Chapter 27: Acquiring Skills and Financial Freedom

Cheng Yao glanced over and was surprised to find that all the girls here were quite attractive. Two of them could easily be rated a seven out of ten, and one even an eight. Was the piano department’s beauty quota all gathered here?

Because of Zhang Ya’s presence, their looks were subconsciously overshadowed, for no matter where she was, Zhang Ya was destined to be the focal point.

Cheng Linlin, Rong Xuelin, and Li Yingshan also instinctively sized up Cheng Yao, thinking Zhang Ya’s boyfriend was rather handsome, each greeting him with a smile.

Carrying a bag of fruit, Zhang Ya said, “I bought these for you. And this is my boyfriend—now you’ve seen him, right?”

“We’ve seen him, we’ve seen him. You two make a great pair.”

“How did you manage to find such a beautiful girlfriend? How did you win her over?” Rong Xuelin grinned mischievously at Cheng Yao.

“We’ve been together since high school,” Cheng Yao replied.

“But according to Zhang Ya, her family is very strict. You must have some skills…” Li Yingshan gave him a thumbs-up.

Cheng Yao joked, “It’s all because I’m handsome, though I try to stay low-key.”

“Hahaha, shameless! Zhang Ya, no wonder your boyfriend got you; it turns out his secret weapon is his shamelessness!”

“Now you know!” Zhang Ya replied, glancing at Cheng Yao. “You have a train to catch tomorrow. Go back and get some rest. I’m heading back to my dorm.”

“Alright, you go on up.”

“Oh? Not staying to chat a bit longer? We don’t mind! The dorm lights don’t go out this early.”

“Shameless,” someone teased.

“It’s better I go in now, wouldn’t want to cause a scene at night,” Zhang Ya said.

“Okay, I’ll be going then.”

“Bye-bye.” Zhang Ya stepped forward and hugged him, and Cheng Yao wrapped his arms around her, holding her gently for a few warm seconds.

After Cheng Yao left, Cheng Linlin remarked, “You and your boyfriend seem so close. What is it about him that attracts you? Don’t just say he’s good-looking—that’s too superficial. There are plenty of handsome guys at our school, and they have great grades and artistic talent, too.”

“There’s a lot that draws me to him, but I won’t tell you,” Zhang Ya replied, lifting her chin with a mysterious air.

Rong Xuelin lunged and grabbed her by the waist. “Let me use my secret attack—Kato Eagle’s Claw! Confess the truth at once!”

“Ah… you’re terrible…” Laughter and playful scuffling followed as the girls made their way upstairs. No matter how much they pressed her, Zhang Ya refused to reveal anything.

The Cheng Yao she loved was the sunny boy who, even with a little burden in tow, had the courage to shamelessly confess his feelings. He was the fool who used to wait secretly for her outside her piano lessons. She remembered last summer when her mother came to pick her up—Cheng Yao had turned pale with fright. She couldn’t help but laugh and took the initiative to greet him, just to see his embarrassment. He was the boy who tried to learn piano for her but could never quite master it. The boy who would misbehave with her in the piano room.

Compared to back then, he truly seemed more mature now. It was true—only experience brings maturity. And now that the fruit was ripe, she wouldn’t hesitate to pick it for herself.

…

After leaving the Shanghai Conservatory, Cheng Yao had accomplished the purpose of his trip to the city, and at last, he felt at ease. Even though their conversations online often felt a bit forced, in reality, topics flowed effortlessly. When they were together, there was a tacit understanding, a feeling that lingered in his heart, making words unnecessary. Between them, nothing more needed to be said.

For Cheng Yao, this was love.

The Peninsula Hotel stood on the famous Bund, overlooking the scenic Huangpu River. The taxi stopped at the hotel entrance. Cheng Yao, carrying his backpack, stepped into the five-star hotel—the first time he’d ever stayed in such luxury. Who could have imagined he was nearly penniless?

Fortunately, he’d booked the room online in advance.

The building before him evoked the elegance of old Shanghai in the 1920s and 30s, exuding a distinctive charm. Cheng Yao glanced at the Oriental Pearl Tower in the distance; the night view was truly breathtaking, embodying the spirit of the city.

After a few moments, he made his way to the hotel entrance, where a tall, elegantly proportioned concierge approached on long legs. “Welcome to The Peninsula, sir. May I take your luggage?”

“Thank you, but I can manage myself.”

“Of course. May I ask if you have a reservation?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Very well. Please, this way to the front desk for registration.”

Cheng Yao had booked a deluxe river-view suite, costing over six thousand per night—the most expensive suite he’d ever stayed in.

He opened Douyin and recorded a short video. Though he had no plans to become a celebrity, raising his profile a bit could be useful, a foundation for his future career and a cover for his sources of income.

Still, a seven-thousand-yuan suite seemed almost unimpressive for Douyin, but he was out of money—otherwise, he would’ve tried the presidential suite.

The video of him singing and playing guitar during military training was already online, with plenty of likes, comments, and shares. In truth, Cheng Yao didn’t pay it much mind.

Many internet personalities now took the high-end route; he intended to follow suit and take a shortcut. Of course, it was just a way to document his life. He wouldn’t devote too much energy to it. If he became popular, that would be great; if not, so be it.

After showing his ID and registering, Cheng Yao took the room card and rode the elevator up.

He opened the door, inserted the card, and the lights came on, bright and welcoming.

As a five-star luxury suite, the moment he drew back the curtains, the dazzling Oriental Pearl Tower came into view. After recording the scene, Cheng Yao edited and uploaded the video with a brief introduction.

He sent Zhang Ya a message, chatted with her for a while, then showered and lay down on the bed.

He glanced at the panel—behind Zhang Ya’s name, the option to extract a skill had appeared.

[Would you like to extract a skill?]

Piano. Piano!

[Congratulations! You have obtained the ‘Extraordinary Hearing’ skill. Master this skill and apply it in life to become even better.]

Skill: Extraordinary Hearing

Effect: Your hearing can function at the very limits of human ability.

Cheng Yao frowned slightly. Extraordinary hearing. This must be one of Zhang Ya’s talents, perhaps even an enhanced version—no way Zhang Ya herself was this superhuman.

It made sense, though. For a pianist seeking to perform flawless music, a highly developed sense of hearing was essential.

In the group chat, Wang Wenbo and the others messaged him to ask how things were going.

Cheng Yao reassured them it was all good and sent a few pictures.

Wang Wenbo: Damn, you’re at the hotel already. Tsk, tsk…

Cheng Yao: Don’t get any ideas. I’m by myself here. I’ll pay you back when I get back tomorrow.

Wang Wenbo: Alright.

Alone in the hotel, Cheng Yao found himself a bit bored. He snacked on some treats as time slowly passed.

[Today’s total expenditures: 793,800 yuan. With tenfold cashback, you have received 7,938,000 yuan. Congratulations, you have mastered the rules of the Dating Simulation Game. Keep exploring the game’s secrets—more rewards await you! Keep up the good work!]

Host: Cheng Yao

Charm: 84

Skills: Guitar, Extraordinary Hearing

Wealth: 7,938,000 yuan

Girlfriends: Zhang Ya (bound), Lu Mengyao (bound)

The second windfall of his life had come too easily. This was no longer a matter of winning five million in the lottery; this was true financial freedom.

…