"One more suitor?"
"What does that mean?"
Kobe Gray blinked, deliberately playing dumb, as if he didn't understand what Brianna Monroe was hinting at.
Before she could explain further, he caught sight of a familiar figure approaching from a distance.
Sophia Laurent was coming back.
"My friend's back, senior. Let's talk about it tomorrow at school."
He gave Brianna a quick nod, then lifted his hand and waved toward Sophia. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked off.
Brianna Monroe watched him go for a second before quietly stepping away in the opposite direction.
…
"That girl… wasn't she the saleswoman from the cosmetics store earlier?"
Sophia Laurent slowed her steps slightly, glancing back at Brianna's retreating figure. There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
Kobe didn't hide anything.
"Yeah. She's actually my first love's roommate. I didn't recognize her back in the store."
First love.
The words landed softly, but they stirred something sharp in Sophia's chest.
A faint, uninvited sense of unease crept in.
Everyone knew what a first love meant to a man. Something unforgettable. Something that lingered no matter how much time passed.
She had just begun to steady her footing with Kobe Gray… and now, suddenly, that shadow had reappeared.
Worse, the roommate had approached him while she was gone.
'Was she trying to pass along a message?'
'Trying to bring them back together?'
Sophia hesitated, then asked carefully,
"How did you two break up?"
Kobe pressed his lips together, as if weighing his words.
'How am I supposed to explain this…?'
'Would she even believe me if I said it was because I was poor?'
He stayed silent for a moment too long.
Sophia immediately felt she had overstepped.
w
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked that," she said quickly, her voice softening.
"I was just curious. I didn't mean anything by it. Please don't take it to heart…"
Kobe looked at her, a faint smile forming.
There was something strangely satisfying about seeing someone like her apologize so sincerely. It meant he mattered, at least a little.
Otherwise, she wouldn't bother.
"It's fine," he said gently.
"There's nothing I can't talk about. It's just… a bit embarrassing."
Then he told her everything.
About repeating a year of high school for Isabella Sinclair. About standing at the school gate, only to be dumped in front of everyone.
Sophia listened quietly, her brows knitting together.
"She looked down on you because you were… poor?"
Her tone carried disbelief.
She had met plenty of so-called rich heirs before. But none of them compared to Kobe.
The way he spent money… casually, generously… without hesitation.
If someone like him was considered poor, then that girl's standards were beyond unreasonable.
Her gaze shifted to his simple outfit, then back to his face.
Something clicked.
'He must be one of those low-key rich types…'
'He never shows off, so people misunderstand him…'
Her thoughts quickly aligned into a neat conclusion.
'Just like in those dramas. Hiding his identity to find someone who truly loves him.'
She felt oddly pleased with herself for figuring it out.
At the same time, another thought surfaced.
'He already gave me such an expensive gift… if I keep asking for things, he might get annoyed.'
'Better to give something back… show him I'm not just after his money.'
With that, she slipped her arm through his and smiled brightly.
"Honestly, it's a good thing you broke up with her. She's way too materialistic. A relationship should be pure, not built on things like that."
Kobe nodded along, but inwardly, he almost laughed.
'Not materialistic?'
'We just met, and you already had me buying expensive coffee and cosmetics…'
Of course, he kept that to himself.
With the system backing him, none of that mattered anymore.
If anything…
He preferred it.
The more materialistic they were, the better.
More spending meant more cashback.
…
"Come on," Sophia said, tugging him gently. "Let's get you some proper clothes."
She glanced at his outfit again, clearly dissatisfied.
"You guys are terrible at dressing yourselves. I'll pay this time, so don't even try to argue."
Kobe didn't protest.
On the contrary, he was secretly delighted.
He couldn't earn cashback from spending on her anyway. If she wanted to pay, why would he refuse?
Sophia moved quickly, her taste sharp and decisive.
In just over an hour, she had picked out several outfits for him and even dragged him into a salon for a haircut.
By the time they were done, she had spent over five hundred dollars.
And the result…
Even Kobe was stunned.
He had always had strong features, but before, they were hidden beneath messy hair and careless styling. He used to look like a tired bookworm, buried in studies.
Now, everything had changed.
Standing in front of the mirror, he almost didn't recognize himself.
Clean-cut hair. Sharp jawline. Broad shoulders framed perfectly by fitted clothes.
At 6'1", he carried himself with an effortless presence.
He looked… refined. Confident.
Attractive.
Sophia stood behind him, her heartbeat quickening.
She couldn't look away.
Kobe tilted his head slightly, studying his reflection.
'Holy crap… I actually look like this?'
'So it really is about presentation… I've been living like a caveman.'
A slow grin spread across his face.
That simple expression made Sophia's heart skip.
[ Sophia Laurent Favorability +1 ]
[ Sophia Laurent Favorability +1 ]
[ Sophia Laurent Favorability +1 ]
[ Sophia Laurent Favorability +1 ]
[ Sophia Laurent Favorability +1 ]
< DING >
[ Favorability has increased to 55. ]
[ Congratulations, host. You have earned 5 points. ]
Kobe's eyes flickered.
So that was it.
Money alone couldn't push things further once it passed fifty.
At that level, it wasn't about transactions anymore.
It was about attraction.
'So from here on… it's all about personal charm.'
That realization made things far more interesting.
A thought suddenly crossed his mind.
'Then what about Isabella Sinclair?'
'How much does she actually like that bald guy?'
< DING >
[ Host's thoughts detected. ]
[ 1 point can be exchanged to view another person's favorability toward a specified target. ]
Kobe blinked in surprise.
The system was… responsive.
Almost too responsive.
Since he couldn't afford anything else anyway, he made his decision without hesitation.
"System," he said inwardly, "redeem it. I want to see Isabella Sinclair's feelings for that bald man."