"I can't believe even a Phoenix showed up. That Lu Xiao Wei kid sure has incredible luck!" Dog Bro, forcibly logged out in the Game Pod, boredly browsed strategy guides on his phone. When he saw Grandpa Lu's popular strategy post, he immediately grew jealous.
A Hidden Profession, and he's an expert, too. Should I invite him out for some Li Zhuang Pork and deepen our brotherly bond? It felt like it had been ages since he'd contacted him.
"Good heavens, you little ancestor, why are you still cooped up here?" Dog Bro had barely sat down when he saw his mother rushing downstairs without even putting on makeup.
"What's wrong?" Dog Bro asked, puzzled.
"You didn't get the call your father made?"
Dog Bro glanced at his phone. After thinking for two seconds, he suddenly realized. "Oh, I forgot to pay the phone bill."
"You little brat!" The woman immediately smacked his loosely tousled head. "You're practically turning into an immortal from staying indoors all day!"
"What's the matter?" Dog Bro asked curiously. He knew his mother's personality well enough. She spent all day shopping and playing cards with her friends—when would she have time to care about him? Otherwise, how could he have ended up cooped up until he landed in the hospital?
"Isn't it because of your old-fashioned grandfather?" The woman immediately grew angry. "He said he didn't want to see you looking like some prematurely aged ghost on his birthday, so he specifically called an Old Soldier over to train you and said it would help you develop some manly spirit!"
"Damn, Mom, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Dog Bro immediately leaped to his feet. "I need to hide at my aunt's place."
"Hide my foot!" The woman grabbed him as he tried to slip away. "Don't even think about running this time. Not only did your grandfather give strict orders, your father did too. Your father's already spoken, so none of my relatives would dare take you in."
"Dad?" Dog Bro froze. "That's unusual. When did he find the time to manage me?"
"Isn't it because of your Uncle Fang? When you were born, both families arranged an engagement. After all these years, your Uncle Fang's business kept getting better, and his daughter turned out wonderfully. She went to Tsinghua and then studied abroad at the Federation Star State Academy. Your father wisely stopped bringing it up afterward. Who would've thought your Uncle Fang would bring it up himself this time? He said that once his Xiao Jia returned to the Central China Region next month, the two children could spend some time together... Your father was so overwhelmed by this wonderful news that he was practically incoherent with excitement when he called me. He specifically told me to make sure you put on a good performance this time."
"Put on a performance, my ass!" Dog Bro covered his face. "Mom, you've met Fang Xiao Jia before. She's arrogant as anything, and her mother clearly looks down on your background. Why would she let her daughter marry into our family? After all these years, they haven't shown the slightest interest in that regard. For them to bring it up out of nowhere, something must have happened!"
"What could have happened?" The woman rolled her eyes at her son. "Your Uncle Fang's career is doing wonderfully. His family business's stock has been soaring. Do you think it's like your father's company, barely clinging to life? Without help from several of your uncles, it might have gone under long ago. Tell me, what could they possibly want from your father?"
Dog Bro said, "Then he must've gotten himself tangled up in some romantic debts and come back to make me take over!"
The woman did not immediately deny it. A trace of evasiveness clearly flashed through her eyes. Dog Bro instantly jumped up. "Damn, it really is! How can you people go this far? Am I even your biological son?"
"Tsk... What nonsense are you talking about, you child?" The woman coughed awkwardly before scolding him. "You're the flesh I painstakingly carried for ten months and gave birth to. How could I possibly set you up? I'm doing this for your own good. Look at you now—you've accomplished nothing. If your father's company falls into your hands, it'll probably go under too. Wouldn't having a powerful family by marriage pave the way for you? So what if you're taking over? Other people would love to take over a match this good and still wouldn't get the chance!"
Dog Bro: "..."
"Besides, what girl these days hasn't dated a few men before getting married? Your mother changed boyfriends every month back in the day, and your father still managed to take over just fine, didn't he?"
"Heh..." Dog Bro shook his head and sneered, refusing to be fooled. "If it were really that simple, would it be my turn to take over? Mom, do you still think you can fool me? Aren't you going to tell me the truth?"
How did this little brat become so sharp after playing games for a few months? Could my clever bloodline have awakened inside him?
The woman secretly ground her teeth, but her expression remained unchanged. "Then tell me. What else could the situation be?"
"This..." Dog Bro felt that he could not think of anything else for the moment and suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
"All you do is overthink things. Hurry outside and get that greasy mop of hair of yours fixed up. This afternoon, I'm taking you to meet the Old Soldier your grandfather recommended. Let me tell you, behave yourself when you meet him. He was your grandfather's longtime personal guard, and he even took a bullet for your grandfather back in the day. Remember to call him Uncle Liu when you meet him. Even your father has to call him Big Brother Liu!"
"Oh..." Dog Bro responded aloud, but he still felt that his mother was changing the subject.
"Go, go! Get a sharper haircut and come back. Looking this slovenly, your father will nag you again later!"
Dog Bro: "..."
After being driven out of the house, Dog Bro wandered along the streets. He chose not to have the butler drive him around, deciding instead to take a walk himself. After all, it seemed like he hadn't walked around outside in nearly half a year...
It was June, and it was also the middle of the day. The scorching sun had left the entire street deserted, with only a few scattered pedestrians.
Dog Bro checked his phone. It said today's temperature was forty-three degrees. In weather hot enough to boil eggs on the pavement, it was only natural that no one wanted to go outside.
Yet Dog Bro inexplicably felt fine. The sun looked scorching, but it did not feel nearly as intense as he had expected. Could it be because he had grown used to Mars's poisonous sun from playing the game?
Back when there had been no dormitories in the game, they sometimes found no room at the mining site after logging off. They would simply dig a hole outside and sleep there, then crawl out of the red-hot sand the next day without a scratch. Compared to the temperature difference between day and night there, this sun was practically gentle.
But why was he comparing the two? That was only a game. In the game, he had tough skin and thick flesh. In reality, a gust of wind could probably knock him over...
At that thought, Dog Bro shook his head. Yawning all the way, he arrived at a barbershop that looked fairly well decorated.
He checked the prices. A basic wash, cut, and blow-dry cost one hundred Federation Currency. Having a senior barber do it cost three hundred, while the shop owner personally wielding the scissors cost five hundred. He immediately curled his lip and thought, What a rip-off!
Federation Currency had considerable purchasing power. The financial market was stable now, and the currency's value had remained strong. Even the latest Apple phone cost no more than four thousand. An ordinary student's monthly living expenses might not even reach five hundred, yet getting a haircut cost this much. He had to admit, this business was easy money!
With artificial intelligence now widespread, many once-popular jobs had been disrupted. On the other hand, traditional trades had gradually become more sought-after. Service industries such as barbering, catering, woodworking, and photography had instead flourished more and more.
It made sense when he thought about it. Social welfare had improved, more people had become shut-ins, and the higher cost of human services was in line with market principles.
"Yo, brother, getting a haircut or a perm?" When the shop owner saw someone enter, he quickly shook off his midday drowsiness and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Do you have any familiar barbers? Want me to recommend someone?"
Dog Bro asked, "Who's the shop owner?"
"That would be me!" The shop owner rubbed his hands and smiled.
Dog Bro waved his hand, adopting the tone of a rich young heir. "Then you do it... If you do a good job, the price doesn't matter!"
Faced with such a generous declaration, the shop owner did not play along. Instead, his smile faded. He took two steps back, leaned against the sofa, and narrowed his eyes. "Young brother, what kind of hairstyle would you like?"
Dog Bro thought for a moment before answering, "One that can help me find a wife."
The shop owner fell silent. He took out a cigarette and lit it, inhaling deeply before letting out a long sigh. In a distant tone, he said, "Looks like you're here to wreck the place today!"
Dog Bro: "..."