A month had passed.

  Ji Yuxi had many dreams in life—becoming a great scientist, creating revolutionary holographic games, uncovering the secrets of the universe.

  Fixing broken robots for a living?Not one of them.

  But here he was, sitting in a tiny workshop, surrounded by old electronics, glitching robot butlers, and malfunctioning cleaning drones. He sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead as he smmed a wrench onto a stubborn panel.

  BAM!

  The robot he was fixing suddenly stood up, did a little shimmy dance, and then promptly fell over again.

  Ji Yuxi stared at it bnkly.

  "...Close enough."

  After tinkering with machines once or twice, Ji Yuxi realized he was actually good at it. He had always been a genius—just, you know, in more sophisticated fields.

  But in this tiny, backwards pnet, genius or not, money was money.

  He now earned 20-30 star coins per repair, which sounded great until he realized how expensive life was.

  Lan, their blue-eyed amnesiac Esper, decided to become a hunter.

  Since he was ridiculously strong, fast, and somehow had no fear of giant alien beasts, he made a decent living.

  He sold wild animals for 70-80 star coins each, dragging them home on his back like it was nothing. The townspeople had mixed reactions—some were impressed, some were terrified, and some were convinced he was actually part beast himself.

  Xiao Yu, their resident Guide and dramatic screamer, had started teaching little kids in the neighborhood.

  He had five students now, each paying 50 star coins per lesson. That was 250 star coins per session, making him the richest in the household.

  Which, of course, meant Ji Yuxi nagged him for money the most.

  Also, he was secretly in love with Lan now.

  Not that he’d admit it.

  Especially not when Lan kept calling him ‘wife’ with a straight face.

  On paper, it looked like they earned a lot.

  Reality check? They were still poor.

  Rent: 200 star coins per monthDaily nutrition drinks (because actual food was a luxury): 300 star coinsBasic clothes (because they were tired of looking like lost beggars): 150 star coinsLight brains (because even a backwater pnet required tech): 500 star coins for four devicesIn the end? They were barely breaking even.

  Ji Yuxi, the self-procimed financial expert, constantly argued with Xiao Yu over their spending habits.

  Ji Yuxi stared at the household budget spreadsheet (which he had drawn on the back of an old cardboard box).

  Xiao Yu sat across from him, arms crossed, face stubborn.

  Ji Yuxi tapped the cardboard. “Okay, Xiao Yu. Let’s talk expenses. We need to cut costs.”

  Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow. “And what do you suggest, oh wise leader?”

  Ji Yuxi pointed dramatically. “You earn the most, so obviously you should contribute more to rent!”

  Xiao Yu gasped, clutching his chest. “You dare rob me? After all I do for this family?”

  “You tutor kids for a few hours! I deal with killer robots that try to bite me!”

  “That sounds like a personal problem.”

  “You know what’s a personal problem? Your fancy scented soap that costs 10 star coins per bar!”

  “I deserve to smell nice!”

  Lan, who had been sharpening a knife in the background, suddenly spoke.

  “Wife, you should listen to Xiao Xi.”

  Xiao Yu choked on air.

  “STOP CALLING ME WIFE!”

  “But… aren’t you?” Lan blinked.

  Xiao Yu turned bright red.

  Ji Yuxi smirked. “Oh? So now you’re denying your husband? How cruel.”

  Xiao Yu threw a pillow at his face.

  The little girl—who they had still not officially named—was thriving.

  She had gone from silent, traumatized toddler to tiny ball of energy, climbing furniture, running around barefoot, and occasionally trying to ride Lan like a horse.

  But despite warming up to everyone, she was still the most attached to Ji Yuxi.

  She followed him everywhere, clung to his leg while he fixed robots, and refused to sleep unless he was in the same room.

  Ji Yuxi had tried to pawn her off on Xiao Yu multiple times, but the little girl would scream bloody murder until he gave in.

  “Face it,” Xiao Yu smirked, watching Ji Yuxi struggle to carry her while cooking. “She’s chosen you as her parent.”

  Ji Yuxi groaned. “I didn’t sign up for this!”

  “You also didn’t sign up for fixing robots or being broke, but here we are.”

  Ji Yuxi flipped him off.

  After a full month of hard work, constant arguing, and financial struggles, one thing was clear:

  They still had no idea what they were doing.

  But at least, for the first time, they weren’t starving, homeless, or running for their lives.

  Ji Yuxi sighed as he looked around at his weird little space family—

  Lan, still calling Xiao Yu ‘wife’ like it was the most natural thing in the world.Xiao Yu, pretending to be angry about it, but secretly falling harder every day.The little girl, curled up on Ji Yuxi’s p, snoring softly.Maybe life wasn’t too bad after all.

  Even if they were still broke.