The night was much like any other, the bar still echoing with raucous—but not quite ear-splitting—rock music.

Neon lights painted the crowd in shifting hues, where reckless joy and pent-up sorrow interwove in the modest hall. Clinking glasses and boisterous toasts filled the air.

Chen Jing kept the alcohol here mild and strictly rationed, preventing drunken brawls. After all, this place catered mainly to students—controlled indulgence was welcome, but outright chaos wasn’t. Jiang Fan’s job here existed only with Mu Yuli’s quiet approval.

Or rather, it was her deliberate test: could he stay faithful for her sake?

His past behavior had satisfied Mu Yuli. He’d barely tangled with dubious women.

Until the unexpected encounter with Lin Mengyao two days prior.

But exceptions like her were rare. Likely still fuming over his harsh attitude, she hadn’t returned for two days straight. Jiang Fan was secretly relieved—his sales figures had noticeably climbed without her around.

He still smiled politely at the usual harassment and flirtation, yet regulars sensed his spirits were slightly lower than usual. A rare sight indeed.

"Did you get dumped today, cutie?" teased a busty woman a few years his senior, arms outstretched. Her giggling friends joined in, nearly yanking him over if he hadn’t dodged swiftly.

"Just got docked pay for leaving early," he joked back. "My girlfriend and I are perfectly happy. Save your opportunistic moves for someone else."

A chorus of disappointed groans answered him.

Truth was, Jiang Fan’s mood *was* sour. His daily sign-in streak broke. He’d run into the bizarre Xia Yining at noon. And Mu Yuli’s impending "trial" loomed. Nothing had gone right.

He’d hoped his gloom would ward off attention, but these women acted like masochists—drawn to his frown like moths to a flame. Was teasing him *that* entertaining?

Then again, bars thrived on emotional drama. Everyone came for stories and drinks. Probably half of them were just hungry for gossip.

He chatted idly with guests as the crowd at the bar shifted. Some came to watch him mix drinks; others sought conversation. Some spilled their hearts; a few schemed to tempt him into cheating... The last type got politely escorted away by Chen Jing for "tea." This wasn’t a pickup joint.

*At least leave a WeChat or phone number first...*

Ahem! Just to be clear—he’d *never* add them.

*Wouldn’t it be more fun to use them as bait?*

*Heh.*

Kidding! Selling customer info was illegal, and Jiang Fan was a law-abiding citizen.

After ushering out another wave of patrons, Jiang Fan stifled a yawn. His phone alarm had blared half an hour ago. Normally, he’d be back in his rental apartment, singing in the shower by now.

But Mu Yuli was coming. Overtime awaited. His motivation flatlined.

"Hey! High schooler! How’s overtime treating you?" A hand slapped his shoulder. That annoying voice drained his energy further.

"Boss Chen, is that even human speech?" Jiang Fan slumped onto the bar. "Life’s about slacking off. Overtime’s capitalist exploitation. We must abolish this inhuman system! Free the workers! Reject overtime!" His slogan rang hollow, just tired grumbling.

"Don’t know about others, but *your* overtime ends only if you overthrow your girlfriend first. She’s the real capitalist here. Feeling confident?" Chen Jing snagged a Snow beer from the fridge, popped the tab one-handed, and downed it in a single "Brave the Ends of the Earth" gulp.

"Pass. Becoming a capitalist lapdog sounds safer." Jiang Fan pushed himself up, grabbed a Nutri-Express from the fridge, and chugged it.

"That’ll be 7.5 yuan. Pay now or deduct from wages?"

"Tch. Bloodsucking vampire! Your employee’s drowning in overtime, and you still charge him for water?!"

"So? Pay or deduct?"

"Can I put it back?"

"What do *you* think?"

"...Deduct it."

"Perfect!"

Staring at the empty Nutri-Express bottle, Jiang Fan felt overtime’s misery deepen.

*Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.*

"Hey Boss Chen," he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, "is she here yet? I’ve got school tomorrow. Running late’s trouble."

She blinked at him, feigning shock. "Huh? Didn’t the young mistress tell you? She’s flying to Moscow for a conference tonight. Not coming. I thought you *knew* and stayed to volunteer for overtime."

Jiang Fan met Chen Jing’s teasing gaze, speechless.

*They totally set me up.*

"Cheer up," she chuckled, lightly punching his chest before heading inward with her beer. She turned back, grinning. "Still up for overtime? Free Nutri-Express this time."

Jiang Fan smirked back.

"Nutri-Express? Even dogs wouldn’t drink that!"

*Time to clock out!*

Walking home, Jiang Fan’s mood soared.

He rarely saw Mu Yuli anyway—but this lucky break? Truly, *when one door closes, another opens*.

*So sweet.*

Still early, and hungry, he decided to celebrate with late-night snacks. Humming Luo Tianyi’s "I’m So Hungry," he scanned the street stalls.

Then—the system popped up again.

**[Random Event Triggered! Choose an option:]**

**[A. Enter the Alley (Reward: 50k Points)]**

**[B. Call the Police Immediately (Reward: 10k Points)]**

**[C. Take a Detour (Reward: 1k Points)]**

**[D. Stand Still (Reward: 200k Points)]**

Option D screamed trouble. Crime in the alley? Calling the police seemed safest—10k points was decent, zero risk, plus civic duty.

But... 200k points glued his feet to the pavement.

*It’s just too much.*

Fighting sounds echoed from the alley, frequent and intense. No wonder the system offered this.

Too late to back out now. He stood his ground.

The noise faded. Soon, a stunning silver-haired girl emerged. Her near 175cm frame made Jiang Fan feel that rare pressure again.

"Ah, finally a normal person!" she beamed. "Got any cash? I need food. And if you could shelter me tonight? Even better."

*Wait... did I just pick up a... big sister?*