Lust System: Harem in Modern World

As they were talking, they arrived at a mobile phone store. Vera pulled out her phone, her cheeks flushed. It was an old Redmeep model, its screen cracked and worn.

The repairman glanced at it and smiled. "My dear, this model has been out for nearly ten years. It's a miracle it still works. If it's broken, you should just get a new one. No need to bother with repairs."

Vera shifted uncomfortably. "But it can still be used after it's fixed!"

The repairman shook his head. "Parts for this model are hard to come by. Honestly, you should consider getting a new one."

Vera took the phone back, her expression a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Ryan looked at her with a slight frown. "Vera, did you really use the money just to fix this phone?"

"Yes, otherwise I won't have any way to contact people."

Vera sighed. "I left it under my pillow, but somehow, the screen got smashed while I was sleeping."

She was still in school, and her family was strict about not allowing her to use a phone. This was the only one she could use to stay in touch with others, a hand-me-down that Olivia had given her, originally bought by Sophia. She could make calls and send messages, but it was barely functional for anything else. To Vera, it was precious.

Ryan wasn't sure whether to be amused by her simplicity or annoyed at her mother's stinginess for giving such a phone to a smart, hardworking student.

"Get a new one. You won't find parts for this one easily anymore."

"Mom won't agree."

Vera looked down, her voice small. "My older sisters said the same thing. They said it would be distracting, but other students have the same problem."

Ryan felt a frustration he didn't want to voice. It was true—why should she be so strict when Vera was already in high school? What era were they living in? Her overprotectiveness was almost archaic. While other parents spoiled their daughters, she chose not to. And now, Vera had to deal with embarrassment among her peers.

"By the time this phone came out, your second sister probably hadn't even started her period," Ryan joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Vera blushed at the comment. "I remember I was still in primary school back then,"

Vera was in her rebellious phase. Ryan's impression of her was that she always argued with her mother and sisters whenever she returned home for the weekends. Being at the bottom of the family hierarchy, even Lily lectured her, which was quite pitiful.

To be honest, Olivia, his mother-in-law, was overbearing. She spoiled her eldest daughter far too much. The broken phone she had given Vera was an insult—it was hardly better than what she might give a beggar. If Ryan were anyone else, he would have already confronted her about it.

Ryan glanced at the time and said, "Vera, you don't have much time before lunch. Let me take you out first, and then I'll head to Digital City in the afternoon. You'll be on vacation in two days, so you can go home and pick it up then."

"Brother-in-law, here's the money!"

Vera quickly shoved a small red envelope into his hand.

She was a sensible and well-behaved sister-in-law, making her easy to like. But Ryan noticed how her little hands tightened around the envelope, clearly reluctant to give it away.

Ryan pushed the red envelope back with a smile. "Keep it as pocket money. I've got some spare change as your brother-in-law."

"Thank you, brother-in-law!" Vera's face lit up as she tucked the envelope away, giving him a smile so sweet that Ryan felt his heart flutter.

Her favorite foods were from FKC and MDconald's, so Ryan took her to a nearby restaurant for lunch and then dropped her back at school. The two of them felt a bit awkward around each other, since they weren't very familiar, and small talk didn't come easily. But Ryan couldn't deny he enjoyed the envious glances and jealous looks from passersby as he walked around with such a beautiful young woman.

After lunch, he headed to Digital City, where he asked around for repair options. When most people saw the battered phone, they shook their heads. Luckily, a technician took a look and said, "I actually have a spare part in the back that might fit."

The phone was in such bad shape that no one would want it, even if it were sold for 30 dollars. Repairing it cost 300 dollars. It felt like a complete rip-off.

After the repair was finished, Ryan smacked his forehead. What a fool he was! He actually went through with it. When had he become so shortsighted?

But the way Vera had looked when talking about that broken phone—the hurt in her eyes and the envy when she mentioned her classmates—made him rethink. This was an opportunity to get closer to her.

The chance to earn her trust would come in time, and it was better to start now. He was determined to help raise her in comfort, ensuring that she wasn't taken advantage of. If his mother-in-law didn't spoil her beautiful daughter, then as her brother-in-law, it was his responsibility to step in.

Vera had used her own savings to repair the phone, simply because she was afraid of being scolded if she told Olivia. It would be so much better if Ryan played the role of a caring older brother.

Ryan suddenly remembered something about his mother-in-law. If Olivia woke up and recalled the conversation from last night, would it affect her opinion of him?

In the private room of the teahouse, the sound of Ludo clattering filled the air. Ryan pushed the door open abruptly. Olivia, who had her back to him, didn't see him enter. Startled, she muttered, "You're so slow with the water. You make a fortune every day; can't you hire someone to help?"

"Mom!" Ryan called out.

Olivia's body tensed, and the tiles in her hand slipped onto the table. She quickly rearranged them, turned around, and gave her son-in-law a guilty look. "Why did you come in so suddenly?"

Charlotte, a young woman at the table, added with a mocking tone, "You come here all the time. Even your own son doesn't show up this much. You're really something."

Ryan smiled and greeted everyone politely. He set down a gift bag and said softly, "Mom, you mentioned that the table is too heavy and it makes your hands sore when you play. I got you a lighter one to try."

The other three players exchanged glances and frowned when they saw the brand on the bag. They knew Olivia's nature well enough to predict she'd show off again.

Ryan left right after setting down the gift, relieved to see his mother-in-law's favorability rating was still at 50%.

When Ryan got home, he found it amusing that Olivia had locked the master bedroom door, which she never did. Was she afraid he'd come in and replace the battery of her broken vibrator?

A smirk spread across Ryan's face at the thought, and he found himself wondering how to trigger the next part of the quest line.

He came to Vera bedroom again and took out her snow-white panties, but there was no reaction. Ryan didn't have a fetish, but he licked her several times in a perverted way, but there was no reaction at all.

Unwilling to give up, Ryan came to his Sophia's room. Sophia seldom stayed here but there were clothes for changing here. He thought about the tall and straight beautiful legs of his sister-in-law wrapped in black stockings and found the panties she hadn't worn for a long time.

The lace design with hollowed-out edges made people imagine a lot, but the system remained silent even after licking my lips until they were dry.

"What went wrong??"

Lying on the bed in disappointment, Ryan was puzzled as to why his mother-in-law's panties could trigger task as soon as he took them in his hands, but his elder and younger sisters-in-law's panties could not be tasked by system.

Bored, he watched his sister-in-law's broken phone. He thought about hiding it so no one else would see, since she was afraid of being scolded and had quietly asked for his help.

But as soon as Ryan picked up the phone, his curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but open it to take a look.