked over, took the packing tape from Yu Chenzhou, looked at it, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Here's one point for you, your total score is now 61. Keep it up!"

Xiao Yilin has always had her own set of scoring standards for men, with each aspect, from details to character, having a corresponding score.

Although Yu Chenzhou was not clear about the specific scoring rules, he remembered that they were mentioned in the original work.

When Xiao Yilin was pursuing him, she observed him for two months and gave him a base score of 75 based on her daily observations. To meet the standard of living together, he needed to score at least 80.

"I bought some good snacks; the dried mango is still my favorite brand."

As Xiao Yilin walked towards the dining table, she unpacked the chicken hot pot and suddenly smelled the delicate aroma of tofu.

She turned her head and saw that Yu Chenzhou was taking out a bag of dried soybeans and a piece of soft tofu from his backpack.

"Buying tofu is one thing, but why did you buy so many soybeans?"

Want to make soy milk for breakfast?

She picked up a soybean and squeezed it, her face full of curiosity.

"I can't say now, or it won't be a surprise anymore."

Yu Chenzhou smiled mysteriously and deliberately hid the bag of soybeans behind his back.

"Just relax and enjoy your lunch. You'll find out tonight, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"Tch, trying to play mysterious with me."

Xiao Yilin rolled her eyes, but still couldn't help but lean over and look at all the ingredients Yu Chenzhou had bought.

Besides the bag of soybeans, there was also a piece of soft tofu, but not a single bit of minced meat.

She tilted her head and thought for a long time, but she really couldn't think of any tricks that could be made from these two things.

"Could it be for making tofu pudding? No, I don't see any gypsum powder."

Or do you want to make stir-fried soybeans with tofu?

"Yu Chenzhou, if you dare to cook such bland dishes, don't even think about sleeping in bed tonight."

"Don't worry, that's definitely not it."

Yu Chenzhou patted his chest to assure him, still refusing to reveal a single detail.

Seeing this, Xiao Yilin stopped asking questions.

Having been with Yu Chenzhou for so many years, she knows his personality best; the more she presses him, the less he'll talk.

If you don't ask, they'll find themselves unable to hold back and confess on their own.

Moreover, love needs a little mystery, like opening a blind box, because love is passionate when it is full of anticipation.

The two ate quietly for a while, then Xiao Yilin suddenly put down her chopsticks and pointed to the bank card on the coffee table:

"Keep this card."

Her tone was natural, as if she were simply saying, "The weather is nice today."

"No need, I really don't need the money right now."

Yu Chenzhou followed her gaze to the bank card and gently shook his head.

"You've just returned to China. Even if you don't need to rent a place, buy clothes, or buy cosmetics, you'll definitely have a lot of expenses. Keep the money for yourself."

Yu Chenzhou's words were not just polite talk.

In the original owner's memories, Xiao Yilin came from an ordinary family.

But as a transmigrator, he knew very well that Xiao Yilin was the author's chosen "rich heiress" and one of the female lead Su Qinghuan's strongest rivals.

Her family made their fortune in the wholesale trade in the south, and they own three large fresh fruit and vegetable wholesale markets in this city alone.

Even her current workplace, "Dingsheng Financial," is a subsidiary of her father, and it has very substantial assets.

"Are you sure?" Xiao Yilin raised an eyebrow, put down her chopsticks, and looked at him seriously.

"What kind of relationship do we have? Do we need to distinguish between you and me?"

I know you're not in a good situation right now, don't try to save face and suffer for it. If you don't have enough money, just say so, I have plenty here.

"Really, you don't need to."

Seeing that she didn't believe him, Yu Chenzhou simply took out his phone, opened the text message interface, scrolled through it, found the repayment notice sent by the bank, and handed it to her.

"Look for yourself, the mortgage was paid off last week."

Xiao Yilin took the phone with some skepticism; the screen displayed an official text message from the bank:

「您尾号3692的帐户于7月12日完成个人住房贷款结清交易，本次还款本金及利息合计5820000元，当前帐户余额12568900元。」

Her eyes widened suddenly, and she checked several times before she was finally relieved.

She swiped her finger to flip to the previous transaction records, and a series of large transfer records popped up, all with the notes "game item transaction" and "recharge settlement".

"You're quite something, kid. You've kept it well hidden."

Xiao Yilin handed the phone back to Yu Chenzhou, her tone full of surprise.

"After paying off a mortgage of over five million, there's still more than ten million left? Did they earn all of that by selling in-game items?"

She remembered that Yu Chenzhou used to be terrible at games, unable to even beat the simplest dungeons. How come he's suddenly so good?

"At the rate you're making money, it looks like I'll really have to rely on you to support me from now on."

"We've been together for over two years, how come I never realized you were so good at games?"

Xiao Yilin rested her chin on her hand, staring curiously at Yu Chenzhou's face, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

"You used to need me to carry you to victory every time you played Warcraft, how come you've suddenly become a pro?"

"Don't even mention it, I find it unbelievable myself."

Yu Chenzhou smiled and made up an excuse he had already thought of.

"Don't even mention it, I didn't even realize it myself. If it weren't for that incident at the hospital last time, I'd be spending all my time playing games now."

I didn't even know I had this talent.

Although that's what he said, Yu Chenzhou was secretly thinking to himself: It's all thanks to the "pay-to-win card" he got from the system lottery. Otherwise, he wouldn't know when he would have been able to earn so much money on his own.