Time: Autumn, C.E. 60
Nangong Wentian, ten years and three months old, had been squatting in the corner of the back kitchen, staring at the screen of the "Star Core" for three whole days.
On the screen was the interface of an overseas bank account. He looked at that string of numbers dozens of times a day—
Balance: 65,000 Orb Yuan.
Three days ago, this sum of money had appeared in the account. For the past three days, he had opened it, confirmed it, closed it, and opened it again countless times. Every time he saw that string of digits, his heartbeat would quicken a little.
But this wasn't all.
Factory Manager Kinoshita had sent a message yesterday: all sample tests passed, performance better than expected. The final payment would arrive today.
Nangong Wentian's fingers tapped lightly on his knees as he waited for that moment.
Xiao Guang squatted beside him, equally nervous. Fifteen-year-old Xiao Guang was already half a head taller than Nangong Wentian, but now he was curled up like a student waiting for exam results.
"Wentian," he whispered, "do you think he'll transfer the money?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
Nangong Wentian didn't answer. He relied on intuition, and on three months of observing Kinoshita—an honest man with over twenty years in the business wouldn't ruin his reputation for a few tens of thousands.
But intuition was just intuition. Until the money arrived, everything was uncertain.
The time on the screen jumped to 3:00 PM.
Refresh.
Balance: 65,000.
Refresh.
Balance: 65,000.
Refresh.
Balance: 195,000.
Nangong Wentian froze.
Xiao Guang leaned in, staring at the string of numbers for a long time before stammering, "O-one... one-nine-five... one hundred ninety-five thousand?"
Nangong Wentian didn't speak. He refreshed again.
Balance: 195,000.
That was right. Not sixty-five thousand, but one hundred ninety-five thousand.
He quickly calculated in his head—total price 130,000, advance payment 65,000, final payment should be 65,000. 195,000 was 65,000 more than 130,000.
It was double.
Just then, an email notification sounded.
He opened the email. It was from Kinoshita:
"The sample tests were extremely successful, performance exceeded expectations. We have decided to pursue long-term cooperation. The extra 65,000 is an advance payment for the next batch order. We hope to receive the second batch of goods as soon as possible. Additionally, if you have any more similar technologies, we are willing to prioritize cooperation with you."
Nangong Wentian stared at those words, his hand trembling slightly.
Long-term cooperation. Priority cooperation.
What did this mean? It meant he was no longer just doing a one-off deal. It meant he had a stable source of income. It meant...
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
One hundred ninety-five thousand, plus the tens of thousands he had saved before... he now had over two hundred thousand. But this wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. He needed more.
"Wentian," Xiao Guang's voice sounded a bit floaty, "are we... rich?"
Nangong Wentian turned to look at him, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
"Yeah," he said. "We're rich."
Xiao Guang froze for a second, then suddenly jumped up, spinning in place several times, hopping and dancing, waving his arms like a madman. But he didn't dare make a sound, only opening his mouth in silent, hysterical laughter—the sight was utterly ridiculous.
Nangong Wentian watched him, his eyes growing slightly warm.
Ten years.
It had been a full ten years since he crossed over. He had pretended to be a baby, pretended to be an ordinary child, secretly conducted experiments, carefully saved money, faced countless failures, and wanted to give up countless times.
Now, finally, there was a reward.
"Wentian," Xiao Guang stopped, panting as he asked, "how much money do we have now?"
"One hundred ninety-five thousand."
"That… how much is that?"
Nangong Wentian thought for a moment, explaining in a way Xiao Guang could understand: "Enough to replace ten new washing machines for the orphanage, enough to buy a hundred of those unbreakable bowls, enough…"
Xiao Guang cut him off: "Is it enough to buy you new equipment?"
Nangong Wentian was taken aback.
Xiao Guang pointed at the pile of old, worn-out equipment in the corner: "Didn't you say you wanted to upgrade the 'Star Core'? Is this money enough?"
Nangong Wentian fell silent for a while, then nodded: "It's enough. And there'll be plenty left over."
Xiao Guang grinned: "That's good."
Nangong Wentian looked at him, a surge of warmth rising in his heart.
This fifteen-year-old boy wasn't thinking about himself or what good things the money could buy—he was thinking about his equipment, his "Star Core."
"Xiao Guang," he said, "half of this money is yours."
Xiao Guang froze: "What?"
"You helped me with experiments, kept watch for me, found materials for me, helped me…" Nangong Wentian paused, "Half of this money is yours."
Xiao Guang scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed: "I… I was just helping, I didn't really do anything…"
"Helping is enough," Nangong Wentian said seriously, looking at him. "Without you, I couldn't have done any of this."
Xiao Guang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. His eyes grew slightly red, but he quickly turned away, pretending to look elsewhere.
Nangong Wentian didn't say anything more, turning his attention back to the screen.
One hundred ninety-five thousand. This was just the beginning.
The order from Kinoshita's factory was one hundred thirty thousand a month. That would be one million five hundred sixty thousand a year. If they could secure a few more clients like that…
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside for now. It was too early to think about that—first, he needed to focus on the task at hand.
He opened the ledger in the "Star Core" and began recording:
Income: 195,000 Orb Yuan
Source: Kinoshita Machinery Processing Factory (final payment + advance payment)
Date: C.E. 60, September
Note: The first bucket of gold.
After recording it, he stared at those words for a long time.
The first bucket of gold.
From today onward, he had the power to change his fate.
At night, after everyone had fallen asleep, Nangong Wentian slipped alone into the backyard and sat under the old locust tree.
The autumn night breeze was a bit chilly, but he didn't mind. He looked up at the star-filled sky, countless images flashing through his mind—
His past self, sitting in front of a computer watching Gundam anime, dreaming of entering that world.
The green light when he crossed over, that faint, elusive consciousness.
The little moments at the orphanage, the director's silent protection, Xiao Guang's trust and companionship.
The failed experiments, the sleepless nights, the countless times he wanted to give up.
And Kinoshita's email, the notification of the one hundred ninety-five thousand deposit.
He took a deep breath, his eyes growing slightly moist.
"Mia," he whispered softly.
It was a name from his memories of a past life. He could no longer recall her face or what had happened between them. But he remembered that on the night of his transmigration, he had spoken this name to the starry sky.
Now, he said it again.
"I've begun," he said.
The starry sky remained silent, its starlight flickering.
He didn't know whether the person named Mia still existed, what that green light meant, or how many difficulties awaited him in the future.
But he knew he had taken the first step.
The true first step.
In the back kitchen, the screen of the Star Core was still lit, displaying that ledger.
The first bucket of gold.
Below it was a line of small text, a note he had just added:
"Ten years of dormancy, beginning tonight."
The cursor blinked in the darkness, like a distant star.
It was the first star of the Star Core and the new starting point of his life.