Chi Yuzhou picked up the tip left under the cup. Just as he was about to put it into the cash register, Manager Heng Li’s magnetic voice sounded beside him:

“Keep that tip for yourself.”

“How can I? That’s not right.”

“No need to feel awkward. If you’re serving customers alone in the future, you can keep them too.”

When Chi Yuzhou tried to protest further, he saw Heng Li shake his head with finality and continue:

“You’ve nearly mastered all the drink recipes now. You’ve earned it.”

“Thank you so much.”

Chi Yuzhou sincerely expressed his gratitude, etching another mark of thanks for Manager Heng Li deep in his heart.

Alongside it came a faint twinge of guilt for deceiving him.

He wasn’t ungrateful.

Ever since the manager had helped him that first time, he’d quietly supported Chi Yuzhou.

Heng Li knew about his lost memories too. He’d even offered Chi Yuzhou a job here until he regained them.

Though Chi Yuzhou had his own reasons for hiding the truth, he’d long remembered the manager’s kindness.

Time passed slowly. This rather remote bar saw few customers afterward.

It was only Wednesday. Most faces were Heng Li’s friends.

Aside from those regulars, no new customers appeared.

Heng Li served some friends himself. Others specifically asked for Chi Yuzhou to mix their drinks.

For some reason, they felt his drinks tasted more refreshing in this weather.

Or maybe it was just their imagination?

At midnight, Heng Li glanced around the empty bar and turned to Chi Yuzhou:

“That’s enough. You can head home now.”

“Okay.”

Chi Yuzhou didn’t argue. He changed back into his street clothes in the break room, though he kept his appearance unchanged.

After saying goodbye to the manager, Chi Yuzhou walked home alone.

Stars and moon shone brightly alongside streetlights, making the night feel less lonely. Yet the wind still carried a hint of daytime heat.

Seeing no one around, Chi Yuzhou didn’t bother finding a restroom. He casually tousled his hair back to the unremarkable style he wore at school. Even the tiny earring on his earlobe became inconspicuous.

Any woman encountering a man like this at this hour might worry he was a weirdo.

Chi Yuzhou stopped by his usual convenience store. As always, he bought two fragrant steamed meat buns.

As the savory aroma burst in his mouth, he silently praised human cuisine again.

Compared to the food he’d eaten before, these buns were infinitely better. And he hadn’t even tried all the other delicacies out there.

After satisfying his hunger, Chi Yuzhou reached his apartment building. It was just a small two-story complex.

He lived here partly thanks to Manager Heng Li’s indirect help.

Climbing the side stairs to the second floor, he returned to his place.

The moment he opened the door, icy air rushed out as if the AC had run nonstop at its lowest setting.

Chi Yuzhou seemed unfazed. He flipped on the light, filling the room with brightness.

The space was modest but functional. A bed sat by the inner window, with ample room to move around. It lacked a stove, but otherwise had everything.

Chi Yuzhou took a quick shower in the small bathroom. Ignoring his damp hair, he grabbed a bottle of sweet soda from the unplugged mini-fridge.

The AC wasn’t plugged in either.

Yet his room stayed undeniably cold.

Holding the soda, Chi Yuzhou didn’t open it right away. He sat on the stiff sofa, letting the bottle rest in his palms for a moment.

Strangely, without any visible action, his black hair slowly gained streaks of white. His eyes deepened too.

The white spread gradually until it covered a quarter of his hair. Only then did he twist the cap open.

The icy soda hit his throat. Chi Yuzhou let out a satisfied “ahh” while mentally reviewing recent events.

He’d used his Snow Clan abilities at school today, but in a closed space. Exposure risk should be low.

That woman always warned him humans were dangerous—that they hunted Rare Breeds like him.

But from what he’d seen lately, that might not be entirely true.

Still, hiding his identity was safer. Otherwise, he’d have run from her for nothing.

Chi Yuzhou sighed softly.

If he had a choice, he wouldn’t want to be this ultra-rare male of the Snow Clan. He’d rather be an ordinary high school boy.

Living in that remote mountain hut was bad enough. The food was worse.

Human records mostly depicted Snow Maidens as female. Calling the whole race “Snow Maiden” made sense. That part was accurate.

But on extremely rare occasions, males were born too.

Snow Clan members were notoriously lustful. Their partners often died young—that part was true.

Every Snow Clan member, male or female, was stunningly beautiful, even bewitchingly so. Finding partners was never hard.

This lust only calmed after having their first child.

Yet due to their biology, Snow Maiden pregnancies were absurdly rare.

Even if pregnant, they almost always gave birth to girls.

So what happened to a male Snow Clan member in the same situation?

Just imagining the outcome made Chi Yuzhou’s scalp prickle.

That “noble mission” to save his race? It sounded grand, but honestly—it was like being a breeding pig in livestock farming.

Now, after fleeing across most of the country with Heng Li’s help, he’d finally reached his sophomore year.

This was what someone his age should be doing. Otherwise, he’d stand out too much.

The outside world was so free. Why lock himself in a dark, sunless room just to fulfill those women’s wishes?

Chi Yuzhou wasn’t a fool.

After finishing the soda, he lay on the bed. Staring at the Mystic Ring on his left index finger, he tried to pull it off again.

Useless. It felt welded to his skin.

He had no idea what that woman had done to it. He couldn’t remove it.

If he forced it off or destroyed it, she might track him down.

He wasn’t taking that gamble. He was too sharp for that.

Gazing at the ring, Chi Yuzhou recalled the woman at the bar who’d tried to chat him up. She’d left extra cash after he dodged her.

To avoid her, he’d told half-truths. It wasn’t a full lie.

The amnesia story was fake, of course.

But if she ever tracked him down because of this ring… he’d be ruined.

Just seeing the ring made him miserable.

So… could more customers who gave tips to comfort you after hearing your story please show up?