Volume 1: The Low-Level Errand Secretary—Breaking Through All Obstacles!
Rushing into the subway station from the scorching outdoors, an invisible wave of cold air swept over Ju Li like countless icy hands.
She shivered and let out an involuntary sigh.
The refreshing chill revived her from the zombie-like crowd, making her a spirited young woman with lively expressions.
Weaving through the post-work rush, she stretched her arms. Her long ponytail swayed gently by her ears, stirring wisps of cool air that brushed against her nape.
By the time she stood in line for the train, she felt fully recharged.
Ju Li was a fresh university graduate, with her internship nearing its end. It was time to start looking for a proper job.
She wasn’t a native of Jianghai; her hometown was in the north. Her father had passed away from illness when she was a child, leaving her mother to raise both her and her younger brother—who was just a year younger to her—alone.
Despite their hardships, both siblings performed well academically. Ju Li had even secured a spot at Jianghai University, her top-choice school, through the national college entrance exam.
However, just before her exams, disaster struck—their mother was diagnosed with heart disease. She could no longer do strenuous labour and needed both treatment and long-term care.
For an already struggling single-parent household, this was a devastating blow.
Every penny the family had went toward their mother’s medical expenses.
Originally, she was their sole breadwinner.
Now, they faced several financial burdens. First, their mother’s treatment and long-term recovery. Second, everyday living expenses for the entire family. Third, the costs of Ju Li and her brother’s education. And fourth, any unexpected emergencies that might arise.
The family did the math together. Even though Ju Li could cover some of the costs through scholarships, loans, and part-time work, it still wasn’t enough to sustain her mother’s medical needs.
One day, her younger brother secretly spoke to their mother. A few days later, he quietly boarded a train to Jianghai City, leaving behind only a note for Ju Li.
That was how she found out—her brother had dropped out of school to work in Jianghai, taking a job at a delivery company to support the family.
Later, when Ju Li arrived in Jianghai, it was her brother who met her at the train station.
When she reported to her university, it was her brother who carried her bags and sent her off.
Four years passed in a flash. Now, she had finally graduated.
As the eldest daughter and big sister of the family, she had to become stronger—strong enough to support her loved ones and carry the weight of their future!
Inside the moving subway, an exhausted Ju Li drifted into a dream.
In the dream, she stepped through a door into a misty white world.
In the distance, a tall, imposing man dressed in black strode forward with determined steps.
Ju Li realised that she was somehow connected to him. Even though she remained still while he walked, the distance between them never changed.
Trailing behind him at a steady distance, she watched as he reached a white door and pushed it open.
In that instant, the surrounding misty air suddenly shifted. Dark clouds roiled, torrential rain poured down, and he stood frozen, caught in a raging storm of thunder and rain.
A sharp, piercing pain tore through Ju Li’s chest. She clutched at her heart and looked up at the man. She had no doubt—this overwhelming grief and fury belonged to him.
She quickened her pace, closing the distance. But he seemed utterly unaware of her presence. He stood stiffly at the doorway, fists clenched, his whole body trembling.
It was as if he had witnessed something that filled him with uncontrollable rage.
A thick storm loomed over him, shrouding him in darkness. Hurricane winds howled, rain lashed down, and lightning struck through his very body—
His world seemed on the brink of complete collapse.
A strange ache gripped Ju Li’s heart, as if an unseen hand were squeezing it mercilessly. The sorrow was unbearable.
When she wiped her face, she was surprised to find herself crying.
She reached out, wanting to grasp the man’s hand, but just as her fingers were about to touch him—
Everything vanished.
The world returned to its hazy mist. Ju Li looked around in confusion and noticed a glass door on either side of her.
Without hesitation, she pushed one open and walked through.
Beyond the door was a spacious office area. She passed through it and arrived at a private office at the very end—grand, luxurious, yet commanding respect.
Behind the desk sat an impossibly handsome man in a black shirt, his expression cold and unreadable. A small, ominous black cloud floated above his head as he gazed at her with piercing intensity.
Her heart, which had felt empty moments ago, suddenly brimmed with emotion. She raised an eyebrow and stepped closer.
She was just about to ask who he was when, without warning, he lifted his hand—
Ju Li instinctively squinted, raising her arms defensively. But instead of an attack—
Countless banknotes rained down on her.
Huh?
She quickly reached out, trying to catch them. But the money seemed endless, slipping through her fingers no matter how much she tried to hold onto it.
Then, gold ingots began to fall…
The sound of wealth—crisp, rustling, and beautiful.
Ah…
Lost in the ecstasy of this financial windfall, Ju Li suddenly felt her body jolt.
Her eyes snapped open.
The money, the gold, the man—everything disappeared in an instant. A deep sense of loss filled her chest. She was still on the moving subway.
She blinked rapidly, trying to recall the dream. But her memories were already fading. Within seconds, she could no longer remember the man’s face. And within another few seconds, she had forgotten about him entirely…
Her heart felt strangely empty. Pressing a hand to her chest, she was overwhelmed with a vague sense of confusion. But then, she noticed something was wrong.
Why did it feel like she was in a vacuum?
There was no sound—absolute silence.
But subways were always noisy. How could it be so quiet?
Taking a deep breath, she wasn’t suffocating, which was somewhat reassuring. She quickly turned her head, scanning her surroundings.
Everyone around her was frozen in place—
Some still had their eyes glued to their phones. Some were mid-yawn. Some had their mouths open, mid-conversation.
Ju Li had always been fearless. Forcing herself to stay calm, she slowly reached out to touch the person next to her—
Just then, a sudden noise shattered the eerie silence.
Her phone vibrated violently inside her bag.
She pulled it out hastily. The screen was lit, displaying a white dialogue box with black borders:
[Little Secretary System successfully bound!
Bound User: Ju Li.
Status: Impoverished migrant worker.
Age: 23; Birthday: July 22.
Speciality: Useless and barren language skills.]
Below was an introduction:
[Also known as the ‘Work Is Better Than Love’ System.]
[Also also known as the ‘Work Makes You Beautiful’ System.]
What the hell?
“…”
Ju Li’s eyebrows twitched.
What did it mean by ‘impoverished migrant worker’?!
Was this some kind of virus software?
It had stolen her personal information, auto-installed itself, and even had the nerve to insult her?
With force, Ju Li tapped the red “X” at the top corner of the dialogue box. The moment it disappeared—
The noisy sounds of the subway rushed back all at once.
Huh?
She looked up in surprise. Everything was back to normal.
People idly scrolled through their phones, chatted, or simply endured the boredom of the ride. The familiar, grating noises of the train filled the air.
Holding her phone, Ju Li felt dazed. Had that just been a dream? Or was it real?
The subway slowed, arriving at her stop. With no time to dwell on it, she quickly pushed through the crowd and exited.
Turning back, she peered through the train window at the passengers inside. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Yet, her chest ached as if pricked by needles.
Ju Li pressed a hand over her heart, her brows knitting together. Her fingertips felt damp—she had unknowingly shed tears.
Strange… It felt like she had forgotten something important. But no matter how hard she searched her mind, she found nothing.
Shaking off the odd sense of loss, she glanced at her now-black screen. No time to think. She hurried through the crowd, eager to get home.
Today, her awesome little brother was visiting. She had to hurry home, buy groceries, and welcome him properly!
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