The Wage Slave’s Daydream and a Fateful Encounter

Mingqian walked on the sunny street after a long time. After a night’s sleep, his magic seemed to have been greatly replenished.

“Phew…the air of freedom.”

His journey’s true aim was the Seven Hills City Branch of the Supernatural Abilities Coordination Bureau. It was said that those who awakened supernatural abilities would register there, then embark on thrilling adventures, perhaps a solo journey, or an exhilarating quest with companions. Along the way, they might face setbacks, sorrow, and tears, but ultimately, these were the classic tales that ended in laughter. Certainly not a story where he was pushed down and imprisoned by a beautiful girl! And his story, Mingqian’s story, was only just beginning!

*****

“This isn’t working out for me.”

“Didn’t they say that just walking by the roadside would lead to encountering rich, beautiful girls?”

“Where are my beautiful girls?!”

“Am I actually destined to be a wage s*ave?” Mingqian sighed softly, watching the numbers before him steadily climb from 80% to 100%.

This was the Coordination Department of the Seven Hills City Branch of the Supernatural Abilities Coordination Bureau, and over half a month had passed since he joined.

He had subtly altered his appearance using basic dark magic, allowing him to temporarily rent a house under the guise of an ability user.

Unlike the independent ability users, those who joined the department were akin to government civil servants; while they received points on time each month, they also sacrificed a measure of freedom.

However, having escaped his home alone and being strapped for cash, Mingqian had no choice but to reside here for the time being.

Throughout this past month, he had never once undertaken a mission to explore a secret realm.

His ability was deemed too weak, relegating him to the “important” task of reinforcing various barriers.

Yet, it was common knowledge that this was thankless, arduous labor no one desired, and as the newest member of the Coordination Department, he was the obvious target for any unwanted assignments.

Consequently, he was perpetually shuttling back and forth across the branch office, inspecting the integrity of the barriers.

‘Infuriating! This was truly infuriating! I’m quitting tomorrow!’

Yet, constrained by the demands of survival, he couldn’t simply walk away.

Now, his sole hope was to participate in a secret realm exploration; even the shared points alone would be enough to sustain him for a considerable time.

Furthermore, he desperately needed a wealth of resources to replenish his mana reserves, as he aspired to cultivate all elemental magic, but was severely lacking the necessary materials.

When his abilities were measured, the instrument had coincidentally detected his “pre-awakening” state, indicating only a wood element affinity.

This presented both advantages and disadvantages for him.

The good news was that he had successfully concealed his true strength, for a prominent tree in the forest is bound to be assailed by the wind.

The bad news was that everyone regarded him as utterly useless.

Because he was perceived as useless, he was relegated to tasks no one else would touch, watching with envy as the independent ability users accepted their missions.

No money… no money at all!

Thus, every night in his rented room, he would sip cheap iced tea (tropical flavor) while fantasizing about being a world-saving hero in online games.

Fortunately, Su Wanqing still chatted with him as before, as if the rift between them had never existed.

Mingqian felt a profound sense of emotion regarding the recovery of this lost friendship.

Even now, having awakened his abilities, he remained trapped by the struggle for survival—it was truly outrageous.

[Mingqian: Ability: Wood Element Points: 250]

He envisioned a white-haired, red-eyed girl accidentally colliding with him, who then stood up, whimpering and clutching her nose.

“You, you hurt me!”

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry…”

“Since you knocked me down, you must become my servant!”

“Gulp! I, I definitely don’t want to!”

“Hehe… hehehehe… hehehehe.”

“Mingqian?” “Mingqian!” “Mingqian!! What are you spacing out for?!”

A thunderous voice exploded in his ear, and he winced, rubbing his lobe in pain.

The person before him was his direct superior, Ms. Zhang.

Though referred to as a “Ms.,” she was clearly already an auntie.

However, anyone daring to address her as such would undoubtedly face terrifying retaliation.

Mingqian only dared to mutter this thought internally, for Ms. Zhang was exceedingly strict with her subordinates, frequently offering her opinions in a pinched voice.

The slightest contradiction would earn a blistering tirade.

More often than not, she was merely a fault-finder.

And a young man like Mingqian, with neither connections nor status, was naturally a prime target for her frustrations.

Though his colleagues generally disliked her, no one would ever stand up for another.

Mingqian hung his head, already bracing himself for the storm of vitriol he knew was coming.

“You blockhead, spacing out during work again?”

“You were hired to work! Not to daydream!”

“You imbecile, it’s precisely because you’re incompetent that you’re stuck with this kind of work, and yet you still don’t even try hard…”

‘It’s just a sparrow chirping, a sparrow chirping, a sparrow chirping.’

Mingqian suppressed the fury welling within him, forcing his expression into one of utmost subservience.

After all, a direct superior was someone who held sway over the destiny of a low-ranking individual like him.

As someone had said many years ago, an “Android” like him could only have his fate dictated by the “Apple” people.

“You are absolutely right…”

After lambasting him thoroughly, the haughty Auntie Zhang finally strode away with her graceless gait.

‘Life isn’t just about the mundane struggles of the present; there must be beautiful girls awaiting me in the future!’

He raised his hand to check the time on his phone; it was already nearing quitting time.

If he simply ambled towards the main entrance, he could finally conclude his miserable day as a wage s*ave.

This was the heart of the branch office.

Their Coordination Department was situated on the basement level, while the Assignment Department occupied the first floor above ground.

Unlike them, the staff of the Assignment Department were like guild receptionists in a game, responsible for distributing missions.

Many could gain advantages by fostering good relations with the powerful ability users.

This was also precisely where those ability users congregated.

He had spotted Bai Wanting’s figure several times; however, her presence was always imposing, and she would accept missions and depart without a single word.

Rumor had it that she was searching for something called the “Soul-Reviving Pill”—how peculiar.

As he pondered these thoughts, he inadvertently bumped into a soft body.

The scent of gardenias permeated his nostrils.

“Oh!”

“Ah, my apologies!”

Mingqian swiftly lowered his head.

These days, he had mastered the secret art of workplace survival.

Bow and apologize.

And the person before him…

Indeed, it was none other than his ex-girlfriend.

For some unknown reason, she held a position in the Coordination Department, one significantly higher than Ms. Zhang’s.

In other words, she was his direct superior’s direct superior’s direct superior.

Su Wanqing glanced at Mingqian, a flicker of hesitation crossing her eyes.

“You’re… the new one?”

“Just call me your junior! Senior Su Wanqing.”

“You know me?” Su Wanqing’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she instinctively distanced herself, a hint of wariness in her posture.

Subtly, power began to gather in her hand, as if she were preparing for any move Mingqian might make.

Thanks to the dark magic, she failed to recognize Mingqian’s true identity.

“Of course! Senior Su is so famous and so beautiful; everyone talks about you all the time.”

Hearing this, Su Wanqing finally lowered her guard and let out a soft sigh.

“They love to gossip behind people’s backs.

Don’t you go learning their bad habits.”

“Those people are utterly useless.”

“Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

She waved a hand, then walked around Mingqian.

“Senior, you’re in such a hurry; do you have something important to attend to? Oh, I’m just curious…”

Su Wanqing’s body instantly froze, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Someone?”

“Yes, my younger brother.

He stubbornly ran away from home, and I’m searching for him.”

“Oh? Isn’t that quite serious?”

It seemed she was also troubled by having no one to confide in, for she continued speaking along that thread.

“Yes, there was a misunderstanding between my brother and me.

He misunderstood me and ran off, and I regret it deeply.”

“Regret?”

“I regret not explaining things clearly to him back then… Ah, just forget it.”

“Senior, if you truly have no other options, perhaps you could try asking me for help.”

“Ask you for help?” Her slender eyes scrutinized the unremarkable man.

“Well, I am a man, after all… perhaps there might be some common ground.”

“Hmm… thank you, I’ll consider it.” Her eyes flickered slightly, but she still didn’t respond to Mingqian’s request.

With that, she departed.

‘When I was dating her, I never heard anything about her having a younger brother.’

‘Hmm… perhaps he’s a recently acquired brother.’