Chapter 1: If You Think You Can Do Better, Go Ahead

In the early morning, the vibrating alarm jolted Jiang Zheng awake. He grabbed his phone and swiftly silenced the alarm. Glancing at his still-slumbering roommate, Jiang Zheng climbed out of bed as quietly as possible.

For a young man, washing up didn’t take long—ten minutes or so was enough. After getting himself ready, Jiang Zheng gently opened the door and closed it softly behind him. Today was the weekend. No classes at the university meant that most people were still asleep, but Jiang Zheng was up early.

Today was his work-study day. His boss had specifically told him to arrive early, and Jiang Zheng dared not be late. University life offered plenty of free time, and aside from his studies, Jiang Zheng spent his weekends working part-time. He didn’t earn much, but over time, his savings could help lighten his family’s burden.

Jiang Zheng came from an ordinary family—not poor, but far from wealthy. His parents provided his living expenses in full, never withholding a cent. Still, Jiang Zheng felt he had grown up; he couldn’t keep asking his family for everything. Since he had the time and ability, he chose to earn a little money himself, whether to cover living costs or indulge his hobbies.

His work-study job was in the city, so Jiang Zheng took the bus. The journey from his university to his workplace took more than half an hour—not exactly far. Soon he arrived, got off the bus, and headed toward a distant shopping mall.

His job was to don a mascot costume, hand out flyers, and interact with people. Today, he wore a bear suit, which looked a bit bulky, stuffed with cotton all around. The appearance was adorable, but inside, Jiang Zheng suffered. The costume, cute as it looked, was heavy and stifling. During the height of summer, within twenty minutes he would be drenched in sweat.

It was hard work, but the pay was better than simply handing out flyers. Many people avoided the job because it was so tiring, but Jiang Zheng welcomed it. Compared to handing out flyers for seventy or eighty yuan a day, wearing the mascot suit doubled the wages. Jiang Zheng didn’t work part-time during the week, only taking on jobs when he was free on weekends. Not every weekend offered work; sometimes, it depended on luck.

The boss at this shop was always glad to hire Jiang Zheng because he was diligent, conscientious, and never cut corners. Jiang Zheng preferred such short-term, well-paid jobs, even if they were exhausting.

Wandering through the mall, Jiang Zheng posed for photos with children and adults alike, handing out many flyers. Suddenly, cries of alarm and terrified screams erupted. On the other side of the mall, chaos broke out as people scattered in panic, scurrying like ants in all directions.

Through the eyeholes of his costume, Jiang Zheng saw what was happening nearby—a fierce-looking man, wielding a knife, was slashing at the crowd. Blood stained the floor; someone had already been injured. The assailant had no clear target; he swung his knife at anyone who came near.

At that moment, a man stepped forward to confront the attacker. Jiang Zheng could see that this brave soul was doing his best to subdue the assailant. But facing a blade with bare hands, he was at a disadvantage. Unable to overpower the attacker, he could only dodge the flurry of knife strikes.

With the attacker distracted, the crowd’s panic subsided a little. People began to calm down, cheering the courageous man on. Soon, however, he was wounded; blood blossomed across his sleeve. Watching, Jiang Zheng couldn’t help but mutter, “Why didn’t he dodge? This is bad now!”

Suddenly, someone beside him snapped, “Easy for you to say! If you’re so capable, why don’t you go up there?”

Jiang Zheng wanted to retort that he hadn’t meant it that way. But before he could, a voice sounded in his mind:

[System activated! The “If You Can, You Go” System is at your service.
Beep! Host is being taunted—mission initiated!
Mission: Subdue the assailant within one minute.
Temporary skills: Martial Arts Master—exceptional combat skills.
Robust Physique—greatly enhanced physical strength.]

For a moment, Jiang Zheng felt something change within him, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what. The sudden appearance of the system didn’t shock him; in fact, he accepted it quickly.

The assailant grew even more frenzied. Security and police had yet to arrive. The brave man, wounded, struggled more and more to avoid the attacker’s blows.

Jiang Zheng charged forward.

“Hey, don’t be reckless! Come back!” the bystander who had just scolded him now shouted in alarm.

But Jiang Zheng, his bear head wobbling, was already rushing ahead. Seeing someone else approach, the attacker’s face twisted with rage and he turned to slash at Jiang Zheng.

Yet in Jiang Zheng’s eyes, the assailant’s movements seemed strangely slow, as if in slow motion. Before he’d even planned a response, Jiang Zheng’s body moved instinctively. He gripped the attacker’s wrist with precision, his other hand striking the man’s arm.

With a sharp cry of pain, the attacker’s grip loosened and the knife fell. Jiang Zheng swiftly twisted the man’s arm behind his back, kicked his leg, and forced him to the floor. He pinned the attacker down, holding him firm.

“Incredible!” blurted the man who’d taunted Jiang Zheng moments before. He’d only meant to provoke him, never expecting such a display.

The entire ordeal was over in seconds. Before the crowd could even react, Jiang Zheng had the assailant pinned and struggling on the ground. Even Jiang Zheng himself was stunned. His actions had been clean and efficient, each move precise, but his mind was blank—he had no idea how he’d managed it.

“Thanks, brother!” said the brave man who had first confronted the attacker. If not for Jiang Zheng, he might have been seriously hurt.

Jiang Zheng, coming back to himself, simply shook his head in silence. Then, applause and cheers erupted throughout the mall. With the assailant subdued, others found their courage and rushed over to help restrain him. Soon after, the police arrived. The incident had happened so quickly that their prompt arrival was already impressive, but sometimes, all it took was a few moments for disaster to unfold.

Seeing the police, Jiang Zheng quietly slipped away. He didn’t want to get involved—some things were hard to explain. How could an ordinary college student suddenly possess such extraordinary fighting skills? He could lie, but one lie would only require more to cover it up.

So Jiang Zheng decided to let his deeds remain anonymous. Luckily, he was still in the mascot costume; no one knew who he was. He found his boss, changed out of the bear suit, and his work shift was over. After collecting his wages, Jiang Zheng left the mall.

[Mission complete. Please choose your reward: Martial Arts Master / Robust Physique.]

On the way back, Jiang Zheng stared at the system’s settlement screen, lost in thought. Was the system’s reward only a temporary skill?

Recalling the surge of power he’d felt, Jiang Zheng’s heart burned with excitement. What boy hasn’t dreamed of being a hero? If only he could choose both skills.

But Jiang Zheng was clear-headed—if he could have both, there wouldn’t be a choice. He hesitated, gazing at the two options. Martial Arts Master was tempting, granting him the prowess of a true expert. But Robust Physique was also appealing—after all, a strong body is the foundation for everything.