Lifestyle System: I Got Rich by Just Living
Chapter 28: Earned Respect, Offered Belief

Chapter 28: Earned Respect, Offered Belief

| Ambrosia: When are you coming to the gym?

Soon, Ambrosia’s message popped up. He replied quickly: 15 minutes. And got back to his seat

"Sir Barkley really does enforce attendance, huh?" Jonathan mumbled while glancing Elise taking her seat as well.

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Task #19:

[✓] – Team Bonding Day: Share a moment. Build a bond. Make the team feel at home.

Status: Task Completed Successfully

You didn’t just lead a team—you built a bond they’ll remember.

Reward: $150,000 + Charisma +1

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No one held back while eating. They laughed, talked, and devoured their food with ease. Watching them—how open and relaxed they looked—Augustus felt it was the right moment to sneak away for his workout.

Of course, he hadn’t eaten much himself. Just enough to be present for the company. He knew Ambrosia would be waiting.

"Alright," he stood up, wiping his hands. "You guys enjoy. Feel free to play games or watch movies. I’ve got some business to attend to."

He glanced at Jonathan, who was leaning back in his chair, visibly full.

"I’ve sent you $5,000 for losing the bet. Take everyone out and—spend it well." The gamer blinked, stunned.

"Thank you, Augustus," he replied.

"You’ve got a habit of turning bad days around for people, huh?" Elise mumbled from the side, while Jasmine chimed in, "I’m 100% sure he does," she said softly.

Augustus smiled wryly, "Haha," and laughed it off with a soft nod, and turned to walk toward David’s cabin.

What he didn’t hear, though, were the hushed words that followed behind him.

"Thank you...Boss."

"I never thought a place like this could exist," someone whispered.

"This actually feels like a dream job," another agreed.

[Hidden Task Completed]

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[✓] – Earn Genuine Loyalty Without Force

| Reward: +1 Charisma (Permanent)

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Augustus turned his head toward the table, surprised by the completed hidden task window. Everyone genuinely smiled at him.

Augustus smiled back, a mixture of contentment and warmth visible in his eyes.

He had already earned their respect.

Even though he insisted on being called by name to keep things casual, they still understood the line between friendly and boundary.

And if Augustus ever demanded they call him "Boss" outright... they probably still would.

Just not to his face.

He walked into David’s cabin. The man had left earlier to handle some paperwork, and before heading to the gym, Augustus wanted to close out a pending task.

[×] – Find a job. Rest is earned, not endless. Stand up, suit up, and step into purpose.

David looked up from his desk as Augustus stepped in. "Hello, Augustus. How can I help you?" he asked with a gentle smile and quickly gestured for him to take a seat.

Augustus smiled faintly. "No worries, I’m here to ask—did you prepare the documentation for Crunch Studio ownership transfer?"

"Uhm, not yet. I’ve been a bit busy with all this new office work," he said, pointing toward the pile of papers scattered around the table.

"Haha, no problem. But let’s get it done by today. Also—did you think of an amount for the sale?" Augustus inquired.

David nodded. "Hmm... Yes. What do you think of $25,000?" he asked casually.

Augustus tilted his head thoughtfully. "If I may ask, how much debt are you in?"

David sighed, his small smile faltering "$30,000!"

"Then let’s make it $40,000 for 90% of Crunch Studio," Augustus said without missing a beat.

David blinked, caught off guard for a moment, then his face lit up as he slowly nodded in understanding. "T-thank you. Though... honestly, I’m not surprised by the raise."

Augustus narrowed his eyes slightly. "Huh? You were expecting that?" Then smiling lightly. "Anyway, I’ll be going to the gym now."

David chuckled. "I’ll swing by the old office and let the seven employees know about the new shift. Pretty sure they’ll be shocked with how much has changed—haha."

Augustus nodded warmly, and closed the door.

***

Augustus pulled the car up and parked in a street slot. The WhaleFit building was just a few meters ahead, but as he passed by a nearby cafe, loud voices spilled through the glass walls.

He stopped, frowning slightly.

Through the transparent window, he saw a fat man in a suit lashing out at a petite woman holding a laptop close to her chest, visibly tense.

"Don’t teach me how things work, you fool. I’ve been doing this for 20 years—if I say something doesn’t work, it doesn’t."

Augustus stood still, quietly observing.

He remembered how people had spoken to him the same way once, like he was beneath them. A faint frown tugged at his lips.

And before he could even decide to step in, the system panel flickered to life behind the glass wall.

Ding...

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Task #20:

[×] Help the woman and invest in her business

| Penalty: 2x her requested investment auto-donated to charity, help delayed is help denied.

Every empire starts with a decision to believe in something—or someone.

| Reward: $200,000 + Stakes in her company.

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A faint smile curled at his lips.

Without hesitation, he casually stepped into the cafeteria. A warm, coffee aroma filled the space.

His eyes swept across the room—the staff whispering while casting uneasy glances at the man, a few customers visibly disinterested or uncomfortable.

"What happened?" Augustus asked firmly, his voice directed at the woman, not the man. He didn’t jump to conclusions.

The fat man turned, scanning him up and down with an ugly expression.

"Nothing for you to worry about, kid. She pitched me her idea, and I’m asking her to make some small changes," he said, irritated.

"Now go away. We’re busy." He waved a hand dismissively.

"But sir," the petite woman hesitated, "y-you only listened for a few minutes and are asking me to make some major changes..." she said softly, her voice nearly trembling.

The man narrowed his eyes. "What now? You do understand I’m the one investing in your lousy idea, right? So you better listen."

Augustus tilted his head. His voice was calm, the opposite of the man’s.

"What’s your idea?" he asked, gently.

She hesitated again but then began pitching her practiced script. Her voice wavered at first but steadied as she spoke.

"I-it’s called SmartSnacks... B-basically, customizable snack boxes are designed for students, freelancers, and gym-goers who need something healthy, quick, and tailored to their energy needs.

The app tracks user preferences—like low-carb, high-protein, allergen-safe—and adapts weekly.

You can also connect it with fitness apps like ’WhaleFit’ or ’Thryve’ to auto-adjust snack plans based on recent workouts."

Augustus listened intently, nodding slowly as she spoke.

Then, turning toward the fat man, he asked, "And how much is this fa—friend asking?"

He caught himself mid-word. The fat man narrowed, eyes sharp at the slip.

"Mr. Karter... is asking for 70% of the stakes for $50,000..." she said, stealing a few glances between the two.

"My ask was 25% for the same amount."

Augustus didn’t blink.

"Alright," he said calmly. "I’ll invest $50,000 for 20%."

Karter burst into laughter. "Hahaha, nice joke, kid. I admit you look like you’re from a decent family, but you, forking out $50,000?"

He scoffed, then turned back to the woman, now clearly frustrated.

"Katherine, choose. Do you want investment from me, or this nobody who’s just playing games?"

He glared as he shoved another bite of burger into his mouth.

Katherine looked at Augustus, hesitation written all over her face.

He offered her a warm, silent smile. He wasn’t going to pressure her like the fat man did.

Karter noticed the indecision.

"Alright, I’m out of here," he growled, pretending to stand. He knew just how much pressure to apply.

"No, no... sir, please wait. I’ll take....