"Have you heard? The Mayan prophecy says 2012 will be the end of the world. A lot of people aren't doing anything this year, just staying at home, saying they're laying low in case the world really does end, so they can enjoy a few extra days. Someone in our family has been nagging me to take a trip to Hawaii, and I can't say no. They've been bothering me about it every day. Sigh, half a year's salary just went down the drain." Yang Wei set down the coffee tray and heard a middle-aged man wearing glasses and combing his hair to one side complaining to another person.
"Hawaii is a great place, with the waves and beaches. It's a tourist paradise. Sure, it costs more, but it's so comfortable. Not like the person in my house, who's been at home packing up stuff and insists on hiking Mount Tai. Just thinking about it makes my whole body shiver. I don't know who came up with this idea, but it's been so quiet. Everyone's thinking about consumption, and prices keep rising every day," another person complained.
"Pfft, the end of the world? Who believes that? I don't know who's got too much time on their hands spreading rumors." Yang Wei thought to himself disdainfully. "The rich can just relax and travel whenever they want."
It wasn't until 10 p.m. that Yang Wei finally rubbed his sore shoulders. Recently, more people had been coming in for coffee, and the boss's business had picked up. But Yang Wei felt like his hardship had just begun. Not only did the boss not increase his pay, but his working hours had gone up from the original 8 hours to 12 hours a day. It was severe exploitation.
"Xiao Wei, you're back. Worked this late today?" Liu Da, the security guard at the gate, asked.
"Yeah, Liu Da, it's been so busy lately with more people around. The coffee shop's business is booming. I won't bother you, I'm heading in now," Yang Wei greeted the gatekeeper and returned to the small house his parents had left him after they passed away.
When Yang Wei was ten years old, his parents died in a car accident, leaving him to live alone. Stumbling along, he had now unknowingly spent more than a decade.
"Sigh, d*mn it, this life is unbearable. I work my *ss off every month and still can't make enough money. If this year really is the end of the world, maybe there'll be chaos, and I might be able to make a fortune from the turmoil." Yang Wei thought bitterly to himself.
After graduation, Yang Wei had endured every hardship, done every job, but still struggled to make ends meet. He was deeply resentful, feeling that life was unfair.
Meanwhile, outside Earth, the spaceship with snake-like patterns was slowly approaching Earth. But the flames coming from the power furnace at the rear of the ship were steadily shrinking, indicating that the ship's energy was nearly depleted.
"Warning, warning, the Kyloan ship has caught up, please prepare for combat," the electronic synthesized voice echoed.
Looking at the screen behind him, the ship with a death skull emblem rapidly closing in, the elder snake-being suddenly seemed much older. He knew that once the enemy's ship caught up with theirs, it would be all over.