Chapter 3: The Weight of Potential

Jin Yu spent the next few days practically floating in his upgraded sneakers. Each step felt springier, lighter. He even found himself subconsciously walking faster, a newfound pep in his stride that hadn't been there before.

The tiny glowing logo on the side served as a constant, tangible reminder that the impossible had happened.

He tried to upgrade other things, of course. His ancient desk lamp, his cracked mirror, even a particularly stubborn stain on his ceiling. But each attempt was met with the same frustrating message:

[Insufficient Evolution Points.]

The single point he had earned was gone, spent on his beloved sneakers. The reality of the seven-day wait crashed down on him again, heavier this time. He had tasted the power, and now he was back to the agonizing crawl of normal time.

"This is torture," he groaned, staring at the blank upgrade screen on his phone. "It's like giving a starving man a single bite of the most delicious food in the world and then telling him he has to wait a week for another crumb."

He found himself scanning objects obsessively, even more than before. Now that he knew upgrades were real, the potential of everything around him seemed to shimmer with possibility.

The rusty bicycle chained outside his apartment building could become a high-speed vehicle. The dusty textbooks on his shelf could unlock hidden knowledge. The grumpy stray cat that frequented his alleyway... well, he wasn't sure what that could become, but the system's cryptic upgrade paths had already taught him to expect the unexpected.

One afternoon, while working his shift at the convenience store, a small incident occurred that made Jin Yu’s heart pound. A young woman rushed in, her face pale and frantic.

“My cat! He ran out the door! I’ve been looking everywhere!” she cried, her voice trembling.

Jin Yu, usually lost in his own thoughts behind the counter, felt a pang of sympathy. He remembered the stray cat in his alley. Could it be the same one?

“What does he look like?” Jin Yu asked, his mind already racing.

“He’s a scruffy ginger tabby, answers to Marmalade,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Wait here,” Jin Yu said, a sudden idea forming. He grabbed his upgraded sneakers and dashed out of the store, ignoring the confused look of his coworker.

He sprinted towards his alley, his new shoes propelling him forward with surprising speed. He scanned the surroundings with the system's function, hoping for any trace of a "Scruffy Ginger Tabby."

Nothing.

Disappointment washed over him. He was so focused on his own potential upgrades that he hadn't even considered using the system in a more... helpful way.

He returned to the store, his breath slightly ragged. The woman was still there, her hope dwindling.

“I… I didn’t see him,” Jin Yu said, feeling a wave of guilt.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. He had upgraded his sneakers, an object directly related to movement and speed. Could the effects be more than just superficial?

He focused on the memory of his run, the ease with which he moved. Could he somehow use this… enhanced mobility to cover more ground? It was a long shot, but he had nothing to lose.

“Tell me again, which way did he go?” Jin Yu asked the woman.

She pointed down the street, her voice choked with emotion. Jin Yu nodded.

“Give me a little more time. I’ll try again.”

This time, as he ran, Jin Yu focused his intent. He wasn't just running; he was utilizing the upgrade. He imagined the enhanced agility, the improved traction, pushing his body to move with a newfound efficiency.

He scanned the area more deliberately, his senses heightened.

He noticed subtle movements, faint meows that he might have missed before. He followed a hunch, turning down a narrow side street.

And there he was. A scruffy ginger tabby, nervously exploring a pile of discarded cardboard boxes.

“Marmalade!” Jin Yu called out gently. The cat startled, then seemed to recognize his name.

Jin Yu carefully approached the cat, scooped him up, and cradled him in his arms. He felt a surge of unexpected satisfaction.

He returned to the convenience store, the relieved cries of the young woman filling the small space. She showered Marmalade with affection, her gratitude towards Jin Yu palpable.

“Thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver!” she exclaimed, tears of relief now streaming down her face.

Jin Yu just shrugged, a genuine smile spreading across his face. It felt… good. Better than the fleeting excitement of upgrading his phone.

Later that night, lying on his creaky bed, Jin Yu stared at the ceiling. He still longed for more Evolution Points, for the chance to unlock the more fantastical upgrades the system hinted at. But something had shifted within him.

He had used the effect of his first upgrade not for personal gain, but to help someone else. And it had felt… meaningful.

The weight of potential still hung heavy, the seven-day wait stretching before him like an eternity. But now, it was tempered with a new understanding. The Evolution System wasn't just about making his life better. It was about the potential to interact with the world in a fundamentally different way.

He still didn't know what the future held, what "Lower Plane" meant, or if he could ever upgrade Earth itself. But as he drifted off to sleep, Jin Yu had a new thought to add to his "Upgrade Dream Board":

"Maybe... upgrades aren't just about things."


[End of Chapter 3]

Chapter end