In Binjiang City, inside a Japanese restaurant at Yida Plaza, Sophia Taylor held her phone up to Lucas Young's face. "Look, my bestie's boyfriend just got her the new iPhone 15 Pro."

Lucas barely glanced at the screen before muttering, "Nice. That must've cost over ten grand." His eyes were glued to his own credit card statement, his stomach churning. He still had over five thousand to pay off this month, and now this dinner would set him back another six hundred.

"Only eight thousand something," Sophia said, batting her eyelashes. "My birthday's next month—you could get me one too, right?"

A bitter taste rose in Lucas's throat. Eight thousand might as well have been a million to him. "Maybe... babe, could you pick something a little cheaper?"

Sophia's expression darkened instantly. "This is the first time I've ever asked you for a gift, and this is how you react?"

"I'm really strapped right now. I can barely make next month's credit card payment."

"That's your problem."

Lucas tried to explain. "Cut me some slack, okay? Shouldn't we be understanding with each other?"

"Where does all your money even go?"

"Between our weekly dates—movies, dinners, grocery runs—a thousand just vanishes like that."

Sophia's gaze turned icy. "Oh, so now you're blaming me for spending your money?"

Sophia Taylor's accusatory tone left Lucas Young with a bitter taste in his mouth.

She constantly compared him to her best friend's boyfriend—the lavish gifts worth thousands, while all he could afford were dinners and movie tickets. Every weekend date, Sophia never once reached for her wallet.

True, she never outright demanded extravagant presents, but just their routine outings were costing him at least five thousand a month. Special occasions meant gifts in the two to three thousand range, pushing his finances to the brink.

In Binjiang City, an eight-thousand-yuan monthly salary wasn’t bad. But his parents had died in a car crash years ago, and Lucas had barely scraped through college on the meager compensation. Now, three years into his career, he was still shelling out twelve hundred a month for rent.

During gift-giving months, even basic necessities became a struggle, leaving him surviving on instant noodles. Scrolling through social media, he couldn’t help but scoff at posts praising thoughtful boyfriends.

Though he’d stayed rational—avoiding predatory loans—the relentless financial strain was suffocating. Trapped in this lopsided relationship, Lucas felt the weight of modern society’s warped expectations. Why should men be expected to foot the bill unconditionally?

Sophia stared him down with icy superiority, waiting for him to cave and apologize.

"Maybe we should just end things here."

Lucas Young finally voiced the thoughts weighing on his heart.

"All this over a phone? You're being ridiculous," Sophia Taylor sneered, her lips curling in disdain.

"It's not about the phone. We just have completely different spending habits," Lucas explained helplessly, running a hand through his hair. "Every time I suggest a reasonably priced restaurant, you act like I've insulted you. My salary can't keep up with your lifestyle."

"Fine, let's break up then! I must've been blind to think you were worth my time."

"I'm paying for dinner tonight. And don't you dare come crawling back to me, you pathetic cheapskate."

Lucas fell silent, his chest tight with confusion.

Where had he gone wrong? Was being financially average really such a crime?

Watching Sophia storm off in a huff, her designer bag swinging angrily at her side, Lucas felt an unexpected wave of relief wash over him.

Just then—

*Ding!*

A crisp chime pierced the air.

"What was that?" Lucas startled, glancing around the empty street.

*"Sugar Baby System successfully activated! When a goddess with charm above 90 and fewer than 3 past relationships spends money on you, you'll receive 10,000 times the amount in cashback."*

Lucas blinked.

What in the world...?

A system suddenly awakened?

But the name of this system was odd. He had never been a freeloader before, and Sophia Taylor hadn't spent a single dime on him.

*"Ding! A suitable target for binding has been detected."*

**Target Data:**

**Name:** Sophia Taylor

**Age:** 25

**Height:** 163 cm

**Charm Level:** 90

**Occupation:** Accountant

**Relationship History:** 3

**Favorability Level:** -10

*"Proceed with target binding?"*

He had just broken up with Sophia Taylor—by all accounts, they should never cross paths again.

But Lucas Young, curious to test the system's functions, chose to bind her anyway.

*"Ding! 617 freeloader coins acquired. 6,170,000 RMB has been refunded to your account."*

The phone suddenly vibrated with a notification:

[Great Xia Bank: Your account has been credited with 6,170,000 yuan.]

Lucas Young stared at the screen, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

That Japanese meal had cost him 617 yuan—now the amount had multiplied ten thousand times over!

"Holy crap, this is insane?"

Lucas nearly toppled from his chair in shock. He quickly pressed the system for answers: "Can I spend this money however I want? Any conditions?"

"Funds are fully at your disposal with no restrictions."

"Interesting. You're not like other systems—most make users spend on girls."

"This system is named 'Soft,' so naturally, it follows the soft rice route."

Lucas mulled it over. Given Sophia Taylor's stingy personality, expecting her to spend a dime was like waiting for pigs to fly.

If he targeted a gullible sugar mommy instead, wouldn’t this system make him filthy rich?

"System Rule: No hinting or demanding money from the goddess. Returns are only granted if she spends voluntarily."

"Too many rules. So I can’t ask for cash directly," Lucas grumbled. "Just lay out all the conditions now—don’t get my hopes up for nothing."

The system’s cold voice continued: "No direct transfers to the goddess. Additionally, you can hear the inner thoughts of goddesses with charm stats above 90."

"If a goddess’s affection for you reaches the maximum of 100, she will remain utterly devoted and bring double the wealth. You’ll also gain 10 attribute points."

Then the system displayed Lucas Young's basic attributes panel:

Name: Lucas Young

Age: 26

Number of Goddesses: 1

Skills: None

All other base stats—intelligence, stamina, strength, agility, and immunity—were set at 10 points.

These numbers were on par with an average person, though they could be improved with attribute points.

Just as Lucas was mulling over this information, Sophia Taylor suddenly turned around at the checkout counter, crumpled her receipt into a ball, and hurled it at him.

Though Sophia didn’t say a word, Lucas heard her thoughts loud and clear:

*[What’s with this guy suddenly acting different? Whatever, breaking up is for the best. Aside from being decent-looking, he’s got nothing else going for him. A girl as pretty as me could easily find someone hotter.]*

Lucas had well-defined features and a lean, tall frame—one of the reasons he’d managed to land a stunner like Sophia in the first place.

"So, Soft Master," he mused, stroking his chin with a smirk, "you didn’t pick me as your host just because of this handsome face, did you?"

"Don’t flatter yourself. I just thought you’d be perfect for mooching off others."

"Speaking of which, Soft Master, isn’t your 10,000x cashback a bit stingy? Other systems dish out trillions like it’s nothing."

"What, not enough for you? Should I leave then?"

"Don't go, Soft Master!" Lucas Young immediately backed down, his tone pleading. "I was just joking, that's all."

Having a system by his side was already a stroke of luck—he couldn’t afford to piss off the Soft Master now.

He opened the food delivery app and ordered a thousand-dollar geoduck sashimi and an eight-hundred-dollar serving of premium bluefin tuna belly.

Now *this* was a far cry from the cheap salmon he used to settle for.

Dining alone for once, Lucas felt a rare sense of contentment.

No more agonizing over who got the first bite—finally, he could savor every morsel without compromise.

After the feast, he headed straight to the Apple Store on the top floor of the mall.

"Hello, I'd like an iPhone 15 Pro Max—1TB, please."

"What color would you prefer, sir?" the sales associate asked with a polite smile.

"Black."

"Would you like to trade in an old device?"

Lucas weighed the iPhone 7 Plus in his palm. This phone had seen him through his part-time jobs during college, sluggish and battered as it was now. Yet, sentimentality had kept him from replacing it.

"No, thanks."

Soon, a brand-new phone was displayed on the counter, priced at 13,999.

Without hesitation, Lucas Young completed the payment and immediately received a spending alert from Daxia Bank.

The thought of Sophia Taylor having just left while he upgraded to the latest 15 Pro Max right after made him chuckle inwardly.

If she ever found out, she’d probably be hopping mad.

Glancing at his account balance—still over six million—Lucas mused that if he was going to be a "kept man," he might as well dress the part.

It was eight in the evening, the height of summer, and the mall was bustling with people.

Riding the escalator up to the third floor, Lucas was greeted by a row of luxury boutiques—Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Armani—their dazzling logos gleaming like a siren’s call.