Chapter 1 The Lowest Point
My name is Hào Rán.
I am 28 years old, a graduate of Tsinghua University.
Three years ago, I joined Han Prosperity Technology Limited Company with hope in my heart and ambition in my blood.
Three years later… I am still a temporary employee.
I work harder than anyone. I handle the workload of two or even three people. I am always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
But promotion?
Never.
Recognition?
Never.
Especially because of one person.
Manager Zhang Wei.
Every time a project succeeded, he took the credit.
Every time something went wrong, he blamed me.
Today… he crossed the line.
The office was silent.
Manager Zhang slammed a file on my desk.
"Hào Rán! Useless as always! Even a dog could do better!"
I clenched my fists but said nothing.
Then he laughed.
"No wonder your parents died early. With a son like you"
Smack.
The sound echoed across the office.
I had slapped him.
My colleague Li Jun froze beside the printer.
Chen Meili, from accounting, gasped loudly.
Zhang Wei touched his face slowly, eyes filled with disbelief.
"You're fired," he said coldly.
Just like that.
Three years of suffering… ended in one sentence.
I packed my things into a small box.
As I walked out, Li Jun whispered, "Brother Hào… you shouldn't have done that."
Maybe he was right.
But at that moment, I didn't regret it.
When I reached my apartment, something felt wrong.
A pair of expensive men's shoes stood at the entrance.
The living room was messy.
My heart started pounding.
I opened the bedroom door.
And saw her.
My girlfriend of three years.
In my bed.
With another man.
Something inside me shattered.
I grabbed whatever I could reach and threw it at him.
"You said you loved me!"
The man pushed me hard. He was bigger, stronger.
Both of them beat me until I collapsed.
My girlfriend looked at me coldly.
"Hào Rán, look at yourself. You're poor. You're useless. My friends are dating rich men driving Benz, Ferrari, Bentley. What can you give me?"
I stared at her, blood in my mouth.
"I gave you everything… even my savings…"
She laughed.
"We're done."
That night, I drank until I could barely walk.
I climbed to the rooftop of my apartment building.
The city lights blurred before my eyes.
I screamed at the sky.
"What did I do wrong?! Why is my life like this?! Why are you so cruel to me?!"
Thunder roared.
Lightning flashed.
Wind howled violently.
But I kept shouting.
"If there is a god answer me!"
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning struck.
And everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital.
White ceiling.
Beeping machines.
A nurse stood nearby. Her name tag read Liu Fang.
"You're awake," she said gently. "You were struck by lightning. It's a miracle you survived."
Lightning?
Suddenly panic hit me.
Hospital bill.
I'm broke.
How am I going to pay?
Then
A strange mechanical voice echoed in my mind.
[Merchant System successfully bound to host.]
I froze.
"What…?"
A translucent blue screen appeared before my eyes.
Only I could see it.
I looked at Nurse Liu.
"Do you see that blue screen?"
She frowned. "Sir… are you feeling okay?"
I swallowed.
"I'm fine. Never mind."
The screen displayed:
Merchant System Level 1 Activated
Balance: 0
Beginner Gift Pack Available
My heart began to race.
Was I going crazy?
Or…
Was this my chance?