C1 I Am a Nobody Who Likes Animalears Lady(1)

"Yawn."

The assembly line was punctuated by a loud yawn, drawing the attention of the veteran employees, clad in white uniforms and hairnets, to the bleary-eyed young man.

"Is he about to nod off again?"

"He's something else, though. I heard he pulled in nearly 10,000 yuan last month. He could dance the night away here, and the boss wouldn't dare fire him."

"It's a strange world. Some folks can work in their sleep."

"That's because you're not used to it. Many seasoned workers have turned it into second nature, able to work blindfolded."

"But he's only been here a few months."

"Quiet down," chided Team Leader Lin from the front, noticing the murmurs. "Keep it down, the director is coming."

Most people who work here share one common trait: a lack of formal education. Those with higher qualifications would rather earn a modest office salary than endure the monotony of the assembly line. The repetitive work, the relentless pressure, and the grueling schedules can wreak havoc on one's mental health. That's why the assembly line is mostly staffed by older workers; the younger ones can't stand the solitude and often leave after a few months.

But there was an exception in this workshop: Shen Xiang, the boy who seemed to be sleeping yet outperformed everyone with his incredible work ethic.

Liu Yixin, the workshop director, was a stark contrast to her title; she was surprisingly young and stylish, her demeanor clashing with the gritty workshop surroundings.

She was the factory owner's daughter, after all, a fact not lost on her colleagues.

During her routine patrols, Liu Yixin found herself involuntarily drawn to Shen Xiang. Truth be told, she detested the workshop's atmosphere and only patrolled to steal glances at him.

As the director, she was well aware of his resume: a 985 University graduate and local resident, someone who typically would be in management. Yet here he was, toiling away on the assembly line day after day. What was most peculiar was his method of working.

His efficiency was terrifyingly high, surpassing even the most experienced workers who couldn't maintain such intensity throughout the day. But Shen Xiang operated like a machine, completing every step, every assembly, every screw with millisecond precision.

Certainly, there was an additional characteristic: it was as though he was 'asleep.'

Except for the brief periods when he started his shift and when it was almost time to clock out, he maintained this state, ignoring anyone who spoke to him and focusing solely on his work.

It was peculiar and intriguing.

Liu Yixin found herself watching him whenever she had a spare moment. He was, after all, the most attractive guy in the factory with the highest level of education.

Working in the factory could be dreadfully dull. Aside from admiring handsome men, there wasn't much else to entertain herself with.

Liu Yixin made several rounds throughout the day. On this particular day, she noticed him suddenly set down his tools and stretch. This prompted her to glance at the clock once more—it was 8:00 PM, their quitting time.

"Time to head out," announced Shen Xiang as he stood up and stretched, yawning like someone who had just gotten out of bed. He then seemed to notice Liu Yixin nearby and quickly said, "Hello, Director. I've finished my quota for the day, right? Can I leave now?"

"Ah, yes, you've done enough."

Liu Yixin nodded with a hint of shyness. The young man might not have the exaggerated looks of a celebrity, but he had an impressive physique and was impeccably groomed, exuding a clean and refreshing vibe.

He was exactly her type, a stark contrast to the guys she encountered in nightclubs.

Her heart skipped a beat—what single man in the factory... No, even the married women didn't harbor some thoughts about this young man? Yet, she was unsure of how he saw her. They hadn't interacted much, and being too forward could seem undignified for a woman.

"Are you okay after sitting all day? I heard you had a back injury before."

She inquired with the poise of a leader.

The man instinctively bristled at the mention of his back injury, as if it were a challenge to his masculinity, but he quickly laughed it off and responded, "That was years ago. It's long been healed, as you can see."

"As you can see."

His smile was genuinely charming. Was this the flutter of attraction... Should she take the initiative?

My name is Shen Xiang. My father's surname is Shen and my mother's surname is Xiang. A simple combination of the two became my name.

I take pride in being an assembly line worker, diligently contributing to society's value every day while simultaneously building my own wealth.

My choice to work on the assembly line wasn't driven by high wages or the allure of romance. It was for a straightforward reason: the job required no mental exertion and was highly repetitive.

Why opt for such monotonous work? Once Shen Xiang stepped out of the factory, he slipped on his headphones, cradled his phone in his left hand, and started a movie from the latest streaming site. In his mind, he commanded: "Automatic agent, navigate home."

Mission start!

Words flickered before his eyes, and he began to move, as if possessed by another, his focus entirely on the movie. He wouldn't get lost; an enigmatic force within him automatically plotted the easiest path home, and he needn't fret about pedestrians—the "go home" command had it all covered. His job was simply to lose himself in the film; the mysterious power would handle the rest.

He dubbed it the Automatic Agent Interlocking System, akin to the auto-pathfinding in domestic MMORPGs or the sweep/proxy features in mobile games. Just issue the right command, and his body would spring into action, freeing his mind for other pursuits.

This is precisely why he chose assembly line work. He just needed to program the system, then activate the "automatic agent for work," and he could sleep with his eyes closed—after all, his nights were reserved for novels and movies.

Quite convenient, isn't it?

Not only for work, but this system could handle a myriad of tasks—anything that didn't require intense thought. In essence, it was a life on autopilot.

Sure, such convenience is tempting, something most people would crave. But it came with a drawback—it made Shen Xiang increasingly lazy. Anything that could be automated, he wouldn't touch. If it could be delegated, he wouldn't micromanage.

Shen Xiang blended into the sea of commuters with his gaze fixed downward, just like any other person engrossed in their device. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could spot the subtle ways he stood out. For instance, without ever looking up, he navigated through oncoming foot traffic with ease, effortlessly pulled out his transit card to swipe into the subway station, and waited calmly on the platform. His movements were as precise and reliable as the most sophisticated AI autopilot, boasting a flawless track record when it came to securing a seat on the subway.

Mission Complete.

"Finally home, finally home."