Starting Check-in Reward: Tomson Riviera

On a flight from East Asia to Modu in Xia Country, a handsome young man sat dozing in a business-class window seat, drawing the gazes of several female passengers.

The young man’s name was Ye Ling. Some time ago, he had a fight with his first girlfriend over her male best friend, and they ended up parting on bad terms. After finishing his college entrance exams, he went to East Asia alone to clear his head.

The two-week trip gave him a lot of perspective. Looking back, he felt he had been far too naive.

’People always seem so perfect when you first meet them...’

Ye Ling opened his eyes, a flicker of melancholy vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

’When it comes to relationships, you don’t need a million reasons. It all just boils down to whether someone is willing to do something or not.’

’No one ever made a rule that you have to shut down any potential romance, but if you’re truly committed to a relationship, you’ll naturally turn away from others.’

Just then, a girl in a purple dress from the seat diagonally in front of him leaned out, waving her phone. "Excuse me," she asked, "can I get your WeChat?"

She had noticed the handsome guy earlier, thinking he was even better-looking than some of the celebrities she saw online. But since he’d been sleeping the whole time, she hadn’t wanted to bother him.

Now that Ye Ling was awake, she had mustered up the courage to try and get to know him.

Ye Ling looked up to see a very cute girl. After a moment’s hesitation, he smiled. "Of course."

’Maybe I really shouldn’t keep torturing myself over someone who’s already gone.’

He scanned her QR code, and she quickly accepted his friend request.

"I’m Ning Ruoxi, by the way! I’m a freshman at Modu University!"

Ning Ruoxi had returned to her seat and sent him a message.

Ning Ruoxi was actually feeling pretty happy.

This was the first time she had ever asked a guy she didn’t know for his contact information.

She was naturally shy and only had one close girlfriend. Since that friend had been busy recently, she had ended up traveling to East Asia by herself.

Ye Ling paused, then typed back, "Ye Ling. What a coincidence. Me too."

Indeed, he was returning to the country not just because he had finally gotten over his heartbreak, but for another reason: he was also a freshman at Modu University.

"Really!?"

Ning Ruoxi sent a cute cat sticker, followed by another message: "Hahaha, in that case, you’ll have to look out for me when school starts!"

"No problem."

Ye Ling smiled.

...

It was the middle of the night by the time the plane landed at Modu Airport.

But Modu was still as bustling as ever, its prosperity on full display under the brilliant glow of neon lights.

"That girl, Ning Ruoxi... seems like her family’s pretty well-off," Ye Ling muttered to himself as he walked down the street.

After getting off the plane, he’d clearly seen a Porsche Cayenne parked and waiting for Ning Ruoxi. Her family was obviously anything but ordinary.

In comparison, his own family was much more modest.

Still, his father had arranged a place for him before he returned. It was a small apartment, but in a city like Modu, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, just having a place to stay was a good start.

"Meow~"

Just as Ye Ling was heading toward his apartment, he suddenly heard a meow from the side of the road.

Ye Ling looked over and saw a British Shorthair Blue Cat. Its leg appeared to be injured, and its pitiful state tugged at his heartstrings.

"A Blue Cat?"

Ye Ling was stunned and muttered to himself, ’Are you kidding me? People can just find Blue Cats on the street these days?’

He actually quite liked cats and had always wanted to get one.

But there was one very realistic problem...

He couldn’t afford one.

Weren’t purebred cats these days worth more than he was?

Ye Ling felt like this era was bent on utterly crushing his self-esteem.

It was bad enough that he couldn’t measure up to other people; now even cats were getting on top of him!

’Perhaps this is just how Modu is...’

Ye Ling sighed. Seeing the little creature staring at him, he chuckled, bent down, and scooped up the chubby cat.

"You’re lucky you ran into me, little guy."

However, the instant he picked up the cat, his entire body froze as if he’d been struck by lightning.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the binding mission: Pick up the British Shorthair Blue Cat!]

[Ding! Sign-In System successfully bound. Please complete your first sign-in as soon as possible!]

"A system?" Ye Ling’s eyes widened. He stared at the British Shorthair for a good few minutes before what had just happened finally sank in.

’Did I just... accidentally bind some kind of Sign-In System?’

[Please sign in as soon as possible, Host. Friendly reminder: The first sign-in is guaranteed to trigger a Great Luck effect!]

’Sign in?’

Ye Ling thought, giving it a try.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on a successful sign-in. Great Luck effect triggered! You have received: one building at Tomson Riviera in Modu, Xia Country! Related documents have been placed in your inventory space. Please check and confirm.]

’Tomson Riviera? A whole building?’

Ye Ling was stunned once more.

He was no stranger to the name. It was hailed as the most expensive residential complex in all of Xia Country, where a single apartment cost around two hundred million (around 30 million USD)!

And more importantly...

If he’d heard correctly, it was an entire *building*, not just a single apartment?

In other words!

He now owned an entire building!

An entire building at Tomson Riviera!

’Am I about to become a landlord...?’

Ye Ling’s lip twitched as a pale green status panel materialized before his eyes.

Host: Ye Ling

Height: 178 cm

Weight: 65 kg

Personal Assets: One building at Tomson Riviera

Bank Balance: 121.38 yuan

Skills: Good at nothing, first place in eating.

Love Life: In your dreams.

Ye Ling’s expression immediately darkened.

’What’s with that "Skills" section? Is it looking down on me?’

’And my love life... that’s just cruel!’

"Meow~"

Just then, the British Shorthair Blue Cat in his arms meowed. It stuck out its tongue, licked its little paw, and shot Ye Ling a look.

The look was so expressive it was as if the cat were speaking, and to Ye Ling, it seemed to say, ’Could you be a little more self-aware?’

"You’re mocking me too, little guy?"

An unfriendly glint appeared in Ye Ling’s eyes.

’Maybe I should get this little thing neutered as a welcome gift.’

The British Shorthair Blue Cat felt a sudden chill.

’I may not be human, but you’re a real piece of work!’

Half an hour later, Ye Ling emerged from a veterinary clinic, his expression sour.

"Neutering is this expensive? Over five hundred yuan!?"

Ye Ling muttered, glancing at the cat in his arms, its wound now bandaged. He let out a soft snort. ’You got lucky this time, little guy.’

「Back at the apartment.」

After a full day on the plane, Ye Ling was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open. He dropped his suitcase, collapsed onto the bed, and instantly fell into a deep sleep.

In a corner of the room, the Blue Cat shifted its pudgy body and glanced at its new owner. Suddenly, it noticed that Ye Ling’s phone, which he had carelessly tossed onto the bed, had lit up.

The cat padded over, stared at the screen for a long moment, then extended a paw and tapped it a few times at random.

SWOOSH—

The screen flashed, and a message was sent.

[P.S. This is a slice-of-life system novel with a focus on sweet romantic moments and humor. As this is my first time writing an urban novel, my command of the plot in the early-to-mid stages might not be perfect, but I am gradually improving. It will get much better later on, and the system’s presence will become stronger!]