Chapter 002: The Mighty Girl

“What the hell, a system? Damn! Don’t they know readers don’t like system novels anymore?”
He was startled, but quickly regained his composure. He didn’t want any system; he had no need for it.
Getting stronger? This was a normal world, and he had no habit of wearing underwear over his clothes.
Getting more handsome? But he was already so ordinary. Getting rich? He was a reborn soul, after all.
He did have regrets, but none that required a system to fix; he could handle them himself.
Both parents alive, a harmonious family, living happily together for a lifetime—these were far more important to him.
“Are you feeling unwell, Xu?”
Su Qingwan, who had planned to indulge herself in secret, saw Xu Lin suddenly lean back and immediately walked over, worried.
“Teacher, I’m fine… whew… just a little dizzy, maybe low blood sugar.”
“Then hurry and eat your ice cream.”
“Teacher, you won’t report me, will you?” Xu Lin joked.
“No, at least this time I’m your accomplice.” Su Qingwan unwrapped hers and took a small bite.
“Take your time, Teacher. I’m going to the infirmary.”
“Didn’t you just say you’re fine?”
“I’m checking if it’s heatstroke. No need to come along.”
With that, as if something urgent had come up, he quickly left the little grove.
Su Qingwan watched his retreating figure and muttered to herself, “Su Qingwan, you’re still too naive, letting a student coax you into eating ice cream.”
But this Xu Lin, after his confession was rejected, didn’t seem like the bookish, withdrawn boy he used to be.
It’s probably for the best, as long as it doesn’t affect his studies. I remember his grades were decent.
Xu Lin certainly wasn’t heading to the infirmary. Instead, he found a disused meeting room and began to examine this so-called Zodiac Love System.
The name was peculiar, but the interface was exceedingly simple. He tried calling out for the system, but there was no AI assistant.
The main interface only had two options: personal profile and store.
{Name: Xu Lin}
{Age: 17}
{Gender: Male}
{Date of Birth: December 21, 1996}
{Zodiac: Rat}
{Intelligence: 6 (average adult male 5)}
{Physique: 3 (average adult male 6)}
{Charm: 8 (average adult male 5)}
{System Items: None}
{Abilities: Writing lv2, Chinese Cooking lv1, Manga lv1, Singing lv1, Archery lv1, Xu’s Self-defense lv2}
{Points: 500}
My guitar skills don’t even count as lv1? This system is pretty strict, but at least my unremarkable looks have been acknowledged~
But damn, why is my physique only 3? I exercise… well, it’s true, I was pretty weak in high school. Let’s check out the store first.
Xu Lin closed his profile and opened the store. There were only seven items available.

{Intelligence +1: 20,000 points}
{Physique +1: 4,000 points}
{Charm +1: 200,000 points}
{Upgrade any lv1 ability to lv2: 5,000 points}
{Zodiac Seeker (single use): 50 points}
{Basic Combat lv1: 1,000 points}
{Short-term Physique Boost Card (1 hour): 100 points}
{Store abilities and items refresh weekly; basic attributes do not refresh. The store will change as points are earned.}
“These prices are outrageous. What’s this Seeker? And most importantly, how do I earn points?”
Xu Lin returned to the main screen in confusion, and suddenly, a ding sounded in his head.
A new option appeared: {Fate Affection}.
“Affection? With my charm at 8, do I still need affection points to attract girls?”
He tapped it casually. There was only one avatar inside. He looked closely and realized it was the teacher he’d just been chatting with, Ms. Su.
He tapped again, and a status panel appeared.
{Su Qingwan}
{Age: 23}
{Gender: Female}
{Zodiac: Horse}
{Intelligence: 7.4}
{Physique: 4}
{Charm: 8}
{Affection: 12 (8 more points until next reward)}
Ms. Su’s intelligence was high, and her physique was better than his—wait, maybe he was just too low.
Her charm was as expected, and the bottom showed an affection score of 12, with a reward at 20.
If it’s decimal-based, she’s already rewarded him once; the 500 points must have come from Ms. Su, thus activating the system.
If that’s the case, then this system is essentially a romance conquest system—gain affection, earn points, and buy items.
But what does this have to do with the twelve zodiacs? Still, he would never pursue girls just for points—that’d be irresponsible to both parties.
If you won’t marry, why bother? That’s just fooling around! No, that’s called universal love!
Before closing the system, he bought a Seeker to try it out.
After all, raising affection is one thing, but what’s the connection to zodiacs?
He was curious, just curious. He was a decent, upright youth!
After purchasing, a mark appeared in his palm, resembling a tattoo.
He pressed lightly, and the mark vanished, drawing a golden thread in the air, as if guiding him.
He quickly left the meeting room, following the golden thread from the left corridor to the far right, stopping in front of a small room.
This was likely the storeroom for books that couldn’t fit in the library. Normally, it would be locked.
Xu Lin, slightly puzzled, went forward and gently pushed the door—it creaked open, releasing a musty smell and dim light.

But as sunlight streamed in, a figure in oversized blue-and-white school uniform was startled, dropping all the books in her hands.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
Xu Lin hurried to squat down and pick up the books, but the other person quickly shook her head.
“No.”
He handed over a few books, and only then did he notice her appearance.
She was a girl with short, spiky hair like a little hedgehog, wearing black-framed glasses and dark skin.
Her features were fine, but she was alarmingly thin; as she took the books, he could see the outline of her finger bones.
Despite her slight build, she wasn’t short. Standing next to him, his height of 176 cm suddenly felt pressured—she had to be at least 170 cm.
“Which class are you from? Isn’t the class still in session?”
“Class 7. Teacher sent me to fetch some books.”
Her voice was very soft, but the room was quiet enough for him to hear.
“Let me help. We’re having PE; class is ending soon, so we’re allowed to move freely.”
“No… you… can’t carry them.”
“Huh?” Xu Lin was immediately unconvinced. Even with a physique of 3, carrying some books shouldn’t be a problem.
Then, the next moment, he saw her stack more than ten books onto a pile of worksheets, the height reaching her waist.
“Hey… are you taking all these at once?”
“Mm.”
“That’s way too much; I’ll find someone to help.”
“No need! Thank you, I’ll be going now.”
With that, she gave a strong pull, hugging dozens of pounds of books and papers to her chest, and walked out.
Seeing that she didn’t even seem strained, Xu Lin realized the system might actually be useful.
I need to boost my physique, or else I’ll be embarrassed in situations like this.
“Just lock the door for me, thanks,” she said after a few steps.
“Alright.” He took the little lock and secured the door. When he looked back, she had already gone downstairs.
He realized she was probably a senior, since Class 2-7 was on the third floor, and the senior classrooms were behind.
“Right, there should be more detailed information.”
He quickly opened the system interface, but no information appeared in the affection panel; he frowned.
He’d found the person, so why wasn’t she displayed? Even with low affection, there should be a record.
Wait, why does it only show Ms. Su? We’ve barely spoken.
“This stupid system, it doesn’t even have a tutorial!”
The next second, a line abruptly popped up on the screen: {System tutorial dispatched, please check yourself}
“Damn, you really are something, system. I get the feeling you’re a bit too clever for your own good~”