Chapter 1 The Beginning [Re-edit]

Inside a room, there was a cozy bed where a young man lay sleeping. Gradually, his brows began to quiver, and he slowly opened his eyelids, revealing bluish pupils that shimmered like jewels.

He possessed a well-defined face, with a high-bridged nose, short hair, piercing eyes, and a chiseled jawline.

Gently waking, he sat up in his cozy bed and stretched his arms above his head, letting out a soft yawn.

The young man, named Alexander Ashbourne, recently graduated from high school. His graduation was a few months ago, and he is soon to become a college student.

He slowly rose from bed and made his way to the bathroom inside his room.

In addition to his bed, his apartment includes a kitchen and a personal bathroom. He pays 3,000 Pesos per month for it, which is reasonable for him as a student living alone.

This thought made him remember his grandfather, and a flash of anger passed through his eyes.

However, he took a deep breath, calmed himself, and carried on. After cleaning and drying himself, he put on a white t-shirt and black shorts.

Once everything was in order, he adjusted his hair and stepped out of his apartment. Opening the door to room number 120, where he lived, he noticed the adjacent door was also opened.

A girl with pink hair and a charming, chiseled face came into view. He offered the girl a slight smile as a greeting, and she returned the gesture with a smile of her own.

Her dimples and round eyes were particularly striking. Alexander then shut his door and said goodbye. The girl with pink hair watched Alexander's retreating figure as he descended the stairs.

"What should I do at this moment? I'd better find a new job to earn some extra money for now," Alexander thought as he slowly descended the stairs with his hands in his pockets.

He needed to save money for college if he wants to finish his studies. He had tried various jobs, such as being a waiter, cashier, janitor, librarian, and even a construction worker, just to support himself.

After descending the stairs, he exited the apartment and walked alongside the lane. The area was bustling with cars and pedestrians.

After walking for a while, he noticed a restaurant with a sign on the glass.

[Wanted Waiter]

Alexander halted in his tracks, standing motionless outside the restaurant. Through its large, pristine windows, he could see substantial furniture and tables, with many customers dining inside.

"Should I apply?" he wondered, the thought striking him as he noticed the sign indicating the possibility of employment there.

As he stood there momentarily, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the sign, the door opened to reveal a woman clad in a white long-sleeved shirt and skirt, adorned with glasses.

She bore the appearance of an office worker, as her gaze settling on Alexander observing him from head to toe.

The sound of the door opening drew his attention, and he noticed the woman's eyes scrutinizing him as if she had an X-ray vision.

"Good morning, young man, are you looking for a job?" the woman asked as she lowered her glasses.

"Me?" Alexander responded, taken aback by the abrupt question.

"Yes, who else would I be speaking to?" the woman replied with a chuckle, continuing, "Would you like to apply at Layla's Restaurant? I own the place and I've noticed you standing there for quite some time, your gaze fixed on the sign," she said with a smile, her mature beauty is evident.

She had those perfect curves, those big marshmallows, pink cherry lips, and those long sexy legs. Her hair, a cascade of blood red, only amplified her allure, making her an irresistible temptation.

But Alexander wasn't thinking about her in that way. He was just a little embarrassed, a little flustered by the situation.

"I can't believe she actually saw me like an idiot outside his restaurant," he muttered, his cheeks warming with a blush.

He'd been staring at the sign for far too long, lost in his own thoughts. He averted his gaze, feeling self-conscious under her scrutiny.

But then, he met her gaze again, his clear, blue eyes locking with hers. "I… I'm sorry," he stammered, his voice a bit shaky.

"Is there an opening at this restaurant, Ma'am? I'm very interested in applying, but I didn't bring any documents for my application," said Alexander, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

The woman responded with a professional smile, "No need for documents, I'll just conduct an interview. All I need to see is your ID. We're not a large corporation with extensive requirements," she concluded, still smiling.

Overwhelmed, Alexander found himself captivated by the poised woman before him. As silence lingered, she continued, "So, do you want to apply?" Snapping him back to reality by her voice, Alexander quickly responded, "Yes, ma'am, I would really love to."

"Good, come inside and follow me," the woman instructed, turning to enter the restaurant. Without hesitation, Alexander followed.

He saw a lot of customers some wearing an office suit drinking coffee and some are just having their morning breakfast.

Arriving at the door the matured woman opened the door and went inside while Alexander went inside as well.

On the large table lay some documents, and a cup held pencils and ballpens. The woman took a seat behind the table while Alexander sat directly opposite her.

"Alright then, let me introduce myself. I'm Valentine Lancaster, the owner of this restaurant. Could you please introduce yourself?" The woman said, clasping her hands on the table.

Alexander concentrated and adopted a serious demeanor to respond, "Good morning, ma'am, I am Alexander Ashbourne," he replied sincerely.

Valentine proceeded to inquire about his experience and the reasons he was looking for a job. 

As Alexander provided his answers, the woman simply nodded, her smile indicating satisfaction. After a series of questions and answers, the interview concluded, and then Valentine spoke.

"You can start on Monday; your work shift will be from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you have any questions, feel free to come and ask me directly," Valentine said, her smile was beautiful as springs.

"Okay, boss, I'll come to you if any issues arise," Alexander responded.

"I'd prefer you call me Ms. or Ma'am Valentine, as 'boss' doesn't quite suit my image," Valentine corrected.

"Okay, Ma'am," Alexander replied.

As the interview came to an end, he glanced at the calendar, which showed the date as Friday, May 10, 2024. He was filled with anticipation for starting his new job on Monday.

He steps into a food stall with reasonably priced fare and orders lunch to satisfy his hunger. 

Today is his birthday, and as he gazes at his old Samsung Version 11 phone, its screen a spiderweb of cracks, he then opens the Messages app. 

Noticing no messages from his family, his anger surges. Shaking his head, he resolves to finish his meal and dismiss any further thoughts of them. 

Back home, after a shower and drying off, he collapses onto the bed and grabs his phone. He logs into his bank account and checks his balance [1,203 Pesos].

He sighs, contemplating his financial situation.

Working at the restaurant, he earns about 1,000 pesos a day, which adds up to roughly 7,000 pesos a week.

This is quite favorable compared to other restaurants, allowing him to pay for his college enrollment and purchase new clothes for the upcoming term.

As he placed his phone on the table beside his bed and gazed at the ceiling, contemplating his future, an event straight out of a Sci-Fi movie unfolded.

[Hello host, the {Idle Money System} has finally integrated after 18 years of accumulating energy. You can now earn money, acquire skills, or even trade with beings from other worlds.]

"What!" exclaimed Alexander as he sat up from his slumber.