To be honest, I didn’t think the new boss, Wang Zhong, would do anything extreme to me.
His company was easy to verify online—address pinned on maps, a modest small business with over 30 employees and nearly five million in annual revenue.
Wang Zhong himself had no shady history or negative press. I even checked his wife’s info online. They have a son and a daughter; their girl’s already in elementary school. Honestly? Just knowing he has a family like that made me doubt he’d risk everything—marriage, freedom, reputation—to harm me.
Still… “Better safe than sorry.” Especially as a girl. I had to protect myself—and Bi Xin Xue.
That’s why I refused his offer to pick me up.
His company deals in pile driver parts, chips, routers, signal jammers… real “experts” at blocking signals. If I’d gotten into his car and he’d driven somewhere remote? I might not even get a chance to call for help.
So for gigs like this: I choose my own transport. And “volleyball” must happen at a legit venue—like the courts inside Oriental Sports Center.
If Wang Zhong tries redirecting me after we meet—“Let’s skip volleyball, go learn languages instead”—I’ll gather evidence and walk.
“Boss, I’m on the bus. Should reach Oriental Sports Center entrance around 6:45 PM.”
I sent the message via Hua Li Mao app after boarding.
Another reason I felt safer? The reviews under Wang Zhong’s profile:
[“Boss is so kind! Took me to play volleyball at a gorgeous venue. Everyone at his company’s lovely.”]
[“ legit boss. Truly nice person.”]
[“I blinked at ‘volleyball’—thought it was code! Nope, actual volleyball. Hope Boss books Meng Meng again next time!”]
[“Poseidon Company: great boss, great team, love it!”]
Since Hua Li Mao was new, few rental companions were registered. I cross-checked every commenter against the roster—no fake reviewers.
“Got it. Come straight in when you arrive. We’re at Court No. 3.”
His reply came quickly.
“Received.”
The Oriental Sports Center loomed—five stories tall, sprawling over ten thousand square meters. After asking security, I found Court No. 3… already packed.
One, two… nine people. All in blue T-shirts stamped with the “Poseidon” logo, vivid from afar.
“Um… hello?”
I approached a tall young man, backpack slung over my shoulder. “I’m from Hua Li Mao… uh, a member. Is Wang Zhong here?”
“Manager Wang!”
The guy turned to another youth practicing soft volleyball reception mid-court. “Your booked companion’s here!”
“What ‘booked companion’? Shoo, Xiao Liu! Getting cheeky again—three yuan off your pay.”
“Manager Wang” feigned annoyance, waving the guy off. “Go buy her a drink!”
“Ugh, docking pay again? Heartless boss! I quit!”
He grumbled but headed to the vending machine. “What’ll you have, miss?”
“I… I brought water. No need…” I murmured, slightly flustered.
“Get her a sports drink. Look at those slender arms—she’ll tire after two rounds.”
Manager Wang smiled at me. “Ji Xiao Xue? Is that your nickname?”
I nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
“Know how to play?”
I glanced at the yellow balls. “Soft volleyball?”
“Yep. Regular ones hurt. We play soft for fun. Know the rules?”
“I do.” I gave a shy smile. “Just… not very skilled.”
“No worries. You’re on our team first few rounds. We’re strong.” He patted my shoulder. “Just try your best.”
“Mmm…”
Memories flashed—fainting during military training.
Truth was, I had zero confidence in this body’s stamina.
Bi Xin Xue’s sports memories were all painful: collapsing in PE from period cramps, heatstroke from skipped breakfasts. She even hated climbing five flights of stairs.
Even after I started forcing daily exercise, fitness doesn’t bloom in days. It’s slow accumulation.
Put simply… Bi Xin Xue’s athletic base was weak. Stamina was her flaw. Proof? I still had to walk half a lap after running two around the track.
Knowing technique, breathing, balance—my mind couldn’t rewrite this body’s hardware.
“Whoa… Manager Wang, why book someone so young?”
Others in blue tees gathered—men and women, mostly mid-20s to 40s. Their eyes held surprise, curiosity.
“So cute! Doesn’t look sixteen. Is this even legal?”
“How old are you, little sister?”
“Seventeen.” I added softly, “My eighteenth birthday’s on Christmas… in two months.”
“Seventeen’s okay? Isn’t it illegal?”
“Sixteen-plus with ID is fine,” Wang Zhong cut in smoothly. “Right, Xiao Xue?”
I nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
Just like in novels:
In Skyflame Nation, citizens get IDs at sixteen. That’s when we bear legal responsibility and can sign labor contracts.
“So tiny!”
“Thought last week’s eighteen-year-old was youngest… wow.”
“Looks like a high schooler to me…”
The drink-runner returned. “Hey! Stop crowding her. Scatter!”
He handed me an energy drink, cracked his own open. “Manager Wang, I learned ‘banana shots’ from Brother Wu next door! Gonna wipe the floor with you later!”
“Hah?” Wang Zhong smirked. “You? I’ll crush your team even with this little sister.”
“Then stop talking! When do we start?”
“Xiao Xue, leave your bag there.” He glanced at his phone, nodding toward spectator seats already dotted with bags.
“Okay.”
I walked over. Hesitated. Slipped my phone and the fruit knife from my pocket into the bag’s innermost pocket.
I scanned the bustling gym. Prime post-dinner hour—every court packed.
No need to stay guarded anymore. Keeping sharp objects during play? Risky *and* awkward.
“Our Xiao Huang’s sick. You’re filling in.”
Manager Wang already held a soft volleyball, eyes gleaming.
“We’ve done this before—booked companions just to fill spots. Relax. Think of it as playing with friends. Haha, I’m not ‘booking a girlfriend.’ You kids should hang with peers.”
He gestured across the net. “Try?”
“Let’s go!”
His words fired me up. I dropped into stance.
“Oh? Form’s actually solid.”
He stepped back, tossed the ball high—
*Thud!*
I lunged, arms swinging—
*Thud!*
My wrists stung. The impact jolted my chest uncomfortably.
“Nice!”
Manager Wang leaped. “Block!”
I scrambled again—
*Thud!*
“See? She’s trained! This’ll be fun!”
“Little sister, ready! Again!”
“…”
“Watch the ball!”
“…”
Minutes later, I finally missed. The ball thudded to the floor.
“Not bad! Better than most here. Truly, new waves surpass old. Book her next time we’re short!”
“Warm up! First match starts now—she’s on our team!”
At Wang Zhong’s cue, everyone rallied.
“Same rules: Marketing vs. Tech Dept… this way!”
I was placed on Wang Zhong’s side.
“Manager Wang—if we lose, I’ll work unpaid overtime till 11 PM daily next week!”
“You heard him? Win this, team gets 200 yuan extra bonus!”
“Fine! Marketing—if *we* win, hot pot’s on me! Order anything!”
“OOOHHH!”
Watching their spirited banter, a warm fuzziness bloomed in my chest.
A company like this… it’ll go far. Really far.
“…”
“Ready? We won’t bully you. Little sister serves first.”
“Here it goes!”
“…”
…
…
Two hours later, legs numb, I trudged back to campus. Grabbed bubble tea from the new shop, then wandered to the school field.
Sitting on a bench, I swung my legs like a kid, rotated my ankles, and gently kneaded my thighs and calves through my sports pants.
“Alright, you’ve had a long day,” I said softly. “We’ll skip the run tonight. Once we finish this, we’ll head back to the dorm to shower and get some rest.”
I pulled out the straw and popped the plastic seal on the bubble tea with a soft *pop*. Gazing at the night sky ahead, I took a careful sip of the steaming drink in my hand.
…
“So sweet.”
…
