Chapter 1

The sun was high in the sky.

Warm sunlight filtered through the curtain seams and fell on Zhang Xian's handsome face.

He shifted position, avoiding the annoying sunlight that had intruded into his room without permission.

Go back to sleep!

"Xiaoxian, Xiaoxian, wake up and eat!"

A childlike voice rang out, but the woman who entered Zhang Xian's room was nearly 160 cm tall and delicately pretty.

Her physique and appearance were completely at odds with her voice.

It felt like an adult had been fitted with a child's "sound card."

And not only her voice—her clothes were printed with garish cartoon characters, the kind only young children would like.

"Let me sleep a little longer~"

Normally, someone woken from sleep might be irritable, but Zhang Xian's tone held no annoyance whatsoever; instead, there was a hint of coyness.

"No, no!"

"The sun's already on your butt!"

"And Dad said you have an interview today!"

The woman yanked off Zhang Xian's blanket, then hurried to the window and pulled back the curtains—her movements seamless, clearly something she'd done many times before.

Zhang Xian sighed, yawned, and rolled over to sit up on the bed.

If anyone else had woken him, it wouldn't have gone this smoothly—but this woman was different: she was Zhang Xian's third sister, Zhang Zhaodi, twenty-five years old, yet mentally stuck at age nine.

That year, nine-year-old Zhang Zhaodi and six-year-old Zhang Xian were playing by the river when Zhang Xian accidentally fell in.

The nine-year-old Zhang Zhaodi used all her strength to lift her brother, trying to push him onto the shore, but her strength was too weak; she failed, and herself drowned and passed out.

Fortunately, their splashing caught the attention of a fisherman, who pulled both children out. Zhang Xian, constantly held aloft by his sister, suffered no harm.

Zhang Zhaodi nearly lost her life. Though rescued at the hospital, her brain suffered irreversible neuronal death from prolonged oxygen deprivation, leaving her intelligence permanently fixed at age nine.

Thus, Zhang Xian, deeply grateful to this sister who had saved his life, never once lost his temper with her. Even though she was childish and often did absurd, laughable things, he treated her with boundless tolerance and patience.

After all, if not for saving him, his third sister wouldn't be like this.

He threw on a random T-shirt and paired it with breathable black athletic pants, stretched lazily, and stepped out of the cramped bedroom.

The living room and dining area were one space; the eight-legged table held breakfast: boiled eggs, white rice porridge, large buns, and pickled vegetables.

Zhang Xian casually pulled out a chair and sat down.

Behind him, Zhang Zhaodi sat on the old imitation rosewood sofa, turned on the TV, and began watching the cartoon "Bala Bala Little Fairy."

"Little Fairy, transform!"

"Defeat the Great Demon King..."

Zhang Zhaodi watched the cartoon, waving her arms and mumbling to herself.

"Where's old Zhang?"

Zhang Xian bit into the warm bun and asked casually.

"Chatting with Aunt Shulan."

"At the alley entrance."

Zhang Zhaodi answered while keeping her eyes locked on the TV.

All she ever thinks about is finding an old partner!

At her age, acting like a Pomeranian!

Indeed, men only behave when hung on the wall!

Zhang Xian chewed his bun, silently grumbling in his mind.

After breakfast.

Zhang Xian slung his fishing gear over his shoulder, mounted the small electric scooter parked in the courtyard, and left home.

"Xiaoxian, heading out?"

"How's the job search going?"

Zhang Xian lived in an alley, surrounded by neighbors who had watched him grow up; everyone knew each other's business.

The man greeting him now was Old Liu next door, sitting at his doorway enjoying the cool air, holding a large palm-leaf fan.

"Going for the interview."

Zhang Xian replied vaguely, twisted the scooter's throttle, and sped off.

"Interview?"

"Who goes to an interview carrying a fishing rod? You're just going to fish!"

"Old Zhang's sixth son is finished..."

Watching Zhang Xian's rapidly retreating back, Liu Fusheng fanned himself slowly and muttered under his breath.

Alley entrance.

Zhang Xian, riding his electric scooter, was immediately stopped by his father, Zhang Dongshan, who was chatting with a middle-aged woman.

"Where are you sneaking off to now?"

"Aren't you supposed to be going for an interview today?"

Zhang Dongshan frowned, grabbing his son's arm.

"Yeah, that's exactly where I'm going!"

Zhang Xian shrugged.

"Interview?"

"You're going to an interview dressed like this?"

"And aren't you carrying a fishing rod??"

Zhang Dongshan rolled his eyes: his son wore a T-shirt on top, sports pants below, and a pair of flip-flops on his feet.

No one would believe he was here for an interview dressed like that!

"I just figured I'd go fishing after the interview to supplement the household income!"

Zhang Xian spread his hands, looking like he was thinking of nothing but the family's welfare.

"Fishing to supplement the household income?"

"Only you could come up with such a ridiculous idea!"

Zhang Dongshan grumbled: "Look at Xiaofei—he graduated the same year as you, and now he's thriving at a foreign company..."

"Why don't you mention that when he graduated, Old Pang bought him a car?"

"Your son has to ride an electric scooter to his interview!"

"Ah, the cruel disparities of life~"

Zhang Xian wasn't buying his father's act—he sighed, then shook off his father's grip on his arm: "I'm late for the interview!"

"Dad, work hard and try to make me a rich second-generation."

"When you get rich, maybe Aunt Wang can be my stepmom, right..."

The electric scooter drifted away, carrying Zhang Xian's voice with it.

"That brat is getting more and more out of line!"

Zhang Dongshan gritted his teeth and cursed.

Wang Shulan, who had been chatting with him, said with a mischievous grin: "This kid of Xiaoqian's really plays matchmaker all wrong!"

"Shulan, you might as well consider it yourself."

"Sure, I'm a washed-up singer, but I've got over five thousand followers on Douyin—I'll be a big internet celebrity soon. If you stick with me, you'll live in luxury!"

Zhang Dongshan waved his hands wildly, painting grand dreams for Wang Shulan.

By the river.

After casting his line, Zhang Xian unfolded his folding chair and sat down under the shade of a tree.

Ding!

Check-in successful!

This is the second day the host has stayed unemployed and lounged around!

Reward: 10,000 R Coins.

Random reward: one Entertainment Blind Box.

(Note: The Entertainment Blind Box may contain cultural and entertainment works from Z-Space.)

The system's voice chimed in his mind; Zhang Xian snapped his fingers excitedly: Nice!

As an unemployed youth, he had activated the "Strongest Lounging System" yesterday—rewarded simply for not working.

Yesterday's reward was 10,000!

He thought the reward was fixed, but today another random reward appeared!

Clearly, a man with a cheat system is different.

【Yes】 【No】 Open the Entertainment Blind Box?

At that moment, the system's voice chimed again.

Yes!

Definitely yes!

Zhang Xian quickly gave his response.

Ding!

Entertainment Blind Box opened successfully.

Congratulations, host! You've obtained the Z-Space song "Apple Fragrance"!