A Winner in Life since Kindergarten

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

[Host Attribute Panel, the following displays specific extra talent values]

[Intelligence: 4]

[Stamina: 1]

[Art: 3]

[Charisma: 1]

Staring at the ridiculously simple panel in front of him, Liu Wenjie was stunned for a full minute.

Intelligence 4? Stamina 1?

Am I mentally challenged plus paralyzed?

And Charisma is even more outrageous—1? Is there something wrong with your melon? I'm asking you if it's ripe!

He took another careful look at the description—oh, "extra talent values," never mind then.

As expected, his looks in this life were exactly the same as in the last; not to say charisma 10,000, 100,000 would still be reasonable.

1 is a bit abstract.

Looks like these 4's and 3's are the system rewards he'd gotten earlier.

But what exactly does the number 1 represent?

He tried tapping and found he could open a detailed explanation.

[1 equals ten percent; host may understand that every time you gain +1, your stat rises by ten percent of the current base.]

So that's why the difference felt obvious.

Liu Wenjie scratched his newly-smart brain.

Looks like although this system's trigger conditions are bizarre, in the late game it will just snowball—after all, the higher the base, the bigger the bonus; it's still usable.

"Liu... Liu Wenjie... do you have a minute?"

While studying the panel, Liu Wenjie was interrupted by a soft voice; he looked up.

It was the girl wearing a strawberry hair clip and a white dress—Xia Ying, who could be called Liu Wenjie's childhood friend.

Xia Ying had a milky-white little face, rosy lips, and big, pure, dazed apricot eyes that were especially eye-catching; she was the neighbor's kid.

But although people called her "childhood sweetheart," the two of them didn't actually interact much. Their parents just knew each other from picking up the kids, so they occasionally visited each other's homes; Xia Ying was timid and didn't like talking.

As a reincarnator, Liu Wenjie certainly wouldn't take the initiative to play Barbies with a little girl, so every time the two of them just sat together and watched TV for a bit.

"Xia Ying? What do you want?"

Little Xia Ying stood there in a daze, giving off a strong silly-sweet vibe. She kept her head half-lowered; the shadow of her bangs covered her eyes a little, her small hands clenched tightly, nervous and stammering:

"Th-thank you for helping me find my lost hair clip yesterday. I don't know how to thank you. That day I saw Aunt buy some chocolate; I thought you'd like it, so I asked Grandpa to buy it for me... to give to you. Thank you for yesterday."

Hesitantly, she stretched out her hand, opened her palm, and offered Liu Wenjie a few pieces of crumpled, wrinkled chocolate.

Liu Wenjie recalled yesterday's events: yesterday afternoon near dismissal, he'd happened to see Xia Ying wiping tears by the bushes, accidentally falling on the ground.

Even so, the little girl didn't dare cry out loud; she just kept her lips pressed together, searching in the grass.

After all, they'd watched TV together a few times, so Liu Wenjie walked over and asked what was wrong.

Little Xia Ying sobbed that her hair clip was missing; it must have fallen here, all teary-eyed.

Liu Wenjie told her not to cry and helped her look; in the end he found it near the sandbox. Of course he didn't care about such a small thing.

But little Xia Ying was grateful; although Liu Wenjie was usually fierce, after thinking it over last night she decided she still had to give Liu Wenjie a gift today.

"Liu Wenjie, take it and eat."

Liu Wenjie said indifferently, "Oh, you came because of yesterday? You eat it yourself; that tiny thing wasn't worth mentioning."

Little Xia Ying bit her lip, pulled her hand back a little, but extended it again: "You... just take it. It's tasty."

[Facing your childhood friend's gift, what is your choice?]

Liu Wenjie hadn't expected the system's voice to actually ring out.

[Choice 1: Friendship gift from childhood sweetheart! Gosh, I have to accept. Reply: Then I'll take it! You're so cute! Reward: Little bootlicker dies a dog's death.]

[Choice 2: Gift? Speaking of which, last time I watched Ultraman with Xia Ying at her house she seemed pretty into it; a girl with taste like that is rare. Reply: Daigo, that day I too became light. Reward: Never get a cavity for life.]

[Choice 3: Why are there so many girls around me! I'm a reincarnator, don't I have any proper business to do? I want to become a winner in life! Reply: No eat, thx. Reward: Kindergarten study card—makes your learning speed in kindergarten today multiplied by spit.]

Two choices within one day—how prickly.

But looking at the three options, Liu Wenjie felt this system would be more accurately called the "Abstract" or "Stroke" System.

Choice 1 is the littlest of little bro rewards—is that even a reward?

Choice 2's reward looks okay; although the reply is abstract, never getting cavities for life is a great reward! No more fear of being dominated by wisdom teeth when I grow up.

Can't understand choice 3—what use is a kindergarten study card? If you've got guts give me a first-grade card! I'd definitely pick it!

I choose 2.

Liu Wenjie said to Xia Ying with a straight face, "Daigo, that day I too became light."

[Congratulations, host will never grow a cavity again.]

A breeze blew; the nervous little Xia Ying blinked, staring at Liu Wenjie.

"Wh-what does that mean?" She hesitated, then suddenly wondered—was this Liu Wenjie testing her with a code phrase?

Like on TV, if she passed the test he'd accept the gift?

Sweat dotted Xia Ying's forehead; she clenched her fists, thinking hard for an answer: "Ah... ah! Rena, you did it! You're the best!"

She stuck out her thumb.

Liu Wenjie was dumbfounded and let out an "Ah."

Little Xia Ying worriedly echoed "Ah" as well: "What's wrong, is it wrong? Did I answer wrong? Isn't that a line from Toto-man?"

Sweat formed on Liu Wenjie's forehead: "Uh..."

This girl is kind of fun—honestly, adorably stupid, Toto-man cute.

The dismissal bell suddenly rang; a nearby kindergarten teacher clapped and said, "Children, children, the bell has rung! Stop playing, come line up by the teacher, tidy up and get ready to go home."

Hearing "go home," all the kids hurried over.

Liu Wenjie also stood up and said to Xia Ying, "The teacher's calling us for dismissal." He glanced at the candy and smiled, "I really don't want it and don't like sweets; don't worry about yesterday."

Little Xia Ying watched Liu Wenjie leave, clutching the candy in her hand, big eyes fixed on his back.

So he doesn't like chocolate...

She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and stared blankly at the crumpled chocolate in her hand.