Everyone has their own ambitions, and so do monsters

A torrent of ridicule, as if they were treating Xiaoxin as a clown, expounding loudly. It seemed less like they disregarded his feelings and more like they were calculated to provoke and antagonize him. Witnessing their self-important demeanor, Xiaoxin, bewildered, tilted his head slightly.

‘These two outfits aren’t even in the same price bracket! They cater to different brands and clientele. One is for everyday excursions, the other for attending significant events. How could they be comparable?’

It was akin to a sparring session where everyone was parrying and searching for openings with small knives, then someone suddenly bursts in, brandishing an M249 (a machine gun affectionately dubbed the ‘Big Pineapple’), mows down a group of people, and still acts as if they’re remarkably skilled.

To Xiaoxin, he found it utterly perplexing. Such a rudimentary provocation, compared to the challenges he had faced before, seemed laughably petty.

His cousin, however, could no longer tolerate it.

“Enough! My cousin willingly brought me out, so by what right do you self-righteously point fingers and pass judgment here!” she rebuked, frowning. She was utterly incensed, yet her rationality compelled her to clench her fists tightly, striving to suppress her rage.

“My dear sister, there’s no need to be upset. We are simply trying to help you.”

“Precisely. Young women should cultivate independent thought and refuse to let men’s drivel dictate their beliefs.”

“In my opinion, you are the ones attempting to sway others’ thoughts! Is it truly so gratifying to coerce others into agreeing with you!” With that, his cousin snatched the clothes Xiaoxin had chosen directly from the woman’s grasp, clutching them tightly, and unceremoniously thrust the more aesthetically pleasing coat back into their hands. “Thank you for your generosity! But in my estimation, the clothes my cousin chose are infinitely superior to yours! We’ll not be staying here any longer. Cousin, let’s go! To the checkout!”

“Ah, what?”

Before Xiaoxin could even process the situation, his cousin seized his shoulder and unceremoniously hauled him away. He stumbled a couple of times, offering a bitter, fleeting smile to the women of the Heavenly Flower Society, before being dragged away by his cousin’s sheer strength.

“Ouch, ouch, oh!”

“Oh, cousin, are you alright? I apologize, I lost my composure and used a bit too much force. Are you okay?”

Only after they had distanced themselves from the group, reaching a relatively safe location, did his cousin’s anger begin to dissipate. She lowered her head, her concern evident, somewhat embarrassed by her outburst and the display of brute force.

“Haha, I’m quite alright…” Xiaoxin replied with a faint smile. Her recent actions had indeed taken him by surprise, as he had genuinely not anticipated such remarkable strength from his cousin.

Her arms, far from being muscular or robust, were even rather slender, making it difficult to comprehend how she could unleash such power.

“I apologize that your initial shopping experience turned out to be so unpleasant.”

“Why are you apologizing, cousin!”

…

Xiaoxin, taken aback by the sudden question, stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought.

“Cousin, don’t you ever get angry?”

“I do, but such matters rarely seem worth expending anger upon.” Noticing his cousin’s somewhat crestfallen expression, Xiaoxin stated calmly, “However… failing to ensure your happiness during this shopping excursion, I suppose that counts as a dereliction of duty for a cousin.”

“But it wasn’t your fault.”

“Whether it is or isn’t, it’s irrelevant. These are not matters of consequence. Let’s simply regard it as having witnessed an abstract performance by some humanoid creatures. Once we’ve secured the clothes, we’ll go for a meal, then return home content, okay?”

“Mm!”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was comforting a small child. Witnessing his cousin’s happy smile reappear, Xiaoxin’s anxious heart finally found peace, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

After all, if his cousin remained unhappy, she might well return home and confide in her father, who, in turn, would undoubtedly voice his grievances to Xiaoxin’s own father. Xiaoxin’s father would then deem Xiaoxin negligent and deliver a furious, head-on lecture.

‘[Hmm!? You can’t even manage to look after your own cousin! You let her be bullied! What kind of cousin are you, huh? You’re a grown man! How will you ever be a father in the future? Can you even manage it? Look at yourself—you can’t even handle this small task. If you ever have children, they’ll surely despise you!]’

‘As expected of me, I can even conjure my father’s exact lecture, complete with emotional nuances and dialect, all perfectly vivid in my mind, devoid of any incongruity.’

This was not a particularly commendable imaginative ability. Returning to reality, he found himself at the checkout counter, where everything appeared to be unfolding precisely according to his plan.

“The total comes to 4,720 yuan, Miss. Our store is currently running a promotion: spend over 5,000 yuan and receive a complimentary lucky draw chance. Are you interested?”

‘This is it! Well done! Front desk attendant! What a splendid assist!’

“Ah… still a little short. In that case, cousin, is there anything you might need?”

‘Yes! Fantastic! This is precisely the moment I’ve been anticipating!’

A torrent of emotion, now boiling and surging within him! Long-awaited, unfolding precisely as planned! The opportunity, seized perfectly within the confines of my supreme intellect’s flawless calculation and prediction!

“Oh, truly? If that’s the case, there is a rather inexpensive coat I’ve been eyeing.” He strove to maintain his composure, even as his heart hammered wildly, even if he was so thrilled he wanted to shout aloud!

Constantly fretting over the impending winter, hope had finally blossomed. He gazed towards that long-coveted corner of the store, his gaze fixed upon the almost imperceptible coat nestled there. Only an idle middle-aged woman occupied the store, meaning no one else would claim that garment.

‘I won!’

To live is an endeavor destined to be neither easy nor effortless, yet perhaps there will always be unexpected surprises. Harboring a grand, overarching ambition, many often find themselves adrift in the mist called ‘society’, and after countless unforeseen obstacles, they choose to compromise or surrender, ultimately embracing regret.

‘But I, Xiaoxin, am different! Like a seagull surveying the beach from atop a lighthouse, when queried about purpose and meaning, I can instantly articulate a steadfast answer, simple and pure though it may be.’

‘My goal is to acquire a coat; its meaning is to survive the winter. Though there were some unpleasant interludes, the plan remains firmly within my calculations! The victor! It is I, Xiaoxin!!’

He knew not what competition he was engaged in, nor what kind of triumph this constituted, yet a profound sense of pleasure filled his heart, every step propelling him closer to his ideal.

He could already envision himself no longer shivering in a hand-knitted sweater on frigid days, nor freezing on his way to work, only to be mocked by colleagues. He would no longer need to hoard vast quantities of food at home like a wild animal, merely to endure the winter, thereby minimizing his exposure to the biting cold outdoors!

Now, he could don his coat and venture out whenever he pleased! Never again fearing the icy grip of his bed!

“A beautiful future is about to begin!”

He couldn’t help but blurt it out, the joyous expression finally shattered the façade of calm he had so diligently maintained.

Yet, in the very next instant, a leaden sensation abruptly seized his excited heartbeat. It was a profound sense of unease. The flow of dopamine instantly plummeted, as if a stock market had crashed.

‘Why!!’ It was the same voice he had heard earlier in the card shop.

“What’s that noise?!”

“What ‘why’? What’s happening?”

Xiaoxin immediately sensed the presence of a problem. While he didn’t typically possess Magical Girl powers or attribute boosts, his ability to perceive ‘anomalous creatures’ remained intact.

Unlike the muffled voice he alone had heard earlier, this sound was now clearly audible to ordinary people. This situation presented only one possibility!

“Cousin?!”

“Step back! Find cover quickly! Something massive is coming!” Xiaoxin urgently cried out. Logically, he should have retreated with his cousin, fleeing to safety, yet his body chose to surge forward.

He could feel its rapidly expanding mass, the tremor of its magic, the imminent destruction it promised. All these sensations screamed at Xiaoxin where the greatest danger lay.

Indeed, despite knowing precisely where the danger was most acute, Xiaoxin galloped towards that location.

For there, lay the 400-yuan coat, his guarantee for winter, Xiaoxin’s plan, Xiaoxin’s dream!

Fortune favors the bold! As long as he could secure that coat, every sacrifice would be meaningful!

He yearned not to freeze, not to starve, not to give up. This night was destined to be without air conditioning or a heater, and perhaps the only places where he could feel warmth were his company and the kitchen stove.

‘So, God! Let me grasp this hope.’

His prayer was futile! The ground shattered and exploded. The ‘hope’ he was about to grasp, clearly within reach a second ago, vanished instantly. He was flung into the air, his vision obscured by flying debris.

Mid-air, his body was beyond his control. He felt a propelling force sending him skyward, only to be pulled back down by gravity.

“I got it!”