Ji Mian walked for half an hour and finally arrived at the bottom of the bridge tunnel, already so hungry that he felt like he might collapse. He had no idea how long it had been since the original owner had eaten.
A few of his "good brothers" had come and were gathered together playing cards, engrossed in the game, all wearing smiles on their faces.
Their clothes were different from Ji Mian's, clean and neat.
Some were even big brands, unlike Ji Mian's—his were all knockoffs.
In his memories, these people came from stable and even harmonious families. They had food and clothing, making them completely different from Ji Mian, a homeless child.
One boy with a buzz cut and a cigarette in his mouth noticed Ji Mian and, of course, saw the wounds and dirt on him.
He casually called out, “Brother Mian.”
After calling out, he turned back, indifferent.
It was as if that title was no different from that of a stray cat or dog, with the suffix “brother” just being a suffix, lacking any sign of respect.
But according to the original owner’s memories, every time he heard these people call him “Brother Mian,” he would smile. That smile was a pride lifted from the mud.
Ji Mian didn’t quite understand, but he also forced a smile. After less than half a second, he retracted it, as if it were just a formality.
A few boys had some food scattered around them; the packaging showed they were from a convenience store, and there were a few packs of cigarettes too. However, the original owner, due to pride, always refused to eat their food.
Ji Mian walked over, picked a sandwich, and grabbed a warm bucket of oden, then sat down to eat.
The players immediately stopped, turning their heads to look at him.
But Ji Mian pretended not to notice, first sipping the warm soup, then taking a bite of the spinach and egg cake he pulled out, chewing half of it.
He shared with the system, [This is delicious.]
System: [……]
Ji Mian asked, [What’s it called?]
[It’s oden, and what you’re eating is spinach and egg cake.] The system replied, then added, [Stop asking so much and just eat.]
“Brother Mian, didn’t you have any ‘results’ today?” the first boy who called Ji Mian “Brother Mian” laughed, his tone a bit strange.
Another person jokingly said, “We’ll treat Brother Mian to a meal. When Brother Mian’s results come in, remember to give us a couple of cigarettes.”
Ji Mian neither agreed nor shook his head. He continued eating.
Seeing they didn’t get a response, the group frowned, almost ready to explode. But then they thought about Ji Mian's usual behavior and swallowed their anger.
Why bother? If they really pissed him off, where would they find another such foolish ATM?
Even a rabbit can bite when provoked; it was better to endure for a while. He probably hadn’t eaten and was just starving. You couldn’t reason with a starving ghost.
After filling his stomach, Ji Mian washed his face by the river and went under the bridge tunnel to find a place to rest.
Fortunately, it was summer; the wind blowing in from the tunnel was strong, but at this time of year, it felt quite comfortable.
If it were winter, he feared that he’d be frozen to the bone in no time.
He comfortably squinted his eyes, feeling as if even his wounds didn’t hurt as much.
[The original owner’s sixteenth birthday is coming up in a few days; the first plot point is approaching. You need to find a way to get to the area where the female lead is and seek refuge with her foster brother.]
Ji Mian asked, [Is it far from here?]
[You can walk there.]
[Oh.] Ji Mian felt relieved.
[It’s only a few dozen kilometers.]
“……”
Ji Mian decisively gave up on the option of walking. He checked his pockets; they were empty, except for half a pack of tissues in the back pocket of his pants. He had nothing else left.
But to find the female lead, he needed money.
At the very least, he needed enough money for transportation.
Where would the money come from? Ji Mian pondered with his head down.
Earn it.
【Steal it.】
Two different answers appeared simultaneously in his mind. The former was Ji Mian's own thought, while the latter was the system's terrible suggestion.
He shook his head. “Steal? I don’t want to steal. That’s immoral.”
The system snickered: 【Morality? What is that? Can you eat it?】
Ji Mian didn’t really want to engage with it.
The system quickly followed up: 【You came to this world for a mission, and maintaining your persona is the top priority. You have to show the persona of the original owner. Otherwise, the change in “Ji Mian's” character will become the wings that stir up the butterfly effect. You don’t just “have the option to steal”; you “must steal.”】
It added a sharp remark: 【Besides, where does your sense of morality come from?】
【You don’t even have memories; who knows if you were a heinous criminal in your last life?】
“……”
Ji Mian compromised, but only for the sake of what the system said about “maintaining the persona.” He deliberately ignored the possibility that he had once been a “criminal.”
—
After resting for a few days, the wounds he got from being beaten finally hurt less.
During these days, he had survived on the snacks from his “good brothers” while they played cards.
Ji Mian sensed that if he stayed there any longer, his “good brothers” would soon explode.
On the fourth day, he stepped over their breaking point and left the bridge tunnel.
—He was going to steal.
Who to steal from? Ji Mian hadn’t thought it through yet.
How to steal? Ji Mian didn’t know either.
He wandered out to the street, walking aimlessly. The original owner was evidently a habitual offender in this area; someone recognized Ji Mian and instinctively checked their pockets and backpacks, alertly ensuring they hadn’t lost anything.
Ji Mian clenched his hands tightly, a thin layer of sweat forming in his palms.
It was his first time stealing, and he felt a bit nervous.
He gritted his teeth, found a spot on the curb to sit, and started selecting his target.
He saw a couple passing by, laughing and looking lovingly at each other. He couldn’t bring himself to steal from them.
Then he spotted a stylish girl with a high ponytail swaying energetically. He couldn’t bring himself to steal from her either.
Next, he saw an ordinary middle-aged man with a beer belly wobbling about. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to steal from him.
System: 【……】
It sighed: 【Can you do this or not?】
【I…… can do it.】 Ji Mian hesitated.
Under the scorching midday sun, a layer of fine sweat appeared on his forehead. He couldn't delay any longer.
Dizzy and weak, he finally found a suitable target.
It was a young man who had just gotten out of a car, sporting a striking head of red hair. His car was parked by the roadside, and as long as Ji Mian found the right angle, the dashcam inside wouldn’t capture him. The original owner had successfully stolen here many times before and was sure there were no cameras around.
However, Ji Mian's choice of this target wasn’t based on those factors; it was because: the guy looked like a useless punk.
The red-haired young man fit the definition of a delinquent from head to toe—his hairstyle was flamboyant, he wore a snug tank top, and his denim jeans had a few non-mainstream chains hanging off them. He carried a large leather bag on his shoulder, and his exposed skin was covered in ostentatious tattoos.
Ji Mian didn’t want to judge people by their looks, but at this moment, judging by appearances did provide him with some comfort. He really needed that little bit of comfort: he was about to rob a delinquent—a very bad delinquent!
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