Chapter 1

*Chī!*

As soon as the bus door opened, Luo Yuan squeezed off the bus with the crowd. His snow-white shirt was already drenched in sweat, and it was covered with various abstract claw marks and stains. The daily bus ride was like a nightmare for Luo Yuan, and he had to endure it day after day, repeatedly testing his patience and nerves!

"It's getting hotter and hotter." Luo Yuan tugged at his soaked shirt. The difficult client he encountered today made him even more irritable. Clutching his briefcase, he quickened his pace toward the nearby Jingyue Neighborhood.

Jingyue Neighborhood was near the outskirts of Donghu City, at least a dozen bus stops away from the city center, but the rent was not cheap at all. He was currently sharing a two-bedroom apartment with a couple. The apartment was simply furnished, with a complete set of kitchen and bathroom appliances. The monthly rent was 3,000 yuan, and he only needed to pay 1,200 yuan, which was quite affordable for a first-tier city in China. Although there were occasional inconveniences, his roommates were nice, and they got along well.

A pleasant scent of fresh grass wafted from a distance. A few workers were pushing lawn mowers to clear the grass in the neighborhood.

"What's going on? Didn't they just clear the grass a few days ago?" Luo Yuan was a bit puzzled. He looked at the uncut grass and realized it had grown quite fast, almost reaching half a foot. He also noticed that the nearby trees seemed taller, with lush branches and dense foliage, making them impenetrable.

Come to think of it, this year was truly unusual. It was almost December, yet the weather was still like summer. In previous years, the maple trees in the neighborhood would have been bare by now, but this year they were growing more lushly. The news was full of various explanations: ocean currents reversing, sunspot activity, and even a supernova explosion in a nearby star system. The reasons were varied and bizarre. A quick search online would yield a plethora of explanations, each with its own logic, making one's head spin and feel dizzy. In the end, one would be convinced!

"These things should be left to the experts. Why should ordinary people worry about them?"

A few minutes later, Luo Yuan opened the security door. The smell of food was already wafting from the kitchen. He changed into his slippers, and Zhao Yali came out of the kitchen. Seeing it wasn't her boyfriend, she was momentarily stunned but then smiled warmly. "Ah, it's Xiaoyuan. I made a bit more food today. Come and join us!"

She walked back into the kitchen, clearly still busy.

Zhao Yali wasn't much older, only 27, just four years older than him. She had fair, smooth skin, a slender figure, a delicate oval face, and willow-like eyebrows. Her smile was slightly alluring, making her a typical southern Chinese beauty.

"Sure, this way I can save a meal's worth of money." Luo Yuan smiled, not refusing, as being too polite would seem pretentious.

"By the way, where's Brother Qiang? Why hasn't he come back yet? He usually gets off work pretty early! I was hoping to play a game while waiting for dinner!" Luo Yuan looked at the shoes and noticed another pair of slippers was still there, so he asked.

Zhao Yali's boyfriend, Chen Weiqiang, worked at the Forestry Bureau. His job was relatively relaxed, with a nine-to-five schedule, and he rarely went out for social activities. Usually, Luo Yuan would see him when he got home from work, but today was unusual!

"All you think about is games!" Zhao Yali, wearing an apron, said with a pout. "Yesterday, you guys played until one in the morning while I was sleeping. You didn't even try to stop him."

"I'll try to talk to him next time." Luo Yuan changed into his slippers and walked into the living room, smiling. "But he's more addicted to games than I am, so I can't guarantee anything."

"As long as you don't play, he can't force you!" Zhao Yali said, dissatisfied.

Zhao Yali knew she couldn't blame Luo Yuan. She was well aware of her boyfriend's habits. He was a homebody, with no social life. As soon as he got off work, he rushed home and spent all his time playing games. He wouldn't go to bed until after midnight, and he wouldn't listen to any advice, often getting angry if she said too much.

"Alright, I'll go to bed before eleven from now on." Luo Yuan felt he had been staying up too late recently, often feeling drowsy during the day.

Luo Yuan walked into his bedroom, grabbed his change of clothes, and went to the bathroom to shower. Afterward, he played a round of Dota. When he looked outside, it was already dark. He started the next round, but before he could begin, Zhao Yali came in.

"Xiaoyuan, we're eating. We're not waiting for him anymore?" she said calmly, with a hint of worry on her face.

"Sister Yali, haven't you called him?" Luo Yuan asked.

"I did, but no one answered!" Zhao Yali brushed her hair and thought for a moment. "He mentioned this morning that he had to accompany his boss to Gaotang Town to inspect the forestry situation there. He might be busy, so let's eat first!"

Luo Yuan didn't ask any more questions.

The two of them sat down at the table. Zhao Yali was a good cook, and the five dishes and one soup were all delicious. "This braised duck is my favorite. I loved it in college and still miss it. Let me try it first!"

Luo Yuan took a piece and put it in his mouth.

"How is it? Did I put too much salt?" Zhao Yali asked, a bit nervous.

"Sister Yali, with your cooking skills, you could be a head chef. It's a waste to cook only for Brother Qiang." Luo Yuan praised her.

Zhao Yali giggled and said, "Stop flattering me. It's just a few home-cooked dishes. If you like it, eat more."

After some playful banter, the previous gloomy atmosphere was dispelled. They ate and chatted, and the atmosphere became more relaxed. But as dinner came to an end, Zhao Yali's face showed worry again.

She took out her phone and made another call, her expression turning grim.

"What's wrong?" Luo Yuan asked.

"The phone is off!" Zhao Yali said in a low voice.

"It might be out of battery. Besides, Brother Qiang is inspecting the area, so he might have to socialize. With his drinking capacity, he's probably already passed out." Luo Yuan smiled, trying to comfort her.

"That's true. He's always been a lightweight. A bottle of beer can knock him out!" Zhao Yali's tone lightened at the thought.

At that moment, Luo Yuan heard a beep, and a mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

Luo Yuan's face changed slightly. He silently invoked the system, and almost simultaneously, a green frame appeared in the air:

Character: Luo Yuan

Occupation: Foreign Trade Salesperson at Qimei Trading Co., Ltd.

Level: 3

Experience: 900/1200

Attributes:

Strength: 10 (10)

Agility: 11 (10)

Constitution: 11 (10)

Intelligence: 13 (10)

Perception: 10 (10)

Willpower: 11 (10)

Skills: Science 16, Math 14, Chinese 19, English 16, Finance 17, Computer 9, Dance 1, Painting 3, Gaming 6, Negotiation 9, Socializing 7, Cooking 3, Driving 1, Unarmed Combat 4

Special Skills: Appraisal

Unassigned Attribute Points: 0

Unassigned Skill Points: 4

Incomplete Task: F-Class Task, become the Deputy Manager of the Foreign Trade Department at Qimei Trading Co., Ltd. within a year (Cancelled)

Available Task: F+ Class Task, investigate the reason for Chen Weiqiang's disappearance, time limit: 5 days (Accept/Cancel)

He was stunned. Chen Weiqiang had disappeared? How could this happen?

Luo Yuan usually got along well with Chen Weiqiang. Hearing about his disappearance made Luo Yuan feel a bit depressed.

He looked at Zhao Yali, who was smiling faintly, and felt even more uneasy.

"I have to save him!" Luo Yuan thought to himself.

He stared at the task on the attribute panel. An F+ class short-term task, this was the first time he had encountered one. The short-term tasks he usually did were only F- class, like rescuing a drowning child or participating in a school sports meet. They were relatively easy to complete. Tasks like getting a scholarship or passing the CET-6 were F class, and they required a lot of effort to complete.

An F+ class task, by itself, proved its difficulty and danger!

However, what was strange was why the task to become the Deputy Manager of the Foreign Trade Department at Qimei Trading Co., Ltd. within a year had been canceled?

Could it be that the company was in trouble and about to go bankrupt? Qimei Trading had a trade volume of several billion yuan annually, which was neither too large nor too small, and its performance had always been good. It wouldn't go bankrupt so quickly, would it?

...

This system had appeared when he was in his second year of college. At that time, Luo Yuan's parents had died in a car accident not long ago, and his girlfriend of over a year had broken up with him. He was in a deep depression, staying out late and staying up all night on the internet. One morning, as he staggered back, an object fell from the sky and hit him, causing a bloody head wound.

After he was discharged from the hospital, he suddenly became ambitious, shocking everyone who knew him. He won a third-class scholarship in the second half of the semester and then went on to pass the CET-4, CET-6, and obtain various professional certificates, eventually upgrading to a bachelor's degree.

His life trajectory had been completely altered by the system. However, each level-up was very difficult, and the tasks were rare. Each level-up only rewarded one attribute point. If not for this, he would have become a superhuman long ago. The system's point allocation rules were different from those in regular games. Each point added increased the current attribute by 50%! He had allocated two points to Intelligence and one to Agility. With a bit of training, his 100-meter speed could almost rival a world champion.

...

"What are you thinking about? Is talking to me so boring?" Zhao Yali tapped the table, dissatisfied.

Luo Yuan snapped back to reality, realizing he had been lost in thought for a while. He quickly covered up, "I wouldn't dare. I had a difficult client today, and it left me exhausted. I'm a bit dazed."

Zhao Yali said with concern, "Don't always think about work. You should find a girlfriend. Do you have anyone in mind? Do you want me to introduce you to someone?"

"Take it slow, let it happen naturally." Luo Yuan thought about his worries and responded casually.

They chatted for a few more minutes. Zhao Yali stood up, "Are you done eating? I'll clean up the table!"

"Let me do it. You can't do all the cooking and cleaning!"

"I'm worried you'll break the dishes. Go back to your room and play games." Zhao Yali smiled and quickly started clearing the table.

Luo Yuan made a few polite remarks and then returned to his bedroom. He lay on the bed, thinking about the task the system had issued. It was Friday tomorrow. If he took a day off, he would have three days to complete the F+ task. Since he had predicted that Qimei Trading would go bankrupt within six months, he wasn't as invested in his job anymore.

...

The next morning, after his usual morning exercise, Luo Yuan walked into the room and saw Zhao Yali coming out of the bathroom, looking worried. She forced a smile and greeted him.

Luo Yuan understood that Zhao Yali was worried about her boyfriend's absence, but he couldn't offer much comfort.

He checked the time, called in sick to his company's regional manager, and then left.

The Forestry Bureau was not far from Luo Yuan's Jingyue Neighborhood, just a few bus stops away. He didn't plan to take a bus and decided to jog there. Since getting the system, Luo Yuan had become more interested in physical exercise because his attributes could be quantified. Over the years, although his Constitution and Willpower had only increased slightly, he had developed the habit of morning exercise.

About ten minutes later, Luo Yuan arrived at the Forestry Bureau. He registered at the gate and explained his purpose, then walked into the bureau.

It was the start of the workday, and the entrance was filled with Forestry Bureau employees. Luo Yuan stopped a young clerk with acne.

"Chen Weiqiang, I've heard of him, but he's not in my department. I can't remember clearly. Why don't you ask someone else?" The young clerk looked at him with a natural air of superiority and said indifferently.

Luo Yuan smiled and thanked him, then asked a few more people, but they either didn't know him or didn't know where he was.

At that moment, a middle-aged man passing by interjected, "You're looking for Chen Weiqiang? What do you need him for?"

He held a briefcase, had a beer belly, and looked serious. Luo Yuan knew he was likely a superior and smiled, "You're my sister's boss, right? My sister saw he didn't come home last night, and his phone is off, so she asked me to come and check."

The identity of a roommate seemed too distant, and he had no connection to Chen Weiqiang, so he used the term "sister's husband."

"Oh! He and Director Liu went to the Gaotang Town Forestry Station. They should be back today. You can go home for now." The man with the beer belly didn't suspect anything and walked away with an official air.

If the F+ task were this easy, he wouldn't have to go through so much trouble! He thought to himself, sighing.

Luo Yuan saw that he couldn't get any more information and left the Forestry Bureau.

He didn't want to waste time and hailed a taxi to go directly to the Gaotang Town Forestry Station.

The driver was talkative and chattered non-stop from the moment Luo Yuan got in. Luo Yuan responded half-heartedly at first but eventually stopped talking. The driver, noticing the lack of response, also stopped talking, and the car became quiet.

Donghu City had severe traffic congestion, especially during the morning rush hour. The traffic only smoothed out after they passed the suburbs.

The trees on both sides of the road were tall and lush, forming a green canopy that invigorated the spirit. However, the frequent sight of animal carcasses along the way made it less enjoyable.

The most common animal carcasses were snakes and rats, with the occasional weasel or dog.

"Are there a lot of snakes around here? Why are there so many?" Luo Yuan asked, frowning. He had always been afraid of snakes and would get goosebumps just from seeing one from a distance.

"Only recently. It's actually less here. The further you go into the countryside, the more you'll see. Some people in our village can earn five or six hundred yuan a day by catching snakes and frogs. A few days ago, someone even caught a wild boar, weighing four or five hundred pounds. I don't know where it came from! The mountains are almost like a primeval forest now." The driver, who had been holding back, started talking non-stop.

Donghu City was on a plain, with most of the hills being less than 200 meters high, more like hills than mountains. Due to human development, it was rare to see even rabbits or pheasants, let alone large animals like wild boars.

Luo Yuan, living in the city, hadn't noticed the changes until the driver mentioned them. "If what you say is true, the countryside must be quite dangerous."

"What's dangerous about it? You can occasionally get some wild game. However, the mountains are a bit dangerous. A few people have gone missing, and their bodies haven't been found. Many people are afraid to go up the mountains now. The government is planning to cut down the trees on the mountains." The driver said nonchalantly, "They used to talk about reforestation, but now they're cutting down trees."

"Missing, again missing!" He suddenly thought of the F+ task. "Could Chen Weiqiang have gone missing in the mountains?"

Luo Yuan lost interest in chatting. He had underestimated the task. An F+ task wasn't that easy to complete. If he had to go into the mountains, he would be in great danger with his current unprepared state.

But there was no point in overthinking it now. He could only take it one step at a time and go to the Forestry Station to ask first.

About ten minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of a two-story building.

"Here we are, the Forestry Station. That's 78 yuan. Do you need me to wait?" the driver asked.

"No need!"

After paying and getting his change, Luo Yuan got out of the car and walked toward the entrance.

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