Chapter 1: Awakening in a New World

When Zhang Wei opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the cold, sterile ceiling above him. He blinked, his head spinning as he struggled to make sense of where he was. The dorm room felt both familiar and foreign, like a half-forgotten dream he couldn't quite piece together."Where... am I?"Memories started flooding his mind—not of his life back on Earth, but of someone else's life. He was Zhang Wei, a college student attending a prestigious Space Naval Academy, located in a future where humanity had unlocked the secrets of space travel. But unlike what he expected, space travel here was still in its infancy. Humanity was far from mastering the stars.The memories of this body were different from his original life. This Zhang Wei had been orphaned a year ago after his parents died in a hit-and-run accident, leaving him to care for his younger sister, Zhang Xiaoyu. She was bedridden with a rare disease, her treatment costs astronomical.His heart ached at the thought of Xiaoyu. When he first woke up in this world, he had felt distant—like an outsider in someone else's life. But the longer he stayed, the more he became attached to her. She was his sister now, and he would do anything to protect her."How am I supposed to pay for her treatment?" Zhang Wei muttered to himself, running his hands through his hair in frustration. The money his parents left behind—300,000 yuan—was barely enough to cover living expenses, let alone the advanced medical care Xiaoyu needed.Just then, a screen appeared before his eyes, glowing with a soft blue light.[SYSTEM AWAKENED][Host successfully integrated with world]

[Flagship Store Online Available]

[System Market Open]

Zhang Wei froze. "A system?" he muttered. It was just like those novels he used to read back on Earth—where the protagonist would gain a system to help them survive or become powerful. Was he really in another world?The screen flickered again.[Host can access the System Market and Flagship Store. First-time setup available. Processing initial materials...]Zhang Wei's eyes widened as he realized this was his chance. If the system was anything like those in the stories, it could help him earn money—enough to take care of Xiaoyu and maybe even give them a better life.He quickly accessed the system, his heart racing with anticipation. The market interface looked simple but filled with possibilities.[Items Available for Purchase]:Stump Remover (50 yuan)Powdered Sugar (30 yuan)Baking Soda (20 yuan)"What am I supposed to do with this stuff?" Zhang Wei wondered aloud. These were all mundane items—nothing special. But just as the thought crossed his mind, the system spoke again.[System Suggestion: Process the materials into a Rocket Motor.]Zhang Wei blinked in confusion. "A rocket motor? You want me to make a rocket with stump remover and baking soda?"It sounded insane—but then again, he was living in a world where humanity was just beginning to explore space. The system flashed another message.[Input company name for registration.]Zhang Wei paused, thinking for a moment. If he was going to do this, he would need to make it official. He couldn't just rely on the system forever—he would have to create something sustainable. An idea formed in his mind, and he smiled."Stellar Innovations," he typed. If he was going to make rocket motors and other products, he needed a name that reflected the ambition of reaching the stars.The system flashed in approval.[Stellar Innovations registered.][Host can now produce small-scale rocket motors using processed materials.]A surge of excitement ran through him. The idea of starting his own company—making something that could advance human space exploration—was both thrilling and terrifying. But it was also his best shot at earning enough money to save his sister.He quickly purchased the materials from the system, spending a small portion of the 300,000 yuan he had left. Packages of stump remover, powdered sugar, and baking soda appeared in his dorm room, delivered through a strange blue light."Now, let's see what we can make," Zhang Wei muttered as he followed the system's instructions to process the materials. The system guided him through each step with precision, helping him combine the chemicals into something that resembled a crude rocket motor.When it was finished, Zhang Wei held the small device in his hands. It wasn't much, but it was a start. If he could refine the design and scale up production, there might be a market for this—especially in a world that was just beginning to explore space.The system flashed another message.[Rocket motor prototype complete.][Next steps: Refine the product and prepare for launch testing.]Zhang Wei stared at the motor, determination filling him. He might be new to this world, but he had something most others didn't—an edge that could change everything. He wasn't just going to survive here. He was going to thrive.For Xiaoyu's sake, and for his own.His journey in this new world had just begun.