"This one, this one, this one—give me one of each."

Lao Wang ordered like he was at a restaurant, making the chef visibly awkward.

This was a cafeteria, not a restaurant. The food was free. Ordering so much for one person was clearly wasteful.

The chef stole a glance at me. He’d worked here six years and knew me well. Only after I nodded did he pile a huge plate of each dish.

"Put it on my tab. Settle at month’s end."

It was free! What was there to settle? I chuckled inwardly but kept my face neutral.

Lao Wang and I carried over a dozen plates, grabbing two beers on the way.

"Hey, Xiao Tian," Lao Wang said between bites, "what job are you applying for? Just work under me. One word from me, and it’s done."

"Haven’t decided yet. Any job that puts food on the table is fine."

I didn’t want to crush his enthusiasm. Besides, I really should find work to get some exercise. Gaming could wait for evenings.

"Then come work for me." Lao Wang glanced around and whispered, "Five hours a day. First month: a thousand. Second month: straight to three thousand. Don’t tell anyone. And it doesn’t matter if you can’t do the job—just check in morning and evening." He leaned close, as if fearing eavesdroppers.

"Is this okay?" I asked. With his position, getting caught would mean instant firing. Ouyang Group’s management seemed loose, but their audits were stricter than anyone’s.

"No worries! I’ve got you covered. What’s there to fear?"

"Mm." Maybe trying it wouldn’t be bad.

After eating, Lao Wang slipped a wad of bills into my pocket. "Spent the last one, right? Save this carefully."

"No need. I still have plenty left."

"Don’t be silly. I know you—you’re probably holed up in some corner somewhere. You’re always so stubborn, hating help, wanting to do everything alone. Sometimes, notice the people around you. There are always a few who worry about you."

"Mm." People who worried about me? If they existed, that’d be nice.

Unconsciously, Ouyang Qingsnow’s face flashed in my mind. Would she… care about me?

"How about working for me?" Lao Wang added. "Oh, forgot to say—I’m management now. Taking care of you’ll be easy."

"Mm." Cleaning office buildings? A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Maybe a try wouldn’t hurt.

"Lao Wang."

"Huh? Calling me back already? Getting cold feet? That’s not like you."

"Here." I placed the three thousand from last time plus this new thousand—all of it—into his hand.

"What’s this mean? Do you look down on me? Or think the money’s too little?" He froze, then snapped angrily.

"Neither. Just help me find a job. I’ll earn my own cash. That suits me better."

"..."

"Let’s go. You promised to handle my job. No problem, right?"

"Hahaha! Easy. Just report to HR first. Since you insist, borrow from me anytime you’re short."

"Definitely." Few at Ouyang Group knew me. I’d treat this as relaxation. Obsessing over games all day wasn’t healthy. Five hours a day was manageable anyway.

After a quick registration, I bumped into my sister-in-law, Ouyang Yaoji, outside. Fiery red hair, a seductive figure—she radiated a domineering mature aura no matter how you looked.

"What are you doing?" She eyed my janitor uniform, fighting a laugh.

"Cleaning." Was it really that funny?

"Never mind that. Short on pocket money? Big sister will give you some. Perfect timing—I was just looking for you."

"Uh, mm."

Inside her office sat a tiny loli in a black-red Gothic Lolita dress, absurdly cute on her petite frame. Pointy horns and a tail made her look like a cosplayer.

"Can I leave this one at your place for a few days?" Ouyang Yaoji pointed at the dragon-girl cosplayer.

"Why? I can barely take care of myself. No time for pets."

"Yada yada—Lilith and the others went on a trip to another world. I’m taking a vacation soon too. If no one watches her, this kid’ll eat your house down."

"Don’t make it sound so scary! That makes me even less willing to take her..." Trips to other worlds? Had she read too many novels? Eating houses down? Even as a joke, that was over the top.

"Mama~" The loli tilted her head at me, then darted behind Yaoji, peeking out shyly.

"I’m counting on you for this kid."

"I haven’t agreed yet."

Ignoring me completely, Yaoji lifted the loli and dumped her into my arms.

Pat, pat, pat.

Her tail slapped my face like she was sulking. Hey! Is this tail even real?!

Helpless, I hoisted her onto my shoulders. She was quiet at first—quiet my ass! Like a curious toddler, she yanked my hair, tugged my ears, and even tried biting my head.

Hey! I’m not food!

"Oh, and something important."

"What?" I asked, confused by Yaoji’s sudden seriousness.

"How’s things with Xue Xue? Ah, don’t tell me there’s zero progress—you’ve lived together long enough." Arms crossed, leaning against the wall, she spoke like a nosy elder.

"So-so." Beyond that, I truly didn’t know how to describe it better.