Long Yue, 7 months old
The next morning, Long Yue opened his eyes with a single terrifying thought:
"Today… is leg day."
His chubby legs trembled just thinking about it.
He wasn't mentally prepared.
He wasn't physically prepared.
He wasn't emotionally prepared.
But the system didn't care.
---
Morning — The Brutal Reality of Gravity
The moment he woke up, the system pinged cheerfully:
DING!
[Daily Quest Activated]
Attempt to stand for at least 3 seconds.
Reward: +1 Coordination, +2 Strength
Risk: Falling on your face.
Long Yue groaned inwardly.
"I survived rebirth. I survived diapers. I survived itchy blankets.
But gravity…? Gravity might be the end of me."
He wiggled out of his blanket, rolled toward the crib bars, and grabbed them like a tiny prisoner trying to break free.
"Okay. Deep breath. Legs… activate!"
He pushed down on his feet.
His chubby knees shook instantly.
His arms held the crib tightly.
His butt rose halfway.
For a brief, glorious moment—
Long Yue was halfway standing.
A miracle.
A triumph.
A victory of the human (or baby) spirit.
But gravity whispered:
"Not today."
PLOP!
He fell backward like someone unplugged him.
A soft pillow saved his head, but his pride?
That shattered.
To make it worse, he let out an involuntary:
"Uuuu… waa…"
He wasn't crying out of pain.
He was crying out of existential despair.
But Mother rushed in instantly.
"Oh no! My baby fell! Are you okay?!"
She hugged him tightly, rocking him gently.
Long Yue mentally sighed.
"Lady… if you knew the battles I fight daily…"
---
Late Morning — The Family Interference Squad Arrives
Word spread through the house faster than WiFi.
Grandma peeked in first.
"He tried to stand?! He's so smart!"
Grandpa barged in behind her.
"Let me see! Let me see! My grandson is strong!"
Father arrived with a camera.
"Don't move! This is a historic moment!"
Mother placed Long Yue on the floor like he was about to perform magic.
And everyone crouched around him in a circle.
Long Yue stared at their eager faces.
"Bruh… there are five people watching me suffer."
Grandpa clapped his hands.
"Come on, Yue Yue! Stand!"
Grandma waved a toy like a flag.
"Come to grandma! I'll buy you anything!"
Father held up his phone.
"This will go viral."
Mother whispered encouragingly,
"Mama believes in you!"
Long Yue closed his eyes.
This was too much pressure.
He wasn't a circus performer.
He wasn't an Olympic athlete.
He was a baby with knees made of pudding.
But fine.
If they wanted a show—
He'd give them a show.
He grabbed onto the sofa.
Pulled himself up.
Pushed with his legs—
His butt rose…
His chest lifted…
His legs straightened—
And then—
THUMP!!
He slipped and face-planted onto the sofa's edge.
Everyone gasped.
Grandma: "OH MY GOD!"
Mother: "MY BABY!"
Father: "I got it on camera—wait that sounds bad—"
Grandpa: "He's fine! He's fine! That was a tactical fall!"
Long Yue lifted his head slowly.
He wasn't hurt.
But emotionally?
He had been defeated by physics again.
He gave them the most pitiful, betrayed baby look ever.
Grandma burst into tears.
Mother hugged him.
"I'm so sorry, baby… you can try again when you're ready."
Father put the camera down.
"…We delete the video, right?"
Grandpa: "No! That was history!"
Long Yue:
"…I am living with lunatics."
---
Afternoon — Determination Arc Begins
Once the chaos squad left, Long Yue decided something:
No more embarrassment.
He crawled back to the sofa.
Examined it like a scientist.
"Okay. Gravity hates me. My knees are weak. My center of balance doesn't exist.
But I can do this."
He planted his palms firmly.
He pushed with his feet.
Slowly—
Carefully—
Controlled.
He rose halfway.
Then more.
Then more.
Then—
He stood.
Wobbly. Shaky.
But upright.
For two glorious seconds.
DING!
[Quest Progress: 2/3 seconds]
And then:
PLOP!
He sat back down on his butt.
Not a fall.
Not a crash.
Just a soft, controlled sit-down.
He blinked in awe.
He did it.
He… actually did it.
Even the system paused before speaking:
[Congratulations, Host.]
You stood for 2 seconds.
An impressive achievement… for someone with Jell-O legs.
Long Yue:
"…Can you not insult me during my victory?"
System:
[Motivation tactic.]
---
Evening — The Final Attempt
With renewed determination, Long Yue prepared for one more attempt before bedtime.
He grabbed the crib.
His legs shook.
His heart pounded (or whatever a baby heart does).
He pulled himself up—
One second…
Two seconds…
Three seconds…
DING!
[Daily Quest Complete!]
But he didn't sit down.
He kept standing.
Four seconds.
Five seconds.
Six—
Door opens.
Mother saw him.
She froze.
"Yue… Yue…?"
Then she screamed loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood.
"HE'S STANDING!!! LONG YUE IS STANDING!!!"
Father slipped on the floor rushing in.
Grandma fainted dramatically onto the couch.
Grandpa recorded at the speed of light.
Long Yue stared at them mid-stand.
"Guys… stop screaming… I'm trying not to fall—"
THUMP!!
He fell right onto a pillow.
The room exploded into celebratory chaos.
Mother hugged him.
Grandma cried again.
Father documented everything.
Grandpa called ten relatives.
Meanwhile, Long Yue lay there thinking:
"…All this for standing? Humans are weird."
---
Night — Rewards & The Next Nightmare
The system chimed:
[Main Quest Progress: 1/30 days completed]
Rewards Gained:
+10 Strength
+5 Coordination
New Skill: Baby Balance (LV1)
But then—
[New Main Quest Unlocked!]
Walk At Least One Step Within 60 Days.
Reward: Skill "Toddler Sprint Mode"
Punishment:
Adults will sign you up for baby competitions.
Long Yue's face turned pale.
"WALK?!
I JUST LEARNED TO STAND!!
LET ME REST!!"
The system hummed.
[Leg day continues, Host.]
And that night, Long Yue fell asleep knowing:
Standing was hard.
Walking would be hell.
But this baby?
Was determined to survive.
---