Looks like you're here to make trouble

"Damn, even Phoenix is here. Lu Xiao Wei's luck is pretty good!" Dog Bro, who was forcibly logged out from the Game Pod, was idly browsing guides on his phone. After seeing Grandpa Lu's popular guide post, he immediately became jealous.

Hidden class, he's a big shot. Should I invite him out for some Li Zhuang Pork to deepen our brotherly bond? Feels like it's been a while since I contacted him.

"Oh, my ancestor, why are you still cooped up here?" Dog Bro had barely sat down when he saw his mom rushing down the stairs without even putting on makeup.

"What's wrong?" Dog Bro asked, puzzled.

"Didn't you get a call from your dad?"

Hearing this, Dog Bro looked at his phone and, after thinking for a couple of seconds, realized, "Oh, I forgot to pay the phone bill."

"You child!" The woman immediately slapped his messy head. "You're becoming a hermit!"

"Is something up?" Dog Bro asked curiously. He knew his mom's personality well; she was always busy shopping and playing cards with her friends. How else could he have ended up in the hospital from being a shut-in?

"It's that old-fashioned grandpa of yours again!" The woman said, annoyed. "He said he doesn't want to see your prematurely aged ghost-like appearance during his birthday celebration, so he specifically called an old soldier to train you and give you some masculinity!"

"Damn, Mom, why didn't you say so earlier!" Dog Bro immediately jumped up. "I need to hide at Auntie's place."

"Hide my ass!" The woman grabbed him before he could escape. "This time, don't even think about running. Not only your grandpa, but your dad also gave a strict order. If your dad speaks, none of my relatives would dare to take you in."

"Dad?" Dog Bro was taken aback. "That's rare. When does he have time to care about me?"

"Isn't it because of your Uncle Fang? When you were just born, the two families arranged a childhood sweetheart marriage. After so many years, your Uncle Fang has become more and more successful, and his daughter is promising, studying at both Tsinghua and the Federation Star State Academy. Your dad was smart enough not to mention it later. Unexpectedly, your Uncle Fang brought it up this time, saying that when his Xiao Jia returns to the Central China Region next month, he'll let the two kids spend some time together... Such a good thing made your dad so happy he was incoherent on the phone, and he specifically told you to perform well this time."

"Perform my ass!" Dog Bro immediately covered his face. "Mom, you've seen Fang Xiao Jia. She's arrogant as hell. Her mom also clearly looks down on your background. Why would they let their daughter marry over? They haven't shown any intention in this regard for so many years. If they suddenly bring it up, something must have happened!"

"What could have happened?" The woman rolled her eyes at her son. "Your Uncle Fang's business is doing great, and the family business's stock is soaring. Do you think it's like your dad's company, half-dead? Without your uncles' help, it might have been gone long ago. What do you think they want from your dad?"

Dog Bro: "Then she must have gotten into some romantic trouble and is coming back for me to take the blame!"

The woman didn't immediately refute, and a hint of evasion flashed in her eyes. Seeing this, Dog Bro immediately jumped up. "Damn, really? You guys are really doing this? Am I your biological son?"

"Tsk... this child, what nonsense are you talking about!" The woman coughed and scolded, "You're the flesh that your mom carried for ten months and painstakingly gave birth to. How could I possibly keng (trick/harm) you? Isn't this for your own good? Look at you now, accomplishing nothing. Your dad's company will probably be ruined in your hands. Having a strong in-law family is paving the way for you, isn't it? What's wrong with taking the blame? Others can't even get a chance to take this good deal!"

Dog Bro: "..."

"Besides, which girl hasn't had a few boyfriends before marriage? Your mom used to change one every month back in the day, and your dad didn't mind, did he?"

"Hehe..." Dog Bro shook his head and sneered, not falling for it. "If it were that simple, would it be my turn to take the blame? Mom, you still want to fool me? Won't you tell me the truth?"

How did this little brat become so shrewd after playing games for a few months? Could it be that my intelligent bloodline has awakened in him?

The woman gritted her teeth secretly, but on the surface, she remained calm. "Then tell me, what else could it be?"

"This..." Dog Bro couldn't think of anything for a moment and was speechless.

"Always thinking this and that, hurry up and go outside to get that greasy hair of yours trimmed. I'll take you to meet the old soldier Uncle recommended by your grandpa this afternoon. I'm telling you, be respectful when you meet him this afternoon. He was your grandpa's old bodyguard for decades and took a bullet for your grandpa back then. Remember to call him Uncle Liu when you meet him. Even your dad has to call him Big Brother Liu!"

"Oh..." Dog Bro responded, but he felt that his mom was changing the subject.

"Hurry up, go get a neat haircut and come back. Your dad will scold you again for looking so sloppy!"

Dog Bro: "..."

After being kicked out of the house, Dog Bro wandered the streets. He didn't choose to have the butler drive him but chose to walk himself. After all, it seemed like he hadn't walked outside in almost half a year...

It was June, and the midday sun was beating down, making the streets feel deserted with only a few scattered pedestrians.

Dog Bro checked his phone, which showed a temperature of 43 degrees Celsius. In this kind of weather, where you could probably cook an egg on the ground, it was no wonder no one was out.

However, Dog Bro strangely felt okay. The sun seemed harsh, but it wasn't as bad as he expected. Could it be because he was used to the scorching sun on Mars from playing the game?

In the game, before they had dorms, sometimes when they logged off, there were no spots at the mining sites, so they would just dig a hole outside and sleep. The next day, they would climb out of the burning-hot sand without a scratch. Compared to the temperature difference there, this sun was practically gentle.

But why was he comparing it like that? That was just a game. In the game, he was tough, but in reality, he would fall over in the wind...

Thinking of this, Dog Bro shook his head and yawned as he walked to a barber shop that looked decently decorated.

He looked at the prices: a regular wash, cut, and blow-dry was 100 Federation Currency, a senior barber would cost 300, and the owner himself would cost 500. He clicked his tongue and muttered, "What a rip-off!"

The purchasing power of the Federation Currency wasn't low. The financial market was stable, and the currency value had been maintained well. The latest Apple phone cost at most 4,000, and an average student's monthly living expenses were probably less than 500. This haircut was so expensive, it had to be said that this business was really easy to make money in!

With the prevalence of artificial intelligence, many popular jobs had been impacted, but conversely, some handicrafts had slowly become popular. Service industries such as hairdressing, catering, woodworking, carving, and photography had become increasingly prosperous.

Come to think of it, with better social welfare and more people staying at home, it made sense that the cost of manual services would become higher, in accordance with market principles.

"Yo, brother, haircut or perm?" The shop owner, seeing someone come in, quickly shook off his midday drowsiness and greeted him enthusiastically.

"Do you have a barber you're familiar with? Or would you like me to recommend one?"

Dog Bro: "Who's the 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 master, "Then you cut it... If you cut it well, the price doesn't matter!"

Faced with such generous words, the shop owner didn't take the bait. Instead, he retracted his smile, took two steps back, leaned against the sofa, and squinted, "What kind of hairstyle would this little brother like to have?"

Dog Bro thought for a moment and replied, "One that can find me a wife."

The shop owner was silent, took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and then sighed, "It seems, little brother, you're here to make trouble today!"

Dog Bro: "..."