The soft morning light trickled into their humble room, painting dust motes dancing in the air. Li Wei, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the previous day's turmoil, watched Xiaolian stir. His heart warmed. *Forget grand cultivation sects or world-saving quests for a minute. This is my reality now, and this little one? She's my universe.*
He reached for her worn, patched clothes. A fleeting thought of the typical webnovel protagonist crossed his mind – the ones who got a system, ascended to power, and left their siblings to fend for themselves, maybe sending a token gift once a decade. *Unbelievable.* He internally scoffed. *What kind of idiot would relegate their only family to a side quest? Not me. Not with this little sprout clinging to me like a burr.*
He gently helped Xiaolian sit up. Her small, tired eyes blinked at him. "Gege?" she mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Time to get up, little one," he said, his voice softer than he remembered it being in his past life. He picked up her simple tunic, running his fingers over the coarse fabric. The Multiplier hummed. *This won't do.* He focused, feeding a sliver of the emotional energy he'd gained yesterday into the process.
**[SYSTEM ALERT]**
**EVERYDAY MULTIPLIER (ACTIVE)**
**EXCHANGE ITEM:** Child's Worn Tunic (Tier 1) - **CONFIRM EXCHANGE?** Yes/No
---
He confirmed. The tunic shimmered, transforming in his hands. It no longer felt rough; it was surprisingly soft, almost silken to the touch, and the faded colors deepened to a rich, earthy tone. It even seemed to fit her slightly better.
**[SYSTEM ALERT]**
**EXCHANGE SUCCESSFUL!**
**ITEM:** Child's Worn Tunic (Tier 1)
**OUTPUT:** Durable & Comfortable Child's Tunic (Tier 3)
**BONUS APPLIED:** "Comfort of Newness" - Provides +2 temporary Mood to wearer, +0.05 Constitution for 12 hours. (Real-world benefit)
---
"Here, try this," Li Wei said, helping her into the tunic. Xiaolian gasped softly as the fabric brushed her skin. Her eyes widened. "It's so soft, Gege! Like... like a cloud!" A genuine smile, brighter than yesterday's, lit up her face.
**[SYSTEM ALERT]**
**EMOTIONAL ENERGY GENERATED:** +20 (Delight & Surprise!)
**CURRENT ENERGY:** 85 / Unlimited
He ruffled her hair. *Good. Another step. This is much more satisfying than fighting demons.* He thought about typical cultivation novels, the endless quests for pills and treasures. His path was simpler, yet deeper. This Siheyuan, this small room, this little sister – this was his world, and he would fortify it from the inside out. No need to become a famous chef apprentice in the city right now. That would mean long hours away, less time with Xiaolian, and a direct path into all sorts of unnecessary drama. He'd refine his culinary skills his own way, right here.
"What do you want for breakfast, Xiaolian?" he asked, surveying their meager provisions. He already had some ideas brewing, courtesy of yesterday's roulette win.
"Bun... and maybe... a little soup?" she asked tentatively, still remembering days of scarcity.
"Soup it is," he affirmed. He quickly began preparing a simple broth from the fresh vegetables he'd acquired from the "Random Food Bundle" in his Inner Space. As he chopped carrots and cabbage, he felt a surge of quiet contentment. This, this was his kind of power. Not flashy, but profoundly impactful on their immediate world.
As the simple meal simmered, he decided to test his luck again. He had plenty of emotional energy now. *Time for another roll. Let's see if the System has a sense of humor, or if it's all just nutritious vegetables.*
---
**[SYSTEM ALERT]**
**NEW OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE: REWARD ROLL**
---
He mentally activated the roulette. It spun, a silent whirring in his mind. *Come on, something useful. Or at least something funny.* It slowed, then stopped.
**[REWARD ROULETTE]**
**WINNER:** **Emergency Toilet Paper Roll (Deluxe Edition)**
* **Contents:** One incredibly soft, multi-layered roll. Surprisingly effective.
---
Li Wei blinked. Once. Then twice. He let out a low chuckle. *Well, that's certainly 'useful' in a pinch. And very 'everyday multiplier'. I guess the System does have a sense of humor. Or a keen understanding of basic human needs.* He mentally shunted the surprisingly plush toilet paper roll into his Inner Space, next to the rice and vegetables. *Never know when you'll need a deluxe emergency... anything.*
The thought of his Inner Space brought another chuckle. *So many protagonists get these grand, sprawling realms where they can build empires and cultivate for a thousand years. Mine's a glorified broom closet that simply holds stuff. No accelerated time. No mystical spring water. Just... storage. At least it's cliché.* He briefly checked his internal status panel, which remained cold and objective, a stark contrast to his internal musings.
---
**[STATUS PANEL]**
**NAME:** Li Wei
**CONDITION:** Healthy, Motivated
**ATTRIBUTES:** Strength 0.8, Agility 0.9, Constitution 0.8, Intelligence 2.5 (Anomaly Detected)
**ENERGY (EMOTIONAL):** 105 / Unlimited
**ABILITIES:** Everyday Multiplier (Active), Basic Inner Space (Active)
**REWARDS:** Unclaimed (0)
---
*Hmm, Constitution up a bit. Good.* He glanced at Xiaolian, who was now quietly helping him set out the bowls, her eyes still bright from the bun. Her attributes needed serious work.
After their simple but nourishing breakfast, Li Wei pulled Xiaolian onto his lap. The warm broth, coupled with the soft tunic, had visibly improved her mood. She leaned into him, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
"Gege," she murmured, her voice filled with trust.
He held her close, running a hand through her thin hair. This was his true strength. Other protagonists sought fame, power, or revenge. He sought warmth, safety, and a comfortable life for his sister. He wasn't going to spend his days toiling in a kitchen for someone else, nor was he going to abandon her for some grand adventure. His adventure was here, in this Siheyuan, transforming their reality one amplified item at a time.
He looked around their small, somewhat dilapidated home. The very idea of being "harassed" by neighbors, of barely scraping by, filled him with a quiet rage. *No more. This plot? It's changing. From victims to victors, not through grand battles, but through the steady, unstoppable force of everyday improvement.*
"Xiaolian," he whispered, holding her tighter. "I won't ever leave you. We'll make this home... the best." Her small hand instinctively clutched his shirt. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. The world outside might be harsh, but within these walls, within their bond, he would build a fortress of quiet comfort and undeniable strength. His path would be different. It would be *theirs*.