Chapter 1, The Morning Song of the Underdog

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A female voice complained: "I'm going to die, that client lost their temper again yesterday..."

The music continues to play, a ray of tranquil sunlight penetrates the soul. The rising sun, morning light, mist, and river harmonize with the gentle melody, dancing on the strings, flowing among the winds, showcasing the graceful dawn. A beautiful day of nature descends upon the world. Then the light begins to change; the faint darkness transforms into iron gray, and soon after, colors burst forth, with jubilant and exuberant rays of light rushing into the room. Then the light begins to change; the faint darkness transforms into iron gray, and soon after, colors burst forth, with jubilant and exuberant rays of light rushing into the room.

After dealing with various matters, I rush out of the house in the dim light of dawn, squeezing onto the bus and subway, then swaying for over an hour on the subway before clocking in at the office... Every morning feels like going into battle

"Do not be afraid, do not be afraid; fear only arises from fear itself." Wang Cheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, steadied his heartbeat, and quietly scanned the passengers in the carriage. He recalled what his mother often said: "Life is like a lump of clay; whatever you desire, shape it into the form you imagine, and you will harvest hope— I am not a patient, I am healthy, I am happy"

For how many years has there been such and such sounds, suddenly coming and going, whispering in Wang Cheng's ear? This symptom appeared when Wang Cheng was very young, but at that time, the reality he had to accept was that his father had been ill for many years, and his mother had been taking care of his father, who had cancer, for a long time. Thus, the understanding Wang Cheng chose to conceal his own condition, unwilling to add to his mother's worries.

This is a true micro-apartment. However, in this city, such a micro-apartment costs Wang Cheng a quarter of his salary. After paying for rent, the remaining money each month must cover food, transportation, phone bills, internet fees, utilities, and socializing... One hundred yuan is enough to support him, a recent university graduate, for several days. Spending it on sunlight is simply too much to bear.

After tidying up the room, the hot soup had slightly cooled. Wang Chengxi finished the instant noodles, scraping the bottom of the bowl. He quickly washed the pot and the bowl, cleaned up the induction cooker, and checked his appearance in the mirror. Then he turned around to survey the tidy room before shouldering his laptop bag and stepping out of the door with satisfaction. This is Wang Cheng's daily "Morning Song," every day, every year.

I have been very diligent since childhood

The ticket inspector looked at the aggrieved passenger with a puzzled expression, glancing at the card reader and muttering, "Why is there a problem again? It happens at this time every day, how strange... Well, never mind, just let it pass if there’s no issue."

Auditory hallucinations may also be a form of cancerous transformation, and it is highly likely that there is an issue with the brain, or at the very least, a problem with the auditory system

After gradually calming his emotions, Wang Cheng arrived at his destination. Following the flow of people, he exited the subway station. At the subway exit, he brushed past a mixed-race individual of Chinese descent. The two lightly collided, causing the mixed-race individual to shudder slightly and pause for a moment, watching as Wang Cheng boarded the bus. Subsequently, this Asian mixed-race man approached the bus stop sign, examining it while taking out his phone to make a call

I have studied arithmetic for ten years

A stern male voice asked, "Where did you put the files you organized yesterday? I am now at ..., you need to bring the files immediately and meet us at 8 o'clock ..."

Saying "every year like this" may be a bit of an exaggeration, as Wang Cheng is merely a recent graduate, and this year marks his first year of work, with today being the sixth month of his employment. However, in these six months, it has essentially been like this almost every day, including holidays

... ...

When the horn sounded in the morning tune and the gathering of hooves converged, Wang Cheng quickly got up, groping for his toothbrush, and stumbled with his eyes closed to the faucet inside the house. Dazed, he picked up a small pot to fill it with water, continued with his eyes closed to place the pot on the induction cooker, plugged in the induction cooker, and then stood in front of the faucet with his eyes closed, rapidly waving the toothbrush.

During the defense of the "wronged passenger," he glanced at the garbled text on the card reader, then raised his eyes to fixate on the hurried figure of Wang Cheng disappearing into the crowd. In a peculiar tone of Mandarin, he echoed, "Yes, he did nothing at all... In the morning, everyone is in a hurry. If there is nothing else, may I continue to scan tickets?"

The yacht ahead sped swiftly, with Wang Cheng tightly gripping the tow rope. The board beneath his feet sliced through the water, creating two waves, as he performed various stylish paddling maneuvers on the surface. The wind whistled past his ears... The beautiful woman operating the yacht wore a bikini, her figure strikingly proportionate, her face as flawless as white jade, with features... In the midst of the wind, mist, and seawater, the woman's features bore a striking resemblance to the famous star Zhao Xuan'er. This star, whom Wang Cheng usually admired from afar, was now turning back to smile at him, her giggles overpowering the roar of the engine. In the midst of the wind, mist, and seawater, the woman's features bore a striking resemblance to the famous star Zhao Xuan'er. This star, whom Wang Cheng usually admired from afar, was now turning back to smile at him, her giggles overpowering the roar of the engine

Quietly disappearing in this city is also a kind of ... for mother. ... At least she no longer has to worry about her son as she does about her father.

No one noticed that behind this "wronged passenger" stood a mixed-race Chinese.

He constantly encourages himself, but Wang Cheng is acutely aware that his auditory hallucinations have been occurring more frequently lately, accompanied by persistent dizziness and tinnitus. Due to the fear of his father being bedridden with illness, Wang Cheng even dares not go to the hospital to verify his suspicions. Each time he speaks with his mother on the phone, he only shares good news and conceals his worries. Yet, occasionally, in the stillness of the night, he finds himself contemplating the future, and a sense of melancholy arises within him: perhaps, he is destined to be silent.

I am all mouth yet I received a kick from you

A room with a window incurs an additional rent of one hundred. Therefore, for Wang Cheng, who has just graduated and found only an ordinary job, sunlight is a luxury. As a result, he rented this approximately 12 square meter studio, which lacks even a window, often referred to as a "capsule apartment"

The crowd at the gate, which had been delayed, began to move again. The mixed-race Asian individual who had been assisting entered the subway, frequently flaring his nostrils and his eyes darting around as if he were a hunting dog searching for something. Shortly thereafter, he casually followed the crowd to a spot near Wang Cheng, looking around as he waited for the subway to arrive.

As soon as the shout escaped, Wang Cheng felt an overwhelming sense of exhilaration, as if he were soaring through the blue sky amidst the white clouds. Then, he realized he was lying on the bed in his cramped dwelling, the sound of torrential rain echoing in his ears

The phone was connected, and the mixed-race person of Chinese descent spoke in Spanish to the person on the other end: "Torre, I have made an unexpected discovery... Yes, it is exactly the kind you are interested in... Ah, regarding the goods, the procurement process seems to be a bit problematic, but rest assured, it is just a minor issue that I will resolve myself... Time, I need more time, yes, please give me another week... No, no, I do not need an assistant..."... Time, I need more time, yes, please give me another week... No, no, I do not need an assistant..."

Amidst the laughter, Wang Cheng couldn't help but perform a flamboyant gesture, looking up to the sky and joyfully shouting: "It's a jackpot!"

I have started to rock ... ... and - picture - book

At this moment, another bus arrived at the station. The man put away his phone and boarded the bus, following the route taken by Wang Cheng, and continued to pursue him...

The instant noodles just boiled are a bit hot. While waiting for the noodles to cool down, Wang Cheng has not been idle. He walks to the toilet, sprinkles some deodorizer, and picks up a brush to scrub it carefully—Wang Cheng is a person who pays great attention to detail. He knows that this house has no windows, and if the toilet is not cleaned properly every day, there will be an unpleasant odor in the room. When he goes out, he will carry this smell with him, and discerning clients often find this odor off-putting. Perhaps, unintentionally, he could lose an opportunity... He knows that this house has no windows, and if the toilet is not cleaned properly every day, there will be an unpleasant odor in the room. When he goes out, he will carry this smell with him, and discerning clients often find this odor off-putting. Perhaps, unintentionally, he could lose an opportunity...

Amid the ceaseless flow of commuters, everyone appeared drowsy, except for this mixed-race individual who was full of energy, exuding a curiosity akin to that of someone newly entering a prestigious environment, as he looked around, observing the crowd. This person's keen eyes, despite the fact that he was separated from Wang Cheng by one person, still caught the subtle movement Wang Cheng had just made.

Suddenly, a force pulled Wang Cheng to the surface. As soon as he surfaced, Wang Cheng immediately felt that the world was normal—the sky was a normal shade of blue, and the ground... There was no ground; beneath his feet was the vast blue sea.

... ...

Wang Cheng finished washing up, and the water on the induction cooker had already boiled. He walked over to the computer desk, opened a packet of instant noodles, and placed it into the pot. After pausing for a moment, he touched a nearby water pipe with one hand and then used the other hand to unplug the induction cooker. For some unknown reason, he had a lot of static electricity on him. Throughout his life, this had caused many electrical appliances in his home to be damaged by static discharges. As a result, he gradually developed the habit of discharging the static electricity from his body before operating any electrical appliances.

Wang Cheng's rental accommodation is somewhat far from the company, as his workplace is located in the bustling city center, where there is a large flow of people and thriving business. Consequently, the rent in the vicinity is particularly high. Only in areas away from the commercial district can the rent be somewhat cheaper. ... Of course, although he saves on rent, he inevitably has to wake up at dawn every day, quickly completing his brushing teeth, washing his face, dressing up, and having breakfast in a state of drowsiness ...

I want to find a place to vomit

At a glance, it seems that all the colors in the world are presented before Wang Cheng: red, blue, white, yellow, resplendent and varied... Yet, there is something slightly unnatural about it, giving it an eerie quality

The sound of wheels and books clattering, the howling wind drowned out some of the whispers, yet amidst this cacophony, Wang Cheng intermittently heard fragments of lyrics drifting into his ears—this was a song from "Noon Sunshine"

After getting on the subway, Wang Cheng habitually sought a less crowded spot, leaning against the carriage as he began to doze off in a haze of sleepiness. A few men and women nearby, also wearing headphones, were similarly squinting their eyes and dozing off against the carriage—this atmosphere permeated the entire subway, with everyone swaying their bodies in a drowsy stupor

He ultimately had me feed the pigs

This thought filled him with fear, but out of compassion for his mother, who had already suffered due to his illness, he continually suppressed the urge to confide in her. To prevent her from noticing anything during their daily interactions, he made an excuse of seeking development opportunities after graduation and remained in this international metropolis, securing his current job.

Intermittent sounds drifted into his ears, and suddenly, they grew louder, escalating from a faint murmur to a deafening roar, until it thundered like a bell beside him. He tightly closed his eyes, cold sweat beading on his forehead, struggling to control his thoughts, ... trying to ignore the noise. After a long while, it seemed his efforts were paying off, as the noise around him gradually diminished, until it disappeared ... . Only then did he open his eyes, quietly wipe away the sweat, and press on his chest to steady his heartbeat. Trying to ignore the noise for a long time, it seemed his efforts were effective, as the sounds around him gradually weakened, until they vanished ... . Only then did he open his eyes, quietly wipe away the sweat, and press on his chest to steady his heartbeat.

The song made Wang Cheng smile knowingly in his drowsiness, yet he had no thought of opening his eyes or discerning whether those beside him were male or female; he merely leaned against the side of the carriage, continuing to doze off in a daze.

In the purple ocean, azure butterfly fish swim freely, while orange sharks and dark green dolphins leisurely glide by. Wang Cheng floated in the water in astonishment, watching the fish drift comfortably and leisurely, their relaxed demeanor evoking feelings of envy and resentment in him

After transferring to a bus, Wang Cheng arrived at the subway station. As he passed through the ticket gate, he suddenly felt a mischievous impulse. He exaggeratedly swiped his monthly pass in a way that drew attention, and after the card reader beeped with a "ding," he raised both hands high, clearly pretending to show his monthly pass. Without pausing his steps, he subtly bumped his backside against the card reader as he exited the gate. Instantly, the static electricity from his body was transmitted to the card reader through this impact, causing it to emit another sharp beep, while the electronic display flickered rapidly and displayed various images. Without pausing his steps, he subtly bumped his backside against the card reader as he exited the gate. Instantly, the static electricity from his body was transmitted to the card reader through this impact, causing it to emit another sharp beep, while the electronic display flickered rapidly and displayed various images.

When Wang Cheng was in kindergarten, he discovered that his hearing was exceptionally acute, able to perceive sounds that others could not. He felt a subtle sense of pride about this. However, after starting school, Wang Cheng began to realize that not all the sounds entering his ears were real; sometimes, the sounds he heard did not exist and might just be his own unilateral imagination. After entering university, his father passed away. During the process of arranging his father's funeral, Wang Cheng vaguely felt that the sounds occasionally appearing in his mind were not entirely real.

As the ticket inspector nearby heard the sound and came over to check the card reader, Wang Cheng had already swiftly blended into the crowd entering the subway station

In any case, such minor symptoms do not affect life and work. As Wang Chengzhang grew up, he was even less willing for his mother to worry about him. Therefore, every time he encountered similar situations, he adopted this ostrich policy, deliberately ignoring the sounds around him. Gradually, he became accustomed to this phenomenon of occasional auditory hallucinations.

In this small room, there is a bed that can hardly be classified as either a single or a double bed; at the foot of the bed is a toilet, and beside the toilet are a faucet and a washbasin. On the side of the bed, two steps away, there is a small computer desk, which holds a laptop and an induction cooker, along with several boxes for storing clothes in the corner of the room. This constitutes all of Wang Cheng's possessions.

As Wang Cheng gradually regained consciousness, he closed his eyes once more, lingering in the pleasant emotions within him. He reached out to the bedside to fumble for his inexpensive mobile phone, then, with his eyes still shut, pressed the play button for the music. The "Morning Mood" by Grieg flowed out from the phone.

Indeed, all of this is an illusion created by music—because this room has no windows

In this day and age, finding a job is not easy. Wang Cheng studied accounting, and his job is at a small company in a computer market, where he performs various tasks. The so-called miscellaneous tasks primarily involve providing home delivery services, assisting customers with computer installations, and repairing or replacing computer hardware.

I do not wish to feign ignorance

Things that can be learned are of no use

Faced with the suspicious gaze of the ticket inspector, the passenger behind Wang Cheng raised both hands in protest, pleading to the inspector: "I haven't done anything..."

In addition to the intermittent singing, there were faint, noisy sounds drifting into the ears. A woman's voice, sweet and teasing, could be heard saying, "You were so fierce last night..." In response to this voice, a weak and lewd laughter came from the phone on the other end