I agreed to be a kept man, but I'm still being punished by the system.

Following the clear directions of the road signs, Lin Yang parked his car steadily in the surface parking lot of Aurora University.

The parking space was wide enough that he parked with ease.

The two got out of the car and returned to the slightly cool autumn air.

All around were young faces rushing by, some carrying books, others wearing headphones, exuding a kind of unfamiliar vitality.

"This way," Gu Dandan said softly beside him, leading him away.

They strolled along the tree-lined path strewn with golden fallen leaves. Gu Dandan spoke softly, recounting her experiences during her four years at Jianye University.

When she talked about those days spent in the library, and the fun times she and her roommates skipped classes to go to the movies, a soft light shone on her face.

Lin Yang listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a word or two, and talking about his experiences at Huahai University of Finance and Economics.

But he didn't mention that he sweated profusely at the gym to get in shape, nor did he mention that he only ate two meals a day to save money, nor did he mention the embarrassment of not being able to find a job after graduation.

As I walked, the view suddenly opened up before me.

A beautifully designed Chinese garden came into view.

"This is Yenching Garden," Gu Dandan introduced, her eyes filled with a hint of student pride. "The name comes from a poem by Liu Yuxi, 'The swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people.'"

The park features lush green lawns and is surrounded by a variety of seasonal plants arranged in a pleasing manner.

Artificial hills, pavilions, small artificial waterfalls, and wooden bridges dot the landscape, creating an elegant scene.

Lin Yang's gaze swept over everything, but his heart remained completely unmoved.

Very beautiful.

But that's about it.

He had visited Yunxia Villa and seen the private garden, which covered several acres and was designed by an international master, where every plant and tree was extremely valuable.

In contrast, while the scenery here is beautiful, it lacks the kind of extreme luxury that comes from spending money.

Next, they went to the museum at Aurora University.

"Actually, this is my first time here too." Gu Dandan smiled a little shyly. "It's been over a month since school started, and I've been quite busy."

She looked intently at the collection in the glass display case, acting as a temporary guide, and softly read the text on the exhibit descriptions to Lin Yang.

Lin Yang's gaze, however, seemed somewhat unfocused.

He looked at his reflection in the glass of the display case, dressed in a sharp suit, with a strong physique.

A month ago, he was a sales newbie who had just landed a job paying 3,000 yuan a month. Now, he drives a luxury car worth millions, wears a bespoke suit that Su Man bought for him, and walks the line between wealth and desire.

This month has been more bizarre and unpredictable than the past twenty-two years.

A cell phone ringing interrupted their tour.

Gu Dandan glanced at the smart bracelet on her wrist; the screen lit up, displaying the time.

"Oh dear, it's already past midnight." She exclaimed, her face apologetic. "I was so engrossed in shopping that I completely lost track of time. Let me treat you to some delicious food from our university cafeteria."

Lin Yang raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't we agree that I would treat you?"

"You can treat me to dinner, but I'll treat you to lunch." Gu Dandan's tone was firm and left no room for refusal.

Lin Yang smiled and agreed.

"it is good."

The two went to the nearest school cafeteria.

It was lunchtime, and the cafeteria was bustling with noise and filled with the aroma of various foods.

Long queues, stainless steel plates, the beeping of card readers—everything was filled with the warmth of everyday life.

The cafeteria offers a wide variety of dishes, from south to north, including rice and steamed buns.

"What would you like to eat?" Gu Dandan asked, looking up at him.

Looking at the colorful dishes, Lin Yang was momentarily at a loss, his indecisiveness kicking in again.

"Let's have some beef ramen, something simple."

"Don't worry about saving me money." Gu Dandan gave him a reproachful look, a smile playing on her lips. "I can still afford to treat you to meals in our cafeteria."

"Alright then," Lin Yang said, no longer standing on ceremony.

He ordered a few stir-fries that looked decent, and got two bowls of rice, while Gu Dandan skillfully swiped her meal card. The two of them, carrying their trays, finally found an empty table in a corner and sat down facing each other.

Just then, a girl with a cute ponytail walked over carrying a tray and gently patted Gu Dandan on the shoulder.

"Dandan, I knew it! You're going out so early to see your boyfriend."

Gu Dandan was startled, clutched her chest and turned around, a faint blush appearing on her face.

"Chen Lin, don't talk nonsense. This is my high school classmate, Lin Yang. He works at Huahai."

The girl named Chen Lin's gaze fell on Lin Yang, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes, and then she generously extended her hand.

"Oh, a high school classmate, hello, my name is Chen Lin, I'm Dandan's roommate."

"Hello, my name is Lin Yang." Lin Yang extended his hand, touched her fingertips lightly, and then let go.

My heart remained unmoved, and the system did not react at all.

It seems this girl doesn't meet the standards either.

Chen Lin playfully leaned close to Gu Dandan's ear and said in a voice that wasn't too loud, "Dandan, your high school classmate is really handsome. You should seize the opportunity. I won't disturb your time together."

"You brat, what nonsense are you spouting?" Gu Dandan's face turned even redder, and she pretended to slap her bottom.

Chen Lin chuckled and dodged away, carrying her tray and running off.

Lin Yang watched them playfully bickering, a smile playing on his lips.

He thought of his roommates from college. Although they had a good relationship, they all went their separate ways after graduation and returned to their hometowns. Only he remained stubbornly in this huge city.

After finishing her meal, Gu Dandan asked, "Where are we going this afternoon?"

Lin Yang wiped his mouth with a napkin, leaned back slightly, and exuded a calm aura.

"Since you've shown me around Aurora University, then I'll show you around Huahai University."

"Great!" Gu Dandan's eyes lit up. "I've been here for over a month, and I haven't really explored Huahai much."

The two returned to the parking lot.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the car windows, casting dappled shadows on the exquisite interior.

The Cayenne started silently and merged into the city's traffic.

Lin Yang took her to the Oriental Pearl Tower and then to the Bund.

Instead of queuing like ordinary tourists, he drove directly into the underground parking lot of a high-end hotel on the Bund, and then took her in a private elevator to a viewing platform with a superb view.

Standing here, you can see the entire Bund's collection of international buildings and the skyscrapers of Lujiazui on the opposite bank.

Gu Dandan was shocked by the scene before her, but more than that, she felt an indescribable sense of restraint.

As night falls, the lights are on.

Lin Yang took her to a very secluded new Chinese-style private restaurant near the Bund.

There is no lobby here, only a few private rooms, which need to be booked in advance.

This was the place he had arranged after his phone call on Wednesday.

The dishes were served one by one like works of art, with exquisite plating and novel ingredients, which broadened Gu Dandan's horizons. She became very careful when she picked up her chopsticks.

"Is this... also your first time eating here?" she finally couldn't help but ask, trying to find some common ground to ease her inner unease.

"Yeah, it's quite expensive, so I can't come here often," Lin Yang replied sincerely.

"How much?"

"More than two thousand."

Gu Dandan breathed a sigh of relief. Although more than two thousand was expensive, it seemed to be within an acceptable range for a high-end dinner.

Looking at her expression, Lin Yang added a sentence.

"Yeah, over two thousand per person."

The air froze instantly.

Gu Dandan's hand holding the chopsticks froze, the color draining from her face at a visible speed, her pupils filled with shock.

One meal cost her a month's worth of food expenses, and she still had more than enough left over.

She could no longer taste any of the flavors left after the meal.

After dinner, Lin Yang took Gu Dandan back to Aurora University.

The dark blue Cayenne slowly came to a stop at the school gate, and the only sound inside the car was their faint breathing.

Gu Dandan unbuckled her seatbelt, her movements somewhat hesitant.

She didn't look at Lin Yang, but whispered "Goodbye," then pushed open the car door, quickly got out, and walked straight into the school gate without looking back.

She knew that she and Lin Yang were no longer from the same world.

The man in the haute couture suit who could easily spend several months' worth of her living expenses was completely severed from the innocent young man in the white shirt in her memory.

Lin Yang watched Gu Dandan's hurried departure, her slender figure disappearing into the lights deep within the campus.

At this moment, his obsession with youth and his ideal woman vanished completely.

He completely let go of his obsession with the past, understood the system's mechanism of only responding to "high-quality targets," and also better understood his own purpose of "living off a woman."