As someone in sequence 001, I also want to give up today.

Life returned to normal.

At least that's how it appears on the surface.

Li Xian continues his "laissez-faire" lifestyle:

I wake up naturally, use my superpowers to heat milk, cut fruit, clean the house, and then lounge on the sofa watching TV, playing games, and occasionally "writing" some articles to fool the editor.

The family has a new member – a chubby orange.

This awakened orange cat quickly established its place in the family:

The exclusive seat in the very center of the sofa.

The exotic animal meat is served on time for each of the three meals.

(Now Li Xian catches two or three E-level or F-level small exotic beasts every week "on the way," and Fatty Orange is satisfied with this but never admits it).

And the fixed prone spot next to Li Xian's legs.

"Meow. (Translation: The meat was a bit tough today, I'll catch a tenderer one next time.)"

Fat Orange was munching on the F-rank alien beast that Li Xian had just brought back, which looked like a rabbit, while being picky.

Li Xian couldn't understand, but he could read "barely edible" on the cat's face.

He slumped on the other end of the sofa, scrolling through news on his phone.

"Brother, I won't be home for dinner tonight!"

Li Yu peeked out of the room; she had already changed her clothes and looked like she was about to go out again.

"Going to another 'school activity'?"

Li Xian didn't even look up.

"Yeah! Club rehearsal might go on until 10 o'clock."

Li Yu said as she put on her shoes.

"There are leftovers in the fridge, you and Fatty Orange can heat them up and eat them."

"understood."

The door closed.

Only Li Xian and Fatty Orange remained in the living room.

"Meow. (Translation: Your sister's been pretty busy lately.)" the chubby orange cat said, licking its paws.

"Mm," Li Xian replied.

This is the third time this week. Li Yu is coming home later and later, and going out more and more frequently.

Although she always said it was a "school activity," "club rehearsal," or "group project," Li Xian could sense that she was hiding something.

It's probably a little secret among people with superpowers.

Since she's an S-rank, she must have a lot of things to deal with.

Li Xian didn't press the matter.

Everyone has their own secrets, just like he didn't tell Li Yu that he had awakened his superpowers and also raised an awakened cat.

"never mind."

He put down his phone and looked at Fatty Orange.

"What should we eat tonight? Braised or steamed?"

The chubby orange cat pricked up its ears: "Meow?! (Translation: There's another choice?! Steamed! With ginger!)"

Although Li Xian couldn't understand the words, he could see the expectation in the cat's eyes.

He got up and went to the kitchen, taking out a piece of processed alien meat from the refrigerator—it was an E-level "Water Blastoise" he had caught yesterday. It wasn't very strong, but the meat was tender.

While preparing ingredients, Fat Orange jumped onto the kitchen counter and squatted down beside it to supervise.

"Meow. (Translation: Cut it into smaller pieces so it absorbs the flavor better.)"

"Meow! (Translation: Ginger! Add more ginger! I like it!)"

Li Xian glanced at it: "If you keep giving orders, there won't be any meat for dinner tonight."

Fat Orange immediately shut up, but its eyes were still "instructing".

Dinner was simple: steamed frog meat, served with fried rice that Li Xian had made himself. The two of them, one human and one cat, ate their meals in the quiet living room.

The TV was on, broadcasting the news.

"...Recently, several cities have experienced 'abnormal weather phenomena.' Experts explain that this may be related to global climate change..."

The scene shifts to a video taken by a netizen: above a park, dark clouds gather, but only a small area is experiencing a downpour, while the surrounding area remains sunny. Figures can be vaguely seen flickering in the rain.

"Another superhuman," Li Xian thought to himself.

Recently, there has been an increasing number of videos about "superpowers" and "superhumans" online.

Some are obvious special effects, but some... are too realistic.

The authorities did not acknowledge it, but they also did not delete or ban it as quickly as before.

Instead, it gives off a feeling of "tacit approval," like... a warm-up?

Li Xian didn't understand these things, nor did he care.

As long as it doesn't disturb his eating, sleeping, or writing, I don't care what he does.

After finishing their meal, Li Xian cleared the dishes. Fat Orange jumped onto the sofa and started licking its fur.

Just then, the door lock turned.

Li Yu returned, earlier than expected.

"Brother! I'm back!"

She looked a little tired, but her eyes were bright.

Have you eaten?

"have eaten."

Li Xian poked his head out from the kitchen.

"Didn't you say ten o'clock?"

"Rehearsal ended early."

Li Yu took off her coat and collapsed onto the sofa.

"I'm exhausted... Fatty Orange, come here and let your big sister give you a hug."

Fat Orange glanced at her but didn't move.

"Meow. (Translation: I don't want to move today.)"

Li Yu didn't insist, and reached out to scratch its chin.

Fat Orange squinted its eyes and made a "purring" sound—though it complained, its body language betrayed its words.

"By the way, bro,"

Li Yu suddenly said.

Have you been watching the news lately? Those... weird videos online?

Li Xian's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged: "I've seen a bit, what's wrong?"

Do you think it's true?

Li Yu looked at him.

"Superpowers and stuff."

"Special effects, I guess."

Li Xian said casually.

"With technology so advanced these days, there's nothing we can't do."

"Too……"

Li Yu nodded, but her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

The chubby orange cat looked up: "Meow? (Translation: Is your sister testing you? Does she know you are too?)"

Li Xian ignored the cat and continued washing the dishes.

He knew what Li Yu was worried about—if the existence of superhumans gradually became public, her life as an S-rank would definitely be affected.

And... she also had to keep it a secret from him, her "ordinary brother".

Don't overthink it.

Li Xian dried his hands and walked out of the kitchen.

"Even if it's true, that's their business. We should just live our own lives."

Li Yu looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Brother, you have such a good attitude."

"Otherwise what?"

Li Xian slumped back onto the sofa.

"If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. There's no use in us ordinary people worrying about it."

The chubby orange cat rolled its eyes beside it: "Meow. (Translation: Keep pretending.)"

Li Xian reached out and pinched the cat's nape, and the chubby orange cat immediately bristled: "Meow! (Translation: Don't pinch me! My dignity is at stake!)"

Li Yu was amused:

"The chubby orange seems to be getting smarter and smarter."

"Just a silly cat," Li Xian said.

Meow! (Translation: You're the idiot!)

Li Yu waved her hand, then suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, bro, our school is having its anniversary celebration next month, do you want to come?"

"I'm not going."

Li Xian refused decisively.

"Too many people, too noisy."

"Come on! There's lots of delicious food! And there's entertainment too!" Li Yu shook his arm. "I've been telling my classmates how handsome my brother is, and they all want to meet you!"

"not see."

"elder brother--"

"I'm not going."

Li Yu pouted, but didn't insist any further.

She knew her brother's personality; he would never go out unless absolutely necessary.

"Then... I'll bring you some good food back later," she said.

"Um."

Li Xian nodded.

"That's fine."

At 11 p.m., everyone went back to their rooms to sleep.

Li Xian lay in bed and could hear Li Yu in the next room making a low-pitched phone call—she was probably discussing something with Chen Zhe.

He didn't eavesdrop; he turned over and closed his eyes.

The next day was just another ordinary day.

Li Xian didn't wake up until ten o'clock, and Fatty Orange was already squatting on the bedside table waiting for him.

"Meow. (Translation: Lazybones, I'm hungry.)"

"understood."

Li Xian got up, went to the kitchen to heat up some meat for the cat, and then made breakfast for himself.

He planned to write an article today—the editor had already sent a series of crying face emojis, saying that if he didn't submit the article soon, they would come knocking on his door with a knife.

I turned on my computer, but the document was still blank.

Li Xian thought for three minutes, and then... opened the game.

"Let's play a game to find some inspiration."

He said to himself.

The chubby orange cat jumped onto the table and squatted next to the keyboard: "Meow? (Translation: Are you slacking off again?)"

"That's called a balance between work and rest," Li Xian said confidently.

After the game, we lost badly – ​​two teammates went AFK, and another one was cursing the whole time.

Li Xian quit the game, feeling that today was not a good day for writing.

He decided to go out for a stroll and, while he was at it,... catch some fresh ingredients for Fat Orange.

"Let's go, let's go out."

He said to the cat.

The chubby orange cat's eyes lit up: "Meow! (Translation: Get some good food?!)"

It jumped off the table and followed him to his feet.

The streets were covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves in late autumn.

Li Xian walked slowly with his hands in his pockets, and Fatty Orange followed closely at his feet—but kept a distance, pretending that he wasn't with him.

When they reached a less crowded park, Li Xian's senses detected their target.

The E-class alien beast, "Tumbleweed"—is not a plant, but a small alien beast that looks like a clump of grass.

It moves quickly, is not aggressive, and its meat... according to Fat Orange, is "okay, but not as good as Blastoise."

The thing was rolling around in the bushes in the corner of the park, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

Li Xian walked over and extended his hand.

[Consciousness Segmentation], Micro-management Version.

The silvery threads instantly entangled the tumbleweed, dragging it out of the bushes.

The thing was only the size of a basketball. It struggled desperately after being grabbed, but to no avail.

The chubby orange cat came closer and took a sniff.

"Meow... (Translation: This is alright, let's steam it.)"

Li Xian stuffed the tumbleweed into a cloth bag he had prepared beforehand—it was made from old clothes and was specially used to hold "ingredients".

Mission accomplished, time to go home.

Li Xian stopped in his tracks as he passed a dessert shop.

The newly released strawberry cake in the shop window looks pretty good.

He thought for a moment, then went inside and bought one.

The chubby orange cat was waiting for him at the door, its eyes filled with disdain: "Meow? (Translation: Buying this sweet stuff again?)"

"Shut up," Li Xian said. "This is for my sister."

"Meow. (Translation: Excuse.)"

Back home, Li Xian first processed the tumbleweed—using [Consciousness Cutting] to peel and gut it, cutting it into chunks, marinating it, and putting it in the refrigerator. Then he washed the strawberries and put the cake on the table.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Li Yu returned.

"Brother! I'm back!"

She seems to be in a good mood today.

"Wow! A cake! For me?"

"Um."

Li Xian slumped on the sofa.

I bought it while I was passing by today.

"Brother, you're the best!" Li Yu rushed over to hug him, but Li Xian stopped her with his hand.

Go wash your hands.

"Okay!"

After washing her hands, Li Yu eagerly opened the cake box. Fatty Orange also came over and stared at the cake.

"Does the chubby orange want some too?"

Li Yu cut a small piece and placed it on a small plate.

"Here, have a taste."

The chubby orange cat sniffed it, licked it, and then... its expression twisted.

"Ptooey! Meow! (Translation: It's so sweet! What is this?!)"

It turned and left, jumped onto the sofa, and turned its rear end towards the cake.

Li Yu chuckled: "It doesn't seem to like sweets."

"Silly cat, no appreciation."

Li Xian said.

"You're the idiot!"

Li Yu took a bite of the cake and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

"Mmm...delicious!"

As she ate, she looked Li Xian up and down: "Brother, have you gained weight?"

Li Xian looked down at himself: "Do I?"

"have!"

Li Yu said with certainty.

"Look at your belly, you've got a little tummy! You're just lounging around all day, how can you not gain weight?"

The chubby orange cat gloated from the side: "Meow meow meow! (Translation: Haha! Gotcha! Serves you right for being lazy all the time!)"

Li Xian glanced at the cat, then looked at Li Yu: "And what about you?"

"What's wrong with me?"

"you……"

Li Xian paused for a moment.

"Isn't she too thin? Especially..."

His gaze swept over Li Yu's chest.

Li Yu: "..."

Fat Orange: "Meow haha! (Translation: Flat! Flat! She said you're flat!)"

Although Li Yu couldn't understand cat language, she guessed something from the cat's cheeky expression.

Her face flushed red, and she grabbed a cushion and threw it at Li Xian: "Brother! You're a pervert!"

Li Xian caught the cushion, looking completely innocent: "What did I say? I said you're too thin and need to eat more."

That's not what you meant at all!

That's exactly what I meant.

"you--"

The chubby orange cat rolled around on the sofa, meowing, "Meow meow meow! (Translation: Let's fight! Let's fight!)"

Chaos erupted in the living room.

The "peace treaty" ended with Li Yu stealing Li Xian's strawberries and Li Xian stealing Li Yu's cake.

The brother and sister were sprawled on the sofa, eating each other's food while watching TV.

Fat Orange squatted in the middle, looking at this and that, and finally sighed.

"Meow. (Translation: Two childish brats.)"

Outside the window, the setting sun painted the sky orange-red.

The news was on TV, and the host was introducing a "new type of environmentally friendly energy source." The footage showed researchers in white coats operating complex instruments.

Li Xian knew that it wasn't some kind of environmentally friendly energy source at all, but rather a supernatural technology—he sensed the faint energy fluctuations in the image.

The world is changing.

Slowly, silently.

But he doesn't care.

All he wanted was to protect this home, his sister, and this silly cat.

They lived ordinary lives.

As for what the future holds...

"Let's talk about tomorrow tomorrow."

He took a bite of the cake and mumbled something.

Li Yu leaned on his shoulder, almost asleep.

Fat Orange jumped onto his lap, curled up in a ball, and started snoring.

The television light shone on their faces, warm and serene.

This is the life Li Xian wants.

Simple, plain, and full of small, heartwarming moments.

In this small apartment, time seems to stand still.

The only sounds were the television, my sister's breathing, and the cat's purring.

And that tiny, insignificant sense of satisfaction in Li Xian's heart.

This is enough.

Really enough.