Yu Chen walked toward the house with a new hope in his heart. As he approached, Mu Chen noticed him coming home early.
"What happened, Brother? Did something happen? You're home earlier than usual," Mu Chen asked, munching on a fruit. His face was innocent—still too young to truly understand pain, even though he had already lived through so much.
Yu Chen set aside the wooden stick he used for walking and stepped into the modest home. He sat down on the old wooden cot and called out gently,
"Mu, come here."
Mu Chen slowly walked over to him. Yu Chen placed both hands on his younger brother's shoulders and looked at him with a rare warmth.
"From today onwards, you won't have to go out to eat bad things anymore," he said softly. "I've awakened, Mu. From now on, you can eat properly—every day."
Mu Chen's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really? Then… then… does that mean we can eat properly from now on?" he asked, his expression stunned.
Yu Chen nodded with a smile. "Yeah! I've awakened a system that gives me daily coins. Not a small amount either. Soon, we'll be able to eat a lot of things."
Mu Chen scratched his head shyly. "Well… how many coins do you get, Brother?"
"You could say… enough to eat three times a day and even save some coins to buy you new clothes soon." Yu Chen's excitement bubbled through his voice.
"Three meals? That means…" Mu Chen started counting on his fingers.
Yu Chen suddenly hugged him, tightly. "You don't need to count anymore. When the time comes, you'll even go to school. You won't grow up without an education like I did."
That afternoon, Yu Chen opened his system interface and tapped a button.
[You have bought a Normal Meal for 3 Coins.]
He smiled, holding a warm bowl of rice and curry.
"Look what I've got!"
"Wow! Brother, is that for me?" Mu Chen asked, staring wide-eyed.
"Yeah! It's yours. Eat it all, okay? I'll be back in a little while. Be a good boy."
Mu Chen nodded and began eating happily. It had been so long since he'd tasted proper food.
As Yu Chen quietly stepped outside—careful not to let Mu Chen see that he wasn't eating today—Mu Chen looked up from the bowl, tears welling in his eyes.
"I have the best brother in the world."
But what even Yu Chen didn't know… was that Mu Chen wasn't an ordinary child. He was a reincarnated Emperor from the Malan Realm, an upper world. In his past life, he had sacrificed everything—his life, his throne—for his kingdom and the girl he loved.
Reborn into this lower realm, his new life was quiet, full of struggle and warmth. But this time, he would protect his loved ones. And no matter what, he would reunite with the girl from his past.
Two brothers. Two destinies. One family.
Evening passed quietly, and by nightfall, both Yu Chen and Mu Chen were sound asleep, their hearts resting on a single hope—that tomorrow would bring change.
---
Late Night
Mu Chen stirred in his sleep, startled by a faint noise.
"Uhhh…"
Yu Chen, still awake, glanced over at his brother and smiled softly. He was staring at his system interface, watching the time tick toward midnight. He wanted to see what rewards the next day might bring before he could sleep peacefully.
At exactly 12:00 AM, a notification flashed.
[You have received 32 Coins.]
Then another followed right after.
[You have enough Coins to UPGRADE the Coin Rate. Would you like to proceed?]
[Yes / No]
Without hesitation, Yu Chen pressed Yes.
[You have spent 750 Coins to upgrade your Coin Rate to 64C/Day.]
[Current Balance: 11]
Exhausted, he collapsed onto the cot, his body aching.
---
The Next Morning
"Brother! Brother! Wake up!" Mu Chen was shaking Yu Chen's shoulders.
Yu Chen opened his eyes slowly, fatigue still weighing down his body. His joints ached, and his head was heavy. But when he saw the number on his system interface—11 Coins—a small smile returned to his lips. That was just enough to feed Mu Chen today.
From tomorrow onward, everything would be different.
He bought one meal for Mu Chen and set off into the nearby forest. But just a short walk left him breathless. He had pushed himself too hard.
As he rested under a tree, a sweet scent reached his nose. His eyes widened as he spotted a mango tree nearby with ripe fruits scattered around. Gratefully, he gathered a few and hurried back home. These would last for a few more days.
After returning, he finally had a proper night's sleep.
---
The Next Day
Yu Chen woke up early, hope shining in his tired eyes.
"Yeah… our life changes from today."
He cleaned the house, brushed his teeth with old twigs, and washed up. Then he opened a small wooden box where their old clothes were kept. Most were torn and stained. Without hesitation, he threw them into a pile and set them alight. Mu Chen watched silently from inside the house.
"My big bro seems different today," he murmured.
When breakfast time came, Yu Chen bought two Normal Meals.
For the first time in a long while, he ate to his heart's content. Then, he bought another meal just to be full.
[Balance: 56] (-9)
"Brother… do you still have enough coins?" Mu Chen asked.
"Don't worry! From now on, our lifestyle is going to change—slowly but surely." Yu Chen smiled gently.
Mu Chen, still curious, asked, "Brother, why do people even need shops anymore? Isn't everyone just buying things through the system?"
Yu Chen chuckled. "That's a good question. The system offers convenience, yes. But there's a 5% fee on every transaction. In return, vendors gain access to global customers through the system portal. They don't need to spend on marketing or transportation."
He paused, then added, "But just because you're in the system doesn't mean people will buy your things. You still have to earn their trust—with taste, with smell, with quality."
Vendors who paid the system fee also gained storage access, allowing them to expand based on their earnings. It was a world where effort could open doors, even within the virtual walls of a system.
Later, Yu Chen opened the system shop and bought a new outfit for Mu Chen.
"This is just the beginning. I'll buy you one shirt each day until you have enough clothes for two weeks."
He bought a simple shirt for himself too.
[Balance: 26] (-30)
"Let's go to the pond and bathe together. You have to be clean to wear good clothes," he said warmly, taking Mu Chen's hand as they walked.
After their bath, Mu Chen admired his reflection.
"Brother… this feels so good," he said, smiling in his new outfit.
Back home, Yu Chen eyed their worn-out cot with distaste. It wasn't comfortable anymore. He opened the system again and bought a simple rag for them to sleep on the floor.
[Balance: 16]
As they lay down together, Mu Chen asked softly, "Brother… couldn't people just live like this? Eating, resting, and using system coins?"
Yu Chen turned his head, his eyes deep.
"In this world, everyone wants longevity. Vendors hope their children become immortals. Lazy people buy powerful pills just to keep living longer."
He paused before finishing.
"But some… some people will realize that even a little hard work can give them a better life."
He smiled again, watching his little brother close his eyes in peace.