As to why Lin Yi understood the situation so clearly after spending thirty years in prison, it was entirely due to Qin Yuyao.
Aside from his parents, Qin Yuyao was the most diligent visitor during his incarceration. Whether she was genuinely concerned or simply terrified that Lin Yi might seek revenge upon his release, she had kept a watchful eye on his every move, fearing he might earn an early parole and be set free.
Seeing his roommates crowding around him with faces full of concern, Lin Yi knew they had misunderstood the situation; they were thinking of something entirely different from the truth. Lin Yi stood up, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he offered a faint smile.
"Guys, I’m fine. I’m going to skip dinner for now. You go ahead. I’m going to rest for a bit, then head out for a walk later. Honestly, it’s all good."
With that, Lin Yi hugged each of them, exchanged a few words, and climbed into bed to sleep. The men left behind on the floor exchanged glances, all reading the same thought in each other's eyes: Lin Yi had truly been broken.
"Third brother, get some good rest. If you need anything, let us know," Zhou Yitong said, and the others went back to their own business.
Lin Yi, of course, was not actually going to sleep. Now that he possessed the Tycoon Simp System, he was busy contemplating how to maximize its potential. According to the system’s explanation, he was forced to spin the golden wheel for a draw every month. While this allowed him to obtain new systems or rewards, it also meant losing the current one. Having pulled the Tycoon Simp System twice in a row, Lin Yi didn't think he was lucky enough to repeat that feat.
His most pressing task now was to bind a target to simp for and launch a comeback, gaining system enhancement points within the month. Once that month passed, trying to stage a comeback through mere wealth would be nearly impossible.
Lost in thought, Lin Yi drifted off to sleep. Perhaps because he had lost his freedom in his previous life, his mind and body had not known true relaxation for decades; he slept remarkably well.
When he woke up, his roommates had yet to return. The dormitory was dark, the lights still off.
"Refreshing!"
Lin Yi gave a hearty stretch. Climbing down from the bed, he spotted several takeout boxes on his desk. Inside were two meat dishes and three vegetable dishes, accompanied by a carefully prepared serving of Fruit. A warm current washed over his heart. He was truly famished, and he devoured the meal in no time.
Wang Qingyang enjoyed sports and gaming; at this hour, he was likely either playing on the basketball court or at an internet cafe. Zhou Yitong considered himself a "master of love" and always had a girlfriend; he was probably out discussing life and ideals with some girl. The fourth roommate, Lu Jun, was the most disciplined; he spent his free time in the library or the study hall, living a very regular life.
Lin Yi pulled out his refurbished Fruit 6 and couldn't help but chuckle. With his current net worth, he wouldn't dream of buying a Fruit device. It was purely because, after he and Qin Yuyao started dating, she felt his Hongyao phone was an embarrassment to her and forced him to switch to a Fruit. Even a used, older Fruit model was beyond his means; all the money he earned went into gifts for Qin Yuyao, leaving nothing for a new phone. He had been forced to sell his Hongyao and buy this ancient Fruit 6, a model from ten years ago. Beyond the logo, it wasn't even as functional as his old Hongyao. Of course, Qin Yuyao had only begrudgingly agreed to it after he added a brand-new case that prominently displayed the Fruit logo.
He opened WeChat to find several unread messages. Most were from his roommates earlier that day, asking where he was, though Lin Yi hadn't checked his phone at the time and hadn't replied. The class group chat was also buzzing with Lin Yi as the main topic of discussion.
He took a quick look. His classmates weren't being too cruel—no extreme mockery—but they were mostly saying Lin Yi was a fool, that such a woman wasn't worth his devotion and he should have broken up long ago. The harshest remark was: "Simp, simp, till you have nothing left." Lin Yi noted the sender was the class monitor, Cao Yi. He didn't have much of an impression of him, but he found the sentiment deeply accurate.
*With the Tycoon Simp System, I’ll continue to play the simp,* Lin Yi thought, *but this time, I’m going to change my approach.*
Exiting WeChat, he opened Doulang, the most popular social media app on Blue Star. After a dozen seconds, he finally entered the interface. Lin Yi kept his Doulang name the same as his WeChat—Commoner 001—the same name he’d used in his past life, and he had no intention of changing it.
Without a second thought, he started topping up. Doulang’s maximum single transaction was 100,000. Using his antique phone, he spent nearly an hour laboriously adding 50 million to his account. He was afraid the phone might die if he kept going; the piece of junk couldn't handle the speed his hands had honed over decades of being single across two lifetimes.
Although he had 50 million in his Doulang account, his total real-world assets were still only a few hundred dollars, and he was in no position to buy a new phone. To ensure a quick comeback, Lin Yi prioritized the local channel, skipping past any "rough-hewn men" he encountered.
He entered several streams, but they were either men, or "tech and tricks," or generic streamers he rated an 8 out of 10. He prepared to try his luck on a female streamer, but the system warned: *The streamer’s appearance score is below 7. Host, please consider carefully.*
"Damn it!"
Looking closer, he saw the wall behind the streamer was warped—her editing skills were abysmal. Where had traditional virtues gone? What about trust between people? Was there not a single one who could actually deliver?
Just as Lin Yi was feeling disappointed, an League of Legends stream popped up. The stream was titled "Xiaobei’s Daily Life," and the comments below called the streamer "Beibei."
The streamer had jet-black hair, wore a pair of pink rabbit headphones, and had delicate, exquisite features that made her look incredibly cute. Most eye-catching were the twin peaks resting on the gaming desk, which were blindingly distracting. According to Lin Yi’s assessment, her appearance was at least a 9.
Sure enough, the system confirmed it: 8.8 points. It was indeed very striking, easily on par with a campus beauty.
*System, bind the simp relationship.*
[Ding! The target's favorability toward the host is 0. Simp relationship binding successful.]
...
The "Xiaobei’s Daily Life" stream had about 1,000 viewers, fluctuating slightly; it could be considered neither hot nor cold. Beibei wasn't playing the game at the moment but was interacting with the chat.
"Guys, we’re a gaming streamer. It’s normal to lose in a PK battle against them. They’re 'talented' beauty streamers, let's just start another round."
"I'll send out another lucky bag, please calm down, everyone."
Beibei told her audience, her expression strained; she was clearly forcing a smile. This streamer had a story, and Lin Yi could sense it immediately.
The moment Beibei finished speaking, the scrolling comments suddenly turned volatile.
"Pfft, 'beauty streamer' my foot! She’s wearing more makeup than a plastered wall."
"Beibei, you can’t take this lying down! Fight back, these people are going too far."
"That’s called talent? That 'brother' act she did made my skin crawl!"
"Based on my vast experience with women, she’s a public bus!"
"Beibei, you can use your curves to win too! You have the looks, why rely on skill? Screw her!"
"Beibei, if you can stand it, we can’t! That woman’s tongue is too sharp. Don’t decline her next PK invite, we’ll fight them!"
"Beibei, just wait. I’m opening my credit line to support you. Do they really think the gaming community is easy to bully?"
"Guys, please, spend rationally."