Qiu Yingying is reborn and bound to a learning system.

By the time the train arrived at the station, it was already getting dark.

Qiu Yingying walked out of the station with her backpack and immediately saw her parents standing under the streetlights. Her mother was wearing a floral shirt, her hair was neatly combed, and she was standing on tiptoe to look inside; her father was pushing a tricycle with two small stools tied to the back seat, just like when he used to give her rides when she was little.

"Yingying!" Her mother, with her sharp eyes, called out first and quickly came to greet her, reaching out to help her with her bag. "You must be exhausted. Come here, Dad will take you home on his bike."

Qiu Yingying's nose tingled, and she quickly shook her head: "Mom, I'm not tired. I sent everything by express delivery. It's just one bag."

Dad smiled and took her backpack, putting it in the bicycle basket: "Let's go, your mom started preparing this afternoon. She's got vegetables and beef, and your favorite braised pork, all ready for you. There's also cured pork rice."

The evening breeze carried the coolness of late summer, mingled with the fragrance of the roadside rice paddies, and felt pleasantly on her face. Qiu Yingying sat on the small stool in the back seat, watching the streetlights recede one by one. She, a girl from a small town, had grown up here. In her previous life, after marriage, she was always in a rush to get home, never truly appreciating the scenery along this road, nor truly listening to her parents' words.

When I got home, the food was already on the table. It's a small two-bedroom apartment in the county town; we also have a house and land in our hometown, where my parents go back to grow vegetables.

The house was spotless. On the coffee table in the living room sat washed pears, and her certificates of merit from childhood hung on the wall. On the dining table, a bowl of steaming egg custard, sprinkled with bright green scallions, steamed with fresh aroma; a plate of beef and vegetables, the beef glistening with a thin layer of oil, looked delicious; there was also a plate of braised pork, the tender meat soaked in sauce, its color a bright red; and there was also rice with preserved pork, her favorite home-cooked flavor.

Looking at all this familiar surroundings, Qiu Yingying's eyes welled up with tears again. This was her home, a place that would unconditionally accept her no matter what she became.

Dinner was a lively affair, with her mother constantly piling food onto her plate. She picked up a piece of beef with vegetables with her chopsticks, saying, "Try it, this beef I bought today is so fresh." Qiu Yingying picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. The fresh taste of the beef spread on her tongue, a comforting, homely flavor from her memories.

Dad served her a bowl of egg drop soup. The braised pork belly soaked up the broth, and one bite warmed her from her throat to her stomach.

Her mother asked her about university and her plans after graduation. Qiu Yingying avoided the main point, only saying that she wanted to stay at home for a few days before returning to Shanghai to look for a job. Her father nodded, picked up a piece of green bean with his chopsticks and put it in her bowl: "No rush, take your time. We're not short of food."

After dinner, her mother led her into the bedroom, smiling as she lifted a large cardboard box under the bed: "Look, Mom prepared all this for you." Inside the box, vacuum-packed cured pork glistened with oil, cured in the twelfth lunar month; strings of sausages, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, were tightly wrapped in casings; and there was also a large bag of braised beef, its dark brown meat clearly defined, exuding a rich, savory aroma. "These are all your favorites. Take them to Shanghai, and when you cook, cut some up yourself. It's cleaner and more economical than takeout," her mother said, carefully dividing the meat into small bags and stuffing them into her luggage.

Looking at the neatly arranged food in the box, Qiu Yingying felt a lump in her throat. In her past life, she had suffered so much in Shanghai, yet she had never been willing to buy herself such nice things. She hugged her mother, her voice choked with emotion, "Mom, thank you."

Her mother patted her back and said with a smile, "Silly child, why are you being so polite with your mother?"

At night, Qiu Yingying lay on the soft bed, smelling the sunshine on the quilt and the aroma of cured meat and sausages wafting from the wardrobe, feeling extremely at ease.

She waited until her parents were sound asleep before quietly getting up, going into the bathroom, and locking the door.

The bathroom light was a warm yellow. Qiu Yingying looked at herself in the mirror. Her skin wasn't dark, but years of staying up late and neglecting her appearance made it appear somewhat dull; her eyes were large, but lacked sparkle; her hair was messy, plastered to her cheeks, making her face look round; at 158cm tall, standing in front of the mirror, she felt she lacked a certain graceful charm. The system gave her a 5 out of 10 for looks—truly unremarkable.

She took a deep breath, focused her attention, and opened the system repository.

The purple "Beauty Pill" lay quietly in the compartment, with a line of small print below it: "Take with warm water. Take a bath after taking the medicine for better results."

Qiu Yingying poured a glass of warm water and took out the beauty pill. The pill was light purple, small, and emitted a faint fragrance. She put the pill in her mouth, swallowed it with warm water, and a sweet taste slid down her throat, instantly turning into a warm current that flowed through her entire body.

Without thinking twice, she quickly took off her clothes, went into the bathroom, and turned on the shower.

The warm water felt wonderfully comforting. Qiu Yingying closed her eyes, feeling the changes within her body. The warm current grew stronger, as if countless tiny molecules were dancing beneath her skin. Her originally dull skin gradually became fair and translucent, with a luminous glow. Her previously rough pores shrank little by little, becoming smooth and delicate, feeling like the finest silk to the touch. Even the faint fine lines at the corners of her eyes, left by staying up late, were slowly fading and disappearing completely.

To her even greater surprise, her bones felt as if they were being pulled by a warm force, sending a tingling, slightly numb sensation through them. She instinctively straightened her back and felt as if she had grown taller.

She opened her eyes and looked in the mirror.

The girl in the mirror had grown a full five centimeters taller, settling at 163cm. Her shoulders and neck were now slender and graceful, and her once slightly rounded figure was now perfectly proportioned. Her skin was as white as a freshly peeled lychee, with a healthy rosy glow; her eyes were bright and expressive, like pools of clear spring water, with slightly upturned corners adding a touch of liveliness; her long, wavy hair, wet from the water, clung to her cheeks, outlining her delicate chin, and her once round face had subtly transformed into a pleasing oval shape. Her features were still the same, but they seemed to have been meticulously refined, much more delicate. When she smiled, dimples appeared and disappeared at the corners of her mouth, making her look comfortable and pleasing to the eye. Her original 5 out of 10 beauty rating had steadily increased to a 7 out of 10 [a refined and beautiful woman], giving her a clean and pleasant appearance at first glance.

Qiu Yingying stared at herself in the mirror, stunned.

Is this really her?

She raised her hand and touched her face. The touch was delicate and smooth, a stark contrast to the rough hands she had in her previous life, worn down by cooking fumes and dish soap. She then stood on tiptoe, savoring the change in her field of vision brought about by being 163cm tall, and a surge of ecstasy welled up inside her.

Just then, the system's electronic voice sounded: "The Beauty Pill has taken effect. The host's appearance has increased to 7 points [Refined Beauty], height has increased by 5cm, current height is 163cm, physique has slightly improved, and the effect will be better with continued training. The cognitive ambiguity mechanism has been automatically triggered. Unless the host actively exposes it, others will only think the changes are reasonable and natural."

Qiu Yingying breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that the system had already taken this into account, so she didn't have to worry about being questioned by her parents anymore.

She turned off the shower, dried herself, and changed into the nightgown her mother had bought for her. The delicate lace neckline of the dress made her neck appear even longer, and the hemline was just right at her knees, revealing her slender, fair legs. Her seaweed-like curly hair was casually draped over her shoulders, making her look fresh and radiant. Standing there, she was like a quietly blooming jasmine, clean and pure, making people feel an instant sense of goodwill.

Back in her bedroom, Qiu Yingying lay back on the bed, but couldn't fall asleep. A thought struck her, and the pale blue system panel reappeared before her eyes. Her gaze swept over the daily check-in reward section, where the words "No Check-in Today" in the lower right corner stood out prominently.

With a light tap of her fingertip, a striking checkmark appeared on the panel.

"Beep—Host has completed their first check-in for the day!" The system's electronic voice carried a hint of barely perceptible cheerfulness. "Congratulations, host, you have received a cash reward of 500 yuan, which has been automatically transferred to your bank card!"

Qiu Yingying immediately took out her phone to check, and sure enough, her balance had increased by 500 yuan. A smile involuntarily crept onto her face. Before she could even finish celebrating, the system notification sounded again:

"Beep—First-time check-in bonus! A set of pots, pans, and dishes for shared living is included as a gift, already added to the system inventory!"

"Ding—Newbie benefits upgraded! A rental agreement for apartment 2202 in Ode to Joy has been provided. Six months' rent has been paid for the host, at a monthly rate of 2750 yuan. The rental period begins from the date the host moves in!"

Qiu Yingying sat up abruptly, her heart pounding. She quickly opened the system inventory and saw two new items neatly arranged in the compartment—a set of pots and pans with a simple pattern, complete with a wok, soup pot, rice bowl, and dish plate, labeled "Lightweight and durable, suitable for a small shared kitchen"; and an electronic rental agreement with clear terms, the rent payment record showing "Six months' rent of 16500 yuan has been settled," and the signing address was none other than Joyful Ode 2202, which she had been longing for.

In her past life, she struggled to find a place to rent in Shanghai, sharing an apartment and having to put up with the landlord's bad temper. Most of her monthly salary went to rent. Now, the system was giving her six months' rent and kitchenware—a real lifesaver. Qiu Yingying clenched her fists, feeling even more confident.

That night, Qiu Yingying lay in bed, tossing and turning, her mind filled with dreams of the future. On a whim, she clicked on the learning section and chose to enter the virtual learning room.

The cicadas outside the window gradually fell silent, the night grew darker, and the clock in the bedroom ticked away. In just one hour, Qiu Yingying in the virtual learning room had been immersed in learning for a full four hours.

She first opened the Business English beginner course, and repeatedly corrected her mouth shape with the foreign teacher's pronunciation. From the format of business emails to daily workplace conversations, her dense notes were listed on the virtual screen. Then she switched to workplace communication and negotiation skills, watched two case studies simulating workplace conflicts, and memorized the technique of "listen first, empathize, and finally propose solutions".

Finally, she opened the course on personal finance and small-scale investing, understanding the basic concepts of "compound interest" and "fund fixed investment," and even tried making a small investment in a virtual trading platform. She also took a basic cooking course, learning how to handle various ingredients. Surprisingly, upon completing the systematic course, she received a relevant certificate, which is recognized in real life.

Four hours later, Qiu Yingying finally exited the virtual learning room, her face showing a hint of fatigue, but her eyes shining with an astonishing light. Reality was still dark, yet she had reaped a wealth of knowledge in the learning room; this sense of fulfillment was unprecedented.

The next morning, Qiu Yingying was woken up by her mother's voice.

She rubbed her eyes and stepped out of the room, immediately catching the aroma wafting from the kitchen—the crispy fragrance of straw sandal-shaped sesame cakes, the rich aroma of soy milk, and the savory meaty scent of steamed sausages. Her mother stood in the living room, holding freshly fried chive pancakes. Upon seeing her, she paused, then a contented smile spread across her face.

"Yingying's awake?" Her mother walked over quickly, took her hand, and gently stroked her cheek with her fingertips. Her tone was full of joy. "Look at you, my child. You slept at home for one night, and your skin has improved so much. It's so fair and tender, and you look so energetic."

She subconsciously compared her height to Qiu Yingying's and muttered, "She seems to have grown a bit taller? Probably because she sits so much at school, and stretching out at home makes her grow taller."

Dad came out of the kitchen carrying a large bowl of soy milk. Seeing Qiu Yingying, he smiled and nodded, "Hmm, you look good, much better than before the holiday. Come and have breakfast. The straw sandal-shaped sesame cakes are fresh out of the oven, very crispy, and the sausages are steamed too, they smell delicious."

Qiu Yingying chuckled inwardly, but feigned ignorance on her face: "Really? I didn't feel anything. Maybe it's because I slept so well at home, and the environment is good for my health."

Her mother pulled her to the dining table, broke open a chive pancake, and the golden outer skin crumbled in the air, revealing a fragrant aroma of chives and egg filling: "It must be. You study in Shanghai and eat takeout every day. Nothing beats the nourishment of home-cooked meals. Eat more, and you'll definitely become even more beautiful."

The father chimed in, "Yes, take it slow. For a girl, a healthy complexion is what truly matters."

They only noticed that Qiu Yingying's skin had improved and her complexion was better. Occasionally, they thought she seemed to have grown a little taller, but they attributed it all to "being well-fed at home." They were completely unaware of the dramatic changes that had taken place in her. The effect of the cognitive ambiguity mechanism was even better than Qiu Yingying had imagined.

Seeing her parents so happy, Qiu Yingying felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

In her past life, she became a haggard housewife early due to marriage and childbirth. Her parents saw it and felt sorry for her, but dared not say anything for fear of hurting her feelings. In this life, she not only wants to live beautifully herself, but also wants to make her parents proud.

For the next few days, Qiu Yingying accompanied her parents to the market and fields every day. She helped her mother pick dew-kissed vegetables and dig up crisp radishes; she went fishing with her father by the river, watching the sunset paint the water golden red. Each evening, the dinner table offered a different home-cooked meal—steamed ribbonfish, tender and boneless; braised eggplant, soft and flavorful; stir-fried clams with chives, incredibly delicious; and her mother's homemade millet porridge, served with sliced ​​braised beef—a bowl of which brought her complete comfort.

In the evenings, Qiu Yingying would religiously retreat to the virtual learning room, studying for four or five hours straight. Her business English vocabulary visibly increased, she mastered workplace communication case studies, and her financial knowledge went from complete ignorance to organized understanding. Her cooking skills also improved from basic to expert.

With the initial investment of 3000 yuan, plus the 4800 yuan in rewards from checking in these past few days, and the 5000 yuan from my mother, my savings have reached 12800 yuan.

The tasks have also started, all of them learning tasks. The first task is to reach the basic level in two skills, which she hasn't completed yet. Upon completion, she will receive 20000 yuan in cash, which is enough for her living expenses in Shanghai for a while. She also received ten sets of clothes for checking in, with styles suitable for work, commuting, leisure, and light socializing. She also received some other items related to clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day she left, her mother's suitcase was filled with the taste of her hometown—vacuum-packed sesame seed cakes, as well as neatly packaged cured pork, sausages, and braised beef. Her father packed a full bag of washed apples and snacks for her to eat on the way, and repeatedly told her: "Take good care of yourself in Shanghai. If you need money, just tell us. Don't make yourself suffer."

Qiu Yingying nodded vigorously, and looking at the gray hair at her father's temples, her nose tingled with emotion: "Dad, I know, you two should take good care of yourselves too."

As the train slowly pulled out of the station, Qiu Yingying leaned against the window, watching her hometown gradually recede into the distance, her heart filled with strength.

Her next stop is Shanghai.

It's Ode to Joy.

This is her true battlefield after her rebirth.

She looked down at the jade clasp on her chest, which shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

A confident smile appeared on Qiu Yingying's lips.