Reborn With a Money-Making System: Ruined Actress to Nation's Treasure-Chapter 70: When the System Becomes a Matchmaker (2)

’I’ve already gained twenty percent public favor, so why is my main quest progress still stuck at three percent?’ I asked with a frown.

[That’s because the quest "Become the Nation’s Treasure" depends on how the media and the public respond to your performances.]

[So far, only the staff from Roselle Beauty have seen your talent, but you don’t have a big enough audience yet.]

[Meanwhile, public favor can grow simply if the general public starts to like you, it doesn’t have to be based on your professional skill.]

’Alright, then what about fame?’ I asked again.

[Just like the name suggests, fame comes from recognition. No matter where it comes from—online, the media, or gossip, it all counts.]

[Since your video on Zentra+ has started gaining a lot of views, your name is slowly spreading now.]

I stared at the screen for a few seconds and sighed.

So basically, fame was about being known, public favor was about being liked, and "Nation’s Treasure" was about being admired.

Ugh. It was like playing three different games at once just to survive.

[Now, now, Host! Ask your HUSBAND about your date plan today!]

’Alright, alright! Stop yelling in my head!’ I shouted back mentally.

After the maid poured me a glass of apple juice, I quickly said, "Do you want to go to the mall with me?"

Then, before he could answer, I rushed to add, "But if you don’t feel like going out, that’s totally fine! I know you wanted to rest—"

"Okay."

Lando’s sudden answer caught me completely off guard.

"Wait, really?" I blinked at him.

He nodded slightly. "When do you want to go? Ten o’clock? We can have lunch there."

"Oh—oh ...." I stammered, still processing how easily he’d agreed. "Okay! Ten sounds perfect! But, um, I also want to buy some clothes and maybe a bit of makeup, so if you think that’s boring, then—"

"It’s fine," Lando said, setting down his cutlery. His gaze softened, but there was something firm behind it. "I don’t mind. Spending time with you doesn’t sound boring at all."

My heart skipped a beat. For a moment, I completely forgot Penny’s voice, the quest, and even the reward.

Day by day, I felt like my husband was turning into such a sweetheart that I was genuinely afraid I might get cavities from being exposed to his sweetness for too long.

His every action, whether it was remembering my favorite coffee, protecting me, or simply giving me a faint smile, felt like sugar melting straight into my heart.

"Then ... then, I’ll meet you outside at ten!" I said enthusiastically, my voice filled with excitement. "You should wear something casual today!"

Most of the time, whenever I saw him outside, he was always dressed like he’d just stepped out of a business magazine; suits, ties, and that perfect CEO aura that screamed I own the building you’re standing in.

It made sense, of course. He was always busy, and his work required that kind of image.

But today, I just wanted him to relax. I wanted to see him in something softer, maybe a white T-shirt and light jeans, or a loose linen shirt that made him look less like a billionaire and more like ... my husband.

My cheeks instantly grew warm at the thought that he was truly my husband.

[Now you finally admit that he’s your husband, not just a "friend."]

I groaned inwardly and replied in my mind, ’Well ... technically, we’re still friends, right? It’s not like we’ve done the usual couple stuff.’

The farthest we’d ever gone was holding hands, and friends did that too, didn’t they?!

We hadn’t even hugged yet, let alone ... kissed or—no, no, no! Scratch that! I was not thinking anything dirty about my sweet husband!

He was too gentle, too kind, someone who made me think of warm blankets and morning coffee, not ... that kind of thing! I just needed to keep my mind pure. Totally pure!

Then, I finally heard Lando’s voice. "Okay," he said easily, his tone calm yet warm. "We can wear something casual today."

After we agreed to leave at ten and I finished my breakfast, I quickly went back to my room to get ready. Since we were going for a casual look, I decided to wear something simple but still cute, something that would make me look effortless, not overdone.

I went with a white blouse tucked into a pair of light blue jeans, paired with my favorite sneakers. My hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and for the finishing touch, I added a small pair of earrings.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile, but the expression faded a little as old memories crept in.

The truth was, I didn’t have much dating experience. Back in high school, I was too busy studying and chasing my dream of becoming an actress. My schedule was packed with auditions, rehearsals, and acting classes, so there was simply no time for things like love or boys.

In my early twenties, I did go on a few dates, but every single one of them turned out to be awful. Most of the guys ended up trying to take me to a hotel, or at the very least, to their "empty apartment."

As someone who firmly believed that getting accidentally pregnant would be a nightmare, I always made sure to avoid doing anything weird before marriage.

It wasn’t that I was against love or intimacy, but I knew I had dreams to chase. Having a baby at such a young age would’ve been too much, especially when I was still climbing my way up to become a rising actress.

So, I always refused their advances, and for that, they didn’t take it well. They’d sneer and say things like, "You’re not even that pretty," or "You’re too flat to be worth touching."

It stung, of course it did. I was human after. But more than that, it made me furious. They were the ones who asked me out, so how was it suddenly my fault for not giving them what they wanted?

I just wanted to have a simple, cute date, like drinking coffee together or watching the sunset. But somehow, it always felt like ... if I didn’t give them my body at the end of the day, then it didn’t count as a "real" date to them.

So instead of going home smiling, I usually ended up throwing my coffee in their faces, or smacking them with my heavy handbag.

Honestly, it was almost becoming a tradition at that point.