Chapter 1

Around 8:00 a.m. on May 15, 2024, Nicholas Jakeman's biological clock pulled him out of sleep. Still groggy, he stumbled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, half-squinting as he started his morning routine. Suddenly, he blurted out, "Huh?" As Nicholas stared at his own reflection in the mirror, he froze. It was as if he had just seen something utterly shocking and unbelievable. The man in the mirror had sharp, chiseled features and was ridiculously handsome—undeniably him, yet somehow way better-looking than usual. While he had always been decent-looking, his appearance seemed to be on another level that day. After all, Nicholas had spent years staying up late, battling oily skin and constant breakouts. Yet, his face was now flawlessly smooth and radiant. Nicholas's first thought was that his nearsightedness had taken a turn for the worse—how else could his reflection have this insane built-in beauty filter? He mumbled, "Did my eyesight get worse?" Shaking his head, he brushed his teeth while admiring his new level of attractiveness. He could not help but mutter in amazement, "Damn! I look good!" Then, Nicholas' gaze dropped, catching sight of his bare upper body. "One, two, three… holy shit! Eight-pack abs and a perfect V-line!" His eyes widened as he turned sideways for a better look. Clenching his fists, he knocked against his abs a few times. The sound was solid—like hitting a steel plate. Nicholas was impressed and thought, "Amazing! This is the perfect physique. Am I still dreaming? Man, if I am, this is one hell of a dream!" Nicholas grinned from ear to ear. The moment he spat out the mouthwash, an electronic, mechanical notification sound suddenly echoed in his mind. "Ding!" Before he could even react, another mechanical voice followed right after. "Due to the Host's unwavering determination and having wished for the same thing for five years straight, the Live Free System has been successfully activated and bound!" Nicholas clamped down hard on his toothbrush, his eyes widening as he thought, "What the hell? A system? Is this the type of system I've read about in all those online novels?" Nicholas hesitantly greeted it, "Uh… hey, Live Free System?" The system replied, "Hello, Host. You can communicate with the system directly through your thoughts." Nicholas swallowed hard, the faint taste of mouthwash lingering on his tongue—not that he cared about that right now. He asked, "What exactly do you do?" As someone who had been binge-reading web novels for years, he knew exactly what a system was. So, he wondered just how powerful this one was. Would he skyrocket instantly, or would he have to level up gradually? The system's voice rang out. "Spend freely and enjoy the perfect life! As long as the Host spends their own money, they will receive a randomly multiplied cashback reward!" Nicholas was surprised to hear that. The system sounded just like those rich-tycoon systems from the novels he had read. He asked, "Are there any limitations?" The system replied, "Absolutely no restrictions! The only requirement is that the money spent must be your own—then you'll receive a cashback bonus! "Oh, and occasionally, if you complete special reward tasks assigned by the system, you might unlock unexpected abilities or exclusive items!" Nicholas asked, "What about spending on other people? Like, I don't know... treating a gorgeous woman to something nice?" The system replied matter-of-factly, "Spending is spending. The system does not factor in the recipient's attractiveness." "Now that is insane!" Nicholas exclaimed, clearly impressed. Compared to the flashy, over-the-top billionaire systems he had read about in online novels, this Live Free System was top-tier. At least it did not force him to spend exclusively on high-ranking beauties to trigger rewards—unlike some ridiculous systems in certain web novels. He still remembered one he had read where the protagonist had to shower a manipulative queen bee with gifts just to get benefits. The way that guy flexed was beyond cringe. Just as Nicholas was about to ask if there was some kind of newbie welcome package, his phone vibrated on the nightstand. He immediately set down his toothbrush and cup before striding out of the bathroom. Picking up his phone, he glanced at the screen and found that the caller ID read "Baby". His thoughts drifted back to two and a half years ago. One lonely night, he had nothing better to do and downloaded a casual gaming app. It had online pool, backgammon, Snakes and Ladders, and a few other mini-games. That was where he met a girl named Charlotte Miller. They played pool and backgammon together often, and over time, they got closer. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, they had started an online relationship. Two and a half years had passed since then. At first, Nicholas had been a clueless newbie when it came to online dating, but now, with years of experience, he had officially become a veteran. Of course, he had done what most guys did online—talked big. He had always hyped himself up, claiming to be tall, handsome, and a loaded man. Every time Nicholas ended a voice call, he would feel embarrassed of himself, but hey—it was not illegal to show off online, was it? After all, it was not like he had ever planned to meet her in real life anyway. Online dating was fun, but it was far from realistic. Besides, he lived in Jazona, in the Southwest, while Charlotte lived in Stola. If she had been a little closer, maybe he would have considered it, but Stola? That was just way too far. Snapping out of his thoughts, Nicholas answered the call. A cheerful voice sounded from the other end, calling out, "Darling!" No forced sweetness, exaggerated tone, or fake flirtiness—just smooth, effortless charm. It sounded nice, really nice. "I'm here, baby," Nicholas responded casually. "It's February 9th already, you know. Just a few more days until the 20th of May! It's our anniversary!" Charlotte said, her voice filled with anticipation. "What about it?" Nicholas had not connected the dots yet. "What do you mean 'what about it'? Didn't I tell you before? This year, I want to spend the 20th of May with you! Hmph! You never pay attention to what I say!" Charlotte huffed in frustration. Nicholas quickly came up with an excuse and said, "I just woke up, my brain's still a little foggy." Now that she mentioned it, he did remember that last year, she had wanted to visit him on May 20th. However, he dodged that bullet by claiming he had to go back home for some urgent family matter. Back then, he had been nothing more than a broke guy talking big online—there was no way he would risk meeting in person. However, it seemed unavoidable this year. He wondered what excuse he should use this time. Then, almost immediately, he snapped back to reality, wanting to slap himself. He thought, "What the hell am I thinking? I literally have a system now! Why am I still acting like my old broke-ass self?" "So… should I book my flight?" Charlotte asked, her voice carrying a hint of hope. Nicholas took a deep breath and made his decision. He replied, "I'll book it for you." A couple hundred bucks for a plane ticket? He could afford that. Besides, it was the perfect chance to see if this system really worked.