There are times when I feel a bit fed up with this life.

Work, go home, sleep, wake up, and work again.

Every day feels the same to me.

It never changes, as if I'm trapped in a time loop.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dasiming, a 37-year-old middle-aged man, unmarried and stuck working for a shady company for years.

A fixed salary for life in this cursed city that never changes, as if I am nothing more than a tool for the company's higher-ups.

Thanks to the high cost of living, overcrowding, and expensive land prices in this city, I'm forced to rent a cheap apartment tucked into a corner of a building.

"Hah."

A sigh escaped my lips as I worked overtime late into the night.

"Damn it. Those bastard pigs force me to work overtime but never give me a bonus for it."

Lost in my thoughts, I hurried to finish my tasks, eager to go home as quickly as possible.

After a while, I realized it was finally time to leave. I rushed to the elevator after clocking out.

As I passed a long mirror in the office hallway, I stopped abruptly and turned toward it.

"Wow, why does my face look so terrible? When I was young, I never had such a grim face and aura."

Honestly, I regret spending my youth studying and constantly honing my skills.

Even though I earned the nickname "Jack of All Trades," the truth is I rarely socialized with my school friends.

A flood of regrets filled my mind as I stared at my reflection in the mirror before continuing my journey home.

… … …

"Yawnnn."

Without realizing it, I yawned mid-walk and stretched.

CRACK. CRACK.

"Ugh… Damn it, my back hurts so much."

Staggering through the quiet night, my field of vision was filled with glowing billboards lining the streets.

Suddenly, one billboard caught my attention, stopping me in my tracks.

The billboard featured a beautiful girl in a maid outfit holding a microphone and waving to the audience.

"An idol, huh…"

I murmured absentmindedly as I stared at the idol girl.

Frowning, I sneered,

"Damn it, I'm so jealous of her. Just having a pretty face and a good figure can make you famous and earn you lots of money."

Taking out my frustration and disappointment, I kicked an empty can.

"And me? I've spent my whole life striving for a decent job, studying and studying every single day, only to lose out to a young girl relying solely on her looks? Don't joke with me…!"

My angry shouts echoed through the deserted street.

Suddenly—

"Huh?"

My ears began to ring, my entire body bathed in a bright light. As I turned to look, my vision went dark, as if I'd never seen that light at all.