Chapter 5

After spending the entire morning busy with discharge procedures, Xie Mingzhe finally left the hospital smoothly after thanking Doctor Qin.

The sunlight outside was somewhat dazzling. Having slept for a month, Xie Mingzhe suddenly felt a wave of dizziness the moment he stood beneath the sun. He clutched his head and took several deep breaths before the world before his eyes gradually came back into focus.

All kinds of hovercars sped through the air. The world of towering buildings seemed shrouded in a cold, mechanical chill.

Xie Mingzhe stood on the street for a while. The unfamiliar high-tech surroundings made him keenly realize that he had truly been reborn.

Farewell, 2018. He had been reborn in the year 3001 of the Stellar Calendar, becoming another down-and-out young man named Xie Mingzhe. Although he had started with a terrible hand, it did not matter. With two sets of memories, he was confident that he could rely on his own abilities to live well in this world.

Xie Mingzhe took a deep breath, a relieved smile appearing on his face as he turned toward the nearby public hovercar station—he had hands, feet, and a brain. He refused to believe that a living person like him could starve or die in poverty.

After taking a hovercar to the terminal station in the outskirts, Xie Mingzhe followed his memories to a shabby residential building. When he reached the tenth floor, he indeed found a middle-aged woman waiting at the door. Her figure had clearly gone plump, yet she wore a pair of very thin high heels. The moment she saw Xie Mingzhe, she rolled her eyes fiercely and said coldly, "You finally came back. I thought you'd deliberately gone missing to avoid paying rent!"

Xie Mingzhe handed her his medical records and said apologetically, "Auntie Zhang, I didn't do it on purpose. I was in the hospital all month."

Auntie Zhang did not take the records. She eyed him sideways. "In the hospital? You're using such a lousy excuse—don't tell me you're trying to dodge my rent?"

The mockery in her tone was obvious. She clearly looked down on him as a poor kid. Xie Mingzhe straightforwardly transferred her the 800 yuan rent through his phone and said, "Sorry for delaying it a month and causing you trouble." Whatever her attitude, it was indeed his fault that he had fallen behind on rent.

After receiving the transfer, the middle-aged woman immediately asked, "What are you planning to do about August's rent?"

Remembering the 200 yuan balance in his bank account, Xie Mingzhe hurriedly said, "I've been having some financial difficulties lately. Could you let me pay August's rent after school starts?" If he had a month's grace, he could definitely think of a solution, but judging by Auntie Zhang's attitude, she probably would not be easy to negotiate with.

"Wait until school starts?" As expected, Auntie Zhang's voice instantly rose. She gave him a contemptuous look. "Either pay now, or move out immediately! If you can't afford rent, go to a charity shelter. Don't come begging me!"

"..." Xie Mingzhe frowned slightly. He had seen plenty of petty, sharp-tongued people like her, especially since this world's Xie Mingzhe had suffered no shortage of cold looks since childhood. He did not want to humble himself and beg anyone, so he simply nodded. "Fine. I'll move out as soon as possible."

Auntie Zhang had thought the young man would beg her, but he was so decisive that she raised her head in confusion and abruptly met his bright eyes.

That gaze was completely unlike the dejected young man she had first known. Instead, it carried the confidence and calm of someone with a clear conscience.

Seeing her look up, the young man smiled, his eyes curving slightly. "No need to say goodbye. We probably won't meet again. Thank you for looking after me during this time."

His farewell was polite and calm, and such composure instead made Auntie Zhang, who had spoken so harshly, feel extremely awkward.

As she watched his lean yet straight back disappear through the door, Auntie Zhang suddenly felt something strange—this young man seemed far more spirited than before, and he looked more handsome when he smiled. He no longer looked so dispirited and unpleasant. Still, no matter how handsome he was, he was only a poor kid with no family or connections. Could he really

turn over like a

salted fish?

Auntie Zhang suppressed the discomfort in her heart, frowned, and turned to leave.

Xie Mingzhe swiped his card and entered the room.

The room was tiny. Aside from the bathroom, once the bed and wardrobe were in place, there was almost nowhere left to stand. His suitcase could only be kept beneath the bed. Xie Mingzhe bent down and opened it. Inside were clothes, daily necessities, and a particularly old computer.

He possessed all of the original owner's memories, so none of these things surprised him.

After quickly packing his belongings, he sat by the bed, turned on the computer, and searched for the keywords: "part-time jobs."

He skimmed through the various job listings, and his gaze soon landed on a small line buried among them: "Nirvana Studio near Diguang University is recruiting temporary employees. Ages 18–25, males preferred. Food and accommodation provided. Monthly salary: 3,000 yuan."

He met both the age and gender requirements, and the location near the university would make future part-time work convenient. More importantly, the part about food and accommodation being provided could solve his greatest immediate problem. But what exactly did this studio do? Curious, Xie Mingzhe simply sent them an internal message and politely asked, "May I ask what the studio's work involves? I would like to apply."

The other party quickly replied, "We are a game boosting studio. Our main business is card restoration and card training for Star Card Storm. Applicants must have at least one year of experience playing Star Card Storm and be familiar with all game rules."

Xie Mingzhe: "..."

Damn it, if you're posting a job ad, shouldn't you make such an important requirement clear?

Xie Mingzhe had never played Star Card Storm, but he was very familiar with game boosting. Back in university, he had worked as a booster for League of Legends and Honor of Kings in his spare time, helping several clients reach the highest rank. An esports club had even approached him and invited him to become a professional player on their team, but he had wanted to find a stable job after graduation, so he politely declined.

The future world actually had a profession like game boosting?

This old line of work should come naturally to him. Thinking of that, Xie Mingzhe grew a little excited and quickly replied, "I haven't played Star Card Storm, but I've boosted in other games for several years and am very familiar with the work. May I come interview at your studio?"

The other party asked doubtfully, "What games?"

Xie Mingzhe thought that games like League of Legends and Honor of Kings definitely did not exist in this world, and he did not dare talk nonsense, so he casually made something up. "The games I played were relatively niche, but I have extensive boosting experience. I also know a little about Star Card Storm, and I guarantee I can learn it within two days."