Chapter 1: The Genius Baby Growth System
“Forget it. I’ll wait until sunset to fix it.”
“Whether I fix it now or later, it’s all the same. No rush.”
Chen Jingle threw the tools aside.
Last night, a sudden gust of strange wind snapped the largest bougainvillea tree in his yard and bent a section of the stainless-steel guardrail along the way.
When he woke up and saw the mess in the morning, he felt a headache coming on and had no choice but to clean up the aftermath.
The broken branches and fallen leaves were easy to handle, but the guardrail was a real challenge to repair.
After working on it for just a few minutes, he felt dizzy and overheated. As someone who couldn’t stand the sun and tanned easily, he didn’t want to end up looking like charcoal. Defeated, he dropped the tools and retreated into the house.
In Lingnan, there’s no such thing as autumn. Even though it was already September, the sun remained scorching.
Why suffer unnecessarily?
As a 30-year-old unmarried man who decided to retire early and take life easy, Chen Jingle didn’t believe in the older generation’s philosophy of “enduring hardship to achieve greatness.”
If the saying “you are what you eat” held any truth, enduring hardships wasn’t likely to make you a better person.
“Eating people might, though!”
Instead of being stuck in a cycle of internal struggles, it was better to adjust his mindset, enjoy life in the moment, and prioritize his own happiness!
Inside the house.
Chen Jingle lounged lazily in a wicker rocking chair, holding his phone. Beside him was a snack cart and a glass of homemade iced honey-lemon tea.
A silent floor fan provided a gentle breeze.
He alternated between reading novels and scrolling through short videos. When he felt hungry, he nibbled on some snacks and fruit. When thirsty, he sipped his lemon tea. Occasionally, he checked his group chats to see if anyone had shared new risqué pictures.
This lifestyle was too indulgent!
He couldn’t help but sigh at himself: “Chen Jingle, how did you end up like this?”
“Where’s the ambition you once had?”
“Weren’t you supposed to become someone successful, earn a million a year, and reach the pinnacle of life? Have you forgotten all that?”
But then, a second thought crossed his mind—
“Ah, not having to work is the best!”
Indeed.
Early retirement was the right choice!
Six months ago.
Due to relationship and job issues, he decided to take a break.
So, with the one million yuan he’d saved over seven years since graduating, he bought a train ticket back to his hometown.
He spent half of it—500,000 yuan—building a two-story villa. He included a small garden, a swimming pool, a gaming room, and adopted a pet cat. The remaining 500,000 yuan went into the bank for interest, kickstarting his early retirement and leisurely lifestyle.
[TN: my dream…]
Initially, he’d planned to buy a house in the city. But in recent years, the city’s urban planning shifted closer to their village. Several plots of land nearby were sold and turned into residential developments, separated by just one main road.
Chen Jingle realized, “Why buy an apartment when I can build a villa here?”
Those poorly insulated, shoddy cookie-cutter apartments—sometimes with unbearable neighbors—could never match the comfort of a standalone house.
And so!
He spent a few months working with a professional team, from design to construction to interior decoration. Everything was handled seamlessly, and the villa passed inspection with flying colors.
After moving in, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction: “Wow, what kind of miserable life was I living before this?”
Forget about the grueling “996” work schedule. He used to live in overcrowded urban villages, eat cheap pork knuckle rice, squeeze into packed subways during rush hour, and ride shared bikes home after long days at work.
[TN:The "996" refers to a work culture in China where employees are expected to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. ]
Now, in comparison!
No work, no late nights. Every day, he woke up naturally. His biggest dilemma was deciding what to eat for three meals a day. His complexion visibly improved, and even his hair returned to its former thick, glossy state.
Wasn’t this a good thing?
Then, when he thought about how his former boss had called him multiple times after he quit, pleading for him to come back and help...
He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Where were you when your wife and her brother were scheming to push me out? You didn’t say a single fair word back then. And now that the company’s performance has plummeted, you finally realize my worth? Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
“Going back? Never going to happen!”
He was more than satisfied with his current life.
Besides, what would be the point of going back?
Even if he worked himself to the bone, there would always be others better and more successful than him. What was he striving for?
Heroes in this world were as numerous as fish in the river.
There were simply too many exceptional people.
It was like getting into one of the top universities, only to realize that everyone else there was just as talented—or even more so. That suffocating sense of inadequacy could be utterly demoralizing.
For those lacking a strong sense of purpose, it was easy to crumble.
This mentality had played a role in his decision to leave his previous job.
After toiling in his industry for years, he realized that his ceiling was nothing more than someone else’s starting point.
What was the point?
If that were the case, he might as well take it easy.
…
Lost in thought, he was suddenly interrupted by a soft, gentle voice, like that of an older sister.
[Congratulations, Little Chen Jingle! You’ve been selected to bind with the Genius Baby Growth System.]
The voice was so warm and tender that Chen Jingle thought he must be hallucinating.
“??? Huh?!”
[This is the Genius Baby Growth System,] the voice repeated.
It was still so soothing, almost indulgent, like someone coaxing a child.
It perfectly matched his fantasies of a kind and caring older sister.
For a moment, Chen Jingle’s mind went blank. He imagined a woman with perfect looks, an elegant figure, and an irresistible charm sitting gracefully before him, smiling sweetly.
Even her breath seemed soft and fragrant.
He shuddered instinctively.
When he snapped back to reality, his eyebrows knitted tightly together. “Me? A baby?!”
[Mm-hmm,] the voice replied.
“…I’m thirty years old,” Chen Jingle said flatly.
The voice remained gentle. [To those who love you, you’ll always be a baby. Oh, and no swearing, little one.]
Hiss~
Systems these days have evolved to this level?
Was this some kind of test for civil servants?
Who could possibly resist this?!
No wonder people got scammed into falling in love online.
“…Fine,” Chen Jingle took a deep breath. “Bind!”
[Binding successful. Congratulations, Chen Jingle, on receiving a Beginner’s Gift Pack: Height +0.1 cm, Strength +0.1 kg, Double Rewards Card x1 (valid for one hour).]
[To excel as a genius baby, you must achieve outstanding accomplishments in sports, academics, and practical skills, surpassing your peers in every way.]
[Sports include essentials like jump rope, running, squats, push-ups, planks, and pull-ups.]
[Academics cover subjects like language, mathematics, foreign languages, and calligraphy.]
[Practical skills involve cooking, planting, raising animals, and health care.]
[The system will create a tailored schedule based on your daily activities. If adjustments are needed during tasks, you may submit requests, and the system will consider them.]
[Unless there are special circumstances, our clever Chen Jingle must complete all tasks on time!]
The system delivered its speech in such a gentle tone that it sent chills down his spine.
Chen Jingle: “…”
Wait!
Why did he feel like he’d been scammed?!
After a brief pause, Chen Jingle protested, “Who starts a baby off with such intense training? Are you trying to create a super soldier here? What’s wrong with growing up healthy and happy?”
[As a flower of the nation, little one, you’re at the age of vitality and promise, like the morning sun at eight or nine o’clock. The hopes of the future rest upon you. Building a strong foundation now will prepare you to become a valuable pillar of society. A smart baby like you can do it, right?]
The system’s voice was so sweet it felt surreal.
