For ordinary people, work is a necessary part of life.

Most of our years are spent on the job.

Overtime should mean overtime pay. But many small companies today simply don’t offer it. Even "comp time" rarely translates to actual rest.

Whenever you try to use accumulated time off, either the workload won’t allow it—or you end up handling company tasks from home anyway. Just working from a different location.

So Autumn Ease hated overtime most of all.

And yet, the big boss—who clearly knew nothing about otaku culture—kept spouting empty slogans about "chasing dreams." Calling it bullshit would’ve been rude. Autumn Ease prided himself on his restraint.

"Our project is nearing completion," the project manager announced with a smile. "To speed things up, we’ll all be working late these next few days. Push hard now, and once it’s done, the boss will treat everyone to some well-deserved relaxation!"

"Got it!"

"Let’s do this!"

Energetic voices rose and fell.

But most were just forcing smiles.

Relaxation? They meant foot baths and hot showers—nowhere near enough to erase days of exhaustion.

Autumn Ease would rather skip that "treat" entirely.

True bliss, to him, was heading home after work. Free to dive into the endless ocean of the internet.

Still, unwilling as he was, overtime was unavoidable.

At least group overtime had its own energy. Autumn Ease didn’t join the chatter, but listening to others’ voices kept boredom at bay.

Like playing games alone at home—you still needed background music.

Even the most solitary souls craved other sounds to ease the quiet.

As usual, Autumn Ease worked as an assistant. Coloring illustrations to strict standards.

Digital coloring was easier, yes—but the volume was crushing.

After coloring came reviews. Rejected pieces meant starting over.

By noon, colleagues debated lunch orders. Autumn Ease silently unscrewed his thermos, poured hot water into his bento box, and began his meal.

Someone had ordered a KFC family bucket. The fried chicken scent filled the office, making his mouth water.

He bit fiercely into a steamed bun, then chewed a piece of last night’s homemade chicken jerky—pretending it was a burger.

A faint bitterness lingered.

But he was used to it.

"...Autumn Ease."

A cold voice cut through his thoughts.

He turned. A petite face, icy calm. Long twin tails swayed gently with her movement.

"Uh... Senior Lin? What is it?"

Lin Xichen. A veteran at the company. Rumor said she’d co-founded it before the big boss bought it out.

She held a small stake but held no title. Like any other artist, she worked daily—though her tasks were freer, lighter. She crafted bespoke illustrations for novels. A single piece could take a week. Her artistry was worlds apart from Autumn Ease’s assembly-line coloring.

No official rank, but deep seniority. Everyone called her "Senior Lin." The sweet-tongued added "Sister."

She looked barely past twenty.

Lin Xichen rarely spoke to anyone. Not even Autumn Ease.

Work assignments came straight from the general manager. She had no subordinates. No reason to interact.

This was the first time she’d approached him alone since he joined.

Truthfully? An ice-queen beauty with a doll-like face and curves like hers... it was impossible not to notice.

On exhausting days, catching a glimpse of her could jolt him back to life.

Like having a class flower in school. You knew you’d never stand a chance—but just knowing she existed lifted every boy’s mood.

"Here."

Lin Xichen’s eyes stayed sharp as she handed him a McDonald’s value meal.

*Someone ordered KFC, and she got McDonald’s?*

But Autumn Ease cared less about the food. What did this gesture mean?

*Could she... like me?*

Anime taught him cold girls often hid fiery hearts. Maybe he’d charmed her somehow...

His heart hammered like a trapped rabbit.

*Ah. The greatest human delusion: "She likes me."*

Lin Xichen set down the meal and moved to the next person.

Her large bag held several identical value meals...

Not for everyone—but several received her "little gifts."

"Whoa! What’s special about you guys? Why’s Sister Lin hand-delivering food? Spill!" someone yelled.

Autumn Ease was puzzled too.

He couldn’t recall doing anything noteworthy.

He studied the others who’d gotten meals. What did they share?

*Hmm... all of us are outsiders. The quiet ones.*

Probably that. Lin Xichen, the ultimate loner, was looking out for her own kind.

*Who knew?*

*This ice-mountain senior has such a gentle heart.*

Autumn Ease saved his meal for late-night overtime. The office had a microwave.

Snacks might be provided during overtime, but proper meals? You paid for those yourself.

At best, the company tossed you some instant noodles.

Yeah. This place was that stingy.

Their project was a mobile game.

Who made single-player galges to earn money these days? Turn it mobile. Add combat. Watch the cash roll in.

Merchants chase profit. Always true.

That’s why Autumn Ease respected studios that crafted beautiful games for players.

Like that Polish "donkey" studio’s *The Witcher 3*...

China’s gaming industry was twisted.

The people making games didn’t need to understand them. Only how to make money. That was enough.

Time crept toward evening. A few colleagues received dinners from girlfriends. Envious glances followed.

Autumn Ease was no exception.

"Ah... if only my dream girl were real," he muttered, pulling his reheated McDonald’s from the microwave. He sipped cola and ate.

Reheated, it tasted... less than perfect.

But better than nothing.

Cheaper than ordering out, anyway.

Yeah. Autumn Ease clung to small-town frugality.

Eye drops. Coffee refills.

The clock in his taskbar neared midnight.

Autumn Ease worked distractedly. His coloring was done. Now he played customer service, answering the same questions again and again...

*Only now do I truly believe humans are just fancy parrots.*

"Midnight... wait!" He froze.

After midnight, he turned into a girl. Until 5 a.m.

He’d confirmed it the past two rest days.

If he transformed here, in front of everyone...

*Disaster.*

Would that mysterious loli even show up to wipe their memories this time?

*One minute left.*

Autumn Ease bolted for the office restroom.

The change struck precisely on time.

He—no, *she*—faintly heard midnight chimes.

*Only I can hear this.*

Girl-Autumn Ease eased open the stall door and darted out of the men’s room.

A man at the restroom entrance stared after her, then checked the signs—had the men’s and women’s rooms been swapped?

Her situation was awkward.

Her clothes weren’t overly masculine—just a casual top and loose pants.

But as a girl, her frame shrank. The clothes hung baggy. One wrong move, and her pants might slide right off.

Thankfully, the drawstring waist saved her.

"Crap... overtime... how do I get back to the office now? I won’t change back until five..." Panic tightened her chest. She could leave—but vanishing mid-overtime meant trouble tomorrow.

No choice. She steeled herself, slipped into the office, and sprinted to her desk. She shrugged on her jacket.

It was just a light outer layer—but on her smaller frame, it draped like a coat.

*Phew. This’ll hide the weirdness.*

*Just don’t let anyone notice I’m wearing the exact same clothes as before...*

"Uh... miss? Who are you?" Her neighbor finally spoke up, confused.

"I... umm... th-that is..." Autumn Ease’s face burned crimson. Her mind raced, but thoughts felt sluggish.

"Are you... Autumn Ease’s girlfriend? Why are you at his desk?"

"I—I am!" The words tumbled out before she could stop them. "I’m Autumn Ease’s girlfriend!"

"Huh?!" Heads snapped around the office.

Autumn Ease trembled. Was it guilt over the lie? Or excitement at inventing such a pretty girlfriend for himself?

*Yeah... pretending to be my own girlfriend. First time for everything.*