The System's interface faded from Shen Yuo's vision as he stood in the quiet corridor of the hospital. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and rain—like something trying desperately to stay clean in a world that never was. But before this sterile present, before the Fan Economy, MILF quests, or seductive nurses... there was only one reason Shen ever wanted to get rich.
And her name was Yuo Xin.
---
Flashback – One Year Ago
"Yuo-ge, do you think I'll ever fly again?"
The girl's voice was soft, threaded with the stubborn cheer only a younger sister could muster while hooked up to oxygen and IV drips. Shen Yuo, at 18 then, held her tiny hand as she lay in a private ward they couldn't afford.
Yuo Xin had been a sprightly gymnast, national level by the time she was thirteen. But after a freak collapse during an event—spasms, vomiting blood, and unconsciousness—it had taken six months to diagnose her with a rare autoimmune disease. Her body's immune system had begun attacking her bone marrow, and the treatment costs had gouged a canyon in their already fragile finances.
Their parents were long gone—mother taken by illness when Xin was a toddler, and their father abandoning them not long after. Shen had been working two part-time jobs and still couldn't afford the escalating medical bills.
And it killed him every night to hear her whisper, "Don't worry, Yuo-ge, I can be strong for both of us."
---
Present Day – St. Liwei's Medical Center
Shen adjusted his hoodie and walked through the reception hall. A nurse at the front desk glanced up and blinked twice—perhaps recognizing him from a stream, or maybe just stunned by his evolved aura.
[System Notification: Current Balance - ¥340,000]
[Secret Transfer History: ¥220,000 Sent to St. Liwei's Oncology Dept.]
"Room 513," Shen murmured, heading for the elevators. His feet were steady, but his heart carried the weight of promises made in shadow.
The door to Yuo Xin's room opened softly.
"Yuo-ge!" The girl's face lit up as she sat up in bed. Her hair was thinner now, eyes a little sunken, but her smile was intact—a fragile but luminous thing.
Shen smiled and pulled a small pastry box from his bag. "Guess who convinced Sarada to bake your favorite matcha daifuku?"
Xin gasped and clapped. "She remembers me?"
"She said you were her sweetest little taste-tester."
They shared soft laughter. The air between them held so much more than words—regret, gratitude, fear, love.
"I saw your name in a viral meme last week," she said suddenly. "Something about a guy whose smile made a hostess pass out?"
Shen's lips twitched. "Rumors. You know how the internet is."
---
Later That Day – Hospital Cafeteria
Shen walked downstairs for a coffee and a breather. That's when he noticed her.
Long legs, tight white scrubs, a shapely silhouette moving with feline ease between tables.
Nurse Rikka. A soft-spoken beauty with glossy black hair tied in a side ponytail, and an ID badge clipped above her chest that read "Senior RN – Oncology".
She paused at his table. "You're Yuo Xin's guardian, right? I've seen you visit a lot."
Shen looked up. "Yeah. I'm her brother."
"You always bring desserts. She talks about you a lot. It's... sweet."
Her gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary.
[System Alert: Potential Target Detected – Rikka Fumiyo | Compatibility 81% | Status: Flirtatious]
Rikka leaned in. "You should take better care of yourself, though. You've got those... tension lines near your eyes. Might need someone to loosen you up."
Shen blinked, then smiled. "You volunteering?"
She winked. "Maybe on your next visit."
---
Back Upstairs – Room 513
Shen returned to find Nurse Ayaka adjusting Xin's IV. She was younger, bubbly, with pink-dyed bangs and cat stickers on her stethoscope. As Shen walked in, she bit her lip subtly and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"You're her brother?" she asked, voice soft and a little breathy.
"Yeah."
"You're... really good-looking. Like model good-looking."
Xin giggled. "Told you, Ayaka. My brother's hot now."
Shen blushed, scratching his cheek.
[System Alert: Potential Target Detected – Ayaka Natsumi | Compatibility 76% | Status: Curious / Teasing]
Ayaka leaned in close as she whispered, "I get off shift at nine... If you're still around, I know a quiet lounge where we can talk…"
---
System Update
[New Quests Unlocked]
Nightingale's Curiosity
Reward: ¥10,000 + EXP
Objective: Tease Ayaka to the brink in the staff lounge.
White Coat Whispers (Locked)
Requirement: Meet Dr. Lena Mizuki
Secret Room Service
Reward: Stealth Mode Upgrade
Objective: Activate Fan Economy stealth feed with Rikka in supply room.
---
As Shen sat on the edge of Xin's bed, watching her drift to sleep, a soft ping sounded.
[System Reminder: Every conquest started with a reason. Don't forget yours.]
He closed his eyes.
He wouldn't.
Shen Yuo stepped out of Yuo Xin's room, his chest heavy with emotion. The sterile hallway stretched ahead, but the soft scent of antiseptic was mixed with something more delicate—perfume.
He turned, blinking.
Nurse Rikka stood by the reception desk, flipping through a clipboard. Her white uniform hugged her curvy hips, the neckline just modest enough to obey hospital dress code… barely. She looked up, caught him watching, and offered a sly smile.
"You must be Yuo Xin's brother, we met earlier" she said, her voice playful. "She talks about you almost every day. Didn't expect her knight in shining armor to be this cute."
Shen blinked. "Uh… thanks."
[System Alert: New Character Flagged — Rikka Tendo | Nurse | Compatibility 81% | Curiosity Level: Rising]
[System Quest Unlocked: 'Hearts Behind Scrubs' – Interact with Two or More Nurses. Bonus if Both Flirt Back.]
"Do you need anything?" Rikka continued, stepping closer, her voice dropping into a more confidential register. "Water? Guidance? Company?"
She leaned in slightly, and Shen caught the light lavender undertone of her perfume. The tension was subtle but real—lingering eye contact, the curve of her lips too practiced to be innocent.
"I'm okay. Just… needed a breath," he said, nodding toward the exit.
"Don't run off too fast," she said, fingers brushing lightly against his forearm as she passed him a small visitor slip with her number scribbled in the corner. "In case you get… lost."
[Item Acquired: Private Nurse Contact - Rikka]
Shen stared at the number for a second. This system... was spoiling him.
---
He took a walk to the hospital garden, letting the crisp air clear his head. As he rounded a corner near the koi pond, a voice behind him called out.
"Hey, handsome! Didn't expect to see you in this ward again."
Shen turned. It was Ayaka—the younger nurse from earlier. Her uniform looked like it was a size too tight, the hem of her skirt barely covering her thighs. She walked like she knew the effect she had.
"You're Shen, right? I saw your name on the visitor register," she said, walking beside him, playfully nudging his elbow. "Your sister's adorable. Lucky girl to have you."
"I could say the same about your patients," Shen replied, smirking slightly. "I bet you're the reason they recover so fast."
Ayaka laughed, eyes glittering. "You flirting with me, Shen?"
[System Notification: Ayaka Mei — Flirt Level: 62% → 78%]
He shrugged. "Just speaking the truth."
She gave him a long look. "Well, if you ever feel stressed from all this hospital stuff, I know a place nearby that serves amazing peach soju. You look like you could use something sweet."
"Maybe I'll take you up on that."
As she walked away, hips swaying, she looked over her shoulder and said, "Next time you visit… ask for me."
[Quest Progress: Hearts Behind Scrubs – 2/2 Nurses Interacted. Bonus Triggered.]
[Reward: ¥8,000 Tokens + Stat Boost – Charisma +1]
---
Later that Evening – Hospital Cafeteria
Shen sat at a quiet table, reviewing the System notifications while sipping on a canned iced coffee. His phone buzzed.
[Private Message – Dr. Lena Mizuki]
> "Mr. Shen Yuo. I'm Dr. Mizuki, your sister's attending physician. I'd like to speak with you regarding her care. Office 7-B in fifteen?"
He blinked. Professional… but the profile photo next to the name made his breath catch. A striking woman in her early thirties, red-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, with raven hair swept into a tight bun.
---
Fifteen Minutes Later – Office 7-B
"Come in," came the voice from behind the desk.
Shen entered, greeted by the scent of tea and leather-bound files. Dr. Lena Mizuki stood at a whiteboard, lab coat draped over a snug pencil skirt and a sleeveless blouse. When she turned, her smile was both professional and… distracting.
"You're quite punctual. That's rare in a man your age."
Shen bowed politely. "I try not to waste people's time."
"Well, Yuo Xin's progress is steady. But the costs of her specialized treatment plan will increase by next month," she said, tapping the screen. "Have you secured the necessary funds?"
Shen nodded. "I've begun transferring money. She'll be covered."
Dr. Mizuki's brows lifted. "That's impressive. Not many students can pull that off."
Shen grinned. "Let's say I have a side hustle that's starting to pay."
She chuckled. "Is that so?"
She circled the desk slowly, her gaze lingering a bit too long on his form. "Still… stress can take its toll. Are you sleeping well? Eating properly? Do you need… support?"
Shen raised a brow. "That depends on the kind of support you're offering."
Dr. Mizuki laughed, genuinely amused. "A bold one, aren't you?"
[System Alert: New Target – Lena Mizuki | Doctor | Compatibility: 91% | Perk Unlocked: 'Forbidden Remedy' – Bonus Charm Effect on Medical Professionals]
She stepped closer, her fingers grazing his wrist as she handed him a patient file. "I take my patients' family seriously. That includes their emotional well-being."
Their eyes met. The air thickened.
Then came the knock on the door.
Rikka poked her head in. "Doctor Mizuki, the board needs your signature on the treatment sheets."
"Of course," Lena said smoothly. "We'll finish our conversation next time, Mr. Shen."
As Shen left, he couldn't help but feel the system's warm hum vibrating in his pocket. Another conquest in the making.
---
Back in Yuo Xin's Room – Later That Night
She was asleep, IV drip steady. Shen sat beside her, holding her hand.
She stirred. "Gege?"
"Yeah, Xin. I'm here."
"Did you eat?"
"I did. Some nurse tried to feed me actually," he said with a light chuckle.
She giggled sleepily. "Pretty ones?"
"The prettiest."
She opened one eye, smile lazy. "Are you… happy?"
Shen paused. The system. The money. The women. The chaos. But right now, holding her hand—he felt grounded.
"I think I'm getting there."
[System Update: Bonded Motivation – Emotional Anchor Set: Yuo Xin | Passive Buff – Mental Fortitude +2]
---