Colorful lights intertwined, illuminating the entire pedestrian street night market.

Stalls lined both sides of the street, and men and women weaved through the bustling crowd.

Stir-fried noodles, skewers, fried chicken, stinky tofu, candied hawthorns...

Laughter, banter, and vendor shouts filled the air.

Tang Song walked along the pedestrian path, blending into the crowd.

He was quite familiar with this street, having visited many times during his university years.

If it weren’t for summer break, this place would be even livelier than it was now.

In his direct line of sight, a golden piggy bank grew increasingly clear.

After bypassing a smoky barbecue stall, a few quieter booths came into view.

Tang Song’s gaze quickly locked onto the “piggy bank.”

It hovered above a girl’s head, bouncing playfully, the clinking sound of coins growing faster and more urgent.

When he finally saw the girl’s figure and features, Tang Song instantly understood why Qian Lele carried a handbag out every evening.

In mid-July, even at night, the air in Yancheng was stiflingly humid.

Qian Lele wore simple jeans and a gray polo shirt, her forehead glistening with sweat under the lights.

Her long hair was casually tied back, with a few strands gently brushing her cheeks, and her skin carried a healthy rosy glow.

She was like a daisy quietly blooming, radiating a fresh and unique charm.

She squatted by a small step, sitting on a simple little folding stool, holding a rechargeable bulb in her hand.

In front of her was a beige cloth spread on the ground, displaying an assortment of beaded bracelets, each wrapped in simple PVC bags.

Beside her was a white plastic signboard that read, “5 yuan per bracelet, pick any you like.”

Her spot wasn’t very big, and since her goods were laid directly on the ground, it wasn’t particularly noticeable.

This college girl was truly working hard to earn money.

She was about to enter her third year, juggling a part-time job at Twilight Café during the day and running a booth at the night market in the evenings.

She lived frugally, rotating between just two or three outfits.

Snapping out of a brief daze, Tang Song’s sharp eyes returned to the “piggy bank” hovering above her head.

Just as he was pondering how to “defeat this wild monster,” lines of text suddenly appeared before his eyes:

【The wild monster “Piggy Bank” has entered attack range.】

【It is bound to the stall owner “Bracelet Seller Qian Lele.”】

【For each item the stall owner sells, the corresponding sales amount will be deposited into the “Piggy Bank.” When the “Piggy Bank” is full, it will be defeated.】

【Piggy Bank (Random Wild Monster): Remaining capacity 500】

【Players are requested to help the stall owner increase sales and defeat the wild monster. Time limit: 2 hours.】

【Note: As a qualified “Scholar God,” you may only use your own knowledge and skills. Cheating or seeking outside help will cause the wild monster to escape.】

At that moment, a male customer picked up a cinnabar bracelet from the stall.

Qian Lele immediately looked up and introduced the bracelet in a gentle, crisp voice.

The male customer played with the bracelet briefly, chatted with her for a moment, then scanned the QR code to pay.

The piggy bank, shaped like a small golden pig, swayed proudly and opened its mouth.

A streak of golden light emerged from Qian Lele, transforming into a coin that the “Piggy Bank” swallowed.

【Piggy Bank (Random Wild Monster): Remaining capacity 495】

After reading the system’s explanation, Tang Song quickly understood the process of defeating it.

Reaching a sales total of 500 yuan meant selling 100 bracelets.

As for why this wild monster appeared on Qian Lele, it was likely due to his own 【Luck +2】 attribute.

Since they were friends, it made things much easier.

Tang Song pressed his thin lips together, taking a step forward.

“Hi, would you like to check out some bracelets?” Qian Lele noticed someone approaching her stall and smiled warmly.

She quickly stood up.

“Good evening, Brother Song. Are you out for a stroll?”

Her voice was soft, her face slightly flushed with embarrassment and shyness.

She wasn’t ashamed of earning money by running a stall—most people around her knew about it, and she was already used to it.

What made her uneasy was Tang Song’s dedication to studying—his thirst for knowledge and tireless efforts practically radiated brilliance.

She was a college student herself, yet instead of studying or reading in the evenings, she was out selling bracelets. Compared to Tang Song, she felt a little ashamed.

“Good evening.” Tang Song’s face broke into a warm smile. “I’ve been studying all day, so I came out for a walk to relax.”

“Mm, taking proper breaks is good for your health.” Qian Lele clasped her hands in front of her and smiled back.

Cracks began to form on the piggy bank’s surface, and with a satisfying “clink, clink,” golden coins burst out like fireworks, scattering in a brilliant display.

The system screen appeared once more:

You have obtained the special item: “Magical Piggy Bank.”

[Magical Piggy Bank]: In dungeon environments or role-playing scenarios, this piggy bank will continuously accumulate cash. After clearing the dungeon, the money inside can be withdrawn.

Note: The amount of cash accumulated depends on the player’s performance.

After reading the item description, a satisfied smile appeared on Tang Song’s lips.

A cash-rewarding item!

It was common for games to drop gold coins in dungeons, often in considerable amounts.

Since he was currently in a dungeon environment and his media projects were temporarily on hold, he had been worrying about ways to save up cash. This item solved that problem perfectly.

It seemed the “Whisper of Humanity” in the mall would soon be within his grasp!

Glancing back at Qian Lele’s stall and her bag, Tang Song noted that there were only about 40 bracelets left.

He figured he might as well help clear out the remaining stock. For her, this would be a decent sum of extra income.

By 9:30 p.m., all the bracelets had been sold out.

The crowd grumbled briefly about the lack of inventory before dispersing.

Tang Song packed up his sketchbook and pens, stood up, and smiled. "Looks like you can close up shop early today."

"Yes! Time to clock out!" Qian Lele beamed, her face still glowing.

All 150+ bracelets she had brought were sold.

Since the payment QR code was hers, her phone was flooded with notifications of incoming payments, making her feel overjoyed.

"Brother Song, can I keep this sketch for myself?" Qian Lele carefully picked up the portrait of her, her eyes filled with hope.

“Of course, it’s yours to keep.”

“Thank you, Brother Song!”

After packing up her things and saying goodbye to Zhang Wen, the two walked shoulder-to-shoulder back toward the university faculty apartments.

At this hour, on a weekday, the pedestrian street had grown quieter, lending a sense of calm to the evening.

Just as they were about to leave the street, Qian Lele suddenly stopped and said, “Brother Song, wait a moment—I’ll go buy something.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Qian Lele jogged to a nearby stall and bargained with the vendor for a while before finally purchasing 40 yuan worth of fried chicken bites.

“I got it! Fried chicken for tonight!” she said, waving the plastic bag in her hand like a triumphant hunter. Her face lit up with satisfaction and happiness.

Other than spicy strips, fried chicken was her favorite treat.

But because fried chicken was relatively expensive, Qian Lele would only buy a small portion when her cravings were unbearable—about once every two months.

Tonight, however, she was overjoyed and brimming with excitement, feeling like indulging herself just this once.

As the two walked into the teacher’s apartment building, their surroundings gradually grew quieter.

The soft moonlight poured down, cloaking the ground in a silvery veil.

Faint lights from the buildings dotted the scene, blending with the moonlight to create a unique atmosphere.

It was tranquil, cozy, and peaceful.

Qian Lele tilted her head slightly, catching glimpses of Tang Song’s composed profile and tall, upright figure.

Her eyes sparkled as a warm sense of security filled her heart.

A playful and lively smile appeared on her face, and her steps became noticeably lighter.

The living room was brightly lit.

Qian Lele poured the fried chicken onto a plate and placed it on the dining table.

After some thought, she went to the fridge and pulled out two cans of beer.

Whenever she hung out with Ding Yao, they would pair fried chicken with beer back in the dorm.

Although Qian Lele found beer a bit bitter, its combination with fried chicken had its own unique charm.

As for the two beers that belonged to Teacher Jiang, she could just replace them later with some from the convenience store.

The two of them sat across from each other at the dining table.

“Cheers~” The beer cans clinked lightly.

The cold, slightly bitter liquid slid down her throat, making Qian Lele shiver a little. She then picked up a piece of golden, crispy fried chicken and handed it to Tang Song.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she said, “Try it! It’s so delicious.”

“Thank you.” Tang Song smiled, took the piece of chicken, and bit into it under her expectant gaze.

He gave a thumbs-up and said, “It’s really good—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Delicious.”

Qian Lele’s face lit up with a satisfied smile, and she started eating as well.

She chewed slowly and carefully, savoring every bite.

“Brother Song, I just did the math. We sold a total of 156 bracelets and made a net profit of 546 yuan. That means each of us gets 273 yuan. Normally, I can only sell…”

As she spoke, Tang Song ate the fried chicken while observing this simple and kindhearted university girl.

Her eyes were beautiful—bright and clear.

When she smiled, her brows arched upward, making her look radiant.

Noticing Tang Song’s gaze, Qian Lele’s cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head awkwardly.

“Lele, have you thought about changing your business? With the university on summer break, it’s hard to sell these bracelets—they just don’t have the right audience.”

Qian Lele quickly raised her head and replied earnestly, “I know. When I was living in the dorm, a lot of things were inconvenient, so I could only sell small items like these. Now that the stock is all gone, I’ve been thinking about switching products. Do you have any suggestions, Brother Song?”

Tang Song’s eyes flickered as his thoughts raced, and he immediately came up with the most suitable answer for her.

“Teacher Jiang’s apartment has a full set of kitchen appliances, and with summer in full swing, you could consider making chilled fruit teas or lemonades. Just get a foam cooler and some ice packs. The ingredients are simple, and the process is easy…”

As Tang Song spoke, Qian Lele’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

She had always wished for a like-minded friend, someone she could share her joys and sorrows with.

Someone who could discuss solutions with her when she felt lost.

Tang Song seemed to be exactly that person.

He was even purer than she was—overflowing with talent yet humble and reserved. He studied tirelessly, with unwavering focus and drive.

When he learned that he might have affected her business, he found another way to help, expressing his kindness and warmth.

His presence was vivid and impactful, constantly inspiring those around him.

Having a friend like him was truly a blessing.

She silently wished she could remain friends with him for life—sharing fried chicken and beer forever!