short series

I’m Useless at Everything During Chinese New Year, But Top at Annoying People

share time: 2026-02-15 12:34:46

Lin Chuan, an office worker, can’t escape relatives’ marriage pressure and competitive comparisons every Chinese New Year—Aunt San hounds him about bringing a partner home, his cousin shows off a new house key, even the neighbor aunt says “Your salary is 2k less than my kid’s.” This year, just as he’s about to force a smile, he unlocks a “Resentment Value System”: every hurtful question lets him exchange for a “clapback skill” or “life surprise.” He stops tolerating: to Aunt San, he says “Did your son save enough for his second child’s school district house?” To his cousin, “Your sports car’s fuel cost covers half my rent for a year.” But when his resentment value nears max, he realizes—the real joy isn’t annoying others, but finally daring to say no to “being ‘good enough’ for others.” Turns out, the most free thing is accepting that it’s okay to be “useless” in his own way.

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