It was just another ordinary morning.
Chris Carter woke up right on schedule, thanks to his internal clock. Still half-asleep, he dragged himself to the bathroom.
He turned on the tap, splashed some water on his face, then started brushing his teeth. But when he looked up and saw his reflection, he froze on the spot.
“Wait... who the hell is that?”
The dude in the mirror almost made him think he'd walked into someone else’s bathroom.
Sharp features, well-defined bone structure, flawless skin—there was no trace of his usual acne-ridden self.
Chris blinked hard, rubbed his eyes, and leaned in for a better look.
This face looked like it had been edited with the best beauty filter out there, but somehow still looked completely real. It was straight-up model-tier good looks.
“Am I still half-asleep or what?”
Then his eyes dropped to his upper body—and his jaw practically hit the floor.
Perfectly sculpted muscles. Abs sharp enough to grate cheese on, and yeah, even those elusive V-lines...
He ran a hand over his abs out of instinct. Yep. 100% real.
There was no way this was the body of someone who spent most of his time holed up indoors.
“This is nuts!”
He cursed under his breath, still struggling to wrap his head around it.
“Is this a dream?”
As he mumbled to himself, a robotic voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
Then came a second chime:
“Ding! Detected host has wished for the same thing for five consecutive years. ‘Unrestrained Life System’ now successfully activated and bound!”
Chris froze.
His eyes widened. Was he actually hearing this?
A system? Like, the kind from those webnovels he devoured?
“Unrestrained Life System... seriously?”
He spoke out loud, a little unsure.
“No need to speak. Just think your questions, and I’ll respond,” the voice replied.
“So... what can you actually do for me?” he asked mentally, heart racing.
The minty taste of mouthwash lingered in his mouth. His grip on the cup tightened slightly. He could barely stay calm.
As someone who’d read more system novels on Tomato App than he could count, he knew exactly what this meant.
Having a system meant only one thing—his life was about to flip. Big time. The only question was: how powerful was this thing?
“Live large. Enjoy the perfect life!” the system announced cheerfully.
“Any money you spend can come back to you—multiplied, at random!”
Chris blinked in disbelief. That sounded way too good.
“Wait, is there a catch?”
It was just too similar to all those rich-dude stories he'd read.
“No restrictions,” the voice assured him.
“The only rule is that you have to spend your own money. Oh, and sometimes you might get bonus missions. Complete them for extra surprises!”Chris Carter’s eyes lit up. “Wait, what if… I send gifts to others? Like, say, hot girls or streamers?”
“As long as you're spending money, it doesn’t matter who it's on. The system doesn't care about their looks.”
“Damn, that's wild.”
Chris couldn't help but sigh in amazement.
Most of those overpowered systems in novels required you to spend on good-looking people to get a rebate. But this one? No strings attached. Total freedom.
Just as he was about to ask when he'd get a starter gift pack or something, his phone rang out of nowhere.
He dropped his toothbrush, dashed out of the bathroom in three quick steps, and grabbed the phone without even drying his hands.
The screen lit up with one word: “Baby.”
Just seeing it made him feel all sorts of complicated emotions.
Two and a half years ago, he was bored one night and downloaded a random casual game app. You know, stuff like chess or billiards. During a match, he ran into someone named “Jane.”
At first, they just played games, but over time, their interactions got deeper. One thing led to another, and they ended up in an online relationship.
Before he knew it, it had been two and a half years.
Every time they chatted, Chris couldn’t help but present himself as a tall, rich, and handsome type. After making stuff up, he'd always feel a little guilty—but then again, it’s the internet. Who doesn’t tweak things a little?
He never really planned on meeting her. He didn’t have the confidence, not with how he looked back then or his bank account situation. Plus, with him in Rongcheng and her in Modu, it just felt impossible.
Chris shook his head and picked up the call.
"Darling~"
That familiar voice came through: sweet, natural—not forced or fake.
His heart softened instantly, and he replied gently, “Hey, babe. I’m here.”
“It’s May 15th today, you know. 520 is just around the corner.”
Jane’s voice had a hint of something behind it.
“Huh?”
Chris blinked, clearly not getting the hint.
“Hmph. You’re trying to dodge it already, aren’t you? Last year for 520, you gave me some excuse about going back home.”
She sounded just a bit annoyed.
“Sorry, sorry. I just woke up—my brain’s not fully booted yet,” he laughed it off.
Thinking back to last year, a wave of guilt washed over him.
Back then, he was just a broke dude full of bravado online. Meeting her? Not a chance.
But now? As he ran a hand along his chiseled jawline, he felt completely different. With his upgraded looks and the system backing him up, he wasn't scared anymore.
System in pocket, new face in the mirror—what was there to worry about?
“Chris? Why so quiet?” Jane’s tone turned hopeful. “Does this mean I can start booking my flight?”
Staring at his reflection—someone fresh, confident, and not a bit of his former self—Chris felt a surge of confidence like never before.
He chuckled softly and said coolly, “No need, let me handle it.”
A plane ticket didn’t cost much now—not with that wild system of his.
Time to put it to the test.
