Chapter 5  

Mealtime arrived.  

You Mi carefully examined his plate.  

Steak, foie gras, truffle mushroom soup, some side dishes, fruits… and a small cherry cake.  

Carrying his tray, You Mi got up and went to an empty room, sitting with his back to the door and windows as he ate.  

He had initially thought he wouldn’t be able to finish everything, but as the tender steak melted in his mouth, all his restrained cravings came alive. His mouth was filled with rich, delicate flavors, and his stomach warmed with happiness. Before he knew it, he had cleaned his plate entirely.  

Finally, You Mi looked at the small cake and carefully cut it in half.  

He happily ate one half and placed the other in a box, storing it in the refrigerator.  

A cameraman eating in the staff break area glanced at him, assuming he was simply full.  

The restaurant was much quieter in the afternoon. Once filming began, the guests were either in the kitchen, out buying ingredients, or promoting the restaurant’s activities elsewhere.  

Apart from the regular staff, the only people left in the restaurant were cameramen capturing customer reactions.  

You Mi stood obediently inside the music box, energized by the satisfaction of good food. Sometimes, when no one turned the crank for a long time, he even felt like spinning on his own.  

When the workday ended, the first day of filming was officially over. The guests left first, and the crew gradually packed up and departed as well.  

You Mi’s wages were paid daily. After receiving two thousand-Star Coin bills from the manager, he froze for a moment before steadying himself and returning to the break area to retrieve the other half of the cherry cake from the fridge.  

“You Mi, see you tomorrow!” the manager called cheerfully.  

“Yeah, see you tomorrow!”  

As You Mi dashed out with the cake, he spotted Lin En waiting for him at the intersection, pushing his bicycle.  

At the same time, a man emerged from the staff break area.  

It was the same cameraman who had eaten there with You Mi at noon. Now standing in the small garden, he raised his camera, preparing to film some evening scenery.  

Suddenly, two figures appeared in his descending shot.  

Through the lens, he saw the other half of the cake—the one You Mi had saved earlier—being proudly offered to a much taller boy with tentacles. “It’s super delicious! Try it!”  

The cameraman paused, suddenly understanding… The kid hadn’t wanted to finish it all at once.  

Watching the heartwarming scene through his lens, his tired expression softened unconsciously. Without thinking, he captured the moment.  

You Mi was overjoyed, clutching the two thousand Star Coins he had earned that day as he and Lin En headed to the bank to deposit the money.  

Sitting on the back of Lin En’s bike, he chattered endlessly about everything he had seen and heard at the restaurant.  

Lin En played along enthusiastically, asking all sorts of follow-up questions and bursting into laughter when hearing the guests marvel at how “cheap” some overpriced dish was.  

As they entered the busiest part of the city center, Lin En slowed his pace, and You Mi fell silent, eagerly looking around.  

Passing by a commercial skyscraper, Lin En remarked, “They say the people working there earn so much they can never spend it all.”  

You Mi immediately turned to look.  

The towering building seemed like a ladder to the heavens in his eyes—massive and terrifying. The entrance yawned like the gaping maw of a monster, disgorging streams of well-dressed Sina Star People in suits.

They all looked intelligent, capable, and outstanding in their own ways.

Noticing You Mi had been silent for a while, Lin En turned back in confusion, only to see the small figure in the backseat staring intently at the elites moving through the crowd. He paused, feeling a pang of sympathy for the little one.

People like them could never work in places like that. He muttered gloomily, “Only graduates from the Imperial Academy can work there.”

You Mi instinctively asked, “Then how do you get into the Imperial Academy?”

Lin En gave a bitter laugh. “The Imperial Academy is for nobles. Commoners like us can only enroll if we awaken our Skills and pass the entrance exams.”

“…Skills?”

“Advanced abilities ordinary Sina Star People can’t perform. Like some generals—they possess Combat Skills that allow them to transform into Mecha Forms on the battlefield…” Lin En explained patiently before suddenly joking, “If it were me, I’d want a Skill that lets me conjure money… But nowadays, fewer and fewer Sina Star People awaken Skills. Those who do are already considered geniuses. Even without entering the Imperial Academy, they’re highly sought after.”

You Mi nodded vaguely. “Sounds a bit like magic.”

“Hahaha… You could think of it that way, I suppose.”

You Mi took one last deep look at the commercial building. When they arrived at the bank and got out of the car, he suddenly stretched out his hand and clenched it hard in the air.

After parking, Lin En walked over to see You Mi frowning and straining with all his might.

He froze, then immediately recalled their earlier conversation and chuckled. “Mi Mi, are you trying to activate your Skill?”

You Mi snapped back to reality, quickly letting go of his hand and shaking his head in embarrassment.

After pretending to be a monster for so long, he had almost genuinely believed himself to be a Sina Star Person.

…

Compared to his past jobs, the “acting” role at Garlo Restaurant was practically a breeze for You Mi.

Starting from the second day, he effortlessly brought the dancer on the music box to life with even greater realism.

Throughout the entire recording period, he never spoke to anyone while working.

Incidents like the one at the furniture factory—where he was fined for dropping materials due to his lack of strength—never happened here!

The three-day job felt like a dream as it drew to a close.

The episode would air a week later. On the final day of recording, Joseph didn’t leave immediately as usual. Instead, he sat at an empty table, adjusting his attire, his gaze lingering on You Mi atop the music box until his subordinates came to remind him. Only then did he smile and stand to leave.

When his shift ended, You Mi stepped down from the music box and changed back into his own clothes.

The manager and staff bid him reluctant farewells. But no matter how much they wanted him to stay, his tiny frame simply wasn’t suited for waiting tables.

They watched as You Mi, carrying the complimentary employee milk from the restaurant, hopped up the garden steps and headed toward the intersection…

You Mi had money now!

Early the next morning, he went with Lin En to the service center to buy an Optical Brain Implant that could adjust to his wrist size. Then, using the shopping card gifted by the restaurant, they browsed the stores together.

The mall was bustling with people. Worried You Mi might get knocked over by the towering Sina Star People, Lin En simply placed him in the shopping cart and pushed him around. Whenever You Mi wanted something, he’d point at it from the cart, and Lin En would retrieve it for him.

Lin En also received this month’s salary, and they bought gifts for each other.  

You Mi got Lin En the game card he had been wanting, while Lin En bought You Mi a home decoration set for simulation dolls, which included curtains, a small bed, a tiny sofa, miniature tables and chairs, and wallpaper.  

“I saw this earlier and thought it would be perfect for your little wooden house,” Lin En said with a smile.  

This set was a major purchase for him, but thankfully, it would be delivered to their home by professionals. You Mi excitedly ran her hands over the packaging for a while before glancing at the other doll sets nearby.  

One set was called “The Prince’s Wardrobe,” a collection of outfits designed for a male simulation doll about 1.7 meters tall. It included various clothes: suits, sportswear, pajamas, trench coats… seasonal outfits for all occasions.  

After checking the price and her shopping card, You Mi didn’t hesitate—she bought it immediately.  

By the time they got home, the doll sets had already been delivered. Lin En helped her “decorate” the inside of the wooden house before happily riding off on his bike.  

Once Lin En was gone, You Mi tidied up the house, then immediately stepped out and locked the door. She looked around cautiously, making sure no one was nearby, before silently leaving the neighborhood.  

Using her Optical Brain to pull up navigation, she walked alone toward the Underground Black Market.  

Located in the most remote part of the Main City District, the Underground Black Market was hard to find—You Mi even took a wrong turn along the way. By the time she found the correct entrance, it was already late afternoon.  

The Black Market was nothing like she had imagined. There were no thugs or ruffians, no dirty or chaotic environment. The entire street was quiet and clean—if someone had told her this was just an ordinary shopping district, she wouldn’t have doubted it.  

She entered a shabby little shop, clearly old and worn, its door creaking loudly with every push.  

Inside sat an old man with a white beard and brown Wings.  

Suppressing her nervousness, You Mi approached. “Hello, I’d like to buy—”  

“Buy what?” The old man eyed the small figure before him. “You brought enough money, right? No credit here.”  

“I have enough,” she said. “I want to buy Horns, Tails, ears…”  

The old man gave her another glance. “Injured your true form? Need prosthetics?”  

“…Yeah.” She glanced at the terrifying objects displayed on the wall.  

“Those are the most expensive—this price.” He held up a number with his fingers.  

You Mi quickly said, “I just want something ordinary.”  

Without another word, the old man turned and opened a cabinet behind him. Inside were all kinds of Horns, prosthetic limbs, fake ears, and Tails.  

The Horns were the most eye-catching—Evil Beast Horns, Deformed Horns, antlers, yak horns, and even bizarre, blade-like sharp ones…  

You Mi leaned in for a closer look. She picked out a particularly intimidating beast Horn and tried it on, but before she could even reach the mirror, the weight made her stagger.  

The old man hurriedly took it off for her. “This won’t do. When buying these things, don’t just go for the biggest. You need to find the right size for yourself, or it’ll be uncomfortable to wear every day.”  

Blushing, You Mi thanked him and tried on a pair of antlers next—but they were still too heavy…  

Watching her swap Horns one after another, the old man stroked his beard thoughtfully. Almost every pair looked oversized on her head… After a moment, he told her to wait and went to rummage through the back room.

After a while, the old man came out grinning, holding a pair of small, rounded ram horns. “Here they are! These horns were too tiny, so no one ever bought them. I just left them inside, thinking they’d become scrap… Why don’t you try them on?”

You Mi took the horns and carefully placed them on his head—they fit perfectly!

He tilted his head up and down, even jumping a little. No matter how he moved, the horns on his head didn’t cause any discomfort.

In the mirror, his shimmering black eyes studied his reflection intently. The small ram horns atop his head blended seamlessly with the harmless features visible above his mask.

Though he appeared so fragile, his lamb-like gaze brimmed with vibrant vitality.

The old man stared in awe before blurting out, “They look completely real! Why not take these? They suit you well!”

“Alright.” Though You Mi hadn’t found the intimidating monster horns he’d originally wanted, finally obtaining a “Monster Pass” still lifted his spirits. He went ahead and bought matching ram ears and a tail, paying before leaving the shop with the horns already on his head.

However, not long after leaving the store, You Mi was stopped by a towering figure.

Seeing the terrifying shadow cast on the ground, You Mi forced himself to look up calmly. A woman with the lower body of a snake and the upper body of a human stared down at the tiny “ram-horned person” with gleaming eyes. “Oh my stars, there really are people as small as dolls in this world!”

You Mi tensed up immediately. He lowered his head and turned to run, but before he could take two steps, he was encircled by the python-like tail.

His face pale, You Mi trembled as he reached for his Alarm Bracelet.

The snake woman noticed and hurriedly explained, “No, no, no! I’m not a bad person! I just didn’t want you to leave yet—I wanted to ask if you’d like to model for my shop! Please don’t press it!”

“…Model?” You Mi momentarily forgot his fear.

The snake woman retracted her tail, excitement bubbling in her voice. “Yes! A simulation doll model! I’ve never seen anyone as small as the simulation dolls in my shop—it’s just too adorable… Hello, I’m Vera. Would you like to come take a look at my store first?”

You Mi followed Vera into a nearby two-story building.

It was indeed a simulation doll shop, but unlike ordinary doll stores outside, this one operated in the Black Market because all its dolls were Perfect Human Bodies—Sina Star had laws against selling simulation dolls with perfect human forms.

Vera explained, “But everyone loves Perfect Human Bodies! Otherwise, why would they pursue the most human-like forms? Our business is thriving—customers who buy our simulation dolls only purchase subsequent clothing and accessories from us. Sometimes we even film promotional MVs, but finding models is tough. Simulation dolls can’t perform more subtle expressions or movements… You’re practically heaven-sent for us!”

You Mi pressed his lips together, silent.

Vera added, “No experience is needed. You’ll get the hang of it after a few shoots.”

You Mi frowned. “Will I get arrested for this?”

Vera froze momentarily before bursting into laughter, nearly doubling over.

“You… you’re just too adorable… Although this is the Black Market, it’s been operating for hundreds of years, and even some Marshals and generals originated from here! You can practically consider this a special district of the capital—it exists in a gray zone where even nobles and occasionally royalty visit… Don’t worry, as long as you don’t cause any fatalities here, there’s basically no trouble.”

You Mi: “But it’s against Sina Star’s laws.”

Seeing how serious he was, Vera had no choice but to pull up the law on her Optical Brain to show him: “Even if something does happen, only the owner would be held responsible—you don’t need to worry at all. Besides, with your small build, finding long-term work outside probably isn’t that easy, right?”

This struck a chord with You Mi, and his lips pressed together even tighter.

The work machinery, tools, and environment here were all designed for the average Sina Star People’s physique. Being so small, he truly couldn’t perform as well or as quickly as a normal Sina Star resident in such conditions.

Jobs like that music box gig earlier were only occasional short-term opportunities, but he needed to settle down here and live long-term.

After a long silence, You Mi accepted Vera’s job offer.

The two exchanged contact information and agreed he would start work the next day.

Back home, You Mi couldn’t resist checking himself in the mirror repeatedly. He was very satisfied with his newly purchased Horns—so much so that he poked at them several times out of sheer novelty. The Horns stayed firmly in place during wear, with no risk of falling off from a simple poke.

…Finally, no more need for face masks.

After admiring his Horns for a while, You Mi’s attention drifted to his hair.

It had grown longer—when he tugged at it, it was nearly long enough for a small ponytail.

Since he was starting as a model tomorrow, he needed to manage his appearance.

No time like the present. He rummaged through his drawers for the Bathhouse Ticket from Garrow Restaurant, grabbed a basket and fresh clothes, and got ready. Soon, You Mi—sporting his Ram Horns—was hauling a fully loaded basket to the Bathhouse.