Li Tian had always been one of those people who didn't really have a big, exciting life. He was the type who'd rather binge-watch his favorite webnovels than deal with reality. Work was a constant drag, his social life was non-existent, and his love life? Well, let's just say he was still waiting for that "romantic" moment with his crush.
So, of course, his death came at the worst possible time.
It wasn't some epic battle or some crazy accident. No, Li Tian died in the most embarrassing way possible. He was crossing the street, oblivious to the oncoming truck, when his favorite book—an oversized, ultra-thick fantasy novel—slipped from his hands and hit the ground.
That's right, the ultimate cause of his demise was his own book.
He bent down to grab it, and wham—truck-kun to the face.
"Really?!" was the last thing he thought before everything went black.
---
Li Tian opened his eyes, only to be blinded by an unreasonably bright light. Blinking furiously, he realized two things simultaneously: first, he couldn't feel his limbs, and second, everything around him was huge.
"What the…" he tried to speak, but only a gurgle escaped his lips. His confusion deepened as he felt himself being cradled in warm hands.
"Congratulations, it's a boy!" a cheerful voice boomed above him.
Li Tian's mind froze.
Boy? Wait. Hold on. Is this… a reincarnation?!
He had read enough webnovels back on Earth to recognize the tropes. Reincarnation? Check. Big, mysterious hands cradling him? Check. A new life ahead? Double check.
Oh, this is it! he thought excitedly. This is my chance to live out my fantasy life! I'll get a golden finger, become an overpowered protagonist, and… wait, where's the system notification?
He waited.
And waited.
Nothing.
Alright, Li Tian thought. I'll let this moment slide. The system's probably just running late. I'll get it any second now.
Hours later, the truth became apparent. Li Tian was an orphan in a small town. No magical world, no awesome mentor, no epic destiny waiting to unfold. Just a small baby crying for food and burping his way through the day. His parents were nowhere to be found. Judging by the thin layer of dust on the wooden crib and the faint smell of abandonment in the air, Li Tian quickly deduced that he had probably been left here by some well-meaning but utterly irresponsible adult.
He was a baby. In an orphanage. On a planet he had never seen before.
And worst of all? No golden finger. No system.
Li Tian could practically hear the distant chuckles of all the characters in the novels he'd read. This is the type of world I get reincarnated into?
"Great. I guess I'm just a regular guy in this crappy life. No cheats, no powers... No golden finger... just... me and my baby fat." Li Tian mumbled under his breath, already regretting everything.
And yet, Li Tian refused to give up hope. Somewhere deep down, a faint belief flickered. Maybe I'll unlock some hidden power when I'm older, like those reincarnation heroes. Maybe this is just a 'slow starter' situation, and I'll suddenly... I don't know... gain a massive power boost at age five?
---
Five Years Later
"Activate system!"
Li Tian stood alone in the orphanage courtyard, his tiny arms raised to the sky. He had tried everything: shouting commands, meditating, even punching trees to "trigger" a quest. Nothing worked.
"Come on! I've read enough novels to know how this is supposed to go!" he yelled.
A passing caretaker gave him a concerned look. "Li Tian, stop shouting at the clouds. You'll scare the other children."
"Scare the other children?" he muttered. "What about my shattered dreams?"
---
By the age of eight, Li Tian had resigned himself to the harsh reality of his new life. No system, no cheat powers, no hidden destiny. Just an ordinary existence in a medieval world where survival was a daily struggle.
"Fine," he grumbled as he swept the orphanage floor, "I'll just be a normal guy. No problem. I don't need a golden finger."
The broom snapped in his hands.
"Okay, maybe I'm a little bitter," he admitted.
---
Ten Years Later
Li Tian had grown into a capable, if unremarkable, young man. The orphanage had been his home for as long as he could remember, and though life was hard, he had made peace with it.
Most days, he worked odd jobs in the nearby town, earning just enough to get by. His dreams of becoming an overpowered protagonist had long since faded.
"Hey, Tian! Coming to the bar tonight?" a friend called out.
"Yeah, yeah," Li Tian replied. "Let me finish delivering these crates first."
He balanced a stack of wooden crates on his shoulder, his mind wandering.
You know what? Maybe this isn't so bad. No crazy powers, no life-or-death battles… just peaceful living. It's kind of nice.
As if the universe had been waiting for him to think that, the ground suddenly trembled beneath his feet.
What the hell? Li Tian staggered, dropping the crates. Around him, people screamed as the sky turned a sickly shade of green.
A deafening roar filled the air, followed by a blinding flash of light. When Li Tian looked up, he saw it: a massive meteor hurtling toward the horizon, trailing fire and destruction.
"Oh, come on!" he shouted. "I just said I liked this peaceful life!"
The meteor struck with a thunderous crash, and the world around him exploded into chaos.
And that's when things truly started to get interesting... but not in the way Li Tian expected.
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To Be Continued...