Chapter 3: From This Day On, Let Society Dance to My Tune

According to the system, the approval value for an ordinary male god is the easiest to obtain; it only requires gaining recognition from others. It doesn’t even have to be in person—online recognition counts as well.

A photo is just a photo—what’s the problem?

No sooner said than done.

Ten approval points? He didn’t even need to show his full face. Lin Ran was confident enough in his looks.

Piece of cake!

He put on a mask to cover most of his face, leaving only his eyes and the contour of his cheeks visible. He recorded a three-second video, added a light filter to create an air of mystery—a handsome man shrouded in enigma. He chose the most popular song of the moment, “Blue and White,” as the background music.

The lyrics drifted softly: “Dazed, as though a lifetime has passed; regrets left unspoken, a sudden pang of the heart…”

He couldn’t expect to fool too many, but ten recognitions should be manageable.

With a freshly registered account named [Buddha Says Don’t Be Arrogant], he posted the video, captioned: Begging for likes + comments: So handsome.

He wasn’t about to use his main account—what if classmates, friends, or relatives saw? Better to operate under an alias.

Soon after, someone commented: [Wearing a mask—afraid to show your real face!]

Lin Ran replied: [Just move your lucky thumb and give me a like, please (pitiful), and say I’m handsome.]

The person answered: [Just because you’re so shameless, fine, I’ll comment: So handsome.]

And just like that, he received one ordinary approval value.

One led to two, and they slowly began to accumulate.

Making money—there’s nothing embarrassing about it.

In the end, it was still his looks that carried the day.

…

Meanwhile, in a residential complex.

Jian Wei’an had just finished her shower. Dressed in a lace-trimmed camisole nightdress, she squatted by the doghouse, looking at the listless Samoyed.

“Shuyao, why is Bai Bai so down? Did that dumb Husky traumatize him? Does he have psychological scars now?”

From the bathroom came another woman’s voice: “Don’t exaggerate. You just moved in with me—Bai Bai’s not used to you yet. Don’t overthink it, Vivienne. Can you bring me a pair of panties?”

Jian Wei’an went to the bedroom, opened the closet, and was met with an array of colorful, flashy, and variously styled underwear.

She picked up a pair to examine—just a small patch of fabric at the front, and the rest was all straps.

“Can anyone actually wear this? Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“Shuyao always looks so pure, but she’s secretly such a tease. Tsk…”

Jian Wei’an hung the underwear on the doorknob as a reminder, then returned to her room and lay down.

The cool air from the conditioner gently stirred her nightdress, making the hem flutter over her shapely hips.

She snapped a photo of the night view outside the window and posted it to Douyin, captioned: [From today on, a new life begins!]

Bored, she scrolled through Douyin—every video the algorithm pushed was about what women should do after divorce, men not being worthy of love, and the like.

Jian Wei’an, annoyed, scrolled rapidly past them, unwilling to see any more of this content.

After a few videos, she paused—on screen was a man wearing a mask, only his eyes visible. The location showed he was within three kilometers.

She was about to scroll on when she noticed a Husky in the background.

Wei’an commented: [Lin Ran?]

Lin Ran: [Who are you?]

Wei’an: [Jian Wei’an.]

Lin Ran: [You recognized me?]

Wei’an: [I recognized the dog behind you! (angry)]

Lin Ran: [Did you take the pill?]

Wei’an: [I did.]

Lin Ran: [Good. Since we ran into each other online, move your lucky thumb and give me a like (pitiful), and say I’m handsome.]

Wei’an: [Shameless!]

Meanwhile, Jiang Shuyao, fresh from the shower and wearing a camisole nightdress, returned to the bedroom. She lifted her hand and smacked Jian Wei’an’s pert backside—a gentle bounce, like slapping a quivering block of tofu.

Jian Wei’an yelped, rubbing her behind. “What was that for?”

“What are you up to? I called you and got no answer. Who are you chatting with?”

“That dog owner I mentioned. I just came across his video.”

“Let me see.”

Jiang Shuyao hopped onto the bed, sat cross-legged, and took the phone. She looked at the video, then covered her mouth, giggling.

“Begging for likes and handsome comments—how amusing! His eyes are quite spirited. Wei’an, what do you think of this dog owner’s looks?”

“Hm… not bad, but he gives off a bit of a bad boy vibe.”

“Bad boys are more interesting.”

Jian Wei’an rolled her eyes.

“Your Bai Bai was mounted by his Husky, and now you’ve run into him online and chatted. Be careful—one day you might get ‘mounted’ by him too.”

“Oh, stop it! I just want to make money now.”

Jian Wei’an stretched out her fair foot and nudged her friend.

“Here, your phone. You just want money; he just wants likes. I left a comment for you.”

“What? You—”

Jian Wei’an hurriedly grabbed her phone and saw the comment: [Hey handsome, you look great~]

Jian Wei’an: …

Jiang Shuyao: “Time to sleep.”

…

[Ten ordinary approval values achieved]

Ten points seemed easy, but in reality, it was no walk in the park.

Male God Level: 2

Daily Cash Reward: 2,000 yuan

Two thousand a day—sixty thousand a month.

Not bad.

Lin Ran even paid Wang Hao seven hundred yuan.

Wealth: 1,300 yuan.

[First task completed. Mysterious Grand Prize triggered—Tenfold Male God Makeover Bonus]

[Note: A male god needs an outstanding appearance. By upgrading your personal image, you’ll become more refined. The host has three opportunities for a male god makeover. Each time you spend on it, you’ll receive a tenfold reward.]

“So, three chances—that’s three opportunities to show off my taste as a male god?”

…

Dawn.

Ring-ring—

Smack. Lin Ran slapped the alarm clock on his nightstand and got up, sleepwalking to the bathroom.

“Psssh…”

A couple of shakes.

He went to the sink, squeezed out some toothpaste, and brushed his teeth.

“Rumble… ptooey…”

He lazily opened his eyes and looked at his reflection.

Huh?

After a night’s sleep, his face was no longer puffy, the dark circles and bags under his eyes from staying up late had vanished, and the pimples from recent hotpot binges were gone, too. His skin was no longer oily, his face looked firmer, and his whole demeanor seemed more energetic.

That divine cleanser was truly something.

After washing up, Lin Ran took the Husky for a walk. On the way back, he bought breakfast. His parents were up too, so they all ate together.

His father said, “Son, I heard you argued with Auntie Wang last night?”

“She started it, making up nonsense. I only spoke the truth. Did she come complain to you?”

His father replied, “She threw a fit at the teahouse last night. Your mother argued back. In the future, just ignore her and eat your breakfast.”

Given Aunt Wang’s shrewish reputation, Lin Ran could already guess the argument: she boasted about how wonderful her son was, how much he earned each month, and how Lin Ran, a college graduate, still hadn’t found work, spreading rumors that he had a boyfriend.

Such was the way with neighbors—always comparing their children. In the past, it was grades and schools; now, it was income.

Often, it’s not just for yourself—you have to make your parents proud, too.

“Don’t worry, Mom, Dad—I won’t let you down.”

“You never have. You’re an excellent son.”

“I’m done. You two take your time. I’m going out… um… to look for a job.”

Lin Ran left the house and stood at the entrance of the residential complex.

Today, he would use that ‘tenfold male god makeover bonus’ and become a wealthy male god!

“Society is a temptress—she only flirts with the rich.”

“From today on, I’ll make this society flirt with me!”