"Don't You Dare Come Back..."

Pang Cheng eyed the sharply dressed young man before him—suited better than he, the boss himself—with utter disdain on his face.

It was Qin Ling!

"How dare you not miss me!?" Qin Ling exclaimed, his expression utterly incredulous.

Pang Cheng, seemingly used to this, ignored him completely. He turned instead to Song Xiaoxi emerging from the express shop. "Cut the nonsense. Come here—I’ll introduce someone."

"Introduce someone? Playing matchmaker now?"

Watching Song Xiaoxi approach, Qin Ling—dressed in a crisp men’s suit—leaned close to Pang Cheng and whispered, "She’s quite the catch. How’d you know I just went single again? Setting me up already? That’s rushing it."

*Clang!*

Pang Cheng leaped up and whacked Qin Ling hard on the head. "Matchmaking? She’s your new coworker."

"Damn it! You dare hit your Qin Ge? Fat bastard! I’ll fire you!" Qin Ling clutched his head, glaring with mock seriousness.

"A new coworker? So even you, stingy fatso, finally hired someone," Qin Ling shot back.

Pang Cheng retorted fiercely, "If I don’t hire people, will you keep draining my lifespan? Who knows when you’ll play me to death!"

"Play you to death? Unlikely. But I might sneak up and kill you someday," Qin Ling grinned, flashing pearly whites.

Enraged, Pang Cheng raised a fist—but Song Xiaoxi arrived just then, watching them curiously.

"So Manager and Qin Ge have such a good relationship!" she said.

"Yes, indeed."

"No way!"

Their voices clashed simultaneously, locking eyes with conflicting stares. Under Pang Cheng’s fiery glare, he snapped, "This guy’s back. Xiaoxi’s new. You, old-timer, show her the ropes." He then retreated hastily into the shop, eager to escape.

Song Xiaoxi watched him storm off, then turned to Qin Ling—taller, undeniably handsome—and extended her hand. "Hello, Qin Ge. I’m Song Xiaoxi, a little soldier from Riversea South District Base."

"A little soldier?" Qin Ling eyed her late-stage Yellow Rank aura, dismissing it as a joke. *Seriously? Late-stage Yellow Rank and still a soldier? More like an officer.* He shook her hand briefly. "Qin Ling. A free spirit. Poor oppressed worker at Yuyu Express. Half Step Yellow Rank cultivation. You?"

"I... I’ve just started martial arts," Song Xiaoxi replied after a pause.

"Really?" Qin Ling studied the sharp, no-nonsense girl terrible at lying. *When lying, don’t let your gaze wander.* He watched with a faint smile.

"Truly, really!"

*Is this her first lie? So nervous.* Seeing her stand rigidly straight, Qin Ling dropped the tease. "Good. Then I’m your senior. Ask me anything later." He headed inside. "Come on—let’s see that fat—ahem, our good manager." Song Xiaoxi followed.

Pang Cheng, sorting packages, had heard everything but stayed silent. Once Qin Ling put away keys and Song Xiaoxi neared, he said, "Don’t judge Qin Ling by his Half Step Yellow Rank—it’s weak—but you’ll learn much. Follow him to master the workflow."

"Yes, Manager! I’ll learn hard from Qin Ge!" Song Xiaoxi nodded earnestly. *He’s a hidden senior. Every detail deserves my full focus.*

"What’s the whispering about?" Qin Ling approached, curious.

"Nothing. Asking Xiaoxi lunch plans. Since you, little cockroach, are back—shouldn’t we hold a welcome banquet for her?"

"A banquet? Well..."

Pang Cheng noticed Qin Ling’s unusual quietness. "Something up?"

"Yeah, a bit," Qin Ling nodded vaguely.

Pang Cheng didn’t press. Song Xiaoxi interjected, "It’s fine. I don’t mind." *As a soldier, I don’t crave ceremonies for new posts.*

Qin Ling hesitated, glancing at her ponytail and sharp attire. "How about this: I’ve got urgent business today. Let Old Pang take you out. I’ll make it up later—with a gift."

"No need, Qin Ge. Don’t trouble yourself," she shook her head.

"Settled," Qin Ling insisted. "Old Pang—handle lunch. I’ve got things."

Pang Cheng nodded but muttered, "Now you call me Old Pang when busy? Otherwise, it’s ‘fat bastard’? You’re infuriating."

"Go fix your mysterious stuff. As long as it’s not evil, I won’t pry." His eyes gleamed. "Chasing your ex again after the breakup?"

Qin Ling rolled his eyes. "Impossible? And you’re still spying on me, fat bastard?"

"Damn it, you little—" Pang Cheng turned away. "You said you just went single! Had a girlfriend before—now single means dumped, right?"

"Heh... observant fat bastard." Qin Ling sighed. "Yeah, I went single. But my business isn’t that. I walk straight and sit upright—no fear of your guesses."

"'Walk straight'?" Pang Cheng blurted, recalling something. "You walk straight, sure—but someone stumbles on night walks. Remember who crashed into my car that night? Crying for compensation like a wailing girl. Is that walking straight?"

"Huh!? Who? So immoral! Can’t drive? Then don’t drive!"

"You little—"

Song Xiaoxi smiled at their bickering. *This place feels warm.*

Suddenly—

A harsh female voice shattered the moment from outside:

"Qin Ling! Qin Ling! Get your ass out here!"