Chapter 1: I Can't Go On Like This
Ring, ring, ring...
"Based on your resume, this is the salary we are offering you." "Um... alright."
Ring, ring, ring...
"Don't slack off!" "Yes, sir!"
Ring, ring, ring...
"Why is your efficiency so poor?" "I'm sorry! I'll improve!"
Ring, ring, ring...
"If you don't want to do it, then get out. There are as many college students wanting to join this company as there are grains of sand!" "I am very sorry! Please give me one more chance!"
Ring, ring, ring...
"You think your one-hour commute is hard? Mine is twice as long, and I've never complained once! Stop acting like a victim!" "But I'm really so tired..."
Ring, ring, ring...
So tired...!
Slap!
A thin, weak arm reached out from under the covers and accurately slapped the phone on the nightstand.
"Al... Alpha..." "Good morning, dear user!" a gentle female voice responded from the phone. "Turn... turn off the alarm! I'm begging you..." "Certainly. Turning off the alarm for you."
As the voice faded, the ringing stopped. The phone's owner, Tang Ping, finally poked his head out from under the blanket.
"Alpha, is the Gunslinger Girls server still open...?" "Checking for you, please wait... Verification complete! The current time is March 21, 2040 AD, 4:07 PM. Gunslinger Girls is down for maintenance from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM; therefore, you cannot enter the server." "I see... whatever. There'll be a rerun event next year anyway. Forget it."
Tang Ping tossed his phone aside and slumped back onto the bed.
A few minutes later, once his head had cleared slightly, Tang Ping slowly got up to wash in the bathroom. Five minutes later, he walked out, took a loaf of toast from the small refrigerator, and haphazardly spread a few knives' worth of butter on it. He ate it despite its cold, stiff texture.
"What should I have for dinner tonight... Instant noodles again? Sigh..." The mere thought of eating what he had been consuming for the past two months made him feel a desperate urge to die.
"Alpha, any responses to the resumes I sent out?" "Hello, there are currently no new emails in your inbox, and no messages on the job bank app. I suggest you resubmit your resume. If needed, I can help you draft a professionally written resume. Should I create a file for you?" "No thanks..."
Tang Ping grumbled internally. The previous resume had been polished by Alpha, and yet every single one had failed. It had been six months since he resigned from a "black company" (unethical workplace). To pay the high rent and various bills, he had been living on discounted instant noodles and near-expiry toast for two months. Now, he felt nauseous at the mere smell of instant noodles. To stave off hunger, he had to suppress his physical disgust and force down the chemical-laden junk food.
God... how much longer will this life continue? What about next month's rent? Why did I end up like this? Am I destined for the 'Forest of No Return'?
At the thought of his dire situation, Tang Ping fell into a daze, his jaw stopping mid-chew. After a moment, he shook his head, trying to cast the gloom aside.
"No! No! Don't the famous people in books always say to live optimistically? Throw all negative emotions into the trash! Positive energy! Positive energy!" Tang Ping clenched his weak fists to cheer himself up. "I can do this... right?"
Halfway through the sentence, he couldn't go on. He knew he was just lying to himself. Truthfully, he didn't know the meaning of his existence. He was just "alive." No goals, no ambition, not even the courage to love—a standard "Three-No Youth": no desires, no savings, no marriage.
Actually, dying seemed fine, too. He had nothing to miss in this world. If a doctor told him he would die tomorrow, he'd probably just say, "Oh, okay," and then go back to lying on his bed scrolling through his phone.
"Haha... I'm laughing so much I almost want to cry."
"Right, I need to keep looking for a job today..." Tang Ping picked up his phone and swiped to the job search app. However, he didn't click it; he just stared blankly at the icon. A moment later, he set the phone down. He figured there wouldn't be any offers today anyway... and the listed jobs were all low-pay, high-labor roles.
"I'll just watch some videos and rest for ten minutes... then I'll definitely resubmit my resume..." After brainwashing himself with excuses, he swiped away and opened an online video app called "MeTube."
"Phew—" The moment the app opened, he felt he could finally breathe. It was as if oxygen had flooded back into the room. He slumped into his computer chair and began watching the trending videos.
"...Since the 2012 cataclysm, countless small islands have emerged in the Pacific. One-fifth have been purchased by various nations or billionaires and converted into military bases or resorts. The GCP Federation has been the most aggressive in this regard..." A male anchor in a khaki suit reported the news with crisp articulation and a charming smile.
"The Potato Federation? They've expanded to 55 states now? Truly the strongest nation on Earth." Tang Ping marveled at the animation on the screen. But such complex political events felt far away from an ordinary citizen like him. He swiped past.
"Recently, many people worldwide have noticed changes in their hair or eye color. Medical exams show no abnormalities; in fact, subjects appear healthier. Dr. Camilla, a famous geneticist from the Beer Federation, stated in an interview that this is a natural adaptation to Earth's changes..." This doctor is pretty, but it looks like a long speech. Swipe.
"The world's largest male forum, NB, released a beauty ranking of women in the global workforce. Miss Elena, R&D Manager at tech giant Voogle, crushed the competition with 3.65 million votes..." Oh! She won? Looks like the voting tickets I got from daily check-ins didn't go to waste. Swipe.
"Well-known influencer 'Sun After Rain' has recently moved from the cosplay circle to the VTuber field, but her numbers are underwhelming. Many netizens criticize her content as cringe and lacking preparation, accusing her of just chasing clout. Without her former partner, Instructor Kevin, she never would have been famous..." "???" "Still so indecisive... You really are 'rotten wood that cannot be carved,' after all the effort I put into making you famous back then." "Well, it's none of my business now..."
Tang Ping kept swiping but found nothing particularly interesting. He turned to Alpha for help. "Alpha, find me something interesting." "Searching... Target found. Now playing: The Sea Monster Sighting."
Tang Ping's expression froze. He gripped his phone, eyes glued to the screen. "Today's special feature: a video went viral on social media this morning, sparking intense debate!" "This footage was accidentally captured by a local fisherman while recording his catch. He never expected to document such a terrifying scene!"
Watching the video made Tang Ping's skin crawl. It was a vertical shot. In the center was a small fishing boat hauling in a net full of fish. The fish were strong and struggling violently. The fishermen were cheering at the harvest.
Suddenly, something moved beneath the water on the right, creating ripples. The object was incredibly long; throughout the 30-second video, neither the head nor the tail was visible. Then came the most terrifying part: at the end of the clip, a massive eyeball drifted past beneath the surface. It even seemed to glance at the camera.
"!" Even through the screen, Tang Ping's heart skipped a beat. What is that?! So scary!!!!!
The video cut back to the studio. "...Experts have determined the footage is not faked. However, Police Commissioner Chen Jia-qing recently held a press conference. He claimed that sea monsters do not exist. Professor Lin Dao-guang, an authority from the Ocean University, stated the creature is actually an extremely rare giant squid. He urged the public not to panic or believe rumors..."
Tang Ping sneered. "They say it so nicely, but it's just to maintain stability..." He ignored the official talk and kept watching.
"Since the beginning of the year, sightings have increased—from the coast of South Africa to the Indian Ocean. Last month, over 30 people in India uploaded videos of a 'giant squid' destroying a temple." The female host in a royal blue suit used a laser pointer to circle a monster image on the electronic screen. "Two weeks ago, in the Kunlun Mountains of the Canghai Kingdom, a photo was taken of a giant jellyfish floating in the air. The next morning, villagers found that the lush green mountain had turned withered and yellow overnight." "The Canghai Kingdom's PR department claimed the giant jellyfish was just CG effects and that such monsters don't exist. They have cracked down on online rumor-mongers..."
"CG effects...?" It looked incredibly real. By current standards, it was top-tier work. Tang Ping couldn't find a single flaw in the photo. "But why make a jellyfish on a mountain? Doesn't that make it look faker?" he wondered. Was it a CG master's masterpiece? Or an elaborate internet meme?
"From South Africa to the Indian Ocean, then to Canghai, and now our own coast... is this string of events too coincidental?" "Is it the 'giant squid' the government claims, a prank, or an unknown secret? Stay tuned for more exclusive reporting! Now, for tomorrow's weather..."
The host switched the screen. Tang Ping remained immersed in thoughts of sea monsters. The route of the sightings lined up perfectly. Did sea monsters really exist?
"Pfft!" How is that possible? I've watched too many movies. It must be animation. CG these days is more real than reality.
Ding-dong!
A notification popped up, interrupting his thoughts. Tang Ping picked up the phone. "Huh? 'Congratulations, you have won! Please collect your prize within seven days at the 7-22 Convenience Store - Central Park Branch. The Wonderland Farm Event Department thanks you for your participation...'"
"Won? Wonderland Farm?" He suddenly remembered. Six months ago, to celebrate leaving the black company, he had traveled to Wonderland Farm on the nearby mountain. He had entered a lucky draw using his ticket stub. He recalled the prizes were just agricultural products, no cash. He had forgotten all about it.
"Alpha, check the Wonderland Farm winner list. See if I'm on it." "Checking... Verification complete. Your name, Tang Ping, is on the winner list. Please collect your prize at the Central Park Branch."
Alpha then sent a photo of the prize to Tang Ping.
"This... this is!!!" Seeing the prize in the photo, Tang Ping's face lit up with surprise. He grabbed his phone and wallet, burst out the door, and sprinted toward Central Park.