A crisp notification chime sounded abruptly in Zhang Yang's mind.

"Host has successfully accepted the triggered mission, 'Mi Xue's Peril.' This mission is rated Level Three. System notification: This mission will spontaneously activate within ten days. Host is advised not to stray far from the primary character, Mi Xue, during this period!"

The mechanical female voice had also become clearer, at least much more pleasant than the stiff tone from before.

"I want to know, what kind of danger will Mi Xue face in this mission?"

Zhang Yang asked urgently in his mind. Having accepted the mission, this was the question he most desired an answer to.

Knowing Mi Xue's danger in advance would allow him to better prepare and avoid undesirable outcomes.

"Apologies, this query cannot be answered. The Host simply needs to remain closely attached to the key figure, Mi Xue, for ten days. This will facilitate direct response when the mission requirements manifest!"

The mechanical voice offered another reminder, but Zhang Yang was already completely stunned.

He had accepted the task but didn't receive the desired outcome, and now he had to shadow Mi Xue for ten days. Mi Xue was just a young girl; what excuse could he possibly use to follow her around?

"The optimal method is to maintain twenty-four-hour close proximity. Based on my calculations, maintaining a twenty-hour close escort will give the Host a mission success probability exceeding ninety percent!"

As Zhang Yang pondered, the mechanical voice spoke again, causing him to nearly close his eyes and faint on the spot.

Twenty-four hours of constant close following—even lovers couldn't manage that! He couldn't possibly trail Mi Xue into the restroom or while she was bathing. If he did that, he wouldn't even last ten days before being chased away as a creep. Even if Mi Xue harbored some feelings for him, she wouldn't tolerate such pursuit.

"What if it's just during the daytime?"

Zhang Yang stared at the virtual mission panel before him with profound exasperation. The entry for 'Mi Xue's Peril' had now turned red, signifying that the mission was currently active.

The mechanical voice responded slowly, "If you follow her continuously during the day, there is still a significant chance of success, at least sixty percent. Level One to Three triggered missions are not highly difficult; as long as the Host's luck isn't disastrously bad, they should be manageable!"

"Luck... My luck seems rather mediocre," Zhang Yang murmured softly. If his luck were good, he wouldn't have been in that plane crash that wiped out his promising future.

Thinking of this, he recalled the Luck Index under his character attributes. It seemed to be the lowest among all stats, standing at a mere five points.

"Does personal luck have any correlation with the Luck Index in the system data?" Zhang Yang inquired again.

"System data reflects the Host's inherent capabilities. The Luck Index in the data represents the Host's luck in reality. Based on the current value, the Host's luck is not good. This will lower the probability of mission success. The exact reduction can only be calculated once the Knowledge Base is unlocked!"

The mechanical voice's reply immediately chilled Zhang Yang’s spirits. His luck really was poor.

With this level of luck, the completion probability would already be reduced. If he couldn't maintain close proximity continuously, he only had a sixty percent chance; a further drop would push that hope even lower.

Zhang Yang cursed the system internally for being a sham. It called Level One to Three missions 'simple,' yet the success rate might only be fifty percent—how was that simple?

He knew that if this mission failed, not only would Mi Xue face serious danger, but he would suffer consequences too. If that happened, his already low attribute values would drop significantly, and if any of them hit zero, he would be completely finished.

"The best course of action remains following Mi Xue as closely as possible, as advised!"

The mechanical voice chimed again, but this time Zhang Yang sensed a hint of playful amusement in it, as if it knew his recent thoughts and was chuckling at him.

"Fine, return to the Main Control Panel!"

Zhang Yang nodded stiffly, and the view before him snapped back to the area displaying the five segmented panels. Since the mission was accepted, he had to figure out a way to complete it successfully. Abandoning a mission was equivalent to failure, and the current Zhang Yang could not afford the consequences of failure.

He had to complete this mission.

On the Main Control Panel, only the 'Abilities' section was still glowing. The mission segment no longer flashed; Zhang Yang presumed this was because he had already opened it, and there was no new content inside.

"Open the Abilities Panel!"

Zhang Yang commanded slowly. The green virtual screen immediately opened, showing only two entries under the Abilities section.

One was 'Zhang Family Qigong,' followed by an ability value of 23. The other was 'Traditional Chinese Medicine Skills,' with a value of 38. Both figures were not exactly low.

"Ability values only begin to be rewarded for Level Four missions and above. However, the ability values can change as the Host’s own capabilities improve. When the Host’s real-world capability increases, these corresponding values will also change!"

The mechanical voice reminded him. Zhang Yang slowly nodded, having understood much more by now. These values corresponded to his real self. Currently, his medical skills were strongest. The ancestral Qigong, while crucial, had seen its value decrease significantly due to his diminished real-world power.

Zhang Yang asked again, "If completing missions increases ability values, will my real-world abilities also receive corresponding enhancements?"

"Correct. This is a Personal Growth Assistance System. All numerical values exist to aid the Host's growth. Changes here will result in enhancements to the Host’s real-world capabilities!"

"I understand. But how do I dismiss this screen? Does it have to stay visible before my eyes?"

After reviewing the Abilities panel, Zhang Yang had a general grasp of the system. Anything further he needed to know would likely have to wait until he leveled up and unlocked the Knowledge Base.

"You can dismiss the display of the Main Control Panel anytime you wish; a single thought is all it takes!"

The mechanical voice now sounded faintly flirtatious, a stark contrast to its initial rigidity. Zhang Yang finally noticed that this tone was much more comfortable to listen to.

"Good, cancel display!"

Zhang Yang silently commanded in his mind, and the virtual screen that had been persistently floating before his eyes finally vanished.

"Zhang Yang!"

As soon as he regained focus, Zhang Yang saw Mi Xue’s concerned gaze. The taxi had stopped, and Hu Xin, sitting in the front passenger seat, was also craning his neck, looking at Zhang Yang worriedly.

"What's wrong with you two?"

Zhang Yang asked hastily. He glanced out the window; the taxi had reached the main school gate.

"You ask what's wrong with us? What happened to you? We called you, but you wouldn't answer, just nodding a few times!" Hu Xin immediately exclaimed, though a trace of relief flickered in his eyes—Zhang Yang was finally speaking. They had been calling out to him for quite some time. If Zhang Yang hadn't spoken soon, he suspected they might have suggested sending him back to the hospital, an idea Mi Xue had already floated.

"I was just lost in thought over a problem, my apologies!"

Zhang Yang showed a flicker of apology instantly. He had been too absorbed in communicating with the system, neglecting his surroundings. Moreover, Mi Xue and Hu Xin had only called him softly a few times without touching him, which was why he hadn't snapped out of it sooner. They had been so cautious and quiet because of Zhang Yang’s previous behavior in the hospital; when he was there, he had only glanced at Hu Xin and the others before collapsing unconscious. Naturally, they didn't dare startle him now.

"What were you thinking about that held your attention so completely?" Mi Xue asked directly.

"Nothing much. Mi Xue, where are you staying now?"

Zhang Yang shook his head and immediately asked. His mind was consumed by the new mission he had just accepted. The mission indicated Mi Xue would face danger, but the specifics remained hidden.

"Why, I'm staying in the girls' dormitory, of course!"

Mi Xue looked up at Zhang Yang in surprise. She thought he already knew where she lived.

Zhang Yang blurted out instantly, "The girls' dormitory? Then can you move out? Preferably somewhere closer to where we live!"

The moment he finished speaking, Zhang Yang froze. Hu Xin stared at him with sheer disbelief, his eyes even holding a hint of admiration. Incredible! he thought. How did I never notice how bold this guy is? He’s only just started something, and he’s already suggesting she move out with him.

Zhang Yang also froze, regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth. He was no longer the famous young diamond bachelor physician; he was just a student now. Furthermore, it wasn't 2012; it was 1998. While many girls were more open-minded in this era, it hadn't reached the point where a single request would convince someone to just leave with you.

"This, I didn't mean anything else by it, just that I wanted to look after you for a while!"

Zhang Yang quickly tried to explain, then immediately regretted that explanation too. Explanations only complicated things and made the situation more ambiguous. Mi Xue had already lowered her head; even a straightforward girl couldn't handle such a direct invitation well.

"I can move out, but the most we can be is roommates—one room each. Also, I won't be staying long. You don't need to look after me; I will look after you during this time," Mi Xue said in a very low voice, her head still bowed. Hu Xin's eyes widened; he couldn't believe Mi Xue had agreed.

He remembered an incident where a boy had confessed to Mi Xue and tried to make a move, only to be kicked squarely in the groin by her. That boy had wailed miserably for hours, and even now, anyone who witnessed that event instinctively tensed their legs. Yet, this girl had agreed to Zhang Yang’s request—a request to live together outside the dorms.

"Deal, as long as it’s only for ten days!"

Zhang Yang immediately nodded. Mi Xue’s agreement was unexpected. But agreement was good; it meant they could be closer, significantly increasing the mission success rate. Although he couldn't maintain 24-hour close contact, they would at least be living in the same place. When he first made the suggestion, Zhang Yang only hoped to live nearby, with being neighbors being the best outcome. He hadn't expected it to escalate to cohabitation. Cohabitation meant living under the same roof, bringing them much closer indeed.

…………

Still requesting recommendation votes! A new week is about to begin, and Xiao Yu will start his push for rankings. This week is crucially important for Xiao Yu in every aspect. I implore everyone!