NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Favorability
"You have to show some respect. You should pay some money, even if it's just for killing a cat or a dog."
Liam said casually, "But like I said, it's just a minor injury. I won't bother with it. What's the point of a thousand dollars?"
"Yes, you've handled this matter in such a structured way," Olivia smiled approvingly.
Ryan, the person directly involved, was clearly upset. Liam continued in a condescending tone, "Ryan, you need to be more promising and stop being idle all day long. Do you know how hard it was for us to find you a job? I still had to treat people to dinner and drinks."
"That's right. Not only did you fail to properly thank your brother-in-law, but you also just wanted to cause trouble," Olivia chimed in.
"Alright, alright, let's leave it at that."
Sophia, acting like the reasonable one, added with a hint of sarcasm, "Ryan, you're all alone and helpless. Our family didn't ask for anything in return but made you a live-in son-in-law. We don't expect you to be more ambitious, but at least don't embarrass us, okay?"
"Got it, big sis!"
Ryan had been hurt by so many jabs by now that this one hardly made an impact. He simply nodded.
Lily brought out some fruit and cut it, and Sophia immediately pulled her aside into another room. As the eldest sister, she was sure to lecture Lily again.
"Make tea for your brother-in-law. Look at how much he cares about you. He even came to visit you specially. You don't appreciate it at all."
Olivia muttered something as she cursed under her breath.
Ryan made the tea and cursed inwardly, How dare they say that when they come to see me with nothing in their hands?
Liam, the eldest son-in-law, was a playboy and an unemployed layabout. However, his father was the principal of a government school, and his mother was the chief physician at a large hospital.
He was born into a privileged family, but he worked only when he felt like it—three days of work, two days off. He spent money extravagantly, a typical spendthrift.
He had also spent a lot of money to woo Sophia, and it was rumored that their wedding was a lavish affair. Arthur and Olivia both felt that their daughter had married well, as it was a marriage that carried status.
The influence of officialdom could not be ignored. Even though this son-in-law was a playboy and a freeloader, the fact that his family had such positions in society made it prestigious, and that pleased Arthur and Olivia.
After sipping a cup of tea, Liam suddenly became lively. "Mom, let me see your hand!" he said, reaching out eagerly.
Olivia extended her hand reluctantly, frowning. "What's so interesting about it? It's old and wrinkled."
"Who said that? Mom's hands are softer than a little girl's. They feel like silk," Liam teased, grabbing her hand and stroking it gently. "Mom, it would be a shame if you didn't wear some jewelry to complement such beautiful hands."
Olivia sighed, a trace of frustration crossing her face. "I only have a few old, worn-out pieces. Wearing them now would just be embarrassing. Besides, I don't have spare money to buy new ones."
"Mom, I saw a stunning bracelet the other day, but unfortunately, it was already reserved," Liam said, his tone smooth as he kept stroking her hand. "But don't worry—my friend's high-end store is getting custom pieces soon. I'll pick out something exquisite just for you."
"Really?" Olivia's face lit up before she quickly regained her composure. "You've just gotten married, and raising a child will cost a lot in the future. Don't waste money on unnecessary things."
"How could you call giving my mother-in-law a gift a waste?" Liam said with a playful grin, caressing her hand even more enthusiastically.
Olivia giggled, her mood visibly softening. In that moment, the two of them acted like conspirators, completely ignoring Ryan, who sat nearby as if invisible.
Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in Ryan's mind.
"Ding… Basic functions have been successfully activated. Displaying now."
"Ding… This function only works with people you know. It is ineffective on strangers."
Ryan blinked in shock, unsure if he was hallucinating. Above Liam's head, words appeared:
Favorability: 0% (Contempt, disdain).
Above Olivia's head, another line read: Favorability: 20% (Worse than a stranger, I look down on her from the bottom of my heart).
Ryan's thoughts were interrupted by footsteps descending the stairs. Liam and Olivia quickly separated, feigning innocence. Voices from upstairs echoed faintly, and Ryan glanced toward the source.
New lines appeared above the figures stepping into view.
Above his eldest sister, Sophia, it displayed: Favorability: 50% (I see him as a hired nanny, like any stranger).
When his wife, Lily, appeared, her face slightly flushed, the display above her read: Favorability: 75% (An ordinary couple, stable due to first love and a long-term bond—a boring sex partner).
In a trance, the notes suddenly disappeared, and Ryan felt a little tired.
"It takes energy to activate the display mode. It's usually hidden, but there will be a reminder when the favorability changes."
Ryan thought about it for a moment and realized it was a good idea. Otherwise, if he kept staring at the numbers above their heads, he would look like a madman.
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
Sophia, the eldest sister in the family, was worldly-wise and sweet-spoken. Not only did she know how to make Olivia smile, but she was also said to be able to charm her parents-in-law with ease.
Sophia and her husband claimed they came to see Ryan, but after eating, they left empty-handed. Olivia saw them go out to play cards.
The house grew quiet. Lily finally breathed a sigh of relief and nestled into her husband's arms, speaking softly, "Honey, my brother-in-law said the security guards at Tiger get paid very well once they become regular employees. His uncle is a senior executive there and can help."
"A stinking security guard talking like he's made of gold?"
Ryan thought about how his mother-in-law Olivia had smiled when Liam touched her hand, and he felt disgusted. He cursed, "I'm the one who's idle. I don't know where you got the confidence to lecture me."
"He's always acting like he's rich, pretending he's going to buy this and that, writing bad checks. Your mother is a fool, and she's falling for his empty words."
"Honey, calm down. That's just how she is. Just ignore her."
Lily leaned into Ryan's arms and said gently, "If it gets too bad, we can talk to Mom again. Maybe we could move out and rent a place of our own."
Her eyes lit up as she said this. After all, she longed to live in their own world, just the two of them.
"Don't talk about it anymore. You'll only get scolded. Your mom will definitely say we're wasting money."
Ryan knew his mother-in-law's double standards all too well. Besides, with the system's tasks available, it was clear that only those closest to the water would get the moon first. It would be foolish to move out.
"I'm used to it, but I still feel sorry for you."
As Lily spoke, she reached up and gently touched Ryan's face.
At that moment, Ryan felt a bit dazed. He looked at the woman in his arms—who had once seemed so plain—now appearing as his lovely wife. Her eyes, which had once seemed ordinary, now shone with tenderness and love.
Her body, once dry and frail, now felt soft and curvaceous against him.
After getting used to it for a day, Ryan's desire flared up as he looked at her pretty face and inhaled the faint scent of femininity. He gazed deeply into her eyes.
Lily lowered her head shyly, asking, "What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?"
"It's just that you're kind of pretty."
Ryan reached out, gently lifted her chin, and kissed her as Lily looked up at him in surprise.
(end of chapter)
[suggest a better name for the book.
Beast system: Wolf in the house doesnt seem right]