"Xiaojuan, are you and No. 2 hiding something from me?"
Ze noticed that Xiaojuan had been messaging No. 2 several times, chatting secretly on their phones without including him. Just a few days ago, Xiaojuan had been beating No. 2 up—how did things change so quickly?
Xiaojuan put away her phone and stared at Ze for a few seconds before sighing faintly. "It’s none of your business. Don’t worry about it."
"Jie," Ze leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "What about our main mission?"
He didn’t want to die—he wanted to go back to his mother and grandmother.
"Don’t worry, I have a plan." Xiaojuan fell silent for a moment before adding, "Ze, don’t trust other players so easily."
Players like Ze, who relied solely on skills and had only cleared two simple dungeons, wouldn’t survive in this world without caution.
Not every dungeon had a golden thigh like Chao Musheng to cling to.
Hearing Xiaojuan say she had a plan, Ze didn’t hesitate for even a second—he believed her immediately.
Manager Zhu saw the least useful intern pulling aside the most diligent intern for a private chat during work hours. He pretended not to notice and turned away.
Today was the last day of their internship. Just eight more hours, and he could finally send this headache away.
"Xiao Chao, heading to the cafeteria again for lunch?" Old Mo asked as Chao Musheng walked out. "The executive office should be treating us to a feast today."
"Two of my friends are finishing their internships today. I want to chat with them." Chao Musheng left the R&D office, retrieved his phone from the personal locker, and took the elevator downstairs.
"Someone like you was never meant to get a full-time offer anyway. The entertainment industry is all about luck."
"Whatever, no point talking to someone who’s leaving the company tomorrow."
"When the era of technology arrived, did it forget to notify you?" Chao Musheng stepped out of the elevator, eyeing the two speakers. "Employment is a mutual choice between the company and the employee. What’s it to you?"
"What’s it to—" The film department employee paused, noticing the man’s strikingly handsome features. Was he a new artist signed by their department?
"Brother Chao." Er Qiang smiled at Chao Musheng before turning to mock the two assistants. "Keep talking, and I might just curse your artists too."
"Getting cocky after latching onto a new big shot?" The employee was taken aback—this intern, who never fought back no matter how much they taunted him, was actually talking back now. "Our A-Xu is the company’s top star. Newcomers should learn their place."
"Has your film department’s restructuring not been thorough enough?" Chao Musheng frowned. "If A-Xu is the top star, then what does that make Su Chenzhu?"
The employee gaped. This newcomer had no manners—daring to drag the big boss into this?
"You’re really clueless. Who even signed you into the company?"
"Su Chenzhu and Secretary Liu invited me in." Chao Musheng pointed at his employee badge. "If you have any complaints, take it up with them."
52nd floor?
The two employees paled at the sight of his badge.
"Sorry, ge, we didn’t realize."
Fawning over the powerful, groveling before those above them.
Watching their rapid change in attitude, Er Qiang finally understood why Xiaojuan believed this was the real world.
NPCs controlled by the System didn’t flip-flop this fast—nor were they this shameless.
Chao Musheng had no interest in bickering, so he dropped Su Chenzhu and Secretary Liu’s names to shut them up. When the two tried to suck up to him, he took a step back. "Get back to work if you have work. Go eat if you’re hungry."
The assistants, experts at reading the room, quickly scurried away after seeing Chao Musheng had no intention of making things difficult for them. Before leaving, they even made sure to apologize to Er Qiang in front of him.
"Brother Chao, thank you for helping me out. Song Xu and Lin Hui have similar career paths, and their rivalry is intense. After Lin Hui got shelved, Song Xu took it out on me." Er Qiang felt unlucky—he’d spent most of this dungeon being tormented by Lin Hui and Manager Wang. Even after their downfall, he was still suffering from their rival’s tantrums.
"Song Xu is that so-called top star?" Chao Musheng shook his head. "No impression."
Er Qiang thought if Song Xu ever found out the son of Time Magazine’s editor-in-chief didn’t even remember him, he’d lose it.
"Don’t believe in that nonsense about curses." Chao Musheng led Er Qiang toward the cafeteria. "When I was a kid, a fortune teller at the village entrance claimed I was a deity reborn—just to scam my parents out of money. Have you ever seen a deity pulling all-nighters for exams or grinding at a 9-to-5?"
Er Qiang noticed the lunch lady sneak an extra spoonful of chicken wings onto Chao Musheng’s plate.
If that didn’t make him a god-tier office worker, what did?
Chao Musheng: "When it comes to fate, just remember two things, and you’ll be fine."
Er Qiang straightened up, listening intently.
Xiaojuan and Ze, having gotten their food, sat down beside them. "What two things?"
"If someone says your fate is good, it means the fortune teller was accurate."
Ze: "And if they say it’s bad?"
Chao Musheng: "Then they’re full of crap. We modern folks don’t do superstitions."
The trio: "..."
They’d expected some profound wisdom—not this selective belief system.
Er Qiang suddenly realized Chao Musheng was saying all this to reassure him, worried he might take the assistants’ words to heart.
After so long in the dungeons, he’d grown slow at recognizing kindness.
He glanced at Xiaojuan and Ze. Were they so close to Chao Musheng because of his unique status—or simply because he was a genuinely good person?
"Brother Chao." Xiaojuan set down her chopsticks after finishing her meal. "Today, the manager offered me a full-time contract. I turned it down."
When Chao Musheng didn’t press for reasons, she explained anyway. "Kunlun is a great company, and working with you has been wonderful. But I have to leave."
Ze, who’d been shoveling food into his mouth, froze. Once they left this dungeon, they’d never see Brother Chao again.
Er Qiang stayed silent. He didn’t have much of a connection with Chao Musheng. Until last night, these people had just been NPCs to him—he’d never felt much for this world.
Chao Musheng could tell Xiaojuan was serious. "Something important you need to do?"
"Very important." Xiaojuan nodded. "Extremely."
"Then I wish you success." Chao Musheng held out his hand.
Xiaojuan hesitated before shaking it.
"If you ever want to return to Kunlun, I’ll put in a word for you." Chao Musheng released her slightly cold hand. "I signed a two-year tech consultant contract with them. When you’re ready to come back, look me up."
"Thank you." Xiaojuan memorized every detail of the smiling young man before her.
This man, raised in an abundance of love, had given a lost traveler like her a rare warmth.
Lost souls might never find their way—but even if they perished in the desert winds, they’d never forget the oasis that once quenched their thirst.
At five in the afternoon, Chao Musheng received a summer internship certificate stamped with an official seal.
Every department’s comments praised him lavishly, and at the bottom, the leader’s signature wasn’t from the HR department but bore the flamboyant strokes of "Su Chenzhu."
"Out of all the internship certificates, yours is the only one signed by the boss himself," the team leader said approvingly. The boss clearly knew how to treat talent with special consideration.
"All of them?" Chao Musheng remembered there had been twenty or thirty interns in this batch. How had so few stayed till now?
"That’s what HR told me when I went there." The team leader patted his shoulder. "I remember you got along well with the other interns. Leave early today and spend some time with them."
"Thank you, team leader."
"Don’t thank me. Just make sure you haven’t left anything behind."
In the customer service office, Manager Zhu handed the internship certificate to Ze. "Don’t forget anything, alright?"
Finally, starting tomorrow, I won’t have to deal with this headache anymore!
Ze’s eyes welled up when he saw the department comments, where the manager had praised him as "hardworking and caring toward colleagues." He was deeply moved. "Manager, you’re so kind. I really wish I could stay and keep working here."
Manager Zhu shuddered. That won’t be necessary.
"Too bad I can’t stay."
What a relief!
"Go on, get going." Manager Zhu’s scalp prickled. "Just clock out already."
"Oh." Ze picked up his bag and obediently followed Xiaojuan out.
"Hey, you little—uh, Ze." Manager Zhu sighed as he watched Ze’s retreating figure.
"Manager, you’ll miss me?" Ze turned back, delighted.
Manager Zhu’s expression shifted before he finally grabbed an apple from his desk, walked over, and shoved it into Ze’s hands. "Be more careful in the future. Wishing you… a bright future and smooth sailing."
Where else would this little fool find a boss who tolerates him like I did?
"Yeah!" Ze nodded vigorously, tucking the apple away with a grin. "Thank you, Manager Zhu."
The manager even wished me a bright future! He must really hate to see me go.
Hehe.
The bustling night market was alive with people.
Wan You placed a plate of grilled meat in front of Chao Musheng and the other three, glancing at Xiaojuan. "Enjoy your meal. No discounts today."
"He—he…" Er Qiang pointed at Wan You’s back, struggling to articulate his shock under Chao Musheng’s questioning gaze. "Isn’t he our hometown buddy?"
That infamous pretty-boy freeloader is still alive?
"Yep. Funny coincidence, huh?" Xiaojuan savored Er Qiang’s stunned expression before raising her glass. "Brother Chao, I know you don’t drink, so I’ll toast you with this. Thanks for looking out for us all this time."
"We looked out for each other. If it weren’t for you guys commuting with me, I’d have been bored out of my mind." Chao Musheng clinked his glass with the others. "Cheers."
"So, what’s next for you?" Chao Musheng set his glass down. "Anything I can help with?"
Ze shook his head blankly. "I just want to go home and be with my mom and grandma."
He wasn’t ambitious—just wanted to help his mom run their little shop.
Without him, his grandma and mom would struggle.
Chao Musheng smiled. "Then I hope you get home soon."
"Thanks, Brother Chao." Ze grinned foolishly. "I wish I could go back tonight."
The longing in Ze’s eyes stung Er Qiang. Every new player in the Infinite Space started with dreams of returning home. At this stage, they were still human, not yet the monsters the Infinite World would turn them into.
"I was never close with my family, so going back doesn’t matter much to me." On this last night before parting, Xiaojuan opened up unexpectedly. "Once my plan’s done, I hope you’ll still remember me, Brother Chao."
She raised her glass. "Wish me success, Brother Chao."
"I wish all three of you success." Chao Musheng clinked glasses with her. "When you come back, I’ll arrange a good job for you."
Xiaojuan smiled. "Thanks, Brother Chao."
Er Qiang couldn’t bear to watch, turning his gaze away.
New dungeons open every minute in the Infinite Space. After tonight, when will we ever meet again?
After the barbecue, they boarded Bus 114 once more. Xiaojuan gazed wistfully at the city’s dazzling nightscape through the window.
What a beautiful world.
"What a coincidence, it’s you guys again." The ghost-costumed passenger got on, saw the familiar faces, and casually put on his mask. No point scaring them now—they know me too well.
In this bustling city, everyone was busy with their own lives.
Getting off the bus, Xiaojuan paused. "Goodbye, Brother Chao."
"Xiaojuan? Ze?" Chao Yin, who had just returned from a walk with Father Chao, beamed at them. "Tomorrow’s Saturday—come over for dinner."
"Thank you, Aunt Chao." Xiaojuan met her gaze. "Next time. I’ll come next time."
She’d only learned later that "Chao" wasn’t Brother Chao’s father’s surname—it was his mother’s. She’d misaddressed them so many times, yet neither Uncle nor Aunt Chao had ever corrected her.
She’d been lucky to meet such kind people in this dungeon world.
"Alright, next time I’ll treat you to a feast."
"Auntie’s so nice." After parting ways with Chao Musheng’s family, Ze entered the rundown Happy Neighborhood. "But why’d you call her Aunt Chao?"
"Because Brother Chao takes his mom’s surname." After a month in the neighborhood, Xiaojuan didn’t even flinch when stepping on trash. "The one surnamed Chao is the aunt, not the uncle."
"Then Brother Chao’s like me—I take my mom’s surname too." Ze reached their rented door and checked his phone. "Two minutes till midnight."
Weird. Why’s my system so quiet tonight? No task reminders.
He pushed the door open, muttering, "Xiaojuan, what about the main quest—"
Suddenly, the hallway fell silent.
Xiaojuan yanked the door wide—the room was empty. Ze had vanished before her eyes. "Ze?!"
[Ding! Dungeon closure countdown initiated. Players, please submit your main quest promptly.]
What is the secret of Kunlun Enterprises?
Xiaojuan activated the signal jammer hidden in her bag. The moment the clock struck midnight, she turned it off again and filed a system complaint.
[Why didn’t the system respond when I submitted my quest, even though the dungeon validated it?]
[Bzzt! System under attack by unidentified energy.]
[Bzzt. Two players filing simultaneous complaints…]
[Bzzzt—]
[Dungeon anomaly detected. Players, please resubmit quest.]
Suppressing her excitement, Xiaojuan toggled the jammer on and off repeatedly until the system flickered erratically, as if infected by a virus.
The instant the "Exit Dungeon" prompt flashed, she tapped it lightning-fast.
I was right. This dungeon’s consciousness still has mercy on players.
After a brief darkness, Xiaojuan stood in the player lobby. Her dungeon rating was a glaring red question mark.
She lowered her head and realized she was still clutching a bag tightly in her hand.
Wait, how could she have brought a bag out of the instance?
Inside the bag was the signal jammer from Chao Musheng’s world!
Not far away, Er Qiang was looking around anxiously. When he spotted her, he immediately sighed in relief and ran over.
"Where’s Ze?" He searched the surroundings but couldn’t find any trace of him.
"He disappeared right before the instance closed." Xiaojuan closed her eyes, recalling the words Ze had said to Chao Musheng.
["I really wish I could go back tonight."]
["May all your wishes come true."]
"Mom? Grandma?"
Ze pulled open the door, but instead of his rented apartment, he saw his mother and grandmother sitting at the dining table.
Disbelieving, he shut the door, took two deep breaths, and opened it again—only to see his mother and grandmother once more.
"Ze, what are you doing?" His mother watched her son’s bewildered behavior and smiled helplessly. "Go wash your hands already."
Had her child woken up even sillier after a night’s sleep?
"Mom!" Ze rushed into the living room and hugged her tightly.
So Chao Musheng hadn’t lied to him. He’d said his wish would come true, and now he was really home.
"What’s wrong?" His mother stood on her tiptoes and touched his forehead. "Did something upset you?"
"No." Ze leaned against her slender yet warm shoulder. "Mom, I had a really long dream. I met some amazing friends there."
Her heart ached. "Were they good to you?"
Her child didn’t have many close friends in real life. Even meeting them in a dream must have made him happy.
"They were the best." Ze nodded. "Aside from you and Grandma, they were the kindest people I’ve ever known. One was called Chao Musheng, the other Wang Xiaojuan..."
As the saying goes, thoughts by day become dreams by night.
Perhaps because the development team’s servers had been hacked before, Chao Musheng dreamed of sitting in an endless room, watching his computer being attacked by an unknown virus.
How dare someone launch a virus attack right in front of him? What arrogance!
Rolling up his sleeves, Chao Musheng not only blocked every virus but also traced the attacker’s path and sent two Trojan horses back, deleting over a dozen critical files from their system.
That’s what they got for provoking him.
"What? Over a dozen A-rank and S-rank instances closed simultaneously?!"
"What’s going on with the Main God lately? First, several mid-level instances shut down, and now even high-level ones. Is He planning to abandon ship?"
"Good riddance. That means I can finally go home."
"What’s so great about home? In the Infinite Space, we stay forever young and get to train new players."
"Shh, watch your words. You don’t want the Main God noticing you."
"By the way, have you heard that rumor?"
"Which one?"
"The one about the instances actually being..."
Xiaojuan and Er Qiang moved among the players, relieved to see their planted rumors had already reached some ears. They slipped into a corner unnoticed.
"You’re really going to the next exploration instance?" Er Qiang frowned at Xiaojuan’s determined expression. "Why not wait? Not every exploration instance will give you that kind of luck."
"Qiang, you must’ve guessed it too—only in exploration instances can players exploit loopholes." Xiaojuan glanced at the Infinite Space’s massive screen, where the name of the next exploration instance appeared: Luxury Cruise.
"You’re a veteran. After clearing an instance, you can stay in the space for a month." She opened the player registration page. "Use that time to reach out to players who still have a conscience. Let them know the truth about the instances."
Every exploration instance she disrupted meant one less place tormented by the Main God.
As long as she could make the Main God’s life harder, she was satisfied.
Less than a minute after the new exploration instance was announced, players noticed that three had already signed up for this notoriously deadly mission.
Guess there was nothing left in this world worth living for—why else would they volunteer for suicide?
"Xiao Chao, the cruise is about to depart. Come here, let me take your picture." Secretary Liu leaned against the railing, watching Chao Musheng, who seemed bathed in an unfairly generous amount of sunlight. "How many people have struck up conversations with you since we boarded?"
"Work’s better. At least with my ID badge, people know which department I’m from at a glance." Chao Musheng flashed a peace sign at the camera.
"My advice? Stick close to the boss. On this ship, no one dares disrespect him." Secretary Liu snapped the photo and opened his contacts, only to accidentally send it to the wrong person.
[Su Chenzhu: ?]
Oh crap. Force of habit made him send the photo straight to the boss!
[Secretary Liu: My apologies, sir. Wrong recipient.]
[Su Chenzhu: It’s fine.]
Secretary Liu exhaled in relief. He really was the boss’s most trusted secretary—even sending the wrong photo didn’t earn him a scolding.
"Once they find out you’re from Kunlun’s executive office, no one will dare bother you again." Secretary Liu led Chao Musheng upstairs. "Come on, let’s go find the boss."
[Ding. Congratulations, players, on boarding the Moonchaser Cruise.]
[Please note: The guests aboard are all wealthy or influential. Do not provoke their displeasure.]
[Perform your duties diligently. Players who receive more than three complaints will fail the instance.]
Xiaojuan looked down at her uniform—a server’s attire.
Music and laughter drifted in from the deck outside as a plump head steward marched in, instructing them to prepare for the evening banquet.
"You." The steward pointed at Xiaojuan and a few other pretty-faced female servers. "You’ll work in the VIP dining area. Remember, do not offend the guests."
Xiaojuan trailed behind the other servers, her eyes stinging from the blinding glitter of jewelry adorning the ship’s elite.
What a den of extravagance and vanity.
"Oof!" A man in a suit stumbled, his ankle twisting. Glancing around awkwardly, his expression darkened when he noticed Xiaojuan and the other servers nearby. "What are you staring at? Clean this floor properly—it’s too slippery to walk on!"
"Right away, sir." The lead server fetched a mop, but when the man’s displeasure didn’t fade, she dropped to her knees and began scrubbing the floor with a towel.
The sight of her subservience pleased the man. He stood there, smirking as he watched her grovel.
"What’s going on here? Since when did Boss Li take up janitorial supervision?" Secretary Liu frowned at the kneeling server.
"Ah, Secretary Liu!" Boss Li’s posture immediately became obsequious. "A pleasure to see you!"
"And this is…?" He glanced at the man beside Secretary Liu.
"This is my boss’s right-hand man, Chao Musheng."
Chao Musheng?!
Xiaojuan thought she’d misheard. Ignoring the risk of drawing attention, she lifted her head to look at the group.
Noticing someone's gaze on him, Chao Musheng instinctively turned around and locked eyes with Xiaojuan.
Xiaojuan: !
Damn it, System! Why do you keep targeting the same poor guy?!
