Brain Storage Notice:When reading this, don't overthink; do not attempt to apply the contents of this book to real life.
"Sorry, your educational background does not meet our company's requirements."
Chen Chen stepped out of the building, the glass curtain wall reflecting the sunlight. The cold rejection still echoed in his ears. He sank onto the edge of a roadside flowerbed, pulled out his phone, and unlocked it. The moment the screen lit up, the bank app's balance notification stabbed at him—6,320.5 yuan.
He let out a heavy sigh. The damp wind, mingled with car exhaust, made his mood sticky and restless.
He had been unemployed for half a month.
Ever since the small company he had poured his heart into after graduation went bankrupt, he had been riding shared bicycles across half the city. He had submitted over a hundred resumes, most of which disappeared like stones thrown into the ocean, while the few interviews ended with excuses like "Your educational background does not match" or "Lack of experience."
With rent due in two weeks and next month's allowance for his parents still unaccounted for, Chen Chen couldn't help but curse at the sky.
"I want money. Money, come to me from all directions…"
His phone suddenly rang, flashing "Wife" on the screen. Chen Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the fatigue in his eyes, and answered.
"Chen-ge, come home early for dinner today. I've invited Li Jun. And call Fatty Zhang too—we'll have hotpot together," said Ji Yunli, her voice warm and reassuring.
"Okay, I'll be there soon," Chen Chen replied, his voice softening almost instinctively. After hanging up, he stood, dusted off his pants, and headed to the subway station.
Ji Yunli and Chen Chen had met through their mothers, who both worked in the same restaurant kitchen—one preparing ingredients, the other washing dishes. Their mothers were so close they were like sisters. When chatting, they realized each had an unmarried child and arranged a meeting between them.
Unexpectedly, at their first meeting, Chen Chen was captivated by the dimples at Ji Yunli's smile, while she found this soft-spoken, handsome young man sincere. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and within a month, they were officially dating. Soon after, they moved in together. Two years later, their life together had settled into calm routine.
Deng Lijun, Ji Yunli's classmate and close friend from vocational school, had shared snacks and secrets with her since their student days. Now, they worked in the same clothing store, supporting and encouraging one another.
As for Fatty Zhang, Zhang Jian, he was Chen Chen's childhood friend. They had been desk mates since first grade, climbing trees to steal bird nests and sneaking off to arcades after school. Even though they attended different high schools and universities later, their friendship remained unchanged. As Fatty Zhang liked to say: "Old Chen, even if you end up begging on the street, I'll still give you a bowl."
Chen Chen's luck after graduation had been mediocre. He had joined a tiny tech company with only seven or eight employees as a clerk. After social insurance and housing fund deductions, he was left with barely five thousand yuan per month.
He didn't spend recklessly, but rent alone was over a thousand yuan. Add utilities, meals, and daily expenses, and his salary barely sufficed. Every month, he sent a thousand yuan to his parents' savings, and the remaining one thousand or so sometimes went to gifts for friends' weddings or newborn celebrations. After two years, his bank balance had nearly vanished.
Unfortunately, at the beginning of this month, the company's boss fled with the funds, leaving only a "Temporarily Closed" notice on the glass door. With his last paycheck in hand, Chen Chen joined the massive army of the unemployed.
"You're back?"
As soon as he opened the door to his rented apartment, the rich aroma of hotpot hit him.
Ji Yunli stood at the kitchen sink in a pink apron, washing vegetables. Hearing the door, she smiled and turned to him.
"Go wash your hands. Lijun is in the living room watching TV."
"Mm," Chen Chen replied, setting down his bag. He hung a small blue cat apron on his chest—a gift from Ji Yunli, meant to "encourage you to do more housework"—and took the half-washed vegetables from her hands.
"I didn't find any work today," he said quietly after a brief pause, the disappointment obvious in his voice.
Ji Yunli paused her work, turned, and gently stroked his cheek. "It's okay, take your time. My salary can cover both of us. If necessary, I can switch shifts with Li Jun, work a few extra days, and earn some extra commission."
She knew how hard job hunting could be. When she applied for this clothing store, she had visited over a dozen stores and spent more than a month on interviews. In the end, she got the job thanks to Deng Lijun pleading with the manager.
Now she worked six-hour shifts with alternating morning and evening hours, resting only two days a month. Her basic salary was 2,200 yuan, and with commissions, she could earn around 6,000 yuan in the off-season and over 10,000 yuan during peak or promotion periods. For someone with only a vocational school diploma, it was an excellent position.
"Thank you, my wife. You're the best," Chen Chen thought warmly, hugging Ji Yunli from behind and resting his head against her back. The faint scent of her shampoo lingered, dispelling his exhaustion.
"Alright, you're a grown man acting like a spoiled child," she teased, nudging his arm with her elbow. "Finish cutting the vegetables. Fatty Zhang said he's downstairs and should be here soon."
By seven o'clock, the small apartment steamed from the hotpot. A square table occupied the center of the living room, with a divided pot bubbling in the middle—spicy red oil with chili and pepper on one side, and clear soup with ribs and corn on the other.
Chen Chen, Ji Yunli, Deng Lijun, and Zhang Jian sat around the table, chopsticks in hand, chatting while scooping food into their mouths.
"Old Chen, if you really can't find a suitable job, why not deliver takeout with me?" Zhang Jian said, chewing a piece of tripe. "I manage one district. If you're diligent, you can make five or six thousand a month. Don't you have a heavy vehicle license?"
Chen Chen hesitated. He knew Zhang Jian wasn't lying. Delivery work was hard, but at least the income was stable.
But then he thought, if relatives and neighbors back home knew a university graduate was delivering packages, they would ridicule him again, saying, "What's the point of going to college?"
I've come this far, and I'm still worrying about pride? Chen Chen grumbled silently.
"I'll think about it. Thanks, Fatty," he said, placing the tripe into Ji Yunli's bowl.
A brief silence fell. Deng Lijun glanced at Chen Chen, then Ji Yunli, and quickly grabbed some beef rolls, tossing them into the clear soup. "Ah, the beef's ready! Yunli, your favorite—eat before it hardens."
Ji Yunli smiled, nodded, and took a bite, squinting at Chen Chen. "Delicious. You should eat more too."
Seeing the warmth in her eyes, Chen Chen felt a twinge of bitterness.
Though they had been together for two years, their parents pressured them to marry. He didn't have a stable job, couldn't afford a proper home—how could he propose? Ji Yunli's parents had asked multiple times, but she always found excuses. Chen Chen felt increasingly useless, his chopsticks growing heavier in his hands.
The friends left after ten o'clock. Chen Chen asked Ji Yunli to rest in the bedroom while he cleaned the kitchen and living room meticulously. Only after the apartment was spotless did he turn off the lights and shower.
Lying in bed, he couldn't sleep. Ji Yunli was asleep in his arms, her long lashes casting shadows in the dim light.
The more he thought about finding a job, the more restless he became. Fearing to wake her, he gently moved her to the pillow, donned a jacket, and tiptoed to the living room, sitting by the window.
He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, unlit—Ji Yunli hated smoke, so he had never touched them. They had been a gift from a colleague, forgotten in his pocket.
Opening his laptop, the screen illuminated his tired face. He scrolled through job listings: "Administrative Clerk," "Sales Consultant," "Customer Service Specialist"—all requiring a degree or years of experience. Nothing suited him.
Just as he was about to close the page, a bright ad popped up: "Garbage Collector – 20,000/month – Urgent Hire!"
Chen Chen rubbed his eyes. The position required no education or experience.
Could this be a scam? He knew of countless online frauds, where criminals lured people abroad with high salaries. But he had nothing to lose.
With a shrug, he applied, filling in his personal and banking information. To his surprise, the moment he clicked submit, a message appeared:
"Congratulations, Mr. Chen Chen. You have been hired. Please report immediately."
Before he could react, a dizziness overtook him, as if someone pressed on his temples. The laptop screen twisted and blurred, a buzzing roaring in his ears. His body froze, consciousness pulled into a swirling vortex, until everything went black.
When he finally opened his eyes, he was not in his bedroom, but under a massive gray metal dome stretching beyond sight.
He sat up sharply, realizing he lay on a cold metal floor. Everything around him was empty.
"Where am I?" he murmured, fear and confusion surging. "Is this a dream?"
A sharp pinch proved it wasn't. His gray pajamas, phone, and cigarettes were intact. But his phone screen remained dead.
A voice suddenly broke the silence:
"Hello, Blue Star resident Chen Chen. Welcome to the Interstellar Waste Management Company. You are now a garbage collector."
Chen Chen spun around to see a creature over two meters tall.
It resembled a giant rabbit, silver fur shimmering with blue light on its ears, elliptical eyes glowing pale purple, limbs muscular, claws sharp—both bizarre and oddly cute.
"I…who are you? Where is this?" he stammered, taking a defensive step back.
"I am the company receptionist—call me HR, or Rabbit No. 9," the creature said, voice mechanical, emotionless.
"This is our galactic waste processing station. Your monthly salary is 20,000 Blue Star Credits, automatically deposited into your account. No social benefits. No leave.
Your job is simple: clear all incoming waste before the next batch arrives."
Rabbit No. 9 pointed to a ten-meter-wide black hole-like portal. "This is the garbage disposal channel. Toss the trash in—it will automatically decompose into fundamental particles. No other action required."
It handed Chen Chen a silver, watch-sized metal disc.
"This is your Space Key—standard issue for garbage collectors. It includes your ID, protective suit, and toolkit. AI assistant Xiao Bu is embedded inside."
Chen Chen hesitated, then took the key. Upon pressing it, a pale blue light flashed. The virtual interface displayed information, then the disc reshaped into a sleek watch, fitting perfectly on his wrist.
"I have other tasks, so I won't stay long," Rabbit No. 9 said, glancing at a timer on his wrist. "If you have questions, consult Xiao Bu. Good luck."
With that, the rabbit sprinted to a distant portal, disappearing in a blur of silver.
Chen Chen stared at his wrist, then the empty, dark space. He wasn't dreaming—he had been lured by a high-paying ad into another world, now a garbage collector.
"Twenty thousand a month…" he muttered, a wide grin spreading. Then guilt struck—Ji Yunli was sleeping at home.
He spoke to the watch: "Xiao Bu?"
A soft electronic voice replied: "Hello, Mr. Chen. I am AI assistant Xiao Bu. Your binding is complete. How may I help you?"
"How do I return to Blue Star? How do I go home?"
"You only need to issue the command 'Off Duty' to trigger spatial transfer back to your permanent address on Blue Star."
Eyes lighting up, Chen Chen shouted: "Off duty!"
In an instant, the metal dome and black hole twisted into a blur. One second later, he was back in his living room chair, laptop glowing, watch flickering faintly.
He dashed to the bedroom door—Ji Yunli slept peacefully. Looking at the watch, he hesitantly said: "Xiao Bu?"