The End of the Roll Dog (Thanks to Hogus for the Alliance Leader)

According to the system prompt on the Wristwatch, the dial was some kind of progress bar reflecting the wearer's own condition.

Once that half-golden 0 turned completely gold, he should be able to achieve a Break through from nothing to something and become an official Chosen One—going from 0 to 1... That description sounded kind of gay. Like there was something wrong with it.

Anyway, not me!

He had no idea what the so-called Sky Rail Group was, but it had somehow made such an absurd thing. Although it never uttered a word apart from system reports, whenever Ji Jue felt his Spiritual Substance running dry and becoming impossible to sustain, fresh Spiritual Substance would silently well up to replenish what he had spent.

Compared to Ji Jue's capacity, which was like a half-filled bottle, this tiny Wristwatch seemed to contain a giant water tank. No, it was even more outrageous than that—like... a bottomless reservoir. Yet the amount he could actually draw upon and use was only an insignificant fraction of it.

He also wondered whether anything new would change once he became a regular employee. As for the current stage... forget it. A temporary contractor outside the establishment was lucky just to get a little taste. Why ask for a bicycle?

"What bicycle?"

A curious voice sounded.

Right beside him.

Ji Jue shuddered and spun around, only then noticing the long hair that had somehow fallen over his shoulder, and that face which seemed forever to wear a sly smile.

Her eyes were narrowed as she looked at him.

Examining him closely.

"Senior Ye?"

Ji Jue was stunned. "Why are you here?"

"Shopping."

Ye Chun shook the plastic bag in her hand and grinned. "I waved at you through the window for ages, but you never noticed. Still, running into you drinking tea is really rare... I thought you hadn't changed your dog-like ways and would keep rolling even through summer vacation."

Who are you calling rare?!

Ji Jue got worked up.

"Can't I take a break and have some tea?"

He picked up the black tea on the table, which was nearly cold, took a sip, and straightened his back with affected dignity. "I haven't touched my thesis All Day. I'm enjoying life to the fullest, okay?"

"Eh? It would be nice if that were true."

Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Chun pulled over a plastic stool and sat down beside him. She did not spare even a glance for the bag whose logo alone was enough to suffocate Poor people like Ji Jue, tossing it onto the filthy table. Then she picked up her chopsticks and started eating his Oat Bun, utterly practiced, just as though she were snatching his chicken drumstick in the second cafeteria:

"I wanted to ask you out yesterday, but Aunt said you were still busy with your thesis and wouldn't let me interrupt... How much have you written? Can you finish it before vacation ends?"

"Barely."

Thinking of that thesis made Ji Jue's scalp go numb.

"Wow, that look again... Every time you say you only know a little, it means you're about to become a dog instead of a person." Ye Chun glanced at him, not believing him Even a Bit. "You make your senior look really stupid, you know."

"This time, it's true. I've only passed my proposal defense. I haven't touched anything after that yet."

Ji Jue raised his hands in surrender. He could hardly say, Don't worry, Big Sister, I've been busy tracking down Bloodthirsty Old Deng's accomplices lately, so I really don't have time to rush my thesis.

Ye Chun immediately beamed. "If we're slacking off, we slack off together. Whoever submits their thesis is a dog. Deal!"

Ji Jue was already numb.

Big Sister, Professor Ye is your aunt, not mine!

Besides, once school started, I'd be a junior while you'd still be in graduate school. We weren't even at the same level. What the hell was there to compete over?

Yet Ye Chun always seemed to enjoy seeing him in a difficult spot. She took delight in it. Though she had always looked after him, she also loved teasing him and constantly left him helpless.

Poor Tom was being toyed with in the palm of her hand.

Damn it, she had me in her grasp.

Was she PUA-ing me?

Just as Ji Jue drifted off, he heard her teasing voice beside him. "Mm... So that's the type you like?"

"Huh?"

Ji Jue was baffled. "What type?"

"That type, obviously. Big tits, big ass, a bad girl with big waves, glossy black stockings, a short skirt, and red-soled stilettos. You've got good taste." Following the direction Ji Jue had been staring, Ye Chun looked outside and clicked her tongue in admiration.

"Where? Where?"

Still confused, Ji Jue followed her gaze—then he could no longer smile.

He froze where he stood.

At the roadside, behind that white Minivan, the trunk had been opened. Two burly men bowed and scraped as they accepted a heavy box from the woman beside them.

Her slim, graceful figure and those expressive large eyes—every glance was alluring, every movement overflowing with charm, Making people unable to look away.

That woman...

Ji Jue felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

—She was clearly the woman from yesterday afternoon, the one at the Auto Repair Shop who had kept trying to seduce him into going out with her!

She had even flirtatiously told me to look at her headlights!

Yesterday, she had seemed overflowing with charm. But when he looked at her again today, all he could feel was nausea. Behind those pale blue polarized lenses, the eyes framed by long lashes were unmistakably a deep, vivid crimson!

So it wasn't just Big Ji Master... Even Little Ji Master was on her menu?

In the literal sense—within her range of consumption.

He remained stiff with shock for a long while, until the bewildered Ye Chun waved her hand before his eyes. "Hey, hey, snap out of it. She's already gone. How much longer are you going to stare?"

"Huh?"

Ji Jue woke as if from a dream.

"Junior, listen to your senior—women in society have deep schemes. You're underage; you can't play their game." Ye Chun earnestly advised him. "An innocent boy like you, once tricked into her home, will be locked in the basement and chained up, becoming some rich woman's toy. From then on, it'll be steel wool on one, three, five, and little whips on two, four, six. You must be careful."

Ji Jue fell silent for a long time, then hesitantly said, "Senior..."

"What?"

"Um, I'm already nineteen."

"Nominal age doesn't count!" Ye Chun pinched his cheek irritably. "Is that the point? You didn't object to the steel wool and little whips even a little.

"Besides, if you go off with her, what are the two children and I supposed to do? Boohoohoo!"

Under the stunned gazes of everyone around them, Ji Jue Sighed, Disillusioned with Life. "...Senior, next time your drama queen mode kicks in, could you at least try to hide your expression a little?"

"Oh, I was worried you might take a wrong step and stray onto the crooked path."

Ye Chun patted his shoulder and laughed. She seemed about to say something more, but after checking the time on her phone, she gave a soft sigh. "All right, no more teasing you. I still have to buy groceries.

"I'm off. Take your time eating."

Ji Jue immediately felt as though he had been granted amnesty. If this kept going, he really didn't know how much longer he could keep up the act—or whether Senior Ye would spot something suspicious.

After watching her walk away, he finally Sighed in Relief.

"Check, please."

"You've already been paid for, handsome."

Behind the counter, the smoking owner glanced at him. His eyes seemed to carry a trace of wistful Sighed, as though he had seen his own flower-like youth in Ji Jue. He flicked away some ash and let out a faint sigh.

"Ah, Back then..."

In his confusion, Ji Jue Couldn't help but turn around and look in the direction Ye Chun had left, but she was already nowhere to be seen.

Only his phone vibrated, bringing a sticker.

[Dog Head pointing at someone.jpg]

[We agreed—you're not allowed to become a Roll Dog!]

Ji Jue stared for a long time, then could not help smiling softly. [Okay.]

The screen went dark, reflecting Ji Jue's smile.

To be fair, it looked pretty stupid.

Yet he also felt as though a burden had been lifted.

It was as if, all at once, the panic and unease had receded like Tides, even if they would return again.

First came the Truck of Creation, then strange powers, Chosen Ones, temporary employment... Bloodthirsty Old Deng, malicious temptations, and those inexplicable attacks—too many rotten Things had suddenly happened.

Dazed and disoriented, he had been dragged into these incomprehensible Vortexes, with no idea where they were taking him.

But for one moment, he suddenly felt that he was still standing on solid ground, still within the life that belonged to him.

He was still alive and well, just as he wanted. Even with bad luck clinging to him, a bright future still awaited him.

So he still had to hurry—

Ji Jue rubbed his Little Hand together and followed the direction the female car owner had gone.

Get this settled early, then go home and write my thesis!

That's right, I'm the Roll Dog!

Damn it, this one didn't seem easy to settle.

Ten minutes later, Ji Jue suddenly realized that he might not get to be a Roll Dog after all.

He stood at the intersection, gazing from afar at the place where the woman had vanished on the surveillance footage...

An exquisite building that stood like a crane among chickens among others of its kind, with a vast parking lot outside and neon lights blazing in the gathering dusk.

It was a Nightclub Ji Jue had never entered since the day he was born!

The pounding beat of dance music faintly drifted from inside. A long line had formed at the entrance, scantily clad Missies clinging to the people beside them, while luxury cars flowed into the parking lot out front. Every single one radiated a light that made Ji Jue's heart tremble...

This one would cost twenty thousand just to touch up the paint, that one forty-eight thousand. This one was serious—it would have to be sent back to the original factory in Federal Capital Central City for a full repaint, eight hundred and sixteen thousand. This one might even need to be shipped to the Southern Continent Empire... And that car's brake pads seemed to be making a strange noise. If it came to Continent Auto Repair Shop for aftermarket replacements, I'd have to fleece him for at least thirty-six thousand, right?

Smack!

Ji Jue slapped his forehead, cutting off his train of thought before it slid any further downhill.

In the shadows untouched by neon and streetlamps, he stared blankly at the lights like any passing Young man with not a single cent in his pocket.

As he hesitated, he saw... the Minivan that had been keeping watch during the day actually bypass the entrance and head around the back of the building.

When Ji Jue circled around, he found the vehicle parked in the Nightclub's employee parking lot. Its license plate had been swapped for a brand-new one, and there was no one inside.

Even the back entrance showed no slackness. Through the half-open wrought-iron gate, he could see several burly security guards strolling through the parking lot, each wearing a walkie-talkie and carrying a rubber baton that looked anything but friendly.

And the moment they saw Ji Jue approach, they stopped and looked over.

Ji Jue could only Bow Head and hurry away.

Back at the front, he looked at the guards by the entrance.

Everyone lining up to enter had to hand over something, apparently a Membership Card or something. Those with cards showed cards; those without cards showed money. Some did not line up at all—the Foreman personally led them inside with a Missy in their arms, or they simply had the Foreman in their arms...

It gave Ji Jue a headache.

Every now and then, people who had forgotten their cards and wanted to sneak in were all escorted aside by the hulking guards at the entrance. At least, no one could see them getting beaten up.

Fuck, did it need to be this airtight?

Not even water could seep through, huh?

Ji Jue's scalp went numb. Unless he suddenly conjured up a huge pile of money or sprouted wings and flew into the sky, getting inside today would be harder than a dream.

Surely he wasn't going to cling to some rich Missy and sneak in on his face alone?

Wouldn't that make him a gigolo?!

Ji Jue looked at the Missies, Big Sisters, and older sisters driving luxury cars, dressed in haute couture, and carrying all kinds of little bags... How should he put it? He suddenly wavered.

Just grit my teeth and go for it, right? Maybe I could even earn a little extra subsidy.