Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

Five days passed quickly.

After five days of intensive preparation, the shop located at the main entrance of the Normal University has been completely renovated.

The minimalist industrial-style interior, paired with warm-toned wooden tables and chairs and warm lighting, creates a look that is both stylish and comfortable.

In the kitchen, all the equipment has been tested and adjusted.

Menus, price tags, and staff aprons were all provided.

Tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM is the official opening day.

The news had already been spread through various student groups and social media, and everyone was eager to get started, feeling both nervous and excited.

……

Around nine o'clock in the evening, Yang Fan's house was full of people.

"Everything's ordered!" Yang Jianguo, who had just rushed back from the vegetable stall, looked tired from his trip, but was full of energy.

"Tomorrow, Jianmin, Haozi, and I will close up shop at nine o'clock!"

"I'll be at the store at 10 o'clock sharp to support you!"

Wang Xiuying, holding a small notebook and wearing reading glasses, checked the items on the list over and over again, muttering to herself: "Two hundred sets of disposable tableware, twenty custom-made aprons, one hundred takeout boxes... Hmm, tomorrow is the first day, that should be enough, right?"

Lin's mother also sat to the side, holding a notebook filled with her notes of the operating procedures:

"The broth must be simmered for two hours in advance, and the beans must be soaked for eight hours... The proportions of the dipping sauce ingredients must be correct..."

Third Aunt Li Cuihua patted her chest, her face beaming with pride at having learned a new skill:

"Xiao Jin taught me that POS system three times step by step, and now I can operate it with my eyes closed! I guarantee I won't make a single mistake!"

Lin Xiaoyu sat down beside her and added softly, her voice low but the content important:

"Um... I've already registered on Meituan and Ele.me food delivery platforms, and my information has been approved. I can start taking orders tomorrow."

"I've got mine sorted out too!" Zhou Yao said, crossing her legs and proudly raising her chin.

"Our school's esports club, with over thirty members, has already booked the first wave tomorrow at noon! We agreed to come and support the aunties!"

"Based on my passenger flow prediction model analysis," Zhou Jin, who had been silent all along, pushed up his glasses:

"Based on the reservations made by Yao Yao's club and the online buzz generated, we expect to receive 80 to 100 people during the peak period tomorrow at noon."

"Aunties, make sure you prepare plenty of ingredients, especially meat."

The entire living room was filled with a positive, optimistic, and hopeful atmosphere.

Everyone is contributing their efforts to the upcoming "first battle," and everyone's face is filled with anticipation for the future.

Apart from Yang Fan.

He sat in the corner of the sofa, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold. On the surface, he seemed to be listening attentively to everyone's discussion, but his eyes were unfocused, occasionally drifting into the void in front of him.

There, a transparent countdown made up of pale blue numbers, visible only to him, was relentlessly ticking.

[Countdown to the start of the Wheel of Fortune: 00:18:32]

【00:18:31】

【00:18:30】

His fingers tapped unconsciously on his knees, the rhythm synchronized with the countdown numbers and with his increasingly rapid heartbeat.

"elder brother?"

A gentle voice sounded in his ear, pulling him back from the unsettling numbers.

Yang Fan was startled and turned around, meeting Lin Xiaoyu's clear eyes filled with concern.

"Brother, what's wrong? Have you been too tired these past few days?" The girl's voice carried a hint of worry.

"Ah...it's nothing." Yang Fan forced a slightly stiff smile to cover up his embarrassment.

"I'm just... thinking about the opening tomorrow."

……

Time passed by, second by second.

The discussion in the living room continued, ranging from the opening promotions to future menu updates.

The transparent countdown in front of Yang Fan finally entered its final ten minutes.

【00:10:00】

When the numbers jumped to this point, Yang Fan could no longer maintain his composure.

An indescribable sense of anxiety rose from the bottom of his heart, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

He suddenly stood up from the sofa.

This abrupt action instantly interrupted everyone's discussion, and all eyes turned to him.

"Xiao Fan, what's wrong?" her father, Yang Jianguo, asked in confusion.

"N-nothing...it's nothing." Yang Fan tried to keep his voice steady, but his slightly hurried speech betrayed his unease.

"You guys keep talking, I... I'm going upstairs to get something."

"Brother, what do you need? I'll get it for you," Xiaoya said immediately.

"No need!" Yang Fan refused almost immediately. He waved his hand, not daring to look at anyone else. "I can do it myself."

After saying that, he turned around and strode towards the stairs.

A brief silence fell over the living room.

Lin Xiaoyu watched his figure disappear around the corner of the stairs, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, a hint of barely perceptible doubt flashing in her eyes.

"Fan-ge is acting a little strange today," Zhou Yao muttered, stroking her chin.

"Let him go," Yang Jianguo said, finding a reason for his son.

"Xiao Fan has been running around these past few days, from finding a shop to signing the contract, he hasn't had a break, he must be exhausted. It's good to let him go upstairs and rest for a while."

……

Yang Fan's room on the third floor.

With a "click," the door was gently closed, instantly shutting out the lively and warm atmosphere downstairs.

Yang Fan pressed his back tightly against the door, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath, trying to calm his pounding heart.

【00:08:14】

The pale blue numbers danced relentlessly before my eyes.

He walked quickly to the window, pushed it open, and the cold night wind rushed in, clearing his confused mind a little.

He stared intently at the countdown, a complex mix of fear, anticipation, tension, and trepidation almost engulfing him.

Last time...

The last time I experienced a countdown like this was a year ago.

That time, after the countdown ended, he received the [Simp System].

For the sake of that final reward of 100 million yuan, he played a role that even he found disgusting for a whole year.

That feeling of oppression, frustration, and insincerity, like a leech, still sends chills down his spine to this day.

"This time...this time, it has to be different!" He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Absolutely! It absolutely cannot be that kind of monstrosity again!

He longs for a real cheat code!

A system for becoming a super-rich person!

Ideally, it would be a system that gives you money directly, with no limit, so you can spend it however you want, without any strings attached!

Or, a god-level skill system would be great too!

Whether it's culinary skills, medical expertise, or martial arts, any one of these skills could give his life a complete boost!

The more he thought about it, the more nervous he became, and his palms were already covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

【00:05:00】

Yang Fan walked to the bedside and sat down, his hands unconsciously clenching tightly together, his knuckles turning white from the force.

【00:03:00】

He slowly closed his eyes, and for the first time in his life, he silently prayed in his heart with such devotion.

"Please... all you great gods and immortals, this time you absolutely must give me a normal system..."

"Please, please, no more simps, backup lovers, cuckolds, clowns, or any of those other awful things..."

"A super-rich system is fine with me! I'm not picky! Really!"

【00:01:00】

Last minute!

Yang Fan suddenly opened his eyes, staring intently at the rapidly changing numbers in front of him, his heart almost leaping out of his throat.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly at that moment.

Every second felt like an eternity.

【00:00:10】

【00:00:09】

……

【00:00:03】

【00:00:02】

【00:00:01】

coming!

at last!