She’s a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist’s Halo

Yan finished watching the over forty-minute-long video without even realizing how much time had passed. She glanced at the view count of Ka Ka's video. Perhaps due to the traffic boost for new accounts, Ka Ka's video had already garnered five hundred thousand views in less than three hours, with plenty of likes, coins, and comments.

"Wow! The uploader is like the protagonist of a travel game!"

"I love this style, so creative! The opening, transitions, and ending CG are all amazing!"

"Traveling Ka Ka, followed and triple-supported! Hope the future videos maintain this quality."

"The uploader doesn't talk much, which makes it more immersive. Even though I don’t know what they look like, I already feel like I know them. More, please! Hurry up with the next video!"

"Little Ka Ka is so adorable, I can already imagine the real person!"

"Definitely a candidate for this year's Top 100! I’m following now."

Though there were some comments like, "Is this made by a studio?" or "Big production, next step is selling products," the majority were filled with curiosity and admiration.

Yan felt quite pleased. Most people had good taste and an eye for quality.

Ka Ka had just graduated this year, and Yan wondered if her "Traveling Little Person" project would provide her with travel funds. If Ka Ka's fanbase grew and she became popular, it would be a great way to support herself financially.

Yan clicked into Ka Ka's profile and saw that her follower count had already risen to seventy thousand. With a roughly seven-to-one ratio, Yan wasn’t well-versed in such metrics, but it was clearly a fantastic start.

While watching the video, Yan had already forwarded the link to Jue Jue and asked him to check if there were any photos in the bag of snacks he had brought back.

[Jue Jue]: I don’t have any here, probably just one.

Yan figured as much. Since they were sharing a set, she rummaged through her desk drawer and found a single-layer card holder to store the Polaroid Ka Ka had sent. If Ka Ka kept sending more, she’d need to prepare a Polaroid album.

After some thought, Yan sent Ka Ka two messages.

[Yan]: Ka Ka, I finished watching your video—it was amazing! From a viewer's perspective, it felt so fun, like watching a gaming livestream. It’s not something to watch while eating, but perfect for a leisurely evening. Make sure to post it on other platforms too.

The video’s ending featured a special animated CG, showing the people Ka Ka had met, the food she had eaten, and concluding with a backpack-wearing Ka Ka setting off again, tying everything together beautifully. The quality was top-notch!

[Yan]: [photo.jpg] The beef jerky and yogurt bites were delicious~~~ Thank you, Ka Ka.

Ka Ka hadn’t replied yet when Yan saw Ding Ling returning with a bunch of food.

"Sorry I’m late, everyone," Ding Ling said as she hurriedly placed the food on the table.

There was a popular roasted goose leg place outside the school, known as "Auntie Goose Leg," which always had long lines during mealtimes. Nearby was a stall selling freshly made pan-fried dumplings. Ding Ling had also bought stuffed mushrooms with shrimp, grilled skewers, and chilled drinks—basically a feast of unhealthy delights.

"Goose legs! I haven’t had these in two weeks," Chu Bingbing exclaimed, looking up from her suitcase with starry eyes.

"Thanks, Little Ding Ling," Yan said as she wiped the tops of the canned drinks with alcohol wipes and grabbed some straws, ready to dig in.

Yi Zhi grabbed a handful of disposable chopsticks from her spot by bed six, while Gu Jiasui prepared bowls and plates. Ding Ling began unwrapping the food, and the five of them gathered around the table.

Having already snacked on two pieces of beef jerky, Yan’s jaw and teeth were a bit tired, so she wasn’t very hungry. She sipped her soda through a straw and slowly nibbled on the goose leg.

So delicious!

Yan glanced at the new merchandise-filled suitcase next to Chu Bingbing’s spot. It was a mess, with freebies piled up like a small mountain.

Under Chu Bingbing’s desk were already an LV suitcase, a Rimowa suitcase, and a large plastic rolling case. This new 22-inch one made her already cramped space even more crowded.

"Bingbing, are you keeping all these freebies in the dorm? There’s almost no space left," Yan remarked.

Their wardrobes weren’t very big either. Chu Bingbing had already taken over the wardrobe of an unused bed, and Yan barely had enough room for her own clothes, which were rolled up to save space. Thankfully, it was just summer and autumn attire. If winter clothes were sent over, there’d be no way to fit everything.

"Ah, I’ll move them back to my place tomorrow," Chu Bingbing said with a pained expression as she munched on the goose leg.

She had been thrilled when she received these cute freebies, but now she was suffering while organizing them. These adorable little things took up so much space. Luckily, her place at Lakeside Heights was spacious, with plenty of storage. She could just put these in the study room.

"Does anyone want to hang out tomorrow?" Chu Bingbing asked.

"We could check out that fried rice place. I’ve never been, and I’m not sure if it’ll be open."

"Yan, it’s close to the fried rice place, right?" Chu Bingbing looked at Yan.

Yan nodded. "It’s about a ten-minute walk from your neighborhood."

Hearing this, Chu Bingbing rested her chin on her hand. "It’s inconvenient before graduation, but once we’re done, I can go downstairs for fried rice every day."

Yi Zhi chuckled at this. "By the time we graduate, who knows if Chu Shen will still be running his shop?"

A top graduate from Bin University, would he really continue as a small restaurant owner? The food industry was exhausting, and it couldn’t compare to the ease of working in a lab.

"Jue Jue and I don’t have anything planned tomorrow," Yan said.

"I can’t," Ding Ling shook her head. She needed to keep an eye on Little Mei and He Jiajia’s situation.

"Me neither," Gu Jiasui said softly. She had to return to the old family estate this week to confirm something with her grandfather regarding Professor Su Jing.

"I can, but I probably won’t join you all. We can meet at Chu Shen’s place," Yi Zhi said after some thought.

She had discussed ingredients with Chu Shen earlier and planned to send some over tomorrow. Using the excuse of an early air shipment seemed reasonable, and she could bring back some fruit for her roommates too.

The group chatted about today’s comic convention while finishing their meal. Yan and Gu Jiasui didn’t eat much, with Gu Jiasui only taking small bites of the goose leg and skewers, along with a couple of dumplings and stuffed mushrooms. The rest was devoured by Yi Zhi.

After dinner, Yan noticed Ding Ling taking the initiative to clean up and inviting her to help take out the trash.

Yan figured Ding Ling must have something to discuss, as she usually wouldn’t ask for help with such a simple task.

She didn’t refuse and followed Ding Ling out of the dorm with a trash bag.

Besides the bathroom inside the dorm, there were shared facilities at both ends of the hallway, including a water room for hot water, washing, toilets, and a communal washing machine.

After tossing the trash into the bin, the two stood by the window in the empty water room, speaking softly.

"What’s up?" Yan got straight to the point.

Ding Ling blinked. "Nothing much, just wanted to update you on the little ghost girl situation."

Ding Ling quickly explained the story of Little Mei and He Jiajia, which sounded like a heartwarming tale from a paranormal radio show.

Yan was stunned. Why was Ding Ling telling her this?

"You guys can handle this, right?" Yan ventured cautiously.

"Right, I just wanted your opinion," Ding Ling said earnestly, her clear eyes filled with trust.

She believed that if there was any hidden scheme, Yan would surely notice.

My opinion? I don’t have one! Yan thought silently.

She was afraid of exposing her complete lack of knowledge on the matter.

"I don’t have any thoughts. You’ll handle it well," Yan replied calmly.

Ding Ling was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood.

She had been too focused on seeking Yan’s input but forgot that Yan’s current focus in her practice was different.

Yan hadn’t intervened in this matter, avoiding both cause and effect.

Once Yan expressed her own opinions or suggestions, it was inevitable that she would become involved in the matter. For someone of her status, staying detached from everything was the best course of action.

"I understand," Ding Ling nodded firmly.

The two returned to the dormitory, and everyone took turns washing up.

While Yan washed away the fatigue of the day, Ka Ka, far away on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, lay on the grass gazing at the stars.

Ka Ka appeared to be stargazing, but in reality, she was staring at the screen of her [Travel Companion] app.

"Congratulations, player! You have unlocked the [Distant Traveler] achievement. Keep up the good work! Would you like to equip the achievement badge?"

Another achievement unlocked. Ka Ka looked at the interface: "Distant Traveler." Did this achievement trigger because the local specialties she sent to the team had arrived? Or was it because of the video she uploaded?

She quickly opened the detailed information for the [Distant Traveler] achievement.

[Achievement: Distant Traveler Lv. 1]

[Traveling over mountains and rivers, trekking through foreign lands, crossing grasslands, forests, deserts, and mountains... You share stories and experiences from your journey, becoming a distant traveler in the eyes of others. Decades later, people will still fondly recall the traveler who once passed through their land.]

[Equip Effect: Travel Reputation +5]

Travel Reputation? Ka Ka scratched her head. Did this mean she would be recognized during her travels? But she hadn’t shown her face in her videos.

"System, what does Travel Reputation do?"

If it meant being easily recognized, Ka Ka definitely wouldn’t equip this achievement.

"The effect of Travel Reputation depends on the player. The higher the reputation, the longer the stories you leave behind in a place may endure. Additionally, if you encounter difficulties, there’s a higher chance of receiving help from locals."

Ka Ka plucked a blade of grass and brushed it against her nose. "So, for example, if I visited Big Brother Da Da’s home, this story might be passed down to his children or even grandchildren?"

"Yes," the system replied.

"And if I go to an unfamiliar place without any information, someone at the village committee or town might help me. Can this be used in sync with [Unexpected Encounters]?"

"Yes."

Ka Ka understood now. For distant travelers, the vast majority of people in her country were incredibly warm and welcoming. So, if she equipped both [Unexpected Encounters] and [Distant Traveler], her future travels might involve fewer problems and more helpful people.

"But what does Level 1 mean? Can I upgrade this? Is it based on my online reputation?"

"Please explore this on your own," the system replied, offering no further explanation.

Fine, if the system wouldn’t say, Ka Ka figured it must be related to the popularity of her videos. She pulled out her phone and noticed several messages—from the team, Yan, and even some missed calls from locals she had sent specialties to!

After replying to the messages and calls, Ka Ka checked her newly registered account’s homepage. Her phone nearly froze from the sheer number of notifications!

There were so many messages, but Ka Ka didn’t plan to read them all. She just glanced at her follower count: 122,000. It had grown so quickly, and her video views had already surpassed 800,000.

It seemed the "reputation" was indeed tied to her online presence, something Ka Ka had never experienced before.

Thinking of this, Ka Ka silently thanked Yan, the friend she had only known for a week. If it weren’t for Yan’s suggestions, she might still be hesitating.

Moreover, it was Yan’s clever ideas that turned her travels into a gamified experience, making it so captivating.

She wondered where the next "blind box" destination would take her and where she’d send Yan specialties from.

Although she could just buy them online and have them delivered, Ka Ka felt that personally selecting and packing the items on-site made all the difference.

Sunday.

After much thought, Yan decided to accompany Chu Bingbing to pack up some belongings and move them to her new place. Last time, it was a coincidence that she ran into Jue Jue.

This time, Chu Bingbing had specifically invited her. As a single woman, it wasn’t appropriate to ask her boyfriend to help, so she sent Jue Jue ahead to reserve a seat at Chu Shen’s small restaurant to avoid the lunch rush.

This plan was perfect!

Dragging a suitcase, even on a Sunday, Chu Bingbing hesitated for a moment before decisively choosing a luxury car with a female driver.

It’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back. She didn’t want to lug her suitcase onto the subway.

In the car, Chu Bingbing messaged her property manager, asking if they had a professional organizer on staff. If so, it would save her a lot of trouble.

Soon, she received a reply from the manager and let out a triumphant "yeah" from the backseat.

And so—

When they arrived, Chu Bingbing’s suitcase was taken by the property manager who came to greet them. The professional organizer and housekeeping team followed them upstairs. After assessing what needed to be packed and Chu Bingbing’s requirements, they quickly made a list.

Meanwhile, Yan, who had grabbed two bottles of water from the car, found herself with nothing to do. She sat on the sofa, idly scrolling through her phone, then moved to the balcony to lounge on a recliner and daydream.

Yan had thought she would be helping Chu Bingbing pack, but it turned out that professionals handled everything, and there was no need for supervision.

"Yan, what do you think it means if someone suddenly spends a lot of money, like hundreds of millions, on something they don’t need?"

Chu Bingbing’s sudden question caught Yan off guard.

Yan blinked. Was Bingbing talking about herself?

Why was she asking this?

"I’m not talking about myself, it’s someone else," Chu Bingbing clarified, realizing her words might have been misleading.

This "someone else" was actually her Billionaire System.

Last month, the system had suddenly issued a special limited-time task. Chu Bingbing had pondered it for a long time, but even after donating the "Zhou Dynasty Emperor’s Scroll," she still hadn’t figured it out.

Normally, the tasks involved small sums like 100,000, 500,000, or a million. But this time, she was asked to bid on an auction item without any restrictions on donating it afterward. Chu Bingbing felt there was a deeper meaning behind it.

So, she wanted to hear Yan’s opinion.

Given Yan’s background and perspective, she might offer insights that Chu Bingbing hadn’t considered—something on a completely different level.

Yan hummed thoughtfully. She glanced back to make sure the organizers were still working in the study and not in the living room. After taking a sip of water, she said, "Generally, we call that money laundering."

"Buying and selling antiques, artworks, jewelry, especially overseas, is often a way to transfer assets abroad."

"After all, the value of these things can be subjective. Bidding far above the starting price or setting a record can be justified as the bidder’s personal preference, all within the rules and perfectly reasonable."

Money laundering?

Chu Bingbing was momentarily stunned. Surely her system wasn’t involved in money laundering, right?

But deep down, she had another lingering question.

There’s a saying: "Every gift from fate comes with a price." Where exactly did the money from her Billionaire System come from?

"I see," Chu Bingbing said, feeling like she had gained a bit more insight.

Yan swayed gently in the recliner, and the two didn’t continue the topic.

Then, Yan suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?"

"Jue Jue says Yi Zhi has arrived. She brought ingredients from her family’s farm and went straight to Chu Shen’s restaurant."

"That was fast. No wonder Yi Zhi didn’t come with us. She should’ve just ridden with us," Chu Bingbing remarked.

Once the organizers finished their work, Chu Bingbing paid them, and the two headed downstairs.

Chu Bingbing was excited. "I can’t wait to see what this egg-fried rice restaurant is really like."

Yan had already warned her that it was just an ordinary little eatery, but that didn’t dampen her enthusiasm. After all, it had been a week since she last had their egg-fried rice.

They arrived at Chu Shen’s restaurant just before 11 a.m. In fact, the place wasn’t even open yet—it didn’t start serving until 11:30 and closed at 1:30 p.m. On weekends, it only operated for two hours.

However—by this time, there were already quite a few people sitting on small stools, lining up in front of the Chu family's small restaurant.

They seemed very familiar with each other, forming a neat line, chatting away. Some even brought their own sun umbrellas and hats.

Chu Bingbing was stunned by the sight. "Is the fried rice really this popular?"

At this moment, Yan was walking unsteadily. How were the two of them supposed to sneak in under everyone's watchful eyes?

The feeling of being stared at while trying to use the "backdoor" wasn't great either.

Yan sent a message to Jue Jue, and the restaurant's door opened. In a flash, Yan and Chu Bingbing slipped inside. Chu Shen calmly looked at the customers who were about to rebel, already poised to rush in.

"It's not mealtime yet. These are friends who came to help."

He closed the door again, looking at today's unexpected guests: two troublemakers, one big sister, and a friend of the troublemakers.

"Are you hungry? Do you want some fried rice now?" Chu Shen asked.

Chu Bingbing awkwardly rubbed her hands. She had seen the line outside. "Are you all prepared? Do you need us to help with anything?"

"You can help taste-test some new dishes. If you're not hungry, you can wait, or have a little something first. We'll eat together after I finish work," Chu Shen said, looking at her.

"The ingredients from Yi Zhi's family farm have arrived. I need to try them out today."

Chu Shen hadn't expected Yi Zhi to act so quickly. He had only mentioned it yesterday, and today the ingredients were already here.

He had to return to school tomorrow, so some of the ingredients needed to be used as soon as possible.

After getting the recipe for potato stew last night, he had practiced it all night in the culinary realm.

"New dishes?" Yan's eyes lit up.

Not fried rice? Although the fried rice was delicious, it was finally time for something different.

"Yes, but I'm still experimenting. It's not ready for the menu yet. Everyone can try it and give me some feedback," Chu Shen explained gently.

When dealing with troublemakers, service had to be impeccable.

He hoped the new dish would boost his favorability! Please, he hadn't even gotten a chance to experience the culinary river yet!

"I'm not in a hurry. Where's Yi Zhi?" Yan looked around. Jue Jue was in the dining area, but Yi Zhi was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm here," Yi Zhi came out from the kitchen, holding a peeler.

"I had nothing to do, so I started peeling some potatoes."

In fact, she could have used a bit of spiritual energy to peel the potatoes instantly, but such a small task wasn't worth wasting energy on.

These potatoes had been carefully selected by her, scrubbed clean of dirt with a brush. Even roasted on their own, they were delicious. She could hardly imagine how they would taste after Chu Shen worked his magic.

Yan and Chu Bingbing felt too awkward to just freeload, so they decided to help out.

Yan wiped down the wooden tables and chairs three times for disinfection, while Chu Bingbing mopped the floor three times. The tap water was too cold, so Zhu Jue washed the large amount of fruit Yi Zhi had brought, then portioned them into small plates while wearing gloves.

Portioning the fruit was Chu Shen's idea. Since it came from Yi Zhi's family farm, and he had already tasted it—its quality was exceptional—he knew his customers would love it.

"Remember that restaurant we went to last time? They served high-end seasonal fruit. I saw online that a lot of people were asking about their supplier," Chu Shen said, wearing a mask. In the restaurant, dressed in his chef's uniform, he looked every bit the professional.

"Yi Zhi, does your family farm have an online store or WeChat account? Send it to me later, and I'll share it with the customers in their group."

Half an hour flew by, and the Chu family's small restaurant was officially open for business!

"It's finally open! Boss Chu, I missed you so much! Why were you closed yesterday?" The first customer to enter loudly proclaimed their affection.

"Didn't you know? Boss Chu was out frying rice yesterday."

"What? Boss Chu has someone else? He's raising a wild man outside?"

"Pfft! What do you mean, wild man? It's not like Boss Chu did something wrong."

"We regulars aren't like those new wild outsiders," one long-time customer said with obvious pride.

Chu Bingbing's mouth twitched as she listened. Eating here even had a hierarchy? "They're the regulars, the new ones are wild outsiders. What does that make us?"

"You're one of us," Chu Shen said, stopping himself from calling them troublemakers who made him get up early on a Monday to cook massive portions of fried rice.

As the first wave of customers settled in, Yan and the others quietly took on the role of servers.

Each customer was served a small plate of fruit, containing a few strawberries and cherry tomatoes. The gesture left many customers in awe.

"Is this a new fruit platter? How much does it cost?"

"I remember that girl and her partner. Aren't they Boss Chu's friends? Are they helping out part-time?"

"No charge, it's a tasting," Yan explained.

"Wow, I can't believe I'm getting such a treat from Boss Chu. I have to try it!"

The restaurant didn't provide forks, so the customers dug in with their hands.

"Wow, these strawberries! I don't even know what to say. They taste just like the rich, flavorful ones I had as a kid. Sweet and tangy, absolutely amazing!"

"These cherry tomatoes are incredible too. They burst in your mouth, and the juiciness is just right!"

As ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍the seated customers excitedly ate the fruit, Yan noticed a man holding a selfie stick, filming as he walked in with the line. He spoke in an animated tone:

"Folks, who can relate? Did you hear about the legendary golden fried rice at the Bin City CG Expo yesterday? Today, I'm taking you to the restaurant of the chef behind that golden fried rice. Let's see if it's really as magical as they say!"

"If I find anything wrong, I'll definitely call out the food safety issues!"

Yan's heart skipped a beat. Was this guy here to cause trouble?