Queen of the Leaderboard: My Gifts, Their Glory

Nanhai City. The kitchen of Dakou Canteen in Wide and Narrow Alley. The kitchen in midsummer was like a steamer. Bai Qianqian tore off her greasy dishwashing apron and flung it aside distastefully, her movements sharp as if discarding something vile. The stove fire had her drenched in sweat; she wiped her forehead roughly with her sleeve, but sweat still trickled down her cheeks. Yet, this flustered heat did little to diminish her striking features—her clear, elegant eyebrows, straight nose, but with lips pressed tightly together and an icy demeanor that kept people at bay. Especially her eyes: still like water in a deep well, untouched by ripples, yet sharp and cold, as if they could slice through anyone’s hypocrisy in an instant. Just as she finished wiping her sweat, the kitchen door was kicked open with a bang. Lingering grease smoke filled the air as a drunk man stumbled in, reeking of alcohol and wearing a nauseating grin. "Hey, little girl, why’re you only back now?" Bai Qianqian’s eyes turned cold in an instant, as if frozen over. She stared at the man without a word, her gaze so sharp it could pierce through one’s facade. The drunk, oblivious to the danger, reached out to grab her shoulder—his hand greasy and disrespectful. "Looking for death." In a flash, she seized his wrist and twisted it hard. A distinct *crack* sounded, followed by the man’s piercing, pig-like squeal of pain. Bai Qianqian’s expression remained unchanged, her voice low and cold: "If you dare touch me again, I’ll break your claws for good." The drunk, sobered up halfway by fear, clutched his hand and scrambled out in a panic. The kitchen fell quiet again, save for the sizzling of oil in the wok. Bai Qianqian released her grip, her demeanor calm once more, but the chilling intensity lingered in the air, enough to send shivers down one’s spine. On this hot summer day, the kitchen heat was suffocating, like a tidal wave drowning everything. Bai Qianqian stood in front of the stove, a metal spatula in her hand stirring dishes in the wok. The spatula, seemingly licked by flames, was too hot for most to touch, yet Bai Qianqian felt nothing—her heart was ice-cold. Her boyfriend had broken up with her! Lu Zimian had broken up with her. The name echoed in her mind, stabbing at her heart like a thorn. They had grown up in the same village, the same age, sharing desks from elementary school to high school—childhood sweethearts. Twenty years of feelings, severed just because she was now washing dishes in a kitchen, with no so-called "future." The kitchen had no iron cage, but the metal spatula in her hand felt heavier and hotter than any prison, as if branding her insides with pain. *Bang!* Bai Qianqian slammed the plate in her hand onto the floor, shattering it to pieces. Her face was tense, anger mingled with sorrow, and a sour ache welled up in her eyes. "No future?" she sneered under her breath, her voice choked. "Lu Zimian, you make it sound so easy. If it weren’t for your family spending all their money on your mother’s treatment, leaving nothing for your education, would I be here washing dishes in this damned place? Seven years! Seven whole years, I scrimped and saved to put you through college and then graduate school. And what did I get in the end? You*******?" She looked down at her hands, pale and cracked from years of soaking in water, old knife scars marking their backs. Though still young, they looked a decade older, worn down by time and toil. In that moment, she felt nothing but hatred. Hatred for Lu Zimian’s heartlessness, and even more for her own blindness. She had given her money, her youth, and in the end, hadn’t even received a kind word. She glanced into the dining area. At 1 p.m., everyone was resting. Only she was stuck in this sweltering kitchen, washing dishes like her life depended on it. Why was she working so hard? All for Lu Zimian. Over the past few years, Lu Zimian had occasionally posted self-made videos online. Thanks to his decent looks and figure, he gradually accumulated 500,000 followers. After graduating with his master’s degree and unable to find an ideal job, he decided to try livestreaming. Ten days ago, Lu Zimian called Bai Qianqian and shared his idea. He also mentioned that being a streamer required equipment and space, which would cost around 30,000 yuan. For Lu Zimian, Bai Qianqian asked her boss for an advance on her monthly salary and transferred the money to him for renting a place. Then, she got a credit card and used its limit to buy** equipment. She was working extra hours midday now just to earn more money to pay off the 20,000 yuan credit card debt next month. Bai Qianqian never expected that her efforts would be repaid not with gratitude but with a breakup. At this moment, she hated! Hated Lu Zimian, and hated herself even more. Hated herself for believing in love! Hated herself for saving money only to give it to someone else! Hated herself for knowing only how to give without expecting anything in return! "Heh, livestreaming? I’m a complete and utter fool," Bai Qianqian muttered bitterly. These past few days, she had been following Lu Zimian’s livestreams. His earnings were decent, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand yuan daily—far more than what she made washing dishes. Initially, Bai Qianqian thought Lu Zimian wouldn’t look down on her just because he was making money. Now, she realized she was wrong, terribly wrong! *Rumble…* Thunder echoed across the sky! The once clear sky was instantly shrouded in dark clouds. Bai Qianqian looked up. *Boom!* Another earth-shattering roar followed. Bai Qianqian saw a bolt of light shooting straight toward her. The lightning arrived in an instant, giving her no time to dodge. Yet, she wasn’t harmed at all. [Ding] [Tip Return System Bound] [First-tier system function activated] Any amount you tip online today will be returned tenfold at 00:00 the next day. [To prevent you from having money but no life to enjoy it, you are gifted a Creation Bone-Rebuilding Pill for skin as fine as new.] Bai Qianqian stood frozen in place. Raindrops pattered against her face, but she didn’t react. It took her a long moment to process it. A system—she had obtained a system. Bai Qianqian looked at the golden pill in her hand and laughed heartily. "Ha. Haha. Lu Zimian, you’ll regret this." Without hesitation, Bai Qianqian swallowed the pill. It melted in her mouth, transforming into a warm flow that spread throughout her body. She felt the calluses on her hands fading away, her skin becoming smooth and delicate, as soft as silk. She couldn’t help but touch her face—it felt like jade, tender and flawless. --