Prologue: Death by Insult
"Do you know where you went wrong?"
"Do you know how much pressure I'm under? My hair has turned white a lot. Starting a company is so hard now. Not to mention your salaries, even the free toilet paper provided in the bathroom costs several dollars. Water bills, electricity bills, sanitation fees, property management fees - a bunch of random expenses and taxes are chasing me like long legs. Only expenses, no income. What do you want me to do? Should we go rob a bank with two guns?"
"Do you know that in sales, it's like rowing against the current? If you don't move forward, you'll fall behind. I promoted you to sales director, and how many people are whispering behind your back, waiting to see my embarrassment? Xiao Zhang, Xiao Wu, Xiao Wang - they all have their eyes on you, waiting for you to make a mistake so they can take your place..."
Accusations, complaints, threats - these are the three tricks that Uncle Cai often uses.
Lin Tina was lounging in a comfortable swivel chair, her long, snow-white legs propped up on the grand and imposing boss's desk. She combed her long, wavy brown hair with her hand, revealing a section of her snow-white neck.
She looked at the time on the clock hanging on the opposite wall. This call, which had started at 11:30 and was still going on at 12:20, was not at noon but at midnight.
Calling at midnight to scold someone was not the most bizarre thing Uncle Cai had ever done. Gathering all the sales staff at the company at midnight and scolding them until dawn was his usual tough style.
Uncle Cai's motto was: If I'm frustrated, I want you to be more frustrated; if I'm sad, I want you to be more sad; if I'm anxious, I want you to be more anxious. I want to completely and truly transform all my pressure into your motivation. Only then can I feel at ease. ----------------------------------------------
Tina glanced at the computer monitor on her boss's desk. A busty, slender-waisted, long-legged beauty in a revealing outfit was still running. She clicked on the map and saw that the little red dot was still some distance from the destination. She then returned her attention to her phone.
On the other end of the line, Uncle Cai took a deep breath. Tina, being cautious, knew from the thousand and first time she had heard his lectures that something was about to come. "I've been talking for so long. What exactly happened that made you lose the big deal you've been working on for two and a half months?"
Despite the late hour, Uncle Cai's voice boomed like a lion's roar. Tina had already moved the phone away, and the roar echoed through the room like a powerful sound wave. She moved the phone closer, knowing that all the repetitive build-up was leading up to this question.
The problem was, she didn't know the answer either. She had personally followed the entire supply contract from start to finish, taking down all the key players one by one. But at the last moment, the referee suddenly informed her that Lu Qunhang, who had been standing still the whole time, had scored the goal. She had been running around for ages but hadn't even kicked the ball, and was inexplicably given a red card. Which god would do her a favor and tell her the secret behind this?
She couldn't figure out where she had gone wrong. Lu Qunhang had stood there smugly waving the supply contract in front of her, smiling brightly. She had wanted to punch that smug look off his face, but she had to maintain her composure and say "congratulations" first before walking away. Once out of his sight, she had been so frustrated that she wanted to smash the wall.
Why? Why?
Wasn't it because she was grateful to Uncle Cai for his full trust and the freedom he gave her that she didn't go to work at Lu Qunhang's company? Why did she have to go around competing with him for deals like she was on a drug high?
She couldn't figure it out either.
"Hey, what are you doing? Say something!" Uncle Cai roared from the other end of the line.
Tina thought for a moment. What answer would satisfy him and end this midnight call? Her eyes accidentally glanced at the computer monitor, and she immediately felt a chill run down her spine.
It was late at night in the real world, and the game environment had turned dark. The beauty she controlled was running freely with a simple broadsword on her back. On both sides of the grassland, groups of huge wolves and pig demons were breathing heavily, looking quite terrifying.
There was no one around. Suddenly, a bright light appeared in the distance behind her. A radiant qilin beast carrying a majestic man appeared in an instant and was right in front of her.
It was a dark night for murder, a windy night for arson.
As soon as she saw that high-level player, she became alert and tried to move her character away.
But it was too late. The man passed by her, and his radiant green dragon sword swept across her. In an instant, he vanished, leaving only a glimmer of light.
The slender beauty in the game, attacked by a master, fell to the ground without hesitation, dead on the spot.
The monitor showed a static image with a row of text: Dear player, you have died. Click OK to return to the nearest city.
"Shit, I'm dead."
"What did you say? Say it again?" Uncle Cai shouted furiously on the other end of the line.
Tina hung up the phone and quickly logged out of her small account, switching to her max-level account that she had hired someone to play for her.
If she let this murderer go, she would never worship Guan Gong again and instead believe in Hello Kitty.
The game was just like reality, where the strong preyed on the weak. Occasionally, high-level players would casually kill low-level players. This wasn't the first time she had encountered it, and it wouldn't be the last.
When she was in a good mood, she would just laugh it off and consider it a child's mistake. But not today. After losing a big deal and its commission, being scolded by the boss, and knowing that tomorrow morning at the office she would be the target of many envious people's ridicule, tonight was definitely not the time.
You'll run into ghosts if you walk in the dark too much. If you get used to bullying others, you'll eventually bully someone who won't take it.
She took a sip of coffee and started typing furiously on the keyboard, using her max-level character to issue a global bounty for the guy who just deserved a beating.
Although the tragedy happened in an instant and she didn't have time to say anything, she still remembered the player's ID clearly. After all, it's better to be prosperous oneself than to share in others' prosperity. Judging from the name, he was a scumbag!
As soon as she posted it, the whole world became lively.
Although the popularity was far less than during the day, there were still constant replies below. Various lively comments suddenly flashed in the lower left corner of the screen:
Where there's a crowd, there's me: Watching the show, watching the show, watching the show. Long night, no sleep, I want to watch the show...
Unbeatable Coke: It's better to be prosperous oneself than to share in others' prosperity. Come out quickly, I want to fight you for money.
I'm a beautiful girl: It's better to be prosperous oneself than to share in others' prosperity. Come out, come out, let me kidnap you. Let me kidnap you, there can be a passionate video.
Rainy Bell: Beautiful sister, is what you said true? You're so rich. Can I chase after you?
Pointing to Eight Directions: Damn, I regret it, I regret it. If I had known, I would have cultivated the kidnapping skill. Cultivating two Shadow Following spirit talismans would have been fine too. Wah wah wah wah, I missed this good chance to get to know a beautiful girl.
Happy Sheep Loves Grey Wolf: Can Shadow Following spirit talismans replace the kidnapping skill? High price for spirit talismans, high price for Shadow Following spirit talismans... .........
.........
.........
Meanwhile, the message button kept flashing. As soon as she clicked it, a series of friend requests came in. Tina rejected them all without a second thought. At first, she felt a bit happy, but then the increasing number of fun but valueless messages made her a little anxious. Had that player seen the messages and logged off out of guilt?
She raised her eyebrows and sent three identical messages in a row:
"Just five minutes. I'll hire a world-class expert at a high price to kidnap everyone. It's better to be rich yourself than to share with others."
"Just five minutes. I'll hire a world-class expert at a high price to kidnap everyone. It's better to be rich yourself than to share with others."
"Just five minutes. I'll hire a world-class expert at a high price to kidnap everyone. It's better to be rich yourself than to share with others."
The screen fell silent for a moment. She raised her eyebrows again. It seemed that guy had really logged off. Suddenly, a message popped up:
"Handsome Over Yang Xiao: Kidnapping successful. Where to deliver?"
The world fell silent for a moment, then became even more lively. More and more people started asking where to deliver, all eager to see the commotion.
She couldn't help but laugh. Looking at the screen, she saw a beautiful woman standing under a cherry blossom tree, surrounded by distant green mountains and a pool of rippling blue water. A few tender pink lotus flowers floated on the surface, and a snow-white waterfall like a silver mist cascaded down, blocking a deep cave a few steps away.
She replied with eight words: "Water Moon Cave Heaven, under the cherry blossom tree."
In the blink of an eye, two game characters appeared before her: "Everyone Richer Than You" and "Handsome Over Yang Xiao."
There were really a lot of bored people.
In an instant, a large group of unfamiliar players appeared around them, all dressed in splendid and beautiful clothes that shimmered with light, and riding various mounts. The Water Moon Cave Heaven was instantly filled with a riot of colors and a lively atmosphere.
"Handsome Over Yang Xiao" was a super handsome character in the game. A tall and slender young man in a moon-white brocade robe walked over with a model-like gait, opened a jade fan with a swish, and greeted: "Hi."
"Everyone Richer Than You" followed closely behind, seemingly kidnapped. It should be fine.
The surrounding players chattered non-stop.
Tina didn't want to deal with them and replied briefly: "Account M me."
"Handsome Over Yang Xiao" lifted the ban on "Everyone Richer Than You" and walked around, replying: "Ladies first. I'll just watch the fun."
Watch it, the more attention, the more satisfying the revenge.
Tina herself kidnapped "Everyone Richer Than You" and unleashed a series of dazzling skills, causing "Everyone Richer Than You" to lose health rapidly. The game's well-designed expressions of being beaten added to her excitement.
"Everyone Richer Than You" was much lower in level than her. Before she could finish her round of skills, "Everyone Richer Than You" showed signs of anemia and was about to die.
Just as she was hesitating whether to heal him and continue the torture, "Handsome Over Yang Xiao" walked over and filled "Everyone Richer Than You's" health bar.
She looked at "Handsome Over Yang Xiao."
He said understandingly: "Do as you please. I have plenty of big health packs."
She didn't expect that this guy, besides having a stunning appearance, also had a kind and understanding heart.
She bowed and thanked him.
"Handsome Over Yang Xiao" waved his hand: "Just consider it an extended service."
"Then I won't be polite. I paid so much money, I should enjoy it to the fullest."
Round after round of dazzling skills were unleashed. The screen was filled with brilliant light waves like the fireworks over Beijing during the Olympic opening ceremony. It was so beautiful and indescribable.
The "Everyone Richer Than You" in front of Tina, at some point, transformed into the face of Luo Qunhang, so handsome he was almost annoying. She imagined him being tortured into a pig's head, and in the end, she would throw him to the ground and stomp on that pig's face, looking up to the sky and laughing, saying: "Let you take my orders again, let you take my orders again. This is the fate of being tortured."
Time passed slowly. The other players only saw a violent female player venting her anger by torturing a low-level player. The two didn't even exchange a single classic line, so they found it boring and were about to leave.
Perhaps "Everyone Richer Than You" sensed the boredom of the others and suddenly spoke: "Brother Yang, what are you doing?" Uh, coffee for me. How about you? ... Soaking my feet feels quite comfortable. Brother Yang, are you sure she's a cold-hearted older sister type?
Uh, Shuai Guo Yang thought for a moment, I'm sure.
The other players all stopped. It seemed that the plot was developing.
Everyone: It's just a little account, isn't it? Her revenge is too strong. She has no sense of game spirit in this entertainment era.
Shuai Guo Yang: ...
Everyone: It must be her little account. Her main account is called King Tina, and this one is called King Tina No.1. There's no creativity at all. And for a woman, she could have called it Queen Tina, Princess Tina, or even Queen Tina if she's that proud. But she chose King Tina. I saw that name from afar and was thinking, is it a god? A monster? A cross-dresser? A tomboy? A pervert? My hand itched and I couldn't resist, so I swung my sword at her.
Tina was looking at the screen when she suddenly spat out coffee all over it, her face full of depression.
She was bossed around by Uncle Cai at work every day. Even choosing an arrogant name in the game to satisfy her desire to be a queen was seen as an annoyance to others.
She hesitated for a moment.
Shuai Guo Yang saw her stop and slowly walked towards her. She didn't know what he was going to do and turned her head to look at him.
He suddenly hugged her and kissed her passionately.
The whole world fell silent.
Shuai Guo Yang's character was the most handsome male character in the game, with a perfect, handsome face that suddenly enlarged on the screen and kissed the lips of the beautiful woman Tina was controlling.
A perfect couple, a pair of beautiful people, leaning on each other.
Tina's eyes widened. Clicking the mouse didn't help her escape. It seemed she was suddenly locked.
She gasped, her fingers moving the mouse unconsciously, rotating the view 360 degrees to look at the couple kissing tightly beside the Water Moon Cave. A gust of wind blew, and under the cherry blossom tree, pink petals fell around the couple, creating a beautiful and romantic scene that made her heart tremble.
She almost got confused.
Until a system prompt appeared on the screen: Dear player King Tina, you have been molested by player Shuai Guo Yang. Do you want to choose:
1. Molest back.
2. Pretend to be shy.
3. Pretend to be angry.
4. How dare he kiss me without my consent? Slap him hard.
Without thinking, she clicked 4 and confirmed.
On the screen, the angry and embarrassed beauty suddenly slapped the tall and handsome man a resounding slap.
The world was in an uproar.
Everyone was stunned, even Da Jia Wang. They let go of this once-in-a-lifetime escape opportunity and continued to watch the spectacle.
Shuai Guo Yang: I know you lost a deal today and are in a bad mood. How about I make up for it with this kiss?
Tina's alarm bells rang in her heart.
Who is he? How does he know she lost a deal today?
She subconsciously looked at her phone. Could it be that Uncle Cai used magic to enter the computer from the phone end and play a joke on her? Impossible. Aunt Cai watched Uncle Cai more strictly than Da Jia Wang watched the gate.
Could it be Xiao Zhang, Xiao Wu, or Xiao Wang from the office, who saw her account on the office computer and came to make fun of her? Her mind was racing, thinking of how to save face.
Shuai Guo Yang: H City is so big. Losing one big deal, there are still thousands and thousands of big deals. Tina, you need to cheer up and be energetic to continue competing with me for deals. Only then will business be interesting.
Who is he? !
Although she found it absurd and impossible, how could he know her account?
Tina still managed to hold back the urge to spit blood and gritted her teeth as she typed three characters: Luo—Qun—Hang? !
Shuai over Yang Xiao struck a cool pose: "It's me, the dashing, elegant, and handsome invincible fellow. Tomorrow, I'll have my secretary send the account to your office. Don't forget to transfer the money, okay?"
Her chest heaved with surging qi and blood. She held onto the table with both hands and struggled to stand up.
Everyone Wang, who was standing by, timidly spoke up: "Big brother and big sister, I don't know what grudges you have against each other. It's none of my business. But Brother Yang, please remember to give me the half of the reward we agreed on..." . Although standing there being pruned was a bit boring, at least soaking her feet and listening to music made time pass quickly...
It turned out they had conspired to deceive her for the bounty. It was like a series of thunderous, invincible flying kicks, and Tina couldn't resist. She was so angry that she fell down with a thud.
Shuai over Yang Xiao was still standing there, his profile as beautiful as jade, quietly watching her. She didn't know what evil plan the mastermind behind the scenes, Luo Qunhang, was up to.
Her arm knocked over a coffee cup, which knocked over the coffee pot. The steaming, fragrant coffee spilled all over the table, dripping down and landing on the power socket under the table. She frantically tried to unplug the wire, but there was a spark. She flinched back and accidentally bumped into the swivel chair, falling backward. Her hands reached out to catch the ground but ended up pressing on the live power socket.
She let out a scream. It turned out that the feeling of being electrocuted was so agonizing and soul-stirring. Her internal organs were suddenly squeezed into a tight ball, and the pain was unbearable. She immediately fainted.
The last thought before she passed out was, "Luo Qunhang, do I have a grudge with you for eight lifetimes? Why do you keep tormenting me like this?"
Luo Qunhang, I swear, even if I become a ghost, I won't let you off.