Chapter 35: Great Luck, Did You Eat Chicken Yet?

Before the world changed, everyone was a piece on the chessboard of fate, without exception.

Although there are vast differences between people—some are born able to charge and crash about like a "Chariot," roaming freely and unhindered; others are like a "Scholar," trapped in a single corner, laboring and worrying for others.

But generally speaking, everyone is on this chessboard, acting according to established rules: the Knight moves in an 'L', the Bishop flies across the field, the Pawn crosses the river and never turns back; everyone must walk their own life path on this board.

The so-called infinite possibilities of fate are merely choices of left or right, one step forward or one step back. As mortals, how could there be so many infinite possibilities?

But the Awakened are different. Although no one knows what the future will become, the only hope in the Pandora Box is always the beautiful future that people constantly imagine—

Can Awakening transcend this ordinary life trajectory?

Do the Awakened possess the possibility of jumping off this life chessboard?

Therefore, every person who successfully Awakens, no matter how much of an extra they were before or how unwelcome they were, becomes a new socialite in their circle overnight.

Especially with the repeated tragedies caused by numerous mutated animals, people's sense of insecurity is increasingly magnified, and they have a greater need for an acquaintance around them who can fight these monsters. That night, Zhang Wei Awakened; the scene was like the descent of a miracle, and afterward, he even suppressed a violent ape with his palm, attracting much attention, both overt and covert.

Also because of this reason, even though he frequently harvests Resentment in his social circle, everyone chooses to ignore it.

When passing by the place where the ground collapsed, Zhang Wei saw that yellow metal barriers had been erected there, making it impossible to see what the situation was inside.

But the guards had been changed from police to a team of armed police with live ammunition, and the sound of machinery operating could be faintly heard from within. Thinking back to how last night could be described as a night of demons walking, Zhang Wei estimated that this matter might not be as simple as just a ground collapse.

However, he had no desire to investigate. If he thought that because he had Awakened and possessed a Supernatural Ability, he could meddle in everything, he would definitely not survive to the end of this grand wave of human re-evolution.

History told Zhang Wei that in any revolution, being the wave at the very front might lead the trend for a moment, but in the end, one would either shatter against the cliffs or be overturned by the waves behind...

On the subway, Zhang Wei suddenly thought of a good way to open up a source of income, and it was a legitimate one at that, which should be enough to cover the increased food expenses for him and Bai Guagua.

He took out his phone, opened his omnipotent WeChat Moments, and posted a message—the kind that still requires clicking to read the full text—only this time he decided to release a solid proof:

Want to know how to Awaken? Click to read the full text and you will find a surprise.

Surprise "Smirk"

This time was exactly when people were rushing to school or work, the peak period for looking down at phones. When this message appeared in their Moments, many people saw it was that character Zhang Wei, and they couldn't help but mutter to themselves, wanting not to click that full text.

But thinking of his flashy entrance, everyone finally couldn't resist clicking it, and unsurprisingly, they were blown away, charred on the outside and tender on the inside.

Surprise your sister! Are you sick!!

Absorbed Wang Xiaoping's Resentment, +85.

Absorbed...

This was a daily routine harvest. When he felt the income was about enough, Zhang Wei then released the real "solid proof" and immediately posted the next Moments update:

Just now was just to make everyone happy. Now please look at my serious face—many people ask me how I Awakened, what the tips for Awakening are, how to increase the probability of Awakening, and other questions. When I haven't replied to you...

Why not try sending a red envelope?

One-on-one instruction, individual guidance, exclusive secret techniques, dedicated contribution!

As the video of Zhang Wei's Awakening that night spread wider and wider, his WeChat ID also leaked out. The number of people adding him every day was huge, and his friend count grew larger and larger. When everyone saw this message, on buses or subways all over Rongcheng, one after another, people blurted out, "Money-grubber!"

However, cursing is one thing, but some people really don't care about that little bit of money. Playing a game and spending ten thousand or so for a piece of equipment is common, let alone such a great thing as Awakening?

Not long after the message was sent, the first red envelope arrived. Zhang Wei clicked it open and saw: Whoa! 200 yuan!

As the first customer and wealthy patron, Zhang Wei naturally had to teach with all his might, otherwise, he would be smashing his own brand.

So he pasted a paragraph he had long since copied, which integrated insights he had collected from various sources online, as well as his own realizations, and included meticulous argumentation and a synthesis of concepts...

As for whether it was effective... what if the other party said it was ineffective and clamored for a refund?

Zhang Wei did not fight battles he wasn't sure of; he had long since prepared his retreat and response methods. According to his years of research, after-sales service is also a great path to wealth!

Just as Zhang Wei was tirelessly working to open up his wealth path, the conversation of a mother and son nearby reached his ears.

Mother: "Look, this is the end result of being addicted to games: wearing outdated old clothes, having to rush to the construction site to move bricks early in the morning, sallow and malnourished. Do you hope to become like him when you grow up?"

Child: "Don't worry, Mom, I stopped playing a long time ago. These 'head-down' people are so LOW, only knowing how to scroll through Moments and read chicken soup articles. Don't compare me to him."

Zhang Wei, sitting to the side, felt a bit unwell. Damn it, I'm sitting here perfectly fine, how did I become the negative example in your mouths? And saying I'm sallow and malnourished? That's all in the past, okay? So what if I move bricks? Is labor shameful? And what's wrong with 'head-down' people? Which eye of yours saw me reading chicken soup articles?

Regarding such blatant slander, Zhang Wei never let himself be wronged, but for a dignified Awakened to bicker with a woman and a child was too beneath him...

He squinted and scanned the child, and after seeing a pendant on the schoolbag that was clearly an online game peripheral, he had a plan in mind.

"Great luck, did you eat chicken yesterday?" Zhang Wei said to the child with a smile.

The child looked at him, his lips parted, but in the end, he didn't speak.

His mother looked at Zhang Wei, clearly feeling somewhat baffled, and muttered: "Our family eats seafood. Nowadays, chicken has too many hormones and is not nutritious at all. Only migrant workers would eat it."

Whoa, this kid is quite self-controlled.

Zhang Wei ignored the woman, quietly activated the Rune representing "You Are Blind," and then muttered to himself: "Yesterday I landed and got a 98K. Less than a minute later, I encountered an air drop that hit my face. I opened it and went, 'Whoa, Level 3 Helmet, Level 3 Backpack!'"

The child's eyes widened, looking as if to say, "You're trying to fool me."

"Don't believe it?" Zhang Wei hummed twice and continued: "That's nothing. On the road, I also met an idiot whose driving skills weren't great but who still wanted to drift. As a result, he became a courier for me and delivered a Jeep to my door... Looking at your silent, cowardly appearance, you must have been ambushed by a camper, right?"

Facing the sudden provocation, the child completely ignored his mother and subconsciously retorted: "How is that possible! I am the boss of the 'grass-snakes'! It's always me ambushing others; there's no way others could ambush me!"

Zhang Wei looked shocked: "You're that awesome?"

"That's nothing!" The child sneered: "Once, at the start of the match, it was just me, damn it, playing in the wild. I stayed hidden the whole time, all sorts of 'grass-snakes,' and all the other players became my free couriers. And another time..."

Zhang Wei stopped talking, nodding from time to time or putting on a "you're so awesome" expression at just the right moments, which delighted the kid so much that he kept chattering on and on about things in the game.

The mother sitting nearby was initially bewildered, her mood in disarray, completely unable to understand the jargon the two were using, but as she gradually caught on, her face grew redder and redder, red turning to black, and black flushing with purple...

Slap!!

A palm struck the kid on the forehead.

"I'll teach you to play chicken! I'll teach you to eat! I'll teach you to eat!!..."

Absorbed Wu Huamin's Resentment, +99.

Absorbed Chen Yijun's Resentment, +99.

By the time Zhang Wei reached his stop and got off the bus, the kid's face was still dazed, unable to figure out why he had been so impulsive, and the look in his eyes was beyond resentful.