Pain.
That was all Kyle Morgan felt in his final moments. The sound of the explosion, the screaming, then... nothing.
"Is this death?"
He had been returning from a business trip, tired but happy. He was thinking about his upcoming project, the promotion his boss had promised him. Everything was going well until...
Then darkness.
---
[System Alert: Initiating absorption process...]
[Memory integration in progress... 30%... 60%... 100%]
[Complete! Welcome to a new world, Host.]
---
Kyle slowly opened his eyes. The ceiling was strange—cracked, damp. The smell of mold and poverty filled the space.
"Where... where am I?"
He tried to sit up, but his body was weak, trembling. He felt as if he hadn't eaten in days. He looked at his thin hands, covered in bruises.
"These aren't my hands!"
Suddenly, foreign memories flooded his mind like a torrent. Images, sounds, feelings... none of them were his, yet now they were part of him.
Name: Lin Chen
Age: 17 years old
Status: Poor high school student, living alone with his younger sister
The memories were harsh. The daily bullying at school, the beatings, the mockery. Lin Chen had been the easiest target—weak, poor, friendless. They had even attacked his little sister once, laughed at her while she cried...
"You bastards..."
He felt rage boiling in his chest. These memories, this pain, everything had become real to him now.
---
[Congratulations! The Family Care System has been activated]
[Mission: Protect and care for your younger sister, Lin Mi]
[Rewards: Upgrade points, special skills, money, and more!]
---
A transparent window appeared directly before his eyes, floating in the air with glowing golden letters.
"What... what is this?!"
He tried to touch it, but his hand passed through it. It wasn't a dream.
[System: I am the Family Care System. My mission is to help you become stronger by caring for your sister and looking after her.]
[Status Panel]
Name: Lin Chen (Formerly Kyle Morgan)
Level: 1
Strength: 3/100
Speed: 4/100
Intelligence: 18/100
Luck: 5/100
Available Upgrade Points: 0
"I'm... extremely weak."
He felt frustrated. Even in his previous life he hadn't been athletic, but this body was much worse.
[Don't worry! With every mission you complete, you will become stronger.]
[New Mission Available!]
Mission Title: Cook breakfast for your sister Lin Mi
Reward: 10 upgrade points + 1,000 yuan
Time Remaining: 45 minutes
---
He heard the door to the room open.
"Brother! You're finally awake!"
A little girl with short black hair and tearful eyes rushed toward him. She was wearing a simple school uniform, but it was clean and tidy.
Lin Mi. His younger sister. Ten years old.
She threw herself at him and began to cry. "I thought you wouldn't wake up! You've been asleep for three days! The doctor said... he said..."
Kyle...no, Lin Chen now—felt pain in his heart. The memories of the body's previous owner showed him everything. This little girl had been working after school, handing out flyers, selling flowers, just to save money for food and medicine.
And he had been a burden to her.
"Don't cry, Mi... I'm fine now." He gently patted her head. "Are you hungry?"
She raised her head, her eyes red. "No... I'm fine. The important thing is that you woke up!"
A lie. He heard her stomach growl.
"Wait here. I'll make you breakfast."
She looked at him in shock. "Brother, you're sick! Let me—"
"No." He got out of bed with difficulty. His body was weak, but his will was strong. "From now on, I'm the one who will take care of you. Understood?"
Nine years of memories had shown him everything. Since their parents died in a car accident, Lin Mi had been carrying everything alone. A ten-year-old child raising an older brother.
"No... this is wrong. This must change."
...
The kitchen was small and old. The refrigerator was nearly empty—some eggs, a few wilted vegetables, a bag of rice.
[Hint: Use your skills from your previous life! You sometimes cooked for yourself.]
True. In his life as Kyle, he had lived alone and learned some basic cooking.
He got to work. Fried eggs, white rice, simple vegetable soup. It wasn't fancy food, but he cooked with all his heart.
Lin Mi stood at the door, watching him with amazed eyes. "Brother... you're cooking?"
"Yes. Sit at the table."
When he placed the food before her, she started crying again.
"Why are you crying? Is the food bad?"
"No... it's delicious." She smiled as she wiped her tears. "I'm just... so happy."
---
[Congratulations! First Mission Completed!]
[Rewards Received]:
- 10 upgrade points
- 1,000 yuan (deposited in system wallet)
[Special Achievement: "Meal from the Heart" - Your sister's happiness increased by 50%!]
[Bonus Reward]: +5 upgrade points
[New Mission Available!]
Mission Title: Buy your sister a new school bag and clothes
Reward: 20 upgrade points + "Dignified Presence" skill (Level 1)
Time Limit: Two days
"A school bag?"
He looked at Lin Mi's old bag in the corner. It was torn, patched, clearly used for years.
More memories surfaced. The children at school mocked her because of her old bag, her shabby clothes...
He clenched his fist. "I won't allow this anymore."
---
After Lin Mi finished breakfast and left for school, Lin Chen opened the system interface.
[Wallet]: 1,000 yuan
"This should be enough for a bag and some clothes."
He headed to the nearby market. Walking was exhausting for his weak body, but he endured it.
At a school supplies store, he found a beautiful pink bag—Lin Mi's favorite color.
"How much?"
"380 yuan."
Expensive, but the quality was good.
"I'll take it."
Then he went to a clothing store. He chose three new school outfits for her, and a simple but elegant dress.
Total: 850 yuan
When he returned home, he hid the purchases under her bed as a surprise.
---
[Alert: Suspicious activity detected near your home.]
[Warning: Three members of the "Black Serpent Gang" are approaching!]
"What?!"
He heard violent pounding on the door.
"Lin Chen! Open the door, you rat! We know you're inside!"
A coarse voice, full of mockery.
Memories flooded in. These three—Zhang Wei, Liu Kun, and Wang Jia. They bullied him daily at school, stole what little money he had, beat him for fun.
Worse... two weeks ago, they harassed Lin Mi. They grabbed her hand as she returned from school, said obscene things to her, and when Lin Chen tried to defend her, they beat him into critical condition.
Those beatings were what killed the body's original owner.
"You bastards..."
Rage ignited in his chest.
[Emergency Mission!]
Title: Defend your dignity!
Details: Zhang Wei and his gang have come to extort you again. Show them you've changed!
Reward: 50 upgrade points + "Basic Combat" skill (Level 2)
Bonus Reward: If you defeat them without serious injury: +100 points
[Would you like to use your current points (15) to temporarily upgrade Strength?]
"Yes! Do it!"
[Done! Strength: 3 → 25 (Duration: 30 minutes)]
[Warning: Exhaustion will occur after duration ends.]
He felt energy flowing through his muscles. His frail body suddenly felt... strong.
He opened the door calmly.
Three youths in school uniforms, but their faces were covered in scars and tattoos. Zhang Wei, the leader, was the tallest—180 cm of muscle and violence.
"Oh, little Lin Chen finally woke up!" Zhang Wei laughed. "We thought you were dead. We were going to mourn you, you know."
The other two laughed.
"What do you want?" Lin Chen said coldly.
"Oh, nothing special. Just the usual fee. 2,000 yuan this month. Times are getting tougher, you know."
"I don't have money."
Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then maybe we should visit your cute little sister. What was her name? Mi? She's getting prettier by the day—"
BAM!
Lin Chen's fist connected with Zhang Wei's face before he could finish his sentence.
---
Silence.
Zhang Wei fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding nose. "You... you dared to hit me?!"
Liu Kun and Wang Jia froze for a moment, then rushed at him.
But Lin Chen's body moved on instinct. He dodged, then a side kick struck Liu Kun in the stomach. A quick punch dropped Wang Jia.
[Excellent! Instinctive Combat +10%]
Zhang Wei got up, furious. "I'll kill you!"
He pulled out a folding knife from his pocket.
Things were getting serious.
But Lin Chen wasn't afraid. He grabbed a wooden stick by the door—an old broom.
"Then come on."
Zhang Wei attacked. The knife slashed through the air, but Lin Chen was faster. He struck his wrist, the knife fell. Then a powerful blow to his knee.
CRACK!
Zhang Wei screamed as he collapsed.
"AAAH! My knee! My knee!"
The other two tried to flee, but Lin Chen was faster. He grabbed them by their collars.
"Where do you think you're going?"
He beat them until they were on the ground, begging.
He stood over Zhang Wei, his eyes cold. "Listen carefully. If you come near me or my sister Mi ever again, I'll break every bone in your body. Understood?"
"Y-yes! Yes! We won't come near! I swear!"
"Disappear."
The three fled, limping and screaming.
---
[Congratulations! Emergency Mission Completed Successfully!]
[Rewards]:
- 50 upgrade points
- "Basic Combat" skill (Level 2)
- Bonus reward: +100 points (clean victory!)
- +1 Speed
- +2 Strength
[Special Achievement: "First Vengeance"]
[Reward]: Title "Family Protector" - All your abilities increase by 5% when defending family members
[New Level]: 2
Lin Chen fell to his knees. The temporary boost had worn off, and exhaustion hit him hard.
But he was smiling.
"Finally... finally I can protect her."
He looked at the sky. He was no longer Kyle Morgan from that world.
Now, he was Lin Chen. And his new life... had just begun.